Beer Advocate Review #270

Beer: Duchesse De Bourgogne
Brewery: Brouwerij Verhaeghe
Style: Flanders Red Ale
ABV: 6.2%
Serving: Bottle
Score: B+

Enjoyed this last night.

Poured from a 330ml. bottle, best before 13-05-11 (my last day at work!).

Appearance: Loads of tiny bubbles fill a murky brown-red body with off-white foam that just sits there with amazing retention and spidery lacing.

Smell: Vinegary a bit with some oak, sour cherries and a sweetness to round it off.

Taste: A mix of sweet and tart with some oak. Low on the vinegar and has a slight wine reminiscence (my daughter said that!) with some sour cherries. Quite good.

Mouthfeel: Very low carbonation with a bit of a thin body but not much. A very mellow feel.

Overall: A pleasant little beer. Not too harsh. I would certainly try this again.

Beer Advocate Review #269

Beer: Belle Saison
Brewery: A l'abri de la Tempête
Style: Herbed/Spiced Beer
ABV: 5.8%
Serving: Bottle
Score: B

Poured from a 341ml. bottle, bottled April 2011.

Appearance: A clear yellow body with a very white and generous head that reduces itself to one then next to nothing after.

Smell: Citrusy and flowery mostly with some honey sweetness.

Taste: Aromatic in flavor with a tinge of sweetness, citrus fruit, herbs, grassy and maybe honey.

Mouthfeel: Brief snap of carbonation with a light body though still robust enough. It has the feel of a cask ale a bit as well.

Overall: A refreshing summer beer that is not perfect but still pleasant. Easily drinkable despite the average mouthfeel.

Dieu du Ciel's Chaman

This highly regarded DIPA is coming out in bottles for general distribution next week! Very much looking forward to trying this beer. Seek it out hopheads!

Beer Advocate Review #268

Beer: Helm Cream Ale
Brewery: Helm Brasseur Gourmand
Style: Cream Ale
ABV: ?
Serving: Tap
Score: B-

Appearance: 1 finger's worth of creamy white foam that coats the glass on the way down. Body is the color of caramelized sugar.

Smell: A malt nose that is way too discreet.

Taste: Roasted a bit but loads of smooth malt and a slight underlying bitterness. Some nuts, graininess and a light hop bite. As it warmed, a sort of tropical fruit aspect came out especially highlighted by the cheeses we had.

Mouthfeel: Smooth feel with a decent strength of body. Carbonation was also good.

Overall: Not bad at all and easily drinkable. I could see myself trying this again.

Beer Advocate Review #267

Beer: Sainte Source Belge
Brewery: Brasseurs De La Mauricie
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
ABV: 8%
Serving: Bottle
Score: B-

Shared with my wife last night over our take-out Chinese.

Poured from a 500ml. bottle.

Appearance: A light honey-brown body with lots of sticky white foam and average retention. Pretty good coating all down the glass.

Smell: Banana, spices, yeast, bubble gum and citrus. Very good aroma.

Taste: Starts with a bit of sugar and banana. A bit peppery in the end and my wife gets smoked gouda. The flavors feel muted and not very lively.

Mouthfeel: Smooth but lacks real depth. Medium carbonation but the body is a bit watery.

Overall: Glimmers of being good at first but overall this Belgian-style ale falls too short.

Beer Advocate Review #266

Beer: Rosée d'hibiscus
Brewery: Dieu du Ciel!
Style: Herbed/Spiced Beer
ABV: 5.9%
Serving: Bottle
Score: B

Poured from a 341ml. bottle, bottled March 2011.

Appearance: A dark pinkish body that resembles pureed strawberries with a light pink head (3 fingers). Retention is good and lacing is average.

Smell: Wheat aroma, very crisp with herbal and ripe fruit overtones.

Taste: A bit of sweetness tucked in the back but very leafy with some slight tropical fruit and plant stems. Overripe fruit (strawberries?) and some mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is quite low and the feel is very easy. It's refreshing though it lacks a bit of a lively punch.

Overall: Certainly different and it's easy to drink. While good, it doesn't really grab me. This would be good with a sunny day rather than the down pour we're getting.

La Succursale is almost open.

According to a tweet they just released, Montreal's newest brewpub will be opening May 16, 2011. They'll be @ 3188 Masson in Vieux-Rosemont. Looking forward to checking them out!

http://twitter.com/#!/LaSuccursale