Blackberry Farm Brewery | Brett Saison

Things happen. Life. Kiddos. Work. Travel. Next thing you know a beer you intended to write about finds its way to the back of the beer fridge and when you see that the beer in question won an award at the Great American Beer Festival that you remember it is there, waiting patiently.

The beer in question is the Brett Saison from Blackberry Farm Brewery. This particular Brett Saison has been aged in red wine barrels. The aforementioned award at GABF is from the wood and barrel aged beer category and out of 66 entries this beer took home the silver. How awesome is that?! Congrats Blackberry Farm Brewery!

This beer pours a wonderful golden color with a small head that lingers only for a moment. On the nose the brett character shines through, a touch of wood from the barrel and rich, deep stone fruit character – dark cherry perhaps. The beer is sweet on the palate, fruit – cherry, there is a richness to this flavor I cannot quite put my finger on. I want to attribute it to the wine barrel or the brett intertwining harmoniously with the barrel – it’s wonderful. The beer finishes dry, slightly tart as it draws you in quickly for the next sip.

Final snobs: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this beer was made here, I couldn’t be more proud of these guys. We are so fortunate to have such wonderful brewers here in East Tennessee and for this beer to be called out 2nd among 66 is a reflection of that. I’d gladly have this beer again and it’s certainly one I would point to as an excellent example of what the fine folks at Blackberry Farm Brewery can do. Well done. While this is a limited release there are still bottles to be found around the area.

Cheers!

Dig that glass? That’s a one off from the talented folks at Pretentious Glass Company. Check ’em out! The doors are now open next door at Pretentious Beer Company, if you needed another reason to head downtown.