Midwest Saison and Wild Ale Appreciation

Awesome! Thanks and cheers!

 

Agree with the two that you mention, and another Michigan brewery that I just discovered is Speciation in Grand Rapids. I've read very good comments about them, and recently found one bottle on close-out at one of my local stores that opened my eyes wide, so I'll be on the lookout for more stuff from them.

 

Speciation has opened my eyes...with a soul-punishing PUCKER from a way-too sour finish! I'm a timid soul, alas...

 

Thanks for the warning. I usually enjoy beers with a pucker once I get past the first surprise sip. But I suppose I could have my limit that's yet to be discovered.

 

Agreed. I picked up a bottle of their Spontaneous Generation Gueuze from the Preserve in Marquette (RIP), back in 2019. I thought it was really well done.

 

Flesk Brewing closed yesterday, rumor is that a new brewer will take over the space. Hoping that new brewer is Sundial...

 

Sundial IS Flesk, pretty much, so I doubt it. However, I hope you're right!

 

I thought they were contract brewers? If they secured investors, they could buy them out or maybe get first bid on the brewery.

 

Flesk and Sundial are separate entities -- I believe one of the guys from Sundial did at one time help out with brewing at Flesk -- but they are not the same interested parties. This is not the end of Sundial, I can say that with pretty much 100% certainty.

 

The Flesk guys explained to me that Sundial was a passion project for them...but maybe I misunderstood them completely.

 

nah different folks than Flesk ops

 

I’ve found speciation to balance the tartness really well in some beers. I had a cherry sour with vanilla a couple weeks ago and it was excellent. Other times, they are far too sour bordering acidic as well as pricy.

Brewery Vivant in GR hits alot of home runs with their Saisons as far as im concerned. They seem to experiment with some heavy fruiting and I appreciate the way they seem to blend sweet/jammy flavors with tart and funky.

I had Fall Saison from them this past season with pear and cinnamon and was fairly pleased. Cheers.

 

I've always experienced very good beers when I've visited BV but I haven't bought any of their stuff in stores for a long time. I'll have to start paying more attention to them.

 

Sundial announced yesterday they are taking over the former Flesk Brewing space, and reopening after renovations, hopefully sometime in May. Woohoo!

 

Penrose / Afterthought collab debuted yesterday at the Penrose taproom. Classic spelt saison, seemingly inspired by Blaugies d’Epeatre. Turned out great on draft. Brought several green 750s home with me.

 

I’m sure it will be at afterthought in the near future

forgot to mention it before, Penrose also released a brett version of Silo, and the newest batch of GRado, their mix culture grisette. I think GRado is the best beer Penrose makes. Worth your time to make the trip.