Saison Ale
Saison Ale, though technically now a “type” of ale, the Saison region of Umbak has been home for thousands of years of the origins of the traditional Umbakian drink of the farmstead and traditions of the hearth – the Amarata. The Saison Fields in the NE of Umbak, where the original yeast and pears and apples are originally from in, is the uplands of Falcon Reach. With every calamity, with every natural disaster, with every war, afterwards it is a priority to stabilize, preserve and tend to the ancient orchards and grains to preserve the tradition. The Automata Brigade of Virtue and Reason is one of the care-takers of the materials, despite it not being a strictly military charge.
“Saison” Tradition
for Umbakian families, the local making of this type of ale is a traditional family practice and event that is part of their shared culture. Families and regions are known for their specific implementations of this. These are just ‘family saisons’.
“Saison” Brand
Although many ales will call themselves ‘Saison’, only the original is considered “authentic”; It is made with the secret recipe that gives it its crispness and injects it with bubbles. The bubbles are mostly lost in transport, so it cannot be shipped far. Normally it is only sold on site, or regionally in the kingdom. It is said that the Automata Brigade designed the mechanisms that inject the bubbles in a heavily guarded process.
The brewers have been known to get the finest hard glass firkins from the glassblowers of Ruary to ship their materials in to Umbakian nobles. These are send to be miraculous works that convey great wealth and station.
Saison Technology
The secret to the production of the blissful drink is well guarded by the Automata Brigade of Virtue and Reason and the knight and soldier Order’s of Umbak. They have created the Spunding Valve that enables carbonation.
The valve container is a strange metal pressure vessel about the size of a large modern bar keg – just like the wooden ones made everywhere. In Ruary, they brew carbonated drinks but without such a valve, they don’t last long and sometimes rupture. The valve allows for a more safe and longer lasting carbonation. They ferment in the pressure vessel and the valve lets off a set amount of pressure so the carbonation is maintained without the risk of blowing a seam or exploding; As it developed (and others tried to copy it) there have been many deaths and maiming. Any tours never include these operations or expose the technology to outsiders.
Mostly it is the nobility of Umbak that enjoys the benefits of their technology and crafting. It is said the Umbakians are working on a means of chilling (using Elemental Hearth Magik of Umbak), and other drinks (wines, etc.) using special glass containers from the Glassblowers and Bottlers Guild of Ruary that use the sacred waters of the Spring of Pristos.