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Author Topic: Commercial Saisons  (Read 10356 times)

Offline bigchicken

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Commercial Saisons
« on: August 29, 2013, 06:31:18 pm »
My new home has no basement, so I plan to try brewing some beers I can ferment on the high side, such as a Saison. Problem is, I can't remember having a commercial version before. I want to find some versions to try that I can then try to brew. So, what are your favorite Saisons and have you found or created a comparable recipe?
TJ Cook

On Deck: Planning
Fermenting: Nothing
In bottles: It's All About MEAD!

Offline lornemagill

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2013, 08:23:58 pm »
try hennepin by ommegang.  its one of my favorites.  or wait 3 months, wont it be cool in nebraska
« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 08:27:39 pm by lornemagill »

Offline bigchicken

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2013, 08:47:48 pm »
try hennepin by ommegang.  its one of my favorites.  or wait 3 months, wont it be cool in nebraska

Oh yeah, I'll be brewing plenty this winter. Unfortunately, my stock is low enough now I need to (gasp!) buy beer! I can't stand it!  :D
I figured the heat would be a good enough excuse to try to brew something different than I'm used to brewing.
TJ Cook

On Deck: Planning
Fermenting: Nothing
In bottles: It's All About MEAD!

Offline erockrph

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2013, 09:58:03 pm »
If you can get a fresh, unskunked Saison DuPont, that's probably the gold standard. Boulevard Tank 7 is a damn good example as well. I know Ommegang markets Hennepin as a Saison, but they use their house yeast strain as opposed to a true saison strain, so it ends up tasting more like a Belgian Golden to me.
Eric B.

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Offline rainmaker

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2013, 03:19:45 pm »
Lots of solid samples out there. Saison dupont is prime. Prairie brewing, Stillwater brewing, and Upright brewing all do solid Saisons.

Personally, I don't consider Hennepin a true Saison. Tank 7 is certain (in my opinion) the best American Saison. For Saisons with character and additions, it's hard to beat Stillwater. Their cellar door is incredible.

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2013, 04:09:52 pm »
I enjoy Victory Swing a lot on hot summer days.
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Offline bboy9000

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2013, 04:42:25 pm »
Boulevard Tank 7 should be easy to get in Nebraska.  Le Merle from North Coast Brewery is good too.
Brian
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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2013, 04:50:38 pm »
Boulevard Tank 7 should be easy to get in Nebraska.  Le Merle from North Coast Brewery is good too.

yes it is!
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Offline duboman

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2013, 05:03:00 pm »
+1 to tank 7, it's really a great beer from a great brewery!
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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2013, 08:34:48 pm »
If you can get a fresh, unskunked Saison DuPont, that's probably the gold standard. Boulevard Tank 7 is a damn good example as well. I know Ommegang markets Hennepin as a Saison, but they use their house yeast strain as opposed to a true saison strain, so it ends up tasting more like a Belgian Golden to me.
+1 to all of this.
Jon H.

Offline bigchicken

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2013, 08:35:07 am »
Thanks for all the responses! I'm pretty sure I've had a bottle of Tank 7 before, just can't remember what it was like. I'll be looking around for it and the other suggestions too.
TJ Cook

On Deck: Planning
Fermenting: Nothing
In bottles: It's All About MEAD!

Offline speed

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2013, 09:23:59 pm »
So big chicken, whereabouts do you reside, I 'm in the western side of the state.

Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #12 on: September 10, 2013, 07:41:08 am »
I'll also chime in for Tank 7. You may also get Prairie up there. They also make solid saisons albeit on the hoppy side. Le Merle by North Coast is a pretty good saison. Not sure if that makes it into your area.

Saison Dupont is considered the gold standard for saisons but I don't particularly love the green bottle skunked saison. It's drinkable and still good but it pales in comparison to unskunked Dupont. You can occasionally find Dupont on tap and Dupont bottles in brown 375ml bottles although they are hard to find. Well worth picking up if you can find it.
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Offline hoser

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #13 on: September 10, 2013, 07:47:23 am »
Speaking as a fellow Nebraskan, Tank 7 and Funkwerks are the 2 best commercial saisons inside the state borders, IMHO. Others would be Goose Island Sofie, Sierra Nevada Ovila, and Hennepin.  I don't particulary care for the DuPont 'skunk' but worth a try if you have never had it.

Keep the grist simple and spices small.  The spice should come more from the yeast.  Good luck.


Offline jds357

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Re: Commercial Saisons
« Reply #14 on: September 10, 2013, 08:51:09 am »
The iO Saison from the Jolly Pumpkin DESTROYS.  I'll do unforgivable things to get my hands on that beer.