Serie Signature Maibock - Les Trois Mousquetaires

eat

Quebec (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I feel like I should have learned my lesson by now to not buy randoms without knowing something about them first. I've been sufficiently impressed with the majority of Trois Mousquetaires special releases that I started picking them up on sight. I'm going to have to stop doing that after this one...

Totally clear, yellow beer with a bright white head, receding down to a the thinnest ring around the glass. No lacing. This isn't looking too promising...

Grain, yeast, light malt, earthy hops, slightly floral. Pretty weak smelling and to be honest, doesn't smell all that different from your typical lager.

I wasn't expecting this to taste anything like it does. It's like a macro lager with an added element of cloying sweetness and higher alcohol presence. Wheat, with an anonymously-bitter finish (no character). No complexity. I haven't been this disappointed by a beer in a long time!

The finish is horribly dry, leaving my tongue feeling all fuzzy. Light body and sparkling carbonation.

Rogue Dead Guy is the only other Maibock I've had. If this is also a Maibock, then I'm not even sure what a Maibock is. I thought I knew, but this has nothing in common with Dead Guy. I'm having trouble finishing this glass, never mind the 750ml bottle (about half the bottle was eventually poured down the drain). How can this same brewery be responsible for the Porter Baltique?? Worst Trois Mousquetaires Serie Signature I've had. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 02:37:01 | More by eat

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

2.65/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

750mL corked bottle. Pours a clear golden color, with a foamy white that doesn't last long. Has a Pilsner-like hop aroma, with some alcohol and sweetness. The taste is overly sweet with some honey and earthiness, and very alcoholic. Some light bitterness and lots of alcohol in the aftertaste. I wasn't a fan of this, and was barely able to finish one glass. The harsh alcohol in this ruins it. I usually like Les Trois Mousquetaires, but this is their weakest offering I've tried so far.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 03:14:49 | More by chickenm

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I have to say that I was let down by this beer as all the other offerings from these guys were complex and very drinkable. This beer was too boozy and one dimensional plus the nose and taste was a little bit cardboardy which is not good considering the ABV. Mouthfeel was on the thick side and made finishing a bottle tough.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 17:33:34 | More by canucklehead

Dawkfan

Alberta (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A- Pours a very clear yellow with a little over a fingers width of head. Moderate lacing.

S- Floral hops and alcohol are the first thing that hits the nose. There's a sweetness quality from the malt and perhaps some light fruit.

T- Lots of cereal malts in this one. Herbal hops and some honey as well. Very Sweet. I enjoyed the initial taste, but the finish turns really sharp from the alcohol.

M- Mouthfeel is nice. Medium body with a good amount of carbonation. A little sticky.

D- There's no way I could have another. I find it to be just a bit to sweet and to boozy, it just seems out of balance.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 02:41:51 | More by Dawkfan

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Part 1 of the Trois Mousquetaires gift pack, with two nice eponymous chalices for all my Belgian/Quebecois beer-drinking needs...

This beer pours a clear medium golden yellow colour, with three fingers of thin puffy white head, which leaves a pretty consistent wall of lace as it falls away. It smells of sweet floral white cracker grains, and a bit of sugary alcohol. The taste is cereal malt, herbal hops, and a fairly strong alcohol edge. The carbonation is moderate, the body fairly heavy, a bit oily, and warm, and it finishes with an alcoholic cereal flourish.

This was quite the eye-opener after the Dead Guy Ale, the commonality in category a bit hard to see. The alcohol pretty much overwhelms the decent cereal and herbal hoppiness of this offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 04:57:40 | More by biboergosum

elricorico

Alberta (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Very clear, pale gold in colour with a 3 finger white head that is loose and light looking but still has some retention to it. Lots of lacing, plenty of visible carbonation, looks like it could be in a commercial.

At once a sweet grainy aroma and a slightly sharp citric smell hit the nose. Second smell becomes more flowery, but still retains an underlying malt sweetness.

Very strong sweetness to taste, probably the sweetest maibock I've ever sampled. Almost a syrupy corn impression. The hops that were notable to the nose don't seem to be able to stand up to the malt and alcohol, leaving the finish dominated by a liquor heat.

Body is full for a lager, and carbonation comes across as leaning towards the softer side. Mouthfeel is fine for a big lager, but I would prefer it to be just a bit lighter for this style.

This is the second time I've had this beer, and the first time I was very impressed. The first time I had this after the Baltic Porter, so my perception of the booziness was likely dulled. On its own I find this one to suffer a little from trying to be too big for the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 03:04:04 | More by elricorico

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750ml corked bottle:

Departs a glowing deep gold lager with a 2 finger sticky cap fair retention good lacing. Aromas from Germanic heaven: deep bready malitness fills the room, woody herbal hop notes and a wee bit of alcohol.

The great aroma does not transfer to the flavor profile..yes there are the ample malts and noble hops needed for a big German lager unfortunately it is not enough to cover the alcohol very well....and there is an annoying sweetness that does not belong in a well made Heller bock. Develops some decent woodsy-earthy-bready complexity and the finish is clean with a noble hop bite...just that the sweet-boozy tastes are always there riding on top of the profile, over powering these big fresh lager tastes.

Too bad... this is a promising heller bock...just a tad thin and not enough body and bulk to cover the omni-present boozy taste...almost comes off like those cheap adjunct euro malt liquors...a tad rough and unfinished. Perhaps less sugar, some more malts and toasted wheat will take care of this in a future brewing?

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2010 17:44:37 | More by pootz

flipper2gv

Quebec (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Yellow, fully translucent with pure white, creamy, lasting head.

S: Lots of cereal like smell. Some malty sweetness: honey mostly. Floral hops and some citrus peel.

T: Very cereal focused. Lots of barley and corn. A little bit of honey and maybe maple syrup. Some herbal/grassy hops. A hint of citrus. A bit funky.

M: Quite big actually. Mid to low carbonation.

D: Not that easy to drink. The alcohol is quite present and its big nature doesn't help too.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 01:08:53 | More by flipper2gv

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Golden/blonde colour with a one finger head that fades to nothing quickly. Medium amount of carbonation. Bright.

S - Honey, floral notes, and grain. Nice.

T - That honey and floral portion is there and makes for a nice combination. Mild bitterness in the finish. Sweet. Not cloying but flirting with something close to it.

M - Mild carbonation and medium bodied.

D - Good but not great. Not the greatest offering from these guys. I couldn't handle too much of this stuff so splitting the bottle was a good idea.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 22:17:45 | More by tbeckett

bloberglawp

Quebec (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I don't have much experience with maibocks, but this is a interesting style.

Pour light yellow, nice head and very good carbonation. Good lacing also in glass.

Aroma : Hints of corn pear and malted barley, quite literally. Very grainy taste with a sweeter finish. Lots of malt and alcohol in the aftertaste.

Interesting lager, not a light beer, but quite welcome on a Friday night.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 01:30:12 | More by bloberglawp

SleepyMonk

Australia

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Chilled 750ml caged and corked bottle poured into a Pilsner glass.

Pours with a light and fluffy head that rapidly fades with a small mass of lace. The body of this beer was a very big surprise compared to what I was expecting. No cloud or haze at all, just a bright crystal clear golden straw color.

The aroma is light but the notes are definitely very Germanic. The yeast is very well suited and reminds me of just about any German lager that has registered high on my list. Chewy malts and the grain of uncooked dough round out the aroma.

Taste is also very much in line with German lagers however slightly sweeter than most and with a thicker, heavier weight. Sweet honey caramel flavors are very smooth and compliment the grainy yeast, hops and roasted barley.

The body carries a moderate weight with with an equal, perhaps even light, degree of carbonation. Well balanced and the alcohol, whilst notable, is soft given the abv.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 12:36:55 | More by SleepyMonk

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle picked up on a recent trip to Montreal. Poured in to Duvel tulip.

A - Poured a pale straw yellow with one finger of bubbly white head.

S - Bready malts up front with some apple and herbal notes. Sweet at first with a slight bitterness from the hops evident as well.

T - Bready cereal grains, a touch of sweet caramel, some floral hops that also provide a slight bitterness and some light orchard fruit notes. The finish is dry and bitter. The ABV is fairly noticeable here which is a touch odd for an 8% beer. Still a very good beer but definitely not smooth.

M -Medium body with a bit of chew and light to moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 16:18:27 | More by TheSevenDuffs

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Consumed Nov. 19, 2011 at Inaugural Bottle Share. From notes. Thanks Nicole!

Pours a clear straw body with a light white head that descends to a ring. A flowery nose, that I find quite off-putting and surprising for the style. Tastes lightly of pepper with a corny sweetness and a light bread malt underlying it. A slight bitterness lingers on the the palate.

An unobtrusive beer that seems off for the style. Nothing special at all. I was wondering if the bottle was old, but it was undated, alas.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 00:19:44 | More by kjyost

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml Bottle

Appearance - The beer pours a clear golden colour with an average size white fizzy head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing, and there really isn't much lacing to be seen. The head didn't last for very long before it was gone.

Smell - cereals, hops, a grassiness, pale malts.

Taste & Mouth - The carbonation level is pretty average, and the beer has a nice full body. I can really taste the hops, breads and grains. There is also a pale malt flavour and a corn syrup sweetness. The beer finishes with a lightly bitter aftertaste and the corn syrup sweetness lingers.

Drink - Not one my favourite beers from this brewer; but still worth a try nonetheless. The alcohol is extremely well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 02:43:37 | More by spinrsx

laituegonflable

Australia

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale golden urine colour with nice light white head of dense foam. There's a bright golden haze on the body and a slow but persistent carbonation. Lacing is very clingy and nice. Looks like a pleasant beer indeed.

Smells very fruity and malty. Quite a boozey aromatic strength to it, with some golden wheat character and plenty of apricot, peach and a fair vinous note as well. Slight grain husk dourness just at the back is the only hiccup, with it otherwise smelling like a nice, sweet brew.

Taste is quite malty on the front with a strong and liqueury base, but a very effervescent mouthfeel to remind me it's lagery. Fruity on the mid, with more apricot character and some marzipan bitterness. Noticeable phenols towards the back, with a slight medicinal note and a touch of nuttiness, then finishes fairly dry, with a tickle of heat from the alcohol. Nice beer, strong and sweet but with a nice refreshingly bitter finish.

A good beer to bridge the Summer/Winter divide. A bit strong to be thoroughly quenchable but more refreshing than your average big beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 03:15:46 | More by laituegonflable

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a nice light blond colour with little to no head to speak of. The nose has a sweet hop to it with a nice malt presence, very balanced nose. The taste is very clean, slightly hoppy, boozy with a long sweet finish. Nice medium mouthfeel leaves a little to be desired. Drinkable but would have to split a 750ml couldn't do it on my own

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 16:28:12 | More by peensteen

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml corked and caged bottle, grabbed from Atwater.

Pours a clear light golden, some amber highlights, medium sized white head forms and settles down to a thin ring around the glass, some lace sheets stick, decent retention.

Smell is neat, very perfumy, pretty big malt character, lots of caramel and honey, on the sweet side, lightly grainy, alcohol, some breadiness, biscuit, very clean aroma, some apricot, nice.

Taste is similar, sweet up front, sugary almost, some honey, light roasted barley, grainy notes through the middle, a bit sharp and acidic, toasty, a bit sugary in the finish, pretty boozy going down but I dig it.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to high carbonation. Some warmth going down but pretty clean. Maybe not very standard but a tasty and drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2010 02:39:06 | More by Viggo

grub

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Viggo shared this one. thanks eric!

750ml bottle, corked and caged. sampled march 25/2010.

pours crystal clear bright yellow with a big white head. the head drops slowly and leaves a nice pattern of lace.

aroma is nice. caramel and butterscotch. light alcohol. white bread and cracker. bit of grain. touch of biscuit. nice light bock character. touch of honey.

taste is nice. caramel and light butterscotch. bit of alcohol. white bread and cracker. bit of biscuit. touch of honey. light bock character. low bitterness level. light spicy herbal character.

mouthfeel is good. just over medium body and slightly above medium carbonation level.

drinkability is pretty good. the alcohol is a little too present, especially as it warms, but otherwise fairly well balanced. a nice bock.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2010 02:49:23 | More by grub

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear golden colour with a thin head. Trace of a very thin blanket with tiny bubbles.

S: Grainy malts, honey, sour lemony scent, faint apricot aroma. Picking up some light floral hops too.

T: Grainy malts, floral hops, some lemon sourness, and a bit of orchard fruit juice centered around apples. Finishes with an appealing and dry cane sugary sweetness.

M: Good well-rounded mouthfeel with an appropriate level of carbonation.

D: Drinkable and would probably buy this again, but not before trying other offerings from this brewer which come more highly recommended. Overall this offerings a bit too focused on the sweet side for me, but nonetheless worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 03:11:47 | More by Digimaika2

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Surprisingly clear, yellow with a white head, good retention, excellent lace.

S: Minty, herbal, grassy, steelie with hints of bready malt & sponge toffee.

T: Quite herbal and minty, steelie grass, sponge toffee, bready, light caramel, balanced bitterness, alcohol is well-hidden.

M: Moderately full body is smooth with an off-dry finish.

D: A good drinker.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 00:17:58 | More by Derek

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

ABV 6.8%

A: straw colour, pours a white head, low retention, low lacing, low haze.

S: Grainy, slight grassy notes, some low citrus.

T: Same as nose, biscuit/cracker flavours.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, dry finish.

O: This is a great maibock with great flavours.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:59:30 | More by Kremlock

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy pale yellow body. Large eggshell head, moderate retention, patchy lace. Looks like a weissbier with less foam. Floral and yeasty bread dough aroma, like an amped up pilsner or helles, with a hint of honey. Mildly sweet with doughy and cereal flavours up front, and lemon zest, then a spicy/herbal finish. Moderate bitterness. It drinks like a stronger, more flavourful helles, or even pilsner on the lower side of bitterness. Medium bodied with relatively low carbonation. Rich, substantial mouthfeel, but not heavy or thick. No alcohol heat. Full-flavoured but approachable and very familiar.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 04:20:31 | More by mintjellie

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a pale golden colour, thumb of light fluffy head with solid retention and nice sporadic lacing.

S - Nice sweet grassy notes, sweet corn, wheat, hints of citrus rind and a hint of apple juice.

T - Much like the nose with the grassy notes dominating, surprising amount of bitter citrus rind, toasted crackers, bready wheat and a the touch of apple juice comes through on the finish.

M - Lighter bodied ale, a tad prickly and a touch of dryness on the finish.

O - A fantastic brew, light and refreshing yet surprisingly bold for the style. Flavours are pronounced and are certainly a great way to ring in the spring. Well worth a try and I will snatch up a few extra bottles before they disappear.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 04:25:14 | More by andrenaline

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle corked and caged poured into matching glass from the gift pack paired with the Baltic Porter, downed nov29 2009

A light yellow with a fast falling large head that left little lace

S as the bottle says lots of cereal's but unlike whats written on the bottle I get some honey and citrus

T a little more focused on a mild sweetness and some hops then what I got from the nose

M decent carbonation makes it feel a little thicker then it is

D for 8% it's very easy to drink, however I doubt I will drink this again because it's hard too find and way overpriced in the gift pack (unless the Baltic Porter is crazy good)

you can only get this in the gift pack in Alberta and to be honest I don't really like Maibock but this is a pretty good one

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 02:44:39 | More by wordemupg

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Les Trois Mousquetaires Maibock has a tone like an ideal spring afternoon. Its golden colour blisters along the sides and bottom of the glass (though turns up bright and sunny when held up to the light). It comes served with a massive whipped cream topping and hundreds of bubbles that hover and are raised up like tiny flying saucers being sucked into a strong updraft.

The aroma, which frankly smells like little more than lightly toasted white bread, is actually quite rich and pleasurable provided you can appreciate beer solely for its basic fundamentals. This scent of clean pilsner malt is complimented by low melanoidins, a faint whiff of noble hop spice and florals, lemon juice, as well as some considerably impactful alcohol vapors.

This blond lager has the kind of subtle flavour profile that would drive Procter and Gamble nuts - they couldn't resist adding artificial flavours to something this plain and simple. While it's true this doesn't have the stuff to turn heads, its grainy maltiness is so remarkably real, rich and wholesome. It is a lager lover's lager... punched up a notch.

The taste has a distinctively dry, cracker-like maltiness. Though permeated by prominent alcohol notes, a hint of honey flavour, sweet corn and an occasional, very minor pinch of peppery spice serve to sufficiently mellow things out. All in all, the palate is left immersed in airy floral and lemony notes and a grassiness that further dries things out. Very agreeable.

As is typical for the style, Les Trois Mousquetaires Maibock is a beer that leaves out all details save for the most practical. While it offers only the bare essentials, these are not only among the finest quality but also apportioned very generously. It's a good thing this brewer has a penchant for German styles because his beers epitomize those traditions masterfully.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 00:12:34 | More by biegaman