Dieu du Ciel Rigor Mortis Abt

Brewed by Dieu du Ciel
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Montreal, Canada

Pours a muddy reddish brown color with some fine sediment and a big fluffy tan head. Decent retention, not quite up to the Belgian standard. The aroma really shoots out of the glass, with rummy raisin at the fore and some accents of cinnamon, chocolate chip cookie, slight licorice, and a hint of peppery alcohol. Flavor is a bit of a letdown after the excellent aroma. It’s just not quite as robust and well-rounded. Bready and yeasty without much sweetness, licorice and spicy alcohol in the finish. A little hot but not bad. The alcohol does sort of thin out the body a bit. Carbonation is pleasant, drinkability is decent. Good for a non-Belgian quad, but not even close to the authentic classics.

Hazy dark amber with a light tan head. Sourish, earthy pit fruit and spice aromas. Medium body. Sharp spicy yeasty pit fruit and caramel flavors. The alcohol gets in the way a bit here.

No date. Excellent pour with a fully lasting, creamy, frothy, mostly full, beige layer of foam which leaves tight, Belgian lace throughout; the body is a hazy, rosy, mahogany color with sediment. Nose is awesome, fruity, rich, and complex with a lot of spicing (spicy cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg), some spicy alcohol wisps, rich chocolate brownies, lighter figs and dates, very doughy yeast, molasses, candied cherries and red currants, and a little bit sherryish. Flavor is not much different, quite sweet and rich with some spicy and fruity complexity; lightly burnt caramel, fudge brownies, lots of spicy/doughy yeast, some brown sugar, sweet cherries and candied red currants, baked goods with nutmeg and ginger spicing, faintly roasted with some burnt toast notes, figs, and almost nutty towards the finish (almonds). Palate is good but not exceptional with a mostly full, round chewy, velvety texture, soft to lively, but a bit dry on the end, taking away from some of the richness. Finishes somewhat short for the style but pleasant with some roasted almonds, cherries, and a fruitcake-like note with all the spicing. From the start, I was impressed with this one, and it did not disappoint. My only complaint is the finish is a bit short and dry which depletes some of the richness the beer built up. I believe it is right up there with some of the greats - Rochefort, St. Bernardus, etc.; maybe not quite as perfected but very close. It is interesting to note that while the label says abt, the description says quad which I say has qualities of both; not quite opaque, very rich malt notes but a lot of fruit also, very round and chewy texture but also a bit dry in the end, etc. Overall, I was very impressed with this one from Dieu du Ciel, they do very good work. One of the best Belgian I’ve tried not from Belgium.

Pours hazy medium brown with off-tan colored head that is quite thick at first, laces well, and retains a thin layer through the entire pint. Nose has soft baked good sweetness such as cookies or brownies, along with some yeast/bready components. Palate has a soft malty/roasty flavor that becomes a little nutty and brown sugary. Carbonation is gentle on the palate. Finish is somewhat long and flavored with soft baking spices.

Pours a deep burgundy with tan head and great lacing. Aroma is sweet malt with dark berries and caramel. Mouth is deep and warming. Taste has berries, a little chocolate, light yeast, and citrus. Very smooth and sticky. Great beer. I think it reminds me of a less complex version of the Abby de Rocs Bruin.

Pours a dark, semi-transparent mahogany with a fairly thick if not persistent beige head. Aroma is not strong but fruity and yeasty with malt underpinnings, rather inviting. Flavor is stronger than the aroma, malty and yeasty with a fruity and nutty hints and just a touch of spice. Texture is quite rough and fizzy, leaving a tart and nippy finish.

Bottle from Sun Devil. Rather disappointing. Has none of the things about Quads that I love. Nose is dark and heavy but indistinct. Color is dark brown with plenty of carb. Flavor is liquid leather with hints of char. I had it warm, but that doesn’t seem like an excuse. This was one unexciting note.

Bottle. Pour is dark brown with a medium head. Smell is of cocoa, malt and aome fruit. Flavor is fantastic of cocoa, vanilla, some dirt, a lot of fruit, such as cheery and some darker berries. Rather sweet the bigger the drink. Lots of chocolate show through as it warms.. Considering the ABV, the alcohol is well hidden to the point of unnoticeable. Lots of fruit in the flavor. Very tasty and finishes rather smooth. Cool label too.