What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Moderate peppery note with light fruity esters. As it warms, a big grapefruit note. Low pale malt presence. Tangerine, guava, and white grape. This has a strong white-wine character to it. Some underlying earthy hops.”
Flavor: “Moderate grapefruit flavor with a tartness and spiciness that extend into the aftertaste. Moderate bitterness and moderate carbonation. Hops dominate this beer. Huge white-wine character that’s citrusy and tropical. Seems like it would be sweet, but overall sweetness is fairly low and transitions into a pleasant acidity and bitterness. Dry finish is very clean with a touch of bitterness.”
Overall: “Would like a bit more balance in the spiciness and a little less carbonation. Mild astringent notes toward the end of the sip linger into the aftertaste. Very fruity even for a saison with a big white-wine character and underlying citrus and tropcial fruit. Dry finish makes this very drinkable.”
What the Brewers Say
“One Ear is an unspiced ‘naked’ saison brewed with barley, oats, and rye. A free-rise fermentation develops a light fruit and pepper, while the assertive hopping profile creates a dry finish.”