Farmhouse Ales

Farmhouse Ales have been brought to life in American brewing but this style of beer goes much farther back. The name farmhouse ale comes from the type of beers that were brewed on farms. Farmers would throw whatever grain and other ingredients they had on hand in a batch of beer.

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Another name for the farmhouse ale is saison which means seasonal. During the hot summer months, workers needed to hydrate and since clean water was so scarce beer was used to satisfy their thirst. Many of the batches of beer were made with low alcohol content so the workers could drink it without getting too drunk.

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Though farmhouse ales are no longer brewed on farms the principle behind this type of beer is still alive. Each farmhouse ale varies from brewery to brewery and they are each experimenting with something new and different. The first farmhouse ale I tasted was not my favorite but as I continued to appreciate the style of beer and to try more, I became a fan.

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Farmhouse ales are typically fruity but also can be somewhat tart and/or dry. Many contain spices and overall there are earthy tones from the Belgian yeast used. Tank 7 by Boulevard Brewing (Kansas City, MO) is a farmhouse ale I really enjoy. It comes in 4-packs and bombers. It is a little more expensive but it is so delicious!

Due to the complexity of the spices and flavors in farmhouse ales, and specifically the Tank 7, they are great paired with food. It is always fun to see what flavors can be pulled out of the beer when eating it with certain foods 🙂

Boulevard Food Pairings: Herb-roasted Chicken, Pork, and Taleggio Cheese

Music For Your Ears:

~Time of the Season by The Zombies

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Elevation Beer Co.

Elevation Beer Co.

Funkwerks Saison

Funkwerks Saison