Kept with the cooking theme tonight. Two dinners in a row that didn't come in a bag or box! Let's just say that it involved Dijon braised Brussels sprouts. Awww yeah. I figured, if we're breaking out a Belgian beer tonight, might as well stick with the theme, right? 'Braised' is one of those cooking terms that instantly sounds like you're a much better cook than you really are. Can't wait to braise my cereal tomorrow morning. Don't hate.
All five of you reading this are probably thinking, "Boy, Gary likes saisons. I should try one." Great idea, and if you could only pick one saison ever, I would highly recommend you choose wisely and pick Saison Dupont, the standard bearer for this type of beer. Seeing how I've had many Saison Duponts in my time, I thought I'd be adventurous and try the Avec Les Bons Vouex (French for 'good wishes'), which is Brasserie Dupont's holiday offering. I'm familiar with holiday beers being heavy and dark, with whatever forced or artificial flavors people assume Christmas tastes like. Not this one.
It maintains a typical saison profile - citrus, bread, a hint of sour, and a cloudy, yellow color. However, this seasonal packs a punch - 9.5% ABV vs. 6.5% ABV for the traditional version - and adds in a nice spice taste; clove with a peppery finish. Really a great beer all around, so don't wait to give this one a shot, as I imagine it will be gone from shelves/taps as we move through winter towards spring. Remind me to break this one back out for some Christmas in July.
Fun note: Marci and I were both going to drink this and the regular Saison Dupont tonight and compare and contrast. Until our bottle of Saison Dupont completely disappeared from the fridge, that is. I'm thinking one of the dogs probably took it, thus making a comparison quite difficult. Jerks.
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| Who, me? |
Thing to Think About Today:
Been listening to The National frequently these days. Maybe the lead singer's voice reminds me a bit of Crash Test Dummies, a classic musical memory from freshman year of college. I have no doubt at some point Crash Test Dummies will be your thing to think about this year, but until then, I'll leave you with the 2012 version.
Added bonus:
Been growing a beard since before Christmas, so I now look totally like the lead singer. Despite the fact that I have dark brown hair, and I don't do heroin so I don't weigh 125 lbs. And my hair line isn't receding. But besides that, this guy and I could be twins!
Can you snap pic of these brews for visual?
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to get better at doing photos. We'll step up that effort!
ReplyDelete