Orléans Monseigneur d’Esgly (Extra Stout)

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

Purchased at the Marché Omni in Aylmer, QC and says 7.5 % ABV on label. Pours a very dark, almost black colour, with very little red highlights. Nice brown creamy head, but retention is rather average and lacing is hard to find. Hop seems to take over the smell, over the burnt malt, coffee and butterscotch. After a while, the hop disappears and a bit of the alcohol surfaces. Very smooth mouthfeel, quite creamy and silky with the alcohol, very well-hidden. The taste shows more, the burnt malt lingering into the aftertaste. Not as sweet as the nose gives out to be. A nicely balanced bitterness. Pretty good strong stout that goes down easily. A bit too easily.

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

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a large light brown foamy head with good foamy head with good retention and good lacing. Aroma of light bitter roasted malt with some clear notes of liquorice. Taste is also dominated by black liquorice notes with mix very well with the roasted malt and light lactose-like notes. Body is quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I must admit to having been very surprised by the liquorice notes but thought it provided an interesting take on the style.