I poured it, expecting exactly what I got, a clear effervescent belgian styled ale with very thick, but quickly dissipating head.  The smell was that of a belgian golden ale.  As it stands, all is well with this ale.

So we move on to the first sip.  The mouthfeel is very light and effervescent.  Very close to what I’d expect from a Saison, and very standard belgian.

The taste:  I was expecting to be blown away by sourness here, assuming they would’ve taken the Saison sentiment literally.  Well, it turns out, it’s very plain.  It’s actually quite the golden ale.  It’s very standard golden ale, with a lot of similarities to Duvel.  With regard to Duvel however, this is much better.  There are some interesting characteristics.  There are some flavors that aren’t necessarily striking… more understated…  Turns out, the aftertaste on this is actually very similar to sweet tarts.

So, why do I say this has turned me off of the Avery anniversary series?  Well, I’d be interested to try them.  It would be really fun, but my devout belief is that it wouldn’t be worth the money.  This beer, for 8 bucks, is totally not worth it at all.  If I bought this for 2 dollars, I’d be satisfied.

It’s all I can do to not fail this beer, but really… it’s not a great beer.  It’s not worth the 8 dollar price tag for 22 oz.  It’s a 5/10.

Then again…  if it was free, it’d be much more appealing.

This is going to be a very good thing.

Not everyone likes saisons, but they’ve been growing on me lately.

Now, while I liked Golden Cap in the past, this year’s release has been head and shoulders above it. Its noticeably sweeter, which will help with its mass appeal, which summer beers really seem to need (at least in Michigan, what with going up against Oberon and all).

Some people will point out that its potentially sweeter than is normal for the style. This may be true, but I don’t think of it as a bad thing. And while its normal for summer beers to be made with wheat, Golden Cap is made with spelt. I give this credit to the unique malt flavor in this beer.

Okay, so I suppose I should actually describe it.

There is a noticeably sweet and spicy aroma from the get-go. There’s more body to it than I expected the first time I had it; a nice, almost honey sweetness and texture to it.

And the flavor is definitely refreshing, both in the cooling way, but also in that its a totally new and unique experience compared to other beers you’ve had.

New Holland calls this a “farmhouse ale”, and I suppose that is true, in that its a saison. That said, this is far and away the most interesting farmhouse I’ve ever had, and surely my favorite.

The best summer beer in Michigan, if you ask me.

9/10