Saison Dupont - Brasserie Dupont sprl

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

A classic, a must try, but nothing exceptional. A lot of foam from aggressive conditioning, pouring out over table and taking several moments to calm down. Refreshing in summer, easy drink but not bold rather very grassy. Some coriander and cloves spice and apple honey. Ranked down a bit in another bottle of 10 months later, bit more barnyard did not affect it, rather found it only above average brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2004 03:46:58 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Tuscan gold with a stationary storm of fine yeast. Several frenetic streams of equally fine bubbles can be seen making their way up to a fantastic looking head of impressively rocky foam that is darker than ivory, yet lighter than beige. Meandering fingers of sticky sea foam lace complete the picture of an outstanding looking saison.

The nose is spicy and fruity and funky... and I can't stop smelling it. There's an impressive amount of white pepper spiciness emanating from the glass; so much so that I'd consider it to be the aroma's signature characteristic. Lemongrass and lemon peel contribute even more facets to an already multi-faceted nose.

Saison Dupont is more boldly flavored than anticipated and I like it more than I thought I would as a result. The other interesting thing that seems always to be present in quality beer is that the flavor profile changes so dramatically from the start of each mouthful to the finish. I love it when beer is not only complex, but when its complexity changes kaleidoscopically from the sip to the swallow.

Great mixture of malt and hops with the latter winning by a landslide. This is an amazingly hoppy, amazingly bitter beer with a finish that is almost parching in its aridity. If Saison Dupont was champagne, it'd be brut. The hops are lemon zesty and grassy and spicy and herbal and dee-licious. Why did it take me so long to discover this treasure of a beer?

I keep going back and forth on the mouthfeel. There's plenty of carbonation, but the bubbles seem a thing apart from the beer rather than being buried deep within it where they can provide silkiness and buoyancy. That probably borders on nitpickiness and doesn't hamper my enjoyment in the least.

Saison Dupont is one of the world's best-known and most-loved Belgian farmhouse ales. As far as I'm concerned, after draining this bottle in record time and loving every single drop, it deserves whatever accolades it has earned over the years. And then some.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2006 13:34:10 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

I picked this one up in Spartanburg a couple of months ago. Nice little place had this sitting on the shelf for clearance of all of things. So I definitely had to pick this one up and get it back to the house. Served at a nice fifty degree temperature, this one was poured into a snifter.

Very nice and extremely hazy golden yellow color came through immediately. Lots of sediment in here now as well. Huge carbonation profile could be seen with lots of chains of bubbles cascading up to the top of the glass to reinforce the huge champagne like head that came over the top of it. Lots of side glass lacing and a copious foam that would not quit. Very nice aroma here, lots of light grain, hints of grass, light lemon and a touch of grape. Nice airy smell gave way to a very nice flavor. Very light, and perfect for this summer day. First way was a slightly tart fresh grass like flavor. Some hints of peaches, pears, and a touch of tartness as well. Very nice light cereal grain flavor in the middle which became a touch bready as it warmed. Long finish of dried out bitter earthy notes and a touch of light fruit. Slightly sour on the tongue after a few moments. Fantastic carbonation kept it feeling very light and refreshing and this bottle was no issue at all to finish off as the profile was light, low abv and a wonderful bit of carbonation.

Overall I really thought this was a fantastic beer. Nice four year vintage really helped this and if it was ever really sour it has been significantly mellowed with time and the overall balance of it was really just quite nice. I was glad there were two on the shelf, as this has held up very nicely and it would be a pleasure to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 21:04:44 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

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

I finally got around to buying a bottle and reviewing this one.

A: A hazy goldenrod color with a very, very fluffy white head.

S: There is a lot of spice: pepper and clove for the most part. There is a nice bit of lemon and a mild funkiness.

T: A lot of spice is present up front--clove and pepper--followed by a mild sweetness from the malt and a bit of funk and citrus. The finish has a mild hop bitterness.

M: The beer is crisp, light, and dry on the tongue. The carbonation is abundant and helps to keep the beer nice and refreshing.

D: I can see why this one is so popular. A wonderful Saison, and one that would be perfect for a warm afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 05:53:51 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

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

Pours a slightly hazy gold with a towering white head and incredible legs as it makes its way down my tulip. Smell is quite a bit of unrestrained funk and earth. Some floral character makes its way in as well. Quite complex and seems to come from many different angles. The taste isn't quite as well integrated and complex, with some notes pushing a bit too far ahead, but still quite tasty. Well carbonated and beautifully dry, this drinks quite well. The epitome of the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 11:17:41 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.55/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Pours an effervescent, hazy, dark yellow body with a runaway, foamy off-white head.

Smell: Yeasty, fresh-smelling aroma chock full of meadow flowers, juicy lemons, and cracked green peppercorns.

Taste: Bready, almost sourdough flavor with a touch of sweetness and bright burst of lemon citrus. Adept acidity. Hint of hay. Only a mild funkiness overall. There's a faint graininess as well as a prevalent peppery spiciness. Light hop bitterness. Finishes crisp with a final taste of the yeast character.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Moderate carbonation. Lively mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Supreme drinkability and wonderfully refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2007 17:44:45 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Cloudy lemonade yellow color with a prodigious white, fine-bubbled head; rafts of lacing

Smell: Lemons and cloves, yeasty, with a bit of banana, dill and some wet hay

Taste: Light but complex; a bit of herbacious, lemony sweetness up front; after the swallow, the herbal elements grow as does a piney, resinous bitterness that is followed by a dry, peppery finish

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and refreshing; nicely carbonated

Drinkability: Very drinkable but extremely complex; great for warmer days when you want something thirst quenching

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2004 21:44:55 | More by brentk56

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

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a huge clear golden brew (after the cork blew out of that one) with a huge head with medium retention. Aroma is a mix of spice and malts with some citrus flavour being omnipresent. Taste is like a good Belgian ale with again the citrus flavour really coming out of that one. Carbonation is good with excellent medium body. Overall, a very good example of the saison style. The only downside is that the green bottle doesn’t seem to keep the beer very well. I’ve had too many bad past experience of this beer being skunked. I have another bottle of that batch that I will try to age.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2004 15:08:59 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Maybe the epidome of the style. A terrific beer--hands down. From the onset of a magical deep yellow glow with stark-white head retention, incredible rocky head retention, sprikled with peppery spices, and continuous lacing. Sweet and tart aromas with soft pilsner malts, yeast, bread, fruits, and hop spiciness. Tastes richly of sweet bready / fruity malts that bring out pears, berries, apples, and appricots. Spicy with peppery hops, bitterness, alcohol, and tartness. Smooth and light on the palate with a soft dry finish. Very clean with slight tart aftertaste. Mildly acidic and vineous throughout. One of the best beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2006 19:30:17 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my chalice a slightly hazy orange/gold with a mammouth white head that stuck like glue as to the sides of the glass as it took its times settling.Wow the tons of stuff going on aroma wise some definent barnyard funck hits right after popping the cork along with some lemon rind and even a light phenolic smokiness in there as well.Very refreshing ale to say the least here,hints of lemon and coriander with a leafy,herbal finish.Clean and fruity and oh so damn refreshing a true classic and a summer quencher I wish I had more.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2005 01:35:33 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

Cellared 750 ml bottle. The cork is dated 11-98. It releases a Champagne-like "pop" when the cork is released, and a foamy head starts building in the neck of the bottle. Carefully poured it's a clear gold with just-smaller-than-standard bubbles quickly rising from points across the entire bottom of the glass. A second pour should bring up some haze and tiny dark particulate, giving it a hazy peach colored body. The carbonation supports the billowing, frothy, creamy and pillowy bright-white head; and it holds a continuous 1/2 inch or more of head. Quite an appearance! Initially it leaves solid sheets of lace, but as you progress through the glass they break up into an interesting 'patchwork'. The nose is musty, hay-like, and lightly sweet but lacks the citrus rind and spice of fresh versions. The body is thin and the mouthfeel is lightly creamy - a contrast from the biting carbonation of a fresh bottle! In this case, however, it adds to the drinkability as the spice and hop flavors are diminished as well. It offers a lightly earthy, touch acidic, mildly sweet malt with some soft fruit (peach, apricot) and a cusp of peppery spice. It's quite supple, and yet it retains a fair amount of complexity. Astonishing! It finishes long and dry with a bit of the forementioned supple maltiness, a touch of summer fruit, and some mild peppery spicy notes. It's clear that this beer is extremely well made, considering that it's held up so well after 4 years. In fact, I enjoyed the aged version just as much as a fresh one. It's notably different, but still quite nice. I wouldn't recommend laying it down for more than 2 years, but if you find one in a corner of your cellar a few years later give it a try, you might be surprised!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2003 18:21:43 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Hazy, straw yellow color, creamy, bone-white froth atop.
Aroma, a great heady blend of citrus and spice, probably coriander and clove in the lead. Feels quite a bit like a wit, too, with that wheaten element riding high.
Taste: warm, wonderful, spicy texture, smooths out after, but never flags in flavor. Citrus and spice carries through, with plenty of lemon zest and a drizzle of orange, plus loads of yeasty contributions and a never-ending spicy kick.
Thirst-quenching all the way, ending in a crisp, dry finish. Light bodied, but abundant with character.
Damned tasty! A great summery ale, tres sophisticated and quaffable, to boot!

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2004 06:13:40 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a cloudy pale gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades. The aroma is great. It has a light pale malt scent with a very fruity Belgian yeast finish. The taste is good. It has a pale malt flavor with a fruity yeast finish. It goes down easy and finishes dry, yet refreshing. The mouthfeel is good. It is a medium/full bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a fine saison. It has a superior aroma and good taste; a good drinker.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2004 21:39:17 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

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

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass. Beer is straw yellow and completely hazy. Forms a thick white head of small and medium bubbles, tons of lacing, carbonation is moderate to high and steady. Looks good.

Nice smell, a little sulfur but not much. Smells pretty good.

Medium body, sweet first and then some bitterness. Almost a Duvel like feeling to it. As the beer warms up there is more subtly to the flavors, more sulfur, more sour. Great mouthfeel, great drinkability. I really like this beer. Its probably one of the nicest and readily available saisons on the market.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2010 00:48:34 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

1.78/5  rDev -57.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

The beer pours a hazy yellow color with a white head. The aroma has a good amount of skunkyness in it, with some wheat and grain notes mixed in. The flavor is unfortunately the same. This is yet another skunked Saison Dupont. This is the third separate bottle I have purchased in an attempt to rate this beer fairly, but after wasting $25+ on skunked beers, I have come to the conclusion that if the brewer is dumb enough to put a beer in a green bottle, they deserve a horrible rating if the beer is skunked. Other than the skunked notes, there is a little citrus and spice. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Overall, a gross, yet I can’t say unexpected, beer. Shame on me for buying bottles three times.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 04:34:20 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a cloudy, straw-yellow color with a small, foamy, bubbly, off-white head that left soapy residue on the sides of the glass.

S - It smelled of yeast, clove, dried fruits. and a horse blanket mustiness.

T - Taste was sour and yeasty. There was an odd ham taste or some other cured meat (I guess it is a farmhouse ale).

M - It was crisp, sharp and fizzy with a good bite. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This was a little disappointing. It didn't live up to the hype, in terms of flavor. It was just a little odd.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2008 02:45:01 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is cloudy straw yellow in color and poured with a three finger white head that slowly died down but never quite disappeared. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are musty aromas of yeast and spices in the nose, along with some subtle hints of sour fruits.
T: The taste is somewhat tart and has a good balance between grainy malts, sour fruit, peppery spices and a mild amount of bitterness from the hops.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and there is some dryness, particularly in the finish.
D: The beer is very refreshing and relatively easy to drink. It's a perfect beer for the summer months.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 23:54:17 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.72/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2003 Bottling, Sampled June 2004
The aroma is lemony, sharp, and musty all at the same time. It is very well carbonated and just dances around as it effervesces on my tongue. The taste is lightly sweet, yet is quite dry in the finish. This is definitely well hopped as it has a nice balancing bitterness in the finish. The taste has some light lemon notes as well hints of ginger, and herbs. The beer is really quite dry, despite the sweetness that I detected early on. This beer is light and refreshing, yet complex and interesting. This is just a great beer, and one of my favorite styles right now.


2003 bottle, Sampled January, 2004
It is very well carbonated as the cork just explodes from the bottle with only a little prompting. This beer is a hazy orange yellow colored brew, which, is topped by a prodigious white head. The head is long lasting and turns to a cratered rocky surface over time. As I pour I get a strong light struck character in the aroma. The main aroma in the glass is of grain. The light struck character is, thankfully, quite muted in the taste. The beer has a sharp grassy-grain character to it, which is quite good and make me think of a nice hay field in Belgium. There is a slight sweetness and a balancing bitter hop finish. It is a fairly dry beer overall, and has very little fruitiness to it. The middle of this beer has a certain sharp spiciness to it. Overall, though this beer is fairly mellow, the flavors are well integrated and flow one into the other. I like this beer; a quality, good farm-house beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2004 02:02:58 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

On-tap 1/7/08 at Pitcher's Pub in Cumberland, RI, served in a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a short white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of bananas, spices, Belgian yeast, light malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is full of spice and Belgian yeast with a background of bananas. The malt character is thin and there's a mild but complimentary hops presence. The after-taste is spicy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, very clean finish.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, very good representation of style, this is a good beer to drink for a long time, especially if you're in the mood for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2008 20:50:42 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This is a really nice Saison, the pour was a golden color with some haziness to it with a white head on top that left a nice lacing on the glass. The smell of the beer was of some sweet fresh grains and hints of wild flowers and honey. The taste was on the sweet side as well and made this very enjoyable in my opinion. The flavors come to life as the beer warms also. The mouthfeel was smooth and light but had enough body to it be enjoyable. Overall a really nice brew here, sure to please.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 21:36:25 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

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

Boy this sucker, had some life in the bottle, as soon as it uncageed the cork (2.006) shot off! Never seen that before

Pours an effervescent straw/honey color with 1finger + of fluffy white head. Great head retention & fair lacing

S: Straw & fruit (apples & pears) & a little pepper

T: Appleskins and slight yeast twang up front. A slight lemony flavor follows along with some tartness. Some earthy &peppery notes from the yeast as this warms up. finiishes funky & fruitty with some lemony hops& very crisp

MF: Light & spritzy

Drinks very easy for the abv, not my favorite style, but does bring back fond memories of when I toured the brewery back in 92

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2007 20:08:47 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12.7oz. mini-magnum. Printed 06 129 on label.

Extremely bubbly, the cork makes a forceful pop, with plenty of wispy smoke. Into an oversized Oerbier tulip, it cascades up and over the lip of the wide vessel. It reflects a deep, translucent orange tone. Delicate, fluffy foam hangs on the rim, lacing the glass for the duration of drinking it.

Doughy aroma, cracker, herbs, a certain herbal cannabis note at first. Bread, herbs, and grain huskiness meld into an attractive rustic bouquet.

Juicy at first, with a building dry, herbal character that builds, and remains long after the finish. Crackery, with clove, lemon peel, and hops. It's an extremely balanced blend that is deceptively simple at first. Dry aftertaste commands you to continue sipping until it's gone. Light herbal hop dances on the tongue for a long while. Perfect with Brie, aged Gruyere, or any number of cheeses.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2007 00:35:34 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

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

11.2 oz., 330 mL bottle,

A: Pours a sparkling, cloudy yellow, with a big, thick, white head, that just keeps coming, very frothy and billowy, cloud-like.

S: Very lemony, citrus, a bit of hops, also had a bit of a sour tint to it, with some white pepper, as well.

T: Very lemony upfront, strong citrus flavour, the hops a very noticable, very dry and earthy, grassy, especially for a Belgian beer, grassy, pretty straightforward in the flavours, not the most complex of beers, but all the flavours are very good and enjoyable.

M: Dry, very dry, medium-bodied, very refreshing, definitely a great summer quencher beer.

D: A great all-around beer, could do lots of things with it, from relaxing poolside or pairing it with a 5-course meal, very versatile beer, a tad pricey, but worth it every time.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 00:23:12 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass.
Poured a cloudy yellow with a very, large white head that did settle down a bit, but remained solid.
The smell was lemony with noticeable - but not overwhelming - hop presence.
The taste was citrusy - especially lemon and a bit of orange, yeasty and had moderate hoppiness. The flavors were very well-balanced.
The mouthfeel was light, dry and slightly creamy. The flavors didn't stick around long - but was very refreshing.
This is an excellent choice for a barbeque on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2006 20:33:06 | More by jwc215