Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Saison Tasting August 16th - August 31st

• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  August 16, 2009

  From August 16th - 31st we will be tasting Saison style beers. There should be some available to everyone as they have wide distribution. Saison Ales were originally brewed in farmhouses in Wallonia, the French speaking region of Belgium, as refreshing, low alcohol (5%-8%) ale for the farm workers to drink during harvest. Some considered Saison Ales as a dying style until in July 2005 Men's Health magazine named Saison Dupont "the Best beer in the World!" Drink, enjoy and share what you find.

  From August 16th - 31st we will be tasting Saison style beers. There should be some available to everyone as they have wide distribution. Saison Ales were originally brewed in farmhouses in Wallonia, the French speaking region of Belgium, as refreshing, low alcohol (5%-8%) ale for the farm workers to drink during harvest. Some considered Saison Ales as a dying style until in July 2005 Men's Health magazine named Saison Dupont "the Best beer in the World!" Drink, enjoy and share what you find.
• palerale

  

  Member
   

  August 22, 2009

  It is my understanding that Saisons were more of a 3-5% originally. The farmers liked a chugger. This is of course, no longer true; they now seem to sit between 5-8%. I suppose I could be wrong about that, however. I will post a review of Pretty Things Jack D'or, which is my favorite Saison this year, as soon as I have some time off, probably tomorrow. Someone else please go try New Holland's Golden Cap, because I hated it, and I'm really not sure I didnt get a bad bottle.

  It is my understanding that Saisons were more of a 3-5% originally. The farmers liked a chugger. This is of course, no longer true; they now seem to sit between 5-8%. I suppose I could be wrong about that, however. I will post a review of Pretty Things Jack D'or, which is my favorite Saison this year, as soon as I have some time off, probably tomorrow. Someone else please go try New Holland's Golden Cap, because I hated it, and I'm really not sure I didnt get a bad bottle.
• fretwalker

  

  Member
   

  August 22, 2009

  A week in, and I'm kicking off? Y'all are slipping!
  
  Great Lakes Grassroots Ale (Hale Ale)
  Great Lakes Brewing Company
  Cleveland, OH
  http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/
  
  ABV= 5.6%
  
  Pours a cloudy pale gold with a modest white head, light lacing. Aroma is lightly citrus and floral. Flavor is light, but surprisingly busy; elements of flowers, banana, bitter herbs, citrus tang, spice, and malt sweetness. Rarely have I had a beer that was so light and refreshing, yet so complex it's difficult to describe. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, much fuller than the color would suggest. After my first bottle from the sixer, last night, I wasn't sure. Now, at the end of the last bottle, I find like it more with every sip; just wish I could figure out why! Guess I'd better get another six, just to nail it down, ya know?
  

  A week in, and I'm kicking off? Y'all are slipping!
  
  Great Lakes Grassroots Ale (Hale Ale)
  Great Lakes Brewing Company
  Cleveland, OH
  http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/
  
  ABV= 5.6%
  
  Pours a cloudy pale gold with a modest white head, light lacing. Aroma is lightly citrus and floral. Flavor is light, but surprisingly busy; elements of flowers, banana, bitter herbs, citrus tang, spice, and malt sweetness. Rarely have I had a beer that was so light and refreshing, yet so complex it's difficult to describe. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, much fuller than the color would suggest. After my first bottle from the sixer, last night, I wasn't sure. Now, at the end of the last bottle, I find like it more with every sip; just wish I could figure out why! Guess I'd better get another six, just to nail it down, ya know?
  
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  August 25, 2009

  Sorry I posted this in the comments before, I just moved here where it belongs.
  
  St Feuillien Saison
  
  Brewery - Brasserie St. Feuillien - Belgium
  
  http://www.st-feuillien.com/
  Style - SAISON
  
  Fist noticeable item of this beer is that it a corked beer. Pours out golden and cloudy, forming a nice thick soapy head witch dissipates pretty quickly. The little bit of foam that is left leaves some great lacing in the glass. The carbonation is full of small bubbles that you do not see but feel on your tongue as you drink. On the nose I smell subtle hints of grain and earthy tones. Flavors of light floral and grain, nothing overpowering however. Over all, this is a good beer, not something I would drink everyday as I found it kind of bland. It would be a good beer to use as a base flavoring in a beer beard though. I would give it a 3 &1/2 out of 5
  
  -JH-
  
  Tried Were HEISCHMANS TAVERN
  
  ABV:
  6.5%
  
  Body:
  Medium
  
  Vessel Tulip glass
  
  Head Good
  
  Clarity Cloudy
  
  Aroma Info
  
  Balance Bitter Sweet
  Impression Nice
  Intensity Mild
  
  Flavor info
  
  Balance - Bitter-Sweet;
  Impression – Neutral
  Intensity - Mild
  
  Hop Info
  
  Aroma - Earth
  Aroma - Floral
  Flavor - Floral
  
  Malt Info
  
  Aroma – Grain
  Aroma – Sweet
  Flavor - Grain
  

  Sorry I posted this in the comments before, I just moved here where it belongs.
  
  St Feuillien Saison
  
  Brewery - Brasserie St. Feuillien - Belgium
  
  http://www.st-feuillien.com/
  Style - SAISON
  
  Fist noticeable item of this beer is that it a corked beer. Pours out golden and cloudy, forming a nice thick soapy head witch dissipates pretty quickly. The little bit of foam that is left leaves some great lacing in the glass. The carbonation is full of small bubbles that you do not see but feel on your tongue as you drink. On the nose I smell subtle hints of grain and earthy tones. Flavors of light floral and grain, nothing overpowering however. Over all, this is a good beer, not something I would drink everyday as I found it kind of bland. It would be a good beer to use as a base flavoring in a beer beard though. I would give it a 3 &1/2 out of 5
  
  -JH-
  
  Tried Were HEISCHMANS TAVERN
  
  ABV:
  6.5%
  
  Body:
  Medium
  
  Vessel Tulip glass
  
  Head Good
  
  Clarity Cloudy
  
  Aroma Info
  
  Balance Bitter Sweet
  Impression Nice
  Intensity Mild
  
  Flavor info
  
  Balance - Bitter-Sweet;
  Impression – Neutral
  Intensity - Mild
  
  Hop Info
  
  Aroma - Earth
  Aroma - Floral
  Flavor - Floral
  
  Malt Info
  
  Aroma – Grain
  Aroma – Sweet
  Flavor - Grain
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  August 25, 2009

  
  A week in, and I'm kicking off? Y'all are slipping!
  
  Great Lakes Grassroots Ale (Hale Ale)
  Great Lakes Brewing Company
  Cleveland, OH
  http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/
  
  ABV= 5.6%
  
  Pours a cloudy pale gold with a modest white head, light lacing. Aroma is lightly citrus and floral. Flavor is light, but surprisingly busy; elements of flowers, banana, bitter herbs, citrus tang, spice, and malt sweetness. Rarely have I had a beer that was so light and refreshing, yet so complex it's difficult to describe. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, much fuller than the color would suggest. After my first bottle from the sixer, last night, I wasn't sure. Now, at the end of the last bottle, I find like it more with every sip; just wish I could figure out why! Guess I'd better get another six, just to nail it down, ya know?
  
  
  I was actually hoping to get to CA to pick up some I have not tried. Don't think I am going to be able to make it and will re-taste what we have here in town - Hennepin, La Merle, Dupont and I think there is one more available locally.

  [quote=fretwalker]
  A week in, and I'm kicking off? Y'all are slipping!
  
  Great Lakes Grassroots Ale (Hale Ale)
  Great Lakes Brewing Company
  Cleveland, OH
  http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/
  
  ABV= 5.6%
  
  Pours a cloudy pale gold with a modest white head, light lacing. Aroma is lightly citrus and floral. Flavor is light, but surprisingly busy; elements of flowers, banana, bitter herbs, citrus tang, spice, and malt sweetness. Rarely have I had a beer that was so light and refreshing, yet so complex it's difficult to describe. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, much fuller than the color would suggest. After my first bottle from the sixer, last night, I wasn't sure. Now, at the end of the last bottle, I find like it more with every sip; just wish I could figure out why! Guess I'd better get another six, just to nail it down, ya know?
  
  [/quote]
  I was actually hoping to get to CA to pick up some I have not tried. Don't think I am going to be able to make it and will re-taste what we have here in town - Hennepin, La Merle, Dupont and I think there is one more available locally.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  August 25, 2009

  
  St Feuillien Saison
  Brewery - Brasserie St. Feuillien - Belgium
  http://www.st-feuillien.com/
  Style - SAISON
  
  Fist noticeable item of this beer is that it a corked beer. Pours out golden and cloudy, forming a nice thick soapy head witch dissipates pretty quickly. The little bit of foam that is left leaves some great lacing in the glass. The carbonation is full of small bubbles that you do not see but feel on your tongue as you drink. On the nose I smell subtle hints of grain and earthy tones. Flavors of light floral and grain, nothing overpowering however. Over all, this is a good beer, not something I would drink everyday as I found it kind of bland. It would be a good beer to use as a base flavoring in a beer beard though. I would give it a 3 &1/2 out of 5
  
  -JH-
  
  I think this is the 4th one you can get here in Reno. Hopefully I can add my tasting notes too.

  [quote=HEISCHMAN]
  St Feuillien Saison
  Brewery - Brasserie St. Feuillien - Belgium
  http://www.st-feuillien.com/
  Style - SAISON
  
  Fist noticeable item of this beer is that it a corked beer. Pours out golden and cloudy, forming a nice thick soapy head witch dissipates pretty quickly. The little bit of foam that is left leaves some great lacing in the glass. The carbonation is full of small bubbles that you do not see but feel on your tongue as you drink. On the nose I smell subtle hints of grain and earthy tones. Flavors of light floral and grain, nothing overpowering however. Over all, this is a good beer, not something I would drink everyday as I found it kind of bland. It would be a good beer to use as a base flavoring in a beer beard though. I would give it a 3 &1/2 out of 5
  
  -JH-
  [/quote]
  I think this is the 4th one you can get here in Reno. Hopefully I can add my tasting notes too.
• mr1mcbeerface

  

  Member
   

  August 28, 2009

  Avery Brewing Sixteenth Anniversary Ale Sixteen Saison this golden diliosoucess with aroma of jazmine, wheat and honey 7.69% abv so much flavors peach, wheat honey, spice, lemon, orange and suger. Once again another very impressive beer from Avery Brewing Boulder, Colorado

  Avery Brewing Sixteenth Anniversary Ale Sixteen Saison this golden diliosoucess with aroma of jazmine, wheat and honey 7.69% abv so much flavors peach, wheat honey, spice, lemon, orange and suger. Once again another very impressive beer from Avery Brewing Boulder, Colorado
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  August 28, 2009

  Hennepin Farmhouse Saison Ale, Brewery Ommegang, 7.70% ABV
  
  The Hennepin Farmhouse Saison from Brewery Ommegang (brewed by Duvel Moortgat in Puurs, Belgium) pours out a pale gold in color with some haze that clears as the beer warms and a nice rocky head that hangs around for a short while. Quite steely on the nose with honey, pepper and a little barnyard. Slightly sweet at first in the mouth with flavors of lemon, earth, some biscuit and spice. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Nice lacing. Quite a crisp mouthfeel with some Champagne-esque qualities. Dry and slightly tart on a spicy finish. It will be hard to ever turn one of these down. A great beer that is highly recommended.
  
  

  Hennepin Farmhouse Saison Ale, Brewery Ommegang, 7.70% ABV
  
  The Hennepin Farmhouse Saison from Brewery Ommegang (brewed by Duvel Moortgat in Puurs, Belgium) pours out a pale gold in color with some haze that clears as the beer warms and a nice rocky head that hangs around for a short while. Quite steely on the nose with honey, pepper and a little barnyard. Slightly sweet at first in the mouth with flavors of lemon, earth, some biscuit and spice. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Nice lacing. Quite a crisp mouthfeel with some Champagne-esque qualities. Dry and slightly tart on a spicy finish. It will be hard to ever turn one of these down. A great beer that is highly recommended.