Rustic

As with farmhouse ales, not every farmhouse cider is made on the farm. Yet the evocative word tends to accompany certain traits—and there’s plenty that should appeal to drinkers looking for old-fashioned flavors with a sense of place.

Whether they’re working in farmhouses or warehouses, today’s saison brewers are united in their pursuit of rustic character. While that goal is abstract, they achieve it via concrete choices about ingredients and process—and the ways to get there are as varied as the brewers and beers themselves.

"Black Cauldron is our take on Old World dark lagers," says brewery Cofounder Jake Miller. “Most of the beers we brew at Heirloom are steeped in tradition, but we also give ourselves the freedom to explore these older styles and methods with new eyes.”