For me this is a perfect summer beer. A bright acidity with some dominant notes of fresh berries & a velvety body making it refreshing & delicious at the same time. My first sip of this beer was like a putting my face in a bucket of recently muddled raspberries. They’re one of my favourite fruits, so it’s no surprise that I will have some sort of biased opinion here, but I’ll remain as objective as possible. I’ve asked the brewery repeatedly for some kind of technical sheet, although they prefer to keep it secret & let the beer reveal itself.
Solstice d’Été Framboises
Brewed by Dieu Du Ciel!
Type: Berliner Weisse - Raspberry
Region: Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada
ABV: 5.9%
Hops: N/A
Cereals: N/A
Other: Raspberries, Lactobacillus
IBU: N/A
Appearance: 8/10
The beer comes in the usual brown bottle with a twist cap. Efficient against UV rays & oxidation it’s a practical size to transport although their more classic series would be even greater if it was in cans. There is little information on the label, more transparency would be welcome. The ale is a bright ruby with hints of garnet. This bottle is quite clear, although I’ve had some where it was way more hazy. The head is a nice pink & it stays for a few seconds before leaving only a white ring of foam.
Nose: 12/15
On the nose is like I said freshly muddled ripe raspberries. The bouquet evokes other berries such as haskap, cherries & strawberries. There is a sweetness in the aromas, similar to some honey or jam that brings a certain balance to the tartness of the fruit. A faint Greek yogurt odour usually produced by the souring bacteria is in the background binding everything. The nose is not necessarily complex, but from what is said on their website, it wasn’t meant to be this way. It’s fresh & vibrant.
Mouth: 13.5/15
On my first sip, my mouth puckers up from the intense sourness. The same honey sweetness is present on the palate rendering the acidity pleasant. The body is medium to full with a light velvety texture. There is practically no bitterness as it should be in this specific beer style. Identical berry notes match the ones found in the nosing with a similar intensity, delivering a punch of raspberries. The yogurt flavour is a little more present giving a creamy impression. Sometimes those fruity beers are too light, being more of a juice than an alcoholic beverage, but the Solstice d’Été doesn’t fall in this category. This is a really nice refreshing drink.
Finish: 8/10
The medium finish isolates the raspberry throughout the other fruity notes & keeps the vivid acidity until the very end.
Overall: 83/100
Like I said in the introduction, this is a great summer beverage. It’s fruity, refreshing & tart without being thin & overly sweet. Mostly made for some high drinkability, it accomplishes its role perfectly.
3-word description:
Raspberry, sour & refreshing.
The Reference
More Information @dieuduciel.com/categories/en-bouteille/
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