Malheur Bière Brut (Reserve)

Pours gold with a creamy head and consistent carbonation and lacing. Aromas of straw, fresh fruit, vanilla, wood and honey waft from the glass. The taste of this one is what makes it a true standout: fruity with bananas, apples, pears, vanilla, oak, honey, maple and just a hint of peppery hops. Mouthfeel is thick and oily with generous bubbly notes tickling the tongue in prickly, peppery decadence long after the glass is empty. Finish is of lemons, oranges and sugar candy. A truly spectacular beer.

Yes indeed, this is a beer, that has been treated and aged like a champagne. Malheur Biere Brut is marketed in corked champagne bottles. After brewing, and aging, it is put on champagne racks, where it is riddled. The bottles are tilted and turned, in a traditional, labor intensive method, used to precipitate the yeast to the neck of the bottle. There it then goes through the process of degorgement, where the yeast collected in the neck is frozen, and expelled in a plug of ice. This is what is done with champagne, and now with one amazing beer as well. A beer this special, which comes in a corked 22.45 oz champagne bottle, should be treated as such. I didn’t chill this beer in the fridge. I let is sit on ice in an ice bucket like a fine champagne, and served it in a champagne glass as well. Malheur Biere Brut pours to a beautiful, very bright(clear) deep golden color with a pillowy white head, and a very vibrant carbonation. The nose on this beer is very perfumed, with aromas of lemon rind, peach, and vapors of peppery alcohol. The palate is smooth, refined, and silky, with strong flavors of peach and vanilla on the tongue, with a nice back drop of flowery flavors as well. Malheur Biere Brut finishes with a firm, dry after taste, with just a touch of peppery alcohol. This beer is stunning. It is rare, unique, and really is as elegant as champagne. For a beer lover? This is better than champagne. Malheur Biere Brut, makes the ultimate aperitif, and would match well with oysters, or any dish you would pair champagne with.

Peaches galore in the mouth and nose, and dried apricots for good measure…Piney, floral, minty, and woody hops garnish this effervescent festivity and balance perfectly with the fruity malt...If this were more easily accessible and less expensive, I would see it reach beerlovers’ hearts like Duvel has…An extremely well-polished gem, superior to Deus...and tons of other supersaisons...

Aroma is floral, perfume-like, yeasty, clean and fresh and quite hoppy with notes of marzipan and fruity esters. Cloudy, golden yellow with yeast in suspension and strong white head that recedes to a thick cover with excellent lace. Really sneaky, strong floral hop flavour and bitterness with notes of pine, orange and a sweet almond malt character. Very complex. Gently effervescent and lively on the tongue. Definite alcohol warming though alcohol is never apparent. Bottle. Enjoyed with MartinT and Rastacouere.

Superlatives best describe this beer attributes. Fantastic presentation, huge carbonation, thick head, clear golden color. Incredible nose of honey, peach, citrus, flowery and a bit yeasty. Starts very sweet but is extremely well balanced by a peppery/dry finish, no trace of alcohol in the taste. As others have pointed out, it is impressive how this beer is 11% and still very refreshing. The body is round and firm without being the least cloying. Overall, the best beer I have ever sampled up to now. I found it very versatile as served cool, it is a very nice apperitif and warmer, a delightful digestif. It does really compare to champagne, both for its taste and price!