Sinful Pleasure

Each time I try a new beer from a Québec microbrewery, I am more and more impressed. These microbrasseries really produce craft beers of substance. They don't seem to shy away from making bold statements in producing flavourful, high-alcohol, seductive ales.

Take, for example, Dieu du Ciel. I have only tried three of their beers, and I've loved each of them. They are bold, flavourful, and often have an alcohol level that teeters near or surpasses the 10-percent mark. But they are balanced and a brew to savour.

This week, I tried one of their offerings that I once saw in an article by Ross Scarano, about the 100 beers you had to try before dying. I had already tried 10 of the beers in that list: I can make this one my eleventh.

Péché Mortel (Mortal Sin) Imperial Coffee Stout (9.5% ABV)
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
St-Jérôme, QC
Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5

Appearance: a deep mahogany that allows no light to pass through, with a taupe head that dissipates to a fine lace.

Nose: espresso, chocolate, and a hint of iodine.

Palate: bourbon, malted chocolate, and coffee, which ends in a strong alcoholic finish.

Overall impression: this is a serious stout that cannot be consumed lightly. It's well-balanced for the most part, but I found that I had to savour it in small sips, not large mouthfuls, lest the alcohol bite me. The trace of iodine gave it a slight medicinal aroma, which at first was a little off-putting, but it did ease up and allow the coffee to open up.

I picked up a six pack of this beer at Bières du Monde but I have also seen it in Broue Ha Ha and La Trappe a Fromage. It's not available in Ontario.

But crossing the border to pick this up is well worth the trip. Think of it as a sinful pleasure.

Cheers!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

This post is long-overdue.

I visited this Finger-Lakes brewery in October, drank this beer last week, and finally got around to writing this post on Sunday night.

And now you get it today.

But this beer was worth the wait.

Sunrise Coffee Stout
Cortland Brewing Company
Cortland, NY (U.S.A.)
6 fl. oz.; 6% ABV

Colour: deep walnut brown with a deep beige head.

Nose: intense coffee notes with a hint of cedar and tobacco.

Palate: rich, roasted coffee and toasted malts; a rich, lingering finish.

Additional notes: this is a great stout that tastes like an espresso. Made with locally roasted coffee beans, this ale is a great pick-me-up. My only wish is that I lived closer to Cortland. But at five hours, I'll be tempted to return.

Rating: 4/5