Salute to Saisons (2024)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by ATL6245, Jan 12, 2024.

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  1. ATL6245

    ATL6245 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,984) Aug 16, 2018 Georgia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Well, I have not seen a Saison thread for 2024, so I'll be happy to launch one.

    This is a thread for BAs to share the enjoyment of a high quality, well-crafted Saison.

    For reference, the BJCP describes Saison as:

    A family of refreshing, highly attenuated, hoppy, and fairly bitter Belgian ales with a very dry finish and high carbonation. Characterized by a fruity, spicy, sometimes phenolic fermentation profile, and the use of cereal grains and sometimes spices for complexity. Several variations in strength and color exist.

    Last year's thread:

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/salute-to-saisons-2023.670678/

    Here's one I really enjoy from my local brewery,

    NoFo Brew Co.
    Apres Vous Saison
    7.7% ABV

    Appearance: Clear, light amber. Fluffy white head with moderate retention.

    Aroma: Spicy and herbal

    Taste: Spicy/herbal hops initially. Grainy malt on the backend. Semi-sweet. Low bitterness.

    Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, drying, moderate to high carbonation. Medium finish.

    Overall: This is a Saison the way I like them. Firm malt backbone, light yeast expression, spicy/herbal hops. No funk. Easy drinking and versatile. This one is on the high side of ABV but the brewery has made a "petite" version with a low abv that is very good. One of NoFo's better beers. Well-crafted.


    Look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

    Want to see what you are enjoying. Cheers!

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  2. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    @ATL6245 thanks for getting to going this year.

    Subtle Shade - Resident Culture

    It fits the style guide nicely. The initial pour left yeast in the can, and that is a mistake. Once the yeast was added, the aroma and flavors lost the sharp edges, allowing funky apple and a host of white spice and herbs to flower. Initial tartness is quickly overwhelmed by bitterness. The hops play a pronounced role, without relegating the other characteristics to secondary status. Quite dry, coriander, thyme, and watercress work well with orange and lemon pith. Good when clear, definitely more appealing and to style with yeast haze.

    And the inaugural use of an AO IIPA glass from Burlington, VT.
    https://www.aoglass.com/

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  3. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pulled this month's beer roughly (and I do mean rough) 26 hours ago when the rain got real hard, and the wind and flood warnings were up (since our ground had fifteen inches of snow melt just days ago in another flooding rain), and it became obvious the power would go. Which it did about an hour after I finished slowly sipping this masterpiece in amazement. Was off for ten hours, came back, then off again for some hours more during which I napped. A mess out there, worse down in the valley.

    Suarez is tops for saisons. The cherries in this were still vibrant, and the beer itself stood up brilliantly. 2016 Merkel. Yummm!
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  4. scott451

    scott451 Pooh-Bah (2,694) Apr 2, 2009 Canada (ON)
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

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    From last weeks excursion to the Aleyards craft brewing district. in Toronto.

    Davenport Saison from Shacklands brewing. They specialize in Belgian styles so I will be back.:+1:
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31674/305406/

    Poured a 355ml can into a tulip. A one finger fine white head on a very slightly hazy amber lemon. Good head retention. Some patchy lacing.
    Spicy fruit in the nose. Earthy. Very mild funk.
    Fruity. Earthy. Sweet. Some pepper. A dry finish.
    Medium body and carbonation.
    An excellent Saison.

    look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
     
  5. SABERG

    SABERG Grand Pooh-Bah (5,001) Sep 16, 2007 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Enjoying this classic example now
    Cheers
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  6. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Had Vista Brewing's Le Saison yesterday afternoon. A brewery I had not herd of before I stopped off at my local bottle shop and they had some available. From Driftwood Texas.

    Review over at the NBW thread. The fruity esters and toasted English biscuit like malts make for a very nice balance. It could be a bit drier for my tastes, but still really enjoyable while hanging out in my courtyard before it actually...really did get cold around here ha.

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  7. SABERG

    SABERG Grand Pooh-Bah (5,001) Sep 16, 2007 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    This house favorite never disappoints
    Cheers
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  8. scott451

    scott451 Pooh-Bah (2,694) Apr 2, 2009 Canada (ON)
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's a good one. :+1: One of my highest rated of one of my favorite styles.
     
  9. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'll be back come spring.
     
    ChicagoJ, Davl22 and ATL6245 like this.
  10. augustgarage

    augustgarage Pooh-Bah (2,703) May 20, 2007 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

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    My first saison for 2024 - Break of Dawn by El Segundo, which they say is a "new" recipe albeit with the same ingredients and ABV of their previous take on the style, "Aileron." As I noted in NBW #183, I chose this today over making a trek to Chinatown for Homage Brewing's annual cellar release of rare/barrel/fruit aged saisons/wild ales ($3.50 pint vs. $40+ bottles). My full review is in that thread as well as here (3.57/5).

    Cheers!
     
  11. SABERG

    SABERG Grand Pooh-Bah (5,001) Sep 16, 2007 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Enjoying this treat from our dear friends
    Cheers all
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  12. JackRWatkins

    JackRWatkins Maven (1,472) Nov 3, 2014 Georgia
    Trader

    That's La Moneuse in that glass? So strange how different that looks to the glasses of it I've had...
     
  13. SABERG

    SABERG Grand Pooh-Bah (5,001) Sep 16, 2007 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    No date on this bottle, It is from Lime imports, so post Shelton Brothers
    that means less than 2 years
    Cheers
     
  14. Davl22

    Davl22 Maven (1,341) Sep 27, 2011 New Hampshire
    Trader

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    Oxbow Brewing Instrumental: Mixed ferm blonde farmhouse ale conditioned w/ our house mixed-culture. I grabbed this bottle from Goods From The Woods purely based on the fact it didn’t have any adjuncts, fruit, etc. It delivers in every way that I hoped. This style of beer is why I fell in love with them in 2013. Dry, effervecent, incredibly aromatic, light tartness and funk, clean finish. Pez candy, overripe pineapple and peach candy are all there. Endlessly drinkable at 5% abv. It’s reminds me a bit of BA FPA. Top tier BA saison, top tier brewery.
     
  15. ATL6245

    ATL6245 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,984) Aug 16, 2018 Georgia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    V Cense from Brasserie de Jandrain-Jandrenouille 7% ABV. This is another Saison I can roll with. Has a nice citrus note to it amd no funk. Plenty of aroma and flavor to keep it interesting.

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  16. ramseye4

    ramseye4 Maven (1,392) May 14, 2010 Virginia

    Does smuttynose still make their Farmhouse ale? I feel like I haven’t seen it since I was about 23 and that was a house and 3 kids ago
     
  17. LesDewitt4beer

    LesDewitt4beer Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,315) Jan 25, 2021 Minnesota
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I enjoyed this one today: Kerel Saison. Very mellow with a nice hop aroma and taste.
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  18. augustgarage

    augustgarage Pooh-Bah (2,703) May 20, 2007 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's Listed as "Retired" on their website (along with most everything from the "Big Beer" series): https://smuttynose.com/retired/

    Not sure if they stopped brewing it in 2014 (after the move), 2018 (after the auction), or more recently (advocates have reviewed it as recently as last year)?
     
  19. augustgarage

    augustgarage Pooh-Bah (2,703) May 20, 2007 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

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    Full review here and in NBW #184 (3.84/5) - cheers!
     
  20. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,630) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Saison d'Epeautre from Brasserie de Blaugies. Not my favorite saison, certainly, as I got some peanut butter notes I certainly don't associate with the style. Not terrible, though!
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