Beerfection

Tag: Strong American Ale

  • Boombox | 5e Baron

    Boombox | 5e Baron

    Score: 77/100 – Good

    Appearance 4/6

    The beer pours a hazy gold with a moderately tall, frothy, off-white head. Good foam retention. A good looking hazyboi even if the end of the pour introduces visible particles in the glass.

    Aroma 17/24

    Medium-strong intensity with balance towards hops. The aroma is fragrant, fruity, and somewhat sharp.

    American hop character dominates with some fresh yeast (almost cheesy but not quite) popping up here and there. Some signs of yeast stress. Low pale malt at the back and a splash of alcohol. Overall good aroma.

    Flavour 33/40

    Strong intensity with good balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

    The flavour highlights American hop notes with a splash of alcohol, supportive pale malt, and mild esters. Some saltiness comes through as well.

    Mouthfeel 9/10

    Medium body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp yet mouth-coating with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate even if the impact is heavy. Excellent.

    Overall 14/20

    Overall, 5e Baron’s Boombox is a good DIPA with plenty of flavour and decent drinkability.

    There are issues across the board with visible particles making it into the glass, the aroma having a fresh yeast character, and the flavour featuring too much salt. With so much competition in the category, I’d likely pick another DIPA to quench my thirst for hops.

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  • Vin D’orge Américain | Microbrasserie Le Castor

    Vin D’orge Américain | Microbrasserie Le Castor

    Score: 65/100 – Not Recommended

    Appearance 5/6

    The beer pours a clear deep amber with low, somewhat thin, tan head. Fair foam retention. Nice colour and clarity.

    Aroma 14/24

    Medium intensity with decent balance. The aroma has signs of fermentation issues while leaning towards hops.

    There’s a staleness in the aroma that seems to be a mix of oxidation and old hops. Some fresh yeast, a tiny bit of sulphur, and a tea-like quality. Mild alcohol and low malt. Underwhelming.

    Flavour 28/40

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

    Quite a bit of American hop character comes through and is supported by a mix of pale and specialty malts. Mild staleness (oxidation) and very little alcohol character. No specific ester notes come to mind. Good flavour but there’s little to get excited about.

    Mouthfeel 9/10

    Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel has a bit of slickness and some fizz along with a mouth-coating quality. The alcohol warming is restrained and the beer finishes medium-sweet. No astringency or harshness on the palate.

    Overall 9/20

    This Vin d’Orge is below average. It tastes a lot like an oxidized DIPA and the can is not even two months old. Le Castor has really dropped off from where they were a few years ago.

    Turning back time, I’ve enjoyed some outstanding beers from the brewery. Currently, I’m mostly disappointed with their product. Whether something happened with quality or that my opinion merely changed is unknown. In any case, I can’t recommend this brew.

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  • Double Descente | Boréale

    Double Descente | Boréale

    Score: 95/100 – Outstanding

    From a 473ml can served cool at 8 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 2023 SE 28 – making this about two weeks young.

    I picked up the beer from a local grocery store a few days back. I’m a big fan of Boréale brews: they’re flavourful, balanced, and well-executed. I’m hoping Double Descente doesn’t disappoint :)

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a hazy deep gold with 4cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a thick cap within 4+ minutes. Exceptional lacing with great head retention.

    Aroma 23/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is layered and powerful with explicit focus on hops.

    Tremendous complexity with notes of citrus (lime + blood orange), ripe tropical fruit (papaya + lychee + mango), melon, and pine. Mild herbs and a touch of perfumy alcohol with low supporting crackery malt.

    The dry nose is citrusy-tropical with mild crackery malt-sweetness. Very enticing – a near perfect aroma.

    Flavour 38/40

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

    The intense palate slaps you in the face with citrus (lime + blood orange), pine, melon, and ripe tropical fruit (papaya + lychee + mango) making way for an impressive center where the complex fruitiness marries herbs, pine, and alcohol all the while a bready-crackery malt plays a supporting role.

    The long finish is strong and balanced with notes of citrus (lime zest + grapefruit skin), low melon, mild alcohol, pine, water crackers, and lychee. Yum!

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy yet crisp and mouth-coating with restrained alcohol warming and an off-dry finish. A tiny bit of hop-derived astringency with no actual harshness on the palate. Glorious.

    Overall 18/20

    Boréale’s Double Descente is an exceptional hazy DIPA well worth picking up.

    An attractive beer with an outstanding foam quality. A zestful, complex aroma captivates the senses and follows through the intense, delightful palate. Regardless of the abundance of character, the beer remains very drinkable. The mouthfeel is plush and full yet finishing on the dry side – perfectly complimenting the beer’s intensity without diminishing drinkability.

    Double Descente demonstrates excellent craftsmanship, great balance, and an overall superb drinking experience. I couldn’t ask for more. An intangible touch of magic would nudge it in the top 1%. Highly recommended – maybe I’ll grab some more for the fridge before it’s gone.

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  • Immoralité | Dieu du Ciel!

    Immoralité | Dieu du Ciel!

    Score: 100/100 – World-Class

    From a 473ml can served cool at 8 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 2023-09-21 – making this exactly two weeks young.

    I picked this up today from a local grocery store. Funny enough, I had an older can of Immoralite just yesterday while trying to find a last-minute, fresh beer for the evening. The age showed even if the beer was still delicious.

    Finally a whole-ass breview of this exceptional DIPA from Dieu du Ciel!.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a slightly hazy deep gold to amber with 4.5cm of moderately dense, frothy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Great lacing with good head retention. A great looking beer.

    Aroma 24/24

    Strong intensity with balance towards hops. The aroma is fresh and inviting with a pronounced American hop character.

    Significant grapefruit rind and pine needles dominate. Milder notes of melon and papaya round out edges by providing a suggestion of sweetness. Low perfumy alcohol and mild floral tones add layers. The citrus can take on a tangerine-like quality as well. Very low, supportive, bready-toasty malt with a trace of caramel.

    The dry nose is pungent and hop-forward with some sweaty tones, sharp citrus, resin, and bready malt. Sooo enticing!

    Flavour 40/40

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

    The intense palate opens up with notes of citrus rind, grapefruit oil, resinous pine, and low melon. The center remains consistent but amps up the woody resinous quality as well as citrus while bringing in alcohol tones, gentle bready-toasty malt, and mild floral tones. Light tropical character lingers at the back.

    The long finish is strong and bitter with notes of grapefruit rind, pine needles, a bit of alcohol, and low toasty-bready malt along with a trace of caramel. Exceptional.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp yet creamy with mild slickness and a mouth-coating quality. Restrained alcohol warming with an off-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate even though the impact is heavy.

    Overall 20/20

    Dieu du Ciel’s Immoralite is a world-class DIPA.

    With enough clarity, a pleasant colour, and good foam attributes the appearance sets expectations high. The aroma punches you with enticing hop-character, insisting you to have a sip. On the palate, the beer hammers you with old-school hop flavour while putting a smile on your face. The mouthfeel rounds out everything with significant weight on the palate but never holding back drinkability. There are no discernible off-flavours in this beer.

    Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!’s Immoralité is a real treat and a stellar beer. Due to its ubiquity in Québec and the brewery’s level of distribution, I find people take this for granted. In a world full of hazy IPA’s, Immoralité truly stands out without losing a connection to the past. With a perfect score, this brew makes it on the Beerfection Bucket List. My sincere reverence goes out to the people behind this beverage.

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  • #Gatineu Is Trending | Brasserie Bas-Canada

    #Gatineu Is Trending | Brasserie Bas-Canada

    Score: 83/100 – Very Good

    From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 20.12.2022 – making this over six weeks old. I picked up the can two days ago from a local specialty shop.

    This was a new shipment so I’m surprised to find out about the canning date. I suppose a triple IPA should hold up for up to two months considering the strength, but I’m a bit concerned how time has impacted this beer. I also discovered this beer was on my wishlist which is always exciting to narrow down.

    My expectations for #Gatineau is Trending are very high.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours an opaque gold with 4.5cm of moderately dense, somewhat creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Great lacing with good head retention.

    Aroma 21/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is fragrant and fruity with a mild edginess.

    Pronounced tropical fruit (mango) and citrus (grapefruit) take the lead. Milder stone fruit (peaches) and a trace of melon add layers while low crackery malt plays a supportive role. Mild perfumy alcohol and very little woody-herbaceous tones. Tiny bit of anise at the back.

    The dry nose is strong and perfumy with notes of citrus, grass, floral, sweat, and mild crackery malt.

    Flavour 35/40

    Strong intensity with good balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

    The intense palate opens up juicy with notes of citrus (grapefruit), tropical fruit (mango), stone fruit (peach), alcohol (floral), and salt. The center gets edgy with prominent citrus/stone/tropical fruit notes and noticeable alcohol. Mild grassiness kicks in while an anise spice intensifies and some aspirin character manages to come through.

    The long finish is strong and bitter-ish with significant grapefruit oil vibe, resinous pine, alcohol, aspirin, and low crackery malt.

    Mouthfeel 6/10

    Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy, mouth-coating, and prickly with restrained alcohol warming and a medium-dry finish. Moderate hop-derived astringency with some harshness on the palate.

    Overall 15/20

    Bas-Canada’s #Gatineau is Trending is an above average beer.

    The looks are good for an opaque beer. Considering the high alcohol level, the foam attributes are really, really good. The aroma is inviting and layered but it lacks the punch I expect from a triple IPA. The flavour does kick up the depth by a notch, but it has some harsh qualities to it. The mouthfeel unfortunately ends up diminishing drinkability with a combination of hop-derived astringency, alcohol, and bitterness.

    Overall, #Gatineau Is Trending might be a beer worth trying. It doesn’t really offer anything outside of the usual hazy IPAs, but as far as TIPAs go, it does a good job delivering a hefty, juicy, hop-focused beer while keeping the alcohol and sweetness in check.

    I personally don’t find enough value in it to make it part of my regular rotation. Your mileage may differ ;) Next up? A maltiboi from Boréale.

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

    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.

    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!

    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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