Wow, the brasseurs of quebec are bursting with creativity! And a lot of their work is on display at this dep a few blocks from Julie's brothers place.
They make lots of blondes, and lagers, and wheat ales, but they seem to mine the belgian traditions and there imaginations as well. I picked up a stout flavored with apples, a scottish ale with blueberry, a wheat ale with hibiscus... Not all of these will be good of course (I remember a pine flavored beer we had at the Cheval Blanc, another brew pub, imagine a mediocre ale with a table spoon of pine sol... couldn't even finish it). But hey, sometimes it works!
Dépanneur Rahman
151 Laurier ouest
Montréal
Tél.: (514) 279-2566
Monday, December 31, 2007
La Cap Espoir, Les Brasseurs RJ, QC
I got a 6 of these at le Depanneur Rahman, on sale.
Its a beer on lees, so its a bit fizzy, but not as much as the Unibrues tend to be. It tastes fresh, a little fruity, and a beautiful amber colour, like a tawny port.
http://www.brasseursrj.com
Its a beer on lees, so its a bit fizzy, but not as much as the Unibrues tend to be. It tastes fresh, a little fruity, and a beautiful amber colour, like a tawny port.
http://www.brasseursrj.com
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel, Montreal, QC
I really like the beer here, but its crazy busy at night, and has always been choked with cigarette smoke. Not so nice to visit.
But Hurrah! No smoking in Montreal bars anymore, so we went to visit.
I had the Grande Noirceur, an Imperial Stout. It was good, but was on the verge of sickly sweet. And just because it has a bit more alcohol doesn't mean it should be served in a smaller glass! Anyhow.
Marc had the Premiere Neige, and it was delicious! A bit hoppy, with a hint of Anise, they describe it as a scottish ale, which basically seems to mean rich, reddish, and a bit sweet. I thought it was more like an IPA. Either way, the bitterness of the hops and sweetness of the anise balanced really well. I really liked it, and tried to buy a bottle, but no luck. I'd like to try to make one of these.
dieuduciel.com
But Hurrah! No smoking in Montreal bars anymore, so we went to visit.
I had the Grande Noirceur, an Imperial Stout. It was good, but was on the verge of sickly sweet. And just because it has a bit more alcohol doesn't mean it should be served in a smaller glass! Anyhow.
Marc had the Premiere Neige, and it was delicious! A bit hoppy, with a hint of Anise, they describe it as a scottish ale, which basically seems to mean rich, reddish, and a bit sweet. I thought it was more like an IPA. Either way, the bitterness of the hops and sweetness of the anise balanced really well. I really liked it, and tried to buy a bottle, but no luck. I'd like to try to make one of these.
dieuduciel.com
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, McAuslans, QC
This is one of my favorite stouts. Probably my favorite that comes in a bottle. Rich and thick. Light on the hops, no flavours stongly out of place, or strange finishes. Yum!
But still, I'm looking for decent stouts from BC, it feels strange to move all the way back to BC from Ontario, and still be drinking Quebec beers all the time, even if they are good!
mcauslan.com
But still, I'm looking for decent stouts from BC, it feels strange to move all the way back to BC from Ontario, and still be drinking Quebec beers all the time, even if they are good!
mcauslan.com
Imperial Optimist, Chateau Mike and Sam
Its good! Julie's description "creamy and hoppy, heavy roasted flavour". Its pretty dark, with a touch of red at the edges if you hold it up to the light.
I want to make another. Maybe use a bit less dark roast, and more cinnamon and nutmeg...
I want to make another. Maybe use a bit less dark roast, and more cinnamon and nutmeg...
Osooyoos Larose, $44, 2006
We've heard a few recommendations for this red wine from the Okanagan. Some say its the best (only?) good red wine from Canada. Two recommendations were from employees of the SAQ.
Anyhow, Julie found a bottle of the 2006 in Vancouver, and we tasted it. I think maybe it may have been too cold from the airplane (cool red wine is a pet peeve of mine). Anyhow, it was good, but not fabulous, and it cost $44. I can get a pretty decent bottle of wine for half that, so not such a winner.
Michelle says that that it needs some ageing, so maybe we didn't have a good year. She gave Marie-Claude a bottle of the 2004,we'll see how that one is.
Anyhow, Julie found a bottle of the 2006 in Vancouver, and we tasted it. I think maybe it may have been too cold from the airplane (cool red wine is a pet peeve of mine). Anyhow, it was good, but not fabulous, and it cost $44. I can get a pretty decent bottle of wine for half that, so not such a winner.
Michelle says that that it needs some ageing, so maybe we didn't have a good year. She gave Marie-Claude a bottle of the 2004,we'll see how that one is.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Family Blend, Ethical Bean
Its nice they donate a $1 off the purchase price for a charity, but this one has some harsh end flavours. We made it in our big but no-working-very-well stovetop espresso maker. That really accentuated the taste, yuck! Even after we redid it with the press, it still was the least tasty of the three. Won't buy it again.
Cafe San Miguel, Dark Roast
This was almost as good as the Kick Ass, but was so smooth it feels a bit tasteless to me. Julie says she has to use a lot more of it when making coffee in the morning or I complain that the taste is too weak.
Other than bein weak, its mild, non acidic, etc. Not bad. It was pre-ground, that seemed to make it a bit frothy (we did a french press style to make it).
Other than bein weak, its mild, non acidic, etc. Not bad. It was pre-ground, that seemed to make it a bit frothy (we did a french press style to make it).
Kick Ass, Kicking Horse Coffee
We did a blind taste test of the last 3 coffees we've drunk. Its hard to compare things you don't taste side-to-side, and coffee is expensive...
Anyhow, we like this one. No harsh or acidic flavors.
We need to grind our coffee more finely, I think, the San Miguel we tried had a bit richer flavour, I think it was because it was preground.
Anyhow, we like this one. No harsh or acidic flavors.
We need to grind our coffee more finely, I think, the San Miguel we tried had a bit richer flavour, I think it was because it was preground.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Imperial Optimist, Mike and I's new beer, is ready!
We made it with a bit of spice and blackstrap molasses, but its hard to taste those spefic things.
I've only tasted one, and it wasn't completely carbonated, but it tasted great!
Really looking forward to dropping by his place and tasting some more!
I've only tasted one, and it wasn't completely carbonated, but it tasted great!
Really looking forward to dropping by his place and tasting some more!
Perseus Porter, Elysian
5.4%, in a 1L bottle.
Really liked this one, too. Tastes like the Dragonstooth, but without the hoppiness.
Can't recall how much they cost, but got them at the Brewers Creek liquor store on Main.
http://www.elysianbrewing.com/
Really liked this one, too. Tastes like the Dragonstooth, but without the hoppiness.
Can't recall how much they cost, but got them at the Brewers Creek liquor store on Main.
http://www.elysianbrewing.com/
Dragonstooth Stout, Elysian
7.4% alcohol, in a 1L bottle.
9 $/L
Rich and tasty, a good stout, though with a bit too much hops on the finish for Julie's taste.
http://www.elysianbrewing.com/
9 $/L
Rich and tasty, a good stout, though with a bit too much hops on the finish for Julie's taste.
http://www.elysianbrewing.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)