Dieu Du Ciel! is one of the most notable breweries in Quebec & the Péché Mortel is probably the most favoured of their products, especially the Bourbon barrel-aged one. Each year, on the 23rd of March, it releases a limited edition four-pack of their flagship beer in four different versions. This year the flavours offered where Moka, Cherries, Bourbon & Coconut. The first one that I’ve tried was the Moka, an Imperial Stout brewed with coffee & cocoa beans. A very pleasant ale giving a delicate chocolate twist.
“…a more delicate version.”
Péché Moka
Brewed by: Dieu Du Ciel!
Type: Imperial Stout - Moka
Region: Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada
ABV: 9.5%
IBU: N/A
Hops: N/A
Cereals: N/A
Appearance: 8/10
The visual is pretty similar to the original Péché Mortel with a deep dark-brown topped with a slightly paler head, giving more of a beige colour than the usual light brown. Even if the foam is modest in size, it’s dense & it lingers for a while. The beer comes in the classic 341 ml bottle with their custom twist cap. I’m starting to wonder if they will eventually switch to cans given the movement towards this practical & efficient vessel.
Nose: 12/15
I first served it cooler than recommended in order to have a full experience as it warmed up. I strongly suggest drinking it at ambient temperature rather than too cold, otherwise the beer loses a lot of its nuances. At the beginning it is pretty similar to the original, but eventually I start to pick clear milk chocolate & cocoa powder flavours. It feels a little like chocolate-covered coffee beans. The roast profile is definitely smoother, giving more of a sweet moka character rather than an aggressive charred quality. There is a hint of red berries as I always perceive in this beer, but this time it’s a bit tamed down, while vanilla, brown sugar & caramel notes are more present, adding a little complexity.
Mouth: 13/15
The body temperature allows more precision on the tasting than on the nose, although it mostly reflects the same notes. The cocoa beans definitely take more space without being overwhelming in the decadence of chocolate. There is a faint but noticeable difference in the texture, the Moka version seems to be denser & creamier. The sweetness is also more intense & the bitterness of the coffee is drastically diminished. The alcohol is barely perceptible & lends of fruity flavours reminiscent of blackberries & raspberries.
Finish: 7/10
The finish is a bit disappointing due to the shortness of it. The subtleties brought by the cocoa beans quickly vanish leaving place to a sweeter but less complex version of the Péché Mortel.
Overall: 80/100
Less of a meditation brew & more of a dessert one, the Moka variant of the Péché Mortel is not up to the original one. However, I still enjoyed it & it was pleasant to have a more delicate version. That being said, every Péché I ever tasted was always tremendously well-made, so never a bad purchase.
3-word Description
Moka, Strong & Sweet.
The Reference
More Information @dieuduciel.com
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