Farmhouse ales, also known as Saisons, have had a long history as thirst-quenchers. Traced back to Wallonia, a French-speaking area of Belgium, Saisons were brewed for farm workers during the harvest. Once considered to be endangered as a beer style, Saisons have made a significant comeback due to growing interest in Belgian-style ales from beer enthusiasts worldwide. Smuttynose Brewing, out of the quaint seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been making their Farmhouse ale since 2008.
Saisons are known for being funky, dry and crisp. The Farmhouse Ale pours a slightly hazy golden color with a rocky white head and significant carbonation. Aromas are of spice, banana, pepper and apple. It has pronounced flavors of sweet malt, lemon peel, coriander and terroir. The finish is a combination of honey-like sweetness and sour notes from the yeast. It is a bit bigger and sweeter than tradition Saisons, but that is due to it having a higher gravity (9.3% alcohol by volume.) It is a perfect pairing for jambalaya, spicy crab cakes or a fromage triple-creme.
No comments:
Post a Comment