The Saison is slowly becoming one of my favorite lighter styles of beer. One of the reasons is because they are easy drinking, but another is that they have a slightly heightened amount of flavor and booze. There’s really no other way to say it – and the Saison Dupont is no exception. It’s pretty much text book. I will say the only drawback to this beer is the green bottle because unfortunately it adds a small amount of skunkiness to the smell of the beer. And I’m pretty sure these are fresh as they just arrived in our stores…which come to think of it…doesn’t really mean anything. What I will say is that there is zero “skunk” on the palate. When this beer hit my tongue I was more than pleasantly surprised. It has that classic Saison taste. Light, ester-y, citrusy, and well-balanced. Now, it’s not as great as the Boulevard Saison Brett by any means, but… Certainly check this one out if you haven’t. If you are a fan of Saisons then I’m sure you’ve had this one multiple times. I’m also pretty sure you can find this one in a lot of stores across the country.
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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: BEAK>
Brewery: Brasserie Dupont
Beer: Saison Dupont
Style: Farmhouse Ale / Saison
Location: Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Rating: 91/100
Posted by theReaper16 on January 29, 2010 at 9:43 PM
Oh God, how I love saisons. Some people call me a Boulevard homer but I really love how Boulevard is far and away the best American saison brewer.
I was actually drinking this very beer when I first saw that you uploaded a review of it. It is Saison Dupont of all beers that I most often and reliably pair with meals. I love how saisons match well with a wide variety of foods, and Dupont’s versatility in this regard is formidable.
Fantome saisons are brilliant, btw. You have to like Brettonamyces funky flavors. Saison-Brett remains my favorite of the style. I’m not really typing with any coherency; these sentences are like fragments of thought. Saisons do that to me.
Posted by Barleywhiner on January 30, 2010 at 7:22 PM
Classic beer, but those green bottles have got to go!
Posted by thehopry on January 30, 2010 at 7:41 PM
Agreed!
Posted by Michael on January 31, 2010 at 4:33 PM
Although I really enjoyed the Saison Dupont, I enjoyed Dupont’s Avec Les Bons Voeux more… fantastic beer. Also excellent and conveniently local to me, is Ommegang’s Hennepin.
Unfortunately, I don’t get Boulevard here in PA… I’ll have to figure out a way to get my hands on Saison-Brett.
Posted by Big Mike on January 31, 2010 at 7:17 PM
I picked up a bottle of Sly Fox’s Saison Vos. It’s rated pretty high on beer advocate, plus the brewery is only 15 minutes from my house.
Posted by tai4ji2x on September 9, 2010 at 2:20 PM
i think one should try to differentiate “funk” from “skunk”. the compound, created by the reactions of hop isohumulones and UV and near-UV wavelengths of light, is very specific, and with a green bottle can occur in less than 10 minutes of sun exposure (and within a few days with regular retail outlet lighting). it is quite distinct from the “funk” and barn/farm aromas created by belgian yeasts (and brett in particular).
also, “traditional” saisons are actually 3-4% abv (like dupont’s avril), and really more of a true “session beer”. i personally wouldn’t want to imagine trying to quaff this all day under the hot sun, while working with sharp farm implements or farm animals. these new “super-saisons” of 5.5% or higher are actually a newer trend.
Posted by Nina on December 22, 2010 at 5:11 PM
You have asked about recommendations regarding the Saison style. I am not familiar with the ones coming from American breweries, but I know quite a few Saisons of Belgian (and some Danish) origin.
I can whole-heartedly recommend IV Saison from Jandrain-Jandrenuoille, which to me is special, because the brewers seem to use American hops (I like those and do not often get them!).
I like their second regular beer is called “V Cense” even better, but it is not a Saison.
My other favourite is La Rulles Estivale. Don’t know if it officially counts as a Saison, but it’s obviously brewed for the summer (hence the name) and it is a refreshing, hoppy blond beer of moderate alcohol cpntent.
By the way: the same brewery produces a very good “Cuvée Meilleurs Voeux”, which is brewed for the end of year and is a very dark and rather hoppy that is not sweet. I have not had the chance to try it often, but always enjoyed it. I have not yet tried Beer Here’s Dark Hops or the lighter Black Cat, but I suspect i attracts the same kind of customers.
Posted by thehopry on December 31, 2010 at 9:26 AM
Hi Nina – thank you for all this great info. I did a little bit of research and may have some problems finding these beers. Some make it to the states, but not far enough West.
Posted by Big Mike on April 13, 2011 at 5:09 PM
Just finished a 750 of this for my first time having Saison Dupont. I’ve got to say. Lose the green bottle. The Heineken smell lingered through out and i couldn’t get passed it. Underneath i can tell there’s a nice Saison but Skunk was to noticeable.
Cheers!
Big Mike
Posted by thehopry on April 13, 2011 at 9:46 PM
Yeah that green bottle can suck it for all I care…