Some beers get it right right from the jump, and Hennepin is squarely in that category. From the first sniff to the last sip, it embodies what we think of in a Saison, with darn little to pick at.
It pours a beautiful gold with a rocky white head and a light haze. The aroma is rich with citrus (orange), passion fruit, a moderate barny funk, and a grainy baseline against which to field the different scents.
The flavor is reminiscent of the aroma, but adds subtle notes of lemon, increased breadiness, and notes of grains of paradise. The finish is dry, as it should be, and the barnyard note lingers in the aftertaste. You can practically see the sun hitting the fields and feel yourself sitting in the shade and leaning against the side of the barn as the French sunshine fades into dusk. The flavor and aroma really are that evocative. A nitpicky drinker might call it a little too subtle, and call its chimera of aromas and flavors too complicated or muddled, but...well, in this reviewer's mind, they're wrong.
This is a world-class example of its style from a brewery that makes some of the best Belgian-inspired beers in the world. Get it now, and keep it on hand as an effervescent and smooth-drinking reminder of what great beer can be.