À l'Abri de la Tempête La Corne de Brume

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Good thing La Trappe à Fromage was selling these individually, because this one is a 9% ABV Scotch ale that is quite expensive. Bottled February 2009. Pours a red-mohagony colour with a beige head that is foamy, has good retention and creates beautiful spotted lace. Interesting aromas of mild smoke, bananas, some vegetables, caramel malt and dark fruits (prunes, raisins). Smooth mouthfeel, but leaves kind of a feeling, after you ate a banana, on your tongue - like tart, tannin. The taste is still pretty complex, but not as powerful as the smell. No sign of that strong alcohol, no burn at all. Mild scotch whiskey, caramel, oak, light smoke and the bananas again. Quite an "interesting" Scotch ale that is worth trying.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Clear, dark brown brew that produced a very nice bright tan head (actually the colour is somewhat strange) about one thumb thick, tons of 360 degree lacing, decent surface coverage left over. The aroma is very interesting and unlike anything I've had before: firstly, I can detect the tomato that some others have noted (thx), brown sugar with the sweetness kept under control, dark berries that seem smoked, caramel, prune?, some kind of cooking chocolate, biscuit, interesting spice that only reminds me of a very candied version of spices found in the typical Speyside Whiskey. The aroma is ever changing as well while never producing an "off" smell. The flavour is not as interesting but still very appealing. More tomato juice mixed in with a healthy dose of well chosen spices (most obvious is licorice), roasted malts tied directly to the overall sweetness, salt... this gets more and more like Motts's Garden Cocktail which is much spicier than V8, plums, peat - all in no particular order. The only impression of alcohol that I get is loosely found in the lingering after taste. As I go I've noticed that this beer sometimes comes across thinner than I assume. Nice subtle sweet yet spicy grain finish with slight chocolate that I can only notice as the lingering goodness begins to wane. I picked this one up randomly and damn it if I didn't chose one of the best beers I've had in months.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 7

A decent beer from Quebec that packs a powerful punch with that 8.7% ABV. It pours reddish brown and the aroma is somewhat sweet with caramel and brown sugar. The flavour is malty sweet with a hidden bitter finish. Alcohol predominates.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Pours with a clear deep amber body topped by a medium thick to thick head withlots of lacing. It’s slightly sweet and malty with a note of, no, wait for it...turkey and gravey...what? what? what? That was wierd. Medium to full bodied and smooth.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

This is an excellent scotch ale. It pours a dark walnut brown with a one finger creamy tan head. The flavor is sweet, yet smooth. Notes of molasses, brown sugar, and other goodies hit you. It's very nice.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Poured an amber color with a small, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of peat, caramel malts, nuts, and raisins. Taste of caramel malts, smoke, nuts, and wood, with faint alcohol as well.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Bottle: Poured a deep burgundy color ale with a huge foamy head with good retention. Aroma of sweet malt with a subtle touch of peat is quite interesting. Taste of caramel, molasses and a subtle peat finish. Body is a bit thinner then expected but has a nice creamy consistency. Alcohol is very well hidden and provide a nice warming feel tot his beer. I find it hard to rate this beer while trying to remember some good (and bad) memories of the previous example of this beer. Very good for the style but not sure it is worth that much.