Dogfish Head Saison du Buff 4Pk

Dogfish Head Saison du Buff 4Pk is a 6.8% ABV farmhouse saison brewed with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, sold as a four-pack. Born from a notable three-way collaboration between Dogfish Head, Stone Brewing, and Victory Brewing Company, it holds an 85 rating on BeerAdvocate across more than 1,680 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.8%  |  Origin: Milton, Delaware, USA  |  Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale  |  Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Production & Heritage

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, founded in 1995 in Milton, Delaware, has long built its reputation on boundary-pushing ingredient-driven beers. Saison du Buff originated as a shared recipe conceived among Dogfish Head, Stone Brewing Co. of Escondido, California, and Victory Brewing Company of Downingtown, Pennsylvania — the same recipe brewed at each facility, yielding three distinct interpretations. The Dogfish Head version is infused with a herbaceous blend of locally harvested sage, lemon thyme, rosemary, and parsley, then dry-hopped with Citra hops to layer citrus brightness over the saison's rustic backbone.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Grassy, yeasty farmhouse funk leads, followed by distinct herbal sage and rosemary. Underneath, lemon zest and a faint peachy sweetness emerge from the Citra dry-hopping.

Taste: The palate opens with wheaty, biscuit malt sweetness and touches of honey. Mid-palate, Belgian yeast funk and peppery saison spice take hold, while the herb quartet — sage most prominently — weaves through with earthy, vegetal depth. Hints of nutmeg and allspice linger alongside a citrusy brightness that keeps the herbal character in check.

Finish: Medium in length with a slightly oily, creamy mouthfeel that coats the tongue. Sage and lemon thyme persist, trailing off with dry, peppery warmth and a touch of acidic bite.

How to Drink Saison du Buff

Serve chilled in a tulip glass or wide-mouthed goblet to let the aromatic herbs fully express themselves; a slight warming toward cellar temperature brings out more of the yeast complexity. For cocktail-adjacent uses, try a Shandy mixed with fresh lemonade to amplify the citrus and herb interplay, a Beergarita where the sage and thyme complement lime and salt, or a Michelada where the peppery saison spice pairs naturally with tomato, hot sauce, and lime.

Best For

• Sharing among craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate experimental farmhouse ales
• Summer cookouts where herb-forward flavors complement grilled meats and vegetables
• Gifting to a homebrewer or collaboration-beer collector
• Pairing dinners exploring the intersection of culinary herbs and brewing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Saison du Buff taste like? It delivers wheaty malt sweetness and Belgian yeast funk layered with prominent sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley, balanced by Citra-hop citrus and dry, peppery saison spice.

How does Saison du Buff from Dogfish Head compare to the Stone Brewing version? Both use the same recipe, but reviewers on BeerAdvocate consistently note that Dogfish Head handles the herbal saison style more deftly, rating it at 85 versus Stone's 86, with the Dogfish Head version often praised for better integration of the herb blend with yeast character.

Is Saison du Buff good for sipping on its own? Yes — its moderate 6.8% ABV and complex herbal-spice profile make it a rewarding standalone sipper, especially when served in a tulip glass at cool cellar temperature.

Where is Saison du Buff made? The Dogfish Head version is brewed at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware, though the original collaboration recipe was first developed at Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, then replicated at each partner brewery.

What foods pair well with Saison du Buff? Herb-roasted chicken mirrors the beer's sage and thyme notes directly. Grilled lamb chops benefit from the peppery, earthy spice. Soft-ripened cheeses like Brie or Camembert complement the creamy mouthfeel. Fresh goat cheese salads echo the tangy, acidic edge. Mussels steamed in white wine align with the beer's Belgian farmhouse roots.

What sizes does Saison du Buff come in? It is commonly available as a four-pack of 12 oz units, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Saison du Buff worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft specialty ale — its three-brewery collaboration pedigree, use of locally harvested fresh herbs, and Citra dry-hopping place it above commodity saisons while remaining accessible within the broader farmhouse category.

Why Saison du Buff?

Few beers carry the provenance of a genuine three-brewery collaboration using a single shared recipe, and the Dogfish Head rendition is widely regarded as the most cohesive of the trio. The use of freshly picked, locally sourced parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme — not extracts or dried additions — gives the beer an aromatic authenticity that separates it from other herb-forward saisons. Citra dry-hopping adds a modern citrus dimension that prevents the herbal character from turning one-note. With an 85 on BeerAdvocate from nearly 1,700 ratings, it has earned consistent respect as a distinctive and well-executed farmhouse ale.