Péché Mortel
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Péché MortelPéché Mortel
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From:
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #201
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
98
Ranked #430
Avg:
4.41 | pDev: 8.39%
Reviews:
1,923
Ratings:
5,386
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 03, 2024
Added:
Jun 09, 2003
Wants:
  676
Gots:
  952
Péché Mortel (French for "Mortal Sin") is an intensely black and dense beer with very pronounced roasted flavours. Fair trade coffee is infused during the brewing process, intensifying the bitterness of the beer and giving it a powerful coffee taste. Péché mortel is brewed to be savored; we invite you to drink it in moderation.

This stout style, high in alcohol and bitterness in order to favour preservation, was historically brewed to support the long and arduous voyage necessary to export the beer from England to Russia. The word Imperial comes from the fact that the beer was specially brewed for the Russian tsar’s court.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.17 by RoyalKaiju from Kentucky

Mar 03, 2024
 
Rated: 4.38 by al_al1357 from Canada (ON)

Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.74 by HS676 from Pennsylvania

Dec 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.3 by kkarimi from Texas

Sep 26, 2023
Photo of NCSapiens
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana

4.27/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Understated, smooth, a bit of chocolate and char roast malts, coffee, very well rounded and tastes great without a bunch of adjuncts.
Jul 12, 2023
Photo of woemad
Reviewed by woemad from Washington

3.49/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
11.5oz bottle purchased at Community Pint, in Spokane, WA. According to the stamp on the rear level, this was bottled on February 23, 2022. Different label than what is shown here.

Poured into a snifter, this was the color of darkest night, with a thin tan head that did not stick around for very long.

Nose was initially of coffee and molasses. As it warmed, there was an aroma similar to cinnamon that stepped up to the plate.

Very understated. Vaguely coffeeish and cinnamon flavor, but the coffee was really quite muted. Apart from that, just a vaguely roasty malt flavor was present. Bitter coffee flavor at the swallow.

Fairly light bodied for an imperial stout. Kinda watery, really.

I'm not a fan. Maybe this is too old, maybe it was abused by whatever distributor brought it to Community Pint (I'm familiar enough with them to know they store beer well), but I also recall the two other beers I've had from Dieu du Ciel also turned out similarly when I got a chance to try them. Maybe I'm just not on their wavelength, or they're not on mine. I think I'm done trying their beers, short of actually going to Montreal and trying them at the source. Disappointing.
Jul 04, 2023
Photo of Mysticmage
Reviewed by Mysticmage from Canada (ON)

4.21/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Finally got to try this top ranked beer in Canada. Does it live up to it’s rep. Lets find out.the pour is indeed thick and black with a coffee collar that stayed for a bit. Nose is coffee roasted goodness with chocolate underlay. Taste is similar with roasted coffee upfront and boozy finish. Feel is light surprisingly, not as much body as I was expecting. Look, it’s good but do think some brewers in Canada have come up with comparables. Rorshach comes to mind as does flying monkeys attempts and third moon. This one has been around for ages and so its reputation has built, but I do feel Ontario can now match it’s prowess.
May 07, 2023
Photo of jngls
Reviewed by jngls from Germany

4.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
One year old. Can to snifter.

L: Pours pitch black with a light brown head that leaves a bit of lacing. A couple of very fine floaters visible.

S: Coffee, cocoa, dark chocolate and vanilla. Dark and smoky with some sweet hints.

T: Dark and malty with notes of coffee and dark chocolate complemented by some smoky hints. Minimal sweetness. Very bitter.

F: Smooth and creamy on the one side. Rather light bodied and drinkable on the other side. Medium carbonation.

O: Very good no-bullshit coffee stout with a classic flavor profile. Drinks very smoothly, but could be a bit thicker. Works great, even without any barrel aging.
Apr 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.69 by nullbort from Canada (ON)

Apr 01, 2023
Photo of harrypowers
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark brown/black with a 1F tan head and moderate lacing.

Smells of coffee, chocolate and caramel.

Tastes of toasted malt, dark chocolate, mildly bitter coffee , caramel and vanilla with a mildly bitter boozy warm finish.

Medium heavy body with light carbonation. Lush syrupy mouthfeel.

This is a well made, very strong and complex sipper. It's at its most bitter just out of the refrigerator and gets sweeter and mellower as it warms.
Mar 30, 2023
Photo of Zanico
Rated by Zanico from Ohio

4.34/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled on 2016-01-11 12:14LOT114
Mar 03, 2023
Photo of dano213
Reviewed by dano213 from Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
11.5oz can received as a gift from a friend. Batch number 69. I emailed the brewery to ask when this was bottled. They said approximately 2013-10-17, so this beer is almost 9 1/2 years old! Interesting and surprising fact - this is a screw-off bottle cap!

Look: This beer is quite dark (black with brown highlights) but doesn't appear to be so thick. There is a very thin tan-colored head around the rim of the glass.

Smell: Nice roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate aromas. A bit of fruitiness and lots of booze. Slightly reminiscent of chocolate covered cherry cordials.

Taste: It's tasty. For me, this has the right amount of sweetness and bitterness. Up front, it's very roasty and a bit fruity, somewhat sweet. The finish is initially mildly sweet, and then gradually shifts to a full-on bitter, chocolatey and coffee-laden finish.

Feel: It's on the thin side for an Imperial Stout, I would call this medium bodied or perhaps medium plus. Appropriately carbonated - not too much carbonation and not too little either. As I take my time to sip on this, it's not nearly as enjoyable as it loses its carbonation.

Overall: It's a very solid coffee Imperial Stout. I had this beer once before either at a bottle share or at home over 15 years ago. I remember being extremely impressed with it then. I'm not so taken with this beer now. I'm not sure if it's because this bottle has a lot of age on it, or because the bar has been raised for coffee stouts and craft beer in general over time. I think that this is not getting a fair shake due to age. Either way, this aged bottle is good (not amazing in my opinion). Then again, my review needs to be taken in consideration given that this bottle is old and that a fresh bottle will undoubtedly taste different and probably a lot better.
Feb 21, 2023
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
11.5oz bottle
Bottled Date: 2021-08-12
Consumed on: 17 Feb, 2023
Glass: Snifter
ABV: 9.5 %
Serving Temp: room temp


Look:
Thick black with a 1-finger creamy light brown head. The head is slow to dissipate and leaves awesome lacing along the glass.

Smell:
Lightly sweetened medium to light roast coffee. Bittersweet chocolate. Notes of vanilla and a touch of oak. The vanilla makes the brew smell like it has some cream or more accurately creamer (good creamer) in it. A faint wisp of smoke can be detected if one tries.

Taste:
Wonderfully balanced sweetened medium-roast coffee with a touch of cream and bittersweet chocolate. A nice earthy bitterness is present but is part of the coffee and does not overwhelm. The sip finishes spicy, a bit bitter, but also a touch sweet. Smokiness shows up in the aftertaste.

Feel:
Smooth and viscous. Some late warmth from the alcohol. The body is medium with a step to the thin side.

Overall:
An excellent Imperial Coffee Stout. Nicely complex, very tasty, and surprisingly drinkable. The only knock to the brew is its thinner-than-expected body. But that's my issue, not the beer's.

If you like coffee and/or coffee stouts, pick this up and give it a try.
Feb 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by Taenim from Maine

Feb 05, 2023
Photo of cag_3939
Reviewed by cag_3939 from Florida

5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
To be fair I’ve been drinking Peche Mortel for about 12 years. Over the years I’ve had some great beers but this is the only one I’m willing to buy online to make sure I have it readily in stock.
It pours nearly black with a half finger of creamy, hazelnut-colored head.
The smell let’s you know what kind of a ride you are about to enjoy. A punch of roasted coffee comes first, followed by dark chocolate, dark fruits, leather and tobacco smoke.
The taste follows the nose with each aspect getting to shine as the beer warms. Coffee roast, dark chocolate are front and center with some subtle dark fruitiness giving way to a leather and ash finish. All are well balanced.
The mouthfeel is creamy with a moderate carbonation but isn't overly boozy for 9.5% ABV.
To this day the best beer I’ve ever had.
Jan 19, 2023
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
11.5oz bottle into a pint glass. Bottled 3/2015, so 7 years old.

Black body, small tan head doesn't last long but leaves a light spider's web of lacing.

Aroma is nicely of coffee.

On tasting, strong coffee flavor, smooth, lightly sweet, some warmth from the abv.

Mouth above medium, finish coffee with a faint roasted malt.

Overall, impressed that 7 years in the bottle doesn't diminish the coffee. Unless a fresh one is an outright coffee bomb.
Dec 19, 2022
Photo of dbl_delta
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2015 vintage; growler into pint glass. Pours essentially black with no head. Initial impression is roasted malts, dark choclate, and coffee grounds. Mouthfeel is medium - thinner than I like for a Stout. Finish fades to a smokycoffee bitterness. Overall, an interesting and true-to-style Imperial Stout.
Oct 15, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by GFK from Michigan

Sep 02, 2022
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Solid black appearance with a thin tan head.
Has light carbonation thick heavy feel to the body.
Aroma is a deep rich smokey,char, dark bakers chocolate, coffee grinds.
Taste has a harsh but pleasant coffee bitterness, dry dark chocolate, roasted malt with some smokey wood.
Overall an excellent beer
Jul 19, 2022
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
light stout slightly creamy but nothing else
Jul 17, 2022
Péché Mortel from Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 5386 ratings