2008 Trader Joe's Vintage Ale, Unibroue , Chambly Quebec

I'll admit the first time I saw "Trader Joe's Vintage Ale" a few years back, I chuckled. However, after noting that it was a Belgian style ale from Unibroue, I gave it a try. This year's, a Abbey Dubbel style has rested here for a few months. As it states on the bottle, this is one to age for a few years to develop the character. We'll give it a shot and I think I'll keep one in the Beer Den for later....

It pours a deep brown with a reddish hue and a big tight head.

The aroma is mild spice complemented with yeast and a hop earthiness. It smells like a Belgian - full bodied and lots of notes to be enjoyed.

It has a full body with a smooth silkiness. The flavors develop nicely, offering up a nice general spice mild peppery-ness in the body. The yeast and sour notes develop in the finish. It ends with a nice hop bitterness and sour yeast that lingers nicely on the palate and alcohol in the throat.

The aftertaste is a nice sour and alcohol taste.

The bottle mentions that it is produced by traditional top fermentation. There is a lot of subtle and bold flavors that develop during drinking. It is available in the 750 ml bottles from Trader Joe's.

Cheers!

Solstice D'Hiver Barleywine, Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!, Montreal & St-Jérôme Canada

Another beer from the Brasserie Dieu du Ciel! located in St-Jérôme and Montreal, Canada. Solstice D'Hiver is their Barleywine....

It pours an unfiltered dark, deep amber.

The aroma is sweet malt but very subtle.

It starts with mild malt and a medium body. Liquor/bitter taste arrives in the body. It has a very bitter end with plenty of burnt sugar and oak.

Aftertaste is mostly bitter with some oak residue It lingers nicely on the palate...

This is a delicious offering and at 9%, a nice burly winter sipper. Look for it in the 11.5 oz bottles from you local specialty beer store....

Cheers!

Derniere Volonte, Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!, Montreal Canada

Another from my favorite breweries from "up North". This is their Abbey-Style Blond ale. It is 6.5% and bottle conditioned in the 11.5 oz bottles. They are growing increasingly findable especially at your local special brew store. If they don't, ask about them - they are worth it! You can find them imported by Shelton Brothers in Belchertown, MA. The bottle mentions that Derniere Volonte (that's without the necessary accents on the e's) is French for "last will" and that this brew is a mix of Belgian and English traditions.

It pours a hazy amber.

The aroma is citrus, wheat and big yeast. A nice hop aroma (it is dry-hopped).

The taste is citrus up front with mild hop. In the body it holds a yeast/wheatness and finishes a bit sour, but fairly clean. It is a medium body beer with a lot of tones that progress while drinking. My favorite part is the aroma and initial taste. For me, the body and finish leave something to be desired. A little flat and it doesn't seem to quite balance with the initial citrus/hop.

The aftertaste is wheat, fairly clean with a very mild citrus.

All-in-all not my personal favorite from the brewery. I suppose as a mix of Belgium/English styles it probably hits the mark pretty close. It just isn't exciting my palate too much. Still quite drinkable and another interesting brew! Well worth the try, especially if you are into blond ales.

Cheers!

Route des Epices, Brasserie Dieu du Ciel, Montreal Canada

Our next beer is the first beer I will blog about from outside the US. It comes from our neighbors from the north. I was able to visit the Brasserie Dieu du Ciel on a trip to Montreal over the summer and it is DEFINITELY one of my favorite breweries/brewpubs I've been to. It is small, with a lot of dark wood - small tables - very European feel to it. They had abundant beers on tap and I was surprised to find their beers back in Boston. A few weeks ago, I was happy to find their beers at my local beer store - Belmont Station. They have some curious ales and the one I will blog today is their rye beer brewed with peppercorns -

It pours a deep amber with an off-white tight head.

It has a malty aroma with a lot of sweetness. It almost has a christmas ale smell - general spiciness.

The taste is malty and the sweetness carries into the taste. It has a full body and the peppercorns are very evident. It's got a burnt peppercorn flavor. It's spicy but not overwhelming. Though the peppercorn flavor is evident, it doesn't dominate the palate.

The aftertaste is peppery and sweet. The peppercorn flavor dissipates fairly quickly leaving a general spiciness in the mouth.

It is 5% and brewed with black and green peppercorns. I've only found Dieu du Ciel beers in the 11.5 oz bottles.

Since I was able to find their beers at Belmont, I am confident that distinguished beer stores out there will either have or be able to get the Dieu du Ciel beers. They are carefully crafted ales that add an interesting twist on great beer. Happy beer hunting!

Cheers!