A hybrid beer made from quadrupel wort crossed with spontaneously fermented Frontenac grape must from Vignoble Rivière du Chêne, then aged in an oak barrel.
First, I have to tell you that I am excited like a little kid to open this beer! Because it’s from Dieu du Ciel! and also because I remember that the Apologie du Malt really enjoyed it! A very BIG thank you to Jules and my favorite shop Les Bons Buveurs on Jean-Talon for allowing me to taste this beer! Cheers to the entire team of enthusiasts who work there! By the way, I paid for my beer, it’s not an advertisement, it’s just love… 😉
Time for tasting…
The color of the beer is already inviting, a dark brown with reddish highlights. The head holds up even after several minutes. There is even a small stream of bubbles forming in the middle of the glass that doesn’t seem to want to stop.
The beer is rather opaque but allows light to pass through very well. When we look at the glass against the light, it allows us to better appreciate the different shades of color.
On the nose, we are in the scent of barrels and red wine, but also in chocolate and red fruit.
Upon first sip, I am immediately struck by the complexity of the beer! The malty side (chocolate and caramel) mixes with red fruit (red grapes, raspberries, cherries) and woody notes in a quite astonishing balance. The carbonation is indeed lively and the bubbles slightly tingle the tongue.
The tannins are quite pronounced and are especially expressed in the finish, leaving a slight astringency on the palate, a bit like rhubarb. As for the acidity, it is very well nuanced and always manifests itself in a subtle way. This is reminiscent of citrus fruits such as lemon or lime.
There are even saline flavors that make my tongue work as much as possible in this tasting exercise… I say it again, it’s a complex and magnificent beer! Besides, I don’t know if it’s just the alcohol level or the effervescence of the beer, but I can guarantee you that the alcohol really packs a punch… 😉 A plus for me… 😉
I was very surprised to see the divergence of opinions on this beer on Untappd. We have to believe that it will not please all palates! As for me, it’s a total success! It’s a different and extremely successful experience!