Chevalier Saison
Bridge Road Brewers
- From:
- Bridge Road Brewers
- Australia
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.77 | pDev: 8.49%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 27
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Jun 09, 2018
- Added:
- May 16, 2007
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
The Saison is a classic Belgian style, not often seen outside of its homeland. It was traditionally brewed by farmers and their workers as a beverage to consume during the summer months.
This beer is quite unique, light straw in colour, with a tight bright white head. Aromas are dominated by esters and phenolic characters, owing to the Saison yeast strain, which also gives the beer its characteristic tart, dry and acidic profile.
This citrus character combined with grassy hop flavours makes this a great food beer, try it with anything from seafood to blue cheese.
This beer is quite unique, light straw in colour, with a tight bright white head. Aromas are dominated by esters and phenolic characters, owing to the Saison yeast strain, which also gives the beer its characteristic tart, dry and acidic profile.
This citrus character combined with grassy hop flavours makes this a great food beer, try it with anything from seafood to blue cheese.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
3.75/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Soft golden and hazy with little carbonation, and 6 fingers of white head.
Smells of phenols, gold leafs, candy, pears, and sugar.
Tastes of phenols, ripe yellow pears, and toffee.
Light body, with little carbonation.
Got in Chiang Mai where I am drinking it, June 9th, 2018. Decent brew.
Jun 09, 2018Smells of phenols, gold leafs, candy, pears, and sugar.
Tastes of phenols, ripe yellow pears, and toffee.
Light body, with little carbonation.
Got in Chiang Mai where I am drinking it, June 9th, 2018. Decent brew.
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4.06/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
In the five weeks that I've been gone from Chicago, I've been on a mission to try brewers who don't get distribution in Illinois. So, I've been been drinking hoppy beers from the Bay Area, NZ and now Australia. Since most are young brewers, they tend to rely on hops to sell enough beers to make it in the marketplace. Understandably it is to difficult a process to cultivate Belgian yeasts.
My dilemma is I am a Belgo-phile and I was really starting to miss my favorite stuff.
Along comes Chevalier. And saves the day. Bridge Road has been brewing this Saison for ten years and it shows. Wonderfully yeasty. Fruity in the nose. Full in the Taste. Soft, soft, soft in the mouth. Best yet, it went very well with Greek food; cutting through the oils, complementing the spices.
Who will step-up and distribute Chevalier in Chicago ?
Chevalier is reviewed at more length on BA and in Roger Prosts' "300 More Beers To Try Before You Die!" and he notes how this homebrewer also opened a restaurant with his wife. It shows.
Jan 24, 2018My dilemma is I am a Belgo-phile and I was really starting to miss my favorite stuff.
Along comes Chevalier. And saves the day. Bridge Road has been brewing this Saison for ten years and it shows. Wonderfully yeasty. Fruity in the nose. Full in the Taste. Soft, soft, soft in the mouth. Best yet, it went very well with Greek food; cutting through the oils, complementing the spices.
Who will step-up and distribute Chevalier in Chicago ?
Chevalier is reviewed at more length on BA and in Roger Prosts' "300 More Beers To Try Before You Die!" and he notes how this homebrewer also opened a restaurant with his wife. It shows.
Reviewed by Decko from Australia
3.44/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A: cloudy straw yellow in the glass with light head which faded fairly quickly. S: Plenty of fruit but I found it hard to settle on exactly what, little bit of spice too. T: Light on flavour with spice the most notable aftertaste and a dry finish. M: High carbonation is the main experience, bit too much at first. O: Only my 2nd or 3rd Saison and I'm not a huge fan of the brew. This one was fine and would probably be sessionable in summer if it weren't for the level of carbonation. Interesting enugh flavours but I wouldn't go for it over a porter, pale ale, IPA or a bunch of other brews.
Sep 03, 2017
Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia
4.12/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Doing my (now) occasional wander through Dan Murphy’s I happened upon a certain Bridge Road I had yet to review, this Chevalier Saison, which did surprise me as I am quite fond of both Bridge Road and Saisons. They may not be the best brewer in the world, or indeed Australia, but their Chestnut Pilsner is IMHO a classic beer which I’ve always enjoyed. Here’s the rub: Saison is a style I’ve not had nailed by an Aussie brewer yet - it is indeed a difficult style to replicate due to the over-reliance on finicky yeast (I know, I’ve tried to homebrew one, it was a disaster). That said if any Australian brewer can nail a Saison I’m sure Bridge Road can.
Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.
A: Cloudy pale straw body with a massive 4 cm bleached white head that slowly recedes to a still decent 2 cm. Very much spot on Saison appearance, I’m giving it as good a score as Dupont here. 8/10.
S: Barnyard hay funk right on the nose with flourishes of apple/pear esters and musty yeast round out the aroma - this is about as Belgian as a beer can smell without actually being from Belgium - colour me impressed (which takes on an overall purple/gold hue). 9/10.
T: “The yeast is strong with this one” - Darth Brettanomyces. That said the yeast isn’t tarting up the brew like most yeast-driven beers it is more on the musty/dry/white wine style of yeast. Other flavours noted are: Cider apple with a slight orange juice citric note, and some Champagne Brut characters - quite a vinous Saison here, but in a good way. Refreshing on a hot summers day, and the Saison style was originally devised for parched hard working farmers, we owe a great debt to them! 8/10.
M: Mid to light bodied with a light but sharp carbonation - right in the Saison zone. 8/10.
D: So we Aussies can brew a half decent Saison. Chevalier is proof enough for me. Although it wasn’t a perfect replication as it could have used more funk in the flavour and less dry/musty/wine characters. Still in a blind taste test with Belgian Saisons I would be hard pressed to pick the Australian pretender, and that in itself is a major accomplishment by Bridge Road, bravo sirs, and at $14 a 750ml bottle it’s $1 cheaper than Saison Dupont (though I would pay that extra dollar for Dupont any day of the week). 8/10.
Food match: The bottle label recommends scallops or cheese platter - sounds about right to me.
Feb 26, 2016Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.
A: Cloudy pale straw body with a massive 4 cm bleached white head that slowly recedes to a still decent 2 cm. Very much spot on Saison appearance, I’m giving it as good a score as Dupont here. 8/10.
S: Barnyard hay funk right on the nose with flourishes of apple/pear esters and musty yeast round out the aroma - this is about as Belgian as a beer can smell without actually being from Belgium - colour me impressed (which takes on an overall purple/gold hue). 9/10.
T: “The yeast is strong with this one” - Darth Brettanomyces. That said the yeast isn’t tarting up the brew like most yeast-driven beers it is more on the musty/dry/white wine style of yeast. Other flavours noted are: Cider apple with a slight orange juice citric note, and some Champagne Brut characters - quite a vinous Saison here, but in a good way. Refreshing on a hot summers day, and the Saison style was originally devised for parched hard working farmers, we owe a great debt to them! 8/10.
M: Mid to light bodied with a light but sharp carbonation - right in the Saison zone. 8/10.
D: So we Aussies can brew a half decent Saison. Chevalier is proof enough for me. Although it wasn’t a perfect replication as it could have used more funk in the flavour and less dry/musty/wine characters. Still in a blind taste test with Belgian Saisons I would be hard pressed to pick the Australian pretender, and that in itself is a major accomplishment by Bridge Road, bravo sirs, and at $14 a 750ml bottle it’s $1 cheaper than Saison Dupont (though I would pay that extra dollar for Dupont any day of the week). 8/10.
Food match: The bottle label recommends scallops or cheese platter - sounds about right to me.
Reviewed by Gusmotel from Singapore
4.22/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.22/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on Tap at Cookie in Melbourne, Australia on Melbourne Cup Day!
A: Hazy, creamy, brilliant (in the sun) yellowish gold colour. Solid 1 finger head that faded away after about 5 minutes into a solid lace.
S: Mix of yeast, fruit, and sour. Little funky, smelled delicious.
T: Sweet and sour with some unknown spice (my palate isn't there yet). A little acidic, but not bitter at all.
MF: Creamy, ale, light to medium bodied and bubbly, but not overly so.
Overall: A lovely beer for a day out in Melbourne. Was just sweet and sour enough to add to it's complexity and keep the drink interesting from the first to last sip. If I see it on tap again, I will definitely order one.
Nov 06, 2013A: Hazy, creamy, brilliant (in the sun) yellowish gold colour. Solid 1 finger head that faded away after about 5 minutes into a solid lace.
S: Mix of yeast, fruit, and sour. Little funky, smelled delicious.
T: Sweet and sour with some unknown spice (my palate isn't there yet). A little acidic, but not bitter at all.
MF: Creamy, ale, light to medium bodied and bubbly, but not overly so.
Overall: A lovely beer for a day out in Melbourne. Was just sweet and sour enough to add to it's complexity and keep the drink interesting from the first to last sip. If I see it on tap again, I will definitely order one.
Reviewed by soju6 from Missouri
3.77/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
On tap @ Bridge Road.
A: Served a hazy light golden color with a nice head that fades to lacing.
S: Aroma of grapefruit, yeast, herbs and bit of sweetness in the background.
T: Taste is tart, with some herbs and fruit,with a bit of malt sweetness.
F: Medium body, with a smooth texture and nice balance.
O: Quite enjoyable beer.
May 30, 2013A: Served a hazy light golden color with a nice head that fades to lacing.
S: Aroma of grapefruit, yeast, herbs and bit of sweetness in the background.
T: Taste is tart, with some herbs and fruit,with a bit of malt sweetness.
F: Medium body, with a smooth texture and nice balance.
O: Quite enjoyable beer.
Reviewed by foles from Australia
4.22/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.22/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Growler from the IBS in Perth. Pours a lovely yellow, clear with a touch of haziness. Nice looking beer. Nice spicy yeast character on the nose. And that follows on the palate. Dry but not mouth-puckering. A great saison here. I enjoyed every sip. Great balance and one of the highlights of my weekend!
Aug 05, 2012
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