It's remarkable how quickly the craft-beer landscape is shifting, and no style is a better example of that than saison. Armed with multiple yeast and bacteria strains that produce shockingly bright and unexpected flavors, this new American school of brewers is unabashedly redefining this Old World style.
Our favorites in this evolving category start with Cellarman from Sante Adairius Rustic Ales (Capitola, California). With a punchy citrus-like tartness, mild bitterness, and bright expressive yeast character, it’s a perfect example of how American brewers have made the style their own.
Apex Predator from Off Color Brewing (Chicago, Illinois) eschews the mixed-fermentation approach for a more traditional Saccharomyces approach, but the light-handed approach to malt and hops combined with some fermentation magic yield a saison that is among the most delicately drinkable we’ve tasted all year.