The Saison Thread

[stakem1]

Interesting. I've seen Two Roads stuff, but I didn't realize they made farmhouse jams.

Their brewmaster, literally, wrote the book on farmhouse ales...

 

[nophunk]

Their brewmaster, literally, wrote the book on farmhouse ales...

I wish someone extra'd me that one instead of Roadsmary's Baby

 

[MooseLang]

I'd bang on Two Roads Workers' Comp Saison regularly if it was distributed in MD. It's under 5% ABV and closer to what I consider a Belgian Single, but it's very refreshing.

 

[tosh1]

Pretty big fan of Phil's work. I really enjoyed this.
Its been a long time since ive had a saison that bone dry yet vibrant with wine from the barrel aging.

Kinda reminded me of peconic but not sour.

I just stuck one of these in the fridge last night, looking forward to trying this one.

 

[drgarage1]

Can confirm that batch 2 of Orange/Grapefruit Provenance is amazing.

 

[Farnsworth]

This stuff is fantastic every time. I'm not sure why the spices work so well in this, but I don't really care to question it.

 

[abawol01]

Why doesn't Clara get as much love as the other HF offerings? This beer is fantastic and in my top 3 of the HF shelfies.thanks for the gopickitupformebro JulianB

 

[Der Fuchs]

Why doesn't Clara get as much love as the other HF offerings? This beer is fantastic and in my top 3 of the HF shelfies.thanks for the gopickitupformebro JulianB

My wonderings venture more into the "why does HF get as much love as they do when there are dozens of other breweries that make a product as good or better than theirs and they get little love if any". I do agree that Clara is underrated compared to the rest of their line. Always wondered what people get from flora that I obviously miss. Thought that was meh every time.

Personally, I find HF saisons for the most part to be watered down versions of their superior counterparts. Never understood the following. Which is odd given I really like Casey... and feel they are watered down too.

To each their own eh?

 

[The Red Viper]

My wonderings venture more into the "why does HF get as much love as they do when there are dozens of other breweries that make a product as good or better than theirs and they get little love if any". I do agree that Clara is underrated compared to the rest of their line. Always wondered what people get from flora that I obviously miss. Thought that was meh every time.

Personally, I find HF saisons for the most part to be watered down versions of their superior counterparts. Never understood the following. Which is odd given I really like Casey... and feel they are watered down too.

To each their own eh?

I agree about HF being overrated (especially the rare stuff and yeah especially Flora which I never liked any better than Anna/Arthur and probably less well than Convivial), but am curious what you think is similar but not watered down? I have access to no good saisons in TN and would like some stuff to trade for that wouldn't be hard to get in quantity. I don't like trading anything rare for saisons because I care more about lambic, but I like having saisons around.

 

[Thorpe]

My wonderings venture more into the "why does HF get as much love as they do when there are dozens of other breweries that make a product as good or better than theirs and they get little love if any". I do agree that Clara is underrated compared to the rest of their line. Always wondered what people get from flora that I obviously miss. Thought that was meh every time.

Personally, I find HF saisons for the most part to be watered down versions of their superior counterparts. Never understood the following. Which is odd given I really like Casey... and feel they are watered down too.

To each their own eh?

Not a chance that "dozens" of breweries are making better saisons than Hill Farmstead, but care to name at least some? Partially just playing devil's advocate out of curiosity, as I do agree to an extent that the beers are overrated, though that isn't to say they're not world-class beers, just that too many people go crazier than they should while ignoring other excellent breweries.

 

[bsc]

too many people go crazier than they should

this.

kuemmelbrau please name one other brewery pumping out excellent mixed ferment beers for $10/750mL.
de Garde? Jester King? Can't buy either of them by the case.

Sante is 2x the price, CS is 2x, Casey is 1.5x, RR is 2x, Side Project is 2x, Allagash is 2x.

And personally, while I may find certain offerings from some of those brewers to be 'better' I don't think any is close to better across the board. Hell, only RR is really doing anything outside the style on the same level as HF and that is what sets both of them apart, imo.

Homers gonna homer

 

[tehzachatak]

Why doesn't Clara get as much love as the other HF offerings? This beer is fantastic and in my top 3 of the HF shelfies.thanks for the gopickitupformebro JulianB

I think Clara is pretty easily the best shelfie with the HF label on it - I might like Convivial better, but its close. But my HF rankings have always been vastly different than most other peoples.

 

[iong516]

My local beer store in CA got Biere de Miel.

Buy! Buy! Buy!

 

[iong516]

Nice one! Downside, $90 500mL 6-pack pricing, 2pp, but should last a few days.

 

[tosh1]

Pretty big fan of Phil's work. I really enjoyed this.
Its been a long time since ive had a saison that bone dry yet vibrant with wine from the barrel aging.

Kinda reminded me of peconic but not sour.

Yep. This ****** is awesome, nope ******* awesome. quirk6 sent what i figured was a random extra, it is not. This is the real deal, what an awesome beer.

Truly, one of the better beers i have drunk in a while.

 

[iong516]

should last a few days.

Nope thread.






So good...

 

[Aaron from the Wood]

This is a kick-ass grisette...wow. Best kept secret in the Boston area. Enlightenment has always put out above average saisons, but this is really on another level. Nice tartness and great brett character. Huge flavor but lighter in body and super crushable at 4.4%. I could have sworn I was drinking Clara.

 

[The Red Viper]

This is a kick-ass grisette...wow. Best kept secret in the Boston area. Enlightenment has always put out above average saisons, but this is really on another level. Nice tartness and great brett character. Huge flavor but lighter in body and super crushable at 4.4%. I could have sworn I was drinking Clara.

Haven't had this yet but I've loved everything from Enlightenment. Is this still around? What's the cost per bottle? My brother and other people I know well live in Boston and if it's easily available I might ask someone to grab me a few.

 

[Aaron from the Wood]

Haven't had this yet but I've loved everything from Enlightenment. Is this still around? What's the cost per bottle? My brother and other people I know well live in Boston and if it's easily available I might ask someone to grab me a few.

This is batch 01 and there's still a good amount at the stores I frequent. I think it hit the shelves no more than a month ago.
About $12/bottle.

 

[iong516]

This is batch 01 and there's still a good amount at the stores I frequent. I think it hit the shelves no more than a month ago.
About $12/bottle.

Pickitupformebro? Sounds dank. Could trade Tired Hands/Forest and Main saison locals or something. Message if interested

 

[nophunk]

Not a chance that "dozens" of breweries are making better saisons than Hill Farmstead, but care to name at least some?

BA saison is easily one of my top styles. I honestly think Hill makes some of the best in the game, and the price simply cannot be touched. All of the ones coming from foeders have been top notch. I love Anna, Arthur, Clara, and Florence. Occasionally they need time to develop, not unlike many beers of the same style. Sante is a close rival in my book, but they are so much harder to get and indeed a good bit more expensive.

I thought Flora was great the one time I had it, but Art b3 was the best saison I have ever had. It was magical. Stenciled Pages was great as well (had them back to back), but Art was better in every single way.

 

[thejukes]

My local beer store in CA got a bunch of bottles from Jester King. I haven't seen them around here before and I don't know much about the actual beers. Which out of these is worth a buy? Commercial Suicide, Le Petit Prince, Mad Meg, Biere de Miel, El Cedro, Das Wunderkind.

Also, thoughts on Apex Predator by Off Color Brewing as an everyday beer? I saw an x-pack (don't remember if 4 or 6) of the stuff for $11 and it seemed like a good price.

Can't believe the lack of love for El Cedro; cedar + hops is a winner.

I know I'm late, but buy them all. Apex Predator is excellent. Very tropical.

 

[ncaudle]

Pretty big fan of Phil's work. I really enjoyed this.
Its been a long time since ive had a saison that bone dry yet vibrant with wine from the barrel aging.

Kinda reminded me of peconic but not sour.

so far this has been the only "road less traveled" series beer from them I have not enjoyed... 3 of us couldn't even finish a bottle

 

[Competicity]

This is a kick-ass grisette...wow. Best kept secret in the Boston area. Enlightenment has always put out above average saisons, but this is really on another level. Nice tartness and great brett character. Huge flavor but lighter in body and super crushable at 4.4%. I could have sworn I was drinking Clara.

Had this a couple weeks ago and couldn't agree more. Outstanding.

This is batch 01 and there's still a good amount at the stores I frequent. I think it hit the shelves no more than a month ago.
About $12/bottle.

And once it goes could be a while before its around again. IIRC Enlightenment brewer Ben Howe embarking on a prolonged sabbatical this month to do some farmhousing over in Denmark.

 

[iong516]

More Oat Potion tonight. It's growing on me...

 

[user 305778]

More Oat Potion tonight. It's growing on me...

I liked Oat Potion. Thought it had a nice balance and really enjoyed the growler I got. My wife liked it too though it got a bit bitter for her as she drank her glass.

 

[reverseapachemaster1]

this.

kuemmelbrau please name one other brewery pumping out excellent mixed ferment beers for $10/750mL.
de Garde? Jester King? Can't buy either of them by the case.

de Garde's base beers are widely available in Oregon for under $10/750. Not sure where sells them by the case but they sit in grocery stores with no limits.

Several of Jester King's beers are available at the brewery and can be easily bought by the case. Distribution, even in Texas is spotty but they are pretty easy to get in volume at the brewery. Beyond commercial suicide and le petit prince you won't pay $10/750 though. Several are $12/750.

 

[HeadytheElder]

Summer Saison from Blackberry Farm out of Walland, TN.

Nice tropical hop flavors over a classic saison profile. Very enjoyable and refreshing, enough to go back and grab their Classic Saison. I also like the idea of drinking a farmhouse ale that was brewed on an actual farm. I wish it had a wild side, but everything is nicely balanced as-is.

 

[Snarf1]

Summer Saison from Blackberry Farm out of Walland, TN.

I also like the idea of drinking a farmhouse ale that was brewed on an actual farm.

Enjoy the idea, but they brew the beer for distro at a production facility in Maryville.

 

[HeadytheElder]

Enjoy the idea, but they brew the beer for distro at a production facility in Maryville.

...

Are they lying on the bottle? "crafted and bottled-conditioned right here in East Tennessee."