Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux 375ML

Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux 375ML is a bottle-conditioned Belgian strong saison brewed by Brasserie Dupont in Wallonia, Belgium, at 9.5% ABV. Originally created as a seasonal New Year's gift for the brewery's best customers, this farmhouse ale has earned a devoted following for its depth and complexity, carrying a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Untappd for its 2024 vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.5%  |  Origin: Tourpes-Leuze, Wallonia, Belgium  |  Style: Belgian Strong Saison  |  Brewery: Brasserie Dupont

Production & Heritage

Brasserie Dupont has operated from its farmstead location in Tourpes-Leuze since 1844, making it one of the most respected farmhouse breweries in the world. Avec Les Bons Voeux—translating to "With Best Wishes"—is brewed using a selection of Dupont's finest yeast strains and undergoes a longer maturation phase than their other saisons. The brewery's traditional direct-flame kettles impart a subtle caramelization to the wort, while extended bottle-conditioning builds carbonation naturally and adds layers of complexity over time. The ingredient list is straightforward—water, barley malt, sugar, hops, and yeast—but the result is anything but simple.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense yellow fruit leads, with ripe banana and orange peel giving way to spicy clove and floral undertones. A suggestion of bubblegum and lemon zest lingers beneath, adding a bright, inviting quality.

Taste: Honey sweetness greets the palate first, quickly joined by a deep malt richness with roasted hazelnut undertones. The mid-palate broadens into citrus, earthy spice, and banana esters, while toasted bread and tree fruit notes emerge as the beer warms. Despite the 9.5% ABV, the alcohol integrates seamlessly into the body without heat.

Finish: Dry and peppery, with a lingering interplay of floral hops and residual spice. The carbonation lifts the finish cleanly, leaving behind subtle honey malt and a final whisper of clove.

How to Drink Bons Voeux

Pour into a tulip glass or goblet at 46–50°F to allow the aromatic complexity to fully develop; the beer opens significantly as it warms toward cellar temperature. Bons Voeux is at its best enjoyed on its own as a contemplative pour, though it also pairs remarkably with food. For a simple mixed-drink application, try a Belgian Shandy with fresh lemon juice and a touch of honey to complement the ale's citrus and malt character. A Bons Voeux Michelada works surprisingly well, with the peppery saison yeast playing off lime, hot sauce, and tomato. For a low-intervention option, a Saison Spritz—equal parts Bons Voeux and dry sparkling wine over ice—highlights the beer's effervescence and floral side.

Best For

• Holiday and New Year's celebrations honoring the beer's original purpose
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who values Belgian farmhouse traditions
• Pairing dinners built around rich, savory courses
• Cellaring to observe how bottle-conditioning evolves flavors over one to three years

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bons Voeux taste like? Bons Voeux delivers honey sweetness and deep malt richness up front, transitioning through banana, citrus, and clove spice, and finishing dry and peppery with earthy hop bitterness.

How does Bons Voeux compare to Saison Dupont? Both share Dupont's signature effervescence and expressive yeast character, but Bons Voeux is significantly stronger at 9.5% ABV versus Saison Dupont's 6.5%, with more malt body, honey sweetness, and a richer, more layered palate. Saison Dupont is drier and more refreshing, while Bons Voeux leans contemplative and complex.

Is Bons Voeux good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—this is a strong saison designed for slow, attentive drinking, and its evolving aromatics and dry finish reward patience as the beer warms in the glass.

Where is Bons Voeux made? Bons Voeux is brewed at Brasserie Dupont, located at 5 Rue Basse in Tourpes-Leuze, within the Wallonia region of southern Belgium, where the brewery has operated since 1844.

What foods pair well with Bons Voeux? Roasted chicken with herbs benefits from the beer's peppery carbonation cutting through richness. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheeses mirror the malt's nutty depth. Mussels in white wine sauce find a natural partner in the citrus and clove character. Charcuterie boards with pâté and cornichons complement the earthy, spicy finish. Fruit tarts with apricot or pear echo the beer's yellow-fruit aromatics.

What sizes does Bons Voeux come in? Bons Voeux is commonly available in 375ml bottles, with 750ml bottles also found in many markets.

Is Bons Voeux worth the price? Bons Voeux positions as a premium Belgian farmhouse ale, and its extended maturation, bottle-conditioning, and layered complexity place it among the most rewarding strong saisons available at its price tier.

Why Bons Voeux?

Few Belgian farmhouse ales carry the pedigree of a beer brewed with a brewery's finest yeast selection and given extended maturation beyond its standard range. The direct-flame kettle brewing at Brasserie Dupont imparts a caramelized malt character that distinguishes Bons Voeux from the crowded field of strong saisons. Its origins as a limited New Year's gift—a gesture of gratitude from one of Belgium's most storied farmstead breweries—lend it a sense of occasion that persists today. With nearly 80,000 ratings on Untappd and consistent critical appreciation, Bons Voeux has proven itself not as a seasonal curiosity but as a benchmark for what a strong Belgian saison can achieve.