Erin Elizabeth
Saison is a style of beer that originated in France in the 19th century. The word comes from the French word for “season”. At first, they were brewed with lower alcohol levels than other beers, but in modern times the alcohol content is higher.
Traditionally, these beers were brewed in the fall or winter so they would be ready for consumption by springtime for workers out in the fields of France. Today, people brew and enjoy them at all times of the year.
It is a pale ale that is often highly carbonated and can be fruity or spicy. Originally the Saison was brewed seasonally, but today Saisons are produced and sold all year round.
Saisons can be darker or lighter depending on the ingredients, but it is more common for them to be a cloudy golden color due to the use of grist or pilsner malt.
Best Saisons
Want to dive into the world of Saisons? We have listed the top 11 Saisons that you should try below! Check out the list for more information on each beer and how to try it!
Boulevard Brewing Tank 7
Tank 7 is one of Boulevard Brewing Company’s best food-pairing beers.
It has an ABV of 8.5%, an IBU of 38, and an EBC of 12. This beer is a Belgian-style Saison and is considered a farmhouse ale, much like many other Saisons.
The Tank 7 has a light to medium body with a sweet, light, and soft flavor. It is floral, has citrusy hops, and has Belgian yeast esters.
It pairs well with meats like chicken and pork and is 225 calories per 12-ounce serving. This beer is top on our list for flavor and overall pairing versatility.
Goose Island Sofie
This Belgian-style Saison from Goose Island is one of our top choices because it has a delicious orange zest flavor that comes from a wine-barrel aged with a lot of orange peel.
If you like champagne, you will likely enjoy Sofie. It has a champagne color, and a light and creamy vanilla finish similar to that of champagne.
Sofie has a 6.5% ABV, an IBU of 20, and is made with Amarillo hops. It is lightly sweet and has a subtle sour taste but, it does not have any bitterness.
This farmhouse ale also contains 2-row, pilsner, and wheat malts.
Saison Dupont
The Saison Dupont is one of the most historical beers on our list.
Since 1844 Brasserie Dupont has brewed Saison beers. This particular variety has been brewed by the brewery for over 100 years, and the recipe has been handed down through the company for generations.
It has a 6.5% ABV and is a blonde ale with grapefruit and spice clove aromas. It has a hint of bitterness and malt flavor but is not sweet.
This iconic Saison is perfect for those who like a blonde ale without the sweetness. It is best enjoyed as a chilled aperitif or at cellar temperature.
Allagash Saison
From Allagash Brewing Company in Maine comes this amber Saison that has a full body and a rustic, dry finish.
The Allagash Saison won the Gold European Beer Star in 2016 and the Silver European Beer Star in 2014 and 2019.
This beer has three types of grains, including Allagash Brewery’s own 2-row malted barley blend.
It also has dark Belgian Candi sugar and a citrusy profile with light bitterness.
It contains 6.1% ABV and is a favorite beer for winding down at the end of a long workday due to its lightness and drinkability.
Funkwerks Farmhouse Ale
Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Funkwerks brews some of the most delicious and award-winning Saisons on the market.
Their Saison has won multiple awards throughout the last ten years, including Silver and Gold Honors at the Great American Beer Festival for multiple years.
This achievement is a testament to the top-notch flavor profiles and careful brewing process to produce a winning product.
With notes of passionfruit, tangerine, lemon, ginger, and black pepper, this spicy but fruity farmhouse ale is the perfect Saison combination.
We love the flavor of the Funkwerks Farmhouse Ale, and that is why it is in our top 5!
Hill Farmstead Arthur
Made by another historically bound brewery, the Arthur from Hill Farmstead is a Saison crafted from American malted barley, American and European Hops, and farmhouse yeast.
It has an ABV of 6% and natural carbonation due to the brewing process. We like this ale because of its history and drinkability!
Located in North Greensboro, Vermont, Hill Farmstead produces tons of beers in addition to Arthur, with a few of them being Saisons.
The brewery’s history spans eight generations since the Hill family first arrived in Greensboro!
Their most important company philosophy is to embrace the past while striving to improve in the future.
Saison Bernice
This dry but refreshing Saison crafted by Sante Adairius Rustic Ales is the perfect Saison for drinking and enjoying.
The Saison Bernice has an ABV of 6.5% and has tart, bright, and citrusy notes.
Saison Bernice contains local and fresh ingredients, so you know you are getting the best taste possible with this simple and delicate Saison.
Saison Bernice is sold at the Sante Adairius Rustic Ales locations in Capitol, California, and Santa Cruz, California.
If you can’t make it to the west coast, you can also join their online club to purchase it, and plenty of other Sante Adairius beers, through their website.
Three Brewing Thought Experiment
Threes Brewing Thought Experiment is a complicated name for a simple beer.
The beers in this collection are fruit-forward Saisons. You can purchase peach or nectarine-flavored Saisons from this brand.
The nectarine is the more popular Saison, and it contains sweet and spicy tasting notes like pepper, shock tarts, grapefruit, hay, and dole.
With an ABV of 4.8%, it is one of the less alcoholic drinks on our list, which makes it great for drinking throughout the day or if you want a lighter fare.
Brooklyn Sorachi Ace
The Brooklyn Sorachi Ace is a Saison produced by the Carlsberg Group.
It has an ABV of 7.2% and was developed by a Japanese brewery in the 1970s.
Now it is produced in the United States and is now a classic Saison that its manufacturer calls “sunshine in a glass”.
It has a lemony and herbal scent and a clean malt flavor. It is best paired with seafood dishes, fresh cheeses, poultry, barbecue, and tomato-based pasta sauces.
Essentially, you can enjoy this summery Saison with almost anything! This is a great summer beer to sip on a hot day.
Off Color Apex Predator
Apex Predator is a dry-hopped Saison produced by Off Color Brewing Company.
This Saison has pineapple and juicy aroma, and it is one of the only brews on our list that is brewed in an American-Belgian hybrid process.
This means that the brewing process combines free-rise fermentation and American-style dry hopping.
It has a 6.5% ABV, an IBU of 35, and a gravity of 14 dP. The Apex Predator also contains pilsner and flaked wheat malts.
It also contains crystal and sterling hops. Other ingredients include sugar, honey malt, and Saison yeast.
BlackBerry Brewery Fenceline
BlackBerry Brewery is located in Maryville, Tennessee.
This southern brewery brews beers that have natural re-fermentation properties while it is in the bottle which gives it pleasant carbonation.
This brewery sells beer at its Tennessee location and other retailers throughout the southeast!
Their Fenceline brew is a seasonal Saison with a 5.5% ABV. It has many portions of floor-malted wheat that give it a creamy feel.
It also has a straw color, so you know it is a drinkable and lighter beer. Fenceline is also made with Huell Melon hops.
Huell Melon hops give sweeter notes of strawberry and melon while offering a balanced bitterness.
Best Saisons
- Boulevard Brewing Tank 7
- Goose Island Sofie
- Saison Dupont
- Allagash Saison
- Funkwerks Farmhouse Ale
- Hill Farmstead Arthur
- Saison Bernice
- Three Brewing Thought Experiment
- Brooklyn Sorachi Ace
- Off Color Apex Predator
- BlackBerry Brewery Fenceline
Final Thoughts
Saisons are perfect brews to get into if you like to enjoy a beer at the end of a workday or throughout a summer day. If you have never tried one before, perhaps choose one on our list to try first!
Now that you have seen our top 11 picks for the best Saison beers, what are you inspired to try next? We love the Boulevard Brewing Tank 7, the Goose Island Sofie, and the Saison Dupont the most.
Check out other beers we love, like the best coffee infused beers or which beers to pair with sushi.
