Wooden Robot BotBier
Jeremy Claeys, director of brewing operations, Protagonist in Charlotte, North Carolina
“BotBier is the epitome of a modern mixed-culture saison. It strikes the perfect balance as nuanced funk and balanced acidity from their house mixed culture are supported by the clean crackery local pilsner malt backbone and brisk Noble-hop bitterness. Overripe citrus meets a mild funk in this dry, complex, bitter, effervescent, and utterly drinkable saison.”
Jester King Le Petit Prince
Kyle Vetter, founder, 1840 Brewing in Milwaukee
“No Belgian-style beer has inspired our current brewing practices quite like Le Petit Prince. I love how the saison style lets brewers express big flavor in very dry beers, and Jester King’s ability to do that in a very low-gravity beer is even more impressive. There’s something about their focus on yeast, high carbonation, and crisp bitterness that just equals a perfect year-round brew to me.”
Allagash Saison
Rob Brennan, founder, Supermoon in Milwaukee
“Saison tends to get pigeonholed into a far more precious category than it rightfully should. I’m here for the high-end, mixed-culture, barrel-fermented and blended saisons, of course—but I love and appreciate a brewer like Allagash dedicating resources to bring excellent saison to market as an everyday, affordable, four-pack fridge beer.”
Saison Dupont
Natalie Rose Baldwin, head brewer, Wayfinder in Portland, Oregon
“I recently visited my dad, shortly before he passed away. He asked me to pick up a beer that my brother and I could share with him. I was pleasantly surprised to find chilled bottles of Saison Dupont in the liquor store of my small Colorado hometown. My dad was impressed with the light yet characterful nature of this perfect little beer. It can be discussed and dissected, but for me it exists to be enjoyed, and now it will also carry this sweet memory.”
Boulevard Tank 7
Jason zumBrunnen, cofounder and brewmaster, Ratio Beerworks in Denver
“Tank 7 from Boulevard has been very influential on my own saison brewing—I love the Belgian characteristics matched with the fresh American hops. At 8.5 percent [ABV], it’s a little more of a sipper. When I moved to Denver, the Ale House had just opened, and they sold full pints of this beauty for only $5. Needless to say, it was a wonderful night of hazy memories.”