The 750 Saison

Back in November, I started a barley wine thread that can be seen here:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/a-barley-wine-for-every-day.359065/

This saison thread is a sequel. The main intent of the barley wine thread was to collect a bunch of beers that wouldn't ordinarily be drunk together as a group. In the case of barley wines, this is typically because of the special occasion nature of the beverage, the gravity, etc. The same intent is behind this saison thread, but in this case, the packaging of the beer is the reason why such beers aren't ordinarily consumed as a group.

If I had to eliminate most large format bottles from my drinking habits… allowing myself to only buy 22s/750s in one style, I'd pick saison. The packaging of saisons in "Champagne-style" bottles predates their modern revival.

Like the barley wine thread, I have intentionally included some beers that aren't ordinarily considered saisons, but are in related styles - allowing myself an opportunity to compare and contrast. (There's also one 22oz that I needed in the group - don't sue me.) There is some controversy with saisons as a style. The framework is generally considered to be very loose. I'll probably dive into more on that in the coming days.

The beers I've included are a combination of old favorites, beers that impressed me before, and beers that I have never tried from breweries that I like.

Here are the imports that I plan on drinking:

… and here are the US beers:


Regarding the age of these beers - I almost chose not to have this thread because I feared that too many of these beers were way too old. It's just a reality that imported 750 saisons might be years old. When faced with the choice of including something risky vs leaving it in the store, I went with inclusion given the nature of what I'm doing here. I'm sure a couple of these will be in terrible shape, but without newer options, I wanted to include them anyway. I just hope the numbers of these are low.

 

Saison Dupont a.k.a. Saison Vieille Provision

How could I start with anything else?

The eagle-eyed will noticed that this beer isn't in the group shot in the first post. I've picked this one up since that photo was taken. I noticed a recent label change for this beer, and picked up the youngest one I could find. This bottle goes back to November which conveniently puts it close to the 6 month mark that the brewmaster Olivier Dedeycker feels is optimal. I currently have two older bottles of this beer (the bottle on the right has what I am guessing to be an older label):
(@drtth )

Vieille Provision means "old stock" (Am I back in my barely wine thread?), but everyone just calls this beer Saison Dupont.

This is one of the most important beers in the world that is currently being produced. That might seem like a silly and grandiose claim, but I think one could argue this notion.

Many recognize the impact that Michael Jackson had on appreciating beer, but one shouldn't underestimate the impact he had on what we actually drink. Back in the day, importers would travel through Europe with his books in hand in an attempt to bring the "world's great beers" to the US. In the case of Saison Dupont, Michael Jackson urged Wendy Littlefield and Don Feinberg to look at the beer as a candidate for import. At the time, the beer accounted for just 2% of Dupont's sales. The brewery was considering discontinuing it. Moinette was the big seller. Notice how it is a glass of Moinette on the side of the brewery (a true farm brewery):


Brasserie Dupont wanted the importers to go with Moinette, but the importers stayed with the advice of Jackson. Would this style even exist today if circumstances were slightly different?

To me, Saison Dupont was always such a unique beer, but perhaps this entire exercise will make me completely change my mind. The aroma has a restrained Belgian yeast character with a hint of sharpness that does not prepare one for the hop assault that occurs when one tastes the beer. The East Kent Goldings and Styrian Goldings provide a powerful earthy bitterness. This beer uses 100% pilsner malt and there's a great soft bread character. The house yeast is legendary (and notorious). The fruitiness associated with Belgian beers is present but relatively restrained. I'm getting a hint of peach today, but might not tomorrow.

Even though the beer possesses lots of character, the dryness of the beer and the lightness of the body give it great drinkability. After I finished the last glass, I immediately wished for more beer in the bottle, and that is the highest compliment that I can give a beer.