Chaman - Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a 341 ml brown bottle. I've had a nasty habit of gobbling this stuff up faster than I can review one, so I've finally set some boundaries of self-restraint to write this one up finally. Pours out a cloudy amber hue, coppery tones when held to light, frothy cream coloured head with solid retention.

Tropical fruit esters, yeasty spice, leafy and citrus hops, warming alcohol and rich bready malt in the aroma.

Full chewy bready malt up front in the flavour, lemon and tangerine follows, building with some yeasty twang and dry spicy, leafy hops towards the finish, melding with warm alcohol and grapefruit pith that lingers on into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of full, with a thick creamy texture and moderate carbonation.

This is a DIPA that not only delivers the goods, but exhibits its own character as well compared to many of the style. Far from being one-dimensional there's a fair amount going on here, yet it's not overwhelming or a Gordian Knot of complexity either. Worth seeking out, and I need to stock up on more.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 06:32:09 | More by IronDjinn

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 17:18:13 | More by tom10101

valianes

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 08:11:58 | More by valianes

RedAleMan

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

05-17-2013 05:19:55 | More by RedAleMan

WeissBoy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

05-16-2013 04:29:15 | More by WeissBoy

sdm9465

Nova Scotia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

05-14-2013 15:56:46 | More by sdm9465

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

05-11-2013 03:32:38 | More by BigBry

Caudalie

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-10-2013 16:58:34 | More by Caudalie

jbmaur

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

05-10-2013 14:58:48 | More by jbmaur

FEUO

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-06-2013 12:21:47 | More by FEUO

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

4.24/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from March, 2013 release. Poured into a large tulip. Labelled as a Imperial Pale Ale....

A: Dark orange, bright but not clear; slightly hazy... Not a strong head as is typical with DIPA's, but is bright white, pretty bubbly that dies to a fine ghostly whisping on top.

S: Herbal, grassy, flowers in a summer field (not overly floral but there), perhaps a hint of pineapple, a bit of lemon and hint of alcohol.

T: Wow.... very different right off the bat. Very fresh up front, grasses, herbs, and RICOLA!! no, seriously, with a hint of lemon and slightly floraly it really tastes like the Swiss cough drop.. but better... I think I will start taking this next time my throat is sore! Finishes more like a strong British Pale Ale, very rich, buttery, peaty malt..and slightly bitter.... my girlfriend describes it as having a similar profile to a light highland scotch perhaps.

M: Refreshing when cold, yet full bodied, medium carbonation, very balanced, nearly no hint of alcohol, and very sticky....

O: While no one else seems to care whether this is a IPA or a Pale Ale, I almost want to say that it actually is closer to a turbo charged Pale Ale, or it might be more similar to a Belgium IPA, either way it is improved over regular pale ales by the addition of more interesting hop profile. With everyone saying it doesn't really taste like a true IPA, perhaps it is because it's not.... Anyway, I digress.... this is a good beer, I'm not a fan traditionally of Pale Ales, but I really like this... it has very unique flavours, is extremely buttery which you don't see in NA beers, extremely earthy and rich (hence the scotch comparison), and easy drinking. And like all DDC, it's unique which is getting harder to find these days as everyone perfects their styles.... Great brew, definitely worth trying once....

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:16:54 | More by 4ster

DannyBaldoni

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-03-2013 16:56:48 | More by DannyBaldoni

inspektor

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2%

04-26-2013 16:28:51 | More by inspektor

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

04-23-2013 02:34:51 | More by KrisDLSmith

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

04-22-2013 12:49:13 | More by Whatup14

dipso123

California

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

04-19-2013 00:10:09 | More by dipso123

montrealbcr89

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

04-18-2013 04:22:03 | More by montrealbcr89

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dieu Du Ciel! Chaman isn't your typical sunny, tropical DIPA and it shows in its somewhat gloomy appearance; its dark orange colour is completely overcast and proffers little highlighting and no clarity whatsoever. Tiny bubbles swirl like souls in the inferno and, once surfaced, forgo making any head to just be immortalized right onto the sides of the glass.

One sniff of Chaman will have you seeing green. Mint, flowers, grass clippings, leaves and tree resins - there's such a general 'earthy' profile that it's actually real easy to see the forest for the trees, so to speak. Rounding out the bouquet is dried orange peel and a little bit of onion skin smell that is not unheard of for DIPAs. It wouldn't make the fainthearted, well, faint.

Ample hopping provides a mouthful of savory dried herbs, tangy orange peel as well as a shot of lemon acidity in the finish. There's enough grass and florals to instill a "spring day" feeling. Crisply toasted malts also give way to caramel sweetness and a wholesome breadiness. Does that label read 9% or 6%? Alcohol is blended right into the flavour and is thus much easier to take.

Unlike other Canadian examples this doesn't allow the malt to interfere too much with the hops. At the same time, however, its earthy and herbal profile is a far cry from the lip-splittingly citric fruitiness that is most often associated with the style. All in all, it provides enough hoppiness to scratch a hop-head's itch but it won't render them weak in the knees or anything.

The double-IPA originated on the American West Coast but has found true admirers and raison d'être amongst brewers and consumers all over the world. This French-Canadian rendition is a bit different - apparently Quebecers like even their beers to be distinctive - but still provides a satisfying amount of big, green, pungent hoppiness. Like anything by DDC, it's worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 03:46:14 | More by biegaman

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

341ml bottle poured into a goblet. ABV 9%.

A - Poured a clear copper with a thin white head. No lacing.

S - Biscuit, caramel, herbs, grass, hint of tropical fruit, hint of pine, hint of alcohol.

T - Mildly sweet, some caramel, some biscuit, orange peel, hint of cloves, some bitterness, and a bit of booze. The alcohol is certainly noticeable but not overpowering. It's not a hop bomb but the bitterness has a lasting aftertaste. The flavour is well balanced between the upfront maltiness and bitter aftertaste.

M -Medium-low carbonation, medium-heavy body, a bit syrupy, sticky, some dryness in the finish.

O - Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 03:01:01 | More by decimator

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.99/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled in February 2013.

(4.25) A: Clear copper with a tall and creamy foam head. Long lasting retention and very good retention.

(4.0) S: Grains, herbal, pine, sourdough, spices, and nuts. The herbal quality is coming across like mustard seed. Hearty and robust. Nice diversity and definitely does not smell like your average Imperial IPA.

(4.0) T: Juicy tropical fruits, a smoother herbal element, fair amount of spices, and a rich buttered bread backbone. Incredibly mellow and smooth. A fair amount of bitterness with a sweeter malt forward taste. Full flavoured (meal-like) without a doubt.

(3.75) M: Medium-full bodied with a moderate carbonation. Very thick and chewy textured which I find works here.

(4.0) D: A nice DDC offering however this isn’t something that I can drink on a regular basis. Every once in a while it’s very nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 01:11:15 | More by Digimaika2

Cadbury

Ontario (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed from a tulip.

Appearance: A hazy orange with no head. There is a very small amount of foam that forms around the class - perhaps 1mm. 4.5.

Smell: I would say it has a very lively smell. I most notably get a scent of floral hops. 4/5.

Taste: Very nice caramel notes at the start and finishes with a fantastic hops driven bitterness that's not overwhelming, but certainly notable. 4.5/5.

Mouthfeel: Although other reviewers suggest medium bodied, I feel it's a little bit more thin than I was expecting. I certainly enjoy the level of carbonation, however. 3.5/5.

Overall: I am pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this beer. I am typically not a fan DIPAs but I thought that I needed to try this. I would definitely seek out and drink this again. 4.25/5.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 01:35:56 | More by Cadbury

bigox420

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

04-15-2013 10:52:00 | More by bigox420

Ham-Nord

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pale with amber tones. A good inch of head on the glass, dissipates relatively quickly. Great clarity. Beautiful lacing around the glass.

S: Caramel and maltiness. Nice and sweet. Very little hops.

T: Tropical hops up front, with a slight sharpness. Sweet malty with a medium bitterness lingers in the aftertaste.

M: Nicely carbonated, medium body.

Overall: Delicious beer. Does not taste like 9% abv. Very well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 23:07:50 | More by Ham-Nord

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4.11/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

New (to me) via the LCBO, but an excellent DIPA that compares well against both Michigan and Californian releases.

Bottle pours a bright and clear copper with a limited white head that disappears quickly. Refreshingly light, not as oily or viscous as I'd expected for the high ABV, and an artistic label make it an attractive package. Powerful aroma of caramelized malts with a funky bitter backbone. That bitterness is surprisingly prevalent and pleasant in the taste, which has an initial brief sweetness before the hops kick in. And linger in the finish. Caramel in the start with grapefruit and biting "west coast" tropical fruit - it's a complex and impressive flavour profile that I can't describe with the justice it deserves.

Well done DdC, wish we had better access to more of your beers without crossing the provincial border!

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 19:31:04 | More by hopsolutely

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%

04-09-2013 03:58:58 | More by Molson2000