Smaller Bottles Mean Big Value for Funkwerks Fans

The saison style is everywhere these days, and now Colorado craft beer lovers have more options for enjoying two great versions from a notable Fort Collins brewery. In the past month, Funkwerks, Inc. began packaging its Tropic King Imperial Saison and its standard Saison in 4-packs of 330 ml, or 11.2 ounce, bottles. Both beers were previously available in 750 ml bottles only, and I applaud the move by Funkwerks to offer the smaller format.

When compared to a 22 ounce or 750 ml bottle for a higher-end beer, customers can almost always find value in smaller formats like 4-packs of that beer, if they exist. The cost per ounce is lower, sometimes substantially, and smaller bottles mean that the consumer can drink a smaller quantity in a sitting if they choose. Tropic King, a stronger and very complex imperial saison, is a particularly great value to have in 4-packs, much like the recently featured barley wine from Crazy Mountain Brewing Company that's also now available in this format.

Funkwerks was incorporated in 2009, and opened its taproom in late 2010. It specializes in versions of the saison style, and branches out from there to other intriguing Belgian styles. The saison style, also known as a farmhouse ale, originated in the Wallonia region of Belgium. It was brewed in the cooler months to be served to farm workers throughout the warmer months. Its popularity in Belgium dropped off for some time, but has resurged in recent decades, due in part to the boom of American craft beer culture.

I like to compare the rise in popularity of saisons to that of IPAs. Both are styles that leave a bit of leeway for different interpretations, so flavor profiles may vary widely. Like IPAs, many breweries have at least one different version of a saison, with varying strength and character. In short, beer drinkers love saisons, though for reasons other than why they love IPAs. Saisons are heavily hopped but lack a pronounced bitterness, and have substantial fruity flavors derived from the yeast. IPAs, though quite bitter, also deliver fruit flavors, but this is usually from the hop oils and components, and not as much from the yeast.

Tropic King is a wonderful example of a stronger, or imperial, saison. It pours a bright orange color with a big frothy white head of foam. In the nose, aromas of Belgian yeast, orange, melon, and a spicy, peppery character come through. The flavors that follow are an intricate blend of citrus and tropical fruits, pepper, and an appropriate amount of funk. Tropic King is a sturdy beer with a medium body, somewhat creamy mouthfeel, and a dry finish. The yeast strain used for fermentation works very well with all the beer's ingredients, creating delicious and complex esters and phenols. Like everything I've had from Funkwerks, Tropic King is a great Belgian-style ale that would give many Belgian imports a run for their money.