Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus

Brewed by Microbrasserie Charlevoix / Le Saint Pub
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baie-St-Paul, Canada

2007 bottle - Very beautiful deep golden body, perfect fine sparkle, huge lasting fluffy off white head; Excellent very interesting nose, lots of deeper fruit aromas, perfectly balanced by very pleasant and deep Belgian yeast aromas; The body is a little to soft and full sweet, a very little salty and a very little bitter as well, slightly yeasty harsh; Mellowing out a little to easy, lots of aroma but not apparent enough, tons of aroma, yeasty harsh and very pleasant. Starts superp but ends a very little to mellow. Great beer!

A golden ale with a super onctuous thick white head. Aroma of floral hops, yeasts, light orange peels, sweet caramel, a bit vinous. In mouth, a smooth belgian ale with semi sweet candy sugar, long sustained hops, nice touches of coriander, oily mouthfeel, orange peels. Rich and oily in mouth, covering the mouth. A good alcohol smoothness in finale. Bottle bought at Jovi, Gatineau, 12.99$.

Bottle shared by wetherel at the RBSG; Thanks, it’s great stuff! Nose of yeast, figs and raisins,spice and sweetness; hazy dark gold with a medium white head; Flavor has cloves, nutmeg, caramel and fruitiness; finish shows a tiny bit of bitterness.

Thanks to wetherel for sharing this rarity at the RBSG 08 Grand Tasting. Poured into my La Chouffe goblet. Clear gold with a white head that leaves incredible lacing. Aroma is spicy dough with raisins and citrus. Flavor is, again, spicy dough with notes of citrus, grass, apricot, and banana. Pretty weird but very tasty. A little alcohol on the palate, but otherwise smooth.

~RBSG ’08~

Bottle at the Grand Tasting. Pours a cloudy bronze color, with a big thick white head, and very creamy lacing. Aromas of raisin, odd bourbon notes, vanilla, and just an assortment of spices. Flavor has sweet raisins, dry nuts, caramel, banana, slight bourbon, and some subtle hops in the finish. Very smooth, creamy, and a delightful mouthfeel. Really enjoyed this interesting treat.

750ml bottle. Thanks to miketd for sharing. Aroma: Bready and yeasty, lots of peppery and spicy phenols, apples and green raisins, candi sugar. Light apricot and citrus hop notes. Light alcohol as it warms. Appearance: Medium gold in color and clear. White head was full and creamy with good retention. Nice lacing. Flavor: Yeasty and bready with a slight vegetal note. Spicey and peppery, citrus and apples, floral and grassy hop notes. Candi sugar and alcohol. Nice bitterness leads into a very dry finish. Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Medium-high carbonation. Light alcohol warmth in back of mouth. Overall: This was pleasant, but hardly one of the best Belgian Strong Ales I’ve had.

Bottle from miketd’s tasting

Thanks once again to mike for opening a beer that I didn’t expect to see without working the trade circuit heavily. This was an well made Belgian. I don’t however see it as worthy of Top 100 inclusion. Perhaps that is due to the difficulty in acquiring it. Put alongside a few other more nationally available things it would not be my first choice.

Aroma / Appearance - A huge white foamy head danced to the top of my glass before succumbing to the transparent bronze body beneath. The strong maltiness was accompanied by honey, wheat and a few varieties of hops. In some ways it reminded me of a strong pilsener.

Flavor / Palate - The maltiness takes center stage. Afterward comes spruce, pine and cigarette ash. Just before the dry bitter finish are honey, lemon and dried lawn clippings. Overall this was nice but hardly exceptional enough to merit the cost of tracking down another bottle for the cellar.

750 ml bottle - a true joy to enter this as my 900th rating on ratebeer; and a special thanks to tom for sharing this gem of gems in addition to the countless brews you’ve generously shared with me over the last year; huge white head, thick enough to scoop with a spoon; leaves tons of lacing as it fades unevenly; intoxicating aromas of spice and fruit; basically a jacked up saison to me; glowing gold and mostly clear; texture is rich, smooth and almost beyond belief; drinks smooth and rich with lots of spice and farmhouse funk; floral, bready, yeasty and yummy; everything matches together perfectly - texture, aromas, flavors; hot damn, simply heaven in a bottle and one of the best; thanks tom!!!

Updated 10/15/09: drank my last bottle w/ BVC and Tom, so this guy had some age on it; certainly more musky and hops giving way to all the yeasty sweetness; texture and nose as delightful as I first remember it; fuzzy, soft, sweet, perfect; dare I say one of the best beers ever; can’t wait for the new batch!!!