Saisons and stouts are some of our favourite beer styles to sip in the colder winter months. Saisons or farmhouse ales are typically highly carbonated, funky, fruity and/or spiced, while stouts feature a dark, roasted malt flavour and lower carbonation. Both styles leave a lot for craft brewers to get creative with seasonal offerings and barrel ageing techniques – making for some delicious winter sippers that are well worth exploring.
Download your Great Taste of Ontario passport and check out these amazing craft breweries for some delicious saisons and stouts!
1. Fixed Gear Brewing Co.
FOEDER RESERVE SERIES: BATCH NO. 4 STRAWBERRY SAISON
20 Alma St S, Guelph, ON
fixedgearbrewing.com
The 4th iteration in their series is aged for a year in a foeder barrel (a very large oak barrel), and blended with strawberries – creating an easy-drinking saison bursting with bright strawberry notes.
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2. Royal City
BORROWED TIME SAISON & HIBISCUS SAISON
199 Victoria Rd S, Guelph, ON
Borrowed time is a celebration of simplicity. This ode to traditional brewing techniques is as refreshing as it gets, with high carbonation and a low ABV. Their Hibiscus Saison brings some summer to your winter – it’s bright, floral, fruity and complex.
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3. FOUR FATHERS BREWING
HONEY BADGER FRENCH SAISON
125 Guelph Ave, Cambridge, ON
Made with their very own honey, this french saison offers a fresh, spicy profile with a touch of sweetness.
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4. Kingsville Brewery
BARREL AGED STOUT
15 Main St W, Kingsville, ON N9Y 1H2
kingsvillebrewery.com
This medium-bodied stout was actually the first beer the fine folks at Kingsville Brewery created – so you know it’s been refined to perfection. It’s exploding with dark roasted flavour notes and of course, the oaky-vanilla undertones that come from the barrel ageing process. It finishes with warm cocoa notes that make this a great holiday brew.
5. UPPER THAMES BREWING
DARK SIDE CHOCOLATE STOUT
225 Bysham Park Dr #9, Woodstock, ON
upperthamesbrewing.ca
This stout is aged on roasted dark cocoa nibs sourced from local chocolatier, Habitual Chocolate, creating a deliciously thick, roasty flavour highlighted by big dark chocolate notes. Pairs very well with a fireplace!
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6. FRANK BREWING CO.
SIMPLE MAN STOUT
12000 Tecumseh Rd E, Windsor, ON
frankbeer.ca
This old-fashioned stout recipe is a closely guarded secret – but it’s definitely got the roasted malt flavour we love. It even won a gold medal at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards for the oatmeal stout category!
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7. REFINED FOOL BREWING CO.
SHIRTLESS AT THE KREMLIN RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
137 Davis St, Sarnia, ON
refinedfool.com
This big, bold imperial stout is aged in bourbon barrels for 4 months – it’s sure to warm you up on a cold day with roasted coffee notes and a high 11.2% ABV.
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