Weyerbacher Seventeen

Weyerbacher Seventeen

As far as I know, Weyerbacher only has one rule.  Their anniversary beers must be at least 10% ABV.  This  saison fits the bill, coming in at 10.5% ABV.  At first, this struck me as odd.  Everything I knew (which is not a whole lot) about the history of saison led me to believe that saisons were normally low in ABV, and were brewed as a refreshment for farmers in Belgium.  I had a taster of this beer at the brewery, and was very impressed.  I couldn't wait to get home to fully appreciate this beer!

Weyerbacher Seventeen pours a golden straw color, with a small head that quickly dissipates.  Not much lacing on this one.  On the nose, wow, tons of citrus!  Spice too!  Taking a drink, I get a mix of lemon and alcohol, which turns spicy and leaves my mouth with a peppery aftertaste.  The alcohol is there, but I enjoy it in this one.  For me, this is very drinkable for 10.5% ABV.  The mouthfeel is not too heavy, and doesn't fill me up.  I'm not sure what food I would pair this with, but I would definitely save it for after dinner, maybe as a pre-dessert treat.  

Get your hands on this one if you can, once it's gone, it's gone!

Grade:  A-