SAISON DANS LA MAISON ~ MUSKOKA & LE TROU DE DIABLE

This saison is another in a series of anniversary collaborations and one-off beers marking Muskoka’s 30th birthday. This was a collaboration with Quebec’s Trou du Diable and is a saison brewed with guava. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy unfiltered golden straw colour with a thin white head, that reduced to a ring. The aroma contained lots of citrus, with some fruity esters, sweet malts, spice and grassy/floral hops. This was a decent saison, but I got very little of the guava, until a touch in the finish. It was light and fruity, with subtle notes of tropical fruit, tart citrus, floral hops. The beer was light and crisp, with little sweetness. Quite decent!

6.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario & Shawinigan, Quebec

DOLCIS SUCCUBUS ~ LE TROU DE DIABLE

This brew is worth every penny and it isn’t cheap! Dolcis Succubus is an American Wild Ale that had been aged for up to twelve months in California white wine barrels made of oak. In addition to the aging the beer is brewed with wild yeasts (Brettanomyces), giving it lots of complexity, and hopped with new world hops. Sampled on draught the beer poured a rich hazy golden orange with a dense white head, that left lovely lacing. The nose had noes is luxurious and rich, containing notes of green apples, apricot, wildflower honey, hay, a little funk and vanilla. The taste was as complex as the nose containing apricot, pear and apple, citrus, floral undertones, subtle oak, sweet wine, delicate vanilla. The hops were subtle and the bitterness did not linger. The carbonation was on the soft side and the beer had a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. I would say this was on the full side of medium bodied. This is a rich, complex and beautifully balanced beer. A treat at any price! Well worth it!

7% from Shawinigan, Quebec

FOUS ALLIES ~ BEAU’S & MICROBRASSERIE TROU DU DIABLE

Fous Allies, meaning ‘crazy allies’ was a collaborative effort from Ontario’s Beau’s Brewing and Quebec’s Trou du Diable. Originally made as a collab 2012, it was revisited in 2015, with a higher alcohol content. Fous Allies is a mango infused saison beer, which will be included in the “Best of Beau’s” holiday sampler at the end of this year and part of their “Wild Oats” series. Sampled on draught. The beer poured a dark golden colour with a pillow white head. The nose contains some saison yeasts and a faint tropical fruit, with a hint of peppery spiciness. The taste of mango is very discreet, but it is there adding a sweetness to the brew. There is a pleasant amount of hops at the end to round out and balance this delicious saison.

6.1% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario and Shawinigan, Quebec IBU 30

Malts: Pilsner, Wheat, Acidulated, Carafoam (all organic)
Hops: Organic Nelson-Sauvin
Yeast: Saison
Other: organic mango puree

L’OURS ~ LE TROU DU DIABLE

L’ours (meaning bear in French) is a sour ale/wild ale from Quebec.   It is a mixture of twenty per cent rye saison, aged in oak barrels of Banyuls for two years. (Banyuls is a fortified aperitif/dessert wine made from old vines grown on terraces on the Catalan Pyrenees and Roussilion county of France).  The other 80% is a young saison.  Each cask will be different, some with more intense notes.  I am not sure which assemblage, as it wasn’t indicated on the draft tap.   The beer is a clear blonde, nicely carbonated, but had little head.  Lots of alcohol on the nose – almost cider or wine like.  Ripe fruit, spicy yeast and funky brett make up the aroma.    Taste had a complexity and many subtleties.  It had qualities of both a young and aged beer.  Lots of ripe fruit flavours, but also a subtle rye, spicy yeast, some barnyard funk and touch of wood.  I really enjoyed this and will go back for another. 

6.5% from Shawinigan 10 IBU

ALBERT 3 ~ LE TROU DU DIABLE

Belgian Pale Ale/ Table beer

Very pale yellow.  Light and refreshing on the palette. Subtle grain flavours, with some citrusy hops. Easy drinking.

5.49% from Shawinigan, Quebec  -beer 11-