Loup Rouge Chapeau Noir

On tap at the pub. Pitch black with a medium mocha head. Very good retention. Aroma is tart with coffee and roasted malt. Flavor is sour and tart, grainy with chocolate, coffee and raw malt, Medium body.

A deep dark stout with a thick moka head. Im aroma, pungeant chocolate and roasted coffee, nutty and creamy. In mouth, aniseed and light nutty chocolate, creamy, silky, light lactic notes, very organic, a bit light bodied, but classy. On tap at brewpub, May 9 2009.

In short: A milky, roasted and fruity stout with an annoying sourness that I don’t think was supposed to be there.
How: Tap at brewpub. Was described as 5% (currently 6.5% on ratebeer)
The look: Black body topped by a small tan head
In long: Strong nose of black coffee and dark fruits. Taste of black coffee with extra milk and no sugar. Medium roastiness. Very milky, I think the lactose foundation might be a bit too upfront me here. A big and full body despite being a “small” beer, a pleasant recurrent theme at this pub it seems. Velvety mouthfeel. Most is well so far but there was that little kind-of-fruity sourness note that really didn’t sit well with me. And this little sourness was so “off” that it almost tasted like an early infection symptom. This was by far my least favourite of the four pints I had at this pub but it is the highest rated. So I don’t know if what I drank was the intended result or if there was a problem with the batch or my pint. But I’ve never been afraid to go against the grain. I once went to the mall wearing a blue shirt that totally didn’t match with my brown socks. And nothing else.

Pitch black pour with a medium, creamy, light brown head. Very nice aroma of powder sugar, coacoa, lactose and vanilla. Superb flavor of sugar, lactose, coacoa and vanilla. The body is light to medium with a creamy texture and soft carbonation. That stout is really something!

Verre de 12 oz, d’un fût à la brasserie. Arômes de torréfaction et de chocolat. Robe noire opaque, mousse foncée et très crémeuse. Très ronde et crémeuse en bouche, la torréfaction est bien présente mais appuyée par des touches sucrées de chocolat. Arrière-goût relativement amer. Une excellente stout.

My Bottom Line:
This sensual Sweet Stout is the showcase for the profound osmosis of dark chocolate, roastiness and fruity tartness. There are quite a few world-class Stouts in Quebec, and this young one has already joined the ranks of the stars in my book.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A slice of foam stands atop the black opacity.
-As Rasta says, this really has the oomph factor of an Imperial Stout, yet it drinks like a 5% Stout. Deeee-liciously dangerous.
-The mouthfeel is rich and highly engaging.
-Hops are second violins in the flavor profile, but they complement the rotund malts quite well throughout.
-Oatmeal adds a little extra crunch which works perfectly with the rest of the flavor profile.

On tap at the brewpub.

Objectively speaking: Delicious sweet stout brewed with lactose - not an addition I’m generally fond of, but this was brilliantly executed. Apparently this first batch was almost a fiasco, but brought back thanks to an overnight mash: 100%+ efficiency.
I like: Lasting tan head. The maltiness is profound and seducing. The fruit array on display here is superlative for the style: vinous (grape, cherries, juicy plums), but without the associated acidity. The firm roastiness manages to handle the growing sweetness. Fudge-like chewy palate with an engaging, very soft carbonation.
I dislike: Dislike? This is almost an imperial stout and were it not for the hunger, I’d have went for a second PINT.

Bu sur place en fut (12 oz), le 25/4/08. Noir avec un collet beige foncé moyen. Arome de lait au chocolat malté, un peu roty. Goût crèmeux de café latté mocha, peu amère avec une touche de cassonade. Une stout douce et délicieuse! (7.5 alc./vol.)