FRANÇAIS
After gaining a little experience with this brewery & getting to know what was so unique about them, I thought it was time for this beer. Trifolium & Saison Espinay are perhaps the flagship beers of Auval since they’re incredibly complex & elegant. Just to mention again, I always try my best not to be biased towards my reviews even if the product is hyped.
“It’s complex & elegant like most of what Auval has to offer…”
Trifolium
Brewed by: Auval Brewing
Type: Sour Ale - Mixed Fermentation
Region: Val d’Espoir, Quebec, Canada
ABV: 6%
Hops: N/A
Cereals: Malted Barley.
Microorganisms: Yeast harvested on local clovers
IBU: N/A
Appearance: 9/10
The beer comes in a nice green bottle which helps to partially block UV rays. The size makes it perfect to sip on for few hours in the afternoon or to share, up to you. It is topped with a cork which is elegant & ideal for aging. The label is minimalist with a short description of the beer. In the glass it pours a golden liquid with a nice white head that quickly fades leaving only a faint ring & delicate lacing on the sides. The ale is not completely clear, in fact it has a slight haze probably coming from the lees. The appearance is very inviting & makes me thirsty.
Nose: 13.5/15
The bouquet opens up on some rustic notes. There’s dried flowers, hay, yellow grass & well-integrated Brett phenols. Aromas of orchard fruits & lemon peel make their way through as well as some crunchy cereals. As I continue nosing it, I detect some underlying honey & yogurt which give some depth to the beer’s character. Needless to mention the oak which lends some woody & vinous notes, often found in similar barrel-aged sour ales.
Mouth: 13.5/15
The acidity is what hits first, followed by a gentle effervescence, increasing the sensation of tartness. The body is somewhat light with a soft chewy texture & fine tannins are felt on the tongue. The off-dry palate completes the portrait in order to deliver a refreshing yet comforting sour ale. The flavours are still on the same cereal profile with cleaner wild yeast than on the nose lending only a bright acidity without any funky notes. Surprisingly the beer is reminiscent of Rocket candies at some point mingling somewhere along powdered fruits & dried flowers.
Finish: 9.5/10
The finish is quite long & the acidity leaves pretty quickly giving the opportunity to fully appreciate the flavours. There is a residual fruity character with prominent cereal notes.
Overall: 91/100
This Sour Ale is considered one of the best works of Auval & I must agree. I’m not fully on board with sour beers as of yet, although I can completely understand why this beer has such a good reputation. It’s complex & elegant like most of what Auval has to offer, while having a fresh twist with its bright acidity. It also has the brewery’s signature with a slightly fruity yeast & clean flavours.
3-word Description:
Complex, Cereal & Sour.
The Reference
All there is can be found on the beer's label. Auval has website, but it doesn't have any information on their beers.
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