Now one of the most popular and well-known Belgian beer styles, the modern definition of saison is a spicy, lightly bitter and refreshing beer in the mould of the world-famous Saison Dupont.
But the history of saison is much more broad and diverse in flavour, with many modern brewers across the globe creating beers with more rustic, sour or funky flavours akin to the beers which would have been brewed centuries ago.
My favourite saisons are dry, peppery, refreshing and have good bitterness coming from a combination of high carbonation and some generous hopping – but I’ve also included some more unusual and slightly ‘funky’ mixed-fermentation beers below for the more adventurous.
McColls – ‘Salut’ Dry Noble Beer 6.5% ABV
McColls make a number of saison-style beers but for me Salut is their standout. Incredibly drinkable, light and effervescent, but with all of the pepper and hop character of a modern saison thanks to the heavy of use of spicy European Noble hops. A delicious beer very close to the classic definition of the style.
The Kernel – Grisette Nelson Sauvin 4.9% ABV
Grisette is traditionally a slightly lower abv version of Saison and this one benefits hugely from the addition of the delicious New Zealand hop variety ‘Nelson Sauvin’. My favourite hop variety, it adds wine-like flavours of Gooseberry, white grape and lime zest which work perfectly with the dry and peppery yeast character from the beer.
Burning Sky – Saison Provision 6.7% ABV
Saison Provision from Burning Sky is a labour of love that involves long-ageing in Oak foudres (huge wooden vessels containing thousands of litres of beer) blending and bottle conditioning. But the result is spectacular; tart, crisp, slightly sour and incredibly refreshing – it will also improve in the bottle over years and even decades.
Colbier – Mélodie Saison 5.5% ABV
2025’s New Brewery of the Year, Colbier, hail from Liverpool and launched with an eclectic range of styles, including this excellent classic saison. Aromatic and dry it has a little bit of background funk but loads of peppery, grassy and floral notes from some modern British hops making it a perfect summer beer.
Fyne Ales - Origins Flùranach 5.3% ABV
A recent SIBA Scotland award-winner, this spontaneously fermented saison is generously hopped with New World and experimental hops before being aged in Chardonnay wine barrels for 12 months. Complex acidity, peachy chardonnay, floral and oak notes – it’ll expand your idea of what beer can taste like.
- Neil Walker is a beer sommelier and Head of Communications at SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates, who recently launched the much-heralded Indie Beer campaign. The campaign seeks to make it easier for customers to discover beer from genuine independent breweries and you can find out more via www.indiebeer.uk
