Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux

Spicy and dry, slightly funky and sour. A great saison, strong and refreshing.

750 ml corked bottle:
Appearance: Murky brass colour. Lively head
Aroma: Apple juice and orange peel. Brett?
Flavour: Dry, yeasty and oaky with notes of allspice.
Palate: Light body, boozy finish.
Overall: A bit too strong for its own good.

750ml corked bottle. BB 11/2012. Served chilled in a Duvel glass...couldn’t find anything more fitting. Picture perfect glass of beer presents in front of me. Rocky 2-inch bright whtie head stands strong, clumping on its descent. Body is an orange-gold with uniform haze and very fine lively beading. Spicy yeast on the nose, pepper and clove, possibly corriander and cinnamon but subdued at best. Bit of bread and vanilla, alluding to underlying maltiness, with some additional fruitiness; pear, lemon and orange peel. Faintest hint of alcohol. Smooth, big yet somewhat well attenuated body. Carbonation is high but soft, lending a nice creaminess to the palate. Alcohol is very well hidden. Sweet unfront, some white sugar and pale biscuity malt flavours. Ripe fruits follow; peach, pear, apple, orange, bit of banana, all somewhat kept in place with vanilla and clove, cinamon, nutmeg and coriander spices. Finishes reasonably bitter, a touch of grass, pepper and bread, all lingering as a sneaky warmth creeps down the throat. Would have to say this is not only the best Saison i’ve tried to date, but well up there with the likes of Belgian Tripel/Golden Strong ales. Bit more body than a typical example of the style, but still somewhat delicate, with an excellent mix of spice and esters/phenolics from the yeast. Damn tasty!

On tap at Aroma’s. Poured clear golden with a big white head. Aroma of spice, coriander, citrus, pears/apple. Taste is nicely spiced, with plenty of fruit, hop bitterness, and yeasty malt. A very well balanced brew. Body was very crisp and carbonated. Overall, a nice refreshing saison.

Bottle (750ml) Cellared for 1 year. Poured golden straw with a slight haze and a large, thick, frothy, off-white head which lasted superbly. Aroma was of sweet bread with candy sugar, apples, creamy pears, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon and coriander. Flavor was a moderate spicy hop bitterness with strong notes of pepper, bready malts, crisp green apples, dried pineapple, lemon citrus, cinnamon, coriander, light notes of cloves and a spicy warming finish. Medium to full bodied with lively carbonation, a dry mouthfeel, syrupy texture (mild) and a good length finish.

Sample pour from Bomber in to a snifter glass. So excited to try this finally! Appears light orange with a huge, frothy-clean head. Aroma is surprisingly mild; taken side-by-side it is far more mellow than Saison Dupont. Perhaps some candi sugar, funkiness, and light herbs are all I could get from the aroma. Flavor reminds me of a fine, dry champagne: mild fruitiness, hay, clove and grains of paradise-like spice, grass, and soft malt. Really a delicate beer, and excellent sipper. Finish is quite dry, the alcohol showing through dryness rather than flavor. I do, however, prefer Saison Dupont.

Last 750ml at Novare! HA! Had this in the spring, but oh well who’s watching :) Pours a wonderful golden color with a nice cloudy body to it and a big frothy white head. The aroma is slightly spicey, a bit apple-like...though not cidery at all...more like a baked apple pie. Flavor was similar, that hint of apples, oranges, and a hint of winter spicing...although not sure if it’s added spices or just the yeast coming out to play. This was a wonderfully smooth pour too...great velvety texture. Dupont is really moving up my list :)

Green bottle, 75 cl, best before 08 2013, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savoured on April 19 2009; eye: golden, lightly hazy, good effervescence, voluminous white head that falls and turns into a sheet at the centre of which is an island of melting ice cream, light lacing; nose: yeast, spices (coriander), hops, candied sugar, floral, light fruity; mouth: yeast, spices (coriander), hops becomes more present as the beer warms up, candied sugar, floral, light fruity, alcohol, citrusy, medicinal finale with presence of hops, medium body, rather carbonated, slightly sweet, slick; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille verte, 75 cl, meilleure avant 08 2013, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savourée le 19 avril 2009; œil : dorée, légèrement voilée, bonne effervescence, mousse blanche abondante qui tombe et se transforme en une couverture au centre duquel se trouve un îlot de crème glacée fondant, légère dentelle; nez : levure, épices (coriandre), houblon, sucre candi, floral, léger fruité; bouche : levure, épices (coriandre), houblon devient plus présent à mesure que la bière gagne en température, sucre candi, florale, léger fruité, alcool, citrique, finale médicinale avec présence de houblon, corps moyen, plutôt carbonatée, très légèrement sucrée, coulante; en résumé :bien