Deux Amis
Brasserie Dupont sprl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A: Pours with a rich, frothy, two finger head and hazy, straw gold body.
S: Immediately tart, and slightly peppery, with hints of lime, not incredibly expressive. Some wheaty notes are present.
T: Comes out strong with hints of apple and a general zestiness, which is followed up by a clean, yet peppery, bitterness. There is a nice sweetness present that marries well with the more expressive citrus character here that is quite juicy (some hints of grapefruit show up). some pine notes are also here, but not so much that they feel out of place in the world of Belgian saisons.
M: The bitterness of the American hops used here contributes to a near perfect dryness in the mouth, medium body.
O: This is a surprisingly respectful collaboration, I've not had any Lost Abbey beer before but of course I've had my share of Brasserie DuPont beer, but naturally I was assuming something a good deal more, ahem "assertive" which I would not have liked personally. This is a very refined beer that uses American hops in a very tasteful and makes them seem as though they might even belong. Well done.

PS: Seem to be detecting trace amounts of vanilla as well.

 

 

Classic visual - soapy head, vibrant carbonation. Aroma is also very traditional - a delicate loam, spice, yeast - with a nice little grassy hop to help bolster. Taste was a tad flat & limp - more spicey yeast than anything, some straw malt maybe, but missing any real complimentary or support notes (you really won't notice the hops at all). Body is a little hefty too, and lacks that dryness I personally like in saisons.

Addendum: it hit me as I was drinking it, there is an odd red kidney bean smell / flavor on this beer...fibrous and not pleasing

 

 

 

Pours a hazy yellow orange with a very big head. Has a hoppy funky smell to it. Has a hoppy lemon taste. Has a slight funky bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light with heavy carbonation. As stated in earlier reviews, it's like champagne with the fizziness. Overall a good beer for those who like it hoppy, but not overwhelmingly bitter.

L: bright orange, big fluffy head, lots of lacing
S: not much nose at all
T: Belgian yeast, some fruit, some tart, a little funk
F: tons of mouthfeel, really coats the whole mouth
O: a good example of the style

 

750 ml bottle with a bottled on date of 4.2016

L - Bright yellow, little clarity, nice 1 finger of head

S - Belgian funk, American hops, wheat, oranges and white pepper

T - Citrus, white pepper, dried fruit, apple juice.

F - Medium carbonation, light body

O - Tasty, but not as good as the normal Dupont Saison or some of the better LA brews

Pours cloudy yellow gold color with a massive 3+ finger white head that was packed with bubbles of all sizes which filled up most of the Duvel tulip glass. The foamy head crackled and dissipated very slowly, easing down with craters that looked like Swiss cheese as it dropped. I could run my finger through this impressive head after several minutes, yet it only left minimal lacing. Fun to watch this goes down.

Smells of lemon zest, musty leather or horse hair with that classic barnyard funk up front. Next comes the wheat, toasted grains, light grapefruit, piney hops, floral notes, peppery spices, green apple and other fruits, a malty sweetness and Belgian sugar. It smells clean and like fresh air in the spring on a farm - I know that sounds corny, but it really gives off that aroma. Nice balance and complexities.

Tastes of lemon zest, orange peel, citrus hops, grapefruit, floral hops, tea leaf, and green apple up front, followed by peppery spices including coriander, brown sugar and cinnamon, light clove, wheat, musty and earthy notes, yeast, bubblegum and a caramel sweetness. The yeast seems chalky and then barnyard funk kicks in with some timid alcohol and aspirin. Minor hop bitterness mixes with the malty/grainy sweetness, Belgian candied sugars and peppery spices which finishes dry. Recurring fruity notes come through which range from citrus fruit to pears, apples and grapes.

Mouthfeel is light and crisp like a cross between a lager and fine champagne. Carbonation is fizzy, active and light with a body that's on the lighter side, a thin feel and some sharp citrus bitterness which then turns sweet and grainy before finishing dry. A lot going on as the fruit and yeast bring tart, sour and chalky aspects making for lovely dynamics.

Overall this was really tasty, easy to drink and quite enjoyable. It takes the basic Saison/Farmhouse Ale and adds the American hop twist to one of the pillars of of the style. An excellent collaboration, well done.

 

 

 

 

Sampled at Beer Temple, Amsterdam. Hazy orange with a white head. Notes of yeast, bread dough, malt, saison funk, spices. Medium body and carbonation and a bitter-sweet finish.

 

 

 

 

 

750ml corked and caged bottle served in my Lost Abby teku at 48 degrees. 2015 indicated on the cork. Pours a lovely honey-gold with a mostly translucent clarity and copious tiny bubble present effervescing in solution and adhering to the bowl of the glass. Head is two inches, rocky and bright white. Nose expresses herbal/grassy notes, a hint of bubblegum and a trace of citrus rind. Taste consistent with nose with the addition of some light phenols in the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is light in body with a lively, effervescent carbonation. Overall, pretty drinkable but not any better than a Saison Dupont or a Lost Abbey farmhouse.

 

Great to bring together two greats in the Belgian tradition.
I'm glad I found another copy before it was no longer available. (My first review was not favorable and, in matters of beer, I like to correct myself.)

It is difficult to discern whose influence is stronger as I've Had 8 and 9 from the respective brewers. But if I am allowed to guess (reading beyond the label), Dupont contributed some yeast to impart its imprint and Lost Abbey did the same with hops. (If I try to analyze Deux Amis past that, I might make a fool of myself.)

Anyway... We are Looking at a luscious ale with a rocky head that I do not have the patience for it to reduce itself so I can drink it without having to wipe the foam off my mustache (I'm having this at lunch with mixed company.) So waiting before I can drink it, I spend lots of time Smelling and the lemon/citrus is almost profound coupled with spicy hops (peppery), a tad of funk and a nice, sweet malt. All this comes together nicely in the mouth, tartly cleansing the palate for more food. Dupont's delicious yeast is clearly at work. A slight distraction is the very dry finish. Some like it... but not me.

Regardless, Deux Amis paired great with pesto on pasta and I got enough of both for lunch tomorrow.
As far as I concerned, their friendship has worked and they can brew this every year.