Score: 88/100 – Very Good
From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 07/09/2023 – making this about 5 weeks old.
I snagged the beer from a local specialty store about 2 weeks ago. I wasn’t sure if I’d make the time to review the beer but after hearing some of the feedback on how good it is… I decided to line up a Bas-Canada breview.
My recent experience with the brewery has been ok – I’ve been trying to steer away from every new release as I find the value is not always there. As much as I’m drawn to trendy hazybois, they tend to get monotonous. “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
Appearance 6/6
The beer pours an opaque pale gold with 4.5cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 4+ minutes. Exceptional lacing with great head retention.
Aroma 24/24
Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is intense, hop-forward, and extremely enticing.
Pronounced citrus (grapefruit + tangerines) and noticeable woody pine take center stage while gentler tropical sweetness (pineapple + mango) add depth and round out any sharpness. Peachy notes and mild floral tones add layers with low crackery malt fighting for airtime. No apparent alcohol or off-notes.
The dry nose is somewhat pungent and citrus-forward with notes of lime, pine, and low crackery malt. World-class.
Flavour 36/40
Follows the aroma with strong intensity, good balance, and pronounced perceived bitterness.
The juicy palate opens up with pronounced citrus (grapefruit + tangerines), stone fruit (peach), pine, and a touch of salt making way for a sharper center where the woody component dials up including some grassy tones and noticeable minerality. The citrus remains while very little – if any – tropical character shows up.
The long finish is strong and bitter-ish with notes of pine, grapefruit rind, a bit of grass, and low crackery malt. Tasty stuff.
Mouthfeel 6/10
Full body with medium-low carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy, thick, and mouth-coating with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. Moderate hop-derived astringency with some harshness on the palate. Heavy impact.
Overall 16/20
Brasserie Bas-Canada’s Hadrien DDH is a great beer.
A good-looking hazyboi with excellent foam quality and no ugly murkiness. The wonderful aroma features plenty of layers and character provoking one to take a sip. On the palate, the beer drops out a little bit by lacking the suggested sweetness of the nose while introducing sharper characteristics and hop-burn. The mouthfeel is pleasantly full, but it also diminishes the drinkability by introducing too much hop-derived astringency.
Overall, Hadrien DDH is a beer worth trying. It starts out incredibly strong with good looks and enticing aroma. It slightly misses the mark on the palate by being unable to match the aromatics while lacking drinkability. Having said that, this is a tasty brew worth picking up when you see it.
Beerfection | Craft Beer Reviews | Montreal, Canada 