Les Brasseurs de Montréal Blanche au Thé Rouge Rooibos

Draught. Mondiale 2009 - day 2. Let me be clear - frickin’ LOVED this beer. Murky brick-red pour with a decent and lasting off-white head. Pungent aroma of black tea and floral bitterness, with black pepper spiciness all overlaying a strong underlying "Belgian" yeast and candy character. Lush, sweet malt/yeast taste, with spicy black chai character; chewy, yeasty, grainy and incredibly appealing; okay it was a tad undercarbonated, but that’s being PICKY, this was like a thick chai infusion into a solid Belgian ale - well done indeed.

On tap at the brewery ultra cloudy muddy amber-orange hue, with a small beige head, yeasty, nice spicy fruity nose, reminiscent of strudel, apple croustade pastry, with some good ripe apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread accents, with some toasted, caramelized malt, with some brown sugar, granola, oat cereal, cinnamon apple bread doughy aromas follow through on a medium-bodied palate with a yeasty, nice spicy nutmeg, cinnamon, gingerbread, fruity ripe apple character with some dry apple granola cereal, strudel pastry flavors, with some caramelized, toasted malt, brown sugar notes, and some gingerbread cookie, bready apple-like doughy accents, leading towards a spicy, nutmeg, cinnamon gingerbred cookie, fruity caramelized ripe apple croustade finish.

Verre de dégustation, provenant d’un fût, dégusté au Festival Bières et Saveurs 2009 (Chambly, QC). Arôme: Odeur de gingembre et de canelle. Apparence: La couleur est blonde-orangée voilée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de gingembre et de canelle avec une pointe de céréales. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement onctueuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Présence d’épices en arrière goût. (Rating #2654)

[2250-20090606] Sample. Fresh floral yeast aroma has strong spicy grass. Murky, light brown orange body with a long-lasting creamy white head. Sweet floral spice flavour with a hint of ginger cookie spice. Medium body. Lovely blend, drinkable.
(3T @ Mondial 2009; Montreal, QC)

Draught at ’Mondial de la Biere 2009’, Montréal, QC. Also called ’Biere du Mondial 16ième’. Pours a very cloudy orange-copper with an average size semi-lasting creamy white head. Aroma: Smells great! Ginger, malt, cinnamon, chai tea, herbs and more. Delicious flavour of ginger, fruit, chai tea, herbs and spices -- so refreshing! Medium bodied. Simply fantastic and one of my favourite beers at the festival!

A hazy golden ale with a super thick off white head. A pleasant aroma of ginger, berries, licorice and cinnamon. In mouth, liquid gingerbread, nice sweet and interesting. Medium bodied. On tap at Mondiale 2009.

In short: A strange brew with exaggerated herbal spiciness that ends-up being surprisingly drinkable.
How: Tap at Montreal Mondial de la Bière 2009
The look: Cloudy dirty blonde body topped by long-lasting small off-white head
In long: A little spicy on the nose. Not being familiar with the tea being used in this beer I would not have guessed this was tea I was tasting. To me this was very herbal, all kinds of cooking herbal spices, also some ginger, and more… Just a whole lot of herbal spiciness that takes over everything. Malt character, sweetness and everything else goes unnoticed with all this herbal spiciness so upfront. Astringent finish. Unusual for sure and surprisingly not unpleasant. I don’t care much for this brewery with their clean well-brewed products for the mass. But I had this one after the Ontario ratebeer table recommended it to me. Yes a beer recommendation from a Ontario table. Then I asked a table a Mexicans where I could find great sushi.

Appearance: Murky brown/peach with a small white head. Aroma: Cinnamon, ginger, malt and pumpkin/ Flavour: Cinnamon and ginger, malt and spices - lovely!