A beautiful beer with a beautifully designed label, there’s something for everyone to appreciate with this brew.
It’s got a lovely story behind it, too.
Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis, Missouri was founded in 2011 by husband and wife team, Phil and Emily Wymore.
Focusing on Belgian-style brews, one of their first releases was Saison de Lis, a saison brewed with chamomile flowers.
Initially, this beer tastes like a typical saison, light grainy sweetness from the malt with layers of fruit and spice from the yeast esters and phenols. The addition of chamomile adds a delicate floral touch that softens and calms, like a sip from a mug of chamomile tea.
This was the first beer I tried from Perennial beer and I have to say it got me hooked.
I was introduced to it by friends who brought it to a beer tasting party I hosted (thanks again Catherine and Joe!), and after we all voted for our favorites of the evening, Saison de Lis came out as the clear winner.
Having met a brewer from Perennial at a meet the brewers dinner in NYC and been inspired to grab three of my girlfriends and fly down to St. Louis for my birthday later that year to visit Perennial Artisan Ales in person, I was particularly excited to find out the story behind the name of this beer to share it with you all here.
I asked Jonathan Moxey, one of Perennial’s brewers, for the story, and beautifully, this beer is named after Phil and Emily Wymore’s daughter, Lily.
Lily’s Saison, or Saison de Lis, shows just how much of a family affair Perennial Artisan Ales truly is.
As are many breweries around the country.
To me, it’s a reminder that craft beer is so much more than just a beverage. Through our purchases, recommendations to friends, and visits to our favorite breweries, we’re supporting people’s livelihoods, supporting people’s families.
Many craft beer drinkers are brand-neutral, we’re seeking the new and the next, often not committed to any one brewery in particular. But if you’ve found a beer or a brewery you love, remember to revisit it.
Support the people that make the products you care about, so they, in turn, can support the people they care about.
And if saisons aren’t your thing, don’t worry – Perennial brews with the “adventurous craft beer drinker” in mind, so they have plenty of options for you!
Image source: Thumbnail, Full size by Natalya Watson
Watson's Corner 