The Negroni Saison: The Best of Both Worlds

Mr Beer Man

Snow, sleet and hail in London this week and the only thing to kick against the freak weather is to get into the ultimate collaboration of flavours delivered by Partizan Brewing and the Artesian Bar, the Negroni Saison. First thoughts: is this a myth, could this dreamy pairing really be true, did they do it just for me? No, it’s not myth, it’s out there, and no, they didn’t do it just for me, they did it for everybody, for the Campari mad citizens of London (and wherever lies beyond London).

Sure, this is a beer blog and while I’m not ashamed to shout about my appreciation of the wonder that is Campari this wouldn’t ordinarily be the place to do it, until now. Delivering a dry, fruity brew to seduce the mind into imagining the imminent arrival of weather more associated with the Italian aperitif, Partizan Brewing have done us dual beer and botanical fans a solid with the new Negroni Saison. And get this; it even pours red!

At a hardly insignificant 6.5% ABV, this is a beer that has more than its colour and flavour in common with its cocktail counterpart, i.e. it’s much stronger than it tastes. The botanicals are there in the cloudy, pink liquid and the taste is dry and fruity with berries and spice coming through in particular. Relatively flat, the colour, combined with the lack of fizz makes it a juice-like ale in looks. However, the depth of flavour makes it more than a one-off novelty beer. The sourness of the saison style is there and the lingering grapefruit notes leave a sweet, dry aftertaste, which more than justifies its Negroni title.

Worth buying? Definitely. Negroni fans will – and should - buy it for the fun of it but as a concept beer it works as more than just a novelty. And who can say no to a pink beer?

Buy it at Royal Mile Whiskies in Bloomsbury.

Posted Date
May 2, 2016 in Mr Beer Man by T.A.O