Do Americans not appreciate imported saisons?

I love saisons. And Fantome and Dupont are among the tops for me. But I am also loving some of the new wave of saisons from American brewers such as Hill Farmstead, Tired Hands, Prairie, and Tired Hands to name a few.

 

The more saisons to try the better! Doesnt matter to me what country they are from. Funk, no funk, hoppy, non-hoppy - enjoy the ride and try them all! My personal favorites are Saison Brett and sorachi ace. Btw- funk is a cool word because it's so subjective and I love reading others definition of it...

 

I do

 

I've never cared that much for Saison DuPont, so to me much of the finger-wagging is more confusing than anything else. Not withstanding that there is no such thing as a guideline template for saison beyond being refreshing---indeed, even modern attempts at brewing saison "to style" prove how overly broad the "style" is---Saison DuPont's flavor profile still remains an outlier in the herd. I don't care how many breweries have tried using the same yeast as them, approximately none of them taste like DuPont. Which, to me, is a good thing. I've always thought that beer was very one-dimensional on the bitter lemon peel front. Many other beers marketed as saisons (probably most) have lemons in the ester profile to some degree or another, but none of them have the same "holy shit I'm drinking a liquified lemon peel!" bitter sensation as DuPont.....and while I don't claim them all to be good beers, they are all much better beers for not having that flavor. In other words, if Saison DuPont is considered the benchmark then every saison is failing upwards. Fantome or Foret to me are the closest things to "benchmark saisons," though I don't know that Fantome has ever brewed the same beer twice.

Oh, and to all of you ragging on Sofie for being like a witbier: put it in a dark corner for 18 months and then come crawling back to us foot in mouth. It's bottled with brett, it just takes some time to take off.

 

this particular American has had bottles of Du Pont that would deserve a "5" on this site. It's the American ones I (largely) rate as a disappointment.
There are exceptions. I thought Celastrina was a brilliant beer, for instance. One day I'll try the NE stuff...

cheers--
--Michael

 

I never thought about it before but I do like a TON of American saisons (Hennepin being my favorite) and don't drink many imported ones. #buyamerican

 

I as well find this to be a tricky style. The Fantome's I've had are excellent beers, but I would pit Boulevard's Saisson Brett against them. Aging makes a difference in taste. I tend to only purchase beers of this style, import or domestic, after researching them on BA. I've been burned a few times by "saissons" that tastes like whitbier polluted with urine and sweat.

 

Man, there's a lot going on in this thread. I've got a few relevant comments, though.

1. Seems that, increasingly, people equate saisons with brettanomyces and souring bacteria. Not all saisons have to be "funky" and tart, even the "classic," continental examples, like Dupont.
   
2. Going off of that, seems like more and more folks aren't interested in non-funky, non-sour farmhouse ales made in the U.S., writing them off as unremarkable or off-style. Stillwater Cellar Door is a perfect example of an exceptional, non-funky, non-bacterial saison made in the U.S. And, it's dry-hopped. Imagine that.
   
3. Well, at least (most of us) agree that Sofie is excellent. Subtle, maybe, but not boring.
4. I agree with @drtth that not all Belgian-brewed saisons are so incredible.
   
5. I have loooooooooots of thoughts about "Belgian IPAs"; most notably, some of them are fucking rad. Sure, some aren't, but isn't that the case with every style of beer?

Ehh, I'm sure I have more thoughts and feelings to express regarding this subject, but not tonight.

 

I think we do, but I think many Europeans are really missing out on some incredible saisons made by American brewers.

Hill Farmstead, Prairie Ales, Funkwerks, Logsdon, Anchorage, Crooked Stave even Belgian influenced Stillwater, Ommegang, Brewer's Art, other goodness from The Bruery, Allagash, Jolly Pumpkin, Boulevard...

We get it all baby... we get the best of both worlds...

 

Nailed it.

 

Just need to add Tired Hands to that list.

Cheers to you sir!

 

Lot of great observations that you have about this thread. I agree with most everything you said. For the last year I have really been seeking out as many saisons as possible. I have been going saison crazy in a good way!!! Great thread here.

1. Exactly! This is a big misconception from people I think.
2. Couldnt agree more! Saison is such a versatile beer style and people all want the upscale saisons that are funky and bretty and wine barrel aged, etc. Cellar Door is really a fantastic saison! A must try!
3. I think Sofie is one of GI's best in the belgian series beers. While great fresh, let sofie sit in the cellar and the white wine and citrusy flavors really pop nicely.
4. Agreed, I too have had a few belgian saisons that were pretty "meh".
5. No comment on belgian IPA's. All beer style are anywhere from great to horrible. Yep its true with all beer styles.

 

Been to Tired Hands, the only saison I've had from them is SaisonHands, which was solid, but I don't look at them as a saison forward brewery or maker...

BUHHHT..

I would certainly try many other of their saisons given the opportunity. Cause someone there know what they are doing in the beer makin department ya know what I am sayin

the intention has been known... the desire is peaked..

Cheers mate!