Favorite Grisettes

Oxbow up here in Maine makes a few good ones, they have a simple classic one that's almost always available (La Griseta) and a couple other "premium" ones. They are definitely tuned in to people who like the style I think, not for the masses.

I'd try more of them but it's a fairly rare style, though not all that different from some 'farmhouse' ales. I like grisettes that are simple, it's not a style I'm looking for facemelting flavor in, I thinks it's about the subtleties.

 

Not had to many. Sly fox makes one that is pretty nice. I think its seasonal.

Enjoy

 

I'm not really a fan of how brewers have started using this name... but it is what it is. When it comes to the beers I've had where the brewer calls it a Grisette, I'm a fan of Smuttynose Hayseed. It's not a fancy beer, and its body reflects its ABV, but I like it. I also am a fan of the fact that it's in a six pack and available in grocery stores by me. There are fancier ones out there, but I'm sick of opening expensive gushers or outrageously priced "Grisettes."

 

I've had Smuttynose Hayseed. It was alright, but since grisettes just seem to be lower abv saisons, I'd rather have something like Allagash Saison or Brooklyn Sorachi Ace.

 

It's more local but in MD, we have Manor Hill Grizzette. <5%, sold in 6 packs all year around at about $14 a sixer. Probably not the most historically accurate Grisette though (dry hopped with Citra I think), but it is a tasty, tart light hoppy saison that is good anytime.

 

just coming to post this! manor hill truly is killing it with many of their beers, and this one is no different. great warm weather beer!

 

I am a big fan of Right Proper's Ornette grisette. It's only on draft at the pub/tasting room, but damn that is one excellent example of a grisette. Light and easy to drink with a bit of funk but more of a drinking table beer. Goes great with the cheese at the brew pub.

 

Kent Falls in CT bottles a Buckwheat Grisette that I enjoyed quite a bit. Their Farmer's Table beer (and its double dry-hopped version) is an easy-drinking low ABV farmhouse ale that might fit the bill also.

 

I know we've had numerous other posts on this (mostly with your expertise), but I think in simplest terms, American brewers are using the name Grisette for nearly any Belgian yeast beer <5% as a standard. A session Saison basically = Grisette title for Americans .

 

That's a damn fine beer, came here to say the same, cheers.

 

Only 2 i have had were Lady and Gray, and Parking Lot. Lady in Gray was very good.

 

I agree that in functional terms, American brewers are just calling any low-ish ABV saison a grisette. What I don't like is the expense. Many brewers are slapping the label "grisette" on a beer that is not comparatively costly to make and then charging outrageous prices for what should be a flavorful commoner beer.

 

Interesting article, I think there is a lot of leeway in this style and calling a low ABV Saison a Grisette is okay. IMHO

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-grisette-20160912-snap-story.html

 

The Side Project Grisette is really nice

 

My two favorite Grisette beers:

• Sly Fox Grisette (a summer seasonal available in cans - 6-pack)
• Smuttynose Hayseed

It will be interesting to see if the use of the term "Grisette" becomes more popular with US craft breweries over time. IMO these beers could just as well be labeled as Saison since a lower alcohol beer can appropriately be labeled as a Saison.

Cheers!

 

kent Falls makes a great one

 

I completely agree. Should be a cheaper or at least equally priced 6 pack to a typical pale ale or lighter IPA. Not priced in the same range as premium 6er's (Enjoy By, Born Yesterday, Sculpin etc).

 

This isn't modesty, but I'm not an expert... more like Statler or Waldorf but with fewer one-liners.

I think that article does a good job of summing it all up.

Bingo. It's not that a grisette is a low alcohol saison - because it isn't. It might just look that way within a modern brewer's portfolio. In my opinion, there's no reason why an American beer should be labeled a grisette instead of a saison. (but maybe I'm being ignorant and I'll change my mind) Brewers should stop appropriating more terms without good cause.

 

FWIW I am of the opinion that it could be labeled either way. A light colored lower ABV Saison-like beer could be labeled as a Saison or it could be labeled as a Grisette.

An analogy could be the Stout vs. Porter debate. IMO there is no unambiguous difference between a Stout and a Porter as they are made today so it comes up to which label the brewery prefers for the beers they are making.

Back to the Saison vs. Grisette discussion. I would suggest that it is also up to the brewery which style name they prefer to utilize for the beers they are brewing. From a Marketing & Sales perspective:

• Maybe the brewery thinks the word "Grisette" carries some cache since it is a 'new' style for the US craft beer market?
• Maybe another brewery would prefer to use the word "Saison" since this style is better understood and they do not have to educate their customers on a 'new' style?
• Maybe the brewery flips a coin?

Cheers!