Tis the Saison

A saison is a European farmhouse style of beer traditionally suited to the warmer months of spring and summer, when a light, dry and spritzy drink is needed to quench one's thirst. One winter evening, however, we mused that the classic spicy yeast esthers of pepper and clove that make a saison what it is would work well in a dark and brooding beer, rich with dried fruit and red wine notes, and such a beer would be right at home on the Christmas table. The grist of this beer is grounded in that of a traditional Belgian saison, with a base heavy in Pilsner malt, plenty of Vienna malt and wheat for body and foam, however the addition of Special B malt brings deep flavours of rum and raisin more normally seen in a boozy Abbey beer. We then added a layer of black-roasted Carafa III malt at the end of the mash, giving the beer an inky black hue and a subtle overtone of liquorice. Traditional European noble hops were used to give a familiar earthy herbal character, with a citrus lift being added by the late inclusion of US Centennial. Heaps of fresh rosemary and orange zest were added late in the boil, along with a homemade candi sugar made with our own Flaming Youth smoked brown ale and copious amounts of caramelised figs. Finally, the beer was fermented hot with an authentic French farmhouse yeast. The resulting beer is enormously complex, and pairs fantastically well with any number of savoury dishes. Show Less