Evolution D.T.C | Wood Brothers Brewing Co.

Score: 71/100 – Average

From a 473ml can served cool at 7 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 2022-06-09 – making this over 4 weeks old. I got the can from a friend who sourced it directly from the brewery.

Another Wood Brothers review – fingers crossed this one stands out as their Double Dream Vol.02 was surprisingly average.

Appearance 4/6

The beer pours an opaque gold with 2.5cm of puffy, thin-ish, off-white head which dissipates into a partial film within 1+ minutes. Poor lacing with fair head retention. Good but not great.

Aroma 18/24

Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is pungent, dank, and citrus-forward.

Pronounced dankness with vegetal tones and moderate cannabis character along with prominent sweet oranges. Notable pine and a mild anise spiciness. Ample tropical fruit mostly reminiscent of ripe mango as well as mild grassiness.

The dry nose is a bit yeasty with nuanced fruit and a hint of water crackers. Quite complex yet not complete.

Flavour 26/40

Strong intensity with good balance and pronounced perceived bitterness.

The intense palate opens up with salted citrus and big tropical fruit (mango) sweetness along with mild woodiness and spice (anise) making way for a sharp center with notes of anise, pine, lime juice, mango, grass, minerals, and low cereal grain.

The medium-length finish is strong and bitter with notes of citrus rind, salt, pine, grass, and a spicy edge. This is rough.

Mouthfeel 8/10

Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is quite thick with good creaminess and a slight crispness. Restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. Medium-low hop-derived astringency with mild harshness on the palate. Good but not great.

Overall 15/20

Wood Brothers Brewing’s Evolution D.T.C is an average hazy DIPA.

The appearance is lacking in the foam characteristics with thin-ish structure and so so retention. Any clarity would improve the looks but unfortunately it’s not really part of the style. Aroma-wise the beer has some intriguing layers and moderate off-kilter vibes but it doesn’t captivate my senses. I wish there was just a bit more oomph for the nose. On the palate, the flavour amps up but without restraint; flirting with harshness. Finally, the mouthfeel has pleasant creamy weight to it, but noticeable hop burn chimes in and hinders the drinkability while leaving the palate saturated and unprepared for another sip.

I really want to like this, but at this price point I want an exceptional beer and unfortunately Evolution D.T.C doesn’t fit that bill. Maybe this is all due to a month in can… maybe not.

I suppose this a reminder for myself that I’m just not onboard with the trendy IPAs as I often find them harsh, overdone, and lacking in value. I need to check myself before stocking up on them. Having said that, I know there are some truly exceptional brews to be had within the style. And truthfully, they’re incredibly difficult to find.

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Double Dream Vol.2 | Wood Brothers Brewing Co.

Score: 62/100 – Not Recommended

From a 473ml can served cool at 7 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 2022-06-02 – making this just over 4 weeks old. I received the can from a friend who got it directly from the brewery.

This might be my first official Wood Brothers review even though I’ve enjoyed their beers before. I’m excited to add these guys to the ongoing breview list.

Appearance 2/6

The beer pours a murky, opaque, greenish-orange with 1cm of frothy, light tan head which dissipates into a partial film within 1+ minutes. Great lacing with fair head retention. At least there are no chunks!

Aroma 12/24

Medium intensity with good balance. The aroma is fruit-forward and rather muted.

Notes of pungent tropical fruit and citrus (lime + grapefruit) with a hint of grass and noticeable alcohol. A touch of melon and mild cereal grain at the back. I guess there’s some woodsy (pine) tones as well.

The dry nose is light and citrusy with mild graininess at the back. I’m surprised how little character leaps out of the glass.

Flavour 28/40

Strong intensity with decent balance and pronounced perceived bitterness.

The intense palate opens up with loads of citrus, a dash of salt, and noticeable alcohol. The center remains citrusy (lime + grapefruit + tangerines), somewhat woody (pine), and boozy while adding low tones of tropical fruit and mild supportive grain.

The long finish is strong and bitter-ish with notes of grapefruit zest, pine, low lime, alcohol, and mild cereal grain.

Mouthfeel 8/10

Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy with restrained alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. Low hop-derived astringency with no actual harshness on the palate.

Overall 12/20

Wood Brothers Brewing Co’s Double Dream Vol.02 is an average hazy DIPA.

First of all, the appearance is unappealing; the beer is murky, lacking in foam, and has an ugly green shade to it. The aroma fails to live up to expectations with surprisingly restrained character. Every now and then I come by a brew that forces me to stop trusting my senses. I have to go and smell a whole bunch of other things just to make sure something didn’t happen to my sense of smell. After pillows, candles, hands, lipbalm, lime water, and armpits, I decided that my smell is fine, it’s the beer that’s lacking. Unfortunately, the palate is not a whole lot better… it’s kind of rustic, limited in depth, and showing the alcohol too much. At least the mouthfeel is good – even if it doesn’t get full marks due to finishing slightly sweet and having a bit of edgy astringency to it.

Honestly, I’m very surprised how flat this beer falls. Just the other day I had an outstanding IPA from Wood Brothers with a May date on it. It’s hard to say what happened here, but it seems like the beer simply didn’t stand up against age. It’s worth noting that typically I wouldn’t write about a hoppy beer after a month from canning but I thought this time could be different.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t change much about the way I feel for these talented brewers. Wood Brothers remains a relevant voice in the Canadian craft beer scene and I’m looking forward to my next pint by them.

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Solstice d’Hiver | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Score: 97/100 – World-Class

From a 341ml bottle served warm at 18 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Bottled on 2021-12-02 – taking this right up to the 6 month mark in age.

I picked up a whole bunch of these from a local grocery store due to an enticing sale… pretty much the only beer I’ve been drinking for the last two weeks. I rummaged through my breview list and discovered I haven’t written about this so here it goes.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a brilliant deep copper with 5cm of creamy, dense, tan head which dissipates into a solid cap within 4+ minutes. Exceptional lacing with great head retention – especially for the style. This is as beautiful as any beer will ever get.

Aroma 23/24

Strong intensity with great balance. The powerful aroma is perfumy as it is deep.

Strong malt presence of toasted bread, mild caramel, and even biscuit. Mild butterscotch note with significant dried fruit (figs) and a bit of orange marmalade. Low resinous pine with perfumy alcohol and mild herbaceous characteristics.

The dry nose is malty-sweet with notes of caramel, dried fruit, toasted bread, and mild herbs. Tremendous complexity.

Flavour 39/40

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

The daring palate opens up with notes of candied fruit, alcohol, and butterscotch making way for a fierce center where the initially sweet palate is pierced with resinous pine, ample booze, herbaceous tones, and grapefruit peel.

The long finish is strong and balanced with notes of pine, mild caramel, toasted bread, grapefruit peel, herbaceous tones, and alcohol.

Mouthfeel 10/10

Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is round, slick, and mouth-coating with notable alcohol warming and a medium-sweet finish. No astringency or harshness even though this beer has a high impact on the palate.

Overall 19/20

Dieu du Ciel’s Solstice d’Hiver is a world-class barleywine.

Extraordinarily attractive appearance and an impressive aroma lead into a muscular palate with striking flavour depth and an impactful mouthfeel. This is a sledgehammer of a beer and not for the faint of heart. There are no obvious oxidized characteristics which I find very surprising after 6 months of age. My intuition tells me this would develop exceptionally well over the years.

DDC’s Solstice d’Hiver is an all around awesome beer easily competing with the best in the category. The only thing it’s missing is a certain wow-factor, which is covered when you toss it in bourbon barrels. A must-try. Superb work by the brewing team.

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Genèse | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Score: 95/100 – World-Class

From a 341ml bottle served warm (darn it, I dropped the ball on the temp) at 16 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Bottled on 2022-01-07 – making this about 5 months old.

I picked up a 4-pack of these babies after having had the beer a week earlier. I decided this was a must breview kind of beer. One of the best tripels I’ve ever had. Here we go.

Appearance 3/6

The beer pours a cloudy orange with 1.5cm of frothy, off-white head which dissipates into a partial film in less than a minute. Poor lacing and head retention. Not great.

Aroma 22/24

Medium-strong intensity with superb balance. The aroma is fruit-forward, enticing, and incredibly balanced.

Pronounced apricot character marries a base recipe of pome fruit (apples + pear), moderate earthy-herbal hops, and a grainy cereal malt. Low perfumy alcohol ties it all together. Mild spicy phenols and a hint of citrus peel add intrigue.

The dry nose is characterful with notes of hay, pome fruit, dried apricots, mild phenols, and mild granola tones.

Flavour 40/40

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

The wonderful palate opens up slightly tart with juicy apricots, apple skins, and a splash of alcohol whereas the center switches gears by bringing in the hops (herbs + earth), malt (cereal grain), mild interesting phenols (spicy), as well as a touch of citrus peel.

The long finish is strong and bitter-ish with notes of grapefruit peel, apricots, mild herbs, low perfumy alcohol, and breakfast cereal malt. Ufff.

Mouthfeel 10/10

Medium-full body with high carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp, lively, and somewhat mouth-coating (even slick-ish) with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate even if it has a significant presence on the tongue.

Overall 20/20

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!’s Genese is a world-class tripel.

Having said that, the appearance could use some work as the beer is cloudy and lacking in foam attributes (texture + retention + lacing). I’m not sure if anything could be done about it without sacrificing flavour so let’s not judge a book by its cover. The aroma is inviting with nuanced layers which find equilibrium. On the palate the beer punches you with flavour while maintaining a stunning balance. Meanwhile the mouthfeel is rather full yet vivacious with a snappy, lingering finish.

Remarkable work in integrating the special ingredient which truly sets this apart from the pack. I highly recommend this beer as it is without question one of my favourite tripels in memory. My compliments to DDC – please never stop brewing this jewel.

P.S. I’m currently riding a DDC brew train so you can expect more reviews dropping from the brewery.

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Snowbird’s Paradise | Brasserie Mille-Îles

Score: 52/100 – Not Recommended

From a 473ml can served warm into a stemless wine glass. Canned on 28/02/22 – making this two weeks young.

I grabbed a can at a local specialty store knowing they had just received the beer. First official review by Brasserie Mille Iles. Average expectations even if the style has me hyped up.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a clear very dark brown with 3cm of frothy, creamy, deep tan head which dissipates into a solid cap within 3+ minutes. Great lacing and good head retention.

Aroma 12/24

Moderate intensity with sharp-ish balance. The aroma is rich and overbearingly dark malt-focused.

Intense black licorice and burnt sugar character overpower anything in their wake. A hint of perfumy alcohol at the back. There’s a suggestion of vanilla but I feel like I’m just imagining it. In addition, a durian-like pungency exists yet remains mostly unexpressed. That must the contribution from jackfruit. No coconut. Severe lack of complexity with most of the special ingredients missing.

The dry nose reveals interesting layers of pungent tropical fruit, dark caramel, and cream. Too little, too late.

Flavour 20/40

Strong intensity with bitter-ish balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

The robust palate opens up with massive salted black licorice character which carries over all the way to the finish… and that’s it. No really, beyond some alcohol and mild roasted barley character I can only taste salted black licorice. And I love black licorice. It’s practically encoded in my DNA. Black licorice is my middle name.

But where’s the coconut? Where’s the vanilla? Whatever happened to jackfruit? Fail. Fine, I guess you could talk about burnt sugar, molasses, and tar in order to paint a picture. This was unexpected.

Mouthfeel 10/10

Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is heavy, mouth-coating, and chewy with restrained alcohol warming and a sweet finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate. Excellent.

Overall 6/20

Brasserie Mille-Îles 5th anniversary Snowbird’s Paradise is a plain disappointment.

Very good appearance but the aroma and overall flavour are beyond rustic. I’m kind of stumped as I can’t remember a time a drank a beer so one-dimensional. This is boozy liquid black licorice in a glass and nothing more. Yes, I’m punishing the score due to false advertisement. Just because you put an ingredient in your beer doesn’t mean you should put it on the label. If you can’t taste a special ingredient, then you need to suck it up and leave it out of the description.

I really like this as a stout but not being able to pick up any of the attributes on the label and paying a high price for a specialty brew leaves me disappointed. Whoever let this pass… you had to pivot and make the most of a less-than-ideal-situation. Sticking to your guns made you look bad.

When you want to make lemonade and life gives you jackfruit, you make a jackfruit-f***ing-smoothie or something and don’t label it as lemonade. Great, I’ve officially turned into a troll. Or maybe it’s old age? In any case, walk away from this one.

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Lacustre | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

Score: 87/100 – Very Good

From a 750ml bottle served cool into a stemless wine glass. No date information on the bottle but this is a fresh release.

I picked this up from a local specialty store last night knowing the beer was part of that day’s shipment. I’ve never had beers from Albion so my expectations are average. However, there’s something in the air that makes me think this won’t disappoint. Let’s find out.

Appearance 4/6

The beer pours an opaque (almost murky) deep gold with 3.5cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Exceptional lacing and good head retention.

Aroma 19/24

Moderate intensity with sharp-ish balance. The aroma is uncommon and strangely reminiscent of a needle-covered forest floor.

Sharp and perfumy coniferous tree note – like this was conditioned on juniper needles or something similar. Prominent grapefruit oil and low unripe mango character. A hint of melon and moss.

The dry nose is mild with notes of crackery malt, low fresh yeast, and a resinous quality. Wow that’s unique.

Flavour 35/40

Medium-strong intensity with bitter balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

The unusual palate opens up with resinous tree needles, citrus, nectarines, and minerals making way for a brisk center where the outdoorsy, woodsy notes harmonize with the oily citrus character and are supported by low malt-sweetness and a hint of tropical fruit.

The long finish is bitter and of moderate strength with notes of crushed juniper needles, grapefruit oil, and low crackery malt. I struggle to find the words…

Mouthfeel 10/10

Medium body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp yet creamy and mouth-coating with restrained alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate even if the bitterness builds over time.

Overall 19/20

Brasserie Artisanale Albion’s Lacustre is a rustic and distinctive beer.

The appearance is ok – I’m not a fan of the colour or clarity but the foam attributes are spot-on. The aroma takes you off-guard with special ingredients bombarding your senses and just as you gather yourself for the sip, the palate throws you for a loop. The mouthfeel is great – it’s refreshing yet it has some real weight while leaving your palate cleansed.

I was very confused at first – maybe I still am. Lacustre deserves a very high overall score because it’s unique, it takes me on a journey, and there are no clear off-flavours. I can visualize a damp, earthy, and solitary forest with each sip and that alone is worth a lot of points.

This is the equivalent of an off-kilter wine in a fancy restaurant – “what the f**k am I drinking? I think I like it!” I’d love to know how this was brewed and what ingredients were used – do send me a message if you happen to know.

If you’re sensitive to perfumy characteristics and soapy notes – this beer may rub you the wrong way. For the rest of you, it’s an interesting brew to try.

My expectations were exceeded and I’m now looking forward to Forêt Blanche which is waiting for its turn in the fridge.

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Gâteau Forêt-Noire | Unibroue

Score: 91/100 – Outstanding

From a 750ml bottle (corked & caged) served at cellar temperature into a stemless wine glass. No clear date code on the bottle – classic Unibroue and I wish they changed it.

I think this is a recent vintage (21 or 22) of a past release. In any case, I haven’t had a bad bottle from Unibroue regardless of the age. Some of my favourite cellar-aged brews have been from these guys.

I picked up the bottle recently from a local grocery store. I actually already had this about a month back and decided it’s worth a breview. So here it goes.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a clear dark brown (red highlights) with 7cm of creamy, fluffy, tan head which dissipates into a thick cap within 4+ minutes. Good lacing with great head retention. Fantastic appearance!

Aroma 22/24

Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is perfumy, deep, and sumptuous (hey, it’s on the bottle!)

Prominent sour cherry note is surrounded by medium-low chocolate malt character, mild anise, a hint of earth, a touch of caramel, and perfumy alcohol. A dash of brown sugar and a scintilla of smoky, roasted barley at the back.

The dry nose is round with notes of sour cherries, caramel, spice, and a hint of smoke.

Flavour 36/40

Follows the aroma with strong intensity, good balance, and low perceived bitterness.

The indulgent palate opens up with lovely cherry tartness, alcohol, chocolate malt, and brown sugar making way for a delicious center still remaining focused around the cherries. There’s a charming spice (anise + black pepper) quality which pairs really well with a round caramelly note and mild chocolate cake character. Mild earthy tones, a splash of booze, and a few crumbs of bread crust.

The long finish is balanced and of moderate strength with notes of sour cherries, chocolate malt, alcohol, earth, bread crust, and a wisp of smoke.

Mouthfeel 9/10

Medium body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is somewhat slick and mouth-coating with a bit of fizziness, restrained alcohol warming, and a sweet finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate.

Overall 18/20

Unibroue’s Gâteau Forêt-Noire is an outstanding beer.

Gorgeous looks lead the way into a rich yet nuanced aroma with wonderful layers – even if it doesn’t bring about an image of black forest cake. The cherry is strong with this one and by only looking at the surface, you’ll miss the beautiful complexity that lies beneath it. The malt, yeast, alcohol, and even hops provide an interesting drinking experience worth savouring. Don’t worry, the mouthfeel won’t hold you back by overwhelming your palate.

Having said that, this is a sweet beer and while ample alcohol and cherry tartness cut right through it, this brew may be too much for certain drinkers. In addition, when I shared this with my partner some weeks ago, she found it medicinal. However, if your palate tends to align with mine, then you’re in for a high value treat. Don’t hesitate to roll the dice and get yourself a bottle while supplies last. Cheers!

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Triple | Robin Bière Naturelle

Score: 98/100 – World-Class

From a 750ml bottle served at cellar temperature into a wine glass. Bottled on 20-08-21 – making this over 6 months old.

I picked up the beer from a local specialty shop along with many other brews from Robin after experiencing beerfection by their rum barrel-aged Polygone.

Triple is significantly higher in alcohol compared to the rest of their lineup. I’m looking forward to this with high expectations so let’s get to it.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a brilliant deep gold with less than 1cm of thin, bubbly, off-white head with no lasting power – gone in 60 seconds. Poor lacing and head retention. Attractive colour and clarity even if the head is slightly lacking (as expected).

Aroma 24/24

Moderate intensity with sweet-ish balance. The aroma is subdued yet layered with significant white wine and cider quality.

Pome-fruit forward with grounding oak, a splash of perfumy alcohol, low earthiness, and a hint of vanilla to round it all out. Mild hay-like character with farmyard funk and herbs. That’s when the beer hasn’t yet reached room temperature.

Once warm, the aroma amps up in intensity while adding layers of maple syrup, honey, and apricots which absolutely make all the difference in creating an extraordinary nose. The intensity transitions to medium-strong as the balance changes over to superb. Even though the additional layers are generally considered sweet, the overall balance seems to find equilibrium by snapping into place.

The dry nose is round and reminiscent of apple crumble pie, oak, and honey. Sublime.

Flavour 39/40

Medium-strong intensity with sharp-ish balance and pronounced perceived bitterness.

The palate opens up with vibrant white wine and cidery character rich in pome fruit, minerals, and alcohol. Consistent throughout, the center is reminiscent of white wine (pome fruit + oak + vanilla), apple cider vinegar, wet hay, alcohol, low herbs, and mild farmyard funk.

The medium-length finish is strong and balanced with notes of white wine, apple cider vinegar, vanilla, oak, spice, and cereal grain.

Just like the aroma, the flavour intensifies with gained temperature and adds layers of maple syrup, candy apples, and spiced pear. Incredible.

Mouthfeel 10/10

Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp and slightly puckering with restrained alcohol warming and a dry finish. Mild tannic astringency yet no harshness on the palate. Surprisingly dry for the hefty ABV.

Overall 19/20

Robin Bière Naturelle’s Triple is a world-class beer. It took me halfway to the glass to truly appreciate this and another quarter to realize just how exceptional it is. Tip: drink this warm as it only reveals its true beauty in room temperature.

At first I had to work for it, but the aroma is deeply gratifying with wonderful layers and a unique character. On the palate, the tasting notes become rather repetitive but that’s a testament to a consistent beer with exceptional flavour clarity. However rustic in character, this beer delivers a unique drinking experience with its vinous/cidery quality: it takes expertise to create that.

At times while sipping on Robin’s Triple, you forget you’re drinking beer. The creators take you on a journey different from every other one of their offerings. And with that in mind, Robin is quickly becoming my favourite Canadian brewery. Innovation, expertise, and a wonderful sense for flavour is baked into this brewery.

Grab yourself a bottle if you can find it. A near-perfect beer with my biggest issue/concern being the serving temperature.

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Polygon Rhum 2021 | Robin Bière Naturelle

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.

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Rice Rice Baby | Mellön Brasserie

Score: 81/100 – Very Good

From a 355ml can served cold at 4 degrees Celsius into a wine glass. Canned on 27.01.2022 – making this just over a week young.

I picked up the beer from a local specialty shop in Montréal. I’ve never had anything from Mellön before but the sales person twisted my rubber arm.

It’s been a year since I wrote any breviews – let’s see if I still remember how to do this.

Appearance 6/6

The beer pours a clear-ish gold with 2cm of fluffy, creamy, white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 2+ minutes. Great lacing with decent head retention.

Aroma 14/24

Medium-light intensity with good balance. The aroma is very earthy and herbal with low floral tones – almost tea-like in character.

Low sulphur and pome fruit esters at the back along with pleasant grainy-bready notes playing a supporting role. Strangely a wisp of sweatiness comes through here and there… I have never really cared for B.O.

The dry nose is mild with a cereal grain/bread character and a touch of herbaceousness.

Flavour 34/40

Medium intensity with good balance and moderate perceived bitterness.

The palate opens up with herbal-floral hops and a touch of pome fruit making way for a maltier middle where notes of raw cereal grain, white bread, and honey blend nicely with the hops.

The short finish is balanced with gentle yet snappy bitterness and moderate intensity. Notes of floral-herbal hops, white bread, honey, and a touch of apple esters remain on the palate.

Mouthfeel 10/10

Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy yet crisp with no alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. No astringency or harshness of any kind.

Overall 17/20

Mellön Brasserie’s Rice Rice Baby is a very good international pale lager – one of the best I remember having.

Solid looks with rustic overall character and plenty of flavour for the sessionable ABV. The drinkability is great, the flavour is balanced, and I could drink two pints of this without issues.

If pale lagers are your thing then you should definitely try this. Due to the style, I’m in no rush to drink RRB again but you likely knew that already – hehe. I’m looking forward to trying more brews by Mellön.

What’s next? A fresh NEIPA from 5e Baron.

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