Dieu du Ciel Équinoxe du Printemps

Brewed by Dieu du Ciel
Style: Scotch Ale
Montreal, Canada

8/07/2009: Équinoxe du Printemps ("Spring Equinox")... Aroma: Lots of richly caramelized malts, nuances of sweet maple, tinge of refined alcohol. Appearance: Shiny reddish-copper color, mostly transparent; 1-finger ivory-colored head that falls at a moderate rate to leave some frothy spots on the surface and a ring around the edge. Flavor: Starts good and malty with plenty of caramelized malt, sherry, hints of sweeter maple syrup; swallow and quite a bit of almost astringent alcohol is revealed and any residual sweetness is gone; seems almost like a Belgian Tripel (fruity, spicy, metallic) with some alcohol burn in the finish. Palate: Medium-light to medium; quite smooth, but somewhat thin. Overall: Maple syrup always seems like a good idea, but I think most of the sweetness and flavor from it ferment out quite readily and the resulting alcohol is sharp and the body of the beer suffers. This really isn’t a good Scotch Ale, in my opinion as it is lacking malt depth, good caramelization, and even a little body. The alcohol just shows way too much in a bad way. This is a decent beer in general, but seems more like a Doppelbock to me overall. UPDATE: This beer definitely improves as it approaches room temperature. The alcohol dies down a bit (more of a warming burn now), there is some ripe peach in the aroma, the malty complexities become more apparent (more like a Scotch Ale and not like a Belgian Strong Ale of some sort!) as well as a hint of anise (especially in the finish) in the flavor, and the body even seems to become a bit more full and sticky. It’s becoming really quite good now... Too bad the bottle is almost gone though! This has helped my rating out quite a bit though!

11.5 fl. oz. bottle (twist-off cap, 9.5% alc/vol) from Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio. Rating #208 for this beer.

Bottled, tasting session. Hazy orange color, short head. Aroma of molasses, caramel malt, some sherry. Sligth bitter, bit liquorish.

Bottle from SL.... Poured into a snifter... Not much head... Brownish red color. Nice aroma of wood, malty, sugar, dark fruits... sort of like a barleywine... Taste is a nice smooth scotch ale... Maple syrup, sweet malty taste.. Nice sipping beer. Overall a unique beer that was enjoyed.

12 oz bottle: Deep amber w/ orange highlights and a light beige head. Moderately fruity, but indistinct at the moment. Nice wood maple flavor grows as it warms, along with toasty malt. Clean otherwise. Flavor is sweet up front, very warming with alcohol, caramel, very little maple flavor, but it is woody as well as a bit maply, to be expected if it was true maple syrup. Sweet and syrupy up front, but has a drier finish with alcohol, which may add to the fruitiness. Fuller body at first ,but lighter in the finish, dry m/f due to alcohol, and low CO2. Not a bad beer, but I think it could be more refined? It’s not that I don’t like it, and that the maple essence isn’t captured. I think they did a fine job of that, but I’m not 100% convinced I am a big fan of the beer. Too hot for me, and needs more complexity IMHO.

12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear amber color with a small ivory head. The aroma is sweet toasted malt, caramel, maple syrup, and dried fruits. The flavor is not as sweet as the nose would indicate. Caramel, toasted malts, maple syrup, alcohol burn especially with warming, dried fruits leading to a drier finish. Medium to full bodied and enjoyable.

11.5oz bottle, unnotched label, purchased from Liquor Max. Clear orange with brown highlights and a 1 1/2 finger beige head, great retention. Aroma of toasted malts and sweet toffee, some raisins, and vanilla in the back. The flavor is much the same with some maple notes coming forth a little more, as well as some added vinous characteristics. Semi-dry with some alcohol noted. Full body with moderate creamy carbonation. Very good Scotch ale that didn’t get overly sweet, despite what one would think from what the beer is comprised of. Also, my label states 9.5% ABV.

Amber, red colored brew. Sweet, ripe fruit, sherry in the aroma. Vinous, ripe fruit, sherry, Sweet.

Pours a translucent light peachy copper with a one finger light tan head. The nose is sweet and malty, peaty, lightly smoky, fruity with lots of esters, yeasty. Flavor is sweet, lots of caramel, yeast, light alcohol, spicy, fruity Belgian feel. Gets to be cloying with some time and warmth but the initial impression is good. Spicy palate with light alcohol and a nice carbonation.