A while back after visiting Roland Garros on the way back from Paris to Brussels a small detour through the Northern French countryside took us to Brasserie Au Baron in Gussignies. A small village literally a stone’s throw away from the Belgian border. Driving around the countryside, you can really imagine how the Saison and Bière de Garde (literally translating to ‘beer to keep’) beers came into existence. Fields of crops and farms as far as the eye could see. Saison and Bière de Garde, both falling within the broader category of Farmhouse Ales, were traditionally brewed by farmers in the winter to be consumed by the laborers during harvest. The name Saison is usually used for beers brewed in Belgium and can have a dryer, slightly more bitter taste. Bière de Garde is brewed in France and can have a more malty or sweeter, caramel-like flavor, with a darker color. However, both styles are very broad and overlap, so a clear distinction can’t be made. Au Baron describes their beer as being both Saison and Bière de Garde.
About Au Baron
Brasserie Au Baron started brewing in 1989 at the current location that had been owned by the family as a restaurant/bar since 1973. The brewery and restaurant are beautifully located next to the small river ‘L’Hogneau’ in a small picturesque village. There’s a big parking lot if you come by car like us, it’s a beautiful area to go for a bike ride, and there are also some hiking trails passing by the brewery. Since we were there by car we shared just one beer, Lèse Majesté, while enjoying a nice lunch on the sunny riverside terrace. The fat and cheesy flamiche (a quiche and Picardian specialty) and a croque monsieur paired excellently with the fruity sour beer. After a delightful lunch, a visit to the shop couldn’t wait of course to take home some other beers to try. Besides their beers, the shops also sell other local beverages, condiments, and snacks. Since this is Beers Gone Wild, I couldn’t leave without taking home some beers.
The beers
In true farmhouse tradition, the beers are brewed with a house culture. The four beers that are permanently available are Cuvée des Jonquilles, Noblesse Oblige, Lèse Majesté, and St Médard. Furthermore, limited edition beers are made in collaboration with other breweries such as Wildflower Brewing & Blending from Australia and DOK Brewing Company from Ghent, Belgium.
Cuvée des Jonquilles
A slightly sweet traditional Saison/Bière de Garde with complex aromas from the house yeast. Pleasantly bitter with floral and citrussy hop aromas. Non-filtered and refermented on the bottle.
Noblesse Oblige
Collaboration with Jester King Brewery from Texas. A beer with similar floral and fruity aromas as Cuvée de Jonquilles, with a more pronounced bitter aftertaste. The beer finishes slightly astringent, leaving a dry feeling in your mouth. Non-filtered and refermented on the bottle.
Lèse Majesté
A grisette, Low in alcohol (4,6%), with blackberries. Fruity and sour beer, perfect for a sunny day, that pairs well with fatty food. Beautiful red color with good foam retention. Not a lot of funk, but a round flavor with a lot of carbonation. Refermented on the bottle with a limited shelf life.
St Médard
There are two versions of St Médard, a brown one with elderberries and an amber version without. Both beers are non-filtered and refermented on the bottle.
If you happen to be in the area or pass by on your way from/to Paris or Brussels, I’d certainly recommend paying a visit to Au Barron for a refreshing beer or a hearty lunch.