Doppelbock Grande Cuvée Printemps - Les Trois Mousquetaires

TomStew

Quebec (Canada)

4.88/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2009 750ml Bottle, tasted in November 2010 (from notes),

Dark Brown-red color, thanks to my best friend for offering me this beer!
Incredible taste of figs and chocolate, great beer. A lot of dark fruits and caramel.

The mouthfeel is great, almost syrupy but not quite. Benefits greatly from aging.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 13:18:26 | More by TomStew

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.73/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Hoppypocket for this one.

A: 1/2" tan coloured head over brown liquid, reminiscent of a good Belgian quad.

S: Caramel malt, chocolate, dark fruit and some yeast.

T: Beautiful. Sweet caramel malt and bitter chocolate are combined with accompanying Belgian yeast dark fruit flavours including figs and cherries.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium level of carbonation.

O: The best doppelbock I have had aside from Celebrator. Definitely worth seeking out. The interesting thing about it is that while cold it tastes primarily of Belgian dark fruit yeast like Belgian Strong Dark Ales like Gouden Carolus Classic, and as it warms it tastes more like a malty doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 00:35:43 | More by DaftCaskBC

slimspady

Alberta (Canada)

4.72/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - dark, slightly opaque when held to the light. A thick, tan head that dissolves quickly

S - ripe fruit, and malts with slight alcohol undertones

T - sweet, ripe fruit. Hints of chocolate as well. A little more alcohol towards the bottle of the bottle. My palate is not learned enough to decipher all the complexities.

M - medium feel. Aftertaste is long but pleasant.

D - hides the 9.5 well. Easier to drink than you would think. A fantastic beer

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 04:39:39 | More by slimspady

Mosstrooper

California

4.58/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750mL bottle into 400mL Radeberger seidel. 2009 vintage.

Appearance: Very dark cola color with some ruby (re: lighter cola) coming through around the bottom edges. Large, creamy beige head dissipates very slowly and leaves behind light lace.

Smell: Rich chocolate malt with slight coffee and a hint of sweet alcohol.

Taste: Begins with chocolate and some grape flavors, finishing with even stronger chocolate flavors and a hint of coffee alongside bittersweet alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Thick body with light carbonation and a sticky, warming finish.

Drinkability: This is a fantastic doppelbock- quite probably the best non-German doppelbock I have had and a beer that can give many of its German peers a run for their money. A very rich beer, but also very heavy and alcoholic, this one makes for great sipping and savoring. I would be delighted to drink this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 03:31:31 | More by Mosstrooper

ELDAVIS69

California

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

'09 vintage poured into a Chimay goblet, the beer pours a beautiful brown/red with almost no head retention. At first the carbonation was too high to really notice some of the depth of flavors but as the beer settled it was on! The fruit flavors are big and bright(cherries & fig) with a nice malt backbone. This is by far the best Doppelbock I've had and I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2010 03:50:29 | More by ELDAVIS69

Long813

Nova Scotia (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dated: NA
From liamtt07, via trade

A; Dark cloudy brown body with a huge amount of back mocha head. The carbonation is insane here and the head retains for quite some time. Also leaves great lacing.

S: Sweet fruits, caramel, chocolate loads of biscuits and brown sugar. Extremely good aroma

T: Much like the aroma, the taste is outstanding. Pleasant mixture in caramel, chocolate and sweet fruits. Biscuit notes give it a nice full flavour.

M: Medium bodied and medium-high carbonation. The alcohol is not that pronounced,but still evident.

D: This is an extremely pleasing drink. Thanks again to liam for this great brew. Wish I could get this often.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 16:50:54 | More by Long813

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml cork and caged bottle into my tasting snifter. Pours a caramel color...but fills the glass a completely dark brown with massive frothy, yet creamy tan head with great retention and very nice lacing! Right off the bat, a great looking beer.

Aroma is very nice. Burnt chocolate, slight hops, tobacco, toffee, bourbon-like booze, Belgina yeast and candi, and malts.

Flavor is right on key with the aroma. Great malty mouthfeel, medium body, decent carbonation, mild booziness. Picking up a bourbon characteristic here, not sure if it has been aged in bourbon barrels though. Nice wood notes...big burnt chocolate flavors, and a very creamy mouthfeel. Wow, I love this beer...was a complete blind tasting. Great dopplebock!

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2010 19:50:38 | More by ShadesOfGray

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #44 (Sep 2010):

Corked, caged and au naturel. Dark and inviting for sure, but perhaps the darkest of this style we've come across. Hints of figs, taffy, chalky yeast, brown bread and molasses cookies in the aroma. Big malty mess slams the palate, but a good mess ... some chaos can be a positive thing. Toasted and sweet, almost roasted, with undertones of coffee and cocoa. Ripe fruit and a warming alcohol are noticeable, but on the side. Modest hopping in a toasty, sweet finish. Perhaps more traditional than modern, this one is super tasty and becomes a dangerously quick sipper. Marvelous.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 18:23:18 | More by BeerAdvocate

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance. Pours a hazy, deep and rich caramel red with a finger of thick, pale tan head.

Smell. Smeet caramel and brown sugar, a little booze and just a hint of plums and strawberries. Smells awesome.

Taste. Wow! Big brown sugar and caramel with some light toasty malts and raisins and a hint of smokey wood. Sweet and delicious.

Mouthfeel. Medium body with lighter carbonation.

Overall. This one blew me away. Love that sweet caramel goodness.

Big thanks to DaftCaskBC for landing this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 03:40:24 | More by Rutager

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark brown, near black with red tones. Massive light brown fine head with massive lacing. Rich caramel and sweet malt, dark fruit aroma. Sweet caramel malts, dark and dried fruit, hints of cherries. Some distinct sherry elements to the finish. Medium bodied with slight creaminess. Somewhat on the sweet side, but complex enough to be a delicious, full flavored dark bock. Really enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 04:19:58 | More by LiquidAmber

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle. Enjoyed in a pilsener glass.

This Quebecois doppelbock has a rich, chocolate body with a thin, brown layer of foam and a lively dose of carbonation. It's a shade darker that expected and the lacing is thin, but I'll be damned if that brown foam doesn't look tasty.

Aroma boasts raisins, chocolate, berries, a hint of booze, sweet plum and mild spicing. Frankly, it smells delicious and is just subtle enough as to not overpower.

The ultra-dry conclusion is the first taste to make itself known. It's rather aggressive. Flavor profile packs a distinct smokiness with a bitter roasted malt that lingers on the tongue. Other notes include a light cocoa, a peculiar doughy/yeastiness and sugary fruit notes. It's not the sweetest DB I've ever had, but the tongue scorching dryness is a bit much... Now wait just a second! As it warms, the chocolate comes out big time, mixing extremely well with the smoke and coffee bean bitterness, making for a super delicate and complex lager. You'll even pick out some maple syrup overtime and giving this beer about 20 minutes to chill out was one of the best things I've ever done.

The conclusion is initially harsh, but let it get to room temp and it's as smooth as silk and so multi-layered. The roasted notes meld so well with the chocolate and berry flavors that you'll wish  you had a 3L bottle.

I initially had my doubts, but this one is so subtle, nuanced and delicious. Give it time to warm and you'll be greatly rewarded.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 04:07:55 | More by deapokid

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich mahogany with a finger of light tan head that drops to a film and leaves some good lace spots.

Sweet malty nose has a large bread component, strong coffee notes and hints of dark fruit. Its quite intense and gets more so as the beer warms, and this sets the table wonderfully for the flavour. Huge brown bread body, overlaid with coffee, chocolate and vinous fruit. Molasses and brown sugar in the finish. Its a big, sweet malty beast and I love how its drinking so smooth with a year of age on it. Greta complimentary mouthfeel is medium-full, low carbonated and slightly sticky.

I've been fortunate to have some of the best doppelbocks in the world, and this deserves to be up there punching with the big boys. Its a great beer, and a year of aging has taken it to the next level.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 14:09:55 | More by bobsy

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in to brandy snifter.

A - Darb brown in colour, completely opaque but still a thin body. One finger of bubbly taupe coloured head formed and slowly dissipated.

S - Dark fruit, caramel, brown sugar. Some raisins and figs. A really nice nose.

T - Dark fruit complimented by a wonderful sweet malt taste that has notes of brown sugar, caramel and molasses. The malts are lightly roasted with some chocolate notes. The chocolate really comes out as the beer warms up.

M - Light body with a slight chew. Moderate carbonation.

D - An excellent beer and a wonderful example of the style. Would make a perfect fall or winter beer. I will look for this one annually. Barely notice the 8.7% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 02:19:46 | More by TheSevenDuffs

ludachris

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an incredibly deep and rich mahogany red. Two fingers of light egg shell white head leave thin strings of lace as it dies down. Deep amber and ruby red highlights are revealed when light hits the glass.

A bouquet of rich and sticky dark fruits ooze from the glass. Dark raisons, fig pudding, and mushy dates make a cake-like richness come to mind. This impression is furthered by fresh toasted dark bread and liquid dark chocolate. Alcohol peaks through but is not a force. Quite sweet and very rich, but not over done.

Everything from the nose is equally apparent in the taste. The overall impression given is of a sweet fruit cake generously drizzled with overly ripe dates, raisons, and figs in syrup form. Dark chocolate icing is thinly spread across the tongue. The alcohol is placed in the very back and helps to amplify the sweetness coming from the dark fruits and chocolate.

Its full body is undercarbonated, showcasing its sweetness and accentuating its syrupy and sticky feel. The alcohol comes off as mellow but helps bring attention to the fruity and chocolatey notes.

This is a dessert in itself, no question. The skill of the brewmaster however is highlighted by the fact that this is not overdone in sweetness, impact, or feel. This edges out Ayinger's Dopplebock for me. Absolutely perfect by the fire in this early stage of winter.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 01:07:35 | More by ludachris

Proteus93

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep brown, with some red hues that seem like a rusty red trying to overtake a brilliant ruby red. Head is modest, though it retains well and leaves behind some loose lattice of lace. Second pour yields a larger head, like a golden brown sugar, almost sparkling.... quite nice.

S: Roasted malts & unsweetened chocolate with a burnt brown sugar and dark fruit scent - namely raisin. There's a breadiness to it that makes me think of something like pumpernickel 'from a distance.' An odd description perhaps, but the only thing that came to mind. After tasting, the aroma is rather subdued and almost even delicate.

T: Robust flavours... a dark chocolate stands out, which is a little interesting for the style. Plenty of roasted malts in this one. Some rich toffee is there, but that bitter chocolate-like flavour keeps it fairly mellow and not as sweet as they can get. A rum-raisin taste is there as well, topped with a pleasant hopping and a little bit of alcohol... the booziness is hidden very well, but it allows a little bit of a peppery kick through.

M: Quite rich and heavy without becoming too overdone... it is perhaps a little on the syrupy side, but with the sweetness toned down a touch, it works out just fine.

D: I was very pleasantly surprised by this beer. I tend to find myself being rather critical of doppelbocks, even though I continue to consider them a favourite style. That said, this big brew was done exceptionally well, full of flavour and wonderfully balanced. I'm quite happy to have tried it and certainly recommend that others give it a shot, as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 03:29:24 | More by Proteus93

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Corked 750ml bottle cellared from last year.

Decants a hazed chestnut-orange color with ruby highlights. Massive puffy cap...fair retention, laces well.

Aroma is dominated with bready-cookie dough malts, cocoa, figs, herbal woodyness, some mustiness....wonderful complexity.

The front is thick and rich with toasty-roasted malts some sweetness ensues like toffee, balance is achieved with a pervading noble hop herbal bite,....center is complex with coffee-dark fruits, cocoa, nuts, pipe tobacco, earthiness....finish is long and rich, like liquid bundt cake.

Excellent rendition of the style...really a rich satisfying drink without being too sweet .

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2010 17:28:31 | More by pootz

dgilks

Australia

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy dark mahogany colour with a moderate, creamy tan head.

Rich, dark fruits with raisins and dates. Lots of bread and toast with some mild alcohol and even something that is almost citrus.

Rounded bready and toasty malt with some rich, dark fruit and caramel notes. Really good.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Silky and delicious.

A great, rich, complex lager with a delicious malt and fruit character. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 10:42:09 | More by dgilks

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

***2011 Vintage (ABV 8%)***

Poured from a 750ml. bottle.

Appearance: A deep orange-brown body with lots of foam. Lasting power is good and lace is alright.

Smell: Nuts, brown bread, lots of chewy caramel and sweet. Real nice.

Taste: Love it. A tiny but sweet but never cloying. Strong caramel mixed with a breadiness, milt nuts and some herbs. Malt rules!

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, real smooth and quite chewy.

Overall: This is never a chore to drink and easy to polish off a bottle to oneself. A real brewer's work of art.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 11:47:10 | More by papat444

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at When Pigs Fly.
In a snifter the beer was a dark brown color with a small tan head. There was a tiny bit of lace.

Nice aroma. Sweet fruit, bready. A whiff of chocolate.

The aroma transformed into an exceptionally tasty beer. In no particular order there was some cocoa, some plum, pumpernickel bread, and caramel. Great taste!

A complex and delicious beer. Very malty, very smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2013 15:44:35 | More by lordofthewiens

Brad007

Vermont

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a mild brown color with a brown, one-finger head into my glass. Looks good for the style.

Aroma is full of sweet, appealing malt with a decent plum/raisin component to it.

Taste is chock full of rich, chewy malt that never gets too sweet but still manages to take on a feel of molasses, finishing sweet at the back of the throat.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering sweet, chewy malt. Very nice mouthfeel.

Overall, a nice regional example of the style. Certainly worth partaking in.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 04:16:25 | More by Brad007

brentk56

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottling; 9.5% ABV

Appearance: Pours a dark russet color capped by a two inch layer of beige foam that leaves some thick strands behind

Smell: Cocoa powder, caramel, pumpernickel bread, plums and nuts; undertones of spice

Taste: Cocoa powder and caramel, up front, with undertones of pumpernickel bread, plums and nuts developing through mid-palate; subtle hints of fruit cake spices appear, after the swallow, keeping the sweetness in check; the alcohol is fairly well-hidden, though somewhat discernable in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation; spot on for the style

Overall: So one of the best doppelbocks I have encountered comes from a French brewery in Quebec; who would have guessed but this one is a keeper

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 23:06:07 | More by brentk56

Travlr

District of Columbia

4.38/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark maroon color with a medium tan head that settles slowly to leave good lacing.
S: Aroma is reminiscent of a Hershey bar.
T: Flavor starts with cola, progresses to milk chocolate, then roasted coffee, and finally a finish of burnt espresso.
M: Good body.
D: Very nice subtle, complex, smooth doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2010 03:10:05 | More by Travlr

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 corked and caged, I bought it last summer in Montreal and it has been in my cellar for the past year, so 2009.

Pours a rich dark chestnut/cola color with a finger of head which leaves small spots of lace down the glass.

Loads of malt, hints of coffee and cocoa powder, earth, dark fruits, molasses, brown sugar. Light drying, smooth silky body. Light sweetness, hint of booze still in there but quite mellow for being a beast, have to think the age has done it some good.

Drinking pretty damn good, a pleasant, warming brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 20:58:11 | More by ritzkiss

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a very dark brown with a red hue with a thumb of copper brown off-white head, decent retention and a little bit of lacing.

S - Insanely chocolatey, sweet caramel and toffee, and coffee and espresso on the finish.

T - Chocolate and sweet caramel malts dominate the palette. Very sweet, and the alcohol really complements the sweetness buried in the malts. The finish is outstanding, with strong espresso and coffee flavours that linger on the tongue.

M - Perfectly balanced carbonation, though the finish is a little on dry side. That being said, it wasn't so dry as to completely take away from the experience.

D - This is surprisingly drinkable, and I was regretting having to share it. It's incredibly delicious, and highly recommended to anyone looking for a full flavoured dopplebock. Quite sweet, so would make for a perfect dessert beer, but can be easily enjoyed on any occasion.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2010 18:48:10 | More by andrenaline

imperialstout27

California

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Poured into Stone Imperial Russian Stout tulip. Rocky, voluminous beige head. Very dark - virtually opaque when held to the light. Some garnet hints at the edge of the glass.

S - Smells to me like a rich stout. Mocha. Malty with hints of dark fruit.

T - Wow, awesome. Sweet but not cloying, and malty as all hell. Dark fruits across the midpalate. Vinuous and somewhat boozy, but I like that. Dark, dark roasted malt flavors, and concentrated but not out of balance. To me, it seems like it tries to get a little sharp at times with the alcohol but it's blunted by the sweetness. Finish is very very long.

MF - This it where this beer shines the most to me. It's thick but supple and smooth. Very nice carbonation that tickles your mouth as you savor it.

D - Decent drinkability, although the concentrated roast flavors can be somewhat fatiguing.

Overall impression: Tastes to me almost like an imperial stout that's been lagered. Also reminds me in some ways of an eisbock albeit less vinuous and more carbonated and roasty. This is definitely not your standard doppelbock. It's the third beer I've tried from this brewery and they are impressing me more and more. All in all - this beer kicks ass and I want more.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2009 03:00:22 | More by imperialstout27