The Saison Thread

[drgarage1]

Is Apex Predator actually the perfect example of a Saison? I had a 4 pack over the past couple nights after not having it for a while, and it's even better than I remember. It's like they found a way to perfect Saison DuPont, which was already near perfect. So, is it the best? I'll hang up and listen*



*will listen to everyone except people who peddle their overly sour, borderline AWA ******** (side project and hill farmstead)**



**i should stop drinking beers today

It's great. All it's missing is brett.

 

[Snarf1]

Is Apex Predator actually the perfect example of a Saison?

No.

 

[MooseLang]

No.

Well. What is?

Because ima disagree with it so hard

 

[Snarf1]

Well. What is?

Because ima disagree with it so hard

Dunno, but it's not brewed in the US.

 

[MooseLang]

Dunno, but it's not brewed in the US.

Yeah.


You're probably right.



S'good though.

 

[Thorpe]

I'll say that Apex Predator is my favorite clean American saison, though Blackberry Farms' saisons are amazing classic versions of the style.

Totally agree with too many "saisons" being way overly acidic. I've never gotten that from Hill Farmstead. Some Side Project saisons are too acidic for me (mainly the blended stuff), but Saison du Fermier is always fantastic, at least in my experience. The first batch on tap at Zwanze 2013 in Chicago was one of the best beers I've ever had.

 

[Treebs]

I'll say that Apex Predator is my favorite clean American saison, though Blackberry Farms' saisons are amazing classic versions of the style.

Totally agree with too many "saisons" being way overly acidic. I've never gotten that from Hill Farmstead. Some Side Project saisons are too acidic for me (mainly the blended stuff), but Saison du Fermier is always fantastic, at least in my experience. The first batch on tap at Zwanze 2013 in Chicago was one of the best beers I've ever had.

B1 Saison du Fermier is one of the best beers I've ever had. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Holy Mountain Witchfinder

Wheat / Pilsner malt, American & European hops, house blended yeast strain and bottle conditioned with Brett.

A really impressive offering, and continues the streak of incredibly tasty stuff that I've had from Holy Mountain so far.

Cheers!

 

[The Red Viper]

Holy Mountain Witchfinder

Wheat / Pilsner malt, American & European hops, house blended yeast strain and bottle conditioned with Brett.

A really impressive offering, and continues the streak of incredibly tasty stuff that I've had from Holy Mountain so far.

Cheers!

Seconded, traded for a mixed case of HM beers a while ago and have been really impressed with all of it.

 

[tosh1]

This was awful.

Love Kumquat, love Saison, but nothing about this worked. Muddled, overly sweet. Really wish I did not bother.

 

[Evahflow]

Is Apex Predator actually the perfect example of a Saison? I had a 4 pack over the past couple nights after not having it for a while, and it's even better than I remember. It's like they found a way to perfect Saison DuPont, which was already near perfect. So, is it the best? I'll hang up and listen*



*will listen to everyone except people who peddle their overly sour, borderline AWA ******** (side project and hill farmstead)**



**i should stop drinking beers today

If we are going just saison in general I'd have to say Fantome saison. American clean saison def Apex. Overall clean saison Blaugies D'epeautre. I'd take Blaugies 97 times out of 100 over Dupont.

 

[Friend_of_the_Gueuze]

I must be living under a rock. The few beers I've had from Off Color have been less than impressive. So much so, I wrote them off. Guess I gotta try this Apex now!

 

[PurityControl88]

A couple more saisons for the thread:

I've really enjoyed Trve's bottled offerings so far. This is just a nice little saison with a mild funk and tartness. Would crush again and again.


Per label "dark famhouse ale aged for three months in oak barrels previously containing Cote du Rhone wine." Still on the first half of the bottle as I type but there's just not too much going on here. Chocolate malts and just a bit of red wine and oak.

 

[Dunt1]

Does anybody know if this De Ranke Vieille Provision during the VIP session at The Festival is a new beer for them? I'm not seeing it listed anywhere else

 

[Snarf1]

Does anybody know if this De Ranke Vieille Provision during the VIP session at The Festival is a new beer for them? I'm not seeing it listed anywhere else

I'm assuming it has something to do with the foudres they purchased somewhat recently. One of the more intriguing beers in the lineup for sure.

 

[Thorpe]

I'm assuming it has something to do with the foudres they purchased somewhat recently. One of the more intriguing beers in the lineup for sure.

Any background info on the foudre purchase? I googled around and only saw something from a "Farmhouse Fest" from earlier this year where De Ranke had a "Foudre-aged Brett Saison."

 

[Snarf1]

Any background info on the foudre purchase? I googled around and only saw something from a "Farmhouse Fest" from earlier this year where De Ranke had a "Foudre-aged Brett Saison."

I think I saw that they had acquired foudres on FB, but that's all I know. I want to say they are well used by at least one winery previously, but I could be wrong there.

 

[iong516]

9/2014 is drinking nicely. Maybe this is more of a strong ale? The back says farmhouse provision ale, so == saison thread

 

[PHBoiler]

That minimal carb lasted about 30 seconds. I tried 2 bottles. First one had no head at all. Flabby body with banana/clove flavor. Wet hops added nothing. No clue what the carb issue was but it killed the beer.

This was incredible. Tropical fruit notes from the hops. Super dry. Great carb. Hard to describe beyond that. Just superb. Left me thinking that it was a HF beer. Absolutely top notch.

 

[capnmike]

This was incredible. Tropical fruit notes from the hops. Super dry. Great carb. Hard to describe beyond that. Just superb. Left me thinking that it was a HF beer. Absolutely top notch.

Picked some up from the brewery in Maine last summer - so good. Surprised this September to see it on shelves and in bars in DC.

 

[reverseapachemaster1]

9/2014 is drinking nicely. Maybe this is more of a strong ale? The back says farmhouse provision ale, so == saison thread

I seem to think they were originally spinning it as their version of a biere de garde. I remember early batches being pretty uninspiring.

 

[iong516]

I seem to think they were originally spinning it as their version of a biere de garde. I remember early batches being pretty uninspiring.

Yeah last time I had it I was not a fan. Been trying to get rid of this bottle and got sick of looking at it and put it in the fridge. Halfway through the bottle I was either getting buzzed and didn't care, or it started tasting pretty good...

 

[americanzero4128]

Proper glassware, saison Sunday, yadda yadda. Bottle from 3/2015. Shouldn't have tucked this one into the back of my fridge. I don't get any honey sweetness from this, probably all faded after 20 months. Tart, but unfortunately unremarkable saison. Going to try and get another bottle and drink it fresh and hope that this one is just old and faded.

 

[PHBoiler]

In the past week I've seen a bourbon barrel aged "Imperial Black Saison" and now a 16 oz can of "farmhouse stout." What in the hell? Are these real styles now all of the sudden? I'd be perfectly fine with launching them both into the sun.

 

[lazerviking]

"farmhouse stout." What in the hell? Are these real styles now all of the sudden?

Where you been? http://jesterkingbrewery.com/beers/#beers_188

I'd be perfectly fine with launching them both into the sun.

Yes

 

[jbeezification1]

Where you been? http://jesterkingbrewery.com/beers/#beers_188

Yes

Black Metal is a Farmhouse Imperial Stout in the sense that it was on the brew schedule when they inoculated their entire brewery and now they are unable to make "clean" beers. The addition of souring bacteria is new and terrible.

Before that they used an English yeast and it was a Russian Imperial Stout. It was way better before.

 

[masterovkhaos]

Black Metal is terrible (the beer. The music is great) but there are some really good "black saisons" out there

 

[quirk6]

Black Metal is terrible (the beer. The music is great) but there are some really good "black saisons" out there

Many dark saisons taste like burnt popcorn to me. Farmhouse Noir was a notable exception.

 

[Snarf1]

I think dark versions of saisons are almost always bad, but Brouerweij West does an export stout with saison yeast that I really enjoyed. Something I've thought about brewing for a few years and always been hesitant to try.

 

[FTowne1]

It's going to be a chore to finish this bottle. The first half a pour or so tasted fine, but as it warms up it becomes malty, flat, and kinda soapy. I have no idea how old the bottle is. It very well could've been sitting on the store shelf for years.