Yuzu Citrus Saison, 4.1% ABV (355ml can), Godspeed Brewery
Beginning as a saison and finishing as something more enigmatic, Yuzu combines Japanese citrus and Belgian yeast, with restrained hopping to create a light, lively beer accentuated by mild tartness and minerality. The combination of fruit and saison characteristics creates a dramatic nose of freshly-peeled clementines, all pith and bright orange. The acidity helps smooth and hone the minerality that gives the simple beer complexity, and allows for a crisp but memorable finish.
Nonbe Oktoberfest Bier, 5.7% ABV (355mL can) Godspeed Brewery
Brewed with Vienna and Munich malts and Tettnanger hops, Nonbe (meaning: to drink) expresses a piquant floral noble hop character before a luxurious cascade of malt notes begin to proliferate: toasted bread crust, caramel, molasses, and pecan. The drink’s texture is round and opulent, showcasing the malt richness hinted at in the aroma with an added suggestion of maple sap; unsweetened and delightful. The finish, softened and refined by a long cold maturation, is the exclamation point on a lager that has us reaching for the nearest litre stein. Prost!