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Benno

Stift Engelszell
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🌍 Austria · Saison · One of 64 Saisons in hopIQ

Named after Abbot Benno Stumpf (1953–1966). 'The colours of a sunny autumn day in the Danube Valley.' Nose: mandarin, slate, tropical fruit, apricot jam, amaretto. Palate: citrus, yeast, cherry, white grape with a hint of mint. Long, dry, spicy, herbal finish with late grapefruit notes. Brewed with monastery honey and Alsatian Strissel Spalter hops.

ABV
6.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
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How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very crisp mouthfeel.

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Saison.
Hop character
herbal
tropical
floral
Distinctive notes
citrusy
spicy
dark fruit
mineral
Malt character
honey
Fermentation & yeast
yeasty
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Benno

Appearance

Benno presents a pale golden hue reminiscent of autumn sunlight in the Danube Valley. The beer displays excellent clarity with a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with delicate lacing. Carbonation is lively and well-integrated, suggesting a naturally conditioned finish.

pale goldenbright clarityfine head retentionlively carbonation

Aroma

The nose unfolds with bright citrus and tropical fruit notes—mandarin and apricot jam—layered over a subtle mineral slate character. Delicate yeast esters add complexity, while Alsatian Strissel Spalter hops contribute a refined herbal quality and whispers of amaretto. The monastery honey reads as a gentle backdrop rather than an overt sweetness.

mandarin, apricotmineral slateherbal hopsyeast esters

Taste

On the palate, citrus leads the entry, supported by crisp white grape and a touch of cherry. The yeast character is evident and clean, with a subtle minty note appearing mid-palate. The finish turns distinctly dry and spicy, with herbal complexity building toward a late grapefruit bite that extends the experience.

citrus-forwardcrisp white grapeclean yeastdry and spicy

Finish

The finish is long and dry, dominated by spicy and herbal notes that gradually reveal a tart grapefruit character. A mineral quality lingers pleasantly without astringency, leaving the palate refreshed and eager for the next sip.

long and drygrapefruit biteherbal spice
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
82
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Benno

Serve at 6–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–12°C. Saison is refreshing but complex — cold works, but slightly warmer shows its farmhouse character.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Farmhouse character is liveliest when the beer is relatively young.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Benno

About Saison

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Saison?

Saisons are Belgian farmhouse ales with 5–8% ABV and IBU 20–35. Spicy, fruity yeast — pepper, citrus, hay — with high carbonation and a dry refreshing finish.

Finding a similar Saison

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, citrusy, dry character as Benno will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Saisons in hopIQ

Explore all Saison beers in hopIQ →New to Saison? Read our guide →Browse Austria beers →