So this is one of those beers. You can’t really buy it. Except when you can. But not just anywhere. In fact, almost nowhere. Let me clarify: When you can buy it, generally it’s available in bottles at the brewery (Royal York and The Gardiner). And sometimes in limited quantities at bars. Sometimes. Particularly in summer (when Saisons were traditionally made for, and when they go down one thousand times better than anything light with citrus additions). After that preamble, let me briefly discuss the style saison, and this one in particular. So, saison: A Belgian inspired beer, it was traditionally made by farmers and their workers before the real heat of summer set in. They would make enough to cellar through the summer (when it was too hot to brew) and keep themselves satiated until they could brew again in the fall. As such, while saisons share some general characteristics, they actually vary fairly widely. And would have even more so way back when. Likely the one you’ve heard of (if you’ve heard of any) would be the famous Saison Dupont, a well earned benchmark for the style. Saisons, probably at least partially because of the generous room for interpretation, have become quite popular with North American brewers lately, and vary from fairly traditional Belgian-style incarnations that are flowery and a little spicy, to totally modern ones that are more akin to what we would call a Belgian IPA. But that’s the freedom that the style allows. Now this one specifically: Obviously I’ll discuss the profile of the beer in a moment, but you might be wondering about that name…. Well, Mike Lackey (one of Great Lakes brewers) has a friend named Miranda who tends bar at a well-respected craft beer place in the city. By all accounts, she’s a lovely woman, both in looks and spirit. And not a few patrons have fancied their luck. But apparently, they don’t have a chance…..
No Chance With Miranda Saison - Great Lakes Brewing
From a Project X 650ml bomber, No Chance With Miranda pours a hazy yellow hinting at brown in the centre. A bit of foamy head drops to a film after a few sips. Aroma is delicate flowers, citrus and a hint of spices – a bit of coriander and maybe a touch of pepper. There is also a spicy hop twang to the nose; I’m no hop expert, but it’s got a noble feel to it. Taste is classic saison: lemon, flowers, spicy Belgian yeast that hits at white pepper and more coriander, and a surprisingly delicate spicy hop finish. The hops aren’t particularly bitter, much more aromatic and refreshing. The body is medium-light that is creamy like a wheat beer, but with a prickly carbonation that gives the impression it was bottle fermented. As it would have been traditionally. A great example of the style; many textbook characteristics, but with some nice creative flairs. An excellent beer for the summer!
Despite our grey cold wet day today, we’re tapping casks of Saison all weekend at Castro’s Lounge. If you’re interested in trying a Saison and you find yourself in the east-end, pop by, we’re open 12pm-2am all weekend! No Chance With Miranda will likely be tapped tomorrow afternoon/evening. Right now there is Black Oak Marmalade Saison on line, and we also have a one-off from Amsterdam called Bon Bidi Saison to get into. Should be a fun (albeit wet) weekend!
About The Brewery
Independently owned by the Bulut family, we produce our beer as it was done hundreds of years ago by using an open fire, copper brew house built in Germany in the early 1900’s.
Our small-batch brewing process allows us to carefully blend only the finest all natural ingredients to produce our award-winning beers. Our water, hops, malts and yeast are selected from local producers and those afar on the basis of but one criteria; quality.
