We’re heralding the arrival of warmer, sunnier months by welcoming back Stone Saison for its second year. Starting Monday, June 1, our modern take on a Belgian classic will begin sprouting up in six-packs and on draft at retailers, bars and restaurants.
Keep in mind that this is no ordinary saison—of course not, because it's ours. And, no, that doesn’t mean our normally hop-obsessed brewers loaded it up with humulus lupulus. With this beer, we celebrate our flavor-rich sense of place. Fertile Southern California fields, including our own at Stone Farms, produced the lemon zest, grains of paradise, lemon thyme, lavender and small dose of peppers that give Stone Saison its citrus and floral character and subtle, tantalizing spice.
For the beer’s 2015 edition, we’ve changed the proportions of these ingredients, allowing each to shine through without overpowering one another. This thoughtfully gratifying liquid bounty will be available from these final weeks of spring through summer.
ESCONDIDO, CA (June 1, 2015) – Stone Brewing Co. is reintroducing its take on a traditional Belgian farmhouse ale, using Southern California ingredients grown on its 19-acre farm. Stone Saison is brewed with lemon zest, grains of paradise, lemon thyme, lavender and a small dose of habanero peppers, making it the quintessential refresher for the warm-weather months. Starting today, the beer returns in 12-ounce six-packs and on draft to retailers, restaurants and bars in markets where Stone beers are sold.
“Before we began brewing batches of this year’s release, we looked at a few ways to slightly improve on last year’s recipe for Stone Saison,” said Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “The herbs and spices remain the same, but we adjusted the proportions to create a refined combination highlighting each ingredient while offering a perfectly balanced flavor profile overall.”
Grown at the craft beer company’s Stone Farms, lemon thyme and lavender contribute floral, citrusy aromas and flavors, while lemon zest and grains of paradise add vibrant grapefruit and white pepper notes that mingle with restrained, earthy heat brought on by habanero peppers. These homegrown specialty edibles balance exceptionally well with the subtle banana and clove qualities courtesy of Stone’s house strain of Belgian yeast. The resulting beer finishes with a crisp, dry and refreshing mix of spices, red apple and a hint of heat.
Stone Saison will be available in limited quantities through the warm and sunny season. The beer’s citrusy, floral and spice qualities will shine through all summer long.
Stone Saison Quick Facts
Name: Stone Saison
URL: Stonebrewing.com/saison
Stats: 6% ABV, 35 IBUs
Availability: Limited 12-ounce bottles in six-packs and draft, beginning June 1
Hops Bill: Perle and Aramis
National Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA and Puerto Rico
International Distribution: Australia; Alberta and British Columbia, Canada; Japan; Singapore; and United Kingdom
Find Beer: find.stonebrewing.com
Tasting notes, provided by Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele
Appearance: Pours a golden color with a creamy white head and a touch of haze.
Aroma: Great blend of floral (lavender and rose), peppery, citrus and herbal, plus nice Belgian yeast-derived spice and (mostly) banana notes, and hints of continental pilsner malt flavor.
Taste: The taste follows the same path as the aroma, with the addition of a glint of heat in the finish from habanero peppers.
Palate: Very dry and crisp, with a touch of heat on the finish.
Overall: We made some minor changes to the beer this year, using German pilsner malt to increase the malt flavors. Additionally, we adjusted the proportions of lavender, lemon thyme, grains of paradise, lemon peel and habanero peppers to provide a great blend showcasing each ingredient within the overall balance of the beer.
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