Beerfection

Tag: Wood Beer

  • Blackburne Bourbon Barrel-Aged 2024 | Left Field Brewery

    Blackburne Bourbon Barrel-Aged 2024 | Left Field Brewery

    Score: 87/100 – Great

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black with a moderately tall, frothy, creamy, brown head. Great foam retention considering the very high ABV. A great looking brew!

    Aroma 22/24

    Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is rich, deep, and inviting.

    A strong barrel character leads the way, complemented by prominent dark and specialty malt notes. The alcohol is noticeable, but in a positive way, and the oxidation adds a pleasant complexity. Mild esters are present with no discernible hop character. Outstanding!

    Flavour 37/40

    Strong intensity with good balance and aggressive perceived bitterness.

    The flavor mirrors the richness and depth of the aroma, with significant barrel character and dark/specialty malt notes. The alcohol is noticeable but doesn’t have a fusel-like quality. Pleasant oxidation adds an umami component. There are no prominent hop notes or esters, and no apparent off-flavors for the style.

    Mouthfeel 5/10

    Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is viscous, heavy, and sharp with harsh alcohol warming and a luscious finish. No noticeable astringency but the beer is somewhat harsh on the palate due to the intensity of the warming sensation.

    Overall 17/20

    Left Field Brewery’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Blackburne is an excellent beer.

    Fantastic appearance for the style – the foam attributes are impressive, which can be a challenge for beers of this strength. The aroma is intense, immediately grabbing your attention. The same can be said for the flavor as it delivers a bold punch in your mouth. The mouthfeel is rich and complements the rest of the beer nicely. However, the alcohol heat is a bit overpowering, diminishing the overall drinking experience.

    Overall, this is a beer worth trying, and I would happily drink it again. While it doesn’t quite stand out due to its sweetness and the strong alcohol warmth, they work together as the heat cuts through the sugar. Great flavour, this is a delicious beer.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • 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.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • 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.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • 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!

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Sanctuaire | Microbrasserie Le Castor

    Sanctuaire | Microbrasserie Le Castor

    Score: 71/100 – Average

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a veiled gold with moderately tall, frothy, off-white head. Decent foam retention. Highly effervescent. A good-looking beer.

    Aroma 19/24

    Medium-strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is fruity and somewhat vinous with a delicate quality.

    Esters, barrel character, and alcohol dominate. Low pale malt and a suggestion of tartness from a trace of vinegar. No apparent hops. Very good aroma.

    Flavour 29/40

    Strong intensity with sharp balance and moderate perceived bitterness.

    Mixed lactic and acetic acidity dominate the flavour. Fruity esters and alcohol along with some barrel character follow. Low pale malt at the back. THP shows up in the finish. Good flavour.

    Mouthfeel 6/10

    Medium-light body with high carbonation. The mouthfeel is prickly and sharp with restrained alcohol warming and dry finish. Moderate astringency and some harshness on the palate. Slightly lacking…

    Overall 11/20

    Overall, Sanctuaire lands at the upper end of average beer. It’s drinkable and has some pleasant layers to it. I imagine some people might even like this a lot.

    The aroma stands out as my favourite attribute of the beer. Yet, there are issues. The mouthfeel is rather sharp with qualities flirting with diminishing drinking experience. The overall flavour lacks refinement and the THP in the finish – even if I don’t mind it too much – is considered a fault.

    I like this more than yesterday’s barleywine, but it also confirms that I’ll be focusing on other breweries in the next bit as I find the value with Le Castor is just not there for me.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Ursa Major | L’Octant Microbrasserie

    Ursa Major | L’Octant Microbrasserie

    Score: 79/100 – Good

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black (opaque in glass) with tall, dense, brown head. Great foam retention.

    Aroma 21/24

    Strong intensity with decent balance. The aroma leans heavy into the barrel with big woody character and pronounced fruity tones.

    Noticeable alcohol. Moderate dark malts and esters. Very little – if any – perceivable hop character. Mild oxidation. Something seems off but it’s buried in significant complexity.

    Flavour 34/40

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

    Heavy barrel character, alcohol, and dark malts dominate. Pleasant oxidation, noteworthy esters, and no apparent off-flavours. The hops still seem to elude me…

    Mouthfeel 6/10

    Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is viscous and oily with a mild acrid quality. The alcohol warming is rather strong and there’s significant astringency on the palate. The beer finishes sweet. Somewhat harsh – especially for 8% ABV.

    Overall 12/20

    This is an interesting one… Ursa Major packs more character than most 8 percenters have any right to have. I love that. At the same time, the beer is rough around the edges and it lacks finesse.

    The appearance is fantastic and the depth of character is commendable. However, there’s a lack of balance and the drinking experience is diminished by harshness on the palate.

    Overall, I consider this worth trying, but at the price point I wouldn’t drink it regularly. With some fine-tuning, this could be an excellent beer.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Cheminée des Feux Follets | Microbrasserie Pit Caribou

    Cheminée des Feux Follets | Microbrasserie Pit Caribou

    Score: 89/100 – Great

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black with generous, dense, mocha head. Good foam retention. A great looking stout.

    Aroma 19/24

    Strong intensity with decent balance. The aroma is rich and deep with massive barrel character. Pronounced dark malts and a bit of booze. There are borderline vinegary, deeply earthy, and somewhat acetic suggestions that make me nervous about how this beer will develop.

    Flavour 38/40

    Follows the aroma with mammoth intensity, great balance, and assertive perceived bitterness. The flavour is pretty darn glorious for a sub-ten-percenter brew. Bold dark malts with heavy barrel and significant chili heat. Delicious.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is somewhat slick with a velvety quality to it. Heavy heat from the chili but without being too overwhelming. Sweet finish helps with the warming sensation. Sure, there’s harshness… it’s a chili beer. Perfect mouthfeel for the type of beer it is.

    Overall 16/20

    What a great barrel-aged chili stout. For the elevated ABV this packs more character than most sub 10% beers. I’m wondering if there’s a printing error on the label as previous vintages have clocked in at more than 10% ABV.

    Looking at the overall flavour, I’m a bit nervous about this beer being taken over by bacteria. There are signs of spoilage organisms in the character. At the same time, if you’re drinking this right now, it’s a darn treat.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • 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.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • No. 13 Tennessee | Microbrasserie Pit Caribou

    No. 13 Tennessee | Microbrasserie Pit Caribou

    Score: 69/100 – Average

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black with moderate, dense, creamy, deep tan head. Very good foam retention. A great looking brew.

    Aroma 15/24

    Medium intensity with good balance. The aroma is surprisingly restrained (borderline muted) featuring a mix of dark malt, alcohol, barrel, and oxidation. Barrel and malt lead but the oxidation has gone too far. Clearly past prime and I’m wondering if this is from storage/temperature issues.

    Flavour 28/40

    Strong intensity with sweet balance and pronounced perceived bitterness. Same as aroma: malt, alcohol, barrel, and oxidation rule with the age showing itself too much. This must’ve been much better when it first came out. I’m now leaning even more towards warm storage issues considering how much T2N there is. It just doesn’t make sense that such high alcohol beer would be this far gone in the time frame.

    Mouthfeel 8/10

    Medium body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is slick yet there’s a sense of thinness there. Restrained alcohol warming with a sweet finish. Mild astringency on the palate with no actual harshness.

    Overall 12/20

    I’m sad to report, but oxidation has gotten the best of this beer. I picked up the bottle from a store shelf; where it likely spent months considering the level of oxidation for such a hefty brew. I’ve had imperial stouts after two to three years which demonstrate the same level of aging. A month on a shelf at room temperature can equal seven months in a cold fridge. I’d try this again but I’d have to know it’s fresh.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • 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.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Widow Vibe 2023 | BreWskey

    Widow Vibe 2023 | BreWskey

    Score: 90/100 – Great

    From a 375ml bottle (wax seal) served warm at 16 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Bottled as a 2023 release for the brewery taproom’s 4th anniversary.

    I picked up the beer straight from the brewery back in March – it’s been in my fridge every since… six plus months I suppose? Two breviews in one day – why stop there?

    Some time back, I decided to not focus on reviewing beers that will not be available again. I’m making an exception here in order to round out my BreWskey list. High expectations for a barrel-aged barleywine/imperial stout blend.

    Appearance 5/6

    The beer pours a clear black (opaque black in glass) with 1cm of frothy, dark brown head which dissipates into a partial film within a minute. No lacing with poor head retention. Gloomy appearance – ’tis the season.

    Aroma 24/24

    Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is deep and luxurious with significant complexity.

    A rich chocolate brownie character and dark caramel pair well with significant bourbon (vanilla + oak) notes. Prominent jammy dried fruit with figgy, prune-like tones contribute perceived sweetness while noticeable black licorice spice along with considerable aged meatiness (leather + marmite) add depth and interest. Perfumy alcohol chimes in here and there. I’m even noting some earthy nuttiness. No apparent hop aroma.

    The dry nose is rich and pungent with notes of butterscotch, chocolate, earth, fresh yeast, soy sauce, bourbon, and nuts. Exceptional and intriguing aroma.

    Flavour 37/40

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

    The brash palate opens up salty-sweet with notes of jammy figs + prunes, bourbon, and some meatiness (soy sauce + broth) – making way for a rich center filled with boozy dried fruit (figs + prunes), marmite, leather, oak, chocolate, salted black licorice, molasses, and butterscotch.

    The long finish is strong and bitter with notes of marmite, bourbon (oak + vanilla), chocolate, earthy nuts, prunes, dark caramel, and salted black licorice. Tremendous complexity.

    Mouthfeel 6/10

    Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is thick, oily, and chewy with hot alcohol warming and a luscious finish. No apparent astringency but the palate has a burn from what seems like the alcohol. It’s rare, but I find this too hefty for my senses.

    Overall 18/20

    BreWskey’s Widow Vibe 2023 is a great beer.

    The inky appearance with a quickly collapsing foam sets up the expectations for something substantial. The aroma exudes richness and scrumptiousness with mind-boggling complexity. On the palate, the beer is a true sledgehammer. Massive dark/specialty malt character pairs with robust barrel and hefty oxidation. The mouthfeel follows with an unctuous quality and a burning sensation.

    Overall, Widow Vibe is a compelling sipper with remarkable depth. At the same time, there’s no question it’s heavy-handed and comes with fangs that bite. I’m sensing a stressed out yeast and the oxidation can overwhelm much of the other characteristics.

    This is not a beer for the faint of heart. I think it’s worth trying if you have a chance – it doesn’t disappoint even if it doesn’t stand out.

    OMG, read another breview!
  • Grande Noirceur Rye | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

    Grande Noirceur Rye | Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

    Score: 88/100 – Great

    From a 341ml bottle served warm at 14 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Bottled on 2022-06-17 – making this around eight months old.

    I picked up this beer more than a month ago from a local specialty shop. Grande Noirceur Rye is part of the Dieu du Ciel! Collection Hiver 2022 which had a spectacular lineup of beers.

    In all honesty I already had a few of these and decided I need to pick up one more for a proper breview. Let’s get to it.

    Appearance 6/6

    The beer pours a clear black with 1.5cm of dense, creamy, dark brown head which dissipates into a partial film within 2+ minutes. Great lacing with decent head retention. A great looking stout.

    Aroma 20/24

    Strong intensity with sharp-ish balance. The aroma is almost pungent with massive barrel-character and dark malts.

    Deep and musty oak links with spicy layers of vanilla, anise, and black pepper. Dark chocolate and burnt sugar add a perception of sweetness while coffee, earth, and tobacco contribute to more complexity. Mild pine along with herbaceous menthol cut through sweetness and contribute to a perfumy quality. A wisp of alcohol here and there.

    The dry nose is rich and layered with notes of molasses, butterscotch, oak, anise, and chocolate.

    Flavour 36/40

    Strong intensity with bitter balance and aggressive perceived bitterness.

    The intense palate opens up with alcohol-soaked dark fruit (prunes + dates), burnt sugar, damp/musty wood, anise, and vanilla – making way for a potent center where the barrel character and malts really drive the profile. Notes of musty oak, anise, alcohol, vanilla, pine, burnt dark fruit, coffee, chocolate, earth, menthol, and ash.

    The long finish is strong and bitter with notes of burnt sugar, bourbon (oak + vanilla + alcohol), anise, moderate herbal-woody hops, low dark chocolate, and mild molasses. Staggering complexity.

    Mouthfeel 10/10

    Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is heavy with oily slickness, plenty of creaminess, significant alcohol warming and a sweet finish. Mild astringency with no actual harshness on the palate.

    Overall 16/20

    Dieu du Ciel’s Grande Noirceur Rye is a great beer.

    A good-looking stout with solid visual appeal. The head formation feels a little stifled and falling on the short side while collapsing relatively quickly. It does deserve full marks however. The nose is incredibly complex but I’m not loving all of it. I feel like this will not develop well over time as it will take on some type of rotten characteristics. The words enteric and fecal come to mind. The flavour follows with remarkable depth and richness of character, but I’m left with the feeling like something’s off. The mouthfeel delivers heavy impact on the palate without crossing over to harsh.

    Overall, Dieu du Ciel’s Grande Noirceur Rye is a beer worth trying. The sheer amount of flavour for a 9% stout is astounding. There’s just something about it that I don’t love. Next up? The Péché Day 2023 pack!

    OMG, read another breview!