Saison doesn't have quite the past of styles like bock or pale ale. Its origins were at the farm houses of southern Belgium. Saison was the beer brewed by households for their own consumption. It is a true "farm house" style beer.
This style shares a lot of similarities with the Bière de Garde style of France. Since there was no refrigeration back then, a saison had to be durable and refreshing - a characteristic we think you'll find in our own Rubus Idaeus.
It is still brewed as it always has been in small, artisanal breweries in southern Belgium. These quaint operations are often a high point for the growing beer tourism business in Belgium. But the real leap in growth of the style is in US based craft brewing.
So what the heck is the Smokehouse doing gettin' all fancy with the name?
fruit of Rubus Idaelus, aka the red raspberry
As it turns out, Rubus Idaeus is simply the botanical name for the red raspberry grown in Europe and parts of North America, including the Pacific Northwest. That's where we get our raspberries for this tasty, refreshing brew.
Now you know the rest of the story.
Barley's Rubus Idaeus
Style Guidelines: This is our first foray into the world of Belgian ales, and we've got a beauty for you. It is a saison that we've infused with fresh raspberries. We loosely call this style "fruit infused Belgian Saison."
Rotation Schedule: Since it's the first time we've brewed it, a rotation has not been established.
Food Pairings: Fine aged cheeses and artisan breads. The fruity and spicy notes can lift barbcue, while the spicy and peppery notes enhances hot and spicy foods.
Raspberry gives any of these foods an interesting twist. The only caution is that this beer will overbear more delicate foods.
Body: medium
Color: unfiltered raspberry / orange hue
Grain: British pale and wheat malts
Bittering Hops: Sterling
Finishing Hops: Sterling
Original Gravity: 1.053
IBUs (estimate): 10
Alcohol By Volume: 5.5-6.0%
First Tapped:
Barley's
Smokehouse & Brewpub Ale House No. 2xx
1130 Dublin Road Columbus OH 43215