Saturday, December 7, 2013

2013 Advent Beer 7: existent American Farmhouse Ale

I'm not unfamiliar with farmhouse styles like the saison, but they are usually quite a bit lighter than existent from Stillwater Artisanal in Connecticut. Existent pours a thickish, deep dark brown, almost as dark as yesterday's stout.

 

Likewise there is an earthiness in both the nose and taste of this ale, and the bitterness of roasted coffee, perhaps with a hint of molasses or nuttiness behind it. The bitterness is not unpleasant, and reminds me a bit of last year's Bise Noir; a winter sipper well suited for a post-supper tipple, or a crisp afternoon of -30 Celsius like we have today. At 7.4% ABV, it has a distinctive warming quality which is much coveted at this time of year, at least in these parts.

 

 

Today saw the first animal arrival to the nativity; the humble sheep. True, the shepherd carries a lamb,but this woolly fella came in under his own power, and is clearly tuckered out from that effort. Or maybe he's just pacing himself since there's still some time to go before the anticipated arrival; hours for him, two and a half weeks for the rest of us.

 

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