Vinifera Saison

pFriem 2024 Vinifera Saison is a Rosé inspired barrel aged farmhouse ale with grenache grapes, brewed in collaboration with our friends at Le Doubblé Troubblé Wine Co.

ABV 6.5%

IBU 22

FLAVOR PROFILE

Soft, Strawberry, Herbal, Black Cherry

AVAILABILITY

Limited

INGREDIENTS

Malt

100% Linc Malt – Pilsner, Wheat & Spelt

Hops

Tettnang

Yeast

Belgian strain Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces bruxellensiss

Barrels

French Oak

Fruit

Grenache Grapes from Le Doubblé Troubblé Wine Co

History

Saison is a style of beer that originated in Wallonia, southern Belgium. It is a farmhouse ale, meaning that it was traditionally brewed on farms for the farmers and their seasonal workers. The name "saison" means "season" in French, and the beer was typically brewed in winter and conditioned in time for the summer harvest season.

Saison beers are high in carbonation and have a dry finish. They often have fruity and spicy aromas and flavor, typically from the high ester yeast, warmer fermentation temperatures, the addition of herbs and spices, and secondary microbes such as brettanomyces.

Saisons are thought to have been brewed in Belgium for centuries, but they were first mentioned in the early 19th century. In the late 19th century, industrial breweries began to produce saison beers, and the style became more popular throughout Belgium.

In the mid-20th century, saison beers began to decline in popularity, due in part to the rise of lager beers. However, in the late 20th century, there was a revival of interest in saison beers, driven by the American craft beer scene, and the style is now gaining popularity again.

The addition of fruit to saison beer is thought to be a relatively new process, attributed to modern craft breweries.  Hybrid beers, like a saison brewed with grapes, are often referred to as Oenobeers.

To craft pFriem’s Vinifera Saison, we embraced the farmhouse concept by utilizing only local grown ingredients, and working with Le Doubblé Troubblé Wine Co, a Gorge winery located outside of Lyle, WA. We joined them on the crush pad for a day of de-stemming some beautiful Grenache grapes, picked intentionally to promote acid for a rose style wine. We then transported the grapes back to the brewery where they were combined with a rustic barrel aged saison, to ferment out completely for a crisp, dry finish. Bottle conditioned as always.

Tasting Notes

Pours a light and vibrant shade of cherry blossom pink, under a bright white cap of foam, with champagne like effervescence. Opens with vibrant aromas of fresh wild strawberries, grapefruit, watermelon, and a hint of peach. These ripe aromas carry over to the palate and are accented by notes of fresh florals, mint, and minerality. Finishes soft and dry with tart cherry on the tongue.

Food Pairings

Sourdough bread with EVOO, salty tinned fish, soft cheeses like camembert and brie, deviled eggs, smoked salmon.