stefanje (936), (Santee) San Diego, California, USA Nov 19, 2007 750 ml bottle from Bevmo. This one pours a cloudy yellow gold with a big fluffy white head that dissipates slowly and leaves plenty of lacing. The aroma is complex and layered with sweet citrus, caramel, butter, peanuts, thyme and a bit of funk. The flavor is also layered, there are a great many subtle complexities at work-- first I note a sweet and sour sensation featuring sour pineapple and sweet pears, the sides are filled in by hazelnuts and walnuts, and bringing up the rear is hops, fresh basil and thyme. The mouthfeel is full, smooth and creamy. The Finish is long and magnificent with many lingering complex flavors. Overall: This is a beer that should pair well with fish and poultry and it is one you won’t soon forget. This is much more complex than the Veile Provision, this is an Imperial Saison. Recommended. michael-pollack (2598), King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA Nov 19, 2007 Draught: Medium sweet aroma. Smells of yeast, lemon, light spice, and blue cheese. Poured yellow in color with a tiny white head that diminished immediately. Tasted of alcohol, bubblegum, and lemon. Slight flavor. Light to medium body. Smooth texture. Soft carbonation. Light lemon and alcohol finish. A nice Saison. Easy drinking. Very warming. GarrettB (494), Seattle, Washington, USA Nov 18, 2007 The Saison is an incredibly difficult style to grasp. Like the Quadrupel ot Belgian Strong, the label fails to grasp any of the beer’s real character. We may say the Saison is "light", and we may say it is quenching, but these are qualities shared not only between saisons, but with water, tea, and even lemonade. It is an entirely insufficient nomenclature, which is why I have tried my hardest to judge each Saison by itself. Point in case, the Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux (DALBV for short). The dandelion yellow-orange body sits meditatively in the glass, while I great roiling cloud of ruffled white head grows into an air-tight cap atop, sealing away the mellifluous aroma beneath. A little excavating yields a sweet aroma underneath, it’s alloy of sugary and savory flavors making for a truly refined treat. Pear juice, butter and popcorn elicit the familiar perfume of a sweet tripel, while a particular waft of sparkling ginger and cider perks the nose to attention. The capacious aroma includes a floral movement, alongside the seasonally familiar smell of fresh rain and wet tree bark. Finally, pineapple and a faint tangerine citrus lend their acidic traits to give the calm and sensible aroma a much needed spark. This genteel fragrance speaks highly for the DALBV, while the palate and flavors show its stealthier, more indirect side. On the palate it is very delicate and light, almost springy, with a sufficiently thin body to quench any lingering thirst on behalf of the drinker. Alongside this jocular mouth feel a little pear flavor sighs, accompanied by a dab of honeysuckle. However, the sweetness is mostly illusory, though in a magical, non-deceptive way. In reality a rigid bread and graininess forms the main column of flavor. The sweeter elements are simply sideshows, if incredible sideshows. Because of its fragile nature, I could see the DALBV pairing very well with roasted and grilled vegetables like thick asparagus, red onions and zuchini. The beer’s aftertase, a tingle of thyme and rosemary, makes the perfect pre-flavoring for oncoming vegetables. Independently, a solid brew, and paired with food, excellent too. This is, by all means, a unique and distinctive Saison, and one that could be well considered for promoting beer’s potential as a drink for culinary critics and savants.
FatguyRacer (128), Crownsville, Maryland, USA Nov 18, 2007 Updated: Dec 25, 2008750 ml bottle. Wonderfully sweet aroma of spice and florals. Beautiful amber color and off white creamy head that never disappeared. Great flavor, sweet at first from the malt than the mild bitterness of the hops comes into play. Mouth feel is noticeably more creamy than Duponts other Saison and the flavor is a little more subdued and fruity. Its also had less carbonation, but with a high alcohol content it has more kick. An excellent Saison, but not as good to me as Veile Provsion. acearl (207), J-Town, Pennsylvania, USA Nov 17, 2007 750ml bottle at Eulogy in Philadelphia, Excellent worth the $...Orange amber hue with frothy white head, yeast and hints of acidic fruit and spice characteristic of saison, the best one I have had to date, medium carbonation and body. Aubrey (2773), Denver, Colorado, USA Nov 16, 2007 Great-looking orange hue with a lofty head and nice lace. Inviting bouquet of aromas -- yeast and spice. Mouthfeel was tingly, but the carbonation wasn’t as lively as most beers from this mold. Slight sweetness blended with a chewy yeastiness. Mild bitterness balanced things out well, and hung out behind some bold spices -- pepper, coriander, clove. Other notes of citrus (lemon and orange rind). Pleasant beer. ohemming (22), Columbus, Ohio, USA Nov 15, 2007 750 ml bottle. golden color, nice head. interesting aroma, interesting flavor, nice funky saison. bhen81 (1), USA does not count Nov 15, 2007 Drank from bottle. My ratings are universal to my tastes meaning I dont judge to style. This beers flavor is complex between sweet, bitter, and sour and stants out to me as a unique and excelent blend of the three and majorly elevates the overall impression.
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