“Saison was the Gatorade of the 1800s,” said William Bostwick in Bon Appétit. Invented in Belgium, it’s a light, refreshing, low-alcohol beer that a farmer then or now could use to hydrate before heading back to the fields after a midday meal. In the U.S., saison is sometimes called farmhouse ale, and it’s “the secret darling” of many a craft brewer. It’s “blue-collar beer done right: all flavor, no pretense—a picnic in a bottle.”
Stillwater Stateside Saison Baltimore. Stillwater specializes in farmhouse ales, making both a sage-spiced version and this “smooth brew,” distinguished by its tropical notes.
North Coast La Merle Fort Bragg, Calif. “Floral and effervescent” at first blush, La Merle “finishes with a fruity fullness.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Bière Dexter, Mich. This “cheek-suckingly tart” brew “seems to actually make you thirstier.” Still, the taste is worth it.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.