JP, I think you are blinded by love
. I think Brian had some good points about style and brewing philosophy, but almost all his arguments are overly simplistic, judgmental in nature, and not mindful of the fact that people have to start somewhere. We aren't automatically perfect when we start something new.
Brian's not the only guy who's favorite beer on the planet is Saison Dupont (actually I don't think he said that but I'm sure it's up there for him). If I had to say one beer that I love more than any other, I'd pick Saison Dupont in a heartbeat. But if I were o never try to brew anything in the saison family because it couldn't be that good, I would have never tried to brew a saison, and I never would have made the steps I've made as a brewer to produce a good one. Likewise, if I were to be offended by every bad attempt at a saison I've tried, I wouldn't be recognizing that some of the brewers just don't know enough about the style, or they just don't have the technical brewing skill yet. They might someday though. Actually instead of Brian saying he doesn't feel worthy of brewing a beer he can call a saison, I wish he would just do as much research as he can on what makes a good one, and then go for it. I'd certainly try it with an open mind.
This is at the heart of saison brewing: Belgian farmhouse brewers do not try to make what their neighbor is making. They try to make something they can call their own, but still fits in the style and spirit of farmhouse brewing. It's an incredible "style", or family of beers. I hope everyone here on the BN will go out and try to make some saisons, and start by doing some research, drinking great saisons and reading about how to brew them. Then, when you have a good fundamental knowledge of how to brew a saison, try to put your own mark on the style. Try to make something that is your own but at the same time clearly a wonderful, beautiful farmhouse ale. It's not magic. All the facts are out there to learn and anyone can do it well, with practice.
