Bush Caractère, the full-bodied amber beer of Pipaix

The character of a Hainaut family

In Pipaix, Bush Caractère introduces a particularly engaging chapter of Walloon brewing history. Brasserie Dubuisson has occupied its site since 1769, in what was once a farm brewery. Production initially served the farm workers and villagers before expanding. In 1931, Alfred and Amédée Dubuisson devoted themselves entirely to beer. Two years later, Alfred created Bush Beer, the forerunner of today's Bush Caractère. I like this continuity between a rural address, a family and a beer that has long embraced a distinctive personality. Explore the history of Dubuisson.

A strong amber beer given time to develop

Bush Caractère is a filtered, top-fermented beer at 12% ABV. The producer lists a recipe of malt, hops, natural sugar, water drawn from beneath the brewery and its house yeast. Caramel malt contributes to its colour and rich flavour profile. Four to six weeks of conditioning also give the beer time to develop. The high original wort gravity and the yeast's work explain its alcoholic strength: it results from fermentation and should not be confused with the addition of spirits. Above all, the balance and texture make this method interesting to explore. See the official characteristics.

Aroma, palate and finish: following the caramel

Dubuisson's tasting notes mention ripe fruit, particularly banana, as well as cuberdon sweets. On the palate, caramel becomes more prominent in a full-bodied beer where sweetness and bitterness complement each other. The finish carries a hint of liquorice. Its colour is deep, clear amber. These pointers offer a way to approach the beer without reducing its identity to its strength: look for the way fruit meets malt, then how bitterness reshapes the overall impression. A small, attentive tasting gives meaning to this concentration of flavours.

An English name for a beer from Pipaix

The anecdote is hidden in the name. According to the brewery, Bush Beer is an English rendering of Bière Dubuisson: bush means buisson in French. In 1933, Alfred took inspiration from an English style popular at the time, while creating a Belgian sipping beer. The name may seem to come from elsewhere, yet its wordplay leads straight back to the family. This little linguistic detour also tells us about the exchanges that have long shaped Belgian beer culture.

Discovering a working brewery

Dubuisson still brews in Pipaix and offers a guided route through its historic site, now a modern production facility. The Beerstorium complements the experience with an interactive look at the company's history. The brewery tour and Beerstorium visit are separate experiences, also available as a combined option. To choose your route, check the official visitor information and ticketing page. It is a stop that gives a place and human faces to this substantial amber beer from Hainaut.

Photos and credits

Photo 1 — Buildings of Brasserie Dubuisson and Troll & Bush in Pipaix, photographed in 2008. colonel_angel · Public domain (released into the public domain by the author) · Source.

Photo 2 — Awards received by Bush beers, photographed during a visit to Brasserie Dubuisson in December 2007. Sébastien Jooris · CC BY 3.0 · Source.

For adults only. Enjoy in moderation.