Christmas Saison?

Most of them have some something implying Christmas in the name, maybe it is not always obvious for English speakers. Like “Avec les Bons Vœux” translates to “With Best Wishes”. “Style” is not an issue in Belgium where dark beer is a style. Any winter seasonal is a Christmas beer and thus of that style even if it is blond, hoppy or whatever.

I have tried most of them. Stille Nacht, Bons Voeux & Tsjeeses are all thick, heavy and warming so just you would expect them to be. Zinnebir, Glazen Toren Saison d’Erpe-Mere Speciaal Eindejaar & Père Noël are very hoppy beers so a reaction against how most Christmas beers are. They still have a substantial body. Snowball Saisonis a regular light saisons meant to go with food. One of the Hof ten Dormaal is a wet hop beer.

Not sure why Belgian yeast wouldn’t work here?
Christmas beers are usually, heavy, strong & sweet. Sounds right up to the alley for a lot of strains of Belgian yeast. They are Christmassy in spirit, many of are like a brewer is thanking you for you continued support during the year by making a special beer that he hopes you will like.

 

Look for Bons Voeux, I've seen it around the US/I know there is an export label. That's your best bet in finding a "xmas saison".

 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/738/2204

 

Yeastus Christus

 

While not pale in color, Oxbow saison noel sounds like something you'd be into. Big ABV% but still dry and crushable like a proper saison.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26439/77108

 

(My home brewing gears are spinning right now!)

 

I did a dark, spiced, fruited (sour) saison earlier this year. It's drinking real good right about now . . .

 

Dunedin Brewery in Dunedin, FL (Tampa Bay Area) did a new seasonal for this year called Holiday Pharmhouse that was a very good saison.

Also, it is classified as a witbier but swamp head in Gainesville, FL makes their Hoe Hoe Hoe and just started bottling it this year. Also a very good beer.

If you are interested in either of these message me, I may be headed out to Dunedin next week and could grab a bottle if there are any left at the brewery.

 

2 come to mind right off the bat...
Fantome Noel an
Oxbow Saison Noel

Both are phenominal.

 

I just had one from Spinnaker Brewing called Festive Saison. It was brewed with ginger.

 

Here is a hybrid sort of Saison/Biere de Garde from Saint Arnold in Houston. It is based on a Biere de Noel type of Farmhouse Ale that the brewers at SA really dug, and I think is a great beer.

http://beeradvocate.com/community/t...-co-to-release-saint-arnold-icon-gold.106732/

 

Came to say Avec Bon Vouex as well. An easy find in Omaha at least. Love that beer!

 

Lots of Belgian Christmas beers but I don't think of many as saisons. Avec is probably one of the few out there that makes it into the US.

 

The only one not mentioned yet that I can think of is La Moneuse Noel. More amber in color than Bons Voeux, but lots of Christmas spice and a good dry finish.

 

Other light colored Belgian Christmas beers that I can think of are Silly Noel (classified by them as a tripel), and Boucanier Noel from Van Steenberge. There are probably more that I just can't think of right now.

Also Serafijn kerstlicht got mentioned, I haven't seen that beer in the states before and not sure if it is different from their Christmas Angel, but that beer is also blonde.

 

Doesnt rate very high but when I read the title this came to mind
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3465/8178

 

Avec les bons Vœux!
There's a coupel more actually! I live in the Saison producing area of Belgium and the local bottleshops usually dedicate end shelves to the seasonal beers. I'll take a photo if I happen to go to one and you can see all the cool christmas beers.

 

Surprised nobody has mentioned this yet. It's a damn good "Christmas" saison!



http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16261/54465/?ba=gamanley