BUFF == Brewers United for Freedom of Flavor. The Brewers == Dogfishead, Victory and Stone. Whoa whoa whoa whoa. This is a heavy hitter prepared to body slam your tongue. The brewers dug deep into the spice cabinet and poured them in without shame or hesitation. You’ll thank them for bringing the ‘pain’.

Brewery Home: San Diego County, CA (Stone Brewing)

Serving Style: 12oz into Belgian beer glass

Beer Style: Saison

Appearance: A whispy white head rests atop a light straw gold body. The head falls gently back into the body with echoes of lacing around the glass.

Aroma: WHOA. HOLY SPICE THIS IS NICE. Not subtle. Brilliant aroma that rocks you with pepper, sage and herb. Some whiffs remind me of a spicy candied ginger and lemon?

Taste: Big, bold and beautifully refreshing. Haha! Weird, but the very first edge of a sip reminds me of a massive ginger beer I homebrewed a while back. Richly herbal and bright the flavor tickles my nose with an excellent balance of the spice rack. The back end settles down and leaves you with a surprisingly clean pepper-y kick of a saison (with a twist of belgian style hot-alcohol perhaps?) that you crave. Carbonation is maybe a little lower than I’d like, but doesn’t detract from anything. This is a dangerously, dangerously good summer beer.

ABV: 6.8%

Drink one or all?: None. Leave it all for me.

Cost: $3/bottle (12oz)

Overall: 19/20