Beer Style Discovery: Saison

Beer Style: Saison

Saison, or farmhouse ale as its sometimes referred to, is a beer style originating from Wallonia.

For those less familiar with European geography, you are probably wondering where in the world this strange sounding place is. Well, it happens that Wallonia is a French speaking region of probably the best known beer country in the world; Belgium.

Enjoying a Saison in the Abyss from Bliksem 

Farmhouse ale, which is often used to refer to Saisons, is a direct reference to the beer style's history.

Saison, meaning season in French, was brewed in autumn, winter and into early spring(when conditions were best) on farms all over the region.  This allowed for the farms labourers (some of which would be brewing in the colder months) to enjoy a nice refreshing brew on the long, hot, summer days.

Due to the fact that each farm, or area, created its own variation of the brew, the style was very broad and indistinctive. This still is the case today, as many different versions of the style exist. In modern times however, it is often agreed upon that the Saison Dupont, or the Saison Dupont Vieille Provision, represent the style's archetype.

Saison Dupont, the style's archetype (My picture wasn't great, so I took this one)

Saisons today often contain 5-8% ABV and are usually high in carbonation, dry, and contain fruity notes. But, as mentioned earlier, many different variations of the style exists such as spicy variants, or those aged on barrels.

Enjoying an Imperial Saison aged on white wine barrels! 

Although we are in the middle of winter right now, modern brewing techniques are no longer dependant on the weather for good brewing months. Therefore, there is no excuse to go out and give this great style a try!

Cheers!