Beer Review: Schlafly Tropical Saison

Schlafly, the brewery that started the Missouri craft beer revolution, recent re-released their Tropical Saison. I had tried it the last time it was released (as part of a fruit pack I think) and wanted to see if they were able to improve on a pretty decent beer.

ABV: 7.50%
IBU: 15
Style: Belgian Saison
Brewery Description: Let the waves of relaxation lap upon your shores as the sound of palm trees blow in the wind. Then welcome in your new favorite beachside buddy. Tropical Saison is a combination of a slight tart flavor and loads of juicy tropical fruit. It has all of the saison sophistication you know and love, cuddled up next to a blend of passionfruit in a beachside cabana. Pair it with a summer breeze and an afternoon in a hammock, and you may just find yourself in paradise.

Purchased as a 6 pack from a liquor store. The brewery does have it available to go (I think; it’s a little hard to tell from their site). Poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a very clear orange and left a small amount of off-white head. The head dissipated quickly and left very little lacing.

Smell: The passionfruit is very strong on the nose. If you try, you can get hints of caramel, malt, and yeast.

Taste: Like the smell, you get strong, sweet passionfruit right off the bat. There is a little caramel and floral notes once you get past the sweetness.

Mouth: The mouthfeel is very crisp and dry. You get a little hint of pepper, like most Belgian Saisons. The finish is more tart than many saisons that don’t include Brettanomyces.

Overall: It’s a solid beer. It would be very easy to say this is close to sour territory. This is a good beer for people who don’t like the hop bitterness of IPAs but want something more than you standard macro lager.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5. It’s not something I’d specifically seek out, but I’d drink one if I saw it.