Salute to Saisons! (2023)

Wish I'd gotten a picture, cause it was a beauty. Oxbow Brewing's Freestyle #49 is on tap locally and it is delightful. Crisp crackery malt, dry and slightly peppery yeast, and wonderfully bright citrus flavors from the Citra hops. Absolutely stupendous American take on the farmhouse style

 

Enjoying a Good Word Saison. Very flavorful, non-horsey but a tad herbal and hopped with lemon and kiwi bearing hops giving it a very bright flavor. Body is thicker than i would expect from the style. I'll be open to trying more Belgian styles from these guys in the future!
Cheers!
Tom

 

Finishing the last of my 2017 GI Sofie purchased at Total Wine-Greenville, SC back in late 2021. Man, what a nice beer. Love that touch of Bret to go with the bright fruit flavor. Still maintain this is a very good poor man's alternative for Orval.
Cheers!
Tom

 

I rarely drink Saison's, but when I do, it's Goose Island Sophie for me. I usually buy a few singles here and there, from spring to fall.

 

Freak Folk Lonesome Hunter- Saison aged in an oak puncheon on the lees of Primordia. Citrus sherbet, vanilla wafers, Chardonnay, and passion fruit. It’s acidic but the oak balances things out. One of the best that I’ve tried from them yet.

 

I was a fan of Smuttynose’s farmhouse ale until they killed it. RIP

 

I was a fan of Smuttynose until they killed it.

 

Brett & I was a stunner back in the day.

 

Vooravond - Strangebird



A 12% abv Saison. A strange bird if ever did I see one. “Vooravond” means either the slack time just before an event, or more generically evening. Judging by the label art, and the overall experience of this beer, I’m confident that the brewer is referring to “evening”.

It is fermented with a Traminette grapes, which is a new one for me. After taking notes, however, these grapes are definitely the influence making the aroma and flavors so very unique. Musty, dry, cardamom and coriander, with watercress pepper. The finish leaves bite marks in the throat. A light body body and sharp satin texture.

The label says, “…gratitude for our past and hopefulness for our future.” This is clearly a new expression within the Saison family. Definitely worthy and an example of Strangebird’s successful experimentation.

 

Oxbow Surya Saison: Mixed Ferm w/ Lemon Verbena, Tulsi Basil, Anise Hyssop and Calendula Flowers. Smells like a spring meadow. Gin botanicals, lime pith, pineapple, citrusy dried herbs. Light acidity and salinity. Light handed with the herbs and it’s better for it. Really great.

 

Sasanoa Brewing Hop Barn: 5.4% organic Saison brewed with their own Cascade hops. I’ve been craving Saison more since the spring weather has started to roll in and this is hitting all of the marks. Classic bubblegum and spicy phenols. There’s a really pleasant bread pudding note, followed by citrus and fresh herbs. Supple carb, dry finish with a soft bitterness. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve tried from these guys. I believe they’re the only ones in the Northeast creating certified organic farmhouse/saison style beer.

 

4.13/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Batch #7, December 2020. Poured from a capped 750mL bottle into my Troubadour tulip.

Nearly clear stile de grain yellow with a lasting finger of off white soft peaks. Fine sandy lacing; faint legs; very good retention.

Complex sweet floral aromatics reveal the honey, working together with the malt and just a whisper of winter fruit punctuated funk from the wild microbes.

Dry, cider-kissed palate entry with unripe pear, green plum, and a gentle acidity. Lightly bready, crisp malt backbone, low earthy bitterness throughout. Finishes dry but with residual evolving honey flavors - interesting balance. Low floral notes and maybe a touch of citrus and white pepper as the beer warms.

Creamy, medium-bodied, well carbonated. Lightly warming, and not-quite-refreshing.

Subtle, interesting domestic take on the style.

 

Garden Party - Oxbow



Perhaps you may have noticed the wet label. She’s a gusher! Fortunately I had a pint glass on hand to mitigate the loss. However, the head and carbonation did suffer just the same.

Aromatically the sourness is higher than typically encountered, and potentially a consequence of unintended (overly) bottle fermentation. Lemon and sage dominate with mild wet socks lingering in the background. Warmth brings out cardamum.

The flavors are disconnected from the aroma. Mild sourness and acidity, with faint bitterness and light sweetness. More grassy than lemon. The cardamum comes through, primarily in the long brooding finish, along with a general herbal quality.

Light body, actuality quite thin, with no real texture beyond the soft carbonation. Yeah, the carbonation is present, a light bristling, even after the show of force upon opening. Alcohol is almost imperceptible. Quite dry.

After Winter clean-up, the air quickly cooled off. And still, I was drawn to a Saison. This hits the spot, and would pair nicely with cold shrimp and horseradish, or better yet, cold scallops and Dijon mustard. Welcome back Spring!

 

So is just regular Saison, or does this include Mix Culture? Table Beer? Biere de Coupage? Confused? Time to #SplitUpSaison Join the movement Saison lovers!

 

Do you have a Whole Foods nearby? Those two are usually shelf/fridge staples there.

 

I guess I can say I had a St Feuillien Dry Hopped Saison here.
Mentioned it on Beer of the day.
I had DuPont in my hand, put it down when I saw this, grabbed this and the DuPont as well.
The St Feuillien Dry Hopped wasn't bad, but it's no DuPont.
I did enjoy it however.

 

Saison from all origins and mixed cultures are welcome here!

 

"Landscapes 2" by Sante Adairius Rustic Ales

4.24/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 750mL bottle into my Troubadour tulip.

Cloudy jonquil body with three fingers of cosmic latte mousse up top. Fine, soapy lacing; excellent retention.

Sweet/tart/funky/floral aromatics - wild grass, citrus, and farmyard notes.

Flavor follows the nose with oak, white wine, and tangerine peel. Earthy, citrus-laden, faintly floral hop notes with low but persistent bitterness. Medium-dry, complex finish. Superb balance.

Medium-bodied, well carbonated, refreshing and lightly tannic.

Very good domestic take on the style. Nice "wild" influence, but not aggressively sour.

 

Failed to post a Saison i had from a local Western NC brewer Whaley Farm Brewery Thursday. This was a different cat; brewed with Yarrow, Calendula and Echinacea.
From my review: Taste is a light malt base that is indoctrinated with heavy phenolic compounds including herbal, floral, and peppery notes. Notes of Licorice are very prominent finishes very balanced but with a bit of a piney tone.
Mouthfeel is delightfully light and smooth.
Overall this is a really well executed beer with the adjuncts and yeast strain involved. It is definitely a different animal compared to the baseline Saison style. Took my palate a third of the way through to acclimate and appreciate the ingredients used.
Rated it a 4.2.
Cheers!
Tom