This is my first beer from locavores New England Brewing Co, based in Northern Tablelands small town, Uralla. And what a beer to start with, a Farmhouse Ale, traditionally made and drunk by French and Belgian farmers to wash away a hard day’s toil in the fields. Well I’d just mowed the lawn, so I thought I was as deserving as anyone!

Bottle from The Robin Hood Hotel bottle shop. Pours honey coloured, slightly unusual for a saison, with a frothy white head that dissipates quickly. Heady aromas of cinnamon, pepper, clove, banana, fennel, fruit salad and ester. The palate begins with stone fruit and malt sweetness, leading towards a long spicy middle, abundant with pepper, fennel, clove, honey and some banana esters. Quite a bitter finish. which begs for another glass and means the 600ml bottle  disappears quickly. The quickly dissipating head is explained by a low level of carbonation, which I love.

A delicious beer I’ll be drinking again, as well as sourcing the rest of the New England range.

Appearance 3/5
Aroma 8/10
Flavour 8/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 15/20