Saison Du BUFF
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Saison Du BUFFSaison Du BUFF
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
 
Delaware, United States
Style:
Saison
Ranked #629
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,224
Avg:
3.77 | pDev: 14.59%
Reviews:
471
Ratings:
1,680
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 29, 2023
Added:
Aug 06, 2010
Wants:
  63
Gots:
  253
Plans call for Saison du BUFF to be a 6% alc/vol Saison brewed with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. This beer will be brewed three times, once at each brewery using the same recipe.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AndrewScottPentland:
Photo of AndrewScottPentland
Reviewed by AndrewScottPentland from Florida

4.18/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
This saison appears to be a pale-golden color. As I first began to pour it into the glass I didn't think it would develop a sizable head; however I was quickly proven wrong, and greeted with a sudsy, bright white foam.

The smell is dominated by herbs. Sage is most prominent with the rosemary and thyme playing a supportive role. The parsley seems to lend a pleasant grassiness to the aroma. It is difficult to distinguish between hop and herb aromas - the beer smells green and fresh.

At the front of the mouth I'm greeted with a punch of juicy hop flavor. This seems to be a heavily hopped saison, especially when considering the breweries involved in its production. This herbaceous flavor is supported with a pleasant sugary malt sweetness that is very subdued. The finish is dry and bitter, revealing more lemony hop flavor.

The mouthfeel is incredibly light and effervescent. The tingling sensation of the beer on my palate helps to highlight the spicy and citrusy hop and herb characteristics.

Overall, a delicious brew that will certainly satisfy foody beer nerds. A bold yet sophisticated use of herbs helps to elevate this saison to the likes of a true culinary experience.
Jul 05, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at PreFunk. Pours out a nice clear golden with soft creamy head, lazy carbonation. Slightly oily, creamy mouth feel, yeasty, grassy aroma and taste. Mild spice on the back on the finish leaves some tang lingering.
Jan 29, 2023
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had this on draft in 2012.
A: pours a golden body with small white head with nice retention and lacing.
S: sweet, fruity, sweet runty smell
T: sweet, platinum, subtle spicy/yeasty taste; subtle, fruity aftertaste
M: medium bodied and fairly smooth
D: nice feel and taste combo; pretty solid saison; yay DFH!
May 09, 2022
 
Rated: 3.89 by EasternIsh from California

Jan 12, 2021
Photo of imnodoctorbut
Reviewed by imnodoctorbut from Texas

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
today, for some reason, I have popped the top of a 2015 bottle of this brew that has camped out in my fridge since the day I bought a pack of it, leaving this straggler for some unknown reason - maybe to cook with? dunno. I just remember not being thrilled with the original sipping sessions. so. HERE WE GO.

pours a muddled reddish brown body with excited reddish tan head that dissipated inside of a minute down to a ring around the cap. question - will I pass out from noxious fumes upon whiffing here in a second?

the answer is "no" but holy hell. the cooking spices have taken on a caramelized nature. ever had parsley/sage/rosemary/thyme syrup?? neither have I - until now. dramatics aside, this is a caramel and molasses malt bomb infused with the cooking spices advertised. herbal, funk laden, thick...herbal, again. weirdly sweet. weirdly missing a certain expected earthy shade. syrup (near medicinal) and herbal cooking spices. CHECK

surprisingly carbonated for being a lower-ABV brew chilling in the fridge for 5 years. this is doubly surprising given how thick and near-medicinal-syrupy this thing feels. it's like the flavor has become syrup, added to a moderately high carbo'd and medium-light bodied brew. perhaps extract separation? Is that a thing? No? Message me if you have input here bc I am GRIPPING HERE.

overall:
I'm gonna level with ya here - I should have just sipped this thing one time, realized what was up, and then cooking a killer stew with this thing. even though I remember being frustrated with the delivery system of the flavors during the initial tasting, five years have certainly not helped this whatsoever, and I don't see this "review" as a fair vantage point by any means. I still wonder what it would've been like to have this cooking spice combo blended into a porter or a pale ale, comfortable within an established body/carbonation zone which could have carried those flavors without being yanked forward by the Saison yeast factor which can do funk all on its own, ya know? or at least maybe a lighter bodied farmhouse saison, as Jester King has established. whatever, either way...5 years was a mistake. what a way to creep towards the end of the spectacularly weird-in-an-awful-way year.
--as a last side note, I left the last finger worth of brew in the bottle, having spotted a bunch of floaters and half-tempted to harvest something down there.
Dec 30, 2020
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Crystal clear, pale golden color, lush ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: some citrus notes, and plenty of delicate spice. Parsley, sage, rosemary, & thyme. Remember me to one who lived there, she once was a true love of mine.

In the mouth: Soft, spicy, funky, fresh. Light-bodied, long, herbal/spicy finish. Good-drinking, and tasty. Refreshing and delightful. Right on the money for the style, perfectly satisfying.


Good one, Dogfish Head and Stone and Victory. Very nice.
Oct 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.09 by smi69 from New York

May 04, 2020
 
Rated: 3.63 by emerge077 from Illinois

Jun 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by Yeldarb92 from Ohio

Mar 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.15 by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

Jul 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.08 by Paul_Apsley from Michigan

May 04, 2018
Photo of pink_elephants
Rated by pink_elephants from Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Tasty saison.
Feb 23, 2018
 
Rated: 3.82 by SpaethJam from New York

Feb 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.21 by chiefz1 from New York

Feb 11, 2018
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had no idea what to expect on this on.... Nice beginning aroma. Starts out well balanced. Ends very nicely. Definitely would enjoy having this one again. However, this was a one bottle buy for $1 at my six pack shop.
Jan 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.68 by LarrysDeerGut from Illinois

Jan 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.63 by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

Jan 02, 2018
Photo of Joem5636
Reviewed by Joem5636 from Florida

4.62/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme make a very flavorful and pungent beer. Maybe not quite to the level of Old Rasputin or Palo Santo Maron, but really good. I'll buy again if it's still available.
Dec 29, 2017
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear pale gold with moderate effervescence rising from the bottom of the glass. The pour produces almost 3 fingers of beige, shaving cream like, moderately lasting, head leaving only a modest degree of lace for its size. Aroma is biscuit & dough, Saison yeast, herbal, vegetal, thin clove & something faintly stone fruit-like. Sage is prominent, rosemary & thyme commingle & but I suspect the vegetal aspect is the parsley. Taste is pale & biscuit malt, Belgian yeast funk, acidic & a herbal blend of sage, rosemary thyme & vegetal parsley with a lemon & peachy hint. Finishes dry & biscuity with a slight doughy breadiness, herbal, spice, clove & a dry grassiness. Slightly acidic, sour & ephemeral bitter flavors in the pepper, vegetal,astringent aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation, tongue hugging & prickly. Astringent aftertaste.
Nov 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.68 by LarsM from Missouri

Nov 14, 2017
Saison Du BUFF from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 1680 ratings