Beerfection

Tag: Strong British Ale

  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Captain Swing | Microbrasserie Hopfenstark

    Captain Swing | Microbrasserie Hopfenstark

    Score: 94/100 – Outstanding

    From a 473ml can served warm at 18 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 15 11 2022 – making this two months old.

    I picked up the can recently from a local specialty store after having originally grabbed one sometime early December 2022 in order to write about this beer. The details are blurry, but I ended up enjoying Captain Swing without deeply assessing it. A handful of weeks later, I knew I had to say something… because it stands out.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear copper with 5cm of moderately dense, frothy, tan head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 3+ minutes. Good lacing and head retention. A great looking brew.

    Aroma 22/24

    Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is malty, perfumy, and enticing.

    Pleasant floral tones and perfumy alcohol provide a counterpoint to significant earthy-woody hops. Deep malt character of bread crust, biscuit, caramel, and mild nuts forms the center while gentle dried fruit, butterscotch, and orange marmalade add colour. There’s a pleasant tea-like quality and barely any perceptible oxidation. At times, the alcohol can have a slightly solventy note.

    The dry nose is strong and pleasant with notes of toasted bread, mild hay, low woody-earthy hops, and a touch of butterscotch.

    Flavour 38/40

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

    The strong palate opens up floral and tea-like with notable caramel-sweetness and boozy dried fruit making way for a toasty-bready center also loaded with floral tones, perfumy alcohol, mild herbs, firm woodiness, caramel, and mild citrus.

    The long finish is strong and balanced with notes of dried fruit, toasted bread, orange marmalade, caramel, herbaceous-woody hops, earth, and alcohol.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth, mouth-coating, and round with noticeable alcohol warming and a medium-sweet finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate even though the impact is heavy.

    Overall 18/20

    Microbrasserie Hopfenstark’s Captain Swing is an outstanding barleywine.

    Great appearance sets the stage for an incredibly English aroma with significant hop-contribution. The flavour follows with loads of character and smashing balance while the mouthfeel compliments sippability with smooth yet heavy texture.

    Overall, Hopfenstark’s Captain Swing is a beer worth seeking out. It’s loaded with character, balance, and perspective. I’m only missing a certain wow-factor which would truly place it in the top 1%. If you find a can, don’t hesitate picking it up. Barleywine is life.

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  • Corne de Glace | À l’abri de la Tempête

    Corne de Glace | À l’abri de la Tempête

    Score: 80/100 – Very Good

    From a 341ml bottle served warm at 14 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Best before date of 20.04.2024 with 211118 listed afterwards. Does that mean this was packaged about a year ago? I don’t know.

    I picked up this beer about a week back from a local specialty shop. You know I can’t walk away from a 14% sledgehammer even if I wanted to.

    I believe this is my first review from À l’abri de la Tempête. In the past, I’ve had a few heavier beers by them that I remember really enjoying. Nothing as heavy as this mammoth. Let’s pop that cap!

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a brilliant deep copper with 5cm of dense, creamy, beige head which dissipates into a solid cap within 4+ minutes. Poor lacing with great head retention – exceptional if you consider the hefty ABV. A beauty.

    Aroma 20/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is unique, peculiar, and punchy.

    Pronounced banana esters and perfumy alcohol compete with milder tarry character and peat smoke. Significant leather seems to tie everything together along with mild caramel sweetness. Low jammy dark fruit and gentle herbal tones at the back.

    The dry nose is characterful with notes of leather, herbs, alcohol, bread crust, and marmite. Really, really interesting… but also slightly jarring.

    Flavour 30/40

    Strong intensity with sharp balance and assertive perceived bitterness.

    The intense palate opens up with sweet and umami vibes featuring notes of jammy dried fruit, significant leather + marmite, loads of alcohol, and bread crust.

    The center is sharp and bitter where the bread crust malt along with leather (oxidation) act as an anchor while peat smoke, herbs, and alcohol shave off most sweetness. A hint of dark fruit and burnt sugar persist.

    The long finish is sharp and strong with notes of banana, alcohol, leather, marmite, herbs, bread crust, peat smoke, and tar. How atypical!

    Mouthfeel 6/10

    Medium body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is slick and somewhat sharp with hot alcohol warming and a medium-sweet finish. No apparent astringency but the mouthfeel leans towards harsh.

    Overall 18/20

    À l’abri de la Tempête’s Corne de Glace is an interesting beer, landing outside of the bell curve.

    Impressive appearance – absolutely beautiful with wonderful clarity and great foam attributes. The aroma has an air of mystery while packing some serious punch – especially as the beer approaches room temperature. The flavour just slams your senses; sharp and heavy yet lacking depth of character. Some of the intricacies of the nose are lost on the palate. I believe this is mostly due to the mouthfeel which remains short of acrid but the alcohol heat washes over any nuance in flavour.

    Overall, Corne de Glace is a unique beer worth trying. Even if the score reflects an averege brew, this is far from it. It’s almost as if a barleywine, off-kilter scotch ale, and a dunkelweizen had a baby. The weight and malt of a barleywine paired with smoke and herbs topped with banana and dark fruit esters.

    This strikes me as a great digestif; a few ounces in a small glass after a meal. I truly believe this has a place in the world of beer as something outside of the box, delivering a unique drinking experience.

    If you’re ready for an atypical sipper, then grab yourself a bottle. This should easily take more than an hour of contemplation which is money well-spent for me.

    P.S. After 90 minutes of deliberation, I’ve bumped the score up to 80 points (from 76).

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