The Saison Thread

[ccbstl]

Afterthought Brewing Biere de Pieces #2

Excited to open this one. Perfect balance of gin barrel, lemony tartness, and a bit of dusty funk. Prickly carbonation.

Thanks Thorpe429 for making this and capnmike for sending it my way. Really impressive stuff.

 

[holldy01]

Hill Farmstead Florence (Vermont Wheat Ale Bottled 12/14/16)

This is a nice contrast to the Ithaca as it has a more contemporary profile of more lactic acidity, brighter yeast esters, and a cleaner finish. Light bitterness, lots of wheat hay / straw like malt character, lemon acidity with a Brett C pineapple / fruity yeast profile with just a hint of black pepper.

Surprised how tart this got in a little over a year as when it's fresh I haven't noticed any souring bacteria at all, but it's a very pleasant surprise after the Brett B / funk bomb that was that Ithaca White Gold.

Had a 2016 Anna recently and was surprised how tart it got as well. There is normally some tartness in that beer, but this was almost overwhelmingly sour. It was still very enjoyable, just not a characteristic I have noticed with Annas before.

 

[nophunk]

Had a 2016 Anna recently and was surprised how tart it got as well. There is normally some tartness in that beer, but this was almost overwhelmingly sour. It was still very enjoyable, just not a characteristic I have noticed with Annas before.

Interesting. I have never had a Hill shelfie get overwhelming, even at 2-3 years. Arthur has gotten the most green apple tartness for me. Florence, which can be so bready and not acidic at all fresh, definitely hits a nice lemony stride about a year in most of the time. Anna never really got much more sour in my experience. I will have to see if I have any 2016 bottles. Do you remember the batch by chance?

 

[capnmike]

Since I was already on this page....this is absolutely ace, Thorpe429 !

 

[holldy01]

Interesting. I have never had a Hill shelfie get overwhelming, even at 2-3 years. Arthur has gotten the most green apple tartness for me. Florence, which can be so bready and not acidic at all fresh, definitely hits a nice lemony stride about a year in most of the time. Anna never really got much more sour in my experience. I will have to see if I have any 2016 bottles. Do you remember the batch by chance?

8/5/16. I guess overwhelmingly tart is a bit of an overstatement. It certainly wasn't as tart as some cascade or bruery beers. But it wasn't that bright lemon that anna sometimes gets. It was a darker heavier tartness that didn't allow for a lot of honey or other flavors to come through. Still one of my favorite beers, it was just surprisingly tart from what I remember of Anna.

 

[RyanG1]

Some recent stuff

Recent batch of Cask Cherry. This should be dropping soon-ish at SARA. Draft offerings of this have been the best to date. More fruit and funk than can remember. Was hopeful that the bottle would be the same, but sometimes with SARA might be a little dialed back. Thankfully it was not and this was all cherry and funk.

Momoko from Oxbow. More farmhouse ale than saison? But whatever. One of the best peach forward beers I have had in recent memory. I was on a lot of the other beer in the photo so I was an idiot comparing it to West Ashley, Peche n Brett for me has been more artificial in flavor like those peachy ring candies from the local Walgreens. Plus this is in the handy dandy size.

Another banger from Oxbow that might not fit the specific Saison category but more the NE Hazy DB Farmhouse Ale or whateves

THIS! I love me some Upright and appreciate I can grab shelf turds of it, especially Shades and others. First time seeing this outside of the taproom and did not hesitate to buy and drank. The color was absurd. Way to bright and was hopeful to not be let down. Pinot grapes really shine through and no overpowering sourness. Well balanced.

 

[JCastle1]

Some recent stuff

Recent batch of Cask Cherry. This should be dropping soon-ish at SARA. Draft offerings of this have been the best to date. More fruit and funk than can remember. Was hopeful that the bottle would be the same, but sometimes with SARA might be a little dialed back. Thankfully it was not and this was all cherry and funk.

Momoko from Oxbow. More farmhouse ale than saison? But whatever. One of the best peach forward beers I have had in recent memory. I was on a lot of the other beer in the photo so I was an idiot comparing it to West Ashley, Peche n Brett for me has been more artificial in flavor like those peachy ring candies from the local Walgreens. Plus this is in the handy dandy size.

Another banger from Oxbow that might not fit the specific Saison category but more the NE Hazy DB Farmhouse Ale or whateves

THIS! I love me some Upright and appreciate I can grab shelf turds of it, especially Shades and others. First time seeing this outside of the taproom and did not hesitate to buy and drank. The color was absurd. Way to bright and was hopeful to not be let down. Pinot grapes really shine through and no overpowering sourness. Well balanced.

All these beers. I want them all. Love Oxbow and Upright so much.

 

[nophunk]

Oxbow seems criminally under hyped. Momoko was one of my favorite beers at the festival, and the bottles are just as good.

 

[holldy01]

Oxbow seems criminally under hyped. Momoko was one of my favorite beers at the festival, and the bottles are just as good.

The issue with oxbow, at least where I am, is the price. They make fantastic beer but there pricepoint makes them the farmhouse cascade. When I can pay $2 more and get a logsdon bottle that's double the size it's hard to justify the money for oxbow.

 

[tosh1]

The issue with oxbow, at least where I am, is the price. They make fantastic beer but there pricepoint makes them the farmhouse cascade. When I can pay $2 more and get a logsdon bottle that's double the size it's hard to justify the money for oxbow.

But the Logsdon bottle will gush and gush and gush.

 

[ccbstl]

Perennial Frances, French oak aged with yeast collected from a tree in the brewers yard. Not much carb, but nicely tart and floral. Reminds me of some of the Suarez stuff I've had.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Perennial Frances, French oak aged with yeast collected from a tree in the brewers yard. Not much carb, but nicely tart and floral. Reminds me of some of the Suarez stuff I've had.

Is this taproom only? Any takeout availability?

Foeder Saison from Perennial is one of the most underrated oak / mixed fermentation American saisons I've ever had, and I'm extremely intrigued by this one.

 

[ccbstl]

Is this taproom only? Any takeout availability?

This was a draft only one first released about a year ago. Every Thursday Perennial releases a beer, usually a draft only Belgian pale or saison with some different aging, hopping, etc. Sometimes it's a version of their base imp stout.

Foeder Saison from Perennial is one of the most underrated oak / mixed fermentation American saisons I've ever had, and I'm extremely intrigued by this one.

I'd be happy to send some when it's released next, that stuff is fantastic

 

[nophunk]

The issue with oxbow, at least where I am, is the price. They make fantastic beer but there pricepoint makes them the farmhouse cascade. When I can pay $2 more and get a logsdon bottle that's double the size it's hard to justify the money for oxbow.

I think Momoko was $17 at the brewery. I have heard they can get pricey in other markets. It's still one of the better fruited American beers I've had in quite some time, so I think it is worth it, especially considering you can get it on the shelf. I was joking with the dude pouring at the festival about how much better it was than Fuzzy. Side Project was literally right next to them. He laughed but low key agreed.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Opened up a couple of Hill Farmstead bottles for the AFC / NFC Championship games on Sunday and have some thoughts on them below.

2017.02 bottling of Hill Farmstead Arthur.

Lemon acidity, firm bitterness, blend of funky phenolic yeast profiles, just a great example of modern American farmhouse Saison.

2017.02.03 bottling of Hill Farmstead Anna.

Softer and rounder than the Arthur I opened earlier, wheat and bready pale malt, softer bitterness without as much acidity or Brett funk. Clean and a slight floral character from the honey and yeast profile. Very good and more drinkable than the Arthur, if not quite as complex.

 

[holldy01]

I think Momoko was $17 at the brewery. I have heard they can get pricey in other markets. It's still one of the better fruited American beers I've had in quite some time, so I think it is worth it, especially considering you can get it on the shelf. I was joking with the dude pouring at the festival about how much better it was than Fuzzy. Side Project was literally right next to them. He laughed but low key agreed.

Haven't had Momoko or Fuzzy to compare. But their bottles here are normally $18-22. I guess it's not a terrible pricepoint and I've enjoyed their beer but was never blown away enough to justify that price for 375s.

 

[Thorpe]

Just saw on Untappd’s Twitter page that “Saison / Farmhouse Ale” was the style with the fourth-most checkins in 2017 behind IPA, DIPA, and APA.

I’m pretty surprised by that. While I think saisons are (and of course should be) trending up, that’s pretty surprising given general lack of coverage and the fact that there aren’t too many saisons that people seem to drink on a daily basis (me excluded, of course!)

The general rise does make sense though especially as brewers do a better job not making garbage 3711 beers that they call saisons. Especially in examples without much funk or acidity, it’s a natural extension from hoppy beers as you often can get a lot of the same fruity/citrusy flavors with a dry finish that accentuates bitterness.

Curious to hear others’ thoughts!

 

[RyanG1]

I’m pretty surprised by that.

That's an afterthought.

 

[JCastle1]

Haven't had Momoko or Fuzzy to compare. But their bottles here are normally $18-22. I guess it's not a terrible pricepoint and I've enjoyed their beer but was never blown away enough to justify that price for 375s.

They're 500ml, not 375s but yeah still pricey. One of my favorite breweries though.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Just saw on Untappd’s Twitter page that “Saison / Farmhouse Ale” was the style with the fourth-most checkins in 2017 behind IPA, DIPA, and APA.

I’m pretty surprised by that. While I think saisons are (and of course should be) trending up, that’s pretty surprising given general lack of coverage and the fact that there aren’t too many saisons that people seem to drink on a daily basis (me excluded, of course!)

The general rise does make sense though especially as brewers do a better job not making garbage 3711 beers that they call saisons. Especially in examples without much funk or acidity, it’s a natural extension from hoppy beers as you often can get a lot of the same fruity/citrusy flavors with a dry finish that accentuates bitterness.

Curious to hear others’ thoughts!

Also surprised by that given that I would have figured Stout, Porter, Pilsner, and a number of other styles would have more check-in's compared to Saison / Farmhouse (as someone who doesn't use Untapped I can't really speak to how effective / reliable an indicator of daily drinking it really is though).

I do think that the quality of American made saisons is getting much better, and the general dry finish and effervescent carbonation lend themselves to something you can drink a couple of (depending on ABV) compared to say something like a NE IPA or adjunct forward Stout.

It is also a style that seems to do better in packaging than draft due to carbonation issues on standard brewery / bar draft systems, and in my (albeit see the disclaimer above) mind Untapped check in's appear to be more based on packaged product than draft pours when out with a group in a social setting.

 

[MooseLang]

Speaking of daily drinkin' Saisons...

I tweeted Stillwater to express my disappointment that he stopped making Classique. That was basically my "house beer" until I finally exhausted my local bottle shop's supply.

While I enjoy Extra Dry, it's no Classique. Luckily, he tweeted back to me, informing me that there would be an "updated re-release" in 2018.

I'm excited, but nervous. I don't want an updated version. Gimme dat Classique Classique.

 

[JCastle1]

Also surprised by that given that I would have figured Stout, Porter, Pilsner, and a number of other styles would have more check-in's compared to Saison / Farmhouse (as someone who doesn't use Untapped I can't really speak to how effective / reliable an indicator of daily drinking it really is though).

To me it makes sense, on Untappd saison/farmhouse is a catch-all category while stout is subdivided into 12 subcategories (imperial, oatmeal, russian, milk, Irish, etc). Porter has 5 subcategories and even pilsner has 4. IPA might also have a ton of subcategories but I'm guessing the vast majority are labelled as just IPA - American.

 

[Thorpe]

Speaking of daily drinkin' Saisons...

I tweeted Stillwater to express my disappointment that he stopped making Classique. That was basically my "house beer" until I finally exhausted my local bottle shop's supply.

While I enjoy Extra Dry, it's no Classique. Luckily, he tweeted back to me, informing me that there would be an "updated re-release" in 2018.

I'm excited, but nervous. I don't want an updated version. Gimme dat Classique Classique.

100% agree with Classique. When I heard that, I had my local shop order the remaining cases that the distributor had in stock. Glad it should be coming back in some form.

 

[abawol01]

All this talk of daily drinking saisons makes me miss Urban Farmhouse even more.

 

[Thorpe]

All this talk of daily drinking saisons makes me miss Urban Farmhouse even more.

Brew your own! Also, you have Upright, so I don't really feel bad for you

 

[PurityControl88]

Au Baron Noblesse Oblige. Standout biere de garde/French whatever. There's a big wave of hops up front (green/peppery/woody) a very smooth but flavorful yeast (not unlike Jonquilles) and some honey sweetness at the end. Super dry w a great carbonation. I bought a case of Jonquilles recently and I'm thinking I should of got one of these as well. Just a killer daily drinker.

 

[ElkSherpa1]

Au Baron Noblesse Oblige. Standout biere de garde/French whatever. There's a big wave of hops up front (green/peppery/woody) a very smooth but flavorful yeast (not unlike Jonquilles) and some honey sweetness at the end. Super dry w a great carbonation. I bought a case of Jonquilles recently and I'm thinking I should of got one of these as well. Just a killer daily drinker.

Making this beer with them was a career highlight for me. Such a kind family and such a punctual, focused, succinct brewery. This beer in particular was the first new recipe brewed there in 25 years.

 

[andrewdrinks]

ISO

 

[JCastle1]

ISO

Holy **** same please

 

[JCastle1]

What are people's thoughts on Brooklyn Half Ale? Ratings on Untappd are kinda low but I tried it last night and I thought it was great, totally crushable and cheap saison. Finishes dry and refreshing with a kick of citrusy hops.