Field Ales Saison : Background
Field Ales Saison, also called Field Countryside Ale, is a 6.0% ABV saison from Field Ales in Nagano. It’s one of their regular beers, although the recipe appears to vary between batches though this batch was brewed with Cascade grown locally by a hop farmer in Nagano’s Nagawa area, alongside the European hop base. Finally, Field Ales Saison is bottle conditioned, so best store it in a cool, dark place to make sure you don’t end up with a potential bottle bomb – more about that later in this review, but you can probably guess what happened when I tried to open it.
At A Glance
- ABV : 6%
- Style : Saison
- Hops : Cascade
- Adjuncts : –
- IBU : –
Sale Information
- Availability : Regular
- On Sale : From
- Size : 530 ml
Field Ales Saison : Appearance, Aroma, and Taste
Field Ales Saison poured a pale golden colour with a slight haze, topped by a white, frothy head. The carbonation was fairly lively, with a steady stream of bubbles keeping the beer looking bright in the glass. The head held reasonably well, leaving a little lacing around the sides as the beer was drunk. However, the second glass was much lively than the second, and I suspect that pouring into the first beer was not a good idea as the carbonation caused a massive swell up inside of the glass.
The aroma was classic saison territory, with a mixture of fruity yeast character, light citrus and a gentle spicy, herbal note. There was a noticeable hop presence, although it wasn’t particularly aggressive. The locally grown Cascade brought some extra citrus character to the beer, sitting alongside the more traditional European hop character rather than dominating it – a slight citrus twang being noted as the beer warmed up. Underneath it all was also a slightly earthy, rustic quality that fitted the farmhouse style nicely.
The first sip brought a fairly dry, crisp saison character, with a light fruity sweetness quickly giving way to spice and bitterness. The yeast provided some gentle fruit and peppery notes, while the hops added citrus and a firm but clean bitterness. The carbonation was lively without being excessive, helping to keep the beer refreshing and making the relatively modest 6% ABV surprisingly easy to drink. The body was fairly light, with the dryness becoming more noticeable towards the finish. There’s a lingering bitterness that hangs around for a while, encouraging another sip, another glass, and maybe even another bottle.
Field Ales Saison : The Bottom Line
Overall, Field Ales Saison is a nicely balanced farmhouse-style beer that leans towards the dry and bitter end of the saison spectrum, and is perfect for sharing with someone.
Field Ales Saison : Where to Buy
It can be bought online at the following places:
