Saison Dupont - Brasserie Dupont sprl

meeekyh

Colorado

2.75/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a (green) 750 into a Belgian style beer glass.

I am afraid this one is a bit skunked... I am sure it is not too bad, and as such I will see what I can find to review anyway.

Head is very white and full, leaving a nice lacing.
Color is pale gold, very clear beer.

Smell is initially the aforementioned skunk... followed by malt, hop and a bit of anise.

Taste is malt, hop and, sadly, a bit of skunk. There is more going on but I am afraid this review will be on the tainted side, like this bottle.

Mouthfeel is medium body and high carbonation.

When I tried this beer before it was great. Bright, clean and inviting. I will be sure to review this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2010 02:37:51 | More by meeekyh

Amalak

New York

2.88/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

I had this out of a corked 25.4 ounce bottle.
A- It has a big, thick bubbly head with a good amount of lacing. Extremely bubbly (small), gold, clear.
S- It has something of a sour pilsner scent.
T- It has a vegetable maltiness to it. Kind of lagery, with an ale aftertaste. Some bitterness, expecially in the aftertaste. For an $11 bottle, I expect a more sophisticated taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 16:34:05 | More by Amalak

drseamus

New York

2.93/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A slightly cloudy golden color with a thick white head. I was sure not to get any of the yeast on the initial pour. The aroma was slightly citrusy but with a sour note that almost smelled like the beer was bad. The flavor was not what I expected. Only a bit of citrus poked through the musty dry flavor. There was an abundance of bitterness. I actually had a hard time finishing the entire 750. Mouthfeel was pretty light but not a beer I'll drink again unless I go to back to belgium.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2007 15:28:54 | More by drseamus

larsee01

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750ml cork-top bottle poured into glass chalice. Cork says 2008.

A--Lotsa head. Looks like a serious BEER. Big bubbles yet foamy. Dark honey color with serious ascending carbonation. Little bit of yeast floaties.

S--Bready, smokey, touch of ripe banana. Cinnamon and clove spices, sour, mineraly. A whole lot going on here! A tip of the hat to the complex characters in the smell.

T--Surprisingly bitter up front. Hard, earthy mineral nature. A twinge of crisp apple fruitiness fortunately saves this from being one-sided. Aftertaste of light bread/crackers. Kind of a dish-soapy taste. It's the most accurate way I can describe it, but it's not overtly offensive.

M--Ok I suppose. Bitterness lends a dry nature. At 6.5 ABV it's nicely balanced between light and heavy.

D--I guess, bur I really don't like the bitterness of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2009 03:17:38 | More by larsee01

laituegonflable

Australia

2.93/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pale, mostly golden in appearance. Creamy head, very good retention. EDIT: Make that, VERY good retention. The head sticks around long after the beer underneath it has been drunk. Cloudy appearance with a few floaties. No real lacing but head clings for dear life to glass. Not that it needs to, that head could withstand anything. I'd say that's about the most impressive head I've ever seen.

Nose is very metallic and hoppy. There is a strong iron or steel character with a slight grainy character lingering ever-so-slightly at the back. It's quite nice but there isn't all that much more to it.

Quite weizeny on the palate with that wheaty, banana character. Surprising really since there is nothing of the sort in it. Surprisingly bitter on the finish, a lot of hops coming through following that light, wheaty flavour. This leaves me, to be honest, with a really quite sinking, heavy feeling because it feels over-hopped without enough rich barley malt to balance, and the mouthfeel is a bit clunky. Taste is pleasant enough but it's quite heavy-going. I wouldn't call this a sessioning beer. I quite respect this, but I don't like it all that much, unfortunately.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 22:54:07 | More by laituegonflable

Brad007

Vermont

3/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

No chalice so have to use a trusty pint glass.

Beer pours a pale, grainy color with a decent amount of head that leaves thick lacing. I decided to let the beer warm up before trying it. Aroma is rich and spicy with faint hints of raisin. Taste is very light at first with only the spice and raisin showing through. Goes down smooth. A second sip confirms the smoothness and maltiness. I feel that the beer isn't as strong as I hoped and it just seems unimpressive to me. Not bad but I'll definitely revisit down the road.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2007 00:01:26 | More by Brad007

TK5150

Maine

3.03/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cork says 2.009, don't know if that means anything or not.

A- Pours a murky light gold/yellow with a huge off-white head. Lacing runs down the side of the glass quickly as I swirl. The head recedes a bit after a few minutes.

S- Musty, old, dank. Wet horse/dog. A little malt in there. Not pulling these aromas off well.

T- Straw, acidic lemons, and spice. The spiciness is like coriander and/or grains of paradise. Musty. Some malty sweetness briefly appears before the finish. Again, has some elements that I would like if done well, but they're just not working for me.

M- Lighter side of medium bodied. Feels most thin towards the finish. A sharp, highly carbonated beer.

D- One 375 ml bottle is fine with me. Not the best beer. Lighter body helps the drinkability.

Overall, this reminds me A LOT of Sam Adams' Summer Ale, but with a little less spice, and more must. No need for me to have that or this again. Smuttynose's Farmhouse Ale is something I would get if I'm in the mood for a saison.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 21:08:46 | More by TK5150

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Openned Oct. 4, 2005. Best before 01/2008.

A: Copper-gold, nice white head, but very little retention. Still makes some nice lace though!

S: Grassy, herbal.

T: Spicy yeast flavour, very dry, sharp bitterness. Tartness is only barely detectable. Very rustic & unrefined. I realize this is part of the style, but it just wasn't harmonious... it's like all the instruments were there, but they were playing off-key.

M: Light body, moderately high carbonation.

D: While it hides the alcohol well, there's a bit of a bite, and I don't find it all that pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2005 21:48:02 | More by Derek

lindalo112

California

3.05/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Color: yellow golden
Smell: orangey scent
Taste: tangy orange peel taste. It's dry but it's not as bitter as expected.
Carbonation: very carbonated
Head: good hold and head to the beer.
Mouthfeel: light to medium mouthfeel
There is no sweetness to it!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 20:37:05 | More by lindalo112

jar2574

Missouri

3.08/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Big white head with densely packed bubbles. Dark yellow-orange color, lots of carbonation. Looks good at first. Could use better lacing on the sides.

Smells mostly of yeast with a little maltiness. Too faint.

Taste is earthy, a little bland, especially considering the style. Mild Belgian yeasts and mild malty flavor. A little spiciness on the tongue but not much.

Very dry, crisp mouthfeel, with a clean aftertaste. That part I like. It's a highly drinkable beer, but there are much better saisons out there. I would not order this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 22:20:20 | More by jar2574

jmerloni

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Great golden straw coloration. Hazy. Huge head that sticks.

S - Straw, yeast, hops, lemon rind, piss.

T - Follows the nose. Too pissy, though.

M - Over-carbonated, bubbly in the wrong place.

D - A poor beer. Too musty and hold tasting. Would never get this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 05:40:55 | More by jmerloni

JayS2629

Alabama

3.1/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've heard it is completely different on tap, and perhaps I got an old bottle, but I didn't enjoy this.

It poured a cloudy yellow with a huge fluffy, white head that faded fast but left nice lacing.

The aroma was of funk, earth, cooked vegetables, grass and lemon.

The taste was maltier than expected and the lemon that lingered seemed flat, the grass and earth were dominant and lingering funky notes stuck.

It was hard to finish. Again, perhaps I got a bad or old bottle. I'll try it again when I see it and perhaps give a different review.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 18:40:26 | More by JayS2629

Kendo

New York

3.1/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured from the 750 ml green bottle into a Stella Artois glass - kind of a rounded pilsner/lager-type glass. Body is hazy straw-yellow with a 2-finger bubbly white head. Solid head retention.

S: No surprise given the bottle - first impression is the skunkiness. As I get used to that, I also get some straw/hay/grass scents, with a touch of funkiness.

T: Again - some skunkiness. Barnyard funk and fruit are up front, and there's a decent, semi-dry finish. But I ended up belching skunk for probably 30-40 minutes after drinking this - and I had it with a big Thanksgiving-style meal.

M: Light in heft, good fizziness.

O: Why the green bottle? I'm guessing this might be a good beer if I had it on tap, but as it was delivered, it reminded me of a Euro Pale Lager that's been sitting in a green bottle for too long. My father-in-law, who was drinking Spaten directly from said green bottles, kind of liked this. Which says a lot.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 16:14:02 | More by Kendo

BEERANDNOW

Arizona

3.13/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I'm not very experienced in the Farmhouse Ale category, but this one came recommended so I gave it a shot.
Mine poured a cloudy yellowish haze, with a very thick head that took a decent period of time to disapate and left a fairly thick residue.
This beer has a crisp fruity taste with a decent bite to it. Also a rich fruity musty bouquet is present.
Like I've said I havent experienced many saison brews although this one doesn't make me jump for joy to go grab another. It was worth a try atleast once.

Serving type: growler

11-26-2008 05:32:38 | More by BEERANDNOW

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very disappointed in this saison. It's my new favorite style and I was expecting all sorts of the usual spices and sugars. Instead, I got lots of hops and bitters. Pours like a typical saison--yellow gold. Big foamy head. Spotty lace. Aroma is a bit hoppy. Blegian sugars come through as the initial flavor, but are quickly replaced with a surprising amount of hops. I can barely find any yeasty fruits, flavors or spices. While refreshingly crisp, it does not drink as smooth as I was expecting. It came across as much more like a bitter than a Belgian farm style ale. Mouth feel is crisp with a full body and malt heaviness that sits on the mouth.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2005 22:50:17 | More by MuddyFeet

TheFlern

Idaho

3.18/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Golden, cloudy. Head is white, stays thick, decent lacing.

Smell: Belgian yeast. Reminds me of Stella almost exactly. No hop or malt flavor really.

Taste: follows the nose. Stella to a T.

Mouthfeel: dry, good amount of carbonation.

Overall: Way to expensive for essentially Stella.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 03:16:26 | More by TheFlern

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.18/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a tulip

A: Pours a very light yellow. The pillowy cloud of head looks like you could rest your head on it and fall asleep and it glistens in the light. Spectacular.

S: Aroma is spicy and yeasty. Wafts of fresh cut straw emanate, not all that sweet but great for a farmhouse ale.

T/M: Lots of bubbles up front are tangy. It takes a second for the fizz to dissipate from the tongue, but once they do, the flavor is very light with a bit more spicy earthiness and just a little metallic like champagne.

It’s a very light, fizzy beer, not that bad but there are better choices. It looks incredible, though.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 01:06:04 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750 ml bottle split and poured into a Sierra Nevada tulip.
6.5% ABV, 2.010 on the cork.

A - It's not a gusher but damn is this one full of carbonation! The tulip was quickly filled with dense white foam. Great retention kept us from enjoying it for quite a while but, as the foam loosened it left some pretty nice lace above the slightly hazy yellow beer.

S - Wafts of skunk come from the beer which makes me wonder, once again, why breweries insist on using green (and clear) glass. [The first bottle we tried months prior smelled like a skunk dropped ass beside us when we opened it.] Subtle spicy notes of coriander and white pepper with earthy clay and yeast. Hints of lemon grass through the finish.

T - Bland across the board, pale malts back up a faint spicy profile of lemon grass and peppery yeast. Very bland, almost like faintly flavored water, honestly.

M - High carbonation is spritzy in the light-bodied mouthfeel. This saison finishes dry with a touch of saltiness and a slight metallic feel.

O - While this beer isn't offensive in any way, it's completely lacking in flavor which makes it hard to believe it's worthy of the high score it's received. That leads me to question whether there's something wrong (besides a little skunk) with this bottle. And for attempt number two at purchasing bottles, neither the DTrain or I will every be buying one again for a re-review.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 11:54:47 | More by BeerFMAndy

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.2/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 33cL bottle into a Gouden Carolus chalice. From notes. Reviewed 30 May 2011.

A: Bright white creamy/craggy head. Brilliant yellow. Carbonation is visible. Light and pleasant; cloudy but translucent. Traces of lace.

S: Lots of grain, maybe corn(?). Not impressed.

T: Sweet, pleasant, grainy, and dry. Honestly, it's less funky than other saisons, but it's sort of boring. Accessible, goodish, and disappointing.

M: Lightly dry...kinda yeasty. Vaguely spicy. A bit of pepper?

O: Decent beer, but again, boring. Would not have again. Recommended to people who "don't like saisons."

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 01:49:15 | More by AgentMunky

gonzo138

Arizona

3.23/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Pours a pale gold, has good typical thick white frothy head, typical for a belgian, the head retains well and laces nicely

S- Has a very tart, citric, spicey smell

T- Tart as well, some what bitter, more or less the same as the smell

M- Very dry, carbonation starts strong but subsides quickly, sticks to mouth

D- Dryness and bitterness affects drinkability. Had other saisons before, most not so bitter, had 2 bottles of dupont so far, still not really impressed

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2006 09:13:30 | More by gonzo138

ncfranklin

Alabama

3.23/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a Tulip

A: Deep burnt orange. Lots of floaters throughout, like brown specks. 1 finger off white head.

S: Some spiceyness, orange citrus, lemon and a biscuit sweetness.

T: A light spice up front, before caving to a wealth of malt. This can't be right. Bad tastes of dirt and grass come in the finish.

M: Thicker than the style should be, not overly refreshing or carbonated.

D: Bad bottle maybe? The floaters cause issues? Overall a cruddy brew. Will make sure to try again later and re-review if needed.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 15:51:39 | More by ncfranklin

maddyaliotti

California

3.23/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Very citrusy orangy aroma. Cloudy yellowish color. Cloudiness is from the yeast. Very strong head and good hold on the glass. Crisp and clean finish very fizzy and highly carbonated. Very light and refreshing. Good beer for a hot summer day. Tastes somewhat bitter but do not consider it bitter because it just has no sweetness to it.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 20:34:08 | More by maddyaliotti

kajerm

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at the Map Room. Pours cloudy gold with a large white head that quickly fades without much lacing.

The aroma is very light and slightly fruity, with some light malts and noble hops. I can't pick up more than a trace of acidity or Brett character.

The flavor opens up with lemon citric flavor. Light malts show up mid-palate, and restrained noble hop flavors appear on the finish. Some tartness is present, but it's very slight. There might be some phenols lurking in here too, but all the flavors are so light that it's hard to tell.

Mouthfeel is light and moderately heavily carbonated.

Very drinkable, but ultimately too boring for me. I like a more assertive beer than this, but I don't know that I can blame Dupont specifically for this-- I've had the same issues with other Saisons I've tried. People go on and on about the complexity here, but I'm willing to be crass and unsophisticated about this one; it's just not bold enough or surprising enough for me.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2007 21:00:06 | More by kajerm

pants678

California

3.25/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It's a cloudy, translucent orange-gold color with a white, single finger head that maintains well and seems rather bubbly.

I get coriander and onion from the smell. Strong tones of citrus, almost tart, and hints of honey.

Tastes much like it smells, minus that last bit about the honey. Not getting that sugary sweet bit, sharply and tightly carbonated but dissipates quickly from the tongue leaving just slight aftertaste. It's fruity, but again not sweet, almost a wheat consistency that's spiced like a fall seasonal.

Carbonation combines flavors, but there's not so much complexity for savoring. It's stronger toward the middle and very light.

The clean finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 06:50:12 | More by pants678

klkatz

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Went out on a pre-valentines/Valentines meal with the wife. Went to Parc, in Philadelphia, so I had to venture out from my favorite types of beer to assimilate to the Parc culture. Saison Dupont, veille provision fit the bill.

It's a belgian style farmhouse ale... so you'd expect some cloudiness in the color - this had it. It was blonde in color with a head about 1.5/2 fingers deep. The film stuck around for the entire session.

You'd expect a belgian/wheat style taste... it had it...

And you'd expect a decent drinkability... this had it. It was dry and refreshing.. exactly how the waiter described it.

The bottle itself recommends that it goes well with ANY grilled food. I went with the trout, it went well.

decent for it's beer type, but I'd be okay not getting this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2010 04:34:02 | More by klkatz