Red Sky at Night (Clipper City Brewing Company)

This is my first review of one of the Heavy Seas beers from Clipper City Brewing Company. The Red Sky at Night... is their newest release, and a good place to start. Eventually, I will work my way through this line of beer from the Baltimore, Maryland brewery.

The label on the Red Sky at Night... says the following (read with pirate voice), "This here pounder has a fine layer of yeast at her bottom. It won't send you to Davy Jones' locker, but will protect your brew from the rigors of life at sea!"

It also says the following (read without pirate voice), "A sailor's delight - and even a landlubber's! Red Sky at Night is not red, its a saison - a Belgian farmhouse style ale. Imported Belgian yeast, candi sucre, and wheat malt deliver a refreshing yet intensely spicy and fruity ale."

The term, "Red Sky at Night", refers to an old sailor's term relating to a red sky at night ("sailor's delight"), or smooth sailing with fair weather. This was the opposite of "Red Sky in Morning", which resulted in, "sailor take warning", or bad weather and, of course, sailing that day.

Pours a light, golden color. Was I expecting something red? Maybe just a little, but then again, I didn't really read the bottle. Well, this one is a clean yellowish color with about a half finger of foam at the top.

Smell is spicy and yeasty. A saison is a Belgian farmhouse ale and this beer definitely does a great job of fitting every required taste and smell to be considered such. Its a bit peppery and definitely has that Belgian yeast smell to it.

Taste is rich, fruity with hints of spice at the end. Wow, this is an outstanding beer. Its just so well rounded. It starts out sweet and just finishes in a way that makes me think its an imported Belgian saison but yet so much fresher. Served nice and cold its a very, very drinkable beer. I love all the flavors the Red Sky at Night imparts; spices, yeast and dark fruits. This is an excellent beer. These Heavy Seas beers keep on impressing me!

BEER FACTS

Name: Red Sky at Night...

Style: Belgian Farmhouse or Saison Ale

Brewery: Clipper City Brewing Company

Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: Pils, Carapils, and wheat malts

Hops: Magnum and Syrian Goldings

ABV: 7.25%

IBUs: ?

The Heavy Seas Collection is:

Small Craft Warning Über pils - Strong Pilsner (Year Round)

Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale - India Pale Ale (Year Round)

Peg Leg Stout - Imperial Stout (Year Round)

Holy Sheet - Strong, Dark Belgian Ale (February Release)

Red Sky at Night - Saison Ale (May Release)

Hang Ten - Weizen Dopplebock (July Release)

Winter Storm - ESB (mid-October Release)

Below Decks - Barleywine (December Release)