Just a few paces from the Belgian border in the small country town of Gussignies, France, Brasserie Au Baron is a super-small, family-run operation boasting old-style copper brewing equipment, producing three exceptional, hand-crafted, artisanal farmhouse ales: blonde, amber, and brown. Michael Jackson, the world renowned "Beer Hunter," heralded Au Baron as a "revivalist" brewery, and we can't agree more. Finding these beers is a very tall order in France, and they're even rarer here in the U.S. as only a trickle finds its way to our shores each year. It's our distinct pleasure to offer our members Au Baron's extraordinary blonde birere de garde (and flagship beer), Cuvée des Jonquilles.

Ah, fresh farmhouse ale-there's something so refreshing and inviting about that aroma-we can imagine how welcomed these beers would be by the farmhands who got to take their share at the end of the day. Expect notes of wet hay, fresh cut grass, and gentle yeasty spiciness. There's a healthy flutter of clean citrus notes and subtle candi sugars, along with notes of pear, while a sweet malty backdrop balances the impression of dryness. The flavor profile offers a generous peppery spice, fruit and earthiness, along with notes of noble hops. Fruit remains pear-focused, like the aroma, but an unexpected green grape character sneaks in and shakes things up. Look for a bit of a wheaty twang to introduce a touch of tartness amidst the soft yet deep maltiness, adding another layer of complexity to the profile, along with delicate Franco-Belgian yeasty phenolics. The beer finishes on the earthy side, a bit dry and rather plantain-like, with a pleasant linger of red apples in the fade.

Brasserie Au Baron Cuvee des Jonquilles is remarkably approachable, yet anything but pedestrian. Subtle and sophisticated. It is a deliciously well-crafted bière de garde and a beer that the French should be extremely proud of.