Are saisons common in your area?

It's definitely a style that seems to have had a resurgence as of late. I can go to my local bottle shops and see many examples of the style, from traditional to wacky. Also seem to be seeing many more on tap as well.

 

We get a decent amount of them down here in FL and I've been seeing more of them this year. I think the weather down here is perfect for them. However, come to think of it, I can't get any of them at my local grocery store either (Publix or Winn-Dixie in FL is like your Kroger). Try a liquor or specialty beer store.

 

it seems to be showing up here in Texas lately ... not by the 100s or anything crazy, but there's at least a handful of farmhouse ales brewed in state (including a true session ale):

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24018/75930

 

Fair variety available in my neck of the Massachusetts woods. Tank 7 in most stores, Pretty Things, Smutty, SorachinAce, etc.Saw Saison Brett from Boulvard recently.

 

Dupont and Sorachi Ace are always available. Hennepin and the Victory Saisons - Swing Session and Helios - are plentiful when out. Mostly it's the common belgian stuff at the right grocery store here on the western side of PA.

 

I've seen them more and more in my area, from Belgian examples to American versions. They are sure making a comeback (as already mentioned). I just wish that brewer's would make them more traditional.

The saisons coming out today are too tame for my traditional tastes. Saisons were historically made with a solid bittering addition of 50+ IBUs to help ward off bacteria like lactobacillus and pediococcus. That's why Dupont has that crisp, dry feel to it, because of the fresh hops they used at the end of harvest to make the beer during their celebration in early fall near the end of September, or beginning of October. Then they'd wait until spring and open the casks to awaken the lively spirits of the Spring! Would have been great to see that at the end of Lent.

cheers
harry

 

Not that they stack up to the aforementioned beers but Sam Adams have had saisons for the last two seasonal variety packs

 

A wonderful assortment of saisons is always available around here. Our version, done with Dupont yeast, plentiful Nelson hops, and both a Bretted and non-Bretted version, is due to be brewed in two weeks. Love this style.

 

They dont seem to be that common in regular sized bottles or in 4 packs. Seems they are mostly bombers only.

 

Depending on your distro, and off the top of my head, I see Dupont, Hennepin, Victory stuff, Tank 7, and some others that I'm surely forgetting in small bottles around here. Seems like availability of 4/6pks of saisons has gotten better in recent years.

 

Saisons that I regularly see in 12 ounce bottles (4/6 packs): Hennepin, Sofie, Stillwater Cellar Door, Stillwater Stateside, Victory Swing (spring seasonal).

Cheers!

 

Tons of Saisons on shelves around here, both Belgian and North American.

 

I think the problem is that the OP is looking at a supermarket for a fairly obscure style. Now, I don't know exactly the retail scene for beer in that area, but a supermarket by necessity will carry a limited amount of SKUs, and as a business will only carry those that will turn over fairly quickly and sell quickly.
If you (OP) look at a specialty beer / liquor store, I'm sure you'll find more specialty beers available.

 

Depends on the area/market though. Supermarkets here in Iowa are usually the best places to find specialty beer. Usually more so than a liquor store. Completely different than say, Minnesota, where a liquor store is the only place you'll find specialty beer. Depends on state liquor laws, etc.

 

Not many WI breweries make Saisons, but there are some distributed from other sates/countries that I can find.

 

How did you scan my brain to figure out the most awesome variation on a saison I'd want to try? Cowiche Canyon should be coming out before too long

OP, saisons are plentiful out here in the Pacific NW, including a bunch from some "local" breweries that rival anything I've had from Belgium. My two favorites are Logsdon and Upright (anything from them really), although I'm sure there are a few other great ones I haven't tried yet. Boulevard Saison-Brett is also a wonderful option you should be able to get in Memphis (I always stock up every year), though at around $10/bottle I'm starting to favor Logsdon Seizoen Bretta over Boulevard, which now runs around $15.

 

they are quite common here in NYC, both belgian and american, both on tap and in stores, and for that I am extremely grateful.
slowly becoming my favorite beer style. that is all subject to change when it gets cold out, but i've been enjoying them religiously for the past few months.

 

Tons. Everything from straight up classic styles to funky out there interpretations. I love saisons, but they are certainly not for everyone.