     Saison (The Nils Oscar Company)
When you have exhausted the comparably small selection of interesting beers at the Swedish alcohol store Systembolaget you must search out the good stuff wherever you can. Case in point: this bottle of Nils Oscar Saison was found at the Post Museum here in Stockholm. Odd as it may be, you can get yourself some very fine Belgian - and Belgian style - beers at Treskillingen after perusing the stamp exhibits. Most of us, I imagine, would probably skip the museum altogether and opt to go straight for the excellent selection of over 80 beers that owners Anders and Kristina Öjling have available. They are two beer enthusiasts (Anders was wearing a La Chouffe hat) that, when I asked why a café at a postal museum served only Belgian beer, simply replied, "Because it is the best beer and because we run the place." Fair enough, it explained what I was doing there. Nils Oscar's Saison has become a rather elusive beer to find - and a pricy one. Only 4200 bottles were made available along with a limited number of kegs. I'd seen it in a couple of well stocked bars but this time I felt an obligation to finally try it. (Supplies are dwindling.) The back of the bottle tells a tale about the beer's development - which oddly began as an idea while on a trip to California. The brewers wanted to create an original beer using unique ingredients but still keeping to the saison/farmhouse style. If any brewery in Sweden could pull off such a brash an uncharacteristic beer, for this part of the world, it was Nils Oscar. They put together unrefined sugar from Mauritius with raisins, white pepper and thyme and created a truly interesting interpretation. And one that sold out very quickly. Pour - Very light palish-orange, almost like a cider. Some, but not much, carbonation and a pure white head. Aroma - Definitely Belgian, but restrained. Slightly peppery but mostly citric. More comes out after the first few sips and you really get the spices. Taste - The taste is at first subtle, if you are thinking Dupont and other saisons you won't find this as upfront. Has a bit of sweetness and an unmistakably woody finish. This I must put down as the thyme, and it adds a unique dry and slightly spicy aftertaste. Not an overpowering beer and not full of the bitterness one might expect. It's mellow and you have to put some effort into finding out just what is going on. (I never did find the raisins...) Nonetheless, it is a nice beer that with each sip brings out a bit more of the character. Overall - Worth a sampling if you come across it, especially if you have an interest in this brewery. Belgian saisons may bring more to the table but this is definitely a different take on the style. The inclusion of pepper and thyme give it a distinction and make it worth the experience. Not in your face and if you're planning on having a few bottles it may be best to start with this one. Note - The owners of Treskillingen both made mention of the difference between the bottle and the draft versions. Apparently the draft version has more of the pepper character which is a bit hard to place from the bottle. Having been originally tapped in June of 2009 kegged versions may be hard to find, but I was assured they exist somewhere... More information on the café's opening hours, beer list and booking private parties can be found on the website:www.treskillingen.se It is highly recommended but be advised that they have very limited opening hours, often closing at 4PM. Wednesdays being the exception, I believe, when they are open till 7PM.
Posted by Kelly Labels: Saisons/Farmhouse Ales, Swedish Beers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
