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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Belgian and Continental Style Ales

Saison

Saison beers are distinctive specialty beers from the Belgian province of Hainuat. These beers were originally brewed in the early spring for summer consumption, though contemporary Belgian saisons are brewed all year round with pale malts and are well dosed with English and Belgian hop varieties. Lively carbonation ensues from a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The color is classically golden orange and the flavors are refreshing with citrus and fruity hop notes. Sadly, these beers are under-appreciated in their home country and their production is limited to a small number of artisanal producers who keep this style alive. With a typically hoppy character, saisons are an esoteric style of beer that should appeal to any devotees of U.S. craft beers, if you can track them down. Occasionally, U.S. brewpubs will attempt a version.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

93 Whole Foods Silver Jubilee Farmhouse Ale, North Coast Brewing Co. (CA). 7.3% ABV (5/06)
Brilliant golden amber color with a foamy head. Sweet dried stone fruit and caramelized malt aromas follow through to a frothy dry-yet-fruity full-bodied palate with golden raisin, peaches, toasty malt and brown spices. Finishes with a fruity, lightly salty fade and a crisp, earthy hop impression. An excellent and well-balanced US version of saison with a distinctively hoppy finish that really fits the style.

92 Hennepin Farmhouse Saison Ale, Brewery Ommegang (NY). 7.7% ABV (5/07)
Golden color. Lavender bath soap aromas follow through to a fruity medium body of tangerine, toasted wheat bread, honey and spice flavors. Finishes with a mandarin orange, spice custard and talc fade. Interesting and quite lively and refreshing. Very wine-like.

89 Saison Impériale, Andelot Proefbrouwerij (Belgium). 8.5% ABV (5/06)
Copper. Funky, earthy, wild yeast aromas. A frothy entry leads to a medium- to full-bodied palate with dry caramel, burnt sugar, salt and pepper with hints of coriander. Dry caramel and singed citrus finish. Quickish, minerally fade. A funky, Burgundy-like flavor profile.

89 Festiv Ale, Rogue Ales (OR). 6% ABV (5/06)
Hazy golden amber color. Sourdough and orange blossom aromas lead to a frothy light-to-medium body with bright tart citrus and berry skins, faintly toasty malt and a touch of peppery spice. Finishes with a very tart pomegranate and crisp bittering hop fade. An interesting citrusy and almost lager-like interpretation of the style.

88 Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night Saison, Clipper City Brewing Co. (MD). 7.5% ABV (4/08)
Copper in color with a fluffy white head. Aromatics consisting of orange peel, melon and hints of citrus zest and bubble gum. Spritzy mouthfeel showcasing nice caramel, sweet cream nougat and slightly almond/filbert-like malt character. Finishes dry with hop notes of pine, grass and lightly cheesy notes. A balanced brew to pair with a farmhouse cheese plate or try grilled veggie skewers.

85 Shifty Belgian, C B & Potts (CO). 6% ABV (4/06)
Brilliant amber color with a quick bubbly head. Light caramel, dried apple and lemon aromas follow through to a zesty entry and a dryish, lightly carbonated medium-bodied palate with caramelized pale malt, lemon rind, faint peppery spice and caramel flavors. Finishes with a crisp toasty, lemony fade. A nice quaffer that’s really more of a flavored pale ale than a saison.

82 Saison Du Bastone, Bastone Brewery (MI). 5.5% ABV (5/07)
Lightly hazy golden amber color. Coriander, cardamom, caramel and prosciutto aromas follow through to a fruity, medium full body of aggressively spicy, white toast, lemon soap and rendered duck fat flavors. Finishes with a malt vinegar and sour milk fade.

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