Les Brasseurs du Hameau dHam Noire

Drank after jumping on one foot over a mile (Don’t ask)
Classic pour, the huge frothy beige head wanders atop the deepest brown glow. Expanding, full carbonation, pillow-soft in its uniformity and diplomacy despite the bubbliness. Light and easy drinking, but with varying flavors from sip to sip. Sometimes it gives the impression of a certain grapey vinousness while others will remind of blackberries, tree bark and cocoa powder. Was that a hint of smoke? Certainly, a mild, sweetish chocolate is part of the flavor profile, as the diplomatic roastiness at times goes further and hints at tobacco. Yeastiness, on top of bringing esters, keeps away from the bready staleness that some strains seem to have and instead simply adds a certain airiness, a sense of freshness, a certain dryness after swallowing. Yet it doesn’t feel perfected yet that strain, but it’s too late, I’m under its charms and would not care about this minor sulfury/minerally touch- perhaps the water- if you spelled it out for me. A belgian stout if you will as they clearly kept their belgian yeast strain for this one, but the charming grace with which its roastiness evolves, never failing to carry a juicy fruit or two along the way is just something that standard yeast strains can’t manage. Perhaps it’s just the difference, we’re not used to those pairings, but for me it sets it a step up from standard stouts. It’s not more complex, but it seems incredibly fresher and livelier. Stunning and possibly the crowning jewel of their glorious little line. Bottom line, don’t believe the next reviews:)

Bouteille de 341 ml. Brune extremement foncé, bon collet avec des bouts de mousses collé après le verre.. Arome de malte légèrement fumé, épice sucré et un soupson de cacao. Goût de malte chocolaté, réglise noire et d’épice.

The pour reveals a black color with brown highlights and a thick, bubbly, light brown head that diminishes but never dies. The aroma is all about small things done right, the malt is there, smoky and roasty but it’s discreet enough to not take the whole place, after some convincing from its partners the licorice and coacoa show themselves, again discreet but wholly there, then there’s a mild belgian yeast that joins the party, seperatly they’re almost weak, but together they form a solid combination. The flavor has the same subtle mix of smoky and roasty malt, licorice, coacoa and yeast motivated by a carbonation that’s just enough lively to budge the shy element into the show, all that is spread over a light, creamy body. A very good beer.

Almost-black body with burgundy highlights topped by a long-lasting large beige head. Nose of roasted malts and coniferous hops. The attack is rather soft with toasted bread flavours. Some liquorice and woody sensations developed in mouth. Fruitiness is kept to a minimum, this is mainly about bready/woody flavours leading to a slight lemony tartness finish with a medium intensity bitterness. Could have been a great beer but the hops (c-hops?) didn’t seem the best choice or were overused. Still a very good beer. I had myself a little battle of the best non-imperial-Quebec stouts (vs Recidive and St-Ambroise). Since they were all black I called it a beer boxing match. There was no clear winner.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, blankboy & jerc - courtesy of HogTownHarry. Drak ruby-brown with a small tan head. Aroma is roasty with notes of smoke and slightly sour fruit. Body is on the thin side. Flavour has nice notes of roasted malt, coffee and toasted nuts. If you called this a porter, I’d be a bit more impressed - it’s too thin to be a really solid stout - but it’s still a pretty nice little beer.