Boulevard Smokestack Series Tank 7
Alberta has finally received Kansas City, Missouri’s Boulevard Brewing. Known to many as being one of the dustbowl’s best maker of fine ales Boulevard hit shelves this past week. I had personally never tried anything from Boulevard’s vast catalog so what better place to start than with a saison. Tank 7 is a Belgian saison style brew with a heavy 8.5% ABV and is brewed with Magnum, Bravo and Amarillo hops. Unlike the traditional saison beers of Belgium which are brewed with home grown Saaz, Goldings and often Challenger hops Tank 7 should have a more American hop presence.
Tank 7 pours an effervescent golden straw colour with a thick puffed up white head. The head subsides slowly leaving tons of lacing blotches on the glass. The body appears to be extremely carbonated with a steady stream of bubbles cascading towards the surface. At first glance the nose is subtle but complex with layers of spicy hop and ester notes, citrus fruits, musty barnyard notes and light toasted wheat malts. Crisp and clean first sip with a nice effective coriander and spice blend on the finish. The mid palate is refined and fruity with notes of pear, lemon rind and grapefruit. Crisp toasted wheat and bready malts make up a malty backbone. The esters are really the star of the show with tons of fruity and spiced notes working well with the citrus hops. On the finish a moderate bitterness helps keep it true to style with a lingering spice and saison yeast aftertaste. A truly exquisite saison!
Grade: 93/100
The latest American microbrewery to hit the off license shelves of Alberta’s better stores is Krebs, Oklahoma’s Prairie Artisan Ales. Prairie Ales is a self-described Gypsy brewer started by two brothers with a love for great beers. Over the past few years they have cultivated a reputation of brewing unique and interesting beers including a variety of saisons. Prairie Ale is one of their flagships brews and is a 7% ABV Saison style ale brewed with Brettanomyces and single hopped with Saaz hops. Pouring orange a bright golden orange colour the body is quite cloudy with a bit of yeast sediment in the glass. There is a strong stream of carbonation leading to the thick head of pure white that coats the glass entirely. The aroma is crisp and floral with subtle farmhouse and brett notes. Light and fresh fruit aromas of pineapple, lemon zest and orange rind blend well with the floral and spicy Saaz hops. Toasted wheat malts in the mid palate with light caramel or honey sweetness. Quite fruity and floral with tons of estery and yeast based flavours. A few light spice notes of coriander and cracked black pepper are included with the esters. The farmhouse notes are more subtle and balanced then some Saisons with a crisp and lightly bitter finish. The mouthfeel is medium to heavy with a rather effervescent amount of carbonation. Overall a crisp and smooth saison that is very much on cue sylistically with a superb balance. 
The newest beer from Dieu du Ciel! to arrive in Alberta is Isseki Nicho an Imperial Dark Saison a style which has started to slowly develop in the craft beer community. Dark Saisons from breweries such as Stillwater, Widmer and Upright have all been recently released. Isseki Nicho is a collaboration project between Dieu du Ciel! and Shiga Kogen a Japanese sake producer. Isseki Nicho is described as having a grain bill of an Imperial Stout with a saison twist. At 9.5% ABV this brew is certainly a heavy hitter in the class on an Imperial Stout. 
The legendary brewery from Shawinigan, Quebec has finally started to ship their beer in quantity to Alberta and one of the first to arrive is a saison known as du Tracteur. Brewed to 6% ABV with traditional farmhouse style saison yeast.
mostly unnoticed in the whole flavour profile with overbearing citrus fruits and spices.There is a full flavoured traditional saison style yeast and ester flavour throughout with mild spices and definite funky farmhouse flavours. The finish is tart and a bit bitter with lingering citrus fruit notes and mildly bitter grassy hops. A well combined, complex saison with one hell of a flavour. Overall this is one of the best non-Belgian saisons I’ve been privileged to try with a solid traditional yeast flavour and aroma as well as a tasty fruity taste.
The Alberta BeerSmith 