Clean Saisons

Are you aware of/what do you think of the term "Clean Saison". It's one I've seen pop-up over the past few years, and although I can imagine what it means, I've yet to try a beer that describes itself as such. My assumption is that it's an attempt to draw a distinction between beers that taste like Saison DuPont and beers that taste like Fantôme (ie. extremely funky or sour). First, do I understand this correctly and second, what are people's thoughts on the term. If I understand it correctly, I think there's a whole lot of utility in it.

I hate buying a saison expecting something more like a DuPont, and getting something more like a Gueuze.
I love sour beer, but that's not what I want when I buy a saison.

 

By no added flavors, do you mean no adjuncts?

 

I believe I've heard Burial use the term a few times and saw another brewery using it the other day (I'll have to go check to see who that was). I would say though, I know everyone is interested in the historical roots and accuracy of a style at least in terms of naming conventions, but sometimes I think concern for that can come at the expense of clarity in labeling and thus utility for the consumer. Just a thought.

 

Very true. I do think there is a point of over categorization, but it's a delicate balance, there's a spectrum where it becomes hazy (no pun intended) what is what, but that doesn't mean there are not firm camps or poles that make sense as benchmarks.

 

To be clear, it's not a term I coined, and I'll just as happily go along with whatever could manage to be come a popular term for what's being referred to. What's important to me is to feel like I have some sense of the ballpark I'm in so-to-speak before I buy, without always having to research.

 

I agree about the American Brewers comment. I'll say this though, saison is my favorite style and when I'm looking for a bottle of beer in a bottle shop, I look for things with hideous labels, covered in dust with primarily french text, that's typically how I know I've found something really good.

 

gotcha

 

I feel that. Frankly I just can't get very interested in a bunch of beers that want to be Gueuze but cost more and don't taste as good. I'm aware that's a generalization, there's obviously some nuance there, but you get the point...

 

I hadn't actually. Thank you for sharing!