Saison Dupont - The Beer of Summer!

**clubman** · 07-29-2010, 02:50 PM

As far as I'm concerned, nothing says summer like a glass (or 3) of Saison Dupont (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/637/1717/). A lot of bars have it on tap this time of year (The Old Monk in Dallas was pouring some particularly delicious draughts of it last weekend) but it's always great in the bottle as well. Personally, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the combination of good company, nice conversation, and Saison Dupont on a sun-dappled patio. In fact, as I type this, I find myself craving one!

Anyone else a fan?

**Edcculus** · 07-29-2010, 05:36 PM

I love this beer (and Saisons as a style). Unfortunately, the brewery bottles it in those stupid green bottles!!! I can't for the life of me get a non skunked bottle. I've tried different times of year, different stores etc. All the same. Always skunked. I did notice at one grocery store when I was living in Cleveland had a 4 pack of smaller bottles which I think were brown. It is great on tap, but I rarely see it. As much as I like this beer, I've pretty much given up on getting it un-skunked. I usually buy Hennepin by Brewery Ommegang when I'm craving Saison now.

**Ru4scuba?** · 07-29-2010, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by clubman

Anyone else a fan?

Big

here! Love that Farmhouse ale! One of my Belgian favs!

**bossdog79** · 07-29-2010, 06:54 PM

Good stuff, haven't tasted it in a few years though...since I quit working at a liquor distributor....man I miss that job.

**3am Shadow** · 07-29-2010, 08:09 PM

I've had a few saisons.
Bless me, I can't remember which. THey were very long nights.
I do remember them tasting delicious.

**tsmba** · 07-30-2010, 06:55 AM

That is another beer style I have heard about, but never seen available. I know it is possible to order some of these beers online, but shipping beer really adds to the expense.

**clubman** · 07-30-2010, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by Edcculus

I love this beer (and Saisons as a style). Unfortunately, the brewery bottles it in those stupid green bottles!!! I can't for the life of me get a non skunked bottle. I've tried different times of year, different stores etc. All the same. Always skunked. I did notice at one grocery store when I was living in Cleveland had a 4 pack of smaller bottles which I think were brown. It is great on tap, but I rarely see it. As much as I like this beer, I've pretty much given up on getting it un-skunked. I usually buy Hennepin by Brewery Ommegang when I'm craving Saison now.

Good point about the skunked bottles - I usually ask the guy at the booze store if they have an unopened case in back and grab one out of there (good thing for all green bottled beers). You're right about the smaller bottles, I had one in Santa Fe last year that was definitely brown.

**clubman** · 07-30-2010, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by 3am Shadow

I've had a few saisons.
Bless me, I can't remember which. THey were very long nights.
I do remember them tasting delicious.

Yes, saisons do lend themselves to evenings like that - they sure go down easy!

**djmike523** · 07-30-2010, 07:38 AM

Great choice as a beer of summer; or, fall / winter / spring

I also love (perhaps more?!) some American brews of this variety, or other similarly produced beverages; most any product from Ommegang comes to mind.

**Benzine Prosper** · 08-10-2010, 07:14 AM

definitely a favourite come spring or summer. I've begun to see a few more saison's available from various breweries, but this farmhouse saison still holds it's place as the yardstick others are measured by.

**mr_economy** · 08-10-2010, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by tsmba

That is another beer style I have heard about, but never seen available. I know it is possible to order some of these beers online, but shipping beer really adds to the expense.

Boulevard offers a couple saison-style beers in its Smokestack series that are superb. You may be able to find those at liquor stores in your area, they come in 750ml corked bottles. Boulevard's Tank 7 is one of the best beers I have ever had the pleasure of tasting.

**clubman** · 08-10-2010, 09:00 PM

Re: avoiding skunked Dupont - I was at Whole Foods the other day and decided "what the hell, it's hot out, I'm buying a Dupont". Knowing that the visible bottles in front would be roadkill-esque in their skunkiness, I fished around in the dark recesses of the beer case and snagged a bottle that hadn't seen the light in eons. Sat down in my patio, popped the cork, and in moments I was suckling at the teat of beer goodness. Totally unskunked. The lesson being, Saison Dupont rewards those with a modicum of self sufficiency.

**tsmba** · 08-11-2010, 05:19 AM

I checked out the large bottle section at the store....no luck. I've seen saisons classified as "farmhouse ales", though that seems like a loose description. One of these days, maybe I'll find one.