Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Hibernus

Brewed by Microbrasserie Charlevoix / Le Saint Pub
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baie-St-Paul, Canada

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: FEB 26, 2010 My Bottom Line:
Black pepper, licorice and nutmeg flourish atop the dates and cherries in this masterful Belgian Strong Ale. The estery yeast profile, the authentic mouthfeel and the productive union of maltiness and spices have rendered quite the superlative symphony.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A proud crest of foam decorates the misty blood red.
-Star anise spiciness also emerges from the precise spice interplay, which also seems to include cloves and coriander, amongst others.
-Fertile earthiness also rises from the malt/yeast/spice cohesion.
-The body is beautifully sculpted; with its frothy carbonation and perfect attenuation, it never feels cumbersome for a beer this gravity.
-The spices in the 2009 vintage are better levelled than the 2007’s.
-The black pepper flavors drop with a year or so on it, and licorice comes out more. A fantastic beer every way you look at it.

Bottles; 2007 and 2009 vintage.

Dark burgundy brown with a great brown head. Big spicy nose of cloves, cinnamon, and a nice herbaceous, minty - thyme notes. almost full body, Christmas cake spices, clovey, some dark fruits in there too like black cherries. Long warm finish. A winter treat. On tap at Cheval Blanc for their 25th anniversary.

750 ml bottle. Pours a very dark amber, foggy red with a persistent beige-orange head. Smells quite spicy. Tastes quite spicy also, with notes of cinnamon, ginger, coriander, cloves and also the notable presence of burnt caramel. Light bitterness in the finish, along with the warm feeling of alcohol. Body is average, palate is frothy. A top notch, spicy winter warmer. Kind of hard on the wallet, but SO good on the palate.

Bouteille 750 mL. Brune foncee avec peu de mousse. Nez de pain d’épices, de banane et d’alcool de cerises. Bouche sur les épices et la banane, avec le malt en finale. Un peu trop sucree a mon gout et manque de CO2.

750ml, best before end 2012 - a lofty dark tan head over a semi-clear dark red-brown body. Aroma is mildly fruity and sweet, hints of yeast now well aged. Tastes of sweet fruits and spice, sasparilla, a hint of earthy mineral, some fading lemon peel. Ends with a dry palate that sets off the sweetness. Good beer in a category that is often hard-to-please.

Bottle 750 ml [2012]. Apperance: Pour dark brown with amber reflects. Medium brown head with good lacing. Aroma: Loads of spices, gingerbread, yeast, banana, brown sugar. Taste: Spices, gingerbread, malt, sugar. Warming alcohol, underlying sourness and dry spicy finish. Overall: A very good beer from Microbrasserie Charlevoix. Taste like no other beer.

I did not expect this from A Strong Brown beer. Especially from a Belgian recipe. It is Spicy and sweet and reminds me of a good porto. Very good tasting but not for every occasions.

brown/ black tea like colour.belgian yeast note, sweet and fruity aroma. rich flavour, sweet but not sickly. has a hot finish. flavour brew!

750ml bottle. Pours a deep amber with lots of orange highlights when held directly to a light source. The head is big and nicely tanned; takes 3.72 hours to recede and leaves a hint of lace. There’s loads of spice on the nose (I’m thinking ginger & cinnamon) and a TON of orange peel. I keep being reminded of Christmas. The booze doesn’t really show at all unless you take a huge inhale. Has the same things going on on the palate. Not as sweet as I expected. There’s a bit of a brandy note there too. Not nearly as interesting on the palate as it was on the nose.

Bottle - 750ml. Pours a cloudy dark brown body with a thin beige foamy head. Enjoyable malty/hoppy aroma with vineous, fruity, brown sugar, and yeasty hints. Taste is very well balanced. It carries plummy, yeasty, and some subtle oaky notes. Alcohol is well hidden. Ends with a decent, warming bittersweet finish. Another good reason to love winter.

Bottle, pours a hazy brown, aroma is very spicy, a good solid body, lots of life, lots of flavour, really yummy stuff.