Toolbox Brewing Company Saison Rustique Framboise
What the brewers say
“Our Rustic Saison base containing barley, spelt, rye, and oats fermented for six months in French oak red wine and chardonnay barrels with fresh, whole California raspberries added. Bottle conditioned for an additional four months.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Juicy raspberries without being overly sweet, but the color threw me for a loop since it’s not red or pink at all. Lemon citrus, shortbread, slight herbal, and some acidic notes.”
Flavor: “Screams raspberry with low-to-moderate sweetness that quickly transitions into high acidity. Huge tart raspberry esters pull everything together. Some nice bready notes and subtle funkiness provide support to balance things out.”
Overall: “Lots of raspberry with a bit of bready malt behind it. While the strong acidity isn’t my favorite for this style, the fruit is well blended with the sourness. For those who like raspberry sours, this is the one for you.”
