Style: Saisons

• Saisons are sometimes called Farmhouse Ales as they originated on the farms of French speaking Wallonia in Belgium ("saison" being the French word for season). Saisons were brewed on the farms to refresh the workers there. Historically, they were very low in alcohol (around 3.5% abv) in order that the workers be able to finish the day's labor.
  
  Saisons sprang up around Wallonia in many forms, so the original Saison "style" was extremely varied in flavor and ingredients. Farmers brewed Saisons with the ingredients that were readily available to them at the time. More recently, Saisons have become very strongly associated with the Saison brewed at the Brasserie Dupont in Tourpes, Belgium who's "Saison Dupunt" is often considered to be the modern defining beer of the style.
  
  Saisons are brewed with barley malt, though wheat is sometimes used in addition. Spices, seasonings and adjuncts like honey and sugar can also be used in Saisons, though no one ingredient is common to all Saisons. Saisons can also be some of the "hoppiest" of the Belgian beers and are usually markedly bitter.
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