This is another one of those “If you’ve never heard of them, it’s probably because you’re from Ontario” beers. Les Trois Mousquetaires is an insanely cool micro in Quebec. If you find yourself in Quebec, find yourself somewhere pouring their beers, and plan on staying a good long while.
Weizen Imperiale - Les Trois Mousquetaires
This particular specimen was procured by Doug, a Volo regular, and shared among a small group of tasters at the 2nd round of the IPA cask challenge. A splendid dessert to a slew of IPAs, I can’t say just how excited I was to be blessed with a glass. A million thanks, Doug.
So, from a 750ml dinner bottle, with the production year (2009) on it (seriously though, this is less to get you to drink it sooner, but to give you a frame of reference if you’re laying it down. This stuff is 10%abv), the beer pours an opaque reddish brown. I don’t know how hard or gentle Doug poured, but my glass didn’t have much in the way of head, a bit of fuzziness that faded to a ring and a few patches of film. The aroma is nearly confusing, it’s so big. I got leather, hay, prunes, burnt sugar, spices (cinnamon and cloves), warm alcohol (reminescent of port), and dark berries. Phew. I still need to drink some! Taste is even bigger. Immediately boozy, again, like port, with heaps of dried fruits especially prune, leather, black pepper, yeast, caramel. Thick and nearly syrupy, the beer is cloying, very sweet, but with heaps of warming alcohol. That being said, there is a ton of carbonation on your tongue. This is a very slow sipping beer, great for after dinner, or sitting by a fire. My exact notes (edited for the younsters who just can’t get enough of my blog) say “Big F*cking Beer”. I really can’t over-state that. Even for the initiated, this beer could be too big. The complexity is off the charts, I know I didn’t even do it justice, having spent an hour and a half drinking IPAs. But this is one very cool beer. Also very limited. Like, this could be the last time I drink it (at least the 2009 vintage). So once again, many many thanks to Doug, and thanks to Volo/HMH Negotiants for bringing this crazy cool beer into the province.
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