Suddenly, saison
The 99 Bottles column that will run in this Saturday's Globe and on BostonGlobe.com will focus on new, locally made saisons. Here's a small taste of it to whet your whistle:
As far as beer in the Boston area is concerned, 2011 was the year of the saison.
A few years ago, exactly two saisons were widely available in Massachusetts liquor stores: Saison Dupont, brewed in Belgium, and Hennepin, made by Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y. And that was only in stores that stocked solid selections of craft beers.
Then came Jack D'Or, the first beer brewed by Cambridge-based Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project. That saison quickly became popular in Boston and then spread elsewhere. This year, interest in saisons exploded. At least half a dozen Massachusetts breweries began making saisons in 2011. Even the venerable Boston Beer Co. put a saison in its summer 12-pack.
What happened? For one thing, drinkers tastes are growing more sophisticated as the craft beer movement matures. Drinkers are branching out beyond IPAs and imperial stouts, exploring more Belgian styles. And brewers taking more risks, experimenting with styles that not necessarily fly off the shelves.
What are your favorite saisons? Post your thoughts in the comments section. I'll have much more about saisons in Saturday's column.
Email me at greenlee@globe.com. Follow me on Twitter @SteveGreenlee.
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About 99 BottlesGary Dzen writes about craft beer here and in the Globe when he's not covering the Celtics for Boston.com. He can be reached at gdzen@boston.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeGaryDzen.
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