Rating:

We’ve actually been having quite a bit of trouble finding any useful information on this Saison. It is our first crack at this breweries range but what we found peculiar is the fact that they don’t list this as one of their beers on their website. So, apologies for that, we’ll move on.

Unwrapped, popped and served from the 750ml bottle in to a beer tulip. Not much of a hiss upon cracking it but a hazy yet bright amber hue is topped off by a healthy three finger cap anyway. The head reduces quite rapidly to a fingernail’s height with wavy lace patterns trailing it down. Similar to all good Saison’s, this aroma is dry, yeasty and slightly funky. A mild lemon tartness leads out with a soft clove spiciness right behind. We do get a bit of that artificial banana lolly yeastiness but in fact it’s more stone fruit-like, either apricot or peach. The malts have a white bread crustiness to them, becoming more doughy once the beer comes up to room temperature. Really nice. So light but maintaining that funky complexity on the nose. Quite a frothy texture in the mouth. Co2 is medium-high while the body is mild-medium. No ABV stated on the bottle but numerous websites put it at 5.5% which would explain the light feel and lack of alcohol burn. The palate initially offers up a delicious combination of pear, fruit esters, hay and a dry, grassy hop bitterness that persists on through the mid. A peppery spice, a kind of mineraly note and a soft citric acidity forms before a dry, peppery finish rounds it all out. Good length. Wow! Plenty going on here. Shows the brewing skills posessed as the complexity is layered and gels very nicely. Nothing clashes, just a really well constructed Saison. Solid offering.

Rating:

A tantalising saison that is dry and slightly zesty ale with farmhouse tones. We infuse this ale with finger limes, a native australian fruit, known as the caviar of the Citrus world. The limes are hand peeled for the zest and steeping the extract of its aromatic oils provides a tangy, tart belgian style ale.

wow, we like the sound of these little limes. Hadn’t even heard of them before this so well done australia. Pours exactly like a coopers pale ale with a fluffy white 1 finger head with lots of carbonation seen at the base of the head. The nose is like a lager with a mild lime aroma, and subtle belgian yeast in the background. First sip is interesting. There is mild Belgian undertones, combined with what tastes like mild lager malt. A good swish around the mouth shows up decent carbonation, and a definite tartness from the fruit used. There is moderate bitterness in the mouth after each sip from the citrus. We get some of the 5.5% alc vol here after each mouthful. Bit thin on the back palate though. We not quite sure about this beer. It lacks serious flavour. We know that limes are the showcase but it’s leaves a dry, lager like palate, with very little else. Sure it’s a smooth drop, but we were expecting far more saison like flavours. It’s just not exciting. We may as well have bought a 6 pack of commercial lager. Disappointing.

Rating:

“Course of the saisons continues. For #001 we wanted Nelson Sauvin, we couldn’t get it so pulled a last minute sub of Sorachi Ace. This time we got Nelson, but couldn’t get Galaxy. We must have abused hops in a previous life.”

This is our first entry for this Victorian brewery. Like many other home brewers turned gypsy brewers, these two lads from Melbourne are yet to open their own establishment, so for now they brew their craft out of Cavalier’s tanks. Served in to a wide-rimmed tulip glass. A hazy straw-golden pour arouses a big, fluffy three finger crown that leisurely peels away and settles to a thick coating that persists. Draws some healthy lacing. Nice, strong aroma. Big and yeasty with a tonne of spice emanating. Pepper, clove and coriander are the dominant scents while a hint of vanilla and cardamon also creep in. Moderate acidity, we get a subtle candied lemon character while suggestions of orange peel are also in here. Maybe a faint hint if bubblegum and passion fruit just to sweeten the deal. Really nice, good start to this beer. We get quite a mineraly texture in the mouth. The Co2 levels are vibrant, giving a real lively effervescence on the tongue. Modest body and the 6.2% ABV is nicely fused in among the assembly of flavours. Great balance. A little bit of funky barnyard/hay and spice initiates the palate. A slightly assertive bitterness also shows up, carrying it all forward through the mid. Some soft citric notes develop late and lead in to a dry, grassy/herbal finish. Fine duration ensures a long, drawn out conclusion. We must admit we are very surprised by the quality of this drop. All the traditional Saison characters are here while the use of hops such as Sorachi Ace and Citra have been executed to perfection. Damn fine brew here, we really enjoyed it.

Rating:

Brilliant brewery from the Netherlands here. These guys offer a massive range of beers such as the double IPA and their incredible Russian imperial stout, but none can top the brilliance of their signature creme brulee stout. For us, one of the best stouts we’ve ever had the pleasure of drinking. This saison was a bit of a random pick but as we mentioned before, these brewers can certainly brew a good beer. So here goes.

Served in to a beer tulip. The slightly hazy honey appearance is capped off by a fluffy two finger head that reduces somewhat and holds at a good 0.5 cm. Decent head retention, allowing for some thick, wavy lace trails to be released. The aroma is a little delicate but we do pick up faint wafts of grains, wheat, peach, citrus and a touch of tangy orange sherbert. When we really get our noses in deep and inhale a certain yeast complexity is offering a kind of Belgian blond/tripel-like peppery spice with a light herbal note. Nice aromas but it’s just lacking a little in depth and vigor. The mouth feel is nice and light on with a slightly prickly texture. A bit of dryness to the tongue too, the IBU only sits at a mild 45 but an assertive bitterness is definitely felt. On the palate we get the same gentle approach as we got with the aroma. A nice little fusion of peppery spice, grains and grapefruit are followed by a mild bitterness through the mid. Maybe a touch of funky sourness forming late as it finishes dry and bitter. Not the best saison we’ve ever had and certainly no where near their best brew. Although, factor in the low ABV of 4.6%, the light body and fruity, bitter flavour and it’s one that could easily be sessioned on. Hey, isn’t that what saisons were originally brewed for anyway? Either way, a bit tame for us, we’ll be looking forward to the next installment from Emelisse.

Rating:

“From the darkness I watch you. All of you, all of your lives, with a thousand eyes, and one. Abiding in the shadows of this dark saison lie beguiling and entrancing aromas and flavours – girded by crisp lasting herbal hop notes and a yeasty, spicy finish.”

May we just say that we aren’t big fans of the Game of Thrones series. What we are huge fans of, though, is this brewery who are, you could say, the American arm of the Duvel/Moortgat family. No explanations needed there. The artwork must also be commended. Very detailed. Uncaged and uncorked then served in to a beer tulip. The deep cola pour strived to disclose an edge of dark mahogany while a big, puffy two and a half finger head formed on top. The head persists stubbornly, only peeling off a centimetre or so before settling to a good 7-8mm cap. Tonnes of thick, soapy residue is left clinging to the glass. Looks attractive. A good ten minutes have passed us by and we’re still dumbfounded by this aroma. What we can detect is a really viscous, glutinous character of cookie dough along with undertones of play doh, clove, subtle banana, phenols, cooking chocolate and lemon/lime juice. A real mixed bag of aromas. But you know what though, it somehow works…..well. In the mouth it has a nice density, really filling it out with a soft, moussy texture. The Co2 levels are medium-high and the body is about mild-medium. We have to give credit for the brilliant masking of the 7.2% ABV. Literally undetectable. Upfront we get a complex fusion of peppery spice, fruity esters and lightly roasted malt. As it carries forward through the mid, doughy notes are picked up as suggestions of Belgian yeast provides candy-ish flavours of banana and spicy clove. Completing this slightly complex brew are hints of stewed pears, earthy spice and a touch of hop bitterness that boasts some pretty good length. To summarise would be quite hard. As this is, from memory, our 2nd ever crack at a dark saison (2nd to the Stillwater dark saison) so the simple overview is…we liked it. So much to like about the complexity, the spicy overtones and the light roasted malts to balance it all out. The 750ml bottle to yourself may be a little too much though. Goes great when it’s shared. Not bad at all.

Rating:

La saison du tracteur translated in English means the season of the tractor. The saison was a very popular brew among the farmers and farm hands in France and Belgium way back as far as the 1600’s. Traditionally they were much lower in ABV (around 3%) these days the new world saisons can reach as high as 8% ABV. This brew we have here, which is our very first from this brewery, is weighing in at 6%. Let’s roll on.

Served in a beer tulip. Our careful pour still managed to prop up a mountainous 4 finger crown that steadily deconstructs and holds at about 1cm. Laced well. Underneath is a straw-golden body with highly active carbonation levels that really contribute to this persistent head. Decent overall appearance. Our initial thoughts of the aroma were quite dry, earthy and fruity although it’s still very heady. Once the foam had settled a vigorous twirl of the glass awakens deeper scents of banana, pear, bubblegum, clove, wheat and vanilla. Smells like a good saison should. Very nice. In the mouth it has an oily texture with medium carbonation. Nice weight on the tongue, drinks smoothly with a slight grip on its way down. What we really like about the flavour profile is it’s balance. Upfront we taste a creamy hint of vanilla with a splash of passion fruit and a mildly assertive bitterness flowing through. A touch of spicy pepper comes through as the yeast comes alive through the mid. Bubblegum and banana lollies develop and lead to a spicy, yeasty finish with good length. The 6% ABV is very well behaved here, there is a restrained presence of it early on but it’s smoothed out and eventually fades out amicably. Really nice drop from these French Canadian brewers. It’s good to see some competition arise, Dieu du Ciel may have met their match. Great way to get things started with this brewery, we really liked this.

Rating:

Fresh off the back of their last brew we reviewed (Yeti imperial stout) we decided to have a crack at the polar opposite and go for one of their much lighter beers and see how they compare.

Served in a beer tulip the cloudy but really bright straw-gold appearance is alive with highly active carbonation initially, settling to a few streams of fizz that rise up to the foamy 2 finger crown. Good head retention, eventually reducing and maintains at about 5-6mm with a heap of thick lacing being omitted. Super sweet on the nose, we’re detecting plenty of sour lemon, citrus rind, strawberry, banana lollies, bubble gum and clove upfront. A little musty and dry with a distinct barnyard aroma that mixes well with the savoury undertone of grains and wheat. Quite a firm acidity too, but that mellows out once the beer warms. There’s a fair bit happening here, slightly complex. In the mouth it’s smooth with a frothy texture. Medium carbonation. Pretty light on, making for a real session beer if it weren’t for a high ABV (7.3%) which by the way is well disguised by the acidity on the palate. Upfront we can taste an earthy and spicy mix of tart fruits, lemon, wheat and pear. A really dry and musty mid-palate with a hint of hay delivers a dry finish with a suggestion of spice and pear/apple on the back end. A little bit of warmth from the alcohol in the background ensures the duration on the tongue. So this brewery can brew a good dark beer and going from this Saison they can brew a damn fine light beer too. We’ll definitely be keeping our eyes peeled for the next release from these guys. Solid stuff.

Rating:

This is the benchmark Saison, brewed in the traditional way since the early 1800’s for French farmers who would add whatever leftover grains and spices they had laying around in to their brews. Over the years this Saison has somewhat become the face of the style.

Served in a beer tulip the light brown pour reveals a deep copper hue when held to the light. The 1 finger beige cap holds on but eventually reduces to a thin film that laces poorly. We had to take a few long whiffs to get accustomed to this aroma as it is quite complex. Our first thoughts were a mix of earth, dust and grains with a chewy undertone of toffee, berries and sourdough, although the depth is properly uncovered when we begin to pick up muted wafts of fruit cake, brandy, plum and Barley wine-like residual sugars. Wow, this is a really interesting aroma. In the mouth it’s silky smooth with mild carbonation. The body is quite light on making for super easy drinking. After a few sips we can surely say the flavour doesn’t follow the aroma as a mild tang balances out the sweet, bready taste of brioche. As the beer moves down the mid-palate displays chewy caramel with a hint of brown sugar, delivering a doughy finish with a touch of cherry tartness on the back end. Good length. They say that the 5.5% ABV is quite low…..gotta love the Belgians. All in all we have to award points for originality and complexity, and it may well be the new world craft beer drinker in us talking but give us a light, spicy and sour Saison any day of the week. Still, a good brew worthy of it’s tag.

Rating:

“Birra is a light, sessionable farmhouse ale. It is crisp with notes of black pepper and orange and goes perfectly with food.”

This is new brewery to us from Oklahoma USA, named Krebs brewing co. It is a saison and described as a sessional farmhouse ale. From the pour we get a hazy, straw colour with a massive bubbly head that dissipates quickly, leaving a 10mm head. Initial aroma of grain, Brett/farmhouse yeast, lemon and dough. Very similar to a Hoegaarden. First flavours again of farmhouse yeast, hay and light sweet malt. The palate is pretty soft and almost airy. Dry and a bit thin really but this brew is only 4.5% ABV so it’s brewed to be light. We get mild citrus here with malt sweetness and a mild yeasty end palate. Certain carbonation in the mouth with some peppery spice on the very back palate in between gulps. There is no lacing down this tulip glass. Look, in all fairness it’s very drinkable. It’s definitely sessionable and it would be a great starter beer as it’s light, dry and fresh. Nice.

Rating:

This is our first crack at this artisanal micro-brewery from Melbourne.

Served into a beer tulip the heavily cloudy orange pour whipped up a frenzy of white foam, about 4 fingers of fizzy white head which we had to let settle before pouring the other half of the bottle in. As you could imagine, there are tonnes of lace trails. Without even raising the glass to our noses we can pick up strong wafts of sour lemon. So funky, underneath the tart and musty aromas lie hints of orange, tang, ginger, vanilla, spice and barnyard. In the mouth it feels moussy with medium body. Highly carbonated, although the bubbles do settle down once the beer warms. Upfront, zesty sour lemon pairs well with a mildly assertive hop dryness. Some yeasty notes come through while the mid-palate offers earthy notes, peppery spice and a mild booze burn. The finish is again zesty and dry with an emphasis on sour lemon and funky brett. Good duration on the tongue. 6.5% ABV is spot on and works in unison with the brilliant flavour profile. Wow, this is really cool to see Aussie brewers brewing Saisons of this calibre. We’d have to say this is as good as any classic French Saison on the market. Not as good as the praline ale but still an excellent offering.

Rating:

“In Denmark we have a lovely tradition for funky beer and what you have here is certainly no exception. This is a never before seen collaboration between Ron and the Beast Ryan. A fluffy and precious Saison-style ale brewed with a beautiful yeast called brettanomyces. It may sound like a true fairytale, but don’t be fooled by it’s cute appearance.”

It’s been a while since we’ve seen anything new hit the shelves from these guys. Good to see some new styles in their new range. Served in a weizen glass (can also serve in a tulip) the cloudy straw gold pour produces a huge, fluffy 3 finger head that retains well and leaves foam all over my moustache. Thick, blotchy lacing is strewn all the way down the glass. As to be expected a funky, almost sour aroma emanates initially. Sour lemon, lime, bubblegum, brine, clove, honey & barnyard also come through adding extra vibrancy and zing. The mouth feel is smooth and silky with medium carbonation. Quite light on but still relatively well bodied. Upfront we get musty, earthy grains with a soft malt sweetness. Just a slight hint of sour lemon before a fruity mid-palate delivers a crisp, tart finish with good length. Again, some lingering sourness on the back end is accentuated by a slight booze burn (7% ABV). Good balance between the sour fruits, hops and malt. Good summer beer. Nice drop.

Rating:

This is our first crack at this breweries range. The story behind the red barn is one of country folk being in tune with every aspect of nature. From the streams running through to the grain fields that need harvesting and the humble red barn that sits there year in year out..rain, hail or shine.

Served from a corked bottle into a shaker glass the slightly cloudy straw golden pour produces a light, fluffy 2 and a half finger head that holds. Good retention. Laced well. Very light and summery fragrance, really capturing the farmhouse characters with the emphasis on spice and wheat. Lovely hints of banana, clove, bubblegum and citrus peel almost conceals the subtle spicy undertones of ginger and pepper. Good depth being offered in the aroma. The mouthfeel is quite dry and musty with medium carbonation. Fairly full bodied for a saison, the upfront flavours consist of spicy, fruity and malty sweet while the mid-palate takes on a more funky approach with earthy hints of yeasty notes and wheat. The finish is dry and fruity with hints of tangy orange peel and soft herbal notes. Good length. What a brilliantly balanced and flavoursome saison here, the 6.7% ABV does have a little sting in the tail but it’s well disguised. Really good entry beer for this brewery. Well done.

Rating:

This is our first crack at this breweries range, and going off what we keep hearing about them our expectations are high. Straight off the block they’re Danish so there’s a tick already.

Served in a tulip glass the clear golden amber pour produced a big, fluffy 2 finger head that slowly collapsed but persisted at about 5mm. Blotchy lacing is evident down the glass. This aroma has it all, nice funky overtones blend really well with the tart lemon and fruity hops. While the broad fragrance is quite dry there are gorgeous hints of sweet malt, candied sugar and spice that give this aroma brilliant depth and character. The mouth feel is quite dry and frothy with medium-high carbonation. The body is quite light on and it’s actually pleasantly surprising considering it’s at 8% ABV, although it may have something to do with the refermentation with “milk acid bacterias”. Upfront the flavour displays vibrant bitterness with hints of zesty citrus and pine. The mid-palate takes on a more sour, funky approach which delivers a tart, citrusy finish with lingering hints of booze and bittering hops. Well, for our first attempt at this brewery we’re impressed. A lot to like about this saison and if their range of beers offer this much character then we’ll keep coming back for sure. Very nice.

Rating:

Recently we reveled in the opportunity to visit Tim and his brilliant little micro-brewery in Nowra, South Coast NSW. After a chat he offered to fill my squealer up with their choice beer for the GABZ beer festival in Melbourne. As he stated a “saison aged in Shiraz wine barrels with fresh ruby red grapefruit and blood orange thrown in”. It was a resounding yes from us.

We served it in a weizen glass and the cloudy golden orange pour whipped up a frothy 2 finger head that retains. Laced well. Plenty of citric notes that help to boost that gorgeous funky sourness, which is almost a trademark of this brewery. Throw a hint of oak and vanilla for complexity and some yeasty undertones for balance and we have a highly fragrant and multi-dimensional aroma. In the mouth the sour and phenolic texture was coupled with medium carbonation. Medium bodied. Slightly sour upfront with a big smack of citric bitterness. The addition of fresh ruby red grapefruit is evident, and its absolutely delicious as it provides juicy lashes over the tongue. Hints of sour lemon, vanilla and oak are complimented with a refreshing, tart and citric finish. 6.9% ABV was well hidden and just enough to offer a nice little buzz. Excellent saison, we can see why this was their show beer for the festival. Big ups.

Rating:

Tried this little summer beauty on tap in a tasting paddle at Potters brewery in the hunter valley. Milky straw yellow pour produces a thin but bubbly compacted white head that retains well with reasonable lacing. The aroma is lovely with a good balance of yeasty funk, peppery spice, sour lemon, barnyard and malty sweetness. Mildly carbonated with a silky soft mouth feel. Really light on. Upfront the slightly funky flavours mix really well with the soft spice and lemon. This carries through on to the mid-palate which then delivers a light spicy, citrus finish with hints of orange peel on the back end. Really easy drinking and refreshing saison. Perfect for a hot summer’s day, we’d definitely return for another one of these.

Rating:

So we heard 8 wired were doing a saison so it was instantly on our ‘must try’ list. What’s better is this is a new world version of the traditional saison style as opposed to the lighter ABV saisons drunk by French and Belgian farmers back in the 1800’s.

Poured into a wide-rimmed tulip glass the colour of the body displayed a cloudy orange with a big fluffy 2 finger crown. Good head retention. Laced well. Nelson sauvin and Motueka hops are providing the refreshing IPA-like aromas of grapefruit, tangy orange, lemon and a hint of subtle spice. After a few minutes the slightly dry and funky scents of old yeast, malt and esters open up to add some depth and complexity to the nose. Medium-high carbonation with a dry mouth feel. Off the first sip we were met with what felt like a huge IBU count on the tongue. To our surprise though it was only at 50. The bitterness subsides mid-palate and the tangy fruit flavours come through. The nice long dry finish is providing good length on the tongue. We thought the Nelson Sauvin hops were showcased really well in this saison. Really bitter, hoppy and lively. Not really 8 wired’s best work but it’s still good.

Rating:

Well if it’s a classic traditional-style Saison you’re after, you can’t surpass this one. Saison, meaning ‘season’ in English would be brewed in the winter months and aged until summer and consumed by farmers for the crisp and thirst quenching, zesty and citrusy flavours.

Served in a wide-rimmed tulip glass the pale straw yellow pour offers a slight haziness with high carbonation. The white 2 finger crown held stubbornly before reducing to a fine cover on top. Good head retention with healthy lacing that trails the beer down. The aroma is big on sweetness with candy-like/fairy floss notes. Hints of dough, subtle peppery spice, hay, lemon citrus and Belgian yeast add extra depth to the nose. Flavour isn’t all that different from the aroma with the highly carbonated, frothy mouth feel combining with Belgian yeasts and a muted bitterness. Hints of citrus, spice and fruit esters marry up really well with the slightly funky overall image of this beer. Nice dry finish with good duration. Not highly sessional but a very quaffable beer. 6.5% ABV is perfect and not at all overpowering at any stage. We can understand why this was the choice beer for the workers over the summer months – very crisp, zesty and highly refreshing. Overall a nice drop.

Rating:

“Our second collaboration with Brasserie St-Feuillien, Friendship Brew, is a Black Saison that blends European and American hops, Belgian yeast and a cache of secret spices. The aroma and flavors are enticing, with delicate fruitiness, subtle spice and rounded roast malt characteristics. Bottle conditioning provides lively carbonation and rich beer foam for a luscious body and a lean, dry finish.”

This leading brewery from the states produces many a fine drop. This beer was nice. Dark black pour with a thick 2 finger tanned head. Looks and smells a lot like the Stillwater Artisanal beers we’ve indulged in recently. It’s a farmhouse ale (Saison in other words) so it has a real smattering of spices, wheat and yeast. This beer in particular yields cloves, star anise, licorice, pepper, oak, coffee and chocolate. Also some herbal undertones in here too. Quite the complex nose. In the mouth it was slightly creamy with medium body. Mild-medium carbonation with some sourness on the palate. Plum, firm spices, dried fruits, roasted malt and oak dominate the most. Nice, dry herbal finish and at under 7% ABV it’s very doable but one was enough. The spice becomes a bit too much by the end but, again, credit must go to the boys at green flash, this was an enjoyable beer.

Rating:

“Brooklyn Sorachi Ace is sunshine in a glass, a shining example of the versatility of one of the world’s most intriguing hops. This beer is a superstar at the table, and we enjoy it with seafood dishes, fresh cheese, poultry, barbecue, and even tomato-based pasta sauces. All by itself it puts on a great solo performance too, and we can honestly say you’ve never tasted any beer quite like it. Go ahead, pour yourself some sunshine.”

Well..this is the last beer we had the night before the Tassie beer festival. We were pretty excited as this beer from Brooklyn brewery uses very rare Japanese ‘Sorachi’ hops. Pours a slightly hazy straw-gold with a fizzy 1 inch crown that maintains really well. Good head retention with healthy lacing that follows the liquid down. Subtle hop-aromatic nose with dry hints of lemon, grapefruit, light spice, stone fruits and champagne. The mouth feel was quite spritzy and dry with lively carbonation. Medium body but really light on and highly palatable. We couldn’t taste anything particularly amazing though, a delicate presence of hops with slightly tart lemon, citrus notes. A touch of peppery spice and some light biscuity malts in the background….other than that, we don’t remember anything else other than stumbling home. Try for yourselves at Jack Green bar in Hobart, but be prepared to pay a bit.

Rating:

Tried this flavoursome Saison in a tasting paddle at the brewery in the Hunter Valley. Pours a cloudy straw yellow with a thin filmy head on top. Good retention and OK lacing. The aroma displays elements of a wheat ale with barnyard hints of banana, clove, wheat, lemon and esters. Maybe a slight hint of smoke in here too. Mildly carbonated with a slightly creamy mouth feel. Quite light on the palate, it showed plenty of tartness, banana and clove with mild estery hints and yeast in the mid-palate. Finishes smoky with a bizarre hint of smoked ham? Good length, lingering notes of fruits blend surprisingly well with the smokiness. To sum up it’s a well balanced and tasty Saison. 8.2% ABV is very well hidden considering it’s strength. This is only a seasonal release on tap here guys so get down to the brewery and try one before it goes. Well worth it.