We’ve talked about saisons before, you and I. A saison, or a “Belgian Farmhouse Ale”, is a type of pale ale traditionally brewed to quench the thirst of lucky farmhands. Wild yeasts and casual recipes created a variety of tastes and quite a lively beer.
Modern versions often crank up the ABV, but I find the style quite delightful, even if unpredictable. You never know quite what you’re going to get when you open a new brand for the first time. Of course, I’ve found the same to be true of many IPAs, porters, wheat beers, etc. So far, my favorite Saison has been Saison Athene, from Saint Somewhere Brewing Co. in Florida. Saison Athene was crisp and rustic, but with a distinct peppery spice that kept me entranced. (Unfortunately, that review is only partially written — I had the beer June 28th.)
Victory Brewing Company tackled the style as part of its “V” Series of bottle conditioned, Belgian-inspired ales. And since “V-Saison” is only available as a 750 ml bottle, I had quite a bit of drinking to do tonight.
A Peek Behind the Curtain
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(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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I’m trying to get back in the habit of writing about my daily beer as I’m drinking it, rather than taking notes first and then posting my thoughts. Not only will this help ensure I’m keeping up to date with my reviews, but it should also make for more interesting reading — I find I’m much more passionate about the beer while I’m drinking it; writing from notes just isn’t the same.
No matter when I write, my daily beer drinking has grown into a type of ritual.
Not that I needed an excuse, but this one-a-day beer challenge has given me a great reason to discover new beer. However, what really gets me going is the thrill that comes from finally drinking an as-yet-unexplored legend.
I’ve indulged in Dogfish Head’s 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA already this year, but I had a fair amount of trouble tracking down a bottle of 120 Minute IPA. The IPA is brewed in limited quantities, and I spent many of my beer runs chasing Dogfish Head rumors and 120 Minute IPA sightings from liquor store to home brew supply house and back. This monster of a beer had nearly become my White Whale before I stumbled across several bottles stocked at my usual beer supplier.
If any beer deserves legendary status, it’s the 120 Minute IPA. This Imperial India Pale Ale clocks in at around 120 IBUs and between somewhere between 18% and 20% ABV. That range for ABV is because Dogfish Head has tweaked the recipe over the years — and from what I can tell, they’ve settled on about 18% ABV as the right balance. My bottle is young (filled May 2009) so I’m assuming it is 18% ABV. As for the IBU rating — don’t let that 120 rating intimidate you, because this beer’s sweetness overcomes just about every bit of bitterness.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
BrewDog Paradox Isle of Arran
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BrewDog is craft brewery in the U.K. that has been challenging the beer world’s status quo since its inception in 2007. Still young and evolving, Scotland’s largest independent brewer proudly creates “Beer for Punks” — bold new creations and modern takes on classic styles.
Paradox is an Imperial Stout aged for six months in whisky barrels. Ah, but which whisky barrels? The barrels come from distilleries across Scotland and have included brands such as Macallan and Speyside that may be familiar to U.S. palates. Each batch of Paradox is imbued with unique characteristics, thanks to the variety of barrels available.
Mama’s Little Yella Pils
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Today featured the most highly anticipated beer story of the year — President Obama’s sit-down with Sgt. James Crowley and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. Everyman VP Joe Biden also joined in, presumably to enjoy the unusual experience of being the only person at the table who hadn’t said something stupid.
While I personally had been pulling for the group to share a bottle of craft beer such as Collaboration Not Litigation Ale, it seems the Beer Summit featured Blue Moon, Red Stripe, and Bud Light — all beers made by foreign conglomerates. Naturally, the “craft beer community” has been up in arms, because if there’s anything craft brewers understand, it’s how to get free publicity.
So I’ve joined the ranks of many craft beer aficionados by cracking open a small batch American beer and raising a toast against unfair discrimination: beer profiling. My answer to this crisis is Mama’s Little Yella Pils, by Oskar Blues Brewery — the beer that (true story) made the federal government reject the slogan, “Take Two and Call Us in the Morning”.
