Saison

Infobox beer style
name = Saison
bgcolour =

---

imagesize =
caption = Dupont Biolégère, a traditional 3.5% abv saison
origin = Belgium
yeast = Top-fermenting
alcohol = 3.5% - 8.5%
color = 5 - 12
bitterness = 25 - 45
originalgravity = 1.030 - 1.080
finalgravity = 1.010 - 1.016
maltpercentage =
examples = Saison Dupont
Fantôme Saison

Saison (French, "season") is the name originally given to refreshing, low-alcohol pale ales brewed seasonally in farmhouses in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium, to refresh farm workers during harvest season. Modern-day saisons are also brewed in other countries, particularly USA, and are generally bottle conditioned, with an average range of 5 to 8% abv, [cite web
url=http://www.beerhunter.com/styles/saison.html
title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Beer Styles: Saison
publisher=www.beerhunter.com
accessdate=2008-07-06
last=
first=] though saisons at the more traditional 3.5% strength can still be found.

Although saison has been described as an endangered style, [cite web
url=http://www.belgianexperts.com/dupont2.php
title=Brasserie Dupont
publisher=www.belgianexperts.com
accessdate=2008-07-06
last=
first=] there has been a rise in interest in this style in recent years, with Saison Dupont being named “the Best Beer in the World” by the magazine Men’s Journal in July 2005. [cite web
url=http://www.mensjournal.com/feature/0507/bestBeer_world.html
title=MJ FEATURE: Best Beers in the World
publisher=www.mensjournal.com
accessdate=2008-07-06
last=
first=]

Historically saisons did not share identifiable characteristics to pin them down as a style, but were rather a group of refreshing summer ales. Each farm brewer would make his own distinctive version. ["Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the European Tradition", page 98, Phil Markowski, Brewers Publications (2004), ISBN 0937381845] Modern saisons brewed in the USA tend to copy the yeast used by Brasserie Dupont, which ferments better at blood warm temperatures (85 to 95 Fahrenheit) than the standard 65 to 75 Fahrenheit fermenting temperature used by other Belgian saison brewers. ["Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the European Tradition", pages 168 - 173, Phil Markowski, Brewers Publications (2004), ISBN 0937381845]

Origin

“Saison” is the French word for season, because these ales were traditionally brewed in the autumn or winter for consumption during the late summer harvest for farm workers who were entitled to up to five liters throughout the workday during harvest season. Today they are brewed year round. As the saison style originated before the advent of refrigeration, Belgian brewers had to brew in autumn or winter to prevent the ale from spoiling during the brewing process. After brewing, the ale was stored until the late summer harvest. Although now most commercial examples range from 5 to 8% abv, originally saisons were meant to be refreshing and thus had alcohol levels less than 3%. Because of the lack of potable water, saisons would give the farm hands the hydration they needed without the threat of illness.

The ale had to be strong to prevent spoilage during the long storage, but at the same time could not be so strong as to incapacitate the workers. Additionally, these beers were strongly hopped, as hops act as a preservative. Saisons brewed in early Spring would often be blended with saisons brewed the previous Autumn, or even blended with lambic beers to increase the refreshing acidity of these beers. Blending also occurred to reduce the abv, and thus increase its refreshment value.

Appearance

The type of malt determines the color of the saison, and although most saisons are of a cloudy golden color as result of the grist being mostly pale and/or pilsner malt, the use of darker malts results in some saisons being reddish-amber. Some recipes use wheat, and though the use of spices is uncommon, it is not unheard of.

Notable Belgian saison brands

*Brasserie Dupont, Saison Dupont
*Brasserie Fantôme, Saison Fantôme (and numerous other Saison-style products)
*Brasserie Lefèbvre, Saison 1900
*Brasserie Du Bocq, Saison Regal
*Brasserie de Silly, Saison Silly
*Brasserie à Vapeur, Saison De Pipaix
*Brasserie Des Géants, Saison Voisin
*Brasserie Ellezelloise, Saison 2000
*KleinBrouwerij De Glazen Toren, Saison D’Erpe-Mere

aisons brewed in the United States

*Boston Beer Company (Boston MA) Samuel Adams Saison
*Clipper City Brewing Company (Baltimore MD) Red Sky at Night
*Dogfish Head Brewery (Milton DE) Dans Saison
*Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter MI) Bam Bière
*New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins CO) Saison
*Old Dominion Brewing Company (Ashburn VA) Saison
*Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown NY) Hennepin
*Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown PA) V-Saison
*Saint Louis Brewery (St. Louis MO) Saison Ale

Saisons of other nations

*Nøgne Ø, "Saison" (Norway)
*De Schans, "Saison" (the Netherlands)

References

Notes

Bibliography

*"All About Beer" Magazine, Volume 24 Number 4, September 2003
*"The Beers of Wallonia", John Woods and Keith Rigley, Stourside Press (1996), ISBN 0952923807
*"Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the European Tradition", Phil Markowski, Brewers Publications (2004), ISBN 0937381845

External links

* [http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000017.html Michael Jackson, BeerHunter.com]