1840 Brewing Company Contessa, Table for One

“Noble-hop notes in the aroma are balanced by a nice dose of crackery malt. Moderate toasty malt gives way to a floral, earthy, green-tea hop finish. Malt body is a bit flabby, stripping away some of the more gentle hop character. Moderate sweetness lingers.”

“Restrained nose, sweet and slightly savory with ginger, scallion or chive blossom, sake wine. Citrus more apparent in the flavor: pineapple, orange, pear. Herbal hops add complexity. Fruity accentuated by tart, not quite sour, notes.”

**Aroma:** “Moderate peppery note with light fruity esters. As it warms, a big grapefruit note. Low pale malt presence. Tangerine, guava, and white grape. This has a strong white-wine character to it. Some underlying earthy hops.” **Flavor:** “Moderate grapefruit flavor with a tartness and spiciness that extend into the aftertaste. Moderate bitterness and moderate carbonation. Hops dominate this beer. Huge white-wine character that’s citrusy and tropical. Seems like it would be sweet, but overall sweetness is fairly low and transitions into a pleasant acidity and bitterness. Dry finish is very clean with a touch of bitterness.” **Overall:** “Would like a bit more balance in the spiciness and a little less carbonation. Mild astringent notes toward the end of the sip linger into the aftertaste. Very fruity even for a saison with a big white-wine character and underlying citrus and tropcial fruit. Dry finish makes this very drinkable.”