Saison/Farmhouse Preference

My standard go to is the Commons Urban Farmhouse. Light and goes well with anything. A good, easily available beer would be Duvel.

 

I prefer higher abv. It might just be in my head but it seems lower abv beers taste watery. Make sure you give tank 7 a chance it's my favorite readily available Saison.

 

Just trade for Hill Farmstead shelf saisons and you will find saison bliss. Anna, Arthur, Florence, Nordic, etc. Also look into Grassroots Convival Suarez and Brother Siogne. Those brews will change your mind about saison.

 

Boulevards tank 7 and saison-Brett are great.
Goose islands sofie is another good readily available saison.
Victory helios also....

 

Saison Brett is without a doubt my favorite too bad it's not year round.

 

I prefer the lower abv with a little fruit/spiciness and less acidic/tartness. The HF bottles I've had in the past were enjoyable but not suited to my tastes. I'll plug Two Roads Worker's Comp. It's the only standout in their regular line-up.

 

I prefer the lower abv just because I can drink more before getting snookered.

Allagash White at 5% is just the perfect combination of refreshment, flavors and lower abv for me.

 

i perfer them aged in wine barrels

one i highly recommend is Anchorage Love Buzz! i put than up agains the best for sure

 

If you have access to it, Fantôme Saison is hard to beat.

 

If it is a good batch...

 

I tend to like Farmhouse ales that are a little on the funky side with a lower IBU.

 

I understand the Fantôme caution, but I have never had a bad one. I believe Dany when he says the problem is solved -- and it has been 2-3 years. In fact, I recently received a Belgium in a Box order that consisted of nothing but Fantôme, and each has been great.

 

For me anyway its around 5%-6% and Spring Blonde by New Belgium Brewing is my absolute fav.

 

No matter the abv the saison should come in big bottles. There should be no alcohol on the palate and the lower abv is my real preference. Sweet, fruity, spicy and bubbly. I have had so many good ones. I alredy mentioned a few in another thread but some more memorable ones are Regalia and Tank 7.

 

I would say I don't like a saison to be much higher than 7% It's tough to get above 7% and keep it fairly dry with lighter body. To me saison is summer/food beer, and it needs to be dry and drinkable. 7+% is verging on not drinkable. There are a few that pull it off well. Saison-Brett is 8+ and I think it's great, but it isn't my ideal saison.

 

I haven't had a truly bad one in a long time. There is still a large batch and even bottle to bottle variation. The one's I've had most recently have ranged from above average to downright magical.

 

'Tank 7 has become my go-to, and Saison-Brett is just Tank 7 on steroids. Both are fantastic.

I also do enjoy Hennepin, I think that's pretty easy to get and is a solid saison.

If you can get your hands on Trillium's Farmhouse Ale, I recommend it. Not mind-blowing but very well executed imo.

In general I prefer them colder rather than warmer. I would say serving temp matters if you don't want to taste the alcohol in higher ABV brews, but to me even boozy saisons tend to just take on Tripel characteristics if they're well done, so the abv showing itself isn't a bad thing.

 

Saison Dupont is one of my favourite beers. I would look for a bottle that has been cared for and is around 6 months old. Do not drink the sediment, decant!