The Year in Beer

Name: Rustic Saison

Brewer: Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Co.), Boston, Mass.

By the numbers: 143 calories per 12 oz.; 4.35 percent alcohol by volume

Notes: I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of this style, first berating it after trying Two Brother’s Domain Dupage and again after drinking New Holland’s Golden Cap. It’s still not my first choice, but Samuel Adams has brewed a more accessible version of this style. Which is good, because it’s in this year’s Summer Styles cases, which I’ll probably buy more than a few of, and the last thing I need is to dump four beers down the drain from every case the way I did when Cranberry Lambic was in the winter boxes. Anyway, this version of a Belgian farmhouse beer is brewed with honey and it pours a golden yellow as befits the style. Rustic Saison is not quite as sour as other saisons I’ve tried. It is actually pretty crisp, with Samuel Adams’ signature noble hops. It’s drinkable.

Try it with: Dressing up as a Hogwarts character for a pre-teen birthday party. I put back one of these in character as Remus Lupin while waiting for the kids to show up, after which it was non-alcoholic “butterbeer”, pizza and ice cream. It was a nice day to sip one of these summer beers on the deck.

    — Posted by Mike Freimann