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Benno

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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
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicycitrusytropical
spicy
citrusy
tropical
herbal
yeasty
mineral
Aroma
The nose unfolds with bright citrus and tropical fruit notes—mandarin and apricot jam—layered over a subtle mineral slate character.
also:honey,floral,dark fruit
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

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
Serve at 6–9°C

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

Pint glass

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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Benno

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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.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Saison beers in hopIQ →New to Saison? Read our guide →Browse Austria beers →