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Imagine if beer went to art school, spent its gap year on a Belgian farm, then came back with a funky accent and a suitcase full of herbs. That, dear reader, is saison beer. A style that’s rustic yet refined, earthy yet vivacious, as complex as a Wes Anderson plot and just as peculiar. It balances history and hipsterism in one delightfully unpredictable pint, much like the Fleetwood Mac of beer: classic, versatile, and sometimes a little wild. But what is saison beer really?
🍺 TL;DR: What Is Saison Beer?
- It’s rustic – Born on Belgian farms, brewed with whatever was lying around.
- It’s complex – Dry, fruity, spicy, sometimes funky. No two saisons taste alike.
- It’s stylish – From hip bottle shops to Michelin-starred tables, it fits anywhere.
- It’s global – Belgian roots, but now brewed brilliantly from Brooklyn to Beechworth.
- It’s versatile – Pair it with roast dinners, goat cheese, Thai curry—you name it.
What is Saison Beer?
Saison (pronounced “say-zon”) is a style of farmhouse ale that originated in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium. Originally brewed in the winter months and stored for summer refreshment, it was made by and for farmers. Yes, fancy beer for sweaty farmhands. Go figure.
Back then, it was brewed with whatever the farmer had on hand — spices, grains, mystery herbs that your nan probably grew in her allotment, fermented with wild or mixed yeasts. The result? A beer that’s effervescent, dry, spicy, funky, fruity, and entirely unpredictable.
Today, saisons are having a bit of a glow-up. Think of it as the beer world’s answer to a farmhouse chic revival. Rustic roots with a modern Instagram filter.
What Does Saison Beer Taste Like?
If you’re wondering about saison beer taste, it’s… like licking the summer air in a Belgian field. Okay, maybe not quite, but the taste of saison beer is distinct. Here’s what to expect:
- Dry and refreshing finish (seriously thirst-quenching)
- Fruity esters – think pear, apple, sometimes banana
- Spicy phenols – often peppery or clove-like
- Citrusy hops that sometimes lean herbal or floral
- Funky tang from wild yeasts (Brettanomyces, we see you)
It’s not unusual for a saison to taste different from bottle to bottle, especially the traditional ones. Some are tart. Some are earthy. Some are basically a barnyard rave. That’s part of the charm.
A Brief Saison Beer History
Let’s dig into saison beer history:
Before hazy IPAs and pastry stouts stole the limelight, saisons were quietly quenching the thirst of Belgian farmhands. These rustic ales trace their roots to 18th-century Wallonia, where farmers brewed them in the colder months. It was basically rustic Gatorade that hydrated farmhands one pour at a time to be stored in barrels and cracked open during the hot, sweaty days of the summer harvest.
With no fridges and plenty of ingenuity, brewers used whatever was at hand: leftover grains, hops, and often a generous shake of spice or wild yeast picked up from the air itself. These weren’t posh pours. They were working-class refreshments meant to hydrate labourers without weighing them down. Yet, somehow, they evolved into some of the most complex and revered beers around.
Fast-forward to today, and saisons have traded hay bales for hipster bottle shops and Michelin-starred menus. What started as practical farmhouse fare has become a global darling of brewers and beer geeks alike. Saison is an old soul with a modern wardrobe.
The Best Saison Beers: Classics and New Legends
Ready to fall for saisons? Here’s your golden ticket: a lineup of iconic, quirky, and award-winning saisons that’ll charm your pants off.
- Saison Dupont 6.5% (Brasserie Dupont, Belgium): The gold standard of saisons. Crisp, peppery, citrusy and utterly balanced. It’s the blueprint every other saison wishes it was.
- Fantôme Saison 8% (Brasserie Fantôme, Belgium): A funky, herbal enigma with a cult following. Tart, fruity and often brewed with wild herbs or spices — it’s a saison with a mind of its own.
- Saison de Pipaix 6% (Brasserie à Vapeur, Belgium): A rustic throwback spiced with black pepper and brewed in a steam-powered brewery. It’s history in a bottle.
Wild Cards: Funky, Fruity, and Off the Beaten Path
Not every saison plays by the rules. These are the oddballs, the experimental blends, and the cult favourites that push the style in new, exciting directions. Think fruit additions, mixed fermentations, barrel-ageing, and enough funk to make George Clinton proud.
- Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale 8.5% (Boulevard Brewing Co., USA): Big, bold and fizzy with clove, cardamom and citrus. It’s what happens when American craft beer goes Belgian.
- Hennepin 7.7% (Brewery Ommegang, USA): A smooth and spicy saison with fruity esters and a refreshing dry finish. Belgian spirit, American polish.
- Sofie 6.5% (Goose Island Beer Co., USA): Partially wine barrel-aged with orange zest. Think citrusy, tart, and classy — a beer you can polish down at brunch.
- Sorachi Ace 7.2% (Brooklyn Brewery, USA): Bursting with lemony and herbal notes from rare Japanese hops. Dry, flinty, and utterly unique.
- Prairie Ale 8.2% (Prairie Artisan Ales, USA): A healthy dose of saaz hops are used to add a spicy element to the beer. A pitch-perfect American homage to Belgian roots.
- Saison à la Provision 6.5% (Burning Sky Brewery, UK): A British take on farmhouse funk. Tart, refreshing, and layered with Brett and Lactobacillus character.
- Chevalier Saison 6% (Bridge Road Brewers, Australia): Spicy and citrus-forward with a dry finish. Australia’s long-standing saison star, brewed with serious flair.
Perfect Pairings: What to Eat with Saison Beer
Think of saisons as the Swiss Army knife of beer pairings, equally at home with a Sunday roast or a fiery Thai curry. Their dry, spicy character cuts through rich dishes, while their effervescence keeps your palate refreshed.
🍽️ Expert Says: Why Saison Steals the Dinner Table
“It goes pretty much perfectly with everything at the Thanksgiving table. I don’t know a lot of beer that can do that. It works with the caramelized, cooked flavors of a roast turkey. It’s refreshing enough to cut through fatty mashed potatoes and butter.”
— Anne Becerra, Certified Cicerone
Try them with:
- Roast chicken or pork belly
- Goat cheese, Brie, or funky washed-rinds
- Mussels in white wine
- Herby grilled vegetables
- Spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes
Their versatility means saisons are just as at ease on a picnic blanket as they are at a white-linen table setting.
Summary
So, what is saison beer? It’s history in a glass. A genre-defying brew with old-world roots and modern flair, straddling the line between rustic and refined. Whether you like your beers funky and tart or crisp and dry, saison offers something for every curious palate. Looking for a starting point? Try Saison Dupont 6.5%, the OG, golden and effervescent with peppery spice and citrus hop balance. Or go for Sofie 6.5%, a wine barrel-aged saison with orange peel zestiness and a refined, Champagne-like finish. And don’t miss Saison à la Provision 6.2%, a Sussex-brewed beauty that’s tart, dry, and farmhouse-funky, a brilliant UK twist on the Belgian classic.
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