Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Emmett's Brewing Co. Saison

Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist

Earlier this week we wrote about Emmett's Brewing Co. and that it's now distributing their beers to the greater Chicago area. We attended a launch party for Emmett's at Chuck's Southern Comforts Café in Burbank, where they were pouring all three regular Emmett's selections on draft and offered a preview of their upcoming saison, which is due to hit tap handles across the area within a couple of weeks. It may be rolled out to accounts sooner, as Emmett's distributor is running low on the Black IPA.

Get your hands on a glass or two of this draft-only saison, which is easily the most accessible version of the style available since New Holland's Golden Cap. It's brewed with two-row and a touch of wheat malt, which gives it a light body. There's some serious citrus happening with this beer. Brewmaster Ryan Clooney explained that it was spiced with lemon peel, Grains of Paradise and ginger, which does a fine job of masking the earthier tones of the saison yeast. The end result is a saison with the body, characteristics and alcohol content (7 percent ABV) expected of the style, but it drinks like a session ale. Before you know it, you'll have downed three glasses and wondered where the beer went.