Beerfection

Tag: Collaboration

  • À Demain Le Soleil! | Tête d’Allumette + Dieu du Ciel!

    À Demain Le Soleil! | Tête d’Allumette + Dieu du Ciel!

    Score: 91/100 – Outstanding

    From a 500ml bottle served at cellar temperature at 12 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. No date information on the packaging.

    I picked up this beer from a local specialty store probably close to two months ago now… I had a very long breview list and it’s taken me a while to get through it. Anyway, it felt like the right time for this little fella.

    I tried this beer at Dieu du Ciel’s 20th anniversary event and I remember it standing out from the crowd. I’m mostly steering away from reviewing one-offs and collaborations for a multitude of reasons but on this gloomy Sunday I’m breaking my “half-ass” streak by going whole-ass on À Demain Le Soleil!.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a veiled deep gold (pushing amber) with 4.5cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a solid cap within 4+ minutes. No lacing with great head retention. A good looking brew.

    Aroma 21/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is malty-sweet and fruity with a sense of intrigue.

    Pronounced caramelly sweetness and some biscuity notes pair well with a splash of alcohol and light floral tones. There’s a round, jammy quality reminiscent of strawberries and a light, earthy hop character. No off-notes.

    The dry nose is of moderate intensity, filled with biscuity, toasty malt, mild butterscotch, and a trace of earth. Great aroma.

    Flavour 38/40

    Strong intensity with good balance and pronounced perceived bitterness.

    The fine palate opens up sweet with notes of butterscotch, biscuits, and alcohol-soaked fruit – making way for a more balanced center where the robust biscuity, toasty-caramelly malt melds together with mild (yet sharp) alcohol, low earthy-herbal hops, gentle floral tones, and a touch of strawberry jam. An interesting honey character chimes in. No apparent off-flavours.

    The medium length finish is balanced and of moderate strength with notes of biscuit, toasted bread, caramel, mild floral tones, a hint of earth, a dash of alcohol, and wild flower honey. Complex.

    Mouthfeel 9/10

    Medium body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is heavy and somewhat slick with mild fizz, restrained alcohol warming, and a medium-sweet finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate. Excellent.

    Overall 17/20

    Tête d’Allumette + Dieu du Ciel! collaboration À Demain Le Soleil! is an outstanding beer.

    A good appearance sets the stage for an inviting as well as charming aroma. With a little bit more punch the nose could dazzle. On the palate the flavour is expressed in a complex, balanced, and exciting package. The mouthfeel supports the rest of the beer but it clocks in just a little thin for me. A tad more body would match the flavour depth and contribute to a uniform drinking experience.

    Overall, À Demain Le Soleil! is worth seeking out. It has character and depth paired with a sense of intrigue which makes it an easy choice on the store shelves. I’ve still seen it at some of the Montreal specialty shops so grab yourself a bottle while you can. I’d happily drink this regularly throughout the year if it was available in a smaller format at a reasonable price. Cheers y’all!

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Quelque Chose Dans L’eau | 5e Baron + Bas-Canada

    Quelque Chose Dans L’eau | 5e Baron + Bas-Canada

    Score: 95/100 – World-Class

    From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 14/10/20 – making this about three weeks old.

    I picked up the beer straight from the brewery just over a week ago.

    We’re back to IPA’s from yesterday’s stout – given the breweries involved in this beer, my expectations are high.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a hazy pale gold with 4.5cm of moderately dense, creamy, white head which dissipates into a solid cap within 3+ minutes. Great lacing with good head retention. Excellent.

    Aroma 22/24

    Medium-strong intensity with great balance. The aroma is layered and restrained with a beautiful hop-character.

    Sweet orange and gooseberries at the front provide a gentle sweetness and a sense of intrigue which is cut by mild lemon and resin. Moderate peachy quality and low passion fruit add complexity. No grassy notes.

    The dry nose is light with a fruity elegance. Exquisite.

    Flavour 38/40

    Strong intensity with great balance and moderate perceived bitterness.

    The juicy palate opens up with notes of sweet orange, gooseberries, and peaches making way for a delicious center where a subtle citrusy bite, juicy stone fruit, low woody hops, white grapes, and a dash of minerals come together harmoniously.

    The medium-length finish is balanced and of moderate strength with notes of sweet orange, peaches, hints of lime, low minerals, and grainy-crackery malt. Exceptional.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy yet crisp with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. Very mild hop-derived astringency with no actual harshness on the palate. Excellent.

    Overall 19/20

    5e Baron and Brasserie Bas-Canada’s collaboration Quelque Chose Dans L’eau? is a world-class NEIPA.

    The appearance really stands out with substantial haze through which light can pass creating a beautiful shine. The aroma is nuanced and intriguing and the palate follows exceptionally well. The mouthfeel is creamy and full yet maintaining high drinkability.

    This beer goes down way easier than any 8% ABV beer should – danger zone (I’m lucky I only have one can). This one surpasses my expectations by being a must-try if you’re a beer geek. Highly recommended.

    My compliments to both 5e Baron and Bas-Canada; here the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

    OMG, read another breview!