Beer Advocate Review #254

Beer: Doppelbock Dunkel
Brewery: Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: Doppelbock
ABV: 8.5%
Serving: Bottle

Thanks to derek for this one. Had it last night with my supper, grilled broccoli and orange chicken.

Poured from a 330ml. bottle, best before 02.2010.

Appearance: A thick oatmeal colored head (3 fingers) with a heavily tinted reddish body(semi-opaque) and decent staying power.

Smell: Dark fruit with a bit of liquor. Musty a little.

Taste: Slight wood and dark fruits mostly at first. This is malt all the way though it's pleasant. Sweet but not cloying. A spicy, herbal finish that at first was hard to pinpoint but it's definitely mint.

Mouthfeel: Practically no carbonation and very smooth. A nice warmth at the end.

Overall: I really dug this one. Considering the age, it held up well.

Beer Advocate Review #253

Beer: Saison Deluxe
Brewery: Southampton Publick House
Style: Saison
ABV: 7.4%
Serving: Bottle

Thanks to jzeillinger for this one. Shared with a friend last night over some pappardelle and salad. Some notes are succinct due to having friends over.

Poured from a 750ml. bottle, best before 12/10/14.

Appearance: A bright golden body that becomes progressively hazy as we near the end of the bottle. The first pour was almost all foam but my friend's glass was better. Fluffy clouds of head last quite a while.

Smell: Fruity, slight yeast and pepper.

Taste: Strong pepper though not overbearing and some lemon.

Mouthfeel: Zesty and lively with prickly carbonation and a very nice body all around.

Overall: Refreshing and tasty. I would have this again for sure.

Beer Advocate Review #252

Beer: Rescousse
Brewery: Dieu du Ciel!
Style: Altbier
ABV: 5%
Serving: Bottle

First review since the ''overall'' change. This beer replaces Fumisterie (in bottles).

Had this with my supper, take-out pizza with loads of bacon, steak and other meat.

Poured from a 341ml. bottle. bottled Feb. 2011.

Appearance: A reddish-amber, maybe red body with a pockmarked head. 3 fingers worth that stick around a bit though not quite long enough. Fluffy foam clings to the side.

Smell: Caramel malt, earthy with some grapefruit and nuts.

Taste: Starts out very malt heavy with some nuts. A musty earthiness is present with some spices. As it warms, it almost transforms into an IPA hybrid as the bitterness that was in the finish before comes out strong. Good dose of grapefruit hops though never overdone.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation with a nice full body. Despite the bitterness, it keeps it's place and is never abrasive.

Overall: Really easy to drink if you don't mind a bit of an edge. Let this warm up as more layers of flavor become apparent.

Alain from Dépanneur Peluso is leaving

Alain, the beer expert from Dépanneur Peluso, is leaving to pursue new objectives. His last day will be this Saturday from 3pm to 11pm. Over the past few years, Alain has rejuvenated this beer store and has placed it among the must visit stores in Montreal. He gave excellent advice and suggestions based on a customer's preferences. He was also known for having an extensive cellar in which he would reserve beers for certain customers who never had the chance to try some (think Trou du Diable). He will be replaced by Fréderic Moreau and Joyce, both of whom Alain personally vouches for.

So where is Alain going? He wants to focus on his brewing project so to accomplish that, he's taken a job in marketing and sales for Brasseurs du Monde, a new brewpub opening in St-Hyacinthe (as reported here: http://craftbeer-papat444.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-brewery-les-brasseurs-du-monde.html).

I hope nothing but the best for Alain and wish him success in his new endeavors! I also hope that Peluso will not suffer too much from his departure and can continue to enjoy the success it has attained.

Beer Advocate Review #251

Beer: Creemore Springs UrBock
Brewery: Creemore Springs
Style: Bock
ABV: 6%
Serving: Can

Picked this up on a trip to Ottawa last month. Shared with my wife over ziti, fresh homemade bread and salad.

Poured from a 473ml. can, canned Jan. 13, 2011 (code A131110:45).

Appearance: An ecru colored frothy head with body more clear than opaque that has a stark ruby red color. Retention is very good.

Smell: Grainy with malt and some sweetness as it warms. Too discreet.

Taste: At first, not much. A mineral-like feel with some spices and a tea-like presence maybe? Lots of malt with a caramel flavor and as it warms, i get get some candied sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Very lively and a full-bodied feel. Spot-on and quite enjoyable.

Drinkability: Easy to enjoy and no impediment. I may seek it out again.

Overall: I started out not really liking it but warmed up to it. Still, i wasn't really impressed with it per se.

Beer Advocate Review #250

Beer: Stout Impérial 2011
Brewery: Boquébière
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 8.5%
Serving: Bottle

Shared this with my wife with our supper, Asian chicken drumsticks, mashed potatoes and asparagus.

Poured from a 500ml. bottle.

Appearance: Immense mocha colored foam that looks like a cascading brown waterfall. Looks really nice. The head just sits there and barely moved. Body looks pitch black but it is more brown as seen by the pour.

Smell: Bitter a bit with dark chocolate with a whiff of liquor, or is it oak? Roasted coffee is thrown in there for good measure.

Taste: Very bitter through and through though it does subside a little. Chocolate with coffee and some fruit hidden in there. Figs and raisins become more apparent as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is a bit aggressive at first but the body is rather solid though not as full as per the style. A bit boozy at times though it smooths out as it warms.

Drinkability: Though i kind of liked it, i struggled through my half as i found it a bit heavy and the bitterness does get to you. Still, it's a decent stout and nothing is really flawed. EDIT: As it warmed, it was easier to drink and the alcohol heat was lessened so i bumped it up half a point.

Beer Advocate Review #249

Beer: 10W30
Brewery: Neustadt Springs
Style: English Brown Ale
ABV: 5.5%
Serving: Can

Picked this up on a trip to Ottawa last month. Shared with my wife with our frozen Miked pizza.

Poured from a 473ml. can, best before 03-06-11.

Appearance: A light beige head (2-3 fingers) rests upon a brown-red body where i can sort of see the shape of my fingers through the glass. Great lacing and retention.

Smell: Grainy with some hops and slight roasted notes.

Taste: Roasted at first with some very slight bitterness and a tiny bit of charcoal.

Mouthfeel: Very creamy and it screams smooth. Slightly thin in the finish though. Not a terribly strong body.

Drinkability: A nice smooth one that goes down easy. It could have used a bit more flavor though.

Overall: I liked it but i get the feeling that in a few months i won't remember it. Not a memorable wrong but a decent shot.

Beer Advocate Review #248

Beer: Malta Guinness
Brewery: Guinness Nigeria PLC
Style: Non-Alcoholic
ABV: O%
Serving: Bottle

Poured from a 330ml. bottle, best before 11-07-11.

Appearance: Not much of the Guinness cascade but it's still very nice looking. Brown-black body with a milk chocolate/cola head that is bubbly and holds steady quite a while at 2 fingers. Lots of lacing also.

Smell: Black-strap molasses and nuts. Not too sweet.

Taste: Sweet but very restrained. Slight metallic twang.

Mouthfeel: Pickly at first then thins out. Body is surprisingly light. Not bad but could be fuller.

Drinkability: I like it but it's average and i've had better for cheaper.

Overall: A novelty Guinness that is a bit expensive and doesn't quite deliver on the taste side.

New Bottled Trou du Diable

La Morsure, a highly hopped American-style IPA, is now available in 500ml. bottles. It clocks in at 6,7% and is said to be pretty bitter. The only problem is it's only available in the Mauricie region (Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan area) though i'm sure it'll make it's way eventually to Montréal. Here's a link from La Barik of the bottle: http://www.labarik.com/images/Nouveaute/morsure%28G%29.jpg