Score: 95/100 – Outstanding
From a 473ml can served cool at 8 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 2023 SE 28 – making this about two weeks young.
I picked up the beer from a local grocery store a few days back. I’m a big fan of Boréale brews: they’re flavourful, balanced, and well-executed. I’m hoping Double Descente doesn’t disappoint 🙂
Appearance 6/6
The beer pours a hazy deep gold with 4cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a thick cap within 4+ minutes. Exceptional lacing with great head retention.
Aroma 23/24
Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is layered and powerful with explicit focus on hops.
Tremendous complexity with notes of citrus (lime + blood orange), ripe tropical fruit (papaya + lychee + mango), melon, and pine. Mild herbs and a touch of perfumy alcohol with low supporting crackery malt.
The dry nose is citrusy-tropical with mild crackery malt-sweetness. Very enticing – a near perfect aroma.
Flavour 38/40
Follows the aroma with strong intensity, great balance, and moderate perceived bitterness.
The intense palate slaps you in the face with citrus (lime + blood orange), pine, melon, and ripe tropical fruit (papaya + lychee + mango) making way for an impressive center where the complex fruitiness marries herbs, pine, and alcohol all the while a bready-crackery malt plays a supporting role.
The long finish is strong and balanced with notes of citrus (lime zest + grapefruit skin), low melon, mild alcohol, pine, water crackers, and lychee. Yum!
Mouthfeel 10/10
Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy yet crisp and mouth-coating with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. A tiny bit of hop-derived astringency with no actual harshness on the palate. Glorious.
Overall 18/20
Boréale’s Double Descente is an exceptional hazy DIPA well worth picking up.
An attractive beer with an outstanding foam quality. A zestful, complex aroma captivates the senses and follows through the intense, delightful palate. Regardless of the abundance of character, the beer remains very drinkable. The mouthfeel is plush and full yet finishing on the dry side – perfectly complimenting the beer’s intensity without diminishing drinkability.
Double Descente demonstrates excellent craftsmanship, great balance, and an overall superb drinking experience. I couldn’t ask for more. An intangible touch of magic would nudge it in the top 1%. Highly recommended – maybe I’ll grab some more for the fridge before it’s gone.
Beerfection | Craft Beer Reviews | Montreal, Canada 