Beerfection

Tag: Messorem Bracitorium

  • Il Était Une Fois: La Mort | Messorem Bracitorium

    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.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Canal Fatal | Messorem Bracitorium

    Canal Fatal | Messorem Bracitorium

    Score: 84/100 – Very Good

    From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 15/09/22 – making this two weeks young.

    I picked up the can a week ago from a local specialty shop. Second official Messorem breview. Another hazy IPA. An exciting break from heavy stouts.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours an opaque pale gold with 4.5cm of frothy, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Good lacing and head retention. Good looks for a hazy IPA.

    Aroma 21/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is inviting, rustic, and supremely fruity.

    Zesty grapefruit and tangeries dominate with mild tropical fruit sweetness at the back. Low pine and a hint of cereal grain.

    The dry nose is quite mild with citrusy notes, significant grainy-crackery malt character, and a hint of sweat.

    Flavour 34/40

    Follows the aroma with strong intensity, sharp-ish balance, and pronounced perceived bitterness.

    The brisk palate opens up with loads of citrus (grapefruit + tangerines), salt, mild pine, and a touch of herbs. The center remains consistent with salted citrus, woody tones, and indistinct herbs.

    The medium-length finish is strong and sharp-ish with notes of pine, grapefruit, herbs, and crackery malt. Rustic.

    Mouthfeel 9/10

    Medium body with lively carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp and somewhat prickly with low creaminess. No apparent alcohol warming and a dry finish. Mild hop-derived astringency with no actual harshness on the palate.

    Overall 14/20

    Messorem Bracitorium’s Canal Fatal is a very good beer.

    Appealing looks and a rustic yet deep hop-forward aroma. I wish the nose presented more layers and charm but I respect the clarity and depth. On the palate the beer is consistent, delivering enjoyable flavour and steering clear from any off-notes. The mouthfeel is missing a little bit of weight and the finish is surprisingly dry. Once that’s paired with mild astringency, I feel like the mouthfeel is lacking a degree of finesse.

    Overall Canal Fatal is a well-made brew but I have a hard time justifying the cost knowing I can find another IPA for half the price and an equally enjoyable drinking experience. This is not necessarily the brewery’s fault. These days, with such high hopping rates, the cost of making these beers is certainly a factor.

    For a value-driven fellow, I must always ask myself: “will it be worth the money?” In this case, I can’t say it is. If money is not a consideration, then by all means get yourself a 4-pack.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Pissenlits Par La Racine | Messorem Bracitorium

    Pissenlits Par La Racine | Messorem Bracitorium

    Score: 96/100 – World-Class

    From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 17-06-2022 – making this 7 weeks old. I picked up the can just a few days ago from a local specialty shop.

    Typically I wouldn’t review an IPA after this many weeks from the canning line. I’m making an exception since I’m curious if Messorem produces a shelf-stable product.

    This may be my first official Messorem breview – a brewery I’m pretty excited about. Regardless of the production date, my expectations are high.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours an opaque gold with 4cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 4+ minutes. Great lacing and head retention.

    Aroma 24/24

    Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is bright and layered with a grounding pungency.

    Pronounced citrus (grapefruit + tangerines + a hint of lime) and lush, ripe tropical fruit (pineapple + papaya) at the forefront. Moderate coconut and cedar-like woodiness paired with mild perfumy alcohol add layers while low melon and supportive crackery malt along with a trace of vegetal dankness round out an incredibly complex and nuanced aroma.

    The dry nose is mostly bready-citrusy with notes of bright lime, mild pine, and round, crackery malt. Beautiful.

    Flavour 37/40

    Strong intensity with good balance and moderate perceived bitterness.

    The juicy palate opens up with pronounced citrus (grapefruit + tangerines + lime), stone fruit (peach), and mild woody pine making way for a sharper center where the citrus remains while stone fruit is being taken over by pine, a touch of anise, low herbs, and a supportive crackery malt.

    The medium-length finish is balanced and of moderate strength with notes of grapefruit peel, pine, low coconut, a hint of grass, and low crackery malt. Delicious!

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy and mouth-coating with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. Very low hop-derived astringency with no harshness on the palate.

    Overall 19/20

    Messorem Bracitorium’s Pissenlits Par La Racine is a world class hazy IPA.

    Classic hazyboi appearance with great foam attributes and no chunks whatsoever. The aroma is straight up delightful – it’s nuanced and layered yet full of character and a touch of intrigue. The palate follows dynamic, flavourful, and impactful. For the style, the mouthfeel is exceptional: there’s no apparent hop burn or overtly salty vibes. The beer’s crisp yet smooth with well-hidden alcohol character.

    Messorem’s Pissenlits Par La Racine is a beer you need in your life… as long as you like hops. Wonderful craftsmanship and at the top of the Canadian IPA game. It looks like there will be more of Messorem breviews in my pipeline – this time it’ll be fresh and straight from the brewery.

    OMG, read another breview!