Dieu du Ciel Solstice d’hiver

Brewed by Dieu du Ciel
Style: Barley Wine
Montreal, Canada

Bottle. Pours a dark brown color with a Small off white head. Fairly flat in appearance. Nose is light alcohol, dark fruits, grape skins, dates and a light sugary note. Palate has a light tingle and is fairly full with a light syrup note. Flavors of the dark fruits, sugars, and carmelization.

12oz bottle from Cloverleaf in Royal Oak. Pours murky brown with light tan head. Aroma is caramel, brown sugar, toffee, some dark fruits, little hops and good amount of sweet malt. Flavor is boozy with sweet malts, dark fruit, toffee, caramel and some hops. FInishes with light alcohol burn. Medium mouthfeel with some chewy malt. Decent barley wine.

Pours a nice deep amber color with a tan head. Aroma is caramel, toast, brown sugar, plum, some apricot, a touch of alcohol, and some earthy notes. Flavor is caramel, brown sugar, alcohol, plum, and a bitter spicy finish.

Aroma: wonderful, hops reminsicent of fresh grapes, grapefruit and green apple. Lovely, fruity malt, liquorice, roasted, sourish. Oh my, those are really lovely. A slight vanilla sweetness merges with the nice deep, fudgy malt. Alcohol and some faint esters. Raisins and brandylike tones. There’s something nutty alongside the alcoholic fumes. Hard to place, but the aftertaste suggests hazelnuts and/or macadamia. A musty tone reminsicent of lingonberries can be sensed.
Flavour: sweetness hits you, but in no way overwhelms, and is backed up by a grown up bitterness provided by acrid and refreshing hops. Slight tartness as of apple peel. Malt provides subtle tones of bitter cocoa and fine coffee beans. The aftertaste is long, extremely balanced and satisfying. This is perfectly balanced. Few beers are so beautifully designed (I come to think of Old Rasputin).
Appearance: A very deep orangey red body covered by a frothy, slightly sticky, yellowish thick foam. Looks invinting.
Palate: Thick, creamy, very full-bodied. Really thick and fluffy on the tongue, slightly hot on the palate. No lack of carbonation; very soft and natural feeling however. Very, very nice and thick. Even the burps are highly enjoyable.

Draft at Volo. Pours dark amber. Nose of caramel and rasins. Big body, sweet. caramel and toffee notes. Finish is slightly bitter, but not prolonged.

Bottle, 2008-12-25 , Göteborg AR: sherry, hops. AP: dark brown body, light beige coloured head - lasting F: americans hops, alcohol, great bitterness, honey? The lable is great!

11.5 oz. bottle. Pours a thick, opaque brown color with a very small tan head. Aromas of molasses, malt, and a hint of raisin. Analogous flavors along with a smoky flavor. Medium to heavily bodied. Definitely, has an alcoholic bite. Not bad.

I think this was brewed in 04. Pours a dark brown with thin white head. Aroma is leather, malt and raisin notes. Flavor is slightly sweet, but finishing on a dry note. Not much carbonation, but its a BW - shouldn’t have much.