Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus

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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Bottle: Poured a deep lightly cloudy golden color ale with a huge pure white foamy head with perfect retention and some great lacing. Aroma of West Coast hops with some notes of citrus and grapefruit and some nice floral notes can also be detected. Taste is perfect balance between some light sweet Belgian malt with huge notes of floral hops with notes of grapefruit. Full body with a somewhat creamy texture with some great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I really enjoyed how the hops presence brought aromatic notes but left a light controlled bitterness. As much as I had enjoyed the Chouffe Houblon I believe this one is even more enjoyable.

Objectively speaking: Chouffe Houblon inspired strong Belgian pale with aromatic American hop profile.
I like: Wonderful head and pale golden looks. Flowery notes. Classy expanding carbonation. Limited bitterness. Aromatic concentration. Constant yeastiness. Growing dryness. Evolving taste. Alcohol under control. White grapefruit.
I dislike: Not much not to like. If anything, the soapy hints and advanced sweetness level that do not meet their match in bitterness.

Avec un tel prix, je m’attendais effectivement à une qualitée exeptionnel. Réservé pour les grandes occasion, cette bière est digne des plus grands brasseurs européens

Poured a hazy apricot color, The head is huge, reminds me of my first Duvel upon first glance. But this is no Duvel. The head last for an eternity, eventually subsiding into a a thin blanket, leaving ample lacing in the glass. The carbonation is fascinating, a myriad of bubbles, seemingly rising to the surface in an unending stream. Possibly, the best looking beer I have ever cast a gaze upon. The aroma is a feast for the senses. A cedar/pine aroma is the first to become evident, with a doughy/yestiness coming into focus. Some black pepper spices along with a touch of alcohol. Glorious. The flavor is as complex as the aroma. The initial attack seems to be a light spiciness, tempered by the hops, which seem to be followed by a sweet bread like note (Challah perhaps?). The hops come back into the picture, lingering for an eternity. The alcohol is apparent on the finish, but is so perfectly balanced. Absolutely amazing.

Magnifique bouteille de 750 ml achetée chez Épicerie Lauzière (Drummondville, QC). Arôme: Odeur de pin et d’épices avec une pointe de pamplemousse. Apparence: La couleur est orangée voilée avec une faible densité de bulle. Présence d’un moyen col mousseux et d’une large dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût d’agrumes et d’épices avec une pointe de pin. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement minérale. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Présence d’épices en arrière goût. (Rating #1468)

UPDATED: MAY 6, 2008 In short: An very hoppy very floral strong belgian blonde ale. Original and truly excellent.
How: Very fresh at a tasting session than 750ml bottle by myself two months later.
The look: Partly cloudy dark yellow body with a rather large white head.
In long: Nose is quite something, huge amount of hops, very floral, a bit perfumy and a bit soapy. This well malted and very yeasty Belgian Ale provide an adequate support for the hops avalanche although the malts and yeast esters do not play a big role in the overall flavour spectrum. Some bready notes, crisp honeyed cereals, a little sawdust and very little in the way of fruity esters. But the hopping is the star of this show and is not limited to the finish/bitterness. From start to finish you get flavours of various flowers (dandelions and such) intertwined with pine needles leading to a mild juicy bitterness. Never aggressive the 750ml went down easily despite the 10% abv. The only problem is the current price tag/rarity but even at $17/bottle I don’t think it is a waste of money. It’s never waste money to buy good beer, it’s my life I waste drinking them.

The pour reveals a cloudy golden color with a thick, creamy, white head. Very seductive aroma of fruity, spicy hops with pine needles and cereals. Very good flavor of spicy, fruity hops, pine needles, cereals, some sweetness and mild bitterness in the end. The body is medium with a creamy texture and medium carbonation. This beer is excellent and has a lot of finesse.

Cloudy golden poor with a thick frothy and sticky off-white head. Aromas of spruce beer, sweet bread (french toast?), cinnamon, bubble gum, pink grapefruit, dehydrated onions, ginger... Very hoppy, citrusy full bodied and nicely carbonated beer. Great bitter and even better balance. Flavors of citrus, pink grapefruit, spruce and hints of banana.

bouteille verte de 750ml. belle bière blonde au goût prononcé de houblon, épicée et très agréable.

Bouteille verte foncée de 750 ml, acheté chez Peluso à Montréal (25/12/07). Blonde légèrement brumeuse, moyen collet avec de la dentelle. Arome de fruits tropicals avec une touche d’agrume, pain crouté farfumé et épicé. Goût d’épinette et d’agrume doux, doucement amère. Très agréable à boire!