Clean Saisons

Clean? Like a Kolsch that tastes like a Kolsch with no fruit thrown in? Blonde Ales with ditto? Yeah, I would prefer beers to better represent their style. Immensely.

 

I don't think anyone here implied that.

 

Then it’s a good thing I stepped in just in time to make sure that didn’t happen.

 

Agree, I'm in favor of any labeling that can make what's inside the container more obvious to the consumer without adding new "official" style names to a list that already has way too many names. Other oxymorons accomplish this, large shrimp comes to mind..

 

I’m curious as to how he came to the conclusion that saisons were initially beers that satiated the thirsts of farm hands as being bunk? Have never heard or read otherwise.

 

I have always heard the term “rustic” saison to name DuPont Saison. I consider rustic & classic / classical to be synonyms.

Either way, I love those rustic saisons!

 

Not gonna add any points to my side of the "already way too many style names" discussion. I will use this reply, though, to expand my position that I strongly believe the label is underused for informational purposes. I am in favor of adding as much easy to use info onto the label as possible, including a way to distinguish saisons as "clean", and also to add the info on what yeast or yeasts or other fermenting agents are used..

 

Beechum is likely basing his conclusion on Roel Mulder’s work: @JackRWatkins provided a link to his blog above

+Here's a bit more from Roel -

 

Below is something I posted in 2016 on the topic of the history of Saison:

“For your consideration this is what Randy Mosher stated in his presentation entitled “(Almost) Everything You Know About Brewing History is Wrong” at the 2015 NHC concerning the topic of Saison/Farmhouse Ales:

“Saison & Farmhouse

• A beautiful fiction

• Saison = summer?

• Saisonniers = migrant workers?

• What does “farmhouse” mean?

• What’s the beer?”

And

“Saison & Farmhouse

• “Farmhouse” beer scarce in history

• Brewing a demanding enterprise”

During the presentation of those charts he basically stated that there is little (none?) written documentation about the ‘story’ that Saisons were brewed by farmers to provide to their summer workers. He is questioning the accuracy of this ‘story’ both from a lack of documentation perspective but from his understanding on how farmer – laborer relations were during the 1800’s. So, who knows here?”

Cheers!

 

Another person who is knowledgeable about the history of Belgian brewing is Dave Janssen. He gave a great presentation at the 2016 NHC on the history of Grisette beers and he was kind enough to chat with me for 15-20 minutes after the presentation for further discussion.

He has a website where lots of good information is posted:

http://www.horscategoriebrewing.com/

Cheers!

 

Oh sure, I’ve had lots of beers labeled as saisons that seem a lot closer to gueuze, American wilds, etc. If it’s just for me I don’t really care, because I love all that stuff—but I could see where if you were sharing some beer with people, grabbed some bottles that said “saison” on the label (thankfully, many saisons still seem to come in bottles), and what you ended up with was a bunch of super sour, weird beer, you might be disappointed.

 

I have always interpreted that term "clean" as "classic," giving it a generous read.
I haven't had too many American saisons that strike me as 'classic' in that sense, but there are certainly some "clean" producers of the style.

That said, and bear with me, ISO Dirty Saisons.

Cheers!

 

Please let me know when you see a beer branded as "Let's get dirty - Saison".

Cheers!

 

FWIW I homebrew a Saison every year but those beers have always been of the classic/clean variety.

But when it comes to over Belgian styles I do feel free to get 'dirty'. My most recent example being an Orval clone which I bottled a month ago. For that batch I conducted a secondary fermentation with Brett B and there is notable funky/barnyard flavors in those beers. My wife won't even take a sip of these beers and even when she smells it the comments are always the same: Smells like horse piss. Why do you drink that s@#t!?!

I always simply reply with a BIG smile!

Cheers!