On my recent trip to Colorado, one of the breweries I was most excited to visit was Crooked Stave in Denver. Since their founding in 2010, they’ve quickly garnered a reputation as one of America’s brightest new breweries creating innovative wild beers. Much like Portland’s The Commons and Hood River’s Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Crooked Stave’s focus revolves around Saisons.

Surette Provision Saison is the next step up from their low alcohol Vieille Artisan Saison. This beer would represent the traditional higher alcohol Saison brewed in the spring as the harvest worker’s beer. The higher alcohol would help the beer stay fresher longer.

Appearance: Lightly hazy, orange, beige head, good retention.

Aroma: Light, earthy funk, fruity undertones, grapefruit zest, nice funkiness.

Taste: Nice tartness, long finish, pineapple, lemon zest, touch of oak dryness, funky undertones.

Overall Impression: This beer, which surely has Brettanomyces influences, manages to be both funky and fresh. This is another well-crafted, excellent beer from Crooked Stave. If these make bad beer, I’ve yet to try it. The balance of flavors and characteristics make this beer very versatile for sipping and food pairing. Seriously good beer!

Food Pairing: Cured meats, fish, mushrooms. When pairing with food, treat this beer like Orval.

Availability: Colorado, New York, Arizona.

6.2% ABV

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