Let me start out by saying, I don’t quite get Saisons. They are pale, spicy, sometimes floral and busy and after Belgians, in general, they seem to be the snob appeal of beer geeks. Kind of like Linux is to computer nerds. Perception is reality so do not try to out argue me in this.
I stopped by Brewforia, my oft mentioned favorite local beer retailer, after watching the Boise State vs. University of Idaho game at a friend’s, for a pint and the see what interesting items were in the cooler, since I hadn’t been in for a few days at least and I hate when I find out that something rare or exceptional came and went w/o me even knowing about it.
I spotted this Saison and looked it up on RateBeer, saw that it was in the 99th percentile rating for the style and decided I had to take it home. At 6.5% it is a little on the strong side as far as my rather limited experience would tell me, for this style. Further research tells me that Saisons are/were traditionally brewed in farmhouses in the French-speaking region of Belgium and timed to be ready to refresh farm worked in the harvest time of the year. Men’s Journal magazine reportedly called out this beer as the “….best beer in the world..” in its July 2005 issue. Typically made with pale and/or pilsner malts the color is usually light golden and cloudy although some darker and more amber examples exist.
The caged and corked packaging was a good start in my cross-over closer to beer snobbery and I quickly succumbed to the condescending prejudices against common twist off or even typically capped bottles. I was well on my way, into the fray that is this little known style to us Americans.
The cork popped with a loud report and had I not held onto it, it would have likely put a dent in the ceiling and possibly woke up some of the people sleeping upstairs. Although I poured it as gently as I could, the first ounce or two created solid white head from bottom to top of the 8 oz glass I had ready. Literally nothing but white foam. Letting that calm down a bit I tried to sneak a few more ounces in the glass. I was still presented by a huge white puffy head that when it slowly reseeded it left oddly shaped formations of stiff meringue like clumps as the bobble s dissipated unevenly. Like some kind of rock formation weathered by the random effects of weather and time.
This remarkable snowy white head was maintained but the very active and persistent effervescent activity that its carbonation level betrayed. I would guess over 3.5 volumes or so. The pale hazy light straw colored beer seemed a bit dingy to my taste that is accustomed to clear and often filtered beers. 
The aroma was quite mild and lightly fruity. The specific Saison yeast and the Goldings hops used are mainly responsible for the notes of lemon peel and light spice and some hints of dust and fresh baked bread. Very light pale malt flavors and some more of that light lemon zest, and mild spiciness with a little musty barnyard character thrown in. It has a pale pilsnerish almost watery background to it and the late trailer is surprisingly bitter for how the initial flavor would lead you to expect.
It is a light, somewhat busy, lightly spicy beer that it refreshing but distracting if you are not into the complexities and subtleties of a Saison. I must confess, I don’t think I am, but this is eye-opening and I need to have a few more good examples of the style to round out my experience with it.
