16.C - Saison (BJCP 2008)


Description

A refreshing, medium to strong fruity/spicy ale with a distinctive yellow-orange color, highly carbonated, well hopped, and dry with a quenching acidity. A seasonal summer style produced in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium. Originally brewed at the end of the cool season to last through the warmer months before refrigeration was common. It had to be sturdy enough to last for months but not too strong to be quenching and refreshing in the summer. It is now brewed year-round in tiny, artisanal breweries whose buildings reflect their origins as farmhouses. Varying strength examples exist (table beers of about 5% strength, typical export beers of about 6.5%, and stronger versions of 8%+). Strong versions (6.5%-9.5%) and darker versions (copper to dark brown/black) should be entered as Belgian Specialty Ales (16E). Sweetness decreases and spice, hop and sour character increases with strength. Herb and spice additions often reflect the indigenous varieties available at the brewery. High carbonation and extreme attenuation (85-95%) helps bring out the many flavors and to increase the perception of a dry finish. All of these beers share somewhat higher levels of acidity than other Belgian styles while the optional sour flavor is often a variable house character of a particular brewery.


Profile

Aroma: High fruitiness with low to moderate hop aroma and moderate to no herb, spice and alcohol aroma. Fruity esters dominate the aroma and are often reminiscent of citrus fruits such as oranges or lemons. A low to medium-high spicy or floral hop aroma is usually present. A moderate spice aroma (from actual spice additions and/or yeast-derived phenols) complements the other aromatics. When phenolics are present they tend to be peppery rather than clove-like. A low to moderate sourness or acidity may be present, but should not overwhelm other characteristics. Spice, hop and sour aromatics typically increase with the strength of the beer. Alcohols are soft, spicy and low in intensity, and should not be hot or solventy. The malt character is light. No diacetyl.
Appearance: Often a distinctive pale orange but may be golden or amber in color. There is no correlation between strength and color. Long-lasting, dense, rocky white to ivory head resulting in characteristic


Ingredients

Pilsner malt dominates the grist though a portion of Vienna and/or Munich malt contributes color and complexity. Sometimes contains other grains such as wheat and spelt. Adjuncts such as sugar and honey can also serve to add complexity and thin the body. Hop bitterness and flavor may be more noticeable than in many other Belgian styles. A saison is sometimes dry-hopped. Noble hops, Styrian or East Kent Goldings are commonly used. A wide variety of herbs and spices are often used to add complexity and uniqueness in the stronger versions, but should always meld well with the yeast and hop character. Varying degrees of acidity and/or sourness can be created by the use of gypsum, acidulated malt, a sour mash or Lactobacillus. Hard water, common to most of Wallonia, can accentuate the bitterness and dry finish.


Examples

Saison Dupont Vieille Provision; Fant


Ranges

Data Min. Max.
Original gravity 1.048 1.065
Final gravity 1.002 1.012
Bitterness 20.0 IBU 35.0 IBU
Color 9.8 EBC 27.6 EBC
Alcohol 5.00 ° 7.00 °


Recipes on Zython (59)

Miel fleur de sureau
All grain- 16.C - Saison
0.0% 0 IBU 55.0 l C_charles
02/06/2022
Velha bierra
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.9% 20 IBU 90.0 l Solanacea
29/04/2022
Grisette v1 – 2022-11-20
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.3% 32 IBU 550.0 l enso
03/12/2021
Saison Type
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.2% 32 IBU 550.0 l enso
22/11/2021
Saison barriquée
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.2% 29 IBU 80.0 l Solanacea
02/09/2021
Calendar Man
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.2% 30 IBU 25.0 l joack
23/05/2021
Stormy Weather
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.1% 40 IBU 25.0 l MTB
09/03/2021
Summer Smash
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.0% 23 IBU 25.0 l MTB
09/03/2021
Ça Broc dans le Mât
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.5% 31 IBU 80.0 l Solanacea
05/03/2021
saison
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.2% 19 IBU 19.0 l cessna18
06/02/2021
Battre l'oie
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.2% 43 IBU 19.0 l cdrom93
05/02/2021
L'Hyvern'Ale
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.1% 93 IBU 50.0 l Abeerbol
16/11/2020
L'Hyvern'Ale
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.0% 77 IBU 50.0 l LeDauphin
16/11/2020
Quelque chose de Tanaisie
All grain- 16.C - Saison
3.9% 17 IBU 30.5 l enso
11/08/2020
Saison d’été
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.1% 21 IBU 10.0 l albertino16100
20/07/2020
Trois Saisons
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.4% 25 IBU 60.0 l enso
21/05/2020
belge
All grain- 16.C - Saison
8.1% 31 IBU 40.0 l Tibz
21/05/2020
Saison d’été
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.2% 38 IBU 50.0 l Samoukido
10/05/2020
L’inouïe
All grain- 16.C - Saison
1.4% 0 IBU 1100.0 l La_Montagnarde
20/03/2020
Toi-même Turcey
All grain- 16.C - Saison
3.6% 33 IBU 18.0 l enso
12/03/2020
Taming the Dragon v3 – Spruce Springstip
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.7% 26 IBU 55.0 l enso
09/03/2020
Fond d'Houillette
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.1% 30 IBU 20.0 l OhlaKette
24/02/2020
Grisette
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.3% 32 IBU 10.0 l Fela
10/02/2020
Bernard 1000
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.5% 0 IBU 1000.0 l Jef
20/01/2020
Du vent dans les bretts
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.0% 20 IBU 20.0 l enso
12/11/2019
Barrique à brac – Merlot
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.0% 25 IBU 320.0 l enso
14/10/2019
LaVanHamme Forte
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.5% 35 IBU 10.0 l Fela
04/09/2019
Ferme
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.9% 20 IBU 25.0 l Jef
20/07/2019
Le Temps des cerises
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.7% 13 IBU 26.0 l de_la_broue_dans_le_toupet
22/06/2019
Voilà l'été
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.2% 33 IBU 25.0 l de_la_broue_dans_le_toupet
01/06/2019
Four saisons
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.4% 26 IBU 25.0 l Solanacea
30/05/2019
644
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.1% 28 IBU 28.0 l luckyfrench
08/05/2019
1644 – The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.1% 28 IBU 28.0 l enso
06/05/2019
Immort'ale – Saison Eternelle
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.5% 24 IBU 25.0 l enso
05/04/2019
Taming the Dragon v2 – PDX Commons Inspired
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.6% 6 IBU 26.0 l enso
01/03/2019
Taming the Saison
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.9% 30 IBU 26.0 l enso
01/03/2019
perfectly balanced blondish
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.2% 35 IBU 20.0 l nostradamnit
08/12/2018
L'EPIPHANIE N° 18
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.8% 40 IBU 13.0 l dalkun
02/12/2018
L'EPIPHANIE N° 18
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.8% 40 IBU 13.0 l chakal
13/09/2018
saison seigle
All grain- 16.C - Saison
4.2% 39 IBU 85.0 l serpentin
05/09/2018
Canicule Smash
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.8% 23 IBU 26.0 l de_la_broue_dans_le_toupet
28/07/2018
Summer Smash
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.0% 23 IBU 25.0 l de_la_broue_dans_le_toupet
30/06/2018
Stormy Weather
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.1% 40 IBU 25.0 l de_la_broue_dans_le_toupet
02/06/2018
#saison abricot
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.9% 30 IBU 19.0 l cessna18
17/01/2018
L'EPIPHANIE N° 18
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.8% 40 IBU 13.0 l Bruno
05/12/2017
Angevins Enjoués
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.2% 28 IBU 80.0 l Bierhexen
22/10/2017
Where The Wild Things Go
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.1% 54 IBU 19.0 l jbeaurivage
23/09/2017
Saison Culturelle
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.6% 27 IBU 26.0 l de_la_broue_dans_le_toupet
23/09/2017
Fin d'été
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.4% 21 IBU 26.0 l chrlapointe
02/09/2017
Demon Cleaner v2
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.6% 27 IBU 23.0 l enso
19/06/2017
Voilà l'été
All grain- 16.C - Saison
6.2% 33 IBU 25.0 l juldsc
28/05/2017
Connivence pour Monique
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.2% 27 IBU 75.0 l vincenW38
05/03/2017
saison Catchole 2
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.3% 39 IBU 25.0 l Catchole
27/01/2017
Saison2
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.2% 24 IBU 23.0 l thorfinn
17/12/2016
Saison
All grain- 16.C - Saison
5.3% 51 IBU 23.0 l thorfinn
17/12/2016
nowel
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.3% 30 IBU 26.0 l mylnvdb
22/10/2015
Demon Cloner
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.0% 38 IBU 19.0 l enso
16/08/2015
Demon Cleaner
All grain- 16.C - Saison
9.6% 43 IBU 19.2 l enso
25/07/2015
Chrystell
All grain- 16.C - Saison
7.4% 73 IBU 4.0 l spenali
16/06/2014


Styles in the same category