Saison vs. Saison: the Tasting Panel rates Warm Weather Beers Part II

What is a saison?

Traditionally, saison is a rustic, artisanal ale made with local farm-grown ingredients, brewed for consumption during the active farming season in the French-speaking area of Belgium. Because these beers were made from whatever happened to be on hand, it was not unusual to have grains such as wheat, rye, oats, or spelt in the grist bill.

Sugar or honey could be added to provide complexity and dry out the flavour.
In North America, we often refer to saisons as farmhouse ales. This is the perfect beer to make during the summer months; see my Homebrew Happenin’s column for more about that.

– Warren Boyer