Saison/Farmhouse Ales from Ontario or Quebec?

codfishh · Post by **codfishh** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:46 am

Are there any brewers in Ontario or Quebec making good saison's? I haven't tried this style yet, I was hoping to get some ommegang hennepin when I was last at Bessette's but they didn't have any.

Ontario having to go through the LCBO I've not seen any Saison Dupont here. I haven't noticed any Quebec Micro's in the style at Marche Omni either.

lister · Post by **lister** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:56 am

Black Oak makes a saison. It's one of their summer seasonals.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/black-oak- ... ison/7705/

markaberrant · Post by **markaberrant** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:56 am

Hennepin is a poor example of a saison. Pretty sure they just use their house yeast, way too much banana, not enough earthy, peppery spice and dryness that is the hallmark of the style. Still a good beer though.

codfishh · Post by **codfishh** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:02 am

Cool hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on some of the black oak this summer, I didn't see it in Ottawa last year. I think the only black oak we get is the pale ale.

Mark I am surprised to hear your opinion of the Hennepin as it's very highly rated for the style on ba. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/141

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:06 am

codfishh wrote:Cool hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on some of the black oak this summer, I didn't see it in Ottawa last year. I think the only black oak we get is the pale ale.

Mark I am surprised to hear your opinion of the Hennepin as it's very highly rated for the style on ba. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/141

Contact "North American Craft" here or on facebook. They are assisting some local microbrewers including Black Oak with LCBO/TBS representation.

lister · Post by **lister** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:08 am

Supposedly Black Oak is working on getting their seasonals into the LCBO. I have no idea when, what or how far from Toronto they might get though you could always do a case transfer if they do get into stores.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:09 am

While I enjoy the Black Oak Saison, it is not necessarily typical of the style. The House Ales Biergotter Caustic Commencement was delicious but also not a typical saison imho

The Hopfenstark saisons are closer to the classic/stereotypical saisons such as Saison Dupont, but also fits with the "new world"/North American takes on the style.

The Great Lakes Heavy Petting Saison I thought was a good example of a "new world" saison, and Volo carries some bottles from Upright brewing in Oregon which is also a "new world" take on the style.

One of the better ones I have had was actually a homebrew that Grub/Viggo did a while back.

markaberrant · Post by **markaberrant** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:37 pm

codfishh wrote: Mark I am surprised to hear your opinion of the Hennepin as it's very highly rated for the style on ba. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/141

It is a highly enjoyable beer, just not much of a saison in my opinion.

One of the best American saisons I have tried is Boulevard Saison - they even use amarillo and simcoe hops, but they are so well integrated, it still comes across as "saison."

jayB · Post by **jayB** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:01 pm

It sounds like you're in Ottawa; if so you have a couple of options.

I picked up a Quebec Saison at Broue Ha Ha this fall that was enjoyable, though again not really representative of the style (at least in my little experience). Unfortunately I cannot remember the name or find it otherwise. If you ask Gilles at Broue Ha Ha, he might be able to help you. It's got an orange label, if that helps.

Your best bet is check out L'Autre Oeil. They have a few saisons on the menu, including Saison Dupont. I've had both that and Meantime High Saison there.

I still have a bunch of Black Oak Summer Saison from when I visited the brewery this summer. Not as fresh as can be of course, but quite good still. If you're in the Ottawa area and want to do an in-person trade, I can probably help you out.

There's also Blonde de Chambly, which is allegedly a saison. Worth trying if you haven't though; I quite enjoy it as a summer beer, if not as much as a "real" saison.

markaberrant · Post by **markaberrant** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:23 pm

jayB wrote:There's also Blonde de Chambly, which is allegedly a saison. Worth trying if you haven't though; I quite enjoy it as a summer beer, if not as much as a "real" saison.

I really like this beer too, but again, it just uses the Unibroue house yeast, so not much of a saison.

codfishh · Post by **codfishh** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:48 pm

I did see that they have Saison Dupont at L'Autre Oeil, I haven't had a chance to get there in a while. I'll have to make a point of getting out that way to try it. I'll have a look the next time I am at Broue Ha Ha as well.

Thanks for the info.

sprague11 · Post by **sprague11** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:32 pm

jayB wrote:I picked up a Quebec Saison at Broue Ha Ha this fall that was enjoyable, though again not really representative of the style (at least in my little experience). Unfortunately I cannot remember the name or find it otherwise. If you ask Gilles at Broue Ha Ha, he might be able to help you. It's got an orange label, if that helps.

Likely this one: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3723/61820

jayB · Post by **jayB** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:15 pm

sprague11 wrote:
jayB wrote:I picked up a Quebec Saison at Broue Ha Ha this fall that was enjoyable, though again not really representative of the style (at least in my little experience). Unfortunately I cannot remember the name or find it otherwise. If you ask Gilles at Broue Ha Ha, he might be able to help you. It's got an orange label, if that helps.

Likely this one: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3723/61820

Yep, that's the one, thanks. It was decent, worth trying at least if one can find it.

chico · Post by **chico** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:17 pm

you must try La saison du tracteur from Le trou du diable or l'ergot from bénélux both being the best saison in canada, too tough to chose for me

elproducto · Post by **elproducto** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:09 pm

I've also heard that Churchkey in Peterborough has some farmhouse type ales from time to time.. but the few I've tried from them "Holy Smoke", and "Lactese Falcon" were awful.