Ambitious plum-hued brown ale usurped by explosive bubbly carbonation. Chewy candy-coated caramel creaminess infiltrates aggressive wheat-honeyed malting, rigid apple tartness, and ascending orange rind bitterness, integrating well with herbal wine niche. Hints of tobacco, raisin, and chocolate mint clustered beneath. Sip slowly to avoid carbolic nose-tingling obtrusiveness.
All posts by John Fortunato
(LEFEBVRE) ABBAYE DE FLOREFFE BLOND BELGIAN ALE
Founded in 1121, Lefebvre’s Belgian brewery is quite possibly the oldest in the world. Puffy head and cloudy amber complexion greet this moderate-bodied ale. Though thick foamy carbonation takes away from sweet apple-peach subtleties, its stimulating malted cereal grain finish reinforces barley-wheat graining.
LECH PREMIUM PILS
Green label and bottle reminiscent of Heineken, as well as aromatic pungent musk, grassy spice-hopped dry malting, and faded salt-watered white-breaded nicety. Needs hardier body to avoid slipping into moderate-bodied limbo.
LE CHEVAL BLANC TORD-VIS MAPLE ALE
Fickle Canadian complements raw maple nose with honey-soured tangerine-orange-apple tartness, ripe raisin infer and sedate butterscotch sweetness. Supportive off-dry clove-hopped persuasion wilts beside barley-toasted wheat biscuit backbone, finishing like a cheaply spiced Belgian ale.
(LE CHEVAL BLANC) DEATH VALLEY WHITE BEER
In an all-too-frequent-for-Canada chintzy 11.5 ounce (‘stead of 12 oz.) bottle, typecast light-bodied yellow-hazed white ale reminiscent of finer European wheat beer. Lemony banana-clove-coriander setting and crystal-watered freshness remain subtle. Easygoing splendor will leave you craving for at least another .5 ounces.
LE CHEVAL BLANC ROUSSE
Rust-orange-hued red ale brings green apple nose and lemon-limed apricot-peach souring to fragile wheat bottom. Spicy yeast exertion abets narrow clove-mint nuance.
LE CHEVAL BLANC LOCH NESS SCOTTISH ALE
Satisfying perfume-wafted Scottish ale with usual suspects (caramelized malts, roasted barley, and cracked wheat) entwining sour-candied orange tang above mildly creamy tranquility.
LE CHEVAL BLANC BLANCHE
Fizzy sun-glazed light-bodied Belgian-styled witbier brings clove-spiced banana entry to polite lemony grapefruit-pineapple souring, relegated cider sharpness and peppery hop pep. Tongue-melting buttery yeast remnant reaches biscuit-y malt bottom.
LE CHEVAL BLANC AMBREE D’ORGE
(LE CHAUDRON) COEUR D’OR
Amber-yellow Belgian-styled pale ale bursts forth with carbolic champagne fizz overwhelming mild grapefruit-teased lemon rind sourness. Yeast specks dot deep-grained medium body, enhancing black currant, black tea, and black licorice astringency. Extra dry finish picks up lemon-parched orange-elderberry acridity, suffocating its placid grain base. Casual drinkers will dismiss acute bitterness.
(LE CHAUDRON) CHANVRE ROUGE
Pour slowly highly hopped hemp-aided red ale. Sweet grained outline cannot fortify drifting undefined spicing, tea-like nuance, and lost nuttiness, finishing in chemically medicinal doldrums.
(LE CHAUDRON) CHANVRE BLONDE ALE
Herbal nose and perfumed floral-hopped tongue invade hemp-daubed, billowy white-headed, hazy golden ale (leaving chunky Brussels lace on glass). Dirty mineral earthiness lingers below wheat wafer distention and sugared citrus dalliance.