Saison D’Avon is an incredibly satisfying beer name to say out loud. Especially with a thick, borderline offensive French accent.
Unfortunately, this activity is more satisfying than the beer itself. A Belgian style ale with a pilsner malt and a variety of hops all combine to almost cancel each other out, leaving a reasonable beer that’s not awful, but isn’t as good as expected either.
It’s a malt-forward taste which, being pilsner malt, is very crisp and refreshing, but then the flavours just get a little muddled.
It’s quite a heavy-bodied beer which is nice in the mouth, but without the strong flavours to back it up it just tastes a little flat.
There’s definitely something fruity there though, but not the kind of tropical flavours that often combine with saison beers, it’s a more subtle, earthy fruitiness that leaves you wondering what it is.
The can is a delight, featuring a jungle wrap-around scene with the Lost and Grounded winged hippo bounding across a rickety rope bridge.
The vibrant green of the foliage combines with the light orange of the sky and the grey of the mountain to create a lovely contrast that’s a joy to look at.
Honest Brew members can get a 330ml bottle for £2.50, but if you go to Beer Hawk you can get a 440ml can for £2.59.
All depends on whether you’re a can or bottle kind drinker, I guess.
