Score: 100/100 – World-Class
From a 750ml bottle served at cellar temperature into a wine glass. Bottled on 16-03-21 making this almost a year old.
I picked up the beer less than a week ago from a local specialty store. I have never had Robin’s beers before but they came highly recommended and I grabbed a few in the hopes that the hype is for reals. Fingers crossed!
Appearance 6/6
The beer pours a slightly hazy dark brown with dense, mousse-like, deep tan head which dissipates into a solid cap within 2+ minutes. Exceptional lacing and decent head retention. For the style the foam is remarkable in terms of texture and retention.
Aroma 24/24
Medium-strong intensity with superb balance. The aroma is inviting, layered, and all around stunning.
Pronounced vinous quality at the front including red berries (currants + raspberries) and charming oak. A suggestion of lactic tartness is complimented by brown sugar and mild dried fruit. Rich dark chocolate and brownie character speaks for a delicious base stout while a smidgen of perfumy alcohol and licorice-like spice add layers.
The dry nose is subtle with notes of bakers chocolate, brown sugar, oak, and red berries. Simply wonderful.
Flavour 40/40
Follows the aroma with strong intensity, sharp-ish balance, and moderate perceived bitterness.
The palate opens up bright and lively with red berries (currants + raspberries), plain yoghurt tartness, and handsome oak. Meanwhile the center switches gears by smoothly transitioning towards a rich chocolate malt reminiscent of chocolate cake, brownies, and dark toast. A hint of herbaceousness, spice, and a trace of alcohol add complexity.
The long finish is strong and bitter/sharp with notes of dark chocolate, raspberry yoghurt, herbal bitterness, oak, mild brown sugar, and dark toast.
Mouthfeel 10/10
Medium-light body with lively carbonation. The mouthfeel is surprisingly creamy with low puckering quality and pleasant effervescence. Restrained alcohol, a tannic astringency, and no harshness on the palate. For a sour beer this is smooth.
Overall 20/20
Robin Biere Naturelle’s Polygone Rhum Edition is a perfect beer and an absolute must-try for beer nerds.
Polygone (Rhum) is hands down the best sour stout I’ve ever had. It’s beautifully executed demonstrating mastery over ingredients and technique. It marries a robust stout with bacteria and crowns it with barreling. The drinkability remains exceptional for the style and it truly sets a new standard for what a dark, sour beer can be.
Do yourself a favour and find some Robin for the fridge. For the creators of this beer: please keep doing what you’re doing, it stands out from the crowds.
Now please excuse me, I have a bottle to finish. This might be the first perfect 100 that I’m submitting on the website even if it’s not the first I’ve ever had. About 1% of the beers I’ve sampled end up in this range.
Beerfection | Craft Beer Reviews | Montreal, Canada 