Lucy Palmer
Saisons are a style of beer that originated in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium. They are typically highly carbonated, dry, and fruity, with varying levels of tartness and spice. While saisons were originally brewed with low alcohol levels, modern versions can have moderate to high alcohol content.
Saisons are now produced worldwide, with notable breweries in Belgium, the United States, and other countries creating their own interpretations of this style. Some well-known examples of saisons include Saison Dupont, considered the benchmark for this beer style, and Brewery Ommegang Hennepin, one of the most popular American saisons.
Due to the diverse range of flavours and interpretations of saisons, you may find different versions of this beer style in different regions, especially when comparing European and North American offerings. However, the unifying factor among saisons is their refreshing and drinkable nature, making them perfect for warm weather.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Region | Europe, North America |
| Taste | Dry, peppery, crisp, light-bodied, tart, fruity, spicy, sour, bitter, sweet, hoppy, refreshing |
| Alcohol Content | Low, moderate, high |
| Carbonation | High |
| Colour | Pale, golden, amber, reddish-amber, cloudy, hazy |
| Ingredients | Malted barley, wheat, oats, spelt, rye, hops, yeast, water, sugar, honey, flowers, botanicals, fruit, spices, herbs |
| ABV Range | Table (sessionable), standard, super |
| Yeast | Belgian, French, wild, Brettanomyces, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Diastatic strains |
| Fermentation | Bottle-conditioned, wild, mixed-culture, open-top oak, oak barrel, foeder, solera, secondary |
| Serving Temperature | Room temperature |
What You'll Learn
Online retailers
Saison, the French word for "season", is a style of beer that is highly carbonated, dry, fruity, and spicy. It is generally classified as a farmhouse ale and is particularly popular in Belgium and the United States.
Drizly
Drizly is an online liquor store that offers a range of Saison and Farmhouse ales. They provide delivery services and claim to deliver within 60 minutes.
Threes Brewing
Threes Brewing is a Brooklyn-based brewery that offers a range of Saison and Mixed Culture beers for online purchase. They have a rewards program where customers can earn points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for future purchases.
Food and Wine
Food and Wine is an online platform that provides information and reviews about various beverages, including Saison beer. They highlight specific Saison beers, such as Saison Dupont, Boulevard Brewing Company Tank 7, and Threes Brewing Wandering Bine, and provide insights into their unique characteristics and availability.
City Brew Tours
City Brew Tours offers an informative guide to Saison beer, including its history, flavour profiles, and popular examples. They also provide a list of highly-rated Saisons, such as Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont, Brewery Ommegang Hennepin, and Allagash Brewing Company Interlude, that showcases the diversity of the style.
These online retailers provide a convenient way to purchase and learn more about Saison beer, allowing customers to explore and enjoy this unique style from the comfort of their homes.
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Specialist beer shops
In London, for example, there are several notable beer shops that could be worth visiting. The London Beer House, located just off Haymarket, is a pocket-sized bar and bottle shop that offers a surprising range of quality craft beers, including some from Scotland that you won't find elsewhere in the city. Caps & Taps in Kentish Town is another great option, with around 300 beers from London, the UK, the US, and beyond. They also have a good selection of esoteric US beers.
If you're looking for something in North London, Clapton Craft has four locations offering a well-curated selection of beers from around the world, as well as accessible brews for growler-fill. Dusty Dick's Craft Beer Emporium, attached to the Harringay Arms, is another North London spot worth checking out. It offers a strong selection of British and international beers, and their themed mixed cases make great gifts for craft beer enthusiasts.
For those in East London, Kill the Cat in Walthamstow Village is a unique spot that displays its stock in three sections, ranging from familiar and accessible beers to more potent and unusual options. The Beer Shop in Tooting Broadway Market is also a great find, with well-versed staff who are happy to make recommendations.
While these are just a few examples from London, you can likely find similar specialist beer shops in other major cities. These shops often provide an excellent opportunity to discover new and interesting beers, including saisons, and to connect with other beer enthusiasts.
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Breweries
Saisons are a style of beer that is highly carbonated, dry, fruity, and spicy. They are generally classified as a farmhouse ale and were first mentioned in the early 19th century.
Brasserie Dupont
Brasserie Dupont is a Belgian brewery that has been brewing saison since 1844. Its saison is the best-known example of the style, with a 6.5% ABV and notes of grapefruit and cloves.
Boulevard Brewing Company
Boulevard Brewing Company is a craft brewery based in Kansas City, Missouri. Its Tank 7 saison, at 8.5% ABV, is a classic American take on the style, with a kick of citrus and spice.
Threes Brewing
Threes Brewing, based in Brooklyn, New York, offers seven saisons and farmhouse ales. Its Wandering Bine saison, at 6.5% ABV, is a solera-blended saison with notes of green apple skin, mixed berries, and fruity funk.
Urban Roots Brewing
Urban Roots Brewing, located in Sacramento, California, released its In and Out of Focus saison in time for Saison Day 2024. This 7% ABV beer is foeder-aged for three years and features spicy rye in its grain bill, resulting in complex, funky characteristics.
Side Project Brewing
Side Project Brewing, a craft brewery in Maplewood, Missouri, brews its Saison du Fermier with local spelt, creating what it calls a "Missouri saison." This beer is then aged in oak and anchors the brewery's Fermier series, which includes different vintages and variations aged in different vessels each year.
Allagash Brewing Company
Allagash Brewing Company, a craft brewery in Portland, Maine, is known for its Little Grove: Peach & Kombucha. This saison is fermented with saison yeast and features peach during brewing, resulting in a blend of beer and kombucha.
Brasserie de Blaugies
Brasserie de Blaugies is a Belgian brewery that produces the Bier Darbyste, a saison made with wheat and fermented with fig juice.
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Bars
Saison is a French word that means "season". It is a traditional, pastoral ale that originated in the farmhouses of Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium. It is typically dry, effervescent, and fruity, with varying levels of tartness and sourness. The style is relatively open to interpretation, so brewers might experiment with different ingredients and fermentation processes to create their own unique versions of this beer.
Beer Witch, Brooklyn
This bar recently hosted Saison Day, an annual event founded by Allagash Brewing Company to celebrate the saison style. As the owner, Christa Sobier, explains, saisons can be hoppy, sour, or funky, and this flexibility allows brewers to get creative with their recipes.
Threes Brewing, Brooklyn
Threes Brewing offers seven different saisons and farmhouse ales, including their Wandering Bine, which is a solera-blended saison. Their saison fermentations are done at warmer temperatures of 80–90°F, emulating the traditional brewing methods in Belgian and French farmhouses.
Urban Roots Brewing, Sacramento
Urban Roots Brewing released their In and Out of Focus saison in time for Saison Day 2024. This beer was brewed with spicy rye and foeder-aged for three years, resulting in complex, funky characteristics. Their brand ambassador, Sayre Piotrkowski, emphasizes the creativity that brewers can explore with fermentation processes and non-traditional ingredients like roses or lavender.
Side Project Brewing, Maplewood, Missouri
Side Project Brewing is another brewery that specializes in saisons and farmhouse ales. Their Saison du Fermier is a "Missouri saison" brewed with local spelt and aged in oak. This beer anchors their Fermier series, which includes different vintages and variations aged in different vessels each year.
Jester King Brewery, Austin, Texas
Jester King Brewery produces several highly accessible and affordable saisons, including their Le Petit Prince, a refreshing table beer with a low alcohol content of 2.9% ABV. Their beers capture the original spirit of farmhouse saisons, featuring strong barnyard tasting notes alongside aromas of straw, funky lemon, and honey.
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Jolly Pumpkin is another brewery that is almost synonymous with American saison. Their Bam Bière is a complex yet perfectly balanced farmhouse-style saison that combines oak aging, malt character, and a careful hop selection.
These bars showcase the diverse and creative interpretations of the saison style, ranging from traditional Belgian and Dutch saisons to modern American versions. Each bar offers a unique selection of saisons, allowing patrons to explore the versatility and complexity of this beloved beer style.
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Supermarkets
Saison is a French word that means "season". It is a style of beer that is light, dry, effervescent, and fruity. It is highly carbonated and typically has lower acidity than sour ales. Saisons are known for their drinkability and can be enjoyed year-round, although they are especially refreshing during warmer weather.
When it comes to purchasing saison beer, several supermarkets offer a variety of options. Here are some popular supermarkets where you can find saison beers:
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market, a popular organic and natural foods supermarket, often carries a selection of craft beers, including saisons. They usually have a dedicated beer section with a diverse range of options. You can find saison beers from various breweries, such as local craft brewers or well-known brands.
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's, a unique neighborhood grocery store, offers a wide range of products, including a selection of alcoholic beverages. While their beer selection may vary by location, some Trader Joe's stores carry craft beers, including saison options. Keep an eye out for seasonal or limited-edition releases during your next visit.
Wegmans
Wegmans is a supermarket chain known for its extensive selection of products, including a wide variety of beverages. In their beer aisle, you may find a range of craft beers, including saisons. They often support local breweries, so you might discover some interesting regional saison options.
Albertsons
Albertsons is a well-known supermarket chain that offers a wide range of products, including alcoholic beverages. Their beer selection can vary by location, but some stores carry craft beers and seasonal releases. Keep an eye out for saison options, especially from local breweries that they may feature.
Kroger
Kroger, a popular supermarket chain, offers a wide range of products, including alcoholic beverages. While their beer selection may vary depending on the store location, some Kroger stores carry craft beers and seasonal releases. You might be able to find saison beers, especially if they support local breweries in your area.
It's always a good idea to check the beer aisles of these supermarkets and explore their selections. Additionally, some supermarkets may have online shopping options where you can browse their beverage offerings and check availability before heading to the store. Keep in mind that the availability of saison beers may vary by region and season, so it's worth exploring different supermarkets to find your favorite options.
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Frequently asked questions
Saison Dupont Vieille Provision is often noted as the beer that defines the saison style. It is brewed at one of Europe's last farmhouse breweries, Brasserie Dupont in Tourpes, Belgium.
American craft brewers enjoy the freedom of the saison style and many interpretations are available. Notable examples include Allagash Brewing Company's Astrid, Boulevard Brewing Company's Tank 7, and Threes Brewing's Wandering Bine.
Many breweries produce saisons with raspberries. Examples include Blackberry Farm Brewery's Raspberry Preserves, The Big Friendly's Joe's Raspberry Preserves, and Casey Brewing and Blending's Casey Family Preserves: Raspberry.
Some saisons are re-fermented or refermented with peaches. Examples include Wooden Robot's Saison de Peche, The Rare Barrel's Guava Chameleon, and Resident Culture's Farm Mentality.
Many saisons are aged in barrels. Examples include Urban Roots Brewing's In and Out of Focus, Threes Brewing's Barrel-Aged Incredulous Laughter, and Creature Comforts' Barrel No. 64.
