Thomas | 5e Baron Microbrasserie

Score: 75/100 – Average

From a 473ml can served at cellar temperature at 10 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 26/09/23 – making this over 5 weeks old.

I picked up the can from a local specialty shop a bit over a week ago. It’s been a while since I bought beers from the brewery – I feel like the value’s been missing compared to many other breweries.

I really like 5e Baron, however, I’ve experienced inconsistencies with them that have me picking up other breweries when it comes down to certain constraints. The date and style had a lot to do with why Thomas ended up in the breview queue. I’m excited to try this even if I’m managing my expectations.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a brilliant deep gold with 4cm of fluffy, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Good lacing and head retention. An attractive beer.

Aroma 16/24

Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is balanced and interesting with quite a bit of character – yet I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it.

Notable pome fruit esters and a decent dose of perfumy alcohol (mild fusels). The phenols meld in but have a slightly medicinal Band-Aid note. Pleasant breakfast cereal malt (wheat-like) rounds out edges while quite a bit of hop character comes through with an earthy, herbal, tea-like quality.

The dry nose is nuanced and quite grainy with a little bit of phenols, alcohol, and herbs. There’s a lack of harmony in the aroma.

Flavour 30/40

Strong intensity with decent balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

The colourful palate opens up with notes of pome fruit (apples), herbs (black tea), alcohol, and mild honey – transitioning towards a sharp center with piercing alcohol character, loads of herbal-woody hops, apple skin, and competing phenols (spicy + medicinal).

The long finish is strong and bitter-ish with notes of herbal hops, grainy-crackery (breakfast cereal) malt, some candi sugar, and mild pome fruit.

Mouthfeel 9/10

Medium body with high carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp and mouth-coating with a mild edge, restrained alcohol warming, and a medium-dry finish. Mild astringency with no actual harshness on the palate.

Overall 14/20

5e Baron’s Thomas lands somewhere in the average territory.

Beautiful appearance with lovely colour and clarity as well as respectable foam attributes. For the style of beer, even more head with longer retention is possible. The aroma has quite a bit of character and complexity but it doesn’t quite come together as a unit. The alcohol has a suggestion of fusels while the phenols have a bit of a medicinal tone. A mild glue-like quality comes through every now and then. On the palate, the beer packs quite a punch – which I enjoy. However, the hop character really dominates while the yeast doesn’t synchronize well and the malt is ultimately overshadowed by the other ingredients. The mouthfeel is rather nice and matches the intensity very well.

Overall, Thomas is a decent beer with lot’s of character and an interesting personality. There’s a lack of harmony between the ingredients and mild off-notes diminish the drinking experience. With small tweaks this could be a really good beer. There’s no question I’d pick up Unibroue’s Fin du Monde or Don Dieu over this. At the same time I appreciate the effort and I could regularly drink this if the price was low. If you’re curious, go ahead and try this. If you’re looking for something great, I’d look elsewhere.

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Il Était Une Fois: La Mort | Messorem Bracitorium

Score: 87/100 – Very Good

From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 19/07/2023 – making this about two months old.

I picked up the can from a local specialty store just over a week ago. I wasn’t excited about the canning date but given the type of beer this is, I thought I’d take my chances and add a lager to the list of Messorem breviews.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a clear pale gold with 4.5cm of frothy, moderately dense, white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Decent lacing with good head retention.

Aroma 21/24

Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is surprisingly fragrant with European hop character and firm pale malt supporting it.

Low (yet pungent) sulphur note kicks off the aroma right after the pour. As it fades, an earthy-spicy hop character leaps out of the glass with pleasant floral tones rounding it out. The malt comes through with white bread and water cracker notes. Mild herbal tones and a light touch of grass. No alcohol or noticeable esters.

The dry nose is light and pleasant with notes of grainy-bready malt and low earthy tones.

Flavour 36/40

Medium intensity with good balance and pronounced perceived bitterness.

The rustic palate opens up with floral-herbal hop notes and a suggestion of honey, amplifying through the center where bready-crackery malt and light grassy quality chime in. The perceived sweetness wanes as an herbaceous hop character begins to dominate the flavour. No apparent alcohol or off-notes.

The medium length finish is bitter-ish and of moderate strength with notes of herbal-earthy hops and mild white bread. I like this.

Mouthfeel 8/10

Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy yet crisp with a slight carbonic bite. No apparent alcohol warming and a dry finish. Medium-low astringency with very little harshness on the palate.

Overall 16/20

Messorem Bracitorium’s Il Était Une Fois: La Mort is a great beer.

A nice brew to look at with good clarity, colour, and foam attributes. The aroma gives you much more than expected; it has a lot of character despite the fact it’s not complex. The nose is almost elegant but the sulphur spoils that notion by crashing the party. On the palate, the intensity of flavour is slightly less than the aroma. It’s rustic and enjoyable with a charming clarity of character. The mouthfeel is creamy and rather plush with some crispness but the astringency is distracting, ultimately diminishing the drinking experience.

Overall, this is a beer worth trying. What it lacks in the mouthfeel is a small part that is easily made up in the flavour. With a few tweaks, this could stand out from the rest. Recommended.

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Widow Vibe 2023 | BreWskey

Score: 90/100 – Great

From a 375ml bottle (wax seal) served warm at 16 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Bottled as a 2023 release for the brewery taproom’s 4th anniversary.

I picked up the beer straight from the brewery back in March – it’s been in my fridge every since… six plus months I suppose? Two breviews in one day – why stop there?

Some time back, I decided to not focus on reviewing beers that will not be available again. I’m making an exception here in order to round out my BreWskey list. High expectations for a barrel-aged barleywine/imperial stout blend.

Appearance 5/6

The beer pours a clear black (opaque black in glass) with 1cm of frothy, dark brown head which dissipates into a partial film within a minute. No lacing with poor head retention. Gloomy appearance – ’tis the season.

Aroma 24/24

Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is deep and luxurious with significant complexity.

A rich chocolate brownie character and dark caramel pair well with significant bourbon (vanilla + oak) notes. Prominent jammy dried fruit with figgy, prune-like tones contribute perceived sweetness while noticeable black licorice spice along with considerable aged meatiness (leather + marmite) add depth and interest. Perfumy alcohol chimes in here and there. I’m even noting some earthy nuttiness. No apparent hop aroma.

The dry nose is rich and pungent with notes of butterscotch, chocolate, earth, fresh yeast, soy sauce, bourbon, and nuts. Exceptional and intriguing aroma.

Flavour 37/40

Follows the aroma with strong intensity, great balance, and aggressive perceived bitterness.

The brash palate opens up salty-sweet with notes of jammy figs + prunes, bourbon, and some meatiness (soy sauce + broth) – making way for a rich center filled with boozy dried fruit (figs + prunes), marmite, leather, oak, chocolate, salted black licorice, molasses, and butterscotch.

The long finish is strong and bitter with notes of marmite, bourbon (oak + vanilla), chocolate, earthy nuts, prunes, dark caramel, and salted black licorice. Tremendous complexity.

Mouthfeel 6/10

Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is thick, oily, and chewy with hot alcohol warming and a luscious finish. No apparent astringency but the palate has a burn from what seems like the alcohol. It’s rare, but I find this too hefty for my senses.

Overall 18/20

BreWskey’s Widow Vibe 2023 is a great beer.

The inky appearance with a quickly collapsing foam sets up the expectations for something substantial. The aroma exudes richness and scrumptiousness with mind-boggling complexity. On the palate, the beer is a true sledgehammer. Massive dark/specialty malt character pairs with robust barrel and hefty oxidation. The mouthfeel follows with an unctuous quality and a burning sensation.

Overall, Widow Vibe is a compelling sipper with remarkable depth. At the same time, there’s no question it’s heavy-handed and comes with fangs that bite. I’m sensing a stressed out yeast and the oxidation can overwhelm much of the other characteristics.

This is not a beer for the faint of heart. I think it’s worth trying if you have a chance – it doesn’t disappoint even if it doesn’t stand out.

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Hadrien DDH | Brasserie du Bas-Canada

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.

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Double Descente | Boréale

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.

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Immoralité | Dieu du Ciel!

Score: 100/100 – World-Class

From a 473ml can served cool at 8 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 2023-09-21 – making this exactly two weeks young.

I picked this up today from a local grocery store. Funny enough, I had an older can of Immoralite just yesterday while trying to find a last-minute, fresh beer for the evening. The age showed even if the beer was still delicious.

Finally a whole-ass breview of this exceptional DIPA from Dieu du Ciel!.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a slightly hazy deep gold to amber with 4.5cm of moderately dense, frothy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Great lacing with good head retention. A great looking beer.

Aroma 24/24

Strong intensity with balance towards hops. The aroma is fresh and inviting with a pronounced American hop character.

Significant grapefruit rind and pine needles dominate. Milder notes of melon and papaya round out edges by providing a suggestion of sweetness. Low perfumy alcohol and mild floral tones add layers. The citrus can take on a tangerine-like quality as well. Very low, supportive, bready-toasty malt with a trace of caramel.

The dry nose is pungent and hop-forward with some sweaty tones, sharp citrus, resin, and bready malt. Sooo enticing!

Flavour 40/40

Follows the aroma with strong intensity, bitter balance, and aggressive perceived bitterness.

The intense palate opens up with notes of citrus rind, grapefruit oil, resinous pine, and low melon. The center remains consistent but amps up the woody resinous quality as well as citrus while bringing in alcohol tones, gentle bready-toasty malt, and mild floral tones. Light tropical character lingers at the back.

The long finish is strong and bitter with notes of grapefruit rind, pine needles, a bit of alcohol, and low toasty-bready malt along with a trace of caramel. Exceptional.

Mouthfeel 10/10

Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp yet creamy with mild slickness and a mouth-coating quality. Restrained alcohol warming with an off-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate even though the impact is heavy.

Overall 20/20

Dieu du Ciel’s Immoralite is a world-class DIPA.

With enough clarity, a pleasant colour, and good foam attributes the appearance sets expectations high. The aroma punches you with enticing hop-character, insisting you to have a sip. On the palate, the beer hammers you with old-school hop flavour while putting a smile on your face. The mouthfeel rounds out everything with significant weight on the palate but never holding back drinkability. There are no discernible off-flavours in this beer.

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!’s Immoralité is a real treat and a stellar beer. Due to its ubiquity in Québec and the brewery’s level of distribution, I find people take this for granted. In a world full of hazy IPA’s, Immoralité truly stands out without losing a connection to the past. With a perfect score, this brew makes it on the Beerfection Bucket List. My sincere reverence goes out to the people behind this beverage.

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Grande Noirceur Rye | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Score: 88/100 – Great

From a 341ml bottle served warm at 14 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Bottled on 2022-06-17 – making this around eight months old.

I picked up this beer more than a month ago from a local specialty shop. Grande Noirceur Rye is part of the Dieu du Ciel! Collection Hiver 2022 which had a spectacular lineup of beers.

In all honesty I already had a few of these and decided I need to pick up one more for a proper breview. Let’s get to it.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a clear black with 1.5cm of dense, creamy, dark brown head which dissipates into a partial film within 2+ minutes. Great lacing with decent head retention. A great looking stout.

Aroma 20/24

Strong intensity with sharp-ish balance. The aroma is almost pungent with massive barrel-character and dark malts.

Deep and musty oak links with spicy layers of vanilla, anise, and black pepper. Dark chocolate and burnt sugar add a perception of sweetness while coffee, earth, and tobacco contribute to more complexity. Mild pine along with herbaceous menthol cut through sweetness and contribute to a perfumy quality. A wisp of alcohol here and there.

The dry nose is rich and layered with notes of molasses, butterscotch, oak, anise, and chocolate.

Flavour 36/40

Strong intensity with bitter balance and aggressive perceived bitterness.

The intense palate opens up with alcohol-soaked dark fruit (prunes + dates), burnt sugar, damp/musty wood, anise, and vanilla – making way for a potent center where the barrel character and malts really drive the profile. Notes of musty oak, anise, alcohol, vanilla, pine, burnt dark fruit, coffee, chocolate, earth, menthol, and ash.

The long finish is strong and bitter with notes of burnt sugar, bourbon (oak + vanilla + alcohol), anise, moderate herbal-woody hops, low dark chocolate, and mild molasses. Staggering complexity.

Mouthfeel 10/10

Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is heavy with oily slickness, plenty of creaminess, significant alcohol warming and a sweet finish. Mild astringency with no actual harshness on the palate.

Overall 16/20

Dieu du Ciel’s Grande Noirceur Rye is a great beer.

A good-looking stout with solid visual appeal. The head formation feels a little stifled and falling on the short side while collapsing relatively quickly. It does deserve full marks however. The nose is incredibly complex but I’m not loving all of it. I feel like this will not develop well over time as it will take on some type of rotten characteristics. The words enteric and fecal come to mind. The flavour follows with remarkable depth and richness of character, but I’m left with the feeling like something’s off. The mouthfeel delivers heavy impact on the palate without crossing over to harsh.

Overall, Dieu du Ciel’s Grande Noirceur Rye is a beer worth trying. The sheer amount of flavour for a 9% stout is astounding. There’s just something about it that I don’t love. Next up? The Péché Day 2023 pack!

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#Gatineu Is Trending | Brasserie Bas-Canada

Score: 83/100 – Very Good

From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 20.12.2022 – making this over six weeks old. I picked up the can two days ago from a local specialty shop.

This was a new shipment so I’m surprised to find out about the canning date. I suppose a triple IPA should hold up for up to two months considering the strength, but I’m a bit concerned how time has impacted this beer. I also discovered this beer was on my wishlist which is always exciting to narrow down.

My expectations for #Gatineau is Trending are very high.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours an opaque gold with 4.5cm of moderately dense, somewhat creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Great lacing with good head retention.

Aroma 21/24

Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is fragrant and fruity with a mild edginess.

Pronounced tropical fruit (mango) and citrus (grapefruit) take the lead. Milder stone fruit (peaches) and a trace of melon add layers while low crackery malt plays a supportive role. Mild perfumy alcohol and very little woody-herbaceous tones. Tiny bit of anise at the back.

The dry nose is strong and perfumy with notes of citrus, grass, floral, sweat, and mild crackery malt.

Flavour 35/40

Strong intensity with good balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

The intense palate opens up juicy with notes of citrus (grapefruit), tropical fruit (mango), stone fruit (peach), alcohol (floral), and salt. The center gets edgy with prominent citrus/stone/tropical fruit notes and noticeable alcohol. Mild grassiness kicks in while an anise spice intensifies and some aspirin character manages to come through.

The long finish is strong and bitter-ish with significant grapefruit oil vibe, resinous pine, alcohol, aspirin, and low crackery malt.

Mouthfeel 6/10

Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy, mouth-coating, and prickly with restrained alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. Moderate hop-derived astringency with some harshness on the palate.

Overall 15/20

Bas-Canada’s #Gatineau is Trending is an above average beer.

The looks are good for an opaque beer. Considering the high alcohol level, the foam attributes are really, really good. The aroma is inviting and layered but it lacks the punch I expect from a triple IPA. The flavour does kick up the depth by a notch, but it has some harsh qualities to it. The mouthfeel unfortunately ends up diminishing drinkability with a combination of hop-derived astringency, alcohol, and bitterness.

Overall, #Gatineau Is Trending might be a beer worth trying. It doesn’t really offer anything outside of the usual hazy IPAs, but as far as TIPAs go, it does a good job delivering a hefty, juicy, hop-focused beer while keeping the alcohol and sweetness in check.

I personally don’t find enough value in it to make it part of my regular rotation. Your mileage may differ 😉 Next up? A maltiboi from Boréale.

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Espèce | Brasserie du Bas-Canada

Score: 87/100 – Very Good

From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 13/01/2023 – making this just over a week young.

I picked up the can from a local specialty store a few days ago along with a handful of other trendy IPAs.

Another Bas-Canada hazy IPA added to the list. I’ve had this beer once before and I really liked it. Truth be told, when I picked up the can, I forgot about my previous date with Espèce. At least now we get to have an in-depth look at it.

Appearance 4/6

The beer pours a murky pale gold (greenish tint) with 4cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 4+ minutes. Exceptional lacing with great head retention. I don’t love the hue and the degree of opaqueness.

Aroma 24/24

Strong intensity with great balance. The aroma is punchy and powerfully hop-forward.

Big ripe tropical fruit (mango) and citrus (grapefruit) character lead the way. Woody pine, mild herbs, and noticeable aniseed quality add layers and help with balance. Mild crackery malt rounds out any edges.

The dry nose is strong and hoppy with notes of citrus, pine, grain, a hint of spice (aniseed), and mild sweaty tones.

Flavour 35/40

Follows the aroma with strong intensity, great balance, and pronounced perceived bitterness.

The vibrant palate opens up with salted citrus rind and juicy mango sweetness – making way for a sharper center where woody pine and mild herbal/grassy tones along with mild aniseed spice join the tropical-citrusy vibes. A pinch of salt and very low crackery malt at the back.

The long finish is strong and sharp-ish with notes of grapefruit pith, mild grass, a bit of pine, aniseed, aspirin, and low crackery malt.

Mouthfeel 8/10

Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp yet creamy and mouth-coating with restrained alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. There’s a moderate hop-derived astringency but it still misses the mark of turning acrid on the palate.

Overall 16/20

Brasserie Bas-Canada’s Espèce is a great hazy DIPA.

The appearance is not my favourite; it has that milky quality and a green-ish tint that just doesn’t sit right with me. Outstanding foam quality. Superb aroma – tremendously vibrant with intense fruitiness. The palate follows with massive character but it fails to reach perfection. There’s too much salt, shades of crushed aspirin, and grassy tones that take away from the drinking experience. The mouthfeel starts off rich and creamy, packing quite a bit of impact. However, with gained temperature, the astringency bumps up and diminishes drinkability too much.

Overall, Bas-Canada’s Espèce is a beer worth trying if you’re into hazy IPAs. The sheer amount of hop-flavour is commendable, but the beer lacks finesse and drinkability and is certainly not part of the brewery’s best.

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Super Koko | BreWskey

Score: 97/100 – World-Class

From a 473ml can served warm at 18 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 07/12/2022 – making this around six weeks old.

I picked up the beer straight from the brewery a few days after the release date. I had a small sample of it in the taproom and found it absolutely delightful.

The last stout I reviewed by BreWskey was their Rupture – a world-class pastry stout. Therefore, my expectations for Super Koko are very high.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a clear black (opaque in glass) with 3 cm of frothy, moderately dense, brown head which dissipates into a partial film within 2+ minutes. No lacing with decent head retention.

Aroma 24/24

Strong intensity with sweet balance. The aroma is lavish, dark, and dessert-like.

Incredibly rich chocolate milk character paired with coconut, caramel, and vanilla dominate the nose. Mild alcohol cuts through the sweetness while low black licorice note helps ground the aroma. There’s also a deep nuttiness beneath the surface.

The dry nose is rich, deep, and sweet with notes of caramel, coconut, chocolate, nuts, and vanilla.

Flavour (38/40)

Follows the aroma with strong intensity, sweet balance, and assertive perceived bitterness.

The luxurious palate opens up salty-sweet with a mix of raw sugar, coconut, caramel, black licorice, and booze. The center remains plush and heavy with the sweet character of caramel, chocolate, coconut, and vanilla being pierced by alcohol and moderate black licorice spice. A candied nut character appears fashionably late, right at the tail end of the center.

The long finish is strong and quite balanced with notes of raw sugar, chocolate, dark caramel, black licorice, coconut, and a wisp of smoke. A succulent mofo this one.

Mouthfeel 9/10

Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is heavy, round, and chewy with significant alcohol warming and a luscious finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate but the alcohol is getting dangerously close to hot.

Overall 20/20

BreWskey’s Super Koko is a world-class pastry stout.

Solid appearance even if I’ve seen heavy stouts with tighter bubbles and better head retention compared to this. Sweet and glamorous aroma urges you to have a sip. On the palate, the beer slaps you with flavour reminiscent of a boozy chocolate milk topped with coconut and caramel. But there’s a surprise – significant salty character of black licorice, nuttiness, and an umami richness add depth while aiding with balance. The mouthfeel is almost velvety-smooth with a round, chewy, mouth-coating quality. However, when warm, the beer does show it’s heavy alcohol content which is pushing to the territory of being hot. It still works here considering the level of residual sugar in the beer.

Overall, I love BreWskey’s Super Koko – it delivers a wonderful drinking (sipping) experience without going overboard in any of its elements. It’s an extreme beer and I guarantee some people will find it too sweet. Yet, within heavy pastry stouts, Super Koko shines.

BreWskey has really nailed the base recipe which is almost guaranteed to stand out in any of their different iterations of it. I highly recommend trying the brewery’s imperial stouts – they’re truly exceptional.

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