An argument could be made that the first hazy beer was Belgian. With its low bitterness, restrained malt character and (depending on one’s pour) distinct opacity, it shares more than a few similarities. IPA on the other hand can make no such comparison, but what would happen if the two were blended anyway? Harmonie, from Auckland’s Urbanaut Brewing Co does just that.
The first and most differentiating element here is the saison yeast, which doesn’t so much push the needle towards a certain character as it does hit a big switch marked ‘BELGIAN’. The hop element comes from a recent-ish) Lórien hop variety, a low alpha American varietal aimed at lagers. The developers, Indie Hops, describe Lórien’s character as “the feeling of a summer meadow”, which fits right in with the saison driven aromas of wet hay, sweet spice and an abundance of floral notes. The sharp and pithy palate is smoothed out by the oats and wheat, which also bring the haze factor, while a typically light bitterness gradually builds in the finish.
The dominance of the saison yeast means this is fundamentally a Belgian ale first and an IPA second, so know that going in, and like all such styles, it also benefits from drinking a touch warmer than fridge temperature to get the most out of the more subtle flavours.