Commercial Saison thread

[m00ps]

I had a 3 Floyds Rabbid Rabbit on Sunday. Compared to most of their beers, it had a very restrained character...not a hop bomb, not boozy, not even hugely fruity. There was some perfumy floral and lemongrass aroma and flavor, it made for a pleasant springtime beer.

I've eyed that one a number of times at the store. But every time I look it up its got lackluster reviews. But you got me thinking, I bet that just cause the FFF fans that are used to their hop bombs / super imperial stouts are trying it and just go WTF?

Ill give it a shot next time I see it

 

[Aristotelian]

Timely bump, as I am planning to brew all saisons this summer and looking for inspiration. I have a batch now that is fermenting with a starter cultured from Omm. Hennepin and I am working on dregs from Saison du Buff. I am only just starting to get into commercial examples. A couple to add to this list:

Stone Saison (Stone) - I have seen this in the store but haven't tried it. Read through the thread and didn't see it mentioned. Anyone?

Captain Stardust (Yellow Springs Brewery) - New brewery that is just starting to get commercial distribution in Ohio. This one is very dry with a nice yeasty lemon/sourdough tang to it.

Senor Saison (Coronado) - A pretty straightforward saison except that it has some jalapeno in it. Thankfully the jalapeno is understated and doesn't come through until the other flavors have dissipated.

I have Two Boots (Abita) and Apex Predtor (Off Color) in my fridge. Can't wait to try these guys.

 

[m00ps]

Stone Saison (Stone) - I have seen this in the store but haven't tried it. Read through the thread and didn't see it mentioned. Anyone?

I have Two Boots (Abita) and Apex Predtor (Off Color) in my fridge. Can't wait to try these guys.

I've had stone's saison a number of times and it is very remniscent of saison du buff. Im guessing they use the same yeast since neither dogfish head or victory is really known for saisons. Although it may be the original yeast used in helios. Hard to tell under all those herbs and spices

Anyway, I like it, but SWMBO loves it. It is much more balanced and nuanced that saison du buff which is an herbal bomb of rosemary and sage to my tastes. I mean I enjoy drinking both of them now and then, but id pick Stone Saison over their collab Saison du Buff any day

 

[hanuswalrus]

Hyper Predator is coming soon. Sounds interesting.

 

[joefarmer]

Captain Stardust (Yellow Springs Brewery) - New brewery that is just starting to get commercial distribution in Ohio. This one is very dry with a nice yeasty lemon/sourdough tang to it.

I'll have to look for Captain Stardust. Yellow Spring's Night I didn't enjoy as a dark saison. Any saison flavor that could have been there was completely covered up by the dark malt. I was expecting saison spice and only got roasty coffee.

 

[Aristotelian]

Just cracked my first Apex Predator. Wow, this is an incredible beer. This may be the first legit "world class" beer I have had by an American brewery. This really blows away any American saison I have had.

 

[m00ps]

Just cracked my first Apex Predator. Wow, this is an incredible beer. This may be the first legit "world class" beer I have had by an American brewery. This really blows away any American saison I have had.

Cheers dude. Drinking one right now. Same as every day after work...

But yeah I've heard it rumored they use 566 in it, but I do it taste it at all. Every time I've used it, the finish isn't this crisp. Even cool vs hot fermentation. I have done some saisons with the grain bill listed on the label though

 

[Aristotelian]

Cheers dude. Drinking one right now. Same as every day after work...

But yeah I've heard it rumored they use 566 in it, but I do it taste it at all. Every time I've used it, the first isn't this crisp. Even cool vs hot fermentation. I have done some saisons with the grain bill listed on the label though

Well I am going to try to build up a starter from the dregs and see how it goes. I will have to get hold of some Crystal hops before the end of the summer.

 

[m00ps]

Colette - Great Divide
Finally ran into some great divide during a trip. I thought this was fantastic. Great creamy mouthfeel and hint of vanilla in the finish but not too sweet. +7% abv is completely hidden

Le Sexxxy Saison - Catawba Brewing
I liked this. Pretty middle of the road between fruit and spice. A bit of sweet bubblegum in the finish but it didnt prevent me from enjoying it. Could have been a bit more crisp. Label says they used 5(!) yeasts in it. Maybe thats why its not too interesting

Le Merle - North Coast Brewing
I didn;t care for this. It didn't really taste like a proper saison to me. More of a belgian blond with an aggressive yeast profile which doesnt suit it. Had way too much clove, banana, and bubblegum and finished too sweet. SWMBOs finishing the rest of these since she liked it alright.

Coq De La Marche - Against The Grain
This was alright for me. Just nothing really interesting enough to get me to come back. I'll happily drink the rest of the 4-pack I got, but I doubt I'd seek it out again

White Blackbird - Wild Heaven Craft Beers
This was very interesting. Its made with pink peppercorns and I could definitely pick out the berry & spice that they impart. I have a saison going now with pink peppercorns which is about ready to bottle after trying this

 

[Aristotelian]

By the way, there is a Facebook group for the appreciation of Saison and Biere de Garde. I think somebody posted this in HBT on one of the other threads, but here it is for folks interested in this thread.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1517563441866109/

 

[troglodytes]

Telekenesis - Grimm
Haven't seen this one on the list and it deserves mentioning. I'm not positive about availability nationwide, but its from NY and I can get it fairly easily in Boston. I love tart and funky farmhouse ales and this one has a perfect amount of lemon, tropical fruit and the awesome dry minerally-ness (is that a word). It's got a dry chardonnay character and perfect in the summer time, and as we get into warm weather now, I'm craving one. Also try Rainbow Dome by them which is technically a Wild Ale.

 

[m00ps]

Telekenesis - Grimm
Haven't seen this one on the list and it deserves mentioning. I'm not positive about availability nationwide, but its from NY and I can get it fairly easily in Boston. I love tart and funky farmhouse ales and this one has a perfect amount of lemon, tropical fruit and the awesome dry minerally-ness (is that a word). It's got a dry chardonnay character and perfect in the summer time, and as we get into warm weather now, I'm craving one. Also try Rainbow Dome by them which is technically a Wild Ale.

Cool stuff. I've had a few of theirs before but havent seen any in a while. I actually do have one called Purple Prose in my closet. May have to try it now

 

[radwizard]

From Portland, I really like Bridgetown's Stumptown Cherry Tart Saison, and Ex Novo'z Jacked Up Tart. Good stuff