Saison Dupont, the brewing soul of Tourpes
A farmhouse blonde that became a benchmark for the saison style: grapefruit, clove, clear bitterness and a dry finish in the heart of Hainaut.
Tourpes, the village behind a benchmark beer
Some beers immediately open up a landscape through their name. Saison Dupont brings me back to the farms of Hainaut, even when its reputation travels much further. In Tourpes, within Leuze-en-Hainaut, this 6.5% blonde continues the story of a farm brewery active since 1844. The building itself dates to 1759. The saison style recalls beers prepared for farm workers: brewed during the cold months, they were stored before accompanying summer work. Today, the brewery makes it its flagship and brews it year-round. Discover Saison Dupont.
A production process that values time
Dupont has retained practices that give a visit real substance: directly firing the copper vessels, fermentation and time in a warm room. Bottle refermentation is a brewery speciality. For the 75cl Saison Dupont, the producer specifies that bottles lie on their sides for six weeks. Yeast continues its work, contributing to carbonation and the evolution of the beer's character. This technical detail is particularly revealing: behind a beer that may seem straightforward at first is a substantial investment of time. Find the brewery's explanations.
An expressive nose, a palate without heaviness
The official profile combines grapefruit, white fruit and spices, with clove as a reference. On the palate, malt accompanies those fruity and spicy expressions. Bitterness is clear, and the finish stands out for its lack of sweetness. This makes the saison particularly interesting on a food journey: it invites you to consider aromatic freshness and structure, beyond colour alone. The brewer's words point the way; everyone can then recognise their own nuances. The producer suggests mussels, asparagus, stewed dishes and grilled foods among possible pairings.
Canada would have to wait
The family's turning point in 1920 comes with an appealing story. Louis Dupont dreamed of leaving for Canada. His father Alfred bought the brewery to persuade him to stay in Belgium. Louis revived the Saison recipe, opening the Dupont chapter of an already established farm brewery. I like this story of a departure that never happened becoming a local commitment: the family project would ultimately travel widely through its bottles. Read the family history.
Entering the farm brewery
Production remains rooted in Tourpes. The brewery organises guided visits introducing its history, facilities and production methods; a tasting extends the discovery. The website also explains booking arrangements and available languages. Before planning your stop, consult the official visitor information. It is a fine way to return an international benchmark to the welcoming scale of its village.
Photos and credits
Photo 1 — Courtyard of Brasserie Dupont in Tourpes, photographed in 2015. Thibaut Maes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source.
Photo 2 — Exterior view of a Brasserie Dupont building, with a beer glass painted on its gable, photographed in November 2011. Jeff Alworth · CC BY 2.0 · Source.
For adults only. Enjoy in moderation.
