Saison’s are also commonly referred to as ‘farmhouse ales’. They were originally styled as a beer for farm workers – thirst quenchers after a hard days work in the fields. This offering from a small village brewery justifies the increasing popularity of saisons.
The beer pours a straw yellow, and is working overtime producing a creamy white head which billows in the glass. The smell is all about the yeast – rich bold and intriguing. Zesty fruits and grassy blossoms do their best to compete with the musty ‘horse blanket’.
The flavour comes in waves, and changes on the way through. At first there is the luxury of the citrus fruits, followed by biscuit malts. Then the spices hit with a peppery hop spike.
The aftertaste is long, and continues to be a combination of opposites like sweet lemon. The carbonation is good, and the finish is slightly dry, urging another sip.
Alvinne's saison is light, crisp, quite funky with a hint of sour thanks to blending a little of the Omega blond sour beer
This classic Belgian Saison was the first beer produced commercially by Brasserie Atrium
The new beer from the good 'Dochter' is a dry-hopped saison with bitter orange
A spelt saison brewed in collaboration with Hill Farmstead
A simple but funky and interesting saison, with two old style hops for a fruity, dry and spicy character
A collaborative Saison featuring rye, spelt and wheat malts, dry-hopped with a Ukranian hop called Zachrava
An attempt at recreating a traditional 19th-Century saison, heavily hopped and mixed with lambic then barrel aged
An historical style spelt saison, dry-hopped and refermented with Brettanomyces
A classic Belgian style saison, with a twist - dry-hopped with Cascade & Amarillo
A saison with winter-type spices added including timut and szechuan peppers, mustard seeds and juniper
by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende
A hazy golden saison - crisp, citrusy, earthy and dry
A traditional Belgian saison, dry and funky, grainy malt and a solid bitterness
by Brasserie de Jandrain-Jandrenouille
A traditionally styled saison brewed with just the four ingredients as such beers were in the past
'Tess' is a White White Saison - a farmhouse ale fermented on Pinot Grigio white wine barrels and hopped with Hallertau Blanc hops
A very tasty little saison - or Grisette - from London's Partizan Brewing
A refreshingly crisp and dry farmhouse ale with addition rhubarb and ginger
A collaboration between De Molen and Beavertown (UK) sees a beery take on the traditional Gin & Tonic
A classic Belgian saison from Brouwerij De Ranke - hoppy and floral with a dry finish.
An earthy Wallonian saison from one of Europe's last remaining steam breweries
The classic farmhouse ale, and benchmark that re-popularised the saison style of beer.
A special annual vintage version of Dupont's classic saison
A very traditional style saison, with a recipe dating back to 1884
A very traditional style saison that offers a glimpse of past beer styles
A black India saison isn't something you see everyday from a Belgian brewer
A tasty, fairly traditional saison with lots of loverly earthy character and a little funk
A unique combination of Saison and White Beer produces a refreshing blonde ale with a nice bite.
White Pony have created what they call a Pacific Saison Ale, featuring hops from Australia (Summer) and NZ (Wakatu)
The winter seasonal offering from the KleinBrouwerij De Glazen Toren - a rich, dark winter warmer.
An extremely interesting take on the classic Belgian dubbel style, with hints of being a Flanders Oud Bruin.
The winter seasonal offering from Glazen Toren is a Scotch Ale
A traditional Belgian Tripel, as all good Belgian breweries have in their range
Four grains are used to produce this fantastic 'Double White' from KleinBrouwerij De Glazen Toren.
An imperial witbier, brewed with barley, wheat, oats and buckwheat, and the addition of coriander and curaçao
