Farmhouse Ales
“Farmhouse funk” can be achieved in a number of ways, from Saccharomyces fermentations to mixed-culture medleys, in these paragons of the various saison styles.
Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont
Traditional saison. If we sound like we’re repeating ourselves, it’s because we are. It’s just not possible to talk about saison without including Saison Dupont in the conversation, as the mix of heady fermentation esters—lemon, apple, and pear—with white-pepper spice literally define the style. The dry and quick finish keeps us coming back.
ABV: 6.5% IBUS: N/A Loc: Tourpes, Belgium
Funkwerks Saison
Traditional saison. It’s everything we want in a saison, and less— because in this style, less is definitely more. Subtlety is an often overlooked element of the style, but Funkwerks Saison has confidence to spare with a spicy lemon citrus and earthy floral nose, a perceived sweet lemon note that finishes dry as a bone in the body, and a zippy effervesence that delivers all of the flavors with gusto.
ABV: 6.8% IBUS: 25 Loc: Fort Collins, Colorado
pfriem Lemon Zest Farmhouse Ale
Saison with lemon zest. A clean and yeast-forward nose offers just a hint of hay, crisp linen, bright lemon zest, and white pepper. The body is hazy and soft with an initial yeast and hops bite that fades into a slight lingering hops bitterness. A touch toward the bitter side of the saison spectrum with a firm but satisfying structure.
ABV: 6.2% IBUS: 29 Loc: Hood River, Oregon
Blackberry Farm Brewery Classic
Belgian-style saison with noble hops. Opens with an intense pop, and wafts of wildflower honey permeate the nose with a subtle maltiness underpinning it. The sip offers a bit of white grape and more attenuated honey with only a touch of sweetness that resolves into a lingering slightly herbal bitterness as it fades.
ABV: 6.3% IBUS: N/A Loc: Walland, Tennessee
Jester King Brewery Le Petit Prince
Farmhouse table beer. This is the holy grail—impossibly light, extremely flavorful, weightlessly funky, low ABV, and heavy on character. Few beers match Le Petit Prince pound for pound, and the addition of green bottles adds a not-quite-lightstruck phenolic richness to this beer that we would drink daily, if given the chance.
ABV: 3% IBUS: N/A Loc: Austin, Texas