Saison Dupont - Brasserie Dupont sprl

Silenus

Georgia

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

I’d love this farmhouse ale on appearances alone! On popping the champagne cork you get a blast of earthy, hoppy, spicy aromas. It pours our with a beautiful head that looks like meringue. This thick white cloud lasts through the entire drink. The aromas and tastes remind me of black pepper and a fresh plowed field. The color is a deep yellow/orange and has bits of yeast suspended throughout. The flavor starts sweet from the malt and then finishes dry from the hops. It is both refreshing and complex. I call this my “picnic beer.” It compliments almost any dish of food. I did have one once with a tomato soup that didn’t really do anything for me but have it with a ham and strong swiss cheese sandwich! I consider myself a Scottish Ale man but if pressed, I might say that this is the beer I’d pick if I could only have one for the rest of my beer drinking days.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2005 19:18:05 | More by Silenus

StoutSlayer

Illinois

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

The "Chob"(Michelob) the champagne of beers??? I think not. Pouring this beer into into a small snifter it can barely be contained. Immediately there is a large effervescent head that monopolizes at least half my glass until I find the right pour-to-head ratio so i don't get beer all over my rug. The original aroma has that same metallic smell that all beers in a green bottle have to me; but when the aggressive, tightly laced head finally calms you get the flavors that are under it. That fruity/yeasty/funky Belgium scent that you would expect. But drinking it is a different story. Honestly, i can say this beer is balanced. The hop flavor is low but the bite you might be looking for is supported by it's effervescence. It gives way to a malty finish that makes itself known to your taste buds but fades to a dry finish, and this beer is incredibly dry. And drinkability??? Well let me just tell you that I, sir, am drunk. This single bottle is so deceptively drinkable that during the course of this review it has hijacked my brain because i have drinking it like soda. WOW. Those damn Belgians just pulled out a bottle, no pun intended, of whoop-ass on me. Damn my wife is going to be pissed when she comes home. Oh well. This brings me in an ass-backwards kind of way to my next point; which too me scores the highest of honors for beer... Every dang sip tastes the same, and as FRESH as the first. I find this rare in a beer and worth mentioning. Man thank God I have spell check or anyone reading this review would be in a world of hurt right now. Anyway... DO GET THIS BEER. Your most crazy, hoppy, flavorful beer? No. In a class of it's own for being both simple and amazing? Yes. My God, Yes.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2008 01:35:55 | More by StoutSlayer

drums4matt

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 330 ml bottle into a Scaldis tulip.

A - Poured a golden, cloudy bronze with a noticeably smaller white, puffy head than expected - MAYBE one finger. The color and activity of this beer is quite pleasing. While the head stayed a nice, opaquely laced layer over the beer, it didn't impress me like others in this style and no stick. After a moment to settle, there appears significant yeast sediment.

S - Aroma is good, not overly complex. It first gives off a banana/apple alcohol note with a sweet, candi sugar smell followed by some nice yeast and typically belgian clove notes brought together by a little sweet bread. Further olfactory exploration reveals just a hint of fresh hay with equal amounts of earthy barnyard notes.

T - Nice. At first the flavor has a sweetness that becomes yeasty and then drops off leaving a dry finish with just a hint of bitter. The upfront sweetness is subtly corny and heavy with candi sugar. This flavor lingers just enough to be layered by a touch of green hay and grain and finished off - very cleanly I might add - with just a faint touch of sour apple fusel. There are also hints at some buttery diacetyl - but they are only hinted at.

M - This is a nice, creamy smooth feeling beer. The carbonation is noticeable but simply enhances the creamy effervescent feel that, in a sense, brings this beer together fully. A bit slick even.

D - Drinkability is high. This finishes nice and clean but not with too much drying effect (bear in mind I love a dry-as-hell, bitter hop bomb). Really rather drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2009 23:40:31 | More by drums4matt

Kyrgyzbrewer

Massachusetts

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

a - a crisp caramel with a very thick head. There is a nice haze to it with bubbles dancing through it.

s - This is one of those beers where the nose can actually be said to be bursting. There are a myriad of notes coming through including apples, apricots, and anise.

t- There is a lot going on with this beer. It is very fruity, but not in a bad way at all. The taste sits very well on the palate, and there is a very subtle hop flavor to it.

M- When we opened the bottle and it popped like champagne, I knew what we were tearing in to. There is a lot of carbonation, which brings-out some of the fruit notes to it.

O- My wife is a huge fan of saisons, so this beer was a little bit of a surprise. Most of the saisons we've had are from American brewers, so what we came to realize as we drank it was that this beer is what a saison is supposed to taste like (not that there are not many very good American versions). We had it with Mexican food, and it was great. I cannot wait to have this beer in the summer with some of the fresh summer flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 16:43:21 | More by Kyrgyzbrewer

Hopilator

Maine

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

Popped open a 750 ml, poured into a tulip glass. Beautiful white head, impressive carbonation bubbling up through it's light golden hue. Effervescent nose. Honey like sweetness, that is balanced by the beers CO2 level, which, tingles on the tip of the tongue. Very pleasant, especially on a late summer evening, right when you can sense the fall is coming. Could possibly define the style, at least for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 22:18:55 | More by Hopilator

DubBrewer

Louisiana

4.7/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a nice golden color with a beautiful rocky white head. Ive seen the head on this beer easily be 2 inches. It has a meringue-like consistenty.

Smells of lemongrass with a nice bready malt aroma. I love the aromas coming off this beer. It smells very herbal and you can smell the spicy yeast in the background.

Taste is similiar spectacular. Tastes like a really nice pilsner beer at first sip and as you move the beer around in your mouth you get all the spicy character from the yeast. Its also quite hoppy, but not in an American APA way. Its very well balanced.

Mouthfeel is sort of creamy but also fizzy as you can feel the carbonation in your mouth. Every sip inviting you back for more.

Drinkability is superb. Very refreshing, especially on a hot summer day and we have alot of those where I live. Everything about this beer is outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2009 16:43:24 | More by DubBrewer

Draughted

California

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

Puts other Belgium beers to shame.

A - Color indicative of a wheat or other unfiltered beer. Golden with a lot of visible carbonation. Smooth head.

S - For whatever reason, the first note, to me, is bubble gum, sweet and skunky at the same time. Slight citrus notes.

T - Exceptionally smooth and delicate. There is a fruity flavor to the beer, has similarities to other wheat / hefeweizen brews. Almost impossible to drink slowly and truly appreciate the flaors.

M - Smooth and effervescent.

D - Other than the expensive imported price of almost $5 per 375 ml (12.4 oz), this beer would be a great six pack. Easy to drink and quickly becoming one of my favorite all-time.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2009 23:18:27 | More by Draughted

dyoung3

California

3.8/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Very hackneyed phrase but head dominates on the pour. Extremely light bright white bubbles with loads of carbonation (perhaps even more so after being in my backpack after a long bike ride from Whole Foods). Hazy yellow with no visible signs of yeast.

Smell: Citrus with a slight Belgian yeast presence. Hop character not very pronounced at all. A bit of barnyard funk.

Taste: Quite refreshing although the hop content was a little more than what I expected; perhaps I'm not that familiar with the Saison style especially if this is considered a standard among the industry. Very solid beer.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light mouthfeel considering the 6.5% ABV. I suppose this is a welcome feature but it sneaks up on you nonetheless. Carbonation is clearly evident and adds a significantly to the beer-drinking experience.

Overall: Definitely would buy this beer again but not before I tried other Saisons. Incredibly enjoyable but I admittedly would prefer a little more malt character to balance out the hops or alternatively lower the hop level.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 03:25:16 | More by dyoung3

Beasticles

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Hazy straw-golden with a lacy white 2 finger head. CO2 activity is readily visible in the glass, closer to champagne activity than a lager.

S- musky, citrusy, spicy

T- Pepper up front with sourdough and a subtle lemon finish. Spiciness really carries well throughout.

M- Light, quite carbonated, refreshing

O- Very few beers have made me react as immediately and as strongly as Saison DuPont. God, this is brilliant. I can't imagine a finer July evening sipper. I'm jonesing for a salmon steak or something.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 00:18:14 | More by Beasticles

PintPiner

Minnesota

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

The aroma is complex, peppery spice, hint of malt and a whiff of orange.

Big white light foamy head that gradually subsides.

Pale golden color and lots of carbonation.

Flavor starts with a creamy malt, then a slight spicy tang. Very crisp and dry. Soft and drinkable. Mouthfeel similar to champagne.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 00:12:38 | More by PintPiner

washingtonydc

District of Columbia

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

It's July 21st, the national holiday of Belgium--the day in 1831 when Leopold I donned the crown as the first king of Belgium. Of course, this doesn't prevent the Flemish from celebrating their own day earlier in July to mark the defeat of the French in the 14th century. Nor does it prevent the Walloons from celebrating in September to mark the defeat of the Dutch in 1830. But Belgium, somehow, balances this--this accidental unity as a sovereign nation comprised of disparate factions.

This of course, is by way of introducing Saison Dupont--a beer that, like Belgium, has much going on, but in the end, is perfectly balanced. Poured from a caged and corked 750ml bottle, it appears like a hazy golden fleece capped with a thick, supple white head. It gives off aroma of yeasty breads and tart fruits--grapefruit and lemon--and finishes with a hint of sweetness. The initial taste is also of bread, but is soon given over to grass. Just as a faint tinge of barnyard enters and promises a full-on funk, it's quickly balanced by a malty sweetness. Then, like that, it finishes cleanly. The finish is like a kiss of cotton candy: a little sweetness dissolves into crisp nothing. It has a light, refreshing mouthfeel with strong carbonation. Its drinkability is impressive--only 6.5%, this can be enjoyed in lengthy sessions, whether sitting under the sun or holed up inside.

Saison Dupont is a standout Belgian beer not just for its taste and quality, but also because it characterizes the nation itself--never straying too far into one camp (whether it be funk or sweetness, Flanders or Wallonia), it somehow travels down the middle in an impressive balancing act.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2010 01:31:48 | More by washingtonydc

orock25

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been very interested in everything Belgium lately and a saison is perfect for the summer months.

Appearance - Golden color with a white frothy head that fades quickly but bubble persist. cloudy clearity to be expected.

Smell - malty notes push through like a refreshing summer breeze. Can really smell the yeast.

Taste - Lemons is the first thing that comes to mind. Wild yeast flavor is very present and appealing.

Mouthfeel - Crisp and smooth. Again refreshing.

Overall - Fantastically refreshing beer. Perfect for summer.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 01:00:31 | More by orock25

scninmer08

New York

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into tulip.

Straw yellow with beautiful off-white three-finger head.

When I pulled the cork out, immediately I was hit with major skunkiness. Once I poured it into my tulip, the smell rounded out into an interesting blend of skunk and the normal funky yeast smell.

Taste begins with fruity, citrus notes accompanied by the funky backdrop throughout. The malt kicks in near the end, which was beautiful.

Creamy mouthfeel, great blend of carbonation and smoothness.

Overall, a wonderful saison, and the one that most likely comes closest to the ideal in terms of style. Definitely one I would enjoy again throughout the summer.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 12:20:20 | More by scninmer08

jgammoniv

Maine

4.61/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy golden color with a dense eggshell head.
flowery nose
head is creamy. notes of citrus. bread and slight spiciness and mild bitter finish
foamy feel, silky
overall a very nice beer. very refreshing. i can see drinking this during the heat of the summer. or now in the winter to think about the days of summer.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 04:54:46 | More by jgammoniv

tomakeanend

California

4.79/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

THIS is what beer should always taste like. Smooth, flavorful, but always crisp and refreshing at the finish. Very strong, fruity and citrus flavors up front, mixed with a heavy wheat body. The finish is pure summer hefeweizen. The Belgium people know beer like no other. I am in awe of this simple, yet powerful, brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:58:32 | More by tomakeanend

maltysfalcon

Florida

3.88/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours exceptionally bubbly. I got ahead of myself and had to wait about 10 minutes for some of the head to subside to fill the glass properly. Very yellow in color with some cloudy yeasts evident. Very light, herbal and citrus nose. The flavors
mimic the nose. I heard one reviewer describe this as his "Desert Island Beer", but it is a little too hoppy for that in my opinion. However, it is undeniably a great summer beer: light, lemony and fresh.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2007 00:32:24 | More by maltysfalcon

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

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

Mubbly

California

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

750ml poured into 2 Chimay glasses. (Split with my wife.)

This is my second go at this beer; my first was skunked and uncharacteristic.

Cloudy toasted yellow pour with a quick rising cloudy head - dense bubbles stay put for a long time. Lotsa lacing. Beautiful.

I can't get too much out of the smell, but I found: muted citrus, lemon, dirt/earth, and peppery-ness.

The taste was awesome; there is first an earthiness followed by a muted tart apple sweetness. It finishes with a blend of pepper, hops, and a bit of earth. The flavors would work well with grilled chicken & pasta.

Pleasant mouthfeel. Feels good and smooth over the tongue, but finishes dry. Great carbonation.

This would be a great beer to have on a hot day. It has a lightness to it that is very refreshing. Goes down easy.

I really enjoyed this one. My first try was extremely dull; I'm relieved that I received a good bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 19:15:35 | More by Mubbly

Cold

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Pours a pale straw/gold, with a lively, generous pearl-white head. Haze is apparent and uniform, though solid suspended particles are not visible. Numerous bubble trails rise through the drink.

S: Citric, funky, yeasty, slightly acrid, woody, peaty...

T: Tart apples and dry light wood on the front end, with yeasty dry light bread eventually replacing those flavors. Peat and other similar earthy, musty notes crisply finish each taste.

M: Very intense, robust carbonation really dominates the mouthfeel here. As this rush of bubbles dissipates, however, it's a (very pleasant) surprise to note that it lies over a velvety smooth, yet light body that really wouldn't need such an intense carbonation, though it masks the 6.5% ABV brilliantly. Finish is ever-so-slightly dry, though not astringent. Very drinkable/sessionable,

A: Aftertaste is very clean, though its cleanliness is more a product of the flavors on the palate, not an absence thereof. Those flavors include a slightly fruity tartness, crisp, woody earthiness, and a slight belgian funk. The finish is dry, but not terribly astringent, and the dryness increases over time.

Overall: Anyone who knows the saison style knows this beer. In my opinion it is the saison against which all others are measured, and while that does not necessarily mean it is better than the rest, in the vast majority of cases, this is true. Complex, but not busy; balanced but not boring...it's a nearly perfect example of a well-crafted beer, and a world-class example of a quintessential saison. This is the beer to introduce to a friend who doesn't like saisons because they're too sweet/fruity/etc.

It doesn't happen often...but...

5/5

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 03:13:51 | More by Cold

rchristensen

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle poured into a sniffer

A - Pours a cloudy yellow with an enormous 4 finger head. The head lingers and leaves moderate lacing.

S - Yeasty aromas dominate to start. Also able to pick up some fruity notes, citrus, as well as a faint hint of grain.

T - As was with the smell, the yeast flavors come to the front followed by mild citrus and a peppery spiceyness. The finish is quite dry, almost a champagne like quality.

M - Very crisp with good carbonation.

O - I find this beer to be very refreshing and a good example of the style. I am not sure I would search this out while looking for a Saison but it was certainly a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 23:50:53 | More by rchristensen

HagueBrook

Massachusetts

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

A- A very nice golden color, but a bit darker below the head. Nice thick head which took a few minutes to melt down with good lacing along the glass.

S- Not much of anything besides some grassy smell. A little wheat.

T- A bit of pepper as noted by others. Definitely a dry finish.

M- Smooth and easy on the palate.

D- Very drinkable. This would be great on a summer night. The lower ABV makes it more drinkable than other Belgian brews.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 23:19:49 | More by HagueBrook

levon15

Illinois

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

A straw colored hazy yellow, a bit cloudy. Thick white head that never dissipates past a quarter finger head that clings to the glass in sheets that slide slowly back into the beer

The smell is a grassy funk, not the farm but definitely out in the country, a pastural lemon scent. The smell pours out of the bottle after the cork is pulled and fills the room, literally.

A good astringent citrus. I get a hint of spicyness. The alcohol is not there, it could pass for a juice.

The mouth is a sticky wet bit oh happiness, the carbonation is high and it takes a bit away for me.

Overall the taste left me wanting more. The smell set the stage for something spectacular and it just wasn't all there, it was very good but I smelled something great. my beagle came trotting out of the other room looking for where the smell was coming from. I could open this and just smell it . I'll be buying some more and let it set for a while.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 01:11:03 | More by levon15

Monicagm

California

3.43/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Cloudy yellow color. High carbonation with a thick head that recedes back into the glass. Lacing sticks to the sides.

Orange/citrus scent.

Has a tangy/orange tart taste with a clean finish. Dry, not particularly bitter.

Light mouthfeel.

Overall, enjoyable but not one of my top choices in beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 19:26:41 | More by Monicagm

Luiz0930

California

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is my first time having a Belgium Saison style and the closest i can compare it to is champagne. Not a Cheap bottle of Champagne but a good style. This is mouth filling carbonation, the taste is a bit funky (just like a champagne) however you get this taste of coriander maybe some citrus flavor fruits and no taste of alcohol what so ever. This is a great beer to try, pick it up!

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 05:18:37 | More by Luiz0930