Tripel vs. Saison

Just off the top of my head, I'd say there's much less of a yeasty, estery mouthfeel and taste in a tripel, and it's sweeter and can be more hopped than a saison. I agree though that sometimes these beers, and many others, can be hard to differentiate.

 

I find that saisons tend to be much earthier and funkier at times, compared to tripels. Tripels have much more candi-sweetness going on. I love them both, but prefer tripels.

 

In general, saisons are very dry, have less malt presence, more perceived bitterness, lower perception of alcohol, are more carbonated, and are more likely to have some sort of wild yeast influence.

A saison should be refreshing. More refreshing than a Wit or Tripel, and would make a great replacement for a pilsner during the summer. They can be similar to Orval, or a lower gravity Duvel, but also some can seem like a drier more refreshing Tripel.

 

On the surface, the two styles do have a lot of similarities. Both should be light in color, moderate in mouthfeel, and should have a nice, sturdy head. The differences start to appear in the taste though. Tripels are, for the most part, spicy, fruity, and sweet. Saisons are just such *****s - and typically don't adhere to the strict style guidelines that tripels do. They can really be anything and everything. Predominant flavors can be earthy, funky, tart, as well as just your typical barnyard hay kinda thing. But I think ultimately, in my opinion, saisons tend to be a lot dryer than tripels.

 

Definitely some crossover territory here - see Tide and her Takers
Not sure if a Saison can be over 8.5%, but Tripels can go to 10+

 

Saison is a style that is pretty diverse (use of spices/airborne yeast complexity). They were used as a nice dry and refreshing brew for farmers in the summer months and had around 3 - 6 percent ABV.

Tripels are pretty much just a strong pale ale. I believe it might have gotten the name from the use of three times the malt to make up the Gravity of the brew.

 

Another difference is that saisons have added ingredients more often than tripels. For example, I recently had Dogfish Head's Saison du Buff which has parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.

 

Tripels just have triple the abv. But otherwise... they are basically the exact same thing.

 

It was touched on above, but one huge difference is the amount of carbonation. Saisons are generally one of the most highly carbonated styles out there (especially brett saisons, but even non-brett varieties). Whereas tripels are fairly low on the carbonation scale.

 

No. Not at all.

 

Saisons can have more complex grain bills, whereas tripels are typically just pils malt. Saisons seldom use candi sugar, which tripels use pretty consistently. Saison yeast, as well, is a little more volatile & can throw off more spicy phenols & fruity esters.

Saisons vary so widely that a part of their "territory" can overlap with & resemble tripels.

 

I have to say that the answers in this thread are so diverse and non-comprehensive that I don't think anyone has clarified this issue for @BeerZombies1. I have my opinions of the differences between the styles, but I fear that within the current backdrop of conflicting responses it won't be any more conclusive. Therefore I will just link to published reference materials for the styles.

BA's description of saison: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/129/
BA's description of tripel: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/58/

Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) style guidlines (see page 22 for Saison and 27 for [Belgian] Tripel): http://www.bjcp.org/docs/2008_Guidelines.pdf

 

Saison was never a style, it was just the beer brewed for quenching the thirst of farm workers later in the season.Almost all around 3 or 4% ABV for drinking in very large quantitites.Their equivalents in England were allowed 17 pints a day.

 

I've tried my share of Saisons and Tripels. They don't taste the same at all. I really like Tripels, but don't care for Saisons. Don't confuse Tripels with Belgian Strong Pale Ale, they're nothing alike. To me Tripels taste more like Imperial Witbiers.

 

I hear craft people say all the time that they don't care for saisons, which I think is crazy! I think they are the most underrated style of beer. Their beauty is in their subtlety, and the fact that they pair well with almost any food. Seriously, get a few saisons and serve them with your next fancy meal! So good!

 

Tripel: strong golden belgian ale, typically spiced, often brewed by abbeys.

Saison: generally less strong, sometimes golden/sometimes not, Belgian ale with an earthy, funk element, heavy citrus and w a heavier use of hops than most other Belgian styles.

 

The one word I'd generally use to describe Tripels is "rich." Saisons tend to be somewhat light and refreshing, while Tripels are heavier and sweeter.