(Tourpes-Leuze, BELGIUM) – When most American craft beer drinkers think of Brasserie Dupont, they think of the brewery’s work within the Saison style. That may change in 2011 as the brewery will show the U.S. market what it can do with other styles.

To date, there are seven beers available from Brasserie Dupont here in the U.S.. Five of those are Saisons and then there is Moinette Blond and Brune. Here is a summary of five Dupont beers that Vanberg and Dewulf will import before the end of 2011:

MONK’S STOUT

According to Chuck Cook, this debuted in Belgium late last year. Label approval hasn’t come in yet and it appears to be on the schedule for later in the year. “As Dupont has extra fermentation capacity now, Olivier has the luxury of crafting some new brews, or re-creating some old specialties. Brasserie Dupont Brewmaster/Director Olivier Dedeycker told me on my June 2 visit to the brewery that the next new brew on his agenda would be Monk’s Stout. This is a beer his grandfather brewed in the 1950’s. There are two versions of Monk’s Stout. Both are 5.2% abv. One is dry and roasty, and another is said to be a little more rounded.”

REDOR PILS

Considered by many the finest traditional Belgian Pils brewed in Belgium today, REDOR is made from 100% barley malt, Styrian and Golding hops, proprietary Dupont yeast, pure well water, untreated with added salts or minerals, lagered for minimum 2 months, 5% ABV, and UNPASTEURIZED.

Debuts on draft in U.S. in May [Ed. note: not sure about bottle availability]

LA BIÈRE DE BELOEIL

One of Belgium’s most historic castles is a few miles from Dupont. It merits a visit next time you are in Hainaut. Dupont brews a special beer for the chateau. Beloeil once housed a brewery on site and made a beer called Saison Roland.

Beloeil has a rich white meringue head and a beautiful hazy amber red color. The funky Dupont yeast announces itself but is laced with herbs, nectarine, and a mineral edge. The warming finish has notes of wood and spice. Bottle conditioned.

FORMATS: Case, 12 x 75 cl (25.4 fl oz), cork finished / Keg, 20 liter

POSCA RUSTICA (sold in Belgium as Cervesia)

Since 1983, Dupont has produced a beer especially for a Gallo-Roman site near the brewery where Iron Age life is interpreted.

Inspired by research into drinks of the Gallo Roman era, Posca Rustica is surely one of the Dupont’s most exotic beers. It is a “Cervoise” beer spiced with a gruit (an old-fashioned herb mixture used to bitter and flavor beer, that was popular before hops came to predominate). Sweet woodruff (known as Galium odoratum or wild baby’s breath) and bog myrtle are just two of a dozen different spices used.

Posca Rustica has a unique, aromatic and spicy character and certainly is the sweetest beer from this brewery famous for its fully attenuated, dry beers. Altogether beguiling. Bottle conditioned.

FORMATS: Case, 12 x 75 cl (25.4 fl oz), cork finished / Keg, 20 liter

FORET BLANCHE

Another great beer from the endlessly inventive Dupont. We are so happy to once again have a wheat beer in our portfolio. Foret Blanche is 5.5% ABV. The color is a foggy golden honeycomb color. In the Dupont fashion, it is drier than most witbiers, with a more yeasty, tart profile. A rare and delicious interpretation of the wheat beer style from the champion of organic beers in Belgium.

Estimated arrival Spring 2011

FORMATS: Case, 12 x 75 cl / Keg, 20 liter