Beerfection

Tag: Special Ingredients

  • Presqu’ile | Tête d’Allumette

    Presqu’ile | Tête d’Allumette

    Score: 81/100 – Very Good

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear deep gold with a moderately tall, frothy, creamy, off-white head. Good foam retention – great considering the very high ABV.

    Aroma 20/24

    Strong intensity with balance towards smoked malt. The aroma is rustic and reminiscent of a campfire. Massive smoke upfront with mild apple-like esters, low grainy malt, and a splash of alcohol. No apparent hop character or any significant off-notes.

    Flavour 32/40

    Follows the aroma with strong intensity and balance towards smoked malt with pronounced perceived bitterness. The smoked character dominates the flavour. A hint of apple-like esters and noticeable alcohol note work well with the smoked character. The flavour lacks complexity and I’m getting a butyric acid-like note at the front. Still, the flavour is good.

    Mouthfeel 8/10

    Medium body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is rather crisp yet mouth-coating with noticeable alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. No apparent astringency and no actual harshness on the palate. Very good.

    Overall 15/20

    Tête d’Allumette’s Presqu’ile is a very good beer. It’s one of the most unique barleywines I’ve had. Blindfolded, it’s hard to peg this as a barleywine – a reflection of the brewery’s approach to bending classic styles. While the smoke doesn’t clash with the other ingredients, it leaves little room for a complex interplay between different ingredients. At such a high ABV, this is a beer to savour, however, I’d rather opt in for a few pints of Grodziskie which would deliver better drinkability while maintaining a rustic flavour experience. Still, this is an interesting brew and definitely worth trying.

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  • Blanche de Chambly Pomme | Unibroue

    Blanche de Chambly Pomme | Unibroue

    Score: 94/100 – Outstanding

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a slightly hazy pale gold with a moderately tall, frothy, off-white head. Good foam retention. A good looking brew

    Aroma 23/24

    Medium intensity with great balance. The aroma is layered and elegant with a well-integrated special ingredient(s).

    Moderate esters with low phenolic spice along with low earthy hops and gentle grainy malt. The apple character seamlessly integrates with the rest of the beer. No alcohol or off-notes. Exceptional aroma.

    Flavour 38/40

    Medium intensity with good balance and low perceived bitterness. The flavour is balanced and layered, just like the aroma.

    Again, yeast, hops, malt, and the extra ingredient(s) come together in a flavourful and harmonious combination. Slightly less balance than the aroma with the apple claiming more space…

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium body with high carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp with low creaminess and a mouth-coating quality with no apparent alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate.

    Overall 18/20

    Unibroue’s Blanche de Chambly Pomme is an outstanding beer.

    The special ingredient(s) is/are well-integrated into an already great base recipe. High drinkability and zero off-flavours contribute to a highly enjoyable drinking experience.

    This is a balanced and layered beer with a sense of intrigue. If the apple flavour was toned down just a touch, I’d consider this a world-class brew.

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  • Brew Juice 100% Framboise | BreWskey

    Brew Juice 100% Framboise | BreWskey

    Score: 90/100 – Great

    Appearance 2/6

    The beer pours a murky red with a low, thin, pink head. Poor foam retention. The beer looks like thick juice.

    Aroma 23/24

    Strong intensity with sweet-ish balance.

    The aroma is packed with an intense raspberry character. There’s not much else to it… just a low pale malt at the back. No hops, alcohol, or any off-notes. Very enticing aroma with great clarity of character.

    Flavour 38/40

    Strong intensity with sweet balance and low perceived bitterness.

    The flavour is dominated by raspberries and sugar with low grainy-crackery malt playing a supportive role. No hops, no alcohol, and no apparent off-flavours. Rustic and delicious.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is thick yet fizzy with no apparent alcohol warming and a luscious finish. No astringency with no harshness on the palate. Superb.

    Overall 17/20

    BreWskey’s Brew Juice 100% Framboise is a great beer.

    Thick and juice-like, the brew is packed with intense raspberry flavour. There’s not much complexity but the clarity of flavour is fantastic. This is one of the better versions of Brew Juice and it lives up to expectations. If you happen to see it, give it a try!

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  • Péché Mortel Bourbon 2021 | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

    Péché Mortel Bourbon 2021 | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

    Score: 97/100 – World-Class

    Appearance 5/6

    The beer pours a clear black with low, dense, brown head. Poor foam retention. A good looking stout.

    Aroma 23/24

    Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is intense, complex, and seductive.

    Big barrel notes pair extremely well with the coffee and dark malts. A healthy dose of esters, alcohol, and oxidation marry the rest of the character while adding layers. Enticing aroma.

    Flavour 40/40

    Strong intensity with great balance and very assertive perceived bitterness.

    Fantastic depth of flavour featuring a marriage of barrel, dark malts, esters, hops, and special ingredients. Masterfully executed. Top-notch.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is slick and smooth with restrained alcohol warming and a sweet finish. A hint of astringency but no actual harshness on the palate. Heavy impact.

    Overall 19/20

    Péché Mortel Bourbon 2021 is a world-class barrel-aged imperial stout.

    It’s astonishing how well this beer has held over the last few years. I’ve had very few stouts developing so beautifully over time. Most of the time 24 months leave a dent in the beer that makes me crave it fresh. That’s not the case here.

    Glorious flavour and overall character with fabulous mouthfeel make this a wonderful treat. Sure, I ended up preferring the 2022 and most recent 2023 editions but 2021 is absolutely worth your time, even in 2024.

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  • Péché Mortel Bourbon 2022 | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

    Péché Mortel Bourbon 2022 | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

    Score: 100/100 – World-Class

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black with tall, dense, creamy, brown head. Great foam retention. Gorgeous appearance.

    Aroma 24/24

    Strong intensity with great balance. The aroma is complex as it is enticing.

    Dark malts, coffee, and barrel take center stage. Significant oxidation brings it all together. Some esters and alcohol add layers with a complementary, low hop character. No apparent off-notes. World-class.

    Flavour 40/40

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

    Big dark malts and coffee pair superbly with the bourbon character. Truly a marriage of malt, special ingredients, barrel, and oxidation. World-class.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is heavy and quite viscous yet smooth with restrained alcohol warming and a sweet finish. A trace of astringency with no actual harshness on the palate. Heavy impact.

    Overall 20/20

    Péché Mortel Bourbon 2022 is an amazing beer. It’s brimming with character, complexity, and charm. The age shows more compared to the 2023 version but it adds a delightful dimension to the beer. This is a must-try, bucket list kind of brew.

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  • 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!

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  • L’Oeil du Mouton | Tête d’Allumette

    L’Oeil du Mouton | Tête d’Allumette

    Score: 79/100 – Good

    Appearance 5/6

    The beer pours a veiled amber with low, fluffy, off-white head. Decent foam retention. Good appearance.

    Aroma 18/24

    Medium intensity with good balance. The aroma is soft and unique with a sense of intrigue.

    A blend of malt, yeast, and special ingredients dominate. No apparent hop character or alcohol. No obvious off-notes but I’m not in love with the character.

    Flavour 34/40

    Follows the aroma with medium intensity, good balance, and moderate perceived bitterness.

    The flavour is unique and focused on malt as well as fermentation (yeast) characteristics. Noticeable minerality. No apparent hop notes or alcohol. Very good flavour.

    Mouthfeel 8/10

    Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is delicate and fizzy with a mouth-coating quality. The alcohol  warming is restrained while the beer finishes medium-dry. Mild astringency with no actual harshness on the palate. Very good.

    Overall 14/20

    L’Oeil du Mouton is a good beer.

    It’s very unique with good balance and drinkability peppered with a sense of intrigue. At the same time, it’s a little bit tricky to dig into and the overall character is missing appeal.

    A beer worth trying for the unique drinking experience which seems to be a pattern for me when trying the brewery’s product.

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  • Porter Baltique 3 Fèves | Archibald Microbrasserie

    Porter Baltique 3 Fèves | Archibald Microbrasserie

    Score: 87/100 – Great

    Appearance 4/6

    The beer pours a slightly hazy dark brown with low, creamy, tan head. Poor foam retention.

    Aroma 23/24

    Strong intensity with sweet balance. The aroma is rich, round, and dessert-like.

    Adjuncts dominate. Prominent milk chocolate and vanilla with caramel and molasses. Nice barrel character and mild oxidation at the back. Quite complex.

    Flavour 36/40

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

    Great flavour. The beer’s sweet but there’s a saltiness and enough alcohol to cut through it. Specialty malt, adjuncts, and barrel take center stage.

    Mouthfeel 9/10

    Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is mildly chewy with a bit of fizz and an overall smooth quality. Noticeable alcohol warming and a sweet finish. A bit of a bite on the tongue but no harshness.

    Overall 15/20

    For the most part, this is a great beer.

    The appearance is ok – missing foam and clarity, offering nothing special. I love the luxurious aroma which is dominated by special ingredients. The palate follows with better balance and very enjoyable character. I think the barrel doesn’t come through as much as I’d like and the adjuncts overshadow the base recipe. The beer ends up feeling a little heavy-handed and missing finesse.

    Having said that, Archibald delivers beyond my expectations by delivering a pleasant sipping experience.

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  • Old Fashioned de Glace | Beauregard Brasserie

    Old Fashioned de Glace | Beauregard Brasserie

    Score: 84/100 – Very Good

    From a 500ml bottle served warm at 14 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. No date information on the packaging but this is a fresh, 5-year anniversary release by the brewery.

    I picked up the beer straight from the source earlier today. I had a chance to try some of their beers while visiting the brewery – and oh boy, do some of these anniversary releases pack a punch! Hefty alcohol and some interesting special ingredients. The base recipe for this beer is one of my Beauregard favourites so I’m very curious how this beer has panned out.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black with 3cm of frothy, moderately dense, beige head which dissipates into a partial film within 2+ minutes. No lacing with decent head retention. With such incredibly high ABV the foam quality is very respectable. A good looking beer.

    Aroma 19/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is rustic, quite perfumy, and liquor-like.

    Significant alcohol character which works really well with a fragrant orange rind quality and some dark chocolate notes. Mild dark fruit (raisins) at the back along with some star anise. A tiny bit of toffee and a suggestion of soy sauce. No apparent off-notes and no apparent hop character.

    The dry nose is rich and malt-forward with notes of toffee, toast, soy sauce, and mild perfumy alcohol.

    Flavour 34/40

    Strong intensity with sharp balance and aggressive perceived bitterness.

    The extreme palate opens up quite sweet with notes of raw sugar, sweet orange, dried fruit (prunes), and booze – making way for an intense center with notes of prominent alcohol, sweet orange, star anise, and dark chocolate. No apparent hop character and no off-flavours.

    The long finish is strong and sharp with notes of roasted barley, dark chocolate, mild star anise, generous alcohol, a touch of barrel (woody oak + mustiness), and low sweet orange. A true sledgehammer.

    Mouthfeel 8/10

    Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is heavy, sharp, and slick with hot alcohol warming and a sweet finish. No apparent astringency on the palate but the alcohol takes its toll with noticeable burning sensation on the tongue.

    Overall 17/20

    Beauregard Brasserie’s Old Fashioned de Glace is an above average beer – especially considering the weight of it.

    Impressive appearance for such a hefty brew – the foam attributes are better than many less alcoholic beers. The aroma reveals the strength of the beer with significant alcohol character. However, there are no offensive fusel oil notes and the special ingredient links up really well with the booze. The palate steps up in intensity with massive strength. There’s a lack of complexity in the flavour but what makes it through is uniform and concentrated. The mouthfeel is fierce – yet it suits the strength really well.

    There’s no doubt about it – Old Fashioned de Glace is a sledgehammer of sledgehammers. The strength is beyond what most people have experienced drinking beer. In many ways, this is an impressive brew and I think it’s totally worth trying if you can get your hands on a bottle. At the same time, this is very expensive (among the most expensive beers I’ve ever bought) and the value is simply not there for me.

    I feel like the sheer amount of alcohol ends up shaving away some of the nuances in the character. In addition, the beer is not very practical to enjoy on your own. I recommend this if you’re looking to try something extreme and you’re sharing it with your friends.

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