And now for something a little different... While the Margaret River Beer Co brewers have been building a reputation for solid hop-driven ales and sessionable offerings, Saison of The Witch is an outlier: a 7.6 percent ABV saison co-fermented with viognier juice that's available in large format bottles.
Pouring a slightly hazy, auburn hue, things kick off with a textbook aroma that leads into a palate where the worlds of wine and beer collude. Spicy phenols and fruity esters from saison yeast are lifted by high carbonation while a bright, white wine acidity cuts through some residual sweetness. As acid and yeast character go to and fro, some gentle grape skin and melon character persists against gentle, earthy, noble hops and rich banana esters, with the booze adding some balancing warmth.
While they've been tapping into the complexities of IPAs of late, this release shows depth within the Margaret River brewhouse when it comes to more complex styles, putting forward a witch's brew that dabbles in spell-binding, co-fermented territory.
Jono Outred
Published June 2, 2024 2024-06-02 00:00:00
