Best American-Brewed Saisons?

First, I love saisons, so I'm into this thread.

Second, I don't necessarily agree with the unqualified statement that Europe "crushes it" when it comes to saisons. The vast majority of classic, highly regarded saisons may have and do come from Europe, but American saison production has really flourished especially in the last five years and there appears to be no end in sight, so the game is changing. DuPont is still DuPont and always will be, but American saisons are getting insanely good, more and more available, and doing things that European saisons aren't*.

And finally, I often say this but it's worth discussing two different strains of American-made saisons: classically-styled, non-wild saisons (Hennepin, Tank 7, Sorachi Ace, Helios, etc.) in one sub-category, and funky or otherwise experimental saisons (Prairie, Jester King, Side Project, Hill Farmstead) in another.



*And yes, of course I recognize there are exceptions. These are just broad generalizations.

 

I thought Helios was a brett saison, is that not what is meant by "wild"? It's getting so ubiquitous and accordingly well known and predictable-- domesticated & therefore no longer "wild"--that I could understand that. Or am I mistaken about brett in Helios?

But I think your categorization makes sense.

 

Forgot about about Opal.....that definitely should have been on my list.

 

Sante Adairius - Bernice

Hill Farmstead - Ann / Art

Anchorage - Rondy Brew

Grassroots - Brother Soigne

Crooked Stave - Surette

Prarie - Merica

De Garde - Saison Premiere

Tired Hands - HandFarm

Side Project - Saison du Fermier

 

Actually, I think you're right--scratch that one. It's still a great beer, and I think it might be pasteurized and/or filtered prior to bottling (though I could be wrong about that, too). Man, I wish they'd put it in sixers.

 

Loved Burning Rosids. Tank 7 is up there for me as well.

 

OEC!!!!!!
Crooked Stave
Hillfarm

 

My favs:

Crooked Stave Surette
River North J Marie
Bruery Saison Rue
Jester King Das Wunderkind
Boulevard Saison Brett

 

Tank 7
Philisophizer
Sofie

are my favorites

 

It sure sounds like you are knocking the others! Perhaps someone can simply like a different saison than you.
I've liked the small amount of Hill Farmstead saisons I've had and I'd happily drink them again, but I'm also happy playing little league with the saisons I like more. There is far less pressure to use performance enhancing drugs in little league and that suits me well.

I can't tell you what beers are "above" another, but I just don't look at the picture that way. A good amount of my favorite saisons are from Europe, and I have yet to try an American beer that can substitute for these. Why don't you look to Shaun Hill to see what you might be "missing?" Here he is describing his favorite:

Personally, I find the beers made at Brasserie de Blaugies to be delicious. @Plower , based on your other posts, you seem to have some internal conflict regarding brewery reputations. I'm being very presumptuous, but if it's honest, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

(All of my favorite US saisons have already been mentioned in the thread.)

 

Shaun Hill

 

Hill Farmstead...assuming you feel like going through the trouble to get it.
For the ones with a bit more availability, I like the normal saison from Funkwerks and just about anything from Crooked Stave and Casey. Trinity might be run by a bunch of lunatics, but they have some excellents ones, too.

 

Colorado is killing it with the saisons

Casey Brewing and Blending
Funkwerks
Crooked Stave

Love em!

Hill Farmstead is okay too

 

My personal favorites,
Saison Athene
Tank 7
Hennepin
Handfarm, or pretty much anything coming from Tired Hands in this category.

 

Crooked Stave
Casey
Hill Farmstead
Side Project
SARA
Logsdon
Prairie
Grassroots

Honorable mentions: de Garde, Tired Hands, Jester King, Lost Nation, Funkwerks, Stillwater, Boulevard

 

do you even 'tome bro?

 

Grassroots Brother Soigne. Bomb diggity.

 

No need to be a wise guy. Is anyone going to show me or LINK the European Saison that is on par with Hill Farmstead stuff? I fly from Texas to Boston, then drive to Vermont to get Hill Farmstead. That's because I'm willing to put some money in this game to play with the big boys, the brewers who are the franchise players in this game. When you guys say European Saison crushes American Saison you are spitting not only in the face of American brewers but also myself. If Europe had such amazing saisons I'm sure I'd have heard of them and have been flying there instead.

 

Pretty much my list to a T.

Have been increasingly impressed with Casey's East Bank and Saison. They're becoming much more recognized and rightly so.

Funkwerks is another locally accessible favorite along with Crooked Stave. Also find myself regularly picking up Goose Island's Sofie.

 

Plenty of "franchise players" don't require a six-hour flight followed by a four-hour drive.

And if you really wanted to "put some money in this game", a flight to Europe makes a flight to Boston and drive to Vermont look like chump change.

That said, I have no opinion on whether or not American or European saisons are better. I like both.