Saison Dupont - Brasserie Dupont sprl

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.21/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed on tap at Barley's Brewhaus out of a Dupont stange glass.

Appearance - A spongy one-finger head of orangish-white rests atop a body of apricot and amber. It's murky and impossible to see through, in spite of the thin cylinder of a glass. Solid retention and excellent lacing, leaving rings down the side of the glass marking the level of the liquid between each drink.

Smell - Belgian yeast, some faint funk, but overall a clean aroma with some elements of pepper and spice.

Taste - Amazingly balanced with notes of hop bitterness, more Belgian yeast giving way to phenolic characteristics, elements of citrus and herbal sweetness.

Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied and moderate carbonation with some resinous characteristics that leave a lingering pleasantness in the aftertaste. Entices you to take the next drink.

Overall, it's easy to see why this is one of the standard-bearers for the farmhouse style. I prefer my saisons to be a little more in-your-face, with some more funk and dankess. But this one is clearly versatile for multiple seasons and cuisines.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 05:55:45 | More by LambicPentameter

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

one of the classic saisons, and one ive been meaning to try again and review for awhile. i really enjoy this beer. its pale honey colored in appearance and a bit cloudy with an absolutely massive white foam head, like a giant snow bank. a big old white pillow that hardly subsides at all. the nose is delicate pitted fruit and a moderately spicy belgian yeast. wheat malt and yeast are the first two flavors i pick up, but there is a gentle summery sweetness in the back end with golden raisins, peaches, and wildflowers. amazing how all these subtleties come together in a beer that remains so light and airy. effervescent carbonation makes it feel even lighter in the mouth, and although the body isnt that light, it really feels like drinking a cloud. super sessionable in the summertime for sure, and a nice reminder in the winter that summer will come again, as it always does. one of the better widely available saisons out there.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 19:05:25 | More by StonedTrippin

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

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

On-tap, served in a tulip

A hazy golden color with a fluffy paper white cap. Recedes in crater-like fashion, clinging to the sides the whole way down.

Aroma of flowers, banana, wet hay, clove, barnyard, rotten wood, and a touch of lemon. A touch of grassyness lays low. The barnyard funk is the most prominent.

On the palate, a soft fruitiness with some funk hits you first. Wet hay and lemons leading to some spice before some melon and barnyard come in for the finish. A touch of lingering funk/hoppy bitterness.

Medium body, smooth, and lush. Dry finish with lingering funk.

This is a damn fine saison. Classic profile with an added dose of welcome funk.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2012 20:05:14 | More by ColForbinBC

Guden

Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On Tap at Pakhuis in Ghent, Belgium

A- Hazy golden with a white head of tiny bubbles that lasts and lasts leaving good lacing.

S- Crackers, decaying wood, pears and a touch of melon rind. Really nice, makes me think of summer.

T- Up front a sweet cracker sensation is quickly balanced with spice (white pepper, cardamom) and hops. Finish is peppery with lemon and a bit more of the honey dew melon character.

M- Thin and dry with medium carbonation. Perfect for the style and allows the flavors to dance around nicely.

D- An excellent beer. On tap it is delicious and was a welcome finish to my first day in Belgium.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 01:11:40 | More by Guden

TullyBlanchard

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Attention to the Rock and Roll Express: Double-A (Arn Anderson) and I are officially calling you out, brothers. Time and place is three weeks in Chattanooga, TN. Starrcade baby....and we are keepin' these belts.

The beer:
A pale golden color with a good white head. Smells sort of like a wheat beer. Very refreshing saison. A hint of citrus, clean finish. Something about the aftertaste reminds me of drinking champagne. Could have a lot of these.

80s/90s wrestler most likely to drink this beer:
The Model, Rick Martel.

Diamonds are forever.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2012 01:40:53 | More by TullyBlanchard

UCLABrewN84

California

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Congregation Ale House in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a clear light yellow with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, spices, and yeast. Taste is much the same with a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and very easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 01:00:34 | More by UCLABrewN84

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap at Armsby Abbey.

A- Served from the tap into a signature DuPont slim glass that appears to hold about 12oz. Massive fluffy white head forms and has great retention. Each sip reveals distinct rings of lace.

S- This aroma basically defines classic Saison yeast to me. A great balance of fruity, floral and peppercorn spice notes. Certainly a bit of light malts and bread behind the yeast.

T- Follows the nose but some more complexity adds on here. Yeast lends a plethora of flavors like floral, spicy, raisin, pepper, coriander, herbal, banana and clove. It all blends very well. Like bread, cracker malt and hops balance it out. Hops are spicy, herbal and earthy.

MF- Dried out light body with smooth silky carbonation. Nice clean bitterness in the palate.

A true classic that took me long enough to review. Compare all Saison to this. I would have to say the tap was missing slight skunk the bottles can have.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2012 21:57:54 | More by cbutova

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On draught at the Blue Monk in Buffalo.

Poured into a Dupont nonic glass. Murky golden, big billowing head with great retention and nice lacing.

Nose is pure saison delight: wheat, herbal hops, a bit of funk, spices, lemon zest and honey.

A damned tasty saison, light and refreshing on this hottest of days. Similar tasting notes as in the nose. Paired with a nice braised rib sandwich, which really brought out the honey flavour here. Not too funky, and the yeast is kept in check. Medium bodied, mild carbonation, sticky.

Just an all around delightful brew, and a great showcase of the style. Refreshing as all get out.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2012 18:45:04 | More by JohnnyBarman

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

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

on tap at Milltown in Carrboro, NC.

Pour is that cloudy goodness that I expect. The smell isnt as robust as I thought it would be. Balanced, but lots of German Hefe (banana and bubble gum) esters.

The taste is balanced and drinkable. Good bit of those German Hefe flavors, but theres a hint of spiciness from the yeast to add another layer to it.

The scary part is that its drinkable, way too drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 02:41:12 | More by VncentLIFE

socon67

New York

3.5/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pour looks quite a bit like ginger ale. Cloudy golden color with a bubbly white foam and visible carbonation.

S - Smells of earthy spice, musty straw, and sour fruits.

T - Not all that excited by this. The taste felt overly mellow, and had a bit of a sugary feel that seems a bit off as compared to the musty grains, citrus, and other components of a traditional saison.

M - Easily drinkable, but slightly thin. I was not interested in a second one, though it does pair well with light food.

O - Surprising to me, I felt it was a middle of the road example of the style. I'm curious if it not being bottled and having the sediment of yeast has a tangible affect. I'll pass on this one.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2012 15:28:23 | More by socon67

mptorpey

Delaware

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

A:Light straw yellow wit a small white head that clings to the glass.

S: Some floral notes with a bit of grass and honey.

T: A very colplex beer with lots of spice and floral parts. Finish is long and a bit sweet.

M: Full bodied

O: A very complex beer that every sip can impart different tastes as it warms. Finish is long and has a bit of grasseness to it. Great spring time beer

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2012 04:46:59 | More by mptorpey

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a rather narrow style tulip but unmarked and slightly larger that those horrible “very tall and narrow” style tulips now in vogue across the known universe as far as I can tell.

Pours a rather thin head which reduces to a very thin film rapidly.
Beautiful golden grain kind of color, with a constant stream of fine bubble carbonation.

Very powerful, yeasty, distinct, French bread aroma hits you first, followed by golden malt. Very elegant and refined nose. Excellent.

Nice crisp entry on the palate of delicious, yeast dominated malt, and then as this ale warms the yeast backs off a little to allow the malt to come forward. Then the surprise! Superbly integrated hops (Belgium style) come into play. Medium full mouth feel and superb Champagne like carbonation finish it off. Delicious!

Long finish of yeast/malt/hops, with the yeast and hops dominating and lingering.

An excellent Saison. Very Champagne like in mouth feel and even some flavor components!
Lots of yeast action throughout especially the smell.
Big nose. A very enjoyable experience.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 01:09:53 | More by JTSbeerislife

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

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

Poured on-tap and served in a stemmed vase, the beer is a hazy, opaque, yellow-gold coloring with a thick, foamy, small bubbled, bright white head about a half an inch thick. Aromas are yeasty, with hints of clove and floral highlights. Very light and spicy on the nose. Flavors are very spiced, with a solid clove profile along a citrus and bready blended foundation. Some lavendar and juniper highlights throughout...this beer is well balanced and extremely complex at the same time. Very good challenge to the palate. The aftertaste is clove spiced and toasty, and the light body leaves a sparse lacing on the glass. The finish is slightly lingering, but light and spicy. Good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 18:23:26 | More by GarthDanielson

caryt

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served at the Green Dragon (Portland, OR) in a Russian River tulip

A: Caramel opaque with a large fluffy white head the size of both of my thumbs.

S: Smells of delicious Belgian yeast with a very slight sweet fruit aroma

T: Smooth and yet very smooth, not an overbearing carbonation. This brew was blessed with a magnificent yeast

M: Light, slightly sweet and delicious.

O: First go at this Saison and very pleased. I went from a boozy saison to this refreshing goodness. Would suggest to anyone and will have again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2012 06:37:27 | More by caryt

crvcac

California

4.65/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer on tap in La Jolla Village at a little place called the Public House.

Appearance - Hazy/golden yellow

Smell - Light notes of citrus - orange, lemon zest, earthiness and a touch of hops

Taste - citrus, earthiness, nice balance between malt and hops

Mouth-feel -one of the most refreshing, thirst quenching beers I have ever imbibed

Overall - Top shelf. the PERFECT beer to drink on a nice, sunny day

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 17:28:46 | More by crvcac

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Not sure how I got away without reviewing this for so long. Tap at Armsby Abbey.

Nice big fizzy head, 1 finger fades slowly with tons of lacing, slight hazy golden pilsner color.

Nose is typical saison, toasty malts, bready, light spices and lemony wheat, bit of candy sugar sweetness and belgian malts, light rustic farmhouse yeast.

Taste is similar, dry rustic farmhouse with sweetness of belgian malts and light candy sugar tease the palate, light lemon wheat grass, with a bit of a citrus flavor. Hints of spices from the yeast come with the crisp malty base, and a light bready malt undertone. Finish is crisp and dry, effervescent almost, with a bit more of the light citrus and farmhouse yeast flavors.

Mouth is med to slightly lighter bodied, crisp, and good carb.

Overall great, pretty much defines the style of saison, and this is probably the beer you can single out that has driven most other breweries on where to steer their saison.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2012 13:22:53 | More by jlindros

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

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

Served on tap at The Trappist in downtown Oakland, CA.

Appearance: Glowing bright golden color. Light fizzy head with sturdy lacing. Nice natural carbonation. Hazy body. Very nice to look at on this crisp winter night in Oakland.

Smell: Wild yeast. Floral esters. Chamomile and grass. Grain. Light noble bitterness, soap an citric flavors. Pear.

Taste: Funky and yeast mixture of noble hops and nice subtle roasted malts. The hops are fruity and sweet. The malts are crackery and spicy with a nice candy pizzaz. Lemon, grass and butternut squash. The essence of farmhouse.

Mouthfeel: Warming and complex. Hops and malts develop into a nice sweet citric flavor that finishes slightly dry.

Overall: The best example of a farmhouse ale. A beautiful beer on tap. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2011 06:05:49 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

A: Poured a hazy yellowish color with fast rising bubbles leaving a white blanket on the top

S: A little musty, fruity with accents of apple peel, lemon, and yeast.

T: Opens with a lemon, hay element, little funk giving way to subtle undercurrents of light fruit sweetness and spices, finishes with a quite Earthy bitterness.

M: Smooth and quite full, with light, soft carbonation, light booze sting

O: Truly excellent, super easy to drink, a beer to be savored and among my favorites

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 02:49:03 | More by barleywinefiend

kylehay2004

Florida

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

A: single finger, rapidly dissipating head.

S: a little bid medicie-like with fruity and spicey aroma notes.

T: spicey and fruity but a very palatable saison. This one isn't too fancy. A standard saison. Yeast character is not very complex.

M: moderate carbonation and medium body.

Overall: a standard saison. Neither memorable or forgettable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 00:48:07 | More by kylehay2004

smakawhat

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured on tap into a tumbler at Pizza Paradiso Dupont DC. Time to finally check this out on tap.

A white soapy head very lively with dull gray like yellow/brown pale amber color that falls normally. A good white colar is left while drinking but body is kind of murky.

Nose is a very dense earth, soil, it feels like fresh tilled dirt. Mild chlorophyl and resin, with a big giant lemon zest. This is a totally different animal on tap than from the bottle.

Taste brings a cold dense cut grass power mixed with a little hint of heat. Lively texture hints of carbonation that does not take away from the taste. An absolute rip your face off finish of lemon peel zest and grass on the aftertaste.

Overall a perfect introduction to the style, without a shocking sour or seriously funky jarring front. A different animal on tap compared to its green bottled brother.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 18:27:30 | More by smakawhat

mactrail

California

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A pleasant sweetness is the first taste, followed by the Belgian rasp. Rather bitter aftertaste. Light body but nice carbonation on the tongue. Thirst-quenching and intriguing flavor, but nothing too wild. A thinner, sharper style of Saison. Hoppy bitterness gives a nice edge. Textbook Saison of the Belgian style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 04:59:20 | More by mactrail

charlzm

California

3.85/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Consumed at Lucky Baldwin's Trappist Pub and Cafe on Sunday, August 21st, 2011. Beer served in proper glassware.

Beer is a slightly cloudy, moderately deep yellow (almost orange) topped with a uniform skin of extremely fine white bubbles.

Aroma is powdery yeast and lemon.

Flavor is soft floral/powdery yeast up front, immediately followed by more bitterness than I had expected. Also noted: a slight orange flavor. A little acidic tartness towards the end. The bitterness lingers after the rest of the flavor is gone and then, a good second or two after swallowing, a light malt trace shows up (think pilsener malt).

Moderate mouthfeel.

Despite being less fruity and tart than expected, still a nice, refreshing beer marred only by (IMHO) by a slightly overenthusiastic bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 22:54:50 | More by charlzm

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

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

On tap at Fountainhead. Served in a Saison Dupont branded stange.

Appearance: An elegant golden beer with visible suspended yeast particles and a tightly wound white creamy cap arrives in a branded stange. Very nice appearance.

Smell: The focus of the aroma is the white pepper notes from the yeast. Lemongrass, some lemon zest, a bit of clove, and a hint of French country field make their way into the aroma as well.

Taste: Bready malt up front with just the slightest hint of sweetness. White pepper really powers the flavor in each sip, from start to finish. As my palate debates the nuances of the flavor, some clove and peppercorn come through as well. Toward the end of the sip the hops really get going. A nice blend of grassy and lemon zest hoppiness gives this a nice character. Some fresh cut hay provides some added country character.

Mouthfeel: I go back and forth debating the carbonation. It feels creamy on my tongue, but it does not really clear the flavor and residue from my mouth like crisp, hoppy beers do. It has a light to medium body and is pretty clean for the style.

Overall: Saison is not my go-to style by any means, but this had a refreshing flavor, a nice complexity, and some hop power to boot. Definitely worth drinking on a warm summer day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 17:00:48 | More by KickInTheChalice

Northsider

Illinois

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Fountainhead Chicago as part of Saison event.

What can I say? This is the perfect beer. Appearance was cloudy yellow with great white head and good lacing. Smell and taste was wheaty and citrusy.

Mouthfeel was as SMOOTH as I've ever tasted beer before. I could drink this all day long...my new favorite beer. BUY THIS BEER.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2011 23:17:52 | More by Northsider

pkeigs

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I love this beer, a true classic, and a benchmark for Saisons.

Pours a nice color, with a lasting sticky 2 fingered head. This beer is amazing on tap, gets a little skunky for me out of the bottle.

Smells of summer, nice spicey, floral aroma. The yeast strain plays the part with the hops backing it up. Great peppery spice, lots of earth, maybe a little funky.

This beer is refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day, light floral hops balance out the yeast, the malt bill is secondary, but everything comes together to something great. Finishes dry and peppery, leaving me wanting more and more.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2011 14:55:59 | More by pkeigs