Saison Dupont Date Code?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by HectorB, Sep 21, 2013.

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  1. HectorB

    HectorB Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2013 New York

    Does Saison Dupont use a date code on its 11.2 oz bottles? I have two, and the only possible date code I can find is on the lower right hand corner of the front label.

    For one bottle the number is L11108A 13:01
    For the other: L12176A 11:03:59

    Any thoughts?
     
    #1 HectorB, Sep 21, 2013
  2. HectorB

    HectorB Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2013 New York

    Thanks.

    Wow, so it looks like my two bottles are well over one and two years old. Think I'll do a blind side-by-side taste test to see which I like better. In the interest of science, of course. Wish I had a fresh bottle to compare.
     
    #2 HectorB, Sep 22, 2013
  3. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    For this beer (and it is probably true for lots more), it is very important to understand how it has been cared for. If you are getting it from a supplier that you trust has taken steps to take care of it, the beer may very well be fantastic. If it has not been well-cared for, the beer may disappoint you.

    My first tasting was a bottle that came from a Twin Cities bottle shop. I should have known better than to buy a beer in a green bottle that was kept in a well lit, unrefrigerated section of the store. It was skunked badly. I was so disappointed that I wrote a letter to the importer urging them to ditch the green bottle. They were kind enough to send me a well-cared-for bottle that they guaranteed would knock my socks off, and it lived up to the hype. I still haven't found one of those socks! It could be a matter of age (I don't know how old the two samples were), but skunking is primarily a matter of light. I really think storage conditions are key.
     
    #3 pweis909, Sep 22, 2013
  4. HectorB

    HectorB Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2013 New York

    Brown bottles, so no skunkiness, fortunately.

    I did the blind side-by-side. Bottom line is, both the 2011 and 2012 were very good, but I preferred the 2012 - more aromatic, more hints of citrus and floral in both nose and taste. The 2011 was slightly darker, a bit more orange and with more floating sediment. The difference between the two was noticable, but not too dramatic. I think this beer holds up really well, but loses something after a year or so. Still need to try it fresh.
     
    #4 HectorB, Sep 29, 2013
  5. Timmush

    Timmush Pundit (931) Jan 5, 2008 New Jersey

    Saison Dupont comes in Brown bottles? I did not know that.
     
    #5 Timmush, Sep 29, 2013
  6. WD_Eisemann

    WD_Eisemann Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Very glad someone asked this question. I would imagine the Dupont date code carries over into the 750 bottles. I love Saison Dupont but my local supermarket must have a lot of old stock. All my bottles have been from 2011. First one this summer was still very good, little skunkiness despite the green bottle. My bottle last night was quite skunky, but I still enjoyed it. Some of the citrus fruitiness was faded/masked.
    I can only imagine what this beer is like fresh. I doubt I could convince the supermarket to get a fresh shipment from V&D considering the distribution mess that Pennsylvania has.
     
    #6 WD_Eisemann, Sep 29, 2013
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