Chicagoist's Beer Of The Week: Solemn Oath-Perennial's Pat
By Jason Baldacci in Food on Jun 20, 2014 8:30PM
When summer hits we find our intake of pilsners, wheat beers and pale ales increases significantly compared to what we drink during colder parts of the year. This week, we came across something from the other side of the spectrum that still feels very appropriate for June.
Pat is dark saison that was a collaboration between the guys at Solemn Oath Brewery of Naperville, Ill. and Perennial Artisan Ales of St. Louis, MO. It's brewed with rye malt, which adds a nice spicy character, along with a touch of earthiness both on the nose and on the palate. It pours a deep brown in the glass with slightly tan foam to top it off. That spicy rye definitely drives this beer, but there's a hint of tangy funk from the saison yeast and an underlying fruitiness that made us think of blueberries. We also picked up a bit of smokey caramelization. While there is a dose of richness that hits right up front, Pat finishes bone dry. Our favorite thing about this beer is its texture. It's super velvety, soft and lacy, with tight carbonation to make it seductively easy to drink. At 7.8 percent alcohol content this one could put a nice spin into a summer afternoon.
Saisons are known for being very food friendly and while a darker saison does steer your pairings in a more specific direction than a blond one, Pat could still be very complimentary to a lot of different things. The caramelized malts are going to make this beer stand up incredibly well to most things that come off of a grill, whether it's burgers, steaks or pork chops. The spiciness of the rye isn't going to hurt either. We could see this doing very well with a slab of ribs, whether they're doused in a tangy, smoky sauce or a dry rub. Don't rule out dessert either, especially if you're opting for anything with bittersweet, dark chocolate. If you're not hungry, don't fret—Pat will do just fine on its own.
Like most of Solemn Oath's beers, Pat is a limited release, and only available on draft. Check beermenus.com to see where you can sip on some this weekend.