Have you ever had the experience of drinking a beer, and subsequently finding yourself at a loss for perception as to whether it was good or not? Maybe there were moments of glory and defeat during the drinking process.  Maybe you had a cold?

This is the experience I had drinking Great Lakes Brewing Company’s unique Grass Roots Saison Farmhouse Ale.  If you’ve forgotten, a Saison is a traditional Belgian farmhouse ale.  this style is difficult to mimic here in the States because authentic Saison ales feature farm fresh local ingredients.  Great Lakes brewing company took artistic liberty in tinkering with this classic style, but maintained the farm-fresh principles, incorporating locally owned and grown herbs into the recipe; namely, coriander, lemon balm, chamomile and lemon basil.  Intrigued?  So was I.  These are some atypical herbs (besides the coriander) for beer.

The Pour:

Grass Roots pours a hazy brassy yellow, revealing its wheat malt.  A thick, foamy head about an inch thick coats the glass and hangs around for a while.  Carbonation appears minimal.  Only a few streams of thick bubbles emerge from the bottom of my glass.

The Smell:

Does Great Lakes Brewing Company call this grassroots ale because it smells like grass roots?  Literally, I am talking about the green stuff growing in your backyard.  A whole bunch of earth explodes into your nostrils.  Wheat, hay, and soil.  The herb aromas can be distinguished, notably the lemon basil.  There is a minimal malt aroma, but it is drowned out by the spice rack inside.

The Taste:

Whoah!  Look out.  If you are expecting a Saison reminiscent of Saison Dupont, be prepared for a letdown.  If you are looking for a beer flavor that you have never encountered before, this is the one.  I have a feeling this is one of those beers that may taste very different to different individuals.  Up front a citrus wave hits my palate.  They did not hold back on the herbs.  Ginger, lemon grass, sweet basil, and sage give this a tea-like flavor.  The wheat malts are marginalized incredibly, but they are there adding a pleasant sweetness to help balance out the bitter flavor of the beer. Hops can be distinguished, particularly in the finish of the beer, but are not a major taste factor.

This brew is very hard to describe, and really must be tasted to understand it.

Overall thoughts:

I actually really enjoyed this beer; however, its loud and boisterous personality is like your hyperactive friend you love but can only handle in small doses.  I do wish that there was a bigger malt backbone that translated into a sweeter counterbalance to the herbs, and a little bit of an alcohol flavor.  I bet this beer would be an awesome chicken or fish marinade, for those culinary adventurers out there.

Nate’s Rating:

Overall Satisfaction: ★★¾☆☆ 

Among other Saison Ales: ★★½☆☆