Crooked Stave built its reputation on 100% Brettanomyces fermentation, an unusual approach that gives its beers a lighter, more elegant sourness than the heavier barrel-aged sours common elsewhere. Surette Provision Saison is its best-known release, blending the funky complexity of a wild ale with the dry, spicy character of a Belgian farmhouse saison.
Crooked Stave Surette Provision Saison at a glance
| Style | Farmhouse ale / Brett saison |
| ABV | 6.2% |
| Calories | Around 175 per 12 fl oz |
| Origin | Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Ingredients | Saison malt bill, Brettanomyces, aged in oak barrels |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Gluten free | No, contains barley |
| Typical price | Around $10 to $15 for a 375ml bottle |
How it tastes, by the numbers
Surette is lighter and more citrus-driven than most barrel-aged American sours, closer to a dry sparkling farmhouse ale.
The full review
It pours a slightly hazy golden colour with a soft, pillowy white head that holds up well through the glass. The aroma is a striking mix of citrusy orange Brettanomyces character and assertive sourness, with malt, hops and peppery phenolics from the saison yeast taking a back seat to the Brett and tartness.
The palate delivers a lovely balance where the sourness never overshadows pleasant citrus and green apple notes. It is light, crisp and dry, with a long finish that carries lemon zest, pineapple and a touch of oak from barrel ageing.
This is 100% Brett fermentation done right: elegant rather than aggressive, closer to a dry sparkling wine than a heavy barrel-aged sour, and one of the more distinctive styles on this list precisely because it splits the difference between saison and wild ale.
A saison and a wild ale merged into one beer, and neither half loses out to the other.
- Distinctive Brett-forward house style unlike most barrel-aged American sours
- Light, dry and crisp rather than heavy or syrupy
- Consistently well-regarded flagship release
- Regional distribution centred on Colorado and nearby markets
- Some drinkers may want more sourness given the saison base is fairly dry already
- Batch variation typical of barrel-aged, mixed-culture beers
Who it is for
Farmhouse ale and saison fans curious about a wild, Brett-forward take on the style, and sour beer drinkers who want something lighter and more citrus-driven than a typical barrel-aged sour.
Crooked Stave Surette Provision Saison FAQs
What does Crooked Stave Surette taste like?
Citrusy orange Brettanomyces character with assertive sourness, green apple and lemon zest, and a light, crisp, dry finish with a touch of oak.
How strong is Crooked Stave Surette?
6.2% ABV.
What makes Crooked Stave’s beers unusual?
The brewery uses 100% Brettanomyces fermentation rather than the more common combination with brewer’s yeast, giving its beers a lighter, more elegant funk than many barrel-aged sours.
Is Crooked Stave Surette gluten free?
No, it is brewed with a barley-based saison malt bill.
Is Surette a saison or a sour beer?
It is best described as a hybrid: a farmhouse saison fermented entirely with Brettanomyces and aged in oak, giving it characteristics of both styles.
Where is Crooked Stave brewed?
In Denver, Colorado, at Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project.
Where to find it
Available at the brewery’s Denver taproom and through craft beer retailers in Colorado and nearby states; more limited outside the region.
The verdict
Crooked Stave Surette Provision Saison is a distinctive, well-balanced hybrid of saison and wild ale that earns its cult following. A confident four point three out of five.
