Saison
Our flagship beer just happens to be the style of beer we enjoy the most, a rustic and everyday beer with Belgian origins. This style of beer is refreshing, hearty and perfectly balanced to complement a wide variety of meals. Our Saison is made with malted barley, lots of wheat, rolled oats, Styrian & East Kent Golding hops and a yeast strain that combines the best of wine & beer fermentation. We take no short cuts in the brewing of this beer and ultimately let the yeast do its own thing, pulling strong from the way brewers have worked for centuries.
Food Pairing
One of the biggest reasons we love Saison is its ability to pair with a wide variety of foods, we're not alone in thinking this either! In fact, the esteemed Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery & author of Brewmaster's Table has this to say about our favorite style of beer:
"If I were forced to choose one style to drink with every meal for the rest of my life, SAISON would have to be it."
We couldn't have said it better ourselves. If you're looking for our recommended pairings, here's a few of our absolute favorites that will not only improve your food, but may just make our Saison shine a bit brighter, too.
Download "The Homebrew Chef" Sean Z. Paxton's recipe for Saison-Steamed Mussels.
Other suggestions:
Morant's Old Fashioned Sausage's "Weisswurst" -- The fluffy texture of the white sausage is a divine pair with the oat-aided body of the Saison, and the slightly spicy notes of the beer bring a real pop to this Sacramento favorite. Also pairs well with several other of the sausages at Morant's.
Ripened cheeses like Humboldt Fog -- the slightly musty notes in the cheese paired with the earthy & fruity notes in the beer make a match you just can't believe. Add to this the effervescence of the Saison that cleanses the palate between each bite and you'll find each bite as satisfying as the last. Hey, we love wine, but this is a pairing no wine can touch.
Fresh Pasta with Cream Sauce -- Feel free to dress the pasta with chicken or shrimp, the Saison can handle it. In fact, you'll be astonished at the beer's ability to cleanse the palate between each bite, making the next just as good as the last.
Salmon Steaks -- Grill them, steam them, it won't matter to the beer -- it's going to cut right through the salmon's natural fats and lighten the load on the tongue. The yeast & wheat will also play with the sweetness of the meat, drawing out a subtle smokiness that will delight the senses.
Ingredients
Barley lends a slightly biscuit-like sweetness immediately, a bit dry and husky. This is the base flavor in most beers found in the world.
Wheat adds a touch of lemony refreshment, providing an ultimately thirst-quenching component that has been enjoyed by the world's strongest beer cultures (Germany, Belgium).
Oats create a texture to the body that you just don't see in most beers. Some describe it as silky, but we like to think it's just magical goodness. This also adds to the beer's refreshment.
East Kent Golding Hops are used for their flavor more than anything. These are delicate, floral and have a mild note of fresh-cracked pepper that tickles the front of the tongue. This old-school hop has been a European favorite for well over a century.
Styrian Golding Hops are fairly uncommon in today's brewing world, but we can't think of a better hop aroma to complement our Saison. Extremely delicate with an aroma like orchids in spring, you won't find many hops that can produce the flavor/aroma combination found here. This is our signature hop for Saison and a definite nod to the old Belgian brewing tradition.
Our Saison yeast comes straight from our favorite Belgian-brewed saison, Du Pont. The yeast itself is derived from a red wine yeast strain, which makes it ideal for fermenting at extremely high temperatures. In fact, most brewers in America aren't willing to let the yeast truly shine out of fear of the high temps. This is the ingredient that gives our Saison an intensely fruity, slightly leathery and ultimately rustic quality. We love this yeast and are not afraid to let it do what it wants to do with our beer. Sales Sheet
Odonata Beers: Saison | Water Witch | Rorie's Ale | Beersel & Rosa
