For Monsieur Gainsbourg we are indulging in the farmhouse favorite, a saison! Although the beer means “season” in French, the beer is actually originally from Wallonia, a French-speaking region of Belgium. This article could have featured Kronenbourg 1664 beer or Biere de Garde, a harder-to-find French beer, Saisons are still somewhat hard to find but come in a vast array of flavors. Time to hop on your Harley Davidson or Ford Mustang, cue up the Serge, and head to your local craft beer store to find a few great saisons!
Initials S.G. and Saison Dupont
Saison Dupont is the poster beer for this style. Brewed in Belgium, this beer is easier to find than many on this list and a wonderful representation of this style. It has full flavor, but it’s not overpowering by any means. It’s a great place to start for the Saison novice since some may be more earthy or sour for some palettes. Initials S.G. is the best place to start for Serge since it is a compilation of his greatest hits.
Master Serie Vol. 1 and Kent Falls’ Field Beer
Digging into Gainsbourg’s catalog, Master Serie is a two-disc compilation of his songs. With some deeper cuts than Initials S.G., it is a further dig into the Gainsbourg catalog. Kent Falls’ Field Beer is also a further dig into this style. It is much dryer on the tongue than the first one but is still a great representation of this style. This is dry without being very earthy.
Master Serie Vol. 2 and Bruery Terreux’s Saison Rue
For the second volume, the Terreux is complementary to the Field Beer. Another dry Saison, this big bottled beer is earthy in flavor. The bouquet has fruited undertones, but the predominant tone is earthiness.
Comic Strip and Zero Gravity’s Apres Vous in Gin Barrels
Another fine collection of Gainsbourg’s songs, Comic Strip will please any Serge fan. The Apres Vous is aged in gin barrels and this flavor is at the forefront without being overpowering. This saison would be best for the gin fan, although not overpowering enough to be too intense.
Mick Harvey’s Intoxicated Man and Uinta’s Croggy Brett Saison
Former member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the Birthday Party, Mick Harvey travels solo on a few collections of Gainsbourg covers. Intoxicated Man is his first and in my opinion the best. Instead of songs in French, he translates the songs to English with help from fellow Bad Seed Anita Lane, who sings the parts of Serge’s female chanteuses Jane Birkin and Brigette Bardot. The Croggy Brett is another dry, earthy saison to pair with this disc.
Mick Harvey’s Pink Elephants and River Roost’s As Fate Would Have It (brewed in oak barrels with peaches)
His second collection of Gainsbourg songs sung in English is Pink Elephants. Almost as strong as the first volume, it has lesser-known songs than Intoxicated Man. River Roost’s As Fate Would Have It is a saison line that is aged in different fruit barrels. This saison is on the tarter side. It’s delicious and is a great representation of the more sour side of saisons or farmhouse-style beers.
For a trip through Serge Gainsbourg’s vast catalog, take a sip of these six Saisons (including two Mick Harvey covers). The smooth sounds of Serge are a perfect pair for these beers. Enjoy Serge Gainsbourg and a six-pack of Saison!
For more six-pack series check out: Traditional Folk Music, Heavy Metal and Kenny Rogers.
