Avec Les Bons Voeux - Brasserie Dupont sprl

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazed golden/orange shade. Frothy white cap. Lace is abundant and clingy. Funky aroma. Lemon peel, barnyard, mustiness, yeastiness, citrus and leather. Bright citric tones are notice first upon tasting. Funky barnyard character is noted. Lemon essence. Hoppy and bitter. Earthy and herbal. Some alcohol is perceptible, but not a lot. Medium-bodied. Lively carbonation. Quite the enjoyable Saison.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2006 05:25:25 | More by Bighuge

Jredner

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma has a nose tickling spiciness that hints at citrus rind and sour sauce. Amber with yellow tints and a nice fluffy two finger thick, white head. Very yeasty fore, mild sourness and a ton of floral and herbal notes that are both spicy and sweet. Another fun drinking Saison.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2006 16:53:46 | More by Jredner

NEhophead

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rocky, dense white head with a unique formation. Rather sticky, thick patches of lacing. Cloudy, bright golden with shades of dark orange. Noticeable carbonation.

Oak-soaked light citrus and bright fruit aromas: apple, pear, lemon. Mild pepper and corriander.

Bright fruit flavors initially: pear and apple, with an underlying candied sweetness. The alcohol presence gives the citrus and fruit flavors a warming bite. The corriander spice is predominant. The spice intensity is what makes this Saison unique. Dry finish with an oak and corriander aftertaste; slick hints of alcohol.

Light bodied; crisp and dry on the palate. Light and refreshing.

A nice Saison; juicy and well spiced. The alcohol presence is definitely noticeable, but it doesn't hinder the ale's true flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2006 23:54:19 | More by NEhophead

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Monk's Cafe in Philly.

Poured a nice hazy orange-ish color with a small, subtle white head. The beer has a nice spicy, herbal aroma and the nice abv% comes through as well, very strong but appealling aroma.

The taste is spicy and tangy but very drinkable. This is a definite favorite of mine in the farmhouse / saison style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2006 00:48:30 | More by ggaughan

corporatejim

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky orange into the glass. Thin head that remained as the liquid level in the glass was depleted. Sporadic lacing down the inside of the glass as I drank it down. Tart, musty, spicy smell and taste. A good beer for the style. Not my favorite type, but I would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2006 21:00:26 | More by corporatejim

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours to a hazy orangish-yellow color with a thick, rocky head. Leaves a nice amout of lacing when sipped down. The aroma is spicy, peppery, yeasty, herbal and fruity. A bit of earthiness as well.

The flavor is peppery and yeasty, a bit lemony and earthy too. A slight funky, musty flavor as well. It is medium-full in body and drying in the finish. It hides is strength well. A very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2006 20:50:23 | More by BeerBuilder

Hautacam

Connecticut

4.63/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had a few of these on tap at My Place in Newtown, Ct.
Nice , gold, slightly cloudy appearance. Nice head to start, but dropped pretty quickly to a small collar.
Smells like clean citrus,yeast, malt and..hay?
Flavor was great ! ...really good balance of sweet , malt, slight fruit, with a medium mouthfeel...just right... then a slightly bitter finish. Just got better as the temperature increased; amazingly good ! This is the best Saison I've had.
Very drinkable...but the ABV is pretty high.
I also tried this one from the 750 bottle...very nice , but missing most of the sweetness, with more alcohol taste coming through.
I would definitely buy another bottle, but can't wait to have it on tap again.


Update 2/10/06....just had this again on tap...this is an amazing brew!!...actually wish it was lower in ABV so I could have a few
more. Avec Les Bon... DOH !!

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2006 17:50:38 | More by Hautacam

pentathlete

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to bigern for the bottle of this via Great Pumpkin 05. This is the 2004 vintage.

Maybe the ideal New Year's Eve brew? Looks awfully good in the wine glass. Hazy straw with a lovely depth, big foam, stubborn, and hyperactive tiny-bubble carbonation. Popping the cork released a blast of barnyard, which is more subdued in the glass. Grassy, mildly hoppy nose and clean malts. The taste is peppery, citrus rind, touch of sugars from the malts, and a bit of funk. This is balanced and the flavors blend very smoothly. Mouthfeel is medium, but fills out toward the end. Long dry finish. I love this one. I've also seen it available in my area. I'll be obtaining more of these.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2006 02:15:45 | More by pentathlete

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Without question, one of my favorite beers in all the world; and what else would you expect from the Brasserie Dupont?!?

It's hazy golden body reveals hints of gold at the base of the glass; and it's massive rocky head of off-white foam holds for seemingly forever and leaves impressive washes of lace throughout the entire glass.

The nose is straw-like and grassy, backed by spice and fruit (black pepper, crushed white grapes, a mild waft of citrus, and ground cloves/coriander).

In the mouth it lends a crisp tingle to the tongue, awakening the taste buds and helping to emphasize it's yeasty spiciness and hop bitterness.

In the flavor a pinch of tartness comes through amidst the malt, giving this beer it's exceptional character. It helps to balance the earthy, grassy malt and dry bitterness; and it accentuates the yeasty and hoppy fruitiness, and ping-pongs against the yeasty spiciness leaving it with a good deal of complexity that lends to an impressive drinkability.

Brilliant!!!! This beer works equally well as a short apertif (it is 9.5%! although the alcohol never shows) or a night cap, and it pairs well with an amazing variety of foods and events: it's a bristling contrast to garlic bread that also cuts through to cleanse the palate... it's big enough to withstand the onslaught of a ripe Stilton or Bleu cheese... it works quite well with mussels in an herbed white sauce... and it makes an amazing complement/contrast (can that be?) to spicy and sweet Pad Thai. And as for situations and event, it also works equally well at mom's Thanksgiving dinner or a welcomed Christmas nightcap, and especially as a replacement for Champagne at your New Year's toast!

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2005 17:02:14 | More by NeroFiddled

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured into the chalice hazy pale orange with a white and frothy head which rose tall and fell slowly to coat the glass.

The aroma was citrusy and spicy with a saaz hop aroma that was quite strong when first opened but dissipated. The aroma was also earthy with a nice low level of spice and a bit of pepper. The nose was almost sweet, but just not quite.

The flavor was crisp and bitter with a strong lemony citrus that was dominating and neverending. The bittering was well done and coupled with that citrus made a formidable flavor combination. The flavor contained a bit of earthy chacter and some peppery spice, but the main forces were citrus and bittering. While the flavor was lemony at first, later it seemed more like bitter orange peels.

The finish was dry with a lasting impression of light pepper, well achieved bitterness and perhaps some orange peel into the aftertaste. The body was medium and the carbonation led to a creaminess. The 9.5% ABV never really played a part in the flavor, and only a light bit of warming after consumption was notable.

750 ml corked and bailed bottle. 2005 on cork. $8.99 at Brawley's.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2005 22:50:12 | More by GCBrewingCo

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2004 edition...pale medium gold appearance, a slight greenish cast near the top, lightly but evenly sedimented. Nice head, creamy and condensed with a slick appearance and good shapes. Thick laces on the glass. Good aroma, bright grassy notes and white wine grapes, spices of white pepper and mace. Light mouthfeel, plenty of carbonation (more than I usually like). Flavor is as bright and brassy as a new penny, tart apple, stainless steel, tons of unripe fruit and skins. Interesting in that it does have a good balance though it can be missed. Slurry of honey and some funk actually comes later rather than earlier. Alcohol adds yet another dimension. A lot of beer to see here, folks.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2005 23:49:41 | More by ADR

JohnnyDuvel

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(750ml). My favorite style, and this is one of the best. Similar to the Foret (despite not being classified as a Saison), sharp and spicy (certainly more so than most of my favorite strong pales). I love this brewery, and I was thrilled to see this brew appear at a local store. Plenty of hops, great apple-like aroma. This has been a hard beer to find around here. I hope this will now be a regular for me. Don't miss this if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2005 05:45:44 | More by JohnnyDuvel

andjusticeforale

Connecticut

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This pours with a big tangy head like a thick pilsener into a chalice. The smell is citrus and sour orange and yeast.

The taste is a light mouthfeel with a bitter crispness upfront; then there are some spices in the middle, and then there is a sweetness. The finish is very long with a lingering alcohol sweetness that will get to you at times.

This is a terrific, champagne-like saison with all the requisite bitterness, fluffiness sweetness, spiciness and citrus-ness. And with this one -you get the added benefit of a kick in the ass after a 750ml! Superb!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2005 20:07:23 | More by andjusticeforale

dgallina

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev -19%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750ml bottle without freshness date. Cork dated 2005.

Poured a bubbly cloudy peach with huge white pillowy head and lots of sticky lace. Smells vinous, peppery, fruity, and grainy. Honey and sweet grains on the front of the palate, followed with a giant kick of medicinal bitter alcohol, a touch of funk, and lingering leafy dryness. Medium-light with strong carbonation and slight creaminess. Not the best Dupont brew; the flavor is over-balanced with overwhelming phenolic bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2005 03:50:08 | More by dgallina

rousee

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Ooooh dangerous--this one is.

Pours a fabulous gold with a luscious head of beautiful living froth. No lace. Smell is of a well-made Belgian--clearly floral and gentle but potent behind the scenes. The taste doesnt let down either, I can clearly see why this is regarded so highly. Smell has that pungent I am stronger than I taste character. Very nice. Mouthfeel is as smooth as can be for a beer of this complexity. While I might not fully trust my fellow BAs as a rule on food, I can definitely trust them on beers. Good scoring guys/girls. I can only second that emotion

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2005 00:12:01 | More by rousee

egajdzis

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy gold color with a small white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Earthy aroma, with some citrus and yeast as well. Spicy coriander, orange peel, yeast, and alcohol noticeable in the taste. Mouthfeel was slightly carbonated. I think I like McKenzie's better.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2005 23:49:12 | More by egajdzis

tjthresh

Indiana

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

1998 Vintage!!!
When I first poured the bottle it was a strw yellow with a teeny tiny bubbeled froathy white head, and a bazillion bubbles climbing the walls of my glass. When I finally got the rest into my glass, I got all the yeast. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. It has the horsey Belgian smell, with some Granny Smith apples thrown in for good measure. The taste is great. Pepper and apples and doughy yeast goodness. The after taste has a light lingering alcohol thing going on that works well. I would drink this everyday if I weren't buzzing so hard now!!!

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2005 20:55:58 | More by tjthresh

whartontallboy

New York

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2004 edition.

Pours a cloudy dark yellow with a big foamy head that holds well and leaves a moderate amount of lace in my chalice.

Smell is incredible. It's got a yeasty funk in it, to be sure, but there are way too many fruits to count in there: crisp apple and pear, some peachiness, hints of lemon, orange, and tangerine to go with a light coriander and honey smell. Quite good.

Flavor is quite fruity with the citrus coming to the fore....lots of lemon and orange, but also good doses of apple, yeast, pear, and a sharp tartness that really makes things dance on the tongue. The alcohol is well hidden, but kind of peaks out as it warms through the dry finish.

The mouthfeel is incredibly light and just perfect....it feels like my tongue is doing a little dance with the beer. Combined with the fruity tartness of the flavor, this is quite an effect.

If this is 9.5%, it's the most drinkable beer I've ever had. The alcohol barely, and I mean barely, comes through in the finish. It's incredible.

Overall: Quite a nice saison. Just exquisitely crafted and extremely delicate for its heft. I'm really glad I found this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2005 03:29:25 | More by whartontallboy

BrewMaster

California

4.6/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap at Lucky Baldwin's in Pasadena, 7/20/05 at their Christmas Beers & Interesting Winter Warmers in July Fesitval.

Appearance: Beer pours a glowing orange with a light cloudiness and a frothy, white, stiff head. The lacing on the side of the glass is very sticky and open. Excellent head retention on this beauty.

Smell: Remarkably sweet and fruity in the nose. The maltiness is rich but competes to be noticed among the strong fruity esters and white fruit flesh scents (that ominous apple/pear scent in many Belgian beers). Although the scent is there in many Belgians, this one is over the top in strength. Very nice.

Taste: This beer is awsome in complexity and variety of flavors. It is not a one-trick-pony for sure. The malt flavor jumps up first at the front of the beer. It then genlty glides to a set of fruity and phenolic flavors but without any kind of harsh transition. The fruits are vrey citrusy (lime, orange) and crisp and sweet (apple, pear, canteloupe). That is another great thing about this beer, the flavors are not contradictary but rather complimentary. No flavor is harsh but they are mostly bold and well matched flavors. So after the malt gives way to a fruity character, the flavor continues to develop with a whole spice rack full of spicy flavors. There is white pepper, sage, and corriander. I like the spicness. Nice but not overdone. The ending of this beer returns to its malty roots with a strong bready maltiness. That breadiness is also somewhat like a batter on tempura in that it is rich and sticky while still being light. Final flavors that I notice are a light hop bitterness at the end that is still fruit with its bitterness, some candy sugar sweetness, and a straw flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and chewy yet it still has a refreshing wateryness to it (in a good way). It's sticky yet still well carbonated and spritzy with a nice drying quality at the end.

Drinkability: All around an excellent beer. The flavors work well together and are well matched. It's smooth and complex and what a beer should do. Well done. It is just lovely on-tap.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2005 23:31:53 | More by BrewMaster

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.6/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a very strong straw color, almost a light orange, with a 4 finger head that falls very slowly. The nose is just divine. Lots of lemony citrusyness, a light tart character and a blast of spicey and a very light barnyard character. I like it a lot. The flavor is really good. Orangey lemon citrus flavors hit, but they are creamy as well. A nice blast of spiceyness from the yeasties really comes through as well. There is a slight tartness that stays on the tongue on the finish. I really like it. Very clean and refreshing...crisp as well. There is also a slight drying quality here as well. No hint at all of the alcohol. 9.5% has to be a lie. The feel is moderate to thick with a moderate carbonation. Very refreshing for a big brew. Drinkability could not be better. I'm finding this beer is disappearing rather quickly from my glass. No alcohol presence. Very good flavor and nose. All around solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2005 02:05:44 | More by kmpitz2

clvand0

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a golden color with a an extremely tall puffy head that has good retention and leaves lots of lacing on the glass. The aroma has lots of fruit esters. Some slight Belgian funk as well. Little bit of sweetness. Smells really good. The flavor has a lot of light fruit and a lot of spices. Little bit of funk in the flavor. Quite a bit going on here. Very tasty. The mouthfeel is light, but has some creaminess as well. The drinkability is really good for such high alcohol. It's very warming as you drink it.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2005 02:00:46 | More by clvand0

meathookjones

Virginia

4.63/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap last month at the Hop Leaf and was quite blown away with it. When I came across it in the store the next day there was only 2 bottles, which me and my friend each grabbed one. This was a corked and caged 750ml bottle with 2004 on the cork. Cloudy straw yellow body with a full head of white fluffy head. Great retention as the head rides out the session leaving thick sheets of lace coating the glass after each sip. Big fruit notes of apples, pears and other fruits come up in the nose with a light sweetness. Some peppery hops in the mix as are a few other spices. Notes of yeast and a slight funk are also present. Flavor also has a big fruit component with a variety of lighter fruits mingling with the grassy hops and black pepper. A bit biscuity, good yeast flavors and a touch of the old funk really bring this together nicely. Where is the alcohol? Fairly full mouthfeel with a very crisp feel. Bubbly on the tongue and quite refreshing. Great drinkability as well, I could drink this all day or until that sneaky 10% shows itself. Fantastic brew big ass Saison or Belgian Pale ale. Must try if you enjoy the style and come across this.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2005 16:12:35 | More by meathookjones

NoLiberty

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

So they say this is 10.5% - wow! The candy sugars in addition to malt make this beer a big one. Color is gorgeous - cloudy with golden color and truly brilliant. Smell is subtle but reminds me of American lager alomst with slight hops.Taste is pleasant and mild despite high alcohol and very much straight and to the point. Low carbonation but full mouthfeel that dissipates to subtle aftertaste. Could drink this beer for a very long time...until asleep.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2005 02:11:11 | More by NoLiberty

silenius

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

One of my favorites and oh so hard to get!

I brought back this 2003 bottling from Belgium. It was one of the three beers I was determined to find when over there.

Poured into a Duvel tulip it shows a hazed golden orange color with a BIG foamy yellow-tinged white head that laces the glass rather nicely.

Smell is complex with may esters and phenols. I get spices and cloves, banana and minty lime, lemon cream and pepper, dark caramel and figs. Wow! More like a tripel with a pepper spice kick than a Strong Pale Ale.

Taste is Dupont product for sure. I get that green hoppy skunk bite (in a pleasant way) with honeyed bananas, white pepper, figs, and who knows what light spices (even though the bottle says there are none in it - must be the yeast). Truly amazing.

Mouthfeel is the best bar none. It is so creamy that it almost feels more like a mousse than liquid.

Extraordinarily drinkable until I fall on the floor from too many!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2005 02:34:59 | More by silenius

grassrootsVT

Vermont

3.85/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at monks:

A seasonal beer with good wishes intended...supposedly, according to the owner of the distribution company, this one clocks in at 10.5%. It's only slightly apparent, mostly dictated by the slight aroma and detection of candy sugar. Very little nose detectable - actually gave me a lager-like aroma. This may have been a result of the draft version - neglecting the bottle condition. It was poured a cloudy golden color, rather brilliant, actually. The higher alcohol does not come through in the taste - it is straight and to the point - pleasant and massive in its delivery mechanism: end of the year cheer. The low carbonation compliments the full and dissipating mouthfeel. I could drink this beer until i fall off my rocker.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2005 15:57:06 | More by grassrootsVT