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Styles · Saison

Beer style · BJCP 2021 25B

Saison

Strong Belgian Ale

Published ranges These are the ranges the BJCP 2021 guidelines publish for this style.

Original gravity
1.048–1.065
Final gravity
1.002–1.008
Bitterness
20–35 IBU
Color
5–14 SRM (10–28 EBC)
Alcohol
3.5–9.5 % ABV

What it is

A bone-dry, highly carbonated farmhouse ale driven by peppery, citrusy yeast and a long bitter finish. Entries range from table strength to strong and from pale to dark, but every version should be attenuated, effervescent and refreshing rather than heavy.

Flavor

What a Saison should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Floral and spice, with room for citrus, herbal or earthy/woody.

Malt

Grainy, with room for bready/biscuit.

Fermentation

Fruity esters and pepper/spice, with room for clean, clove, tart or funk.

Hops that suit it

The traditional choice

What Saison has classically been brewed with.

Also right on character

Varieties whose loudest notes all sit on this style’s hop wheel, best fit first. How much to use is the recipe’s question; these are the ones that taste right.

And 29 more hops whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

And 45 more yeasts whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.