Having delved back into the brewing history books to recreate a classic Belgian beer known as ‘Saison’, French for ‘season’, Sussex Brewer Dark Star has taken the top spot at the Sussex Beer festival.

With votes invited from the thousands who enjoyed tasting beers from not just around the county, but from far and wide, Saison was voted Beer of the Festival by drinkers who attended the festival.

Head brewer, Mark Tranter, said: “This cask version of the Belgian farmhouse ale, historically brewed to be enjoyed by farmers during the harvest, is light gold in colour, hopped with Saaz, Styrian and Belgian Goldings and pitched with specially imported Saison yeast that ferments to dryness and provides a distinctive flavour.”

Saison was traditionally brewed in the farmhouses of the French-speaking region of Belgium. In years gone by, Belgian brewers had to brew the beer in the autumn and winter to prevent the beer from spoiling during storage. But today, drinkers needn’t wait until then; they just need to find their nearest pub that stocks Dark Star beers...click here