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Saison

Four Winds Brewing Co.
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🌍 Canada · Saison · One of 54 Saisons in hopIQ

One of the brewery's original beers, brought back more than once and now labelled Original Saison. It is brewed with noble hops, finished with Cascade from the Pacific Northwest and fermented warm to build a fruity ester profile. Four Winds lists 5.5% and 30 IBU and describes it as dry and cherry-like. It is sold in 355 ml six-packs.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
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
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 trim frame with a clean break — the beer says what it needs to and moves on.

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

AI-generated sensory profile for Saison

Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and lively carbonation. The head forms quickly and clings persistently to the glass walls, leaving distinct lacing as it recedes. The overall presentation is clean and inviting, characteristic of a well-conditioned ale.

pale goldenclearpersistent head lacinglively carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with fruity esters—ripe stone fruits and gentle cherry notes—layered beneath a refined noble-hop character. Cascade hops add a subtle citrus and floral lift without dominating. A faint spicy phenol from warm fermentation rounds out the aromatic profile, creating complexity without overwhelming intensity.

ripe stone fruitnoble hopscitrus liftsubtle spice

Taste

The palate leads with bright berry and cherry fruit, followed by crisp, dry development across the mid-palate. Noble-hop bitterness integrates cleanly at 30 IBU, providing structure without harshness. The finish is notably dry and clean, allowing fruity esters and a whisper of noble-hop character to linger without residual sweetness.

cherry-forwarddry palateintegrated bitternessnoble-hop structure

Finish

The finish is short to medium, clean and refreshing. A faint yeasty spice fades quickly, leaving only dry fruit notes and a subtle hop impression on the aftertaste.

clean finishdry aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Saison

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

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 fruity, dry, noble-hop character as Saison 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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