Saisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Not so long ago it was close to being an endangered style, but over recent years there’s been a massive revival; especially in the US.

This is a very complex style; many are very fruity in the aroma and flavor. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Lots of spice and with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having touch of sweetness.

Two Roads Worker’s Comp. Saison

A traditional farmhouse ale made with a very expressive yeast strain that contributes an array of tropical fruit, spice flavors and aromatics. Brewed with a variety of harvest grains including barley, wheat, oats and rye as was likely the case with farmhouse brewers of yore. The result is a complex, refreshing and distinctive example of this esoteric style. Intensely fruity (passion fruit, pineapple, mango, lychee), slightly spicy (clove, white pepper)

Cambridge Brewing Company Sgt. Pepper (96 points BA)

Farmhouse Ale with Peppercorns

First brewed in celebration of our 20th Anniversary, and #23 is coming up soon – May 12, 2012! It was April Fool’s Day, 1989, when Phil “Brewdaddy” Bannatyne first opened the doors to what would become one of the preeminent breweries in the country.

Sgt. Pepper has been brewed with Pilsner, CaraVienne, and Rye malts, plus Magnum and Spalter hops. But the driving force behind this beer is the contribution from whole Black, Green, White, and Pink peppercorns. Added to the brewkettle, these four fab peppercorns harmonize with spicy hops while the malted rye and our Belgian yeast hold down the backbeat.

Boulevard Brewing Co. Collaberation No. 4 Saison

To pay tribute to our new familial ties, brewmasters Steven Pauwels and Phil Leinhart chose to create a Saison, the traditional Belgian farmhouse ale. They began by brewing two separate batches of beer, both at Boulevard Brewing Company, each with a grain bill of pale malt, oats, rye, corn, and wheat, subtly spiced with coriander, grains of paradise, and dried peels of lemons and oranges. Perle was used as a bittering hop with Safir and Saaz added for aroma. Each of the two batches was fermented with the unique house yeast from our respective breweries. The batches were then blended post-fermentation, allowing both of the distinctive yeast signatures to manifest in the finished beer. The result is crisp and bready, with a bracing hoppiness and a hint of spice lingering in the background. Join us in raising a glass to family.

Brewery Ommegang Hennepin (95 points BA)

This style is a farmhouse ale, and is considered to be in the domain of the Belgian Saisons. Hennepin is a delicious brew for all seasons, it is spicy and refreshing.

A moderately hoppy, farmhouse-style ale with a champagne-like effervescence, Hennepin has a crisp start followed by malt sweetness balanced with a firm bitterness. Hennepin has a bounty of great flavors: ginger, spice, orange and toasted grain. Pouring a bright golden color with a spicy-sweet balance of orange peel, sweet malt, hops and ginger, Hennepin makes way for a dry finish with a slight bite of ginger.

Foolproof La Ferme Urbane

La Ferme Urbaine (LFU) is our unique take on a farmhouse ale. Influenced by the Belgian saison style, LFU features a complex blend of German hops, pilsner and pale malts, wheat, rye, oats, and spelt. The beer pours a hazy straw color and delivers a spicy, dry finish. So raise a glass and enjoy!

Dogfish Head Noble Rot

This saison-esque science project gets complexity and fermentable sugars from two unique wine grapes sourced with our friends at Alexandria Nicole Cellars in Prosser, Wash.

The first addition is unfermented juice, known as must, from Viognier grapes that have been infected with a benevolent fungus called botrytis. This noble rot reduces the water content in the grapes while magnifying their sweetness and complexity. The second is pinot gris must intensified by a process called dropping fruit, where large clusters of grapes are clipped to amplify the quality of those left behind.

“This is the absolute closest to equal meshing of the wine world and the beer world thats ever been done commercially,” says Dogfish’s Sam Calagione. Noble Rot is brewed with pils and wheat malts and fermented with a distinct Belgian yeast strain. It has a spicy white wine body and a dry, tart finish.

Two Roads Worker’s Stomp

We have taken our Workers Comp saison and “stomped” all over it. Using a variant of our classic saison recipe and aging it in white wine barrels, this beer is the newest in our “Road Less Traveled” series. Majorly fruity and spicy with a hint of dry white wine notes.

Allagash Interlude (Farmhouse Ale aged in Wine Barrels) (94 points BA)

Two yeast strains were used to create this unique 9.5% ABV Belgian style ale. The first, a Belgian farmhouse yeast, establishes the flavor foundations of a classic Belgian-style ale. The second, a house strain of Brettanomyces yeast, brings it to the next level contributing an intriguing myriad of flavors including pear, apricot, graham cracker, and bread crust. Finally, a portion of the Interlude is aged in red wine barrels, which impart a distinctive vinous plum character and a drying, almost tannic finish.

Boulevard Tank 7 (95 points BA)

Most breweries have at least one piece of equipment that’s just a bit persnickety. Here at Boulevard we have fermenter number seven, the black sheep of our cellar family. Ironically, when our brewers were experimenting with variations on a traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale, the perfect combination of elements came together in that very vessel. You could call it fate, but they called it Tank 7, and so it is. Beginning with a big surge of fruity aromatics and grapefruit-hoppy notes, the flavor of this complex, straw-colored ale tapers off to a peppery, dry finish.

Boulevard Spring Belle

Spring Belle Saison marries the crisp, spicy flavor of a traditional farmhouse saison, with its citrusy hop notes, to the fresh floral aromas of chamomile, rose petals, and elderflower. Late hopping with Calypso and Lemon Drop rounds out this drinkable spring bouquet.