Avec les Bons Vœux

Tasting Notes

The aroma opens with a complex mix of dry hay, orange peel, cracked black pepper, and a faint floral note from the house yeast. On the palate, there's a firm bitterness underpinning ripe orchard fruit and a pronounced spice character — clove and ginger edge forward as it warms. The body is fuller than Dupont's standard Saison, as the elevated ABV gives it more weight and a gentle warming quality without turning boozy. The finish is long and dry, with a rustic earthiness that lingers.

About the Brewery

Brasserie Dupont is a working farmstead brewery located in Tourpes, in the Hainaut province of Belgium. Operating since the 1840s in various forms, it became dedicated to brewing under the Dupont family in 1920 and is widely considered the benchmark producer of the Saison style. Their Saison Dupont is frequently cited as one of the most influential ales in the world, and the broader lineup extends into bieres de garde, organic ales, and specialty releases like this winter seasonal.

Food Pairings

The beer's dry spice and high carbonation cut well against roasted pork loin, where the fruit esters echo the caramelized crust. Aged Gouda is a natural match because its crystalline nuttiness plays against the pepper notes without overwhelming them. A slow-braised lamb shank benefits from the beer's earthy backbone, which bridges the fat and herbs in the braise. Strong-flavored washed-rind cheeses like Limburger or Époisses find balance in the dry finish. Roasted root vegetables seasoned with thyme hold up to the beer's weight while letting its yeast character come through.

Style Guide

Saison is a Belgian farmhouse ale style that originated in the French-speaking Wallonia region, historically brewed in winter for consumption by agricultural workers during the summer harvest. It's defined by a dry, highly attenuated body, vigorous carbonation, and a yeast-driven spice and fruit character — think pepper, citrus, and hay rather than malt sweetness. Most examples land between 5% and 8% ABV, making this particular release notably stronger and more vinous than the style's everyday expression. It sits apart from Belgian Tripels and Blondes by its rustic dryness and earthy complexity rather than sweetness or Abbey-style richness.