Hunnypot Saison: A Hyper-Local Honey & Lemon Saison from Ocean Beach, San Diego
At California Wild Ales, we’ve always believed the best beers tell a story. Hunnypot Saison might be one of the most meaningful stories we’ve ever put into a glass—rooted in Ocean Beach, San Diego, shaped by patience, and made possible by our neighbors.
This is a 7% ABV honey and lemon saison, aged for nearly two years in a thoughtful blend of Cutwater Gin barrels and mead barrels from Lost Cause Meadery. But more than that, it’s a truly hyper-local collaboration, built from backyard lemon trees, community generosity, and a shared love for wild, expressive beer.
A Saison Built by the Ocean Beach Community
Every lemon used in Hunnypot Saison was gathered or donated by residents of Ocean Beach. Neighbors brought us fruit from their own yards—trees growing just blocks from the brewery. Those lemons became the bright citrus backbone of this beer, giving it an unmistakable sense of place.
That’s what makes this saison special. It’s not just brewed in Ocean Beach—it’s brewed with Ocean Beach.
This kind of local collaboration is at the heart of what we do at California Wild Ales, and Hunnypot Saison is a perfect example of how community and beer intersect in OB.
Nearly Two Years of Barrel Aging
After fermentation, Hunnypot Saison was laid down for almost two full years of barrel aging, split between two very special barrels:
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Cutwater Gin Barrels – contributing subtle botanical notes, gentle spice, and layered complexity
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Lost Cause Meadery Mead Barrels – adding soft honey character, rounded oak, and depth
The extended aging allowed the beer to evolve naturally, smoothing out the edges while preserving the lively saison character. Time brought balance, nuance, and harmony between the honey, lemon, and farmhouse yeast profile.
Honey Saison Meets Lemon Saison
We set out to brew something that lives comfortably between styles—a beer that could be called both a honey saison and a lemon saison, without leaning too hard in either direction.
The result is a beer that’s:
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Dry and effervescent
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Bright with natural lemon acidity
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Softly floral from local honey
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Layered with subtle oak and botanicals
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Refreshing, yet complex
It’s rustic but clean. Expressive but approachable. A beer that rewards slow sipping but still shines on a sunny Ocean Beach afternoon.
Tasting Notes
Style: Honey Saison / Lemon Saison
ABV: 7%
Aroma:
Wildflower honey, fresh lemon zest, light botanicals, soft oak
Flavor:
Bright citrus up front, layered honey sweetness, subtle gin botanicals, classic saison yeast character
Finish:
Dry, crisp, lightly tart, and beautifully balanced
Brewed in Ocean Beach, San Diego
Ocean Beach isn’t just where we brew—it’s who we are. From the farmers market down the street to the backyard fruit trees throughout the neighborhood, OB continues to shape the beers we make.
Hunnypot Saison is a reflection of:
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Ocean Beach, San Diego
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Community collaboration
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Local ingredients
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Patience and intentional brewing
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A shared love for wild, farmhouse-inspired beer
This beer exists because neighbors showed up, lemons were shared, and time was given room to work its magic.
A True OB Beer
Hunnypot Saison isn’t mass-produced. It isn’t rushed. And it couldn’t exist anywhere else but Ocean Beach.
If you’re looking for a San Diego saison, a barrel-aged honey beer, or a hyper-local lemon saison, this one tells the story of its place honestly—through flavor, process, and community.
Brewed in Ocean Beach, San Diego.
Aged with patience.
Built by neighbors.
Best enjoyed together.
