Beerfection

Tag: Brasserie Artisanale Albion

  • Arctic Ale 2025 | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Arctic Ale 2025 | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Score: 80/100 – Good

    Appearance 5/6

    The beer pours a clear dark brown with a low, thin, tan head. Poor foam retention. A good looking brew.

    Aroma 19/24

    Strong aroma with good balance. The aroma is musty, deep, and unique. There’s a distinct wild yeast character which is deeply earthy. Fruity esters and alcohol notes blend smoothly, complementing the yeast-driven profile. A moderate presence of dark and specialty malts adds depth without overwhelming. Noticeable oxidation contributes positively to the complexity. No apparent hop character.

    Flavour 34/40

    Follows the aroma with strong intensity, good balance, and assertive perceived bitterness. The musty flavour is driven by a blend of fruity esters, wild yeast, and alcohol. Dark and specialty malts follow, supported by pleasant oxidation which adds depth and complexity. No apparent hop character. The flavour is very good and notably unique, with a vinous quality that stands out. As with the aroma, the elements occasionally feel a bit disjointed.

    Mouthfeel 8/10

    Medium body with lively carbonation. The mouthfeel is prickly and slightly chewy with noticeable alcohol warming and a sweet finish. No astringency or harshness of any kind. Quite pleasant considering the strength.

    Overall 14/20

    Albion’s Arctic Ale is a good beer. The appearance is enticing, though slightly better head formation and retention would elevate it further. The aroma is complex and intriguing, but the components struggle to harmonize, creating a tension that detracts from the experience. The flavour follows suit – distinct and characterful, yet lacking cohesion. There is much to appreciate, but it falls short in finesse. The mouthfeel is pleasant and unobtrusive, though it lacks the weight expected at this strength. The alcohol is well hidden, but this is clearly a sipper.

    Overall, the sipping experience is enjoyable and Albion’s Arctic Ale is certainly worth trying, though it leaves a sense of something unresolved. The profile is layered and engaging, but the elements do not always align seamlessly.

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  • Alfheim | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Alfheim | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Score: 91/100 – Outstanding

    Appearance 4/6

    The beer pours a clear deep gold with very little, thin, white head. Poor foam retention. Nice colour and clarity.

    Aroma 22/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is perfumy, funky, and quite elegant.

    Notable farmyard funk and fruity tones pair well with barrel and mild supportive malt character. It’s hard to say if there are hops in there but the earthiness is making me think of them. A tiny bit of alcohol with no apparent off-notes. Great nose!

    Flavour 38/40

    Strong intensity with sharp balance and moderate perceived bitterness.

    Quite a bit of mixed acidity – between lactic and acetic (that I can tell), but without going overboard. Vivid barrel character and farmyard funk along with fruity esters and mild pale malt. A splash of alcohol and no off-flavours. Excellent.

    Mouthfeel 9/10

    Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is slightly puckering and fizzy with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. A trace of astringency with no actual harshness on the palate.

    Overall 18/20

    Another fantastic beer from Albion. In less than two years, they’ve become one of my favourite Canadian breweries.

    Alfheim is an outstanding sour beer with a beautiful sense of restraint. I could finish a whole bottle on my own and not feel overwhelmed. Superb balance, good drinkability, and a touch of intrigue make this a beer worth seeking out. Highly recommended.

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  • My Lord | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    My Lord | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Score: 86/100 – Great

    Appearance 3/6

    The beer pours a slightly hazy amber with barely any head. Poor foam formation and retention. Ok appearance.

    Aroma 21/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is interesting, perfumy, and straight up offbeat.

    Significant brett character pairs well with notable alcohol and fruity esters. Gentle malt character rounds out edges while low hops add layers.

    Flavour 38/40

    Strong intensity with bitter balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

    The flavour is distinctive to say the least. Prominent earthy-fruity brett character is complimented by citrusy-herbal hops and a firm mix of pale and specialty malts. Mild floral tones and a splash of alcohol. Complex and intriguing.

    Mouthfeel 7/10

    Medium body with very low carbonation. The mouthfeel is a bit slick with mild fizziness and restrained alcohol warming. Medium-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate but it’s a little lifeless.

    Overall 17/20

    My Lord is something I tried for the first time a few months ago. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it as it’s an eccentric beer. I decided to pick up another bottle before they were gone in order to write about it.

    Overall this is a great beer. There’s a lot of flavour presented in a balanced and complex whole which on its own is enough reason to try this. The appearance is lacking just like the mouthfeel. If those were improved, this brew would stand out. If you manage to find a bottle somewhere, grab it. One thing is for sure: drink this warm!

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  • Chevalier Vert | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Chevalier Vert | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Score: 95/100 – Outstanding

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a brilliant, medium amber with massive, dense, creamy, tan head. Persistent foam. Glorious appearance. Top notch.

    Aroma 22/24

    Medium intensity with good balance. The aroma is delicate yet complex and it has an enticing quality to it.

    Wonderful balance between the yeast, hops, and malt. A healthy dose of brett but it doesn’t dominate the nose. No off-notes or alcohol. Lovely.

    Flavour 38/40

    Medium-strong intensity with great balance and pronounced perceived bitterness.

    The yeast and hops take the lead while being supported by the malt. Pleasant minerality ties it all together. The flavour is fruity-earthy-flinty and it’s fabulous.

    Mouthfeel 7/10

    Medium body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp yet creamy with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. No astringency or harshness of any kind on the palate. Excellent!

    Overall 19/20

    Albion does it again. This beautiful brett pale ale really stands out.

    It’s missing the intangibles of a world-class brew, but it’s well worth seeking out. The beer is delicate yet characterful and it boasts fantastic drinkability with superb balance. There are no flaws.

    What can I say? Please, sir, I want some more?

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  • 1848 Imperial Russian Stout | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    1848 Imperial Russian Stout | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    Score: 100/100 – World-Class

    From a 500ml bottle served warm at 15 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. No date information on the packaging.

    I picked up this beer a few weeks back, only to pass it off to a friend. Since I was excited to try this, I went ahead and picked up another bottle from a local specialty store. Both times the clerk asked me if I’ve had this beer. Obviously I haven’t… but I’m trying.

    Here we are; with high expectations and excitement at hand. It’s been long due I write about a hefty stout such as this.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black with 4.5cm of dense, creamy, beige head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 4+ minutes. Exceptional lacing with great head retention – especially for a 10% ABV beer. Gorgeous!

    Aroma 24/24

    Strong intensity with great balance. The aroma is robust and clean expressing wonderful dark malt characteristics.

    Rich roastiness and nostalgic campfire is rounded out by dark caramel and fruit (prunes). Deep dark chocolate tones along with mild nuttiness claim quite a bit of space while intriguing spicy notes of licorice and cola add layers. Heck, the spice seems to have a pinch of black pepper in it too. So much complexity, I’m also noting coffee, burnt toast, and a low meaty character.

    The dry nose is characterful with notes of chocolate, burnt toast, caramel, mild earthy nuttiness, and a touch of roasted grain. Sublime.

    Flavour 40/40

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

    The marvellous palate opens up big and bold with notes of burnt sugar, alcohol-soaked dark fruit, dark caramel, and a mild savoury quality. The center kicks it up a notch with even more intensity, featuring notes of roasted barley, black licorice, charred wood, tobacco, dark chocolate, resinous pine, and eucalyptus.

    The long finish is strong and bitter-ish with notes of roasted barley, dark chocolate, burnt sugar, woodsy tones, dark fruit, black licorice, and a wisp of smoke. Perfection.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is surprisingly smooth with some oiliness and slickness as well as noticeable alcohol warming and a sweet finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate.

    Overall 20/20

    Brasserie Artisanale Albion’s 1848 Imperial Russian Stout is a world-class RIS. I find it truly faultless with enough wow-factor to make it one of the best I remember drinking.

    Impeccable appearance from clarity and colour to foam attributes. The aroma is phenomenal both in complexity and balance. On the palate the beer slams you with flavour while taking you on a journey with each of the steps being unique yet united. There’s a lovely smoothness to the mouthfeel even if the bitterness builds and the heat from alcohol is noticeable. While sweet, the beer doesn’t even touch being cloying.

    Every now and then I’ll come by a beer that is perfect as is – delivering flavour, balance, drinkability, and intrigue. Albion’s 1848 is all of that. Yet, I consider this a humble brew. Far from pretentious, the beer simply presents itself quietly, stripped of excess while delivering an epic drinking experience.

    I don’t know if you can tell, but this poison has made an impression. Absolutely get yourself a bottle if you can find it, I can’t recommend this highly enough.

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  • Lacustre | Brasserie Artisanale Albion

    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.

    OMG, read another breview!