The first bottle from the series Grande Cuvée of LTM was their Baltic Porter, a staple in the Quebec craft beer community. Since most of my favourite styles come from the German tradition, it wasn’t too long before I tried their Weizenbock & this Doppelbock. Not many breweries offer these ales, so when one is available I feel obligated to have it. Les Trois Mousquetaires is among the top breweries of the Province, I can admit that I had big hopes. They exceeded my expectations easily.
“A fantastic example of a traditional German beer.”
Doppelbock
Brewed by: Les Trois Mousquetaires (LTM)
Type: Doppelbock
Region: Brossard, Quebec, Canada
ABV: 8.6%
IBU: 30
Hops: Perle, Hallertau
Cereals: Pilsner, Munich, Cara 60, Cara 160
Appearance: 10/10
The bottle is incredibly elegant. The label is copper & gold with an exhaustive list of brewing details as well as organoleptic traits of their beer. The bottle is a dark shade of brown, almost black and it is topped with a cork & a golden muselet. A perfect vessel for their beer, protecting against light & oxidation. Again, really elegant. When I poured it in the glass, an increasing dense amber foam rose on the surface of the beer. The liquid itself is a reddish shade of brown, like deep old copper. The head slowly crawls back, leaving a thin beige ring that lasts until the glass is empty.
Nose: 13.5/15
The nose reveals a fruity caramel with some molasses & a hint of chocolate. It’s rich & dessert-like. The fruit notes are similar to flamed orange peels, red plums, blackberry & dark cherries. Then the caramel blends in with the brown sugar which has a slightly charred character. The cocoa is accompanied by a subtle tobacco & some graham crackers as well. The yeast is kind of strong. It stays in the back throughout the nosing, always present but never dominating. As it warms up, it gets sweeter & richer, slowly losing the most delicate notes. I recommend drinking it slightly chilled.
Mouth: 13.5/15
The palate is dense, rich & decadent. The mouthfeel is heavy & a powerful bitterness emerges to balance the sweetness. A fine layer of velvety tannins invades every inch of my mouth. The fruits are more reminiscent of candied orange peel, prunes, dried cranberries, figs & raisins. The caramel is still dominating although it seems more integrated with the other flavours. The chocolate takes a step back, but the tobacco is more intense. A whiff of smoke lingers in the background adding a little depth to the overall profile. This beer could easily substitute any dessert.
Finish 9.5/10
The finish is simply everlasting. Every aspect of the beer’s profile sticks with you for minutes. The bitterness is the last one to disappear, at my surprise, leaving me thirsty for another sip of this delicious beer.
Overall: 93/100
A truly fantastic example of this traditional German beer. It’s a little on the sweeter & decadent side, but it still offers a great insight into these liquid breads. The rich aromas & flavours were on point & the mouthfeel added even more to the portrait. I must say that this is not a beverage made for people who despise anything remotely sweet, since I would categorize it in the dessert kind of beer.
3-word Description:
Rich, Caramel & Candied Fruits.
The Reference:
More information @lestroismousquetaires.ca
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