December 24th, 2013
Beer Advent Calendar – Day 23: Saison Noel presented by Benjamin Moore
@ActiveBeerGeek @OxbowBeer
To celebrate the Holiday Season, 2Beerguys.com and Seacoastbeveragelab.com have teamed up with beer bloggers around the country to host the third annual beer bloggers advent calendar. This is the season of sharing and we intend to share our love of beer with you. 31 Bloggers Blogging – click here for the running list of beers/bloggers.
Let’s see who is spreading holiday cheer today!
Blogger: Benjamin Moore
Blog Name: Active Beer Geek – Activebeergeek.com
Twitter/Facebook/Untappd: @ActiveBeerGeek
Beer: Saison Noel
Brewery: Oxbow Brewing Company, Oxbowbeer.com
Beer Details:
- Style: Saison-style Christmas ale
- ABV: 9%
Commercial Description:
Tis a wheat based saison-style Christmas Ale.
Why I selected Saison Noel:
Available only on tap in Maine at the brewery & local bars Scoring 89 on Beer Advocate and 78 on Rate Beer respectively. This bee was my first winter beer that I fell in love with. There aren’t many saison-style winter seasonal beers out there so there isn’t much to compare Saison Noel to. It’s a nice medium bodied complex saison. Nice malt backbone with spices mixed in. It smells slightly funky with hints of cherry. Overall Saison Noel is super drinkable.
The beer itself is 50% wheat beer. Tim Adams, owner and co-founder of Oxbow Brewing Company explained to me the important brewing process involved in the Saison Noel.
They brew this beer in October to have it publicly out by the first week in December.
During the brewing process all the brewers have to wear santa outfits and all the brewers helpers have to wear elf costumes – it’s mandatory, in October… When I asked Tim if he was kidding he looked at me with a very serious face and answered, “Oh, I’m serious.”
In general Oxbow represents Maine very well; the credo for the brewery is “loud beer from a quiet place”. That is what Maine represents: well made products that speak for themselves and this craft beer is no different. Unfortunately Saison Noel is a tap-only
beer that is only available in Maine. So take a drive up to Vacationland and give it a try.
About Active Beer Geek:
Your Source for Craft Beer & Fitness.
For more information, please visit: http://www.Activebeergeek.com
About Oxbow Brewing Company:
Oxbow is an American Farmhouse Brewery specializing in traditional Belgian-style ales with contemporary American influence. We brew small batches of beer in a renovated barn in rural Newcastle, Maine.
For more information, please visit: http://www.Oxbowbeer.com/
