Deschutes Cultivateur Provision Saison
Deschutes Cultivateur Provision Saison is a heck of a beer. Crafted as a blend of a saison-style ale, wild ale and sour, this 8% ABV reserve release is then pushed over the top after sitting in oak barrels for eleven months. The result is a beer that presents aspects of each intended flavor in a cohesive drinking experience with a rustic edge.
Funky and lightly tart with a good dose of funk, Cultivateur has an excellent flavor profile. Soft honey, rustic grain, distant pear and a solid amount of wood are also in the mix, creating a layered array of elements to discover with each sip. I’d personally prefer the beer to be a bit more crisp on the tongue — it could do with a bit of a refreshing snap to accompany the flavors. I love the barrel influence as the medium bodied brew glides over the tongue.
Cultivateur is an outstanding beer fresh, but with that wild yeast, it should continue to age and change for a good few years given the right cellaring environment. The wild flavor, gentle tartness and rustic funk make for a treat of a beer that hit the spot nicely on the early June day during which I cracked it open. I’ll be buying this one again, both to enjoy fresh and set aside for a spell.