Why doesn't Biere de Garde get any love?

I'm not sure I've ever had one...I love saisons though

 

I view the Biere de Garde/Saison issue as being very similar to the Pale Ale/IPA issue. There are many times when an IPA is more like a PA and a PA is more like an IPA, but the labeling suggests otherwise.

The same can be said for Saisons/BDG. Plenty of BDG's are made, but I think that they sometimes get labeled as "Farmhouse ales" or Saisons.

 

I love their style, and enjoyed a 750 mL of Schlafly's recently. The head on that thing was out of control.

 

I love saisons but find biere de gardes to be too sweet and too oaky. They're kind of the opposite of my ideal saison--sweet instead of dry, full and oaky instead of crisp and refreshing. They usually share some other characteristics with saisons, like the earthy/yeasty flavor, but I am always disappointed when I try one.

Ditto this. I know a handful of my saison reviews note that they taste more like a biere de garde vs a saison.

 

That has been my experience, too. Although of the dozen or so I've had - they have been all over the place flavor-wise. Sometimes I think it's what brewers call a saison that took an odd turn but is still tasty.

Anyone have 2-3 French/Belgian hallmarks of the style?

 

I agree with you @kevanb! But their BDG isn't their greatest work though either. Maybe it's just the style I'm not impressed with either.

 

I've only had this style from Lost Abbey, Ommegang, and Smuttynose. In theory, the addition of herbs, honey, wild yeast, and whatever else makes this style sound promising. I've always been underwhelmed by how tame they end up tasting though.

 

IMO the issue with craft beer is price points and comparable products.

When you buy craft beer, generally it is instead of buying something else. Maybe you buy it instead of a macro, maybe instead of a dessert, maybe you buy it instead of a video game. Generally speaking, drinking a craft beer serves as a replacement to something that you theoretically enjoy less (this is the biggest assumption in my argument, so feel free to attack the premise, but is anyone's alternative to drinking a craft beer sitting in silence and staring at wall?). So you are willing to justifiably pay more. In the case of Biere De Gardes (or any subtle craft beer styles) there is not a replaceable option for the price point. If you are looking for a macro replacement (like to unwind after work or for a BBQ) your focus is on drinkability and there are more refreshing styles and equally refreshing styles at a lower price point (SNPA, Lagunitas IPA, and Sam Adams Lager all come to mind). If you are drinking craft beer to replace dessert or a flavor experience, you want something that is not as subtle. If you are drinking for recreation or hobby or sport, extreme beers tend to offer a more interesting experience.

If you consider where the price point matches, in a flight of beers, out to eat where macros are overpriced, or people who are will to pay relatively for more than they are getting, the opportunities to really take advantage of subtle styles are slim.

So I think that subtle craft beer styles do not offer right replacement for the price point, even if they are world class (like every Gordon Biersch beer I have ever had)

 

I quite liked the Jack's Abby biere de garde, Private Rye, and I hope they brew it again sometime. I have no idea whether or not it was representative of the style generally, though.

 

While I've really enjoyed both of Ommegang's Biere de Garde's, (Scythe & Sickle Biere d' Hougoumont a Biere de Garde aged on White Oak and Maple wooden staves), I have to admit that I haven't seen many beers in this style. I'd love to try more.

 

That Jenlain is a blast from the past- I'd love to have one in my hands right now, now that it's been brought up. It was kind of like a bock with some spicy elements in the aroma- with a gravity that's right in my preferred wheelhouse.

 

Cause their never around, the Abbey Bon Chien stuff is just killer but also costs a good penny!

 

Brewery Vivant - North French was nice.

 

I'm inclined to agree with the general notion that it's too middle of the road for a lot of breweries to focus on.

I really liked the Page 24 Reserve Hildegard (Amber) even if most folks found it unexciting.

 

I like em. Not enough out there.

 

I think this is one example of a non-Americanized biere de garde: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7548/13813/

Or this one: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1682/5214/

Bavaisienne is pretty tasty too: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1263/3414/

They aren't barrel aged or sour or exciting in any way, but they are pretty good. I've seen these around Denver pretty regularly.

 

Lost Abbey's Gift of the Magi is great!