Dieu du Ciel Route des Épices

Brewed by Dieu du Ciel
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Montreal, Canada

Name: Route des Epices
Date: 05/24/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: dark amber, wispy dirty white head, streaks of lace,
Aroma: sweet caramel malt aroma with a fruity sweetness and light spicyness,
Flavor: sweet caramel malt flavor, nice balancing spicyness, touch of peppery character, light bitter finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

I can see how not everyone would dig this, but I really liked it. The rye is more prevalent in the nose, and it first, its the main characteristic in the flavor, as well. The peppercorns really come in at the finish and aftertaste, and are a bit overpowering. I liked it.

Pours a transparent copper with a nicely-lacing off-white head. Aroma of dry, doughy rye and yeast. Body starts lightly sweet and pale malty quickly giving way to a burning black pepper flavor that dominates the beer and its lingering finish. I can’t even finish this from the amount of black pepper.

Pours a hazy copper color with a white head. Aroma is malt, black pepper, and rye. Flavor is lots of peppery spice, some malty sweetness, and a touch of rye.

I thought this was an interesting beer, thought it might be a little higher rated. Pours a dark amber with an off white head. Nice peppercorn and malt aroma. Beer went down smooth, and I enjoyed the pepper flavor in the beer. I could see why others might not like it as much, but I thought it was good.

Bottle from WLV. Nose is a bit spicey, though I smell the EKG that they probably used, flowery and whatnot. Color is nice, hardly any head. Fruity in the front with the pepper attacking your palate through the middle and finish. Sweet and dry, though spicy from the Rye. This is just one bizarre beer, perhaps a bit too much, though interesting.

[Rated 5.17.08] Pours a murky brown/amber sunburst with a medium creamy off-white froth on top. A sweet peppercorn, rye bread, malt aroma that waters the eyes if you get too close! Weak up-front flavor that is very light rye and pepper. However, just after swallowing the spicy pepper attacks the tongue for a very long peppery finish. I wish this beer had a fuller up-front taste and a fuller body to back up all that spice. 8.4.7.3.16 [Rerate 3.13.09] Wow, I thought for sure after almost a year this beer would be an oxidized drain pour, but it actually held up ok. Pours a clear glowing dark orange tinted red with a fine dense off-white head with great lacing. Strong black peppercorn aroma, overtop slightly oxidized rye malt, and yes it still waters the eyes. Upfront strong black peppercorn taste followed by some light malt sweetness and finishing with a decent amount of heat on the tongue. Medium bodied, light mouthful, nice fluffy carbonation that really moves the peppercorn around the tongue. 7.4.7.4.15

Sorry, I just don’t get it. An ale brewed with a shitload of black pepper? I don’t think so. Certified drain pour. Nasty, pepper is all you smell & taste. Too foul for words.