Widmer Brothers Saison À Fleurs
2014 marks the 30th anniversary for Oregon’s Widmer Brothers. To mark the occasion, the brewery has embarked on two massive endeavors. The first is “30 Beers for 30 Years” which sees the release of 30 small batch beers to commemorate a specific year and beer in the company’s history. The second is the limited release of six collaborative efforts between Widmer and six other Oregon breweries. That’s where Saison À Fleurs comes into play.
Saison À Fleurs is a joint effort between Widmer and Breakside Brewery. This is the second in the series (the first was Blacklight IPA) and is a saison/farmhouse in style brewed with chrysanthemum, jasmine, and Szechuan peppercorns. The result is a 6.7% ABV (25 IBU) brew that carries a floral character and peppery tingle on the nose and tongue. It’s refreshing and light, but perhaps a bit too perfumey when the chrysanthemum influence hits the palate.
Appearance
The brew pours golden in color with a relatively short-lived cap of white foam that fell to a sparse surface cover.
Aroma
It’s definitely floral as the chrysanthemum fills the nose with hints of jasmine, soft fruits, light funk and a tingly peppery yeast note. It smells light and inviting.
Taste
The first thing that hits is a perfumey floral character which for me was a bit much. It’s quickly followed by a light bit of saison barnyard hay/funk and a peppery tingle that lingers for a good while. A touch of honey sweetness also presents itself after the light-bodied brew has washed over the tongue.
Overall
All in all, Saison À Fleurs isn’t half bad. it’s got a solid saison/farmhouse base with a unique floral character that I’m sure some folks will love. For me it came across a bit too perfumey, but the Szechuan peppercorn addition was a nice touch, adding just a little bit extra tingle to the palate. This is a pretty easy drinking beer with a light nature to refresh and soothe on a warm Summer afternoon.
Rating: 3.75/5
This is a review of a promotional sample.
