Loup Rouge LÎle de Grâce

Sampler from Biere et saveurs 2009. Very malty IPA dominated by toasty amber malt. Hop aroma lacking for an IPA. Strong, but harsh bitterness.

In short: An ultra-hoppy and ultra-refreshing IPA. One of the best “small” (below 7%) IPA I’ve had
How: Tap at brewpub
The look: Clear dark golden body topped by a medium off-white head
In long: A fantastic hoppy nose that stands up to almost all “small” IPAs I’ve ever had. Coniferous, tangy, leafy. Great aroma. A solid backbone caramelized malts, rather crisp and not too rich. A truckload of hops, coniferous, fruity, leafy. Flavours of dried oranges, tangerines, wood (cedar, conifer). Finish is very dry and the strong bitterness is never harsh thanks an orangey refreshing flavour in the finish. All in all one of the best below 7% IPA I’ve ever had. Awesome stuff. This brewpub is a great addition to the Quebec beer-scene. Loup Rouge really is one thing Sorel can be proud of. And this is Sorel, so I mean Loup Rouge is ONE thing Sorel can be proud of.

A golden amber ale with a thick super lacing off white head. In aroma, plenty of c-hops with sweet tangerine, very pungent. In mouth, a sweetish caramel with berries, good c-hops, and lichees. Oily mouthfeel. On tap at brewpub, Jan. 3 2009.

En fût. Verre de 12 oz dégustée directement à la brasserie. Arôme: Odeur d’orange et de pin. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée. Présence d’un moyen col mousseux et d’une large dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût très prononcé d’houblon avec une pointe fruitée. Longue durée de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement crémeuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence d’amertume d’houblon en arrière goût. (Rating #2118)

Pours a brown color with ruby highlights and a thin tan head. Nice aroma of fruity, earthy hops and mild toasted malt. Very good flavor of earthy, fruity hops, toasted and slightly roasted malts and caramel, it’s very dry and bitter in the end. The body is light with a creamy texture and gentle carbonation. Nicely done.

On tap at Loup Rouge. The color is a dark amber with a thin beige head. The taste is of hops and fruits. The aroama is also of hops . The bitterness is most noticeable thus it makes it a very good I.P.A.

<i>My Bottom Line:</i>
This nourishing American-style India Pale sculpts chewy caramel maltiness around ever-growing resinous and orangey hoppiness as strawberry-like fruitiness and earthy, coniferous bitterness salutes each ending.

<i>Further Personal Perceptions:</i>
-Creamy foam stands atop the hazy dark red.
-This is obviously not the brash pint Rasta had a couple of months ago. It’s intensely flavorful, but balanced throughout. There is enough caramel sweetness to balance out the resinous intensity from aroma to finish.
-This grain bill develops chocolatey side-flavors which are highly agreeable with the chosen hoppiness.
-The rich body and pillowy carbonation are a fine feature once again.

<b>On tap at the brewpub.</b>

Objectively speaking: Very dark, cloudy and agressively hopped IPA.
I like: Hop shortage does not exist in Sorel. Savagely aromatic and rather complex hop profile in fact: very fruity, but earthy, salty, sharp and leafy.
I dislike: Probably my least favourite of the 4 Loup Rouge offerings I’ve tried. Its maltiness lacks in brightness compared to the overwhelming hops. Rarely have I drank a 5.5% beer that was not more drinkable than that. The body dies under the hop pressure (no crispiness) while the yeast (unfiltered) tries to join in, but remains musty and vague. No definition outside those crushing hops which go in every direction.