Guest Post Written by
Beer Club ReviewerBelgium is one of those European countries best known for beer. The brews that come from the country are known for its superior overall quality and exquisite, world-class taste. Meanwhile, the United States is known to be a beer loving country that makes many unique brews. So what happens when an American brewer goes to Belgium to create Belgian-style beer? You get something like Stillwater A Saison Darkly.
A Saison Darkly is part of the Stillwater Import Series. Stillwater Artisanal Ales is a brewery based in Baltimore, Maryland; its founder and brewer Brian Strumke visited Belgium to brew A Saison Darkly. Named in reference to the movie “A Scanner Darkly,” this beer may be criticized for not being a genuine Belgian brew. However, A Saison Darkly was brewed in Belgium, with the brewing equipment of Sint-Canarus.
As the name suggests, A Saison Darkly is a dark saison but very different from a Belgian Saison. A saison from Belgium is often blond or amber in color, while this brew is colored dark black. The color of A Saison Darkly is attributed to the amount of burnt malts added in the beer. In a sense, this beer resembles an Imperial Stout more than a saison. When poured into a glass, one can see the great, creamy, long-lasting head.
A Saison Darkly may be considered Belgian beer, but the flavors have been influenced by American craft brewing. It has the trademark citric hop flavors of many American beers. The taste has a tart, floral quality, thanks to the rose hips and hibiscus added in the brew. Upon tasting, one will find a pleasant fruitiness and the flavor of black berry juice may come to mind. The beer drinker may even detect a hint of chocolate in the brew. The taste concentrations are impressive, resulting in the dark, spicy and fruity 8% ABV A Saison Darkly.
The beer is not the only thing worth raving about with A Saison Darkly. Even the packaging of this beer is unique. The label artwork is done by tattoo artist Lee Versoza.
Try to get your hands on a bottle of this unqiue Belgian brew!
I can not believe how fast time passes by these days ...
Guest Post Written by Beer Club Reviewer
Please welcome Paul from the Beer Club Guide for this guest post. Another beer by the same brewers was the no.33 Arabier
Just a taster of what's to come ...
I do like white beers a lot. I find them refreshing and easy to drink. This one in particular is a winner. I really enjoyed the Bellegem Witbier, another beer brewed by Brasserie Bockor. At 5% more a summer beer - fresh with a hint of lemon.
Another beer, this time an ancient/ traditional Flemish beer. It's a brown beer which mixes normal beer ingredients with lambic beer thus creating a distinct taste.
As promised ...
Just so you don't think we have become beer snobs and only drink special beers. I very much like what they call 'factory' beers as well and sometimes they simply taste familiar and right.
Here another beer from the Ardennes, the Belgian mountains. The Bievre Blonde is also 6.5% and specially brewed for a farm in the region, the Ferme du Grand Chene by the Brasserie Van Steenberge.
Keeping with the overall colder feel of November, beers have to adapt as well. Here a beer from the Ardennes, the Belgian mountains. We tasted it at a local, small (very small!) fair so not much on this beer - it is brewed in house by the Brasserie Van Steenberge.
Bang on in the middle of the hunting season - big sport in Belgium if you know where to look - the dark beer La Saison des Chasses (Hunting Season). Brewed by the Brasserie Bouillon, this beer is available now only.
Same day. Same seaside.
Ha ha!
