What is a Saison? Any available in S.Cal?

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/129

 

Start with Saison Dupont. Trust me.

 

Lotsa good ones from the Bruery. Saison Dupont, Foret, Saison de Epeautrie. Many others I don't know much about because I'm on the other coast. About 10 stellar examples from Hill Farmstead here in VT if you have an east coast connection.

Saisons (aka farmhouse ales) are light bodied refreshing beers with lots of spicy notes from the yeast or actual spice additions. Some examples, like Fantome, can have some lactic sourness and a bit of funk. IMO, yeast character tastes much better than adding spices, which is why I don't include the popular Hennepin above (uses a fairly neutral yeast and lots of spices). Usually have a fair amount of hop character and a bone dry finish. They tend to be big beers nowadays, but low to moderate ABV is more traditional. I love low alcohol 'table' saisons like Dupont Avril and try to keep a homebrewed equivalent on tap most of the summer.

 

The Longsden Seiszon Brett (they spell it funny) is solid as well

 

Great saisons you can get in So Cal:

Saison Dupont
Upright saisons (they make a bunch)
Logsdon Seizoen/Seizoen Bretta
North Coast Le Merle
Ommegang Hennepin
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
Pretty Things Jack D'Or
Stone/Victory/Dogfish Head Saison du BUFF
Victory Helios

 

Most age wonderfully, at least for 2-3 years.

 

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace

 

[Saisons (aka farmhouse ales) are light bodied refreshing beers with lots of spicy notes from the yeast or actual spice additions. Some examples, like Fantome, can have some lactic sourness and a bit of funk. IMO, yeast character tastes much better than adding spices, which is why I don't include the popular Hennepin above (uses a fairly neutral yeast and lots of spices). usually a fair amount of hop character.....]

I agree with almost everything you've said and I confess that I don't brew so you likely know far more than me about ingredients.

However, I've tried a great many saison's and generally find a very little amount of hop character, which is one of the reasons I find saisons such a nice change from IPAs that I also love.

Please, this is not a rhetorical question and not intended to be sarcastic...enlighten me. What am I missing? Is it the general consensus that there is a large hop character in most saisons and I just don't taste or smell it? Thanks.

 

[quote="GRG1313, post: 450300] What am I missing? Is it the general consensus that there is a large hop character in most saisons and I just don't taste or smell it? Thanks.[/quote]
I'm still trying to get a handle on all of this too. I think the hops are important in saisons but they tend to be the more floral and aromatic types and well and carefully balanced with the full range of beer characteristics from carb to yeast to malt and spices. There's so much emphasis on bitterness and hop-forward in the craft beer trendiverse that it seems to just skew everything until you figure it out a bit. I'm glad I did.

 

I think typically Saisons have a significant hop character as compared to most other Belgian beers. As compared to most American beers (particularly IPAs) their hop character might not seem so substantial.

 

Hilliard's canned Saison is fun!

 

I'm still trying to get a handle on all of this too. I think the hops are important in saisons but they tend to be the more floral and aromatic types and well and carefully balanced with the full range of beer characteristics from carb to yeast to malt and spices. There's so much emphasis on bitterness and hop-forward in the craft beer trendiverse that it seems to just skew everything until you figure it out a bit. I'm glad I did.[/quote]

Not sure I understood what you've said. I'm not talking about balance and I would agree that saisons are exceptionally floral and aromatic. Is this what skivtjerry meant? I took his post to mean what is traditionally spoken of on these forums as "hoppy:" i.e., an assertive bitterness whether of a citrus or pine character and whether bright or dull. When people talk about "hops" they almost always mean the "pineapple" nose and the "bitter" flavor profile.
Saisons have a completely different hop profile. Perhaps Skivtjerry will weigh in on this since he was the one who made or initial observation.

 

Saisons are maybe the most drinkable beers on planet earth. I have rarely had a bad Saison.

It starts with Dupont and then it just keeps evolving. So many others. Fantome is the master.

 

Thank you but help me out here. What is the hop character to which you refer?? Please, describe what you're talking about. What is your definition of "hop character?" I'm not trying to be a jerk here; trying to learn.

 

I just studied the "Hops" information in the Beer 101 section of this site. I can see where hops can be spicy and floral but the primary characteristic is bitter. Perhaps it's just me but I'd never describe any of the saison's I've tried as "bitter." So, I guess for me I just don't consider a saison in the "hoppy" arena. Just my experience and my palate.

 

I am surprise Fantome has not appeared in caps in this thread so for the benefit of general public:

F A N T O M E

 

Not sure I understood what you've said. I'm not talking about balance and I would agree that saisons are exceptionally floral and aromatic. Is this what skivtjerry meant? I took his post to mean what is traditionally spoken of on these forums as "hoppy:" i.e., an assertive bitterness whether of a citrus or pine character and whether bright or dull. When people talk about "hops" they almost always mean the "pineapple" nose and the "bitter" flavor profile.
Saisons have a completely different hop profile. Perhaps Skivtjerry will weigh in on this since he was the one who made or initial observation.[/quote]

Hop additions to saisons are almost invariably 'noble' or English types. Saaz, East Kent Goldings, Styrian Goldings are the most common. The flavor/aroma is herbal, floral and spicy so it blends with the yeast character somewhat. Saisons are certainly not IPA hoppy, more like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale hoppy. IBU is typically 35 or so, about half of most IPA's, but pretty substantial compared to most beers. Dry hopping was common in the past but now a bunch of hops right at flameout is typical. You won't find pine and grapefruit here, just the 'European' flavors (maybe a hint of lemon or tangerine sometimes). So I still say saisons are hoppy, just a different hoppy than what many Americans recognize.

I'll likely be accused of overgeneralizing here. One trademark of saisons is that their flavors are all over the place and there are indeed 1 or 2 that aren't very hoppy - usually the ones that add a lot of spices.

 

Tried quite a few Fantome but imho there are a lot of saisons that are just as good if not better.