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Saison Surprise

Brasserie Dunham
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🌍 Canada · Saison · One of 60 Saisons in hopIQ

A light saison brewed with lemon zest and lemon juice. The citrus is direct: bright peel oil up front, then a clean juice tartness cutting across the middle. Underneath, the farmhouse yeast adds pepper and a faint floral lift, while the pale grain stays thin and dry. Carbonation runs high and the body is slight, so the acidity reads refreshing rather than sour and the close comes quickly.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
See all Saison alternatives →
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 and dry.

A direct pour that closes clean — trim and sharp, working together to keep things moving.

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

AI-generated sensory profile for Saison Surprise

Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head. High carbonation is evident in the steady stream of bubbles rising through the glass, with good lacing that clings to the sides with each sip.

pale goldencrystal clearfine carbonationpersistent lace

Aroma

Lemon peel dominates the nose with bright, zesty citrus oil. Beneath the citrus lies a subtle floral character and black pepper spice from the farmhouse yeast, with a clean, dry undertone from the pale grain.

bright lemon peelcitrus oilpepper and floraldry grain

Taste

The palate opens with direct citrus—sharp lemon juice tartness cuts across the middle, followed by peppery yeast spice. The thin, dry body and high carbonation keep the acidity crisp and refreshing rather than sour, with the pale malt providing minimal sweetness or body.

tart lemon juicepeppery yeastdry and crisplight-bodied

Finish

Clean and quick, with lingering citric acidity and a faint peppery dryness. The carbonation amplifies the refreshing quality, leaving little residual sweetness or warmth.

quick finishlingering citrus aciditydry aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Saison Surprise

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 Saison Surprise

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 citrusy, tart, light character as Saison Surprise 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 Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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