Top 5 Saisons

my favorites new ones from 2008, not including Sour Saisons.
all time favorites include Saison DuPont, Dupont's Foret, Ommengang's Hennepin and the Lagunitas Farmhouse.

Malheur Brut Reserve
This may have been the most I paid retail for a beer in 2008 ... was it worth it? A champagne style Saison, brut, bubbly and very dry. Slight earthy,noble hops and biscuit notes in the nose. Biscuit and slight hoppy earthiness up front, then with pear, apple and slight bubblegum esters throughout the middle. The finish ends dry, bitter, and delicious.

Goose Island Saison
A very bitter and fruity Saison. Spicy, earthy noble hops up front, with pepper and pear-apple flavors throughout the middle. Bitter, but not a super dry finish, slightly creamy and spicy.

Trinity Farm House
Rich, dark, limited edition Saison, slightly maltier than others with a lactic and creamy edge to the style, very farmhouse. Still, a peppery, hoppy and bubbly ale with nice complex notes of dried fruits, tobacco and caramel. Nice interpretation, since I generally prefer the hazy gold versions.

Boulevard Saison
Refreshing and zesty Saison. Quite hoppy and more American interpretation, lacking lots of the peppery and farmhouse aspects, rather focusing on the fruity pear-apple esters and lemony-citrus aspects. Light graininess and grassiness throughout, with a slight bitterness at the finish. Very enjoyable.

North Coast Jubilee
This was the Whole Foods 25th Anniversary I bought at their store over two years later. Although this technically isn't a new beer, since I tried it then, it has improved so vastly with age that I had to place it in here. This straw colored Saison has wonderful apple, pear and citrus flavors, and is slightly sweet but effervescent, so well balanced.
Unfortunately it has been replaced by a much less drinkable and balanced beer in their lineup, Le Merle. Perhaps I should cellar a bottle of le Merle for a year or two, but I've generally thought a Saison is truly an ale meant to be consumed fresh? Maybe not.