La Voie Maltée Criminelle

On tap at Vices & Versa, deep black color, with a small tan-colored head, mild fruity roasted malt nose, with a cocoa and chocolate accents, hint of black coffee in the aroma follows on full-bodied palate with a nice fruity molasses character, with a sweet dark roasted coffeee beans, with an alcoholic chocolate liquor pralines accent, hint of sweet candied raisins, dates, plums fruitiness,,leading towards a sweet chocolate alcoholic roasted malt bitterness finish.

Draught pint at Vices Versa on 8/25/06.
Thick-looking, very opaque, dark, black beer. Maybe a slight violet-magenta tinge on the edges, but barely so. Medium-tan head is moderate in size and recedes to partial-cover, with no lacing, though a slight film is left behind.
Very dry nose speaks of baker’s chocolate, prunes, anise and some slight char. There is a wetness or heaviness about it, similar as in La Grincheuse, that seems to suggest very hard water (or a high concentration of a certain element/mineral). I don’t think this works quite as well in an Imperial Stout as it does in a farmhouse beer, as it disrupts the focus on the clean presentation of the different malt notes and dulls a style that already struggles with livliness. Some light alcohol apparency appears on the end, after warming, fuselic in nature. A softer, more gentle, vanilla creme and milk chocolate note is notable, but severely underrepresented in this sample. Aroma strength is medium.
Upon first sip, the chewy, slightly watery texture, obviously unfiltered, is well supportive and carries chewy chocolate and raisins, with a well-balancing vinousness and dry roast. However, it does not leave things in balance on the finish, and I’m left with heavily dry, bitter, astringent, acrid roasted acidity and a flavor that tastes like chewing on a raw vanilla bean (not terribly pleasant). With further sips, the sweet chocolate and dry roast balance up front is still evident, and tries to clear the heavy bitterness, but it’s a losing battle, and pretty soon, the finish wins out and I can barely drink more (about half-way through the glass). Great texture, low but ample carbonation, just a very, very poor finish, with moderate alcohol as well. Would love to try it again....seems like this keg was rather old. Not sure if it’s just extensive roast bitterness/acidity or rather some infection-induced phenols.

Black body, large off-white head with great lacing. Smell is weak and doesn’t lead us realize what’s coming. What you get is one of the very good stout I’ve ever had. Taste wise this is nothing new, roasted malt, some coffee, some black chocolate with a light alcohol bite. Nothing new indeed but so perfectly balanced with a perfect medium-high carbonation and a preferct medium body. Despite its 9% abv the alcohol presence is more on the level of a regular stout. The most desirable Criminelle (female crimale) since Bonnie from the Bonnie and Clyde fame.

Bu à Vice & Versa (12 oz). Noir pure, collet moyen qui se réduit un peu vite. Arome de café mocha fort, sucré. Assé bon goût de café chocolaté, amertume faible.

Bu au Vices et Versa. Arôme de vin fortifié, de porto et de café. L’impression des odeurs de porto se répercute sur le goût. Ce goût est accompagné par des touches fruitées de dattes et de prunes. La finale est rôtie et est soutenu par une amertume délicate ainsi qu’une légère chaleur d’alcool.