Saison Davenport

One of the most cleverly-named beers on the Toronto craft scene right now is Saison Davenport. Christened in honour of the legendary Saison Dupont—SD recognizes that its home brewery, Shacklands Brewing Co., is north of Dupont Street, but closer to Davenport.

The beer, which clocks in at 6.4% alcohol, came direct from the brewery in a 650mL bottle. The beer is a dull gold colour with reddish highlights under a fluffy off-white head. SD has a yeasty, fruity nose with notes of apple and Chardonnay. The flavour keeps up the white wine vibe. It’s dry, fruity, and a touch floral. Tying the whole thing together is a streak of convincing Belgian-style yeastiness.

I’m hot and cold on saisons, but a simple, well-made entry is a pretty agreeable beer, and that’s just what I got from Saison Davenport. Not over-complicated, but well-made and tasty. A bit more carbonated zip would have served the mouthfeel better.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.