A Salute to Saisons (2020-2021)

Just started getting a limited amount of Logsdon distro and Had a few farmhouse/Saisons (Urban Encore and Funk Soul Bretta) and they were really well done. It’s weird because there is definitely a farmhouse funk to their beers but somehow they are very clean tasting if that makes any sense.

 

My friend gave me a can of Urban Encore and I thought it was amazing. Definitely clean and light, easy drinking, beautifully floral, great taste and balance.

 

More of the same as last week. Maybe by next Saturday a local brewery will come through with something to take home that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

 

This is definitely my biggest complaint with the style in the states, its almost always priced as a special event beer. I miss having access to Brewery Vivant and their wonderful and affordable saisons

 

Fox Farm Leeway. From the brewery:

“...Leeway, a Farmhouse Ale with sea salt, coriander and citrus. Very much inspired by Gose, it begins with a base of Connecticut grown wheat and barley and undergoes a primary fermentation in stainless steel with our farmhouse mixed culture. As with nearly all of our farmhouse ales, it was allowed to further develop in one of our American oak foeders. Thoughtful additions of freshly ground coriander, pink Himalayan sea salt and a blend of fresh grapefruit, lime and orange peel were added along the way...”



A: Sharp lemon followed by faint lime and orange zest; peppery; wheat crust.
F: Mostly lemon and lime acidity, perhaps some grapefruit coming through. Slightly doughy.
M: Definitely get the salt sensation. Very lively; moderately dry and some perceived bitterness.
O: Interesting variation. I guess the coriander is providing the more dominant lemon characteristics. The lemon is natural and pure, not an artificial solvent. Not getting much oaky or peppery traits in the flavor. But the acidity and salt make it very inviting and thirst quenching.

 

I agree with this assessment. I have been itching to find a four or six pack saison that's widely available at a good price. I mentioned the Allagash saison earlier in this thread, which mostly hits that mark, but I don't always find it while at the liquor store. I get why there's an uptick in price with the brett'd and barrel aged saisons, but some straight up examples for cheap would get a frequent purchase from me.


With that said, I bought two pricey aged saisons to have today. So I'm part of the problem there I guess.

 

I miss Prairie’s mixed ferm beers. I used to buy Prairie Ale, Puncheon, Brett C fairly often. I try to pick up Standard in cans when I see it, but I loved the depth and drinkability they got from the mixed culture.

 

A little late to the party but popped a doozy for the occasion. 2017 Westy 12 I bought when I was in Belgium on vaca. Last bottle...going to need to go back someday for a restock.

 

Yes! I remember it being killer. Also, I was so excited a NH brewery was actually collabing with such a well known mixed-ferm-centric out of state brewery. I had such high hopes for Blue Lobster and Deciduous in the earlier days. I’m sure Deciduous still makes delicious beer, but my buck will always favor towards newbies making saison/farmhouse/wilds.

 

Nothing fancy here, just a tried and true favorite. Saison from Allagash Brewing Co.

Light bodied and lemony with a hint of grassy funk. Bright and clean with an almost crisp finish.

Great idea for an activity thread, and a happy revisit for me.

Cheers.

 

I bought this at a large bottle shop. No research, no date on the label, just grabbed it. To my surprise this bottle has to be at least 13 months old and it's retired.

So I got out my oldest mug and had at it.
Did I screw up and waste my time and money, nope. I can tell it's old but Brett Beers usually do not come off as fresh to me due to the funk. I normally would not review a known old Beer but in this case I made an exception, because I enjoyed it too much and gave it a good score.

Swift&Changeable from Honest Weight Artisan Beer of scenic Orange Massachusetts.



4.39/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very easy pour is needed to keep the head from going over two fat fingers of rich, creamy and rocky white foam. Very long retention and sticky rings and blotches of lace. Very hazy yellow straw color, can't read through it.

Mild smell of peach and grapes that have soured, a faint musty funk in the background with fresh cut grass. Wheat as toast and a general graininess with lemon and sour apples emerges.

Moderately tart and sour, spicy bitterness comes on late. Semi-dry, soured fruits provide a hint of potential sweetness.
Just enough pale malt balances the tart/sour taste and reminds me that this is an Ale, a little yeast is noticeable.
The Brett flavor is mellow, not as funky as the smell, slight barnyard and silage. Alcohol is very well hidden.

Medium-light bodied, plentiful lasting carbonation per style. Smooth and session-able lively feel with a nice balance to a somewhat complex brew. I must note that this Beer is at least 13 months old and unfortunately retired at this time.

 

For a second there I thought that might've had lobsters in it... There's not many out there like Saison dell'Aragosta from Oxbow.

 

How have I missed this thread before now?! I can't believe no one has stripped me of my username... I'll be in next week with a recent de la Senne collab waiting for me.

Now, I see a couple of you stateside have Glazen Toren in cans, so I have to be jealous, b/c I'm pretty near Erpe-Mere and can only get 75cl bottles (and not many places is it a given that I'll find it).

 

Didn't we trade posts about this exact point not long ago, Spidey? Anyway, by its true ethos (I'm laughing as I type this, not to worry, but the sentiment is real) a saison should be a workaday beer.

 

Ya I'm definitely on board with that, and there are a few brewers here doing that (vivant in Michigan, henhouse out here in California, Allagash in Maine) but unfortunately most folks making them in the US seem to view them as a high end luxury style

 

Another saison for me this weekend from Trillium, this one more fresh and not wild or oak aged, but open fermented. The Row34 restaurant collab, Saison du Row.



Brewery notes:

Cheers! and a salute to Saisons

 

OHHHH that’s the beer you guys are talking about. I remember really digging that Saison (d'Erpe-Mere). I also recall it being super expensive for a four pack of 11.2 oz. (I think 11.2?) cans.

Haha, I loved this analogy.


I might try to find some Hennepin for this thread. It’s been FOREVER since I’ve had that beer, and it was one of the first craft beers I ever had. Really opened my eyes back in 2004 or 2005, whenever I first had it.