saison

New Beer Blog Highland Brewing Saw-Whet Saison Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a beer from Highland Brewing on this blog.  We are going to sample Saw-Whet Saison Ale.  Highland Brewing was founded 1994.  It took them four years later in 1998 to start product in 12oz bottles.  It took this craft brewery to open their taproom in 2010.  Let us get into this saison.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white constant head. The smell has a citrus to Belgian spice notes. The taste has a refreshing to citrus notes with a refreshing citrus aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.highlandbrewing.com):

This farmhouse ale shows off a complex malt bill and a unique, spicy yeast, with subtle citrus notes. Astutely hopped for balance and dimension, while finishing exceptionally dry. A perfect beer to transition from winter to spring.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.highlandbrewing.com

Twitter:  @highlandbrews

Closing, I am always looking for new and different Farmhouse Ales.  All of my craft beer friends know that and they are always bring me some saison ales that I never had.  This is the story behind this brew.  It came from my friend that was down south and saw it.  I want to thank my friend Nick for this brew.  I like it. It is almost like Belgian white not a saison. All saisons are different and that is what makes these beers challenging and awesome for the beer drinker.  This is why I like this beer and I wished I could recommend it.  It has been discontinued by the brewery.  I highly recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Thanks

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Anchor Saison Spring Ale

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In this spring seasonal beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Anchor Brewery.  It is their Saison Spring Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this California base craft brewery.  Let us get into this saison ale.

It has a slightly cloudy golden color with a white constant head. The smell has a fruity to lemon notes. The taste has a heavy lemon to farm and earthly notes. The aftertaste has a lemon note finish. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.anchorbrewing.com):

Anchor Saison

Saisons originated with the rustic farmhouse ales of Wallonia, a mostly French-speaking region of Belgium. Bière de saison was brewed during the saison froide (cold season) for consumption during the warmer months. Today saisons are made and enjoyed year-round. As brewers, we were drawn to this beer style’s enigmatic history, the freedom it offers, and the creativity it demands.

Anchor Saison™ Spring Ale is a traditional Belgian-style saison with a California twist. The distinctiveness of roasted Belgian wheat malt is enhanced by the peppery, clove-like flavors of a locally cultured saison-style yeast. And, for this release, we chose three California ingredients—lemongrass, lemon peel, and ginger—whose synergy adds a tangy crispness and herbal spiciness to this sharply refreshing, uniquely Californian saison.

The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 and the Southern Pacific’s “Sunset Route” in 1883, coupled with the advent of refrigerated railcars, made it possible for California brewers and farmers to ship their products out of state. Local artists and lithographers were engaged to create imaginative labels for bottles of beer and crates of fruit. Many of the latter featured colorful vignettes of California scenery framed by mouthwatering images of fresh citrus.

Inspired by those early fruit-crate labels and the ingredients in this release of Anchor Saison™ Spring Ale, our label features an original hand-colored 1873 lithograph of the Golden Gate as seen from Telegraph Hill. Our saison’s California ingredients—hand-drawn by our label artist Jim Stitt—adorn it, creating a uniquely Anchor label for a uniquely Anchor brew.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter:  @anchorbrewing

In the end, I will say this that all saison or farmhouse ales are not all the same.  They are all different and it is by design.  The only thing that is the same is the funkiest from the yeast strain.  It has a heavy lemon notes. It is different like all saisons are on the market. I like it.  It is not my favorite but it is a good version of saison ale.  I love Goose Island Sofie and that is my standard for farmhouse ales.  I do recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium Saison Harvest Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into New Belgium Saison Harvest Ale.  This beer was their fall seasonal back in 2007.  Every season, New Belgium brings back seasonal back to life in their sampler pack.  The sampler pack comes with two bottles each of three of their selected everyday beers.   If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this Saison Ale.

It has a nice clear golden color with a nice white constant head.  There is some nice small constant bubbles in middle of the beer.  The aroma has a nice Belgian spicy notes.  The taste has a nice refreshing citrus notes with some spice kick.  The aftertaste has citrus finish.  It is extremely drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brewed with a yeast harvested from Belgium, our SAISON has a just-picked freshness reminiscent of the farm-house ales produced each fall in Blegium.  Pale bronze in color, this delicately hopped ale has a bright, yeasty, artisanal quality worthy of toasting those long autumn sunsets.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

Ending, I really love this beer and I wish it was still in six packs form.  I love how this brewery change-up their seasonal every two to three years.  It could  be a good thing or a bad thing.  If there is a seasonal that you are not a fan of it, you will be looking forward to the new one to come out.  I love how they revisit some of their old seasonal in  their sampler pack.  This is a perfect and true to the classic saison style.  It is not overly hop but it is not under hop.  It is refreshing and keeps you coming back for more beer.  I recommend this beer and their fall sampler pack.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Belgian Paradise Tap Party

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In this special beer tapping party post, we are going to get into another beer from the Ram Brewery.  The beer is called Belgian Paradise.  If you read my earlier beer blogs, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This has hazel light amber color with a white head on the beer. This saison does not really have a smell but there is a slight melty to earthly farmhouse to it. The taste is leaning on the earthly side of the beer world. The beer has an amber saison Belgian taste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from the brewery:

Brewed in the style of a Saison, this beer is also known as a Belgian Farmhouse Ale.  With this styel there may be quite a variety of flavor characters intermingled within this beer.  A refreshing, medium to strong, fruity and spicy ale with a distincitve orange color, dry finish and a quenching acidity.  To play off the natural spiciness of the yeast and the citrus character in  the hops, we added some grains of paradise that will add hints of earthiness and spice 6.4% alcohol by volume.

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Bacon Bonanza

Our signature bacon and beef blended patty, on Kaiser bun with mayo, sauteed crimini mushrooms, sliced Swiss cheese and house made maple onion ketchup on the side.  Served with Fries.

Turkey Num Num

A grilled, seasoned turkey patty on a wheat bun with garlic mayo, smashed avocado, iceberg lettuce, sliced cucumber, and daikon redish sprouts.  Served with Fries.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theram.com

Twitter:  @theram

In closing, I really enjoy this beer.  it is drinkable and refreshing.  This beer reminds me so much of Milwaukee Brewing Booyah, which is also a Saison.  I really enjoyed the amber but fresh hoppy farmhouse taste to it.  This is a great beer just like Milwaukee Brewing Booyah.  I recommend trying this beer and sample it along with Booyah.  Please, let me know your thoughts on both beers.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser