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Beer Reviews

Rabid Rabbit

Other reviews for this beer:
Jill Jaracz		read it ›

Three Floyds Brewing Co.
Munster, IN
USA
http://threefloyds.com/

Style: Saison
ABV: 7.4%

Eddie’s Rating:
   (Outstanding within its style.)


Comments:
Saisons are beers you probably don’t run into often, unless you’re out romping around the southern Belgian countryside … a century ago. Like many historical styles, saisons were household staples, in this case brewed as spring rolled around, made with a strength to last through the summer but light in body to quench the thirst of hard-working farmers and their families. Being Belgians, these brews usually sport funky spices and weird adjuncts like oats and sugar. In his ground-breaking book The Brewmaster’s Table, Garrett Oliver describes the world’s most famous saison, Saison Dupont, as “a beer that makes Veuve Clicquot taste like Champale.” I’ve never had Champale before, but I’m assuming from Mr. Oliver’s tone that it tastes like rancid ass. Well, let’s see how Three Floyd’s take on the saison, Rabid Rabbit, stacks up. Not to Champale, but to the other few saisons out there.

It pours a hazy, nearly straw-like gold with a subdued head—about half a finger’s worth. Not the best head for a saison, but that’s just nitpicking. The aroma erupts out of the glass, easily evident from a good five feet away: Belgian yeastiness and peppery spiciness right out front, with some grassy notes deeper in. The initial sip is light notes of grassy malt, then an almost mouth-puckering acidity. That tartness coupled with some powerful carbonation and light body make the Rabid Rabbit one refreshing brew. And as the beer warms (I poured it a bit too cold) the grassy character from early in the sipping opens up until it tastes exactly like fresh cut hay.

With Three Floyds being the anarchic architects behind this brew, a few misinformed souls might expect big time hops, but behind all that grassy malt and tartness I couldn’t detect much of a hop profile. Even so, the folks in Munster have hit an esoteric style dead-on while still giving it a personal twist. This is what makes a great beer, and Rabid Rabbit is no exception. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Eddie Glick on April 2, 2008.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

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