McAuslan Griffon Rousse (Red Ale)

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

When one thinks of brown ale, a lot of people think about something like Newcastle. However, McAuslan has been brewing a brown ale for years that is superior to Newcastle (and many others). A slightly hazed mahogany pour with a thin creamy tan coloured cap. Aroma is roasted malt, coffee, caramel, and floral hops. The flavour is a nice sweet nutty malt flavour balanced out in the finish by the earthy hops.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Pours a thin layer of head and quickly dissipates. Lacing is ok. Has a dark reddish brown colour. Good carbonation. Has a burnt malty aroma, a bit of spices and a slight alcohol smell. Flavours of dark roasted malts, notes of caramel, a bit of mocha and toffee. Good mouthfeel and medium retention. Tingly sensation on the palate and a slight bitterness of aftertaste. Good session drinking red irish ale.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottled (from lahoublonniere.be). Deep amber colour with mediumsized beige head. Aroma is caramel malts, some chocolate and spices along with mild fruityness. Flavour is slightly roasted malts, some earthyness as well as wood and mild cocoa. Pleasant Brown Ale.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

A nice dark red beer with a small tan head and thin, minor lacing. Nose: sweet, raspberry / peach, weak caramel and slight hops make this refreshing right off the get go. The taste is also somewhat sweet with a nice malt content and balanced bitterness which kept this tasting fresh throughout. Tingly and on the light side for body - not really much here to entice but it's decent overall.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

A very decent red ale but nothing special. Nice clear reddish tint but not much of an aroma. Decent attack with a bit of the bitterness we associate with a Red Ale but after that it fizzles, with none of the sweetness of the Irish brews on the finish. Just Decent.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

The Griffon line of beers is not a favourite of mine (nor anyone that I know). This is as described a brown beer. Not an appealing shade of brown either. There was a yeasty odour followed by hints of roasted malt and caramel. The flavour was a little sweet for my liking.

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

Bottle: Poured a clear brown ale with a large foamy off-white head with better then average retention. Aroma is comprised of some nice malt. Taste is floral malt with very little bitterness. A good everyday beer but nothing very spectacular or inspiring.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Definitely not the best one from this otherwise excellent brewery based in Montreal,Québec.One of the first microbrewery in Québec.Red amber color,some subtle malt flavor,quite light mouthfeel coming along light malt and hops flavor,nothing very distinctive but easy to drink good enough though to be a good session ale.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottle- Pours deep mahogony with a finger of beige froth. Minute lacing. Aroma is dominated with brown bread, mildly roasted malts and a nutty brown sugar. Medium sweetness, nutty and mildly malty, biscuits and raisin bread. Sweet malty finish, light bodied, smooth mouthfeel. Good.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

I haven't been able to find a good Quebec red yet, this one didnt help contribute much - on its way but stopped much short. No real flavour highlights in this one. I found the mouthfeel to be a little tough. A sub-par offering from this otherwise good brewery.