Brasserie Dupont's Foret

Brewed in the Saison style, this one is also known as a Farmhouse Ale. Usually sweet, these beers were typically brewed in the winter for consumption later in the year, often the summer for the fam workers who were allowed a little brew during the summer harvest season. With Saisons, you will often see fruit, a ton of yeast, sometimes a little bitterness and as with most Belgians, some spice of course . Often the bitterness depends on the the hops used. They range in alcohol content, often around 5-8%. Historically the lower ABV was so that the farm hands could have something to quench their thirst, but with some flavor.

Brasserie Dupont, located in Tourpes, Belgium, has built quite the reputation lately. mainly due to the revival of the Saison style, of which their Saison Dupont has been very popular. They have their beginnings at their current location back in 1759 when it was a farmhouse. The current brewery was founded in 1950 and in the 90′s a bakery and cheese making factory were opened. This beer is essentially an organic version of the Brasserie Dupont Saison.

Appearance was of a light cloudy straw yellow as I poured this into a tulip glass, with a healthy amount of bubbles producing a very nice two fingered head. After a sip or two the head dissipates, but still settles into a nice one finger head. Just hold this up to the light and rays of heaven appear to shine through.

Aroma was of heavy yeast, citrus and spice. A mild hop and malt  aroma were thereas well, but a second sniff brout out the wonderful spice anf fruit notes.

To taste was divine. The spices and yeast are prevelant here, even after a few sips, but eventually the malt character comes out and the taste is further balanced with the mild hops notes I smelled earlier.

Overall this was nice. Not quite as much a Saison as I had hoped, but a very drinkable bew. Great to enjoy on a hot summers day when you want a little character and depth to your beer, but nothing too heavy. Weighing in around 7.5% ABV i enjoyed this one with some grilled checked and seasoned fries.