Péché Mortel (Imperial Stout Au Cafe) - Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours deep brown, almost black. How do you give appearance a 5? Alcohol tears and spots of lace draining down from each sip. The slightest ring of tan foam for head, but it leaves a ring each time.

Coffee, charred malt, burnt bitter chocolate, earth, alcohol in the nose. Smells rich.

Big coffee and charred malt up front. Bitterness, some acid, and a hint of sweetness. Alcohol kicks in, and brings the coffee. Astringent alcohol helps the palate along. Some cassis, vanilla, and charred wood. Boozy bite of bitterness in the finish. Wow.

Full bodied, acidic, and tingly carbonation.

One of the last from this brewer to be tried by me (that I can find). Why did I wait? Amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 01:36:43 | More by OtherShoe2

fredmugs

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is an amazing beer that I never would have heard of if not for Beer Advocate. The aroma is amazing and what sets this apart from many other coffee stouts is the mouthfeell and drinkability. Very smooth without the thin aftertaste I find in a lot of other non BA stouts. Definitely in my Top 3 - 5 range for stouts behind FBS and Expedition.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 00:43:12 | More by fredmugs

spikefoot

4.88/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is near perfect. The two things that stand out the most for me is the flavour and mouthfeel. The mouthfeel it is very silky and smooth and has the perfect amount of thickness to it. The flavour is fantastic, it is the perfect balance of bitter and sweet. It really excites my taste buds and is far from a burden to finish the entire bottle. As a matter of fact I tally up the remaining stock in the fridge as I drink it. A nice flavourful beer and easily in my top three. For 9.5% this beer is remarkably balanced. If you like dark beers this one is a clear winner.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 02:05:04 | More by spikefoot

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 11.5oz bottle label notched on the 4 and then the one... Not exactly sure what this means date wise, seeing as both columns of numbers only go to 9

A: dark black with a dark brown ring around the top when held to the light... Finger and a half of creamy coffe colored head... Nice retention and some decent lacing.

S: I get some roasty malt notes along with a light hint of smoke, but it smells like this brew is old enough that alotnofnthe coffe infusion has fallen off... I also get a lot of chocolaty notes from the aroma, along with Almost an earthy woodyness with some light hints of dark fruit.

T: up front I get chocolate and a hint of smoke and roast followed by chocolate covered espresso beans on the finish... This is very tasty... Very well rounded... Alcohol is also lightly prevelant in the flavor.... As delicious as this is now, it makes me
Want to try a fresh bottle, just so I can compare the contrast in
Flavors... But this is damn delicious.

M: creamy lush mouthfeel, with lower creamy carbonation, the mouthfeel in this brew is excellent, velvety and delicious... Really makes the flavors in this brew stand out.

O: this is a delicious stout, and deffinatly a sipper, great chocolate and coffe notes, great full bodied creamy mouthfeel, everything I look for in a stout.... Now unjust need to seek out a fresh bottle, to really see the vast character if this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 04:06:42 | More by PeterIngemi

crnipeter

Slovenia

4.03/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Mortal Sin has been sitting around for nearly three years. The label image shows the Garden of Eden serpent who tempts Eve to eat the fruit and just like Eve I succumb to the offer: Peche Mortel cascades dark reddish-brown to give birth to opaque dark brown body capped by a finger thick deep tan bubbly head.

Roasted grain/malt renders dark chocolate and strong espresso enhanced by actual coffee added, while malt sweetness creates heavy cream impression. There are some esters that take on dark cherries. Fortunately aging hasn't taken away much of the coffee aroma and the alcohol - although noticeable - remains restrained enough.

Dark chocolate and strong coffee transfer to the flavor that gets softened by milky/creamy
notes given by malt while background provides minor dark fruit tartness. Finish is rather dry
with endless roastiness.

Body is almost full, perhaps a bit thinned by aging, with mild carbonation.

In short, an espresso type coffee dominated Imperial Stout. Being seduced by the serpent was a nice experience I cannot regret (330 ml, Bottled on 07-2009, into tulip).

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 23:29:57 | More by crnipeter

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Black brow opaque with just a quarter inch of light breaking the surface to reveal the chestnut undertones. The lush mocha head held for jsut a short while, but left little islands of delicate lacing across the top.

S: I want to wake up every morning and smell this with my breakfast. The deep rich espresso and dark chocolate mingle - and are better off for the combination. We note some hints of alcohol brandy esters and deeply toasted malts suggesting a molasses. The espresso scent isn't that of brewed espresso, but of the fresh roasted beans, dipped in dark chocolate - heaven!

T: Like an espresso, a strong presence on the tongue, acrid, drying and rich suggest tannins and coco. Sweetness is present - but only just enough to hold the bitter at bay. Some alcohol notes reminiscent of brandy, the alcohol vapours linger, encouraging another sip. Some earthly notes in the flavour, maybe a hint of oak, or peat, but it's rounding out the flavour and smoothing the bright tannins

M: Coating every inch of the palate, and only a minor hint of carbonation upfront. At first sip I find this a like thin, but over time it manages to build on itself to an oily feel. The aftertaste is bold and leaves the mouth with brandy-esque vapours.

O: Peche Mortel is a perfect night cap, warming and rich, uncompromising in it's smell & flavour. The brandy notes suggest a luxury and excellence few brews can match. Well worth a long search to find Peche Mortel.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 06:10:44 | More by FondueVoodoo

kevanb

Illinois

4/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

The beer pours a very dark brown color, borderline black, light can get through an brighten up the brown color, a thin head appears, half a finger at most, no lacing or any real retention. The aroma is of roasted coffee, toasted malt and bitter dark chocolate, not very explosive or very complex, but the elements are well integrated. The flavors are a bit more enjoyable, but also not very impactful, roasted coffee and dark chocolate lead the way, subtle toasted grains and a touch of dark fruit and a bit of an unpleasant acidity, but again, the flavors are a bit muddled and the balance isn't there, the coffee is the most dominant flavor but kind of gets lost behind the chocolate and dark malt. The body is nice, a bit thin and overly carbonated, but nice and smooth with a good richness.

Verdict: A good solid stout that highlights the coffee element, certainly enjoyable throughout the drinking experience. I think it's lacking a bit of depth and complexity relative to other stouts on the market, but this is still a fine beer and one I would happily drink again and again.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 02:41:23 | More by kevanb

gtermi

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: This beer pours a very nice dark black body with a thin dark tan head that quickly fades. There is also no lacing left on the glass either.

S: Damn this beer smells fantastic. It actually really reminds me of Founders Breakfast Stout. There is a nice amount of coffee, dark and roasted malt and a strong amount of sweetness. I am also picking up a TINY bit of alcohol.

T: Man this beer tastes absolutely amazing. Tons of sweet malt with a tiny bit of roasted coffee and malt. As the beer lingers it really turns into a sweet chocolate.

M: The body of this is very full and has a good amount of carbonation on the back of the throat and all across the tongue.

O: This is one of the best beers I have ever had. There isnt a single part of this beer that isnt amazing and cant wait to grab a few more bottles.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 04:21:21 | More by gtermi

CheezyBlaster

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was reviewing this beer, and my fracking window closed. :(

Condensed bc I'm not typing all that again:

Great beer. Amazing even!

Creamy, so chocolate and coffee forward in the nose. Dark, no, very dark roasted grains. Some slight char in the nose. Excellent. Creamy smell? Yes, makes creamy taste and mouthfeel. Nice tang -from acidity perhaps? More chewy, delicious choc-coffee, hint of booze.

Do you like FBS and/or Southern Tier Choklat? This is somewhere in between those. However, it is more articulately crafted and balanced than ST's Choklat.

I want more, and in 4 packs. Now.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 23:58:53 | More by CheezyBlaster

skotster13

California

4.88/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got on sale at Bobby's liquors in Santa Clara, CA in 12oz bottle.
Served in a Lucifer goblet.

A - Beautiful espresso color with a thin but beautiful copper head. As I drink it bright amber bubbles hug the walls of the glass.

S - Smells of espresso laced with a malty sweetness hidden somewhere inside.

T - Taste is also of fresh espresso. Nice bitter cacáo notes as well. Classic blend of sweet and bitter.

M - soft and round on the fore-palate leading to a bitterness on the way down that does not overpower.

O - well worth its spot in the BA top 50. Very drinkable and the 9.5% ABV is well masked and feels just right.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 20:51:58 | More by skotster13

tarheels86

California

4.05/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355mL. Pours almost opaque black with a thick, tan head that has good retention and magnificent lacing. Aromas of cocoa powder, dark unsweetened chocolate, roasted coffee, and vanilla. Taste is well balanced and not too sweet or bitter. Lots of roasted malt and coffee with a background of dry hops. Burnt sugar and roasty finish with some spicy alcohol. This is the least artificial smelling and tasting coffee stout I have tried. Very natural in every way. Alcohol is beautifully masked. Excellent! 1/22/2009 8/5/8/4/16=4.1

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 15:05:15 | More by tarheels86

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle poured into my Duvel Tulip.

Appearance: Dark brown (almost black) with a small ¼” dark tan head that actually hangs around. Lots of sticky lacing.

Smell: Dark chocolate and/or baker’s chocolate with a hint of coffee.

Taste: Rich, dark, chocolate with a nice hint of coffee which pushes the flavor toward mocha. Much more chocolatety sweetness than roasted malt bitterness; however, there is still enough bitterness to provide balance. A delicious flavor which is unique among “coffee” stouts and instantly making itself one of my favorites. The baker’s chocolate tends to linger on the palate at the finish, not in a sticky or cloying way, but more like a pleasant aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Both smooth and well carbonated.

Overall: Very impressive stout, deep, rich, and bold flavors. A beer that deserves its reputation.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 21:08:04 | More by BobZ

vonnegut21

New York

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a deep black, with a finger of tan head. No light passing through this one.

S: Big dark roast coffee notes up front. Some roasted malt and chocolate follow. Some light vanilla notes are present as well, but dark roast coffee dominates.

T: The first sip is a punch of toasted malt, coffee and bitter baker's chocolate. The following sips allow the malt to fade and the coffee and chocolate to shine through. There's a bit of residual sweetness that cuts through the roasted coffee nicely.

M: Nicely carbonated, but each sip coats the palate. Not too thick, but also not too thin. A nice sipper for the ABV.

O: This is an excellent beer. Probably the best non barrel aged coffee stout I've ever had. I'd take this over FBS or any of the other standards given the choice. Pick this one up.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 23:46:15 | More by vonnegut21

eriktoyra

4.88/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Trying a bottle stored away since December 2009. Best before 30 September 2012.

A: Pours a pitch black liquid into the glass. The one finger high head is colored light brown with some nice curtains on the glass. The head dissolves rather quickly leaving lacings on the glass.

S: The smell is dominated by a fresh grinded coffee and dark roasted malts. There are also a very pleasant smell of dry and dark chocolate. I can also find some dark fruits, vanilla, smoked ham, oatmeal and oak flavors.

T: The taste has a lot of coffee in it. Espresso. Particularly at the end. There are also a lot of dark chocolate, dark fruits, red fruits (cherries, raspberries), oak staves, vanilla and finally some bitter sweet nutty flavor. The aftertaste is bitter with a hint of sour. The alcohol is well hidden for a 9.5 % ABV beer.

M: It has a medium to full body with medium carbonation. The texture is a bit oily and it feels smooth and very well balanced to drink.

O: All in all a fantastic beer! I A must try.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 19:28:41 | More by eriktoyra

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, allowed to warm a bit before being poured into my Brooklyn Brewery tulip.

Peche Mortel pours jet black. Two fingers of mocha foam quickly fill the glass and threaten to spill out. Head retention is decent, and foam is left in a thick ring at the top of the glass, and fairly spotty below. The nose has a wonderful, potent fresh coffee aroma. It's offset by a subtle, perfectly complementary dark chocolate note. The flavor has that same great coffee presence, but it's a little bit more domineering here. There's still some chocolate, and a light earthy hop note, but the coffee is far and away the center of attention. It's to the point where the beer becomes a little bit one note. The carbonation is nice and subdued, but the body could stand to be just a little bit more rich and full. I find Peche Mortel to be consistently very good, but a step shy of outstanding in most aspects. That considered, it's definitely one of the best coffee stouts available year round.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 06:11:39 | More by axeman9182

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

11.5 oz. bottle fairly aggressively poured into a snifter

Pours a dark opaque black with a light brown two finger head. Excellent head retention and significant splotchy lacing. Strong espresso, dark fruit and roasted malt on the nose. Opens with espresso, rich roasted date, baked black cherry, and charred raisin joined by rich dark chocolate and finishes slightly bitter with strong coffee and slightly bitter earthy hops. The mouthfeel is incredible. Thick, silky, smooth and creamy with a perfect level of carbonation. This is one of the most complex beers and definitely one of the most complex imperial coffee stouts I've had. The coffee is very evident, yet doesn't overwhelm the other rich flavor aspects of this brew. Truly a masterpiece.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 04:50:59 | More by chanokokoro

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

"Mortal Sin"- 11.5 oz screw cap bottle, two notches on label at 4 and either 5 or 6, not sure what this means, poured into Duvel Tulip
A- Total blackness in color, totally opaque, no seeing through this one, Nice two fingers-thick creamy tan-colored head
S- Dark fruits (not my personal favorite), coffee, some chocolate maybe
T- Mmmm. Coffee, roasty, rich bittersweet chocolate, some dark fruit in the background
M- Huge creamy and smooth body, barely any carbonation, superb mouthfeel brings out the great flavor really well
O- The mouthfeel is fantastic, just big smooth and delicious. I know this wasn't a super fresh bottle but I'd love to get a new one to see if the coffee takes over.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 05:25:12 | More by BasterdInABasket

franklinn

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours thick with a two finger, light mocha head that bubbles down to a thin film. Looks like I hope for an imperial stout to look

S - Roast malts, dark fruit, a touch of booze and plenty of coffee. Promising.

T - Bitter roast flavors from the malt and coffee mingle in the front, giving way to come nice caramel notes. Some fruity notes in the back, but not as strong as the nose. No alcohol bite. Very pleasant, very drinkable, VERY tasty.

M - Nice and thick, carbonation is on point. No complaints in this department

O - Great coffee stout, and a good benchmark for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 03:59:10 | More by franklinn

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally get around to reviewing this. Thanks to Seany for this particular bottle.

Poured from a 341ml. bottle, bottled 04/12.

Appearance: A thick and dark brown body is poured. A (not too) huge light brown head forms and the bottom cascades and reminds me of someone shaking out a sheet for some reason. Spidery lacing merges seamlessly with the head.

Smell: Just popping the cap unleashes the aroma. Freshly grinded coffee mixed with raw coffee beans, a type of buttery chocolate and some nuts.

Taste: First sip is all about the creamy yet robust coffee (think espresso), some nutty chocolate, roasted beans, milky and macadamia nuts.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation could be a tad lower but that's just a quibble. Starts velvety and smooth but the coffee bitterness creeps up midway and asserts itself right through the finish.

Overall: This one never disappoints. One of my all-time favorite beers (if not THE favorite).

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 01:20:37 | More by papat444

Googs

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.5oz Bottle poured into a goblet

A: Slightly opaque black body. Barley any head, caramel color that dissipates very quickly. Decent amount of lacing sticking to the glass on this one

S: Sweet toasty malt goodness with intense coffee burst following. Bits of dark chocolate and vanilla in there. Reminds me of Kahlua, very coffee heavy.

T: Similar to it's smell. A nice balance of bittering hops and bitter-sweet coffee notes all the way down. Semi-sweet chocolate and vanilla caramel roasted malts.

M: Not as thick or syrupy as I expected. Good amount of carbonation and smooth which makes for a very drinkable imperial coffee stout. Notes of bitter coffee linger on the palate for a while and makes you look forward to that next complex sip. It's a sipper for sure.

O: A successful coffee stout from Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel. I'll be seeking out more of their brews. This has a wonderful coffee aroma and taste and I really enjoyed the mouthfeel on this beer. Really drinkable despite the ABV. I'm putting it up on my list with the Speedway Stout.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 21:48:07 | More by Googs

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a snifter, aged for over a year

A: Pours pitch black with a finger of dense tan foam. Great retention.

S: Roast is most dominant with a bit of bitter coffee in the background. I get a bit of toffee behind that.

T: Smooth roast and coffee paired with dark chocolate and a bit of caramel. Bitterness is quite strong in this beer - the taste lingers in your mouth well after the swallow. As the beer warms, more caramel sweetness comes out. Straight forward, but nice.

M: Medium mouthfeel for the style with creamy carbonation.

O: This beer reminds me a lot of Speedway Stout (but not quite as good). It has a nice roast and caramel flavor with a bit of dark chocolate. I really enjoyed this - my glass was empty in less than 20 minutes.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 03:44:26 | More by coreyfmcdonald

mmapes

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got a bottle in trade. Notches indicate may 2011. Drank in September 2012.

Pours dark black. Decent lumpy tan head lingers for a long time and sticks to the sides of the glass. Smells of coffee. Almost coffee liqueur.

Tastes smoky, and of coffee. Long coffee finish. Nice thick mouthfeel coats the tongue. Almost oily - pleasantly so. Really nice balance of coffee and beer. The usual notes in a good stout as well -- chocolate, malt, molasses... Well done.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 22:02:29 | More by mmapes

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Rutager for this one.

A: 1/8" brown head that dissipated quickly over black liquid.

S: Dark roasted coffee beans, caramel, chocolate, roasted malts.

T: Bitter pine and grassy hops, roasted malts, bakers chocolate, with clean yeast and caramel in the finish.

M:Creamy medium level of viscosity and a high level of fine carbonation.

O: An excellent creamy imperial stout in many ways, more bitter and dry than sweet.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:30:11 | More by DaftCaskBC

Braseltonage

Missouri

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz. Bottle poured into a Maudite goblet.

Pours pitch black with a dense caramel head with reasonable lacing.
Big coffee aroma. Roasted malt, burnt sugar/toffee smells as well. Really sets the tone.
Full bodied, espresso laden flavor upfront. Coffee dominates initially, fading to a robust roasted malt complexity. Excellent creaminess, but not cloying. Finishes is that of super dark cocoa and rich coffee with cream.
Mouthfeel is perfectly balanced for a beer of this ABV. Not over carbonated, small bubbles. Rich and dense without going too far. Easier to drink than you initially think.
I've been up and down on the du Ciel beers I've had, but this is genuinely fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 03:20:54 | More by Braseltonage

barczar

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an opaque black color with a solid one inch milk chocolate head that is frothy and dense, lingering a while, and leaving sheets of lacing when it dissipates.

Aroma is intensely coffee dominated, with roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, and an almost caramel sweetness adding complexity. Hints of dark fruits lurk in the background.

Flavor follows suit, with intense roasted coffee carrying throughout. Chocolate, dark cherries, and rich malt flavors balance fairly well. The coffee flavor is not at all acrid, as I've become accustomed to in inferior coffee stouts. There's a slight nuttiness that emerges as it warms.

Body is fairly thick, smooth, with minimal carbonation. There's a touch of dryness at the finish.

Overall, probably the best straight coffee stout I've experienced. Put this beer in a bourbon barrel, and it would rival bourbon county stout or kbs.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 22:14:17 | More by barczar