Ravinia Flight of the Rooster 6Pk

Ravinia Flight of the Rooster 6Pk is a 7.5% ABV American saison from Ravinia Brewing Company in Illinois, sold as a six-pack. What sets this beer apart is its exclusive and generous use of Nelson Sauvin hops sourced from New Zealand's Sauvignon Blanc wine-growing regions, producing a saison with distinctly vinous, white-grape character rarely found in the style.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Illinois, USA  |  Style: Saison  |  Brewery: Ravinia Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Ravinia Brewing Company operates out of Illinois, drawing its name from the culturally rich Ravinia neighborhood. Flight of the Rooster is built on a traditional saison grain bill that incorporates wheat alongside standard brewing grains, then fermented with a classic saison yeast strain that contributes the style's hallmark peppery, dry profile. The defining production choice is what brewer Grant Thompson describes as an "irresponsible amount of Nelson Sauvin hops"—a single-hop approach using the prized New Zealand varietal known for imparting Sauvignon Blanc-like grape, gooseberry, and tropical fruit aromatics that blur the line between beer and wine.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pronounced white grape leaps from the glass first, followed by layers of tropical fruit, crushed white pepper, and a subtle wine-yeast funkiness. The Nelson Sauvin hops dominate the nose with an unmistakable vinous quality.

Taste: The entry is soft and malt-sweet, giving way quickly to a creamy, silky mid-palate that carries big white grape and gooseberry hop flavors. Wheat provides body without heaviness, while the saison yeast adds dry, spicy complexity that keeps the sweetness in check. The overall impression tilts decidedly toward dry, almost sparkling wine territory.

Finish: Dry and champagne-like, with a clean, crisp snap that lingers with faint white pepper and residual grape skin bitterness. The finish is moderately long and encourages another sip, leaving the palate refreshed rather than coated.

How to Drink Flight of the Rooster

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-bowled wine glass at around 45–50°F to let the aromatic hop character fully open up. This saison drinks beautifully on its own, but its wine-like profile also makes it a natural stand-in for white wine in food-pairing contexts.

• Saison Shandy: Mix with fresh lemonade and a sprig of thyme—the grape and citrus notes play off each other naturally.
• Beer Mimosa: Blend with a splash of orange juice for a brunch serve that leverages the champagne-dry finish.
• Farmhouse Spritz: Serve over ice with a dash of elderflower liqueur and a grapefruit twist to amplify the tropical, floral hop character.

Best For

• Introducing wine drinkers to craft beer through its Sauvignon Blanc-like hop profile
• Summer barbecues and outdoor gatherings where a dry, refreshing higher-ABV beer shines
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates single-hop experiments
• Pairing dinners exploring the overlap between farmhouse ale and white wine

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Flight of the Rooster taste like? Flight of the Rooster delivers prominent white grape and gooseberry hop flavors supported by a creamy, silky mouthfeel and a dry, champagne-like finish. Wheat, white pepper, and subtle saison yeast funk round out a complex but highly drinkable profile.

How does Flight of the Rooster compare to Saison Dupont? Saison Dupont is widely regarded as the benchmark Belgian farmhouse ale, emphasizing yeast-driven pepper, citrus, and earthy notes at 6.5% ABV. Flight of the Rooster runs higher at 7.5% ABV and pivots the focus toward hop-driven white grape and tropical fruit character courtesy of its exclusive Nelson Sauvin hopping, making it noticeably more vinous and fruit-forward than the Belgian classic.

Is Flight of the Rooster good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—the dry, layered profile and 7.5% ABV make it a rewarding standalone sipper, especially when served slightly chilled in a tulip glass to highlight the aromatic Nelson Sauvin hops.

Where is Flight of the Rooster made? Flight of the Rooster is brewed by Ravinia Brewing Company in Illinois, USA. The Nelson Sauvin hops used in the recipe are sourced from hop farms in New Zealand's wine-growing regions.

What foods pair well with Flight of the Rooster? Grilled shrimp or lobster tails complement the wine-like grape notes. Soft-ripened cheeses such as Brie or Camembert echo the creamy mouthfeel. Fresh goat cheese salads with citrus vinaigrette mirror the dry, peppery finish. Thai green curry balances nicely against the tropical hop character. Mussels steamed in white wine reinforce the beer's vinous personality.

What sizes does Flight of the Rooster come in? This product is sold as a six-pack, which is the standard retail format offered by Ravinia Brewing Company for this saison.

Is Flight of the Rooster worth the price? Flight of the Rooster positions as a craft-premium saison that justifies its price through a distinctive single-hop recipe using costly Nelson Sauvin hops, a relatively high 7.5% ABV, and a flavor profile that genuinely crosses into wine territory—a combination that is uncommon in the American saison category.

Why Flight of the Rooster?

The exclusive, heavy-handed use of Nelson Sauvin hops is the headline here, and it earns that attention. Where most American saisons lean on yeast expression or mixed-hop bills, Flight of the Rooster commits fully to a single New Zealand varietal that transforms the farmhouse template into something that reads closer to a dry white wine than a traditional ale. With a 3.6 rating across more than 1,800 reviews on Untappd, it has built a steady following among drinkers who value hop-forward experimentation grounded in classic style. For anyone seeking a saison that genuinely stands apart from the pack, this Illinois-brewed release delivers a persuasive argument in every pour.