One of the staple Christmas carols hitting the airwaves and school programs this time of year is the ever-popular “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”—one which if you ignore the slightly sinister undertones (“Bring us a figgy pudding… / We won’t go until we get some / So bring it right here”) is a sentiment we all share: we do wish everyone a merry Christmas, and lots of good cheer.

Accordingly, today’s pick comes to us from Belgium’s Brasserie Dupont, Aves Les Bons Voeux (“with good wishes”):

Since 1970, the brewery has been brewing a special beer to give as a New Years present to their best clients. (the name of this beer “Avec les bons Vœux de la brasserie Dupont” means “With the best wishes of the brewery Dupont”). Because of the increasing success, they started to commercialise this “gift” but kept the name. Although the demands were considerable, only a small quantity was brewed, so they had to make a reservation list, even months before New Year. This Bons Vœux is coppery blond, has very fine hop aromas and tastes hoppy, fruity and mild. Our selection of yeasts, in combination with a long maturation process, on a dry hopping base, are creating an aroma and taste both familiar and complex. A secondary fermentation in the bottle, which will continue for a long time in your cellar, results in a harmonious and well-balanced beer, full of unexpected and complex aromas.

(I’ve cleaned up their translation a bit.)

The beer itself is something special: a 9.5% abv blonde Saison style of beer, and is truly a gift of good wishes from Dupont to all of us.

Untappd. BeerAdvocate: 93/100. RateBeer: 3.92/5, 99th percentile.