Best American Wild Ale / Saison / Farmhouse

You've had most of these I assume Baback, especially since we drank them together.

Rare Barrel Map of The Moon b1
SP Leaner b1
Montmorency vs Balaton b5
FdF b2
Tete v15
DDG 16
west ashley 18
Samuel b1
Zenne b1
Nightmare on Brett w/leopold barrels

 

Looks like a lot of good options are already listed between the 2 threads. I was going to add but everything I can think of has been mentioned.
Maybe SARA’s Times Assemblage if it wasn’t mentioned already.

 

I’m admittedly a floodland fanboy and I have had almost every beer they have made. I saw you all mentioned exoculo and ToL in the earlier thread which are both awesome but I think the best Saison they have ever made is Drive out the Spirits. It was made in 2017, so I can’t say how it’s doing now , but it was incredible then.

 

Shbrl has always been, by a wide margin, my personal favorite awa.

 

I can only provide my highest rated ones from American brewers and realize they may not be super rare or hyped and many probably are retired:
Allagash Merveilleux
Allagash Nancy
Allagash Coolship Red
HF Phenomenology of Spirit
Brothers - Savage Blonde (I know for a fact this one isn’t being made…brewers said it was a lucky accident and they can’t seem to replicate it)
Side Project - Saison Du Ble
Trillium - Woolly Mullein
Bruery Terreux - Beret
Resident Culture - Wildlight (may be one to consider since it’s so unique, listed as a Helles, but plenty of funk and tartness, was amazing!).
RR - Beatification or Consercration
Suarez - Local Boy saison
Casey - The Cut Grape Tempranillo

 

My fave of the ones I've had is Isabelle Proximus - Lost Abbey

 

I am certainly no expert on sours, but I would add Boulevard's Tank 7 to somewhere on the list. Would also mention Off Color's Apex Predator from Chicago. Both are excellent Farmhouse Ale with just the right balance of flavor, yeast, and alcohol.

 

Based on what I’ve had, these are some of my favorites:

- early vintage Russian River (namely Beatification / Supplication)
- Tete de Cuvee v18
- Oude Fermier v19 (maybe my fave all time Saison)
- West Ashley Cuvée
- Coeur de Cuvee (easily accessible and always good. B8, B4, and B5 are personal faves).
- side project PH1 (had side by side with Beatification PH1 and both were un-fucking real)
- Leaner
- any floodland

I also have the newest DDGs, Cable Car ale & kriek, Veritas 019, broken truck, and Tete B1 & 2 in my cellar and have yet to try. So will update here once I open and let you know if worth seeking out!

 

Just wondering, anything from Oxbow in a super elite class and worth mentioning? Seems I need to get into a trade with someone from Washington on Floodland. I just learned about them from this posting, I haven’t been in to trade forums for a few years so I’m a little out of touch.

 

My vote is for The Referend Blendery in Kutztown Pa.
It's hard to pick a favorite, but they are very well made.
Definitely some voodoo magic going on in that place.
Im pretty sure they distribute, but if you're ever in Kutztown, it's a must stop for any wild fermented beer lover.
I really liked Goose Island's Lolita. But at 30 bucks a bottle, I only had a few.
Not too many main stream ones I cared for.

 

Am I gonna be an oddball with Prairie Artisan Ales? Or Crooked Stave? Until a few years ago I would have been able give you an extensive list of exceptional wild ales, since then I got old and bored… nah, seriously wild ales are my ultimate favorites. If you want a really good one, try Funky Gold Mosaic from Prairie, you won’t regret it.

 

My favourite Wilds seem to be from Russian River, Crooked Stave, a Captain Lawrence, and Wildflower from Australia.

 

I’m far from a open / wild ferm connoisseur, but I think Fox Farm puts out some pretty great stuff.

 

I was actually thinking about Crooked Stave. They make some amazing wild ales. Good recommendation.

 

Don’t sleep on Wicked Weed. Just because they are InBev owned doesn’t mean they make crap beers now adays . I’ve had many top shelf sours on my visits to the Funkatorium the last couple of years.

 

Does that Referend place sell retail anywhere? Maybe I just need to do the 3hr drive and visit, their beers sound great from reading BA reviews and their website. But if they sell stuff in York, or places closer to me in MD that would be ever better for time efficiency (and gas $$).

 

Well, wilds/sours do not automatically equate to Saison/Farmhouse beers. They can be wild or sour, but don't have to be.

 

Thinking about my most memorable I’d go with…

Lost Abbey Cuvée de Tomme
Allagash FV13
Coolship Cerise
Allagash Interlude
Art
Clover
Juicy
WoL: Sara
CD15 Mango
Prolegomena
JK Spon Batch 1
Atrial Rubicite
Oxbow 3 Barrels Deep
Cascade Bourbonic Plague
RR Supplication
Prairie Funky Gold Amarillo
Crooked Stave Surette Riserva Peach Whiskey
Crooked Stave Progenitor
The Rare Barrel home sour home
Black Project Lunex

Also, someone needs to bring either Dupont or Taras Boulba to kick things off.