The Saison Thread

[Gonzoillini1]

Blackberry Farms Summer Saison

Opened this one up yesterday after working the Lombard Ale Fest in Chicagoland in 92+ degree heat for 5-6 hours.

Bready malt character with a phenolic centric yeast profile of clove / black pepper, light herbal / floral hop flavor and aroma with just enough bitterness, a floral character I can't determine if it's yeast or additional ingredient derived, crisp and dry with a high level of carbonation.

I'm really a fan of almost everything I've had from Blackberry Farms so far and this is no exception.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Blackberry Farms Classic Saison.

Black pepper and clove, light fruit esters, bready / cracker, dry, highly carbed, just about everything I'm looking for in a non-wild saison

 

[PurityControl88]

Blackberry Farms Classic Saison.

Black pepper and clove, light fruit esters, bready / cracker, dry, highly carbed, just about everything I'm looking for in a non-wild saison

I really need to try a Blackberry Farm saison. I see them every weekend staring at me and I always pass them up. Which would be the best to try first? My local saison dealer has most of the deviants on the shelf.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

I really need to try a Blackberry Farm saison. I see them every weekend staring at me and I always pass them up. Which would be the best to try first? My local saison dealer has most of the deviants on the shelf.

I think you have to start with Classic, but my favorite (distributed) release is the Noble Dry Hopped version.

Well worth the investment of $10-14 in my opinion.

 

[PurityControl88]

I think you have to start with Classic, but my favorite (distributed) release is the Noble Dry Hopped version.

Well worth the investment of $10-14 in my opinion.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll post here when I make it happen.

 

[FTowne1]

My local saison dealer

This made me laugh.

 

[user 308679]

has most of the deviants on the shelf.

THIS made me laugh. The whole sentence is gold.

 

[rjose]

07 2014

Gentle foral sweetness, mildly tart dry citrus finish

 

[PurityControl88]

This made me laugh.

THIS made me laugh. The whole sentence is gold.

The struggle is real right now. They've got the full Blackberry Farms, Anchorage, and Saint Somewhere line up and I'm still enjoying the good times with Blaugies and Jonquilles. Going to have to make some tough choices soon...

 

[iong516]

Leave the St Somewhere on the shelf or tread with caution...

 

[PurityControl88]

Leave the St Somewhere on the shelf or tread with caution...

I've heard the bottles will randomly blow corks while on the shelf haha.

 

[quirk6]

I've heard the bottles will randomly blow corks while on the shelf haha.

I've had one Saint Somewhere, I took the cage off and the cork newly blew off before I caught it and finished opening it over the sink.

 

[capnmike]

I've had one Saint Somewhere, I took the cage off and the cork newly blew off before I caught it and finished opening it over the sink.

Never happened to me before, I swear!

 

[iong516]

I just mean most of their stuff doesn't taste amazing...

 

[quirk6]

I just mean most of their stuff doesn't taste amazing...

I remember it being good, not great. Mostly I remember how carbonated it was.

 

[BingoBango]

I enjoyed Cynthiana quite a bit and haven't had anything from them that's been bad/offputting. Lots of lively bottles, though...

 

[rjose]

 

[Gus13]

I tried to find this forever with no luck. How is it?

 

[rjose]

I tried to find this forever with no luck. How is it?

Very good, I enjoyed the balance they achieved between bready malt/dark fruit and dry/citrus/tart.

It's from the June 4 release. I think it was limit 3, I'm sure there are bottles out there for trade. There may have even been extras for sale.

 

[JCastle1]

What are your favorite dry-hopped saisons? Looking for suggestions, gonna brew soon and can't decide what to use.

 

[Evahflow]

What are your favorite dry-hopped saisons? Looking for suggestions, gonna brew soon and can't decide what to use.

I'm not a huge fan of dry hopped saisons in general and I'm not sure what ones are available shelf wise but Forest and Main are the best at this. I'd say attempt to pick hops that accentuate your yeast rather than just standing out. Less seems to be more with saison dry hopping. Stuff like Saaz, light amounts of ciitra, centennial, Nelson Sauvin seem to work really well. Brambling Cross is probably the best kept secret when it comes to dry hopping saison, works really well with the right yeast.

 

[JCastle1]

I'm not a huge fan of dry hopped saisons in general and I'm not sure what ones are available shelf wise but Forest and Main are the best at this. I'd say attempt to pick hops that accentuate your yeast rather than just standing out. Less seems to be more with saison dry hopping. Stuff like Saaz, light amounts of ciitra, centennial, Nelson Sauvin seem to work really well. Brambling Cross is probably the best kept secret when it comes to dry hopping saison, works really well with the right yeast.

Nelson was my first thought, it's the only one I've used before but it seems to be sold out everywhere.

 

[Evahflow]

Nelson was my first thought, it's the only one I've used before but it seems to be sold out everywhere.

Montueka seems like it would do really too, I've been interested in trying it.

 

[wuntrikpony]

What are your favorite dry-hopped saisons? Looking for suggestions, gonna brew soon and can't decide what to use.

Pretty much all the dry hopped saisons from De Garde, although they are more acidic and touch wood. I did a tart saison with haulertau blanc which was alright...the base beer had a white grape like flavor so I just paired it with a hop that had similar characteristics. I'd stay away from hops that are particularly dank. What about using saphir or amarillo?

 

[JCastle1]

Montueka seems like it would do really too, I've been interested in trying it.

Pretty much all the dry hopped saisons from De Garde, although they are more acidic and touch wood. I did a tart saison with haulertau blanc which was alright...the base beer had a white grape like flavor so I just paired it with a hop that had similar characteristics. I'd stay away from hops that are particularly dank. What about using saphir or amarillo?

Amarillo and Motueka sound like solid options. I've used both before in light, dry-hopped wheat beers with great results.

 

[drgarage1]

Amarillo went badly for me. Nelson and Motueka (and Bramling Cross) are much better

 

[JCastle1]

Amarillo went badly for me. Nelson and Motueka (and Bramling Cross) are much better

In what way?

 

[drgarage1]

In what way?

No real orangey tones, just a weird sweatiness from the combination of Amarillo and Brett. Amarillo is super particular about what it works well with.

 

[JCastle1]

No real orangey tones, just a weird sweatiness from the combination of Amarillo and Brett. Amarillo is super particular about what it works well with.

Thanks, ended up buying Motueka and Bramling Cross, we'll see how they turn out.

 

[Snarf1]

Thierez Xtra is all Bramling Cross for reference.