Fumisterie - Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

341mL bottled December 2010.

Appearance - Pours a brilliant red-orange (almost like maple or pumpkin) in colour with a finger width of off-white head.

Smell - Caramel, grains/seeds, plum, breads.

Taste - Strong piney bitterness from the hops and seeds, however it does not linger into the aftertaste. Surprising not to pick up much sweetness based on the aromas.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Dry finish.

Overall - A very interesting brew by Dieu du Ciel. Didn't know what to expect of this one, as it is my first hemp beer. I was pleasantly surprised by the strong bitterness upfront after picking up sweet aromas. Glad to have tried this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 22:20:28 | More by leaddog

Rijtjeshuis

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in snifter.

LOOK (3/5) ~ pours a rich copper to caramel color. Clarity is poor, the beer is almost totally opaque. The head is a bit of a disappointment, it only rose to about a half finger on a hard pour, and fell at a usual rate to almost nothing with very little lacing. Some visible carbonation on the glass.

SMELL (3.5/5) ~ The balance is malty with some spicing to it on the finish. The malt is pretty sweet - caramel and biscuity. The spicing is pretty sharper and berry like with a bit of licorice and mulling spice to it. Wierd, but there is a smell almost like fried batter in fish and chips. Hops probably play a part in the fugue, but I can't really pick out anything that stands alone.

TASTE (4.5/5) ~ I quite liked the taste. Like the aroma, the taste was a balance between the malt and the spicing. The spicing, I think, brings out a stronger caramel flavors almost like kettle caramelization. That combines well with a bit of the black licorice notes. The finish is really all about those spicy notes. I get some berry, pepper, mulling spice (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg), licorice, and a bit of pine that could be from the hops or other spices, maybe even juniper. The overall balance is sweet and malty.

FEEL (4/5) ~ medium-light body and higher carbonation. I like the high carbonation, because it dries out the finish a bit. A bit of an acid/carbonation kick at the end. I think it could have gone for a bit more of a substantial body, but it played well of the flavors. No real heat.

I liked it overall, it an interesting take on a spiced beer. It leaned pretty heavy to the maltiness so it fails as a a session beer... but it's a good sipper!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 20:48:40 | More by Rijtjeshuis

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

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

Bottle from a mixed Dieu Du Ciel 12 pack.

Clear, deep reddish brown liquid, lots of carbonation bubbles give a shiny white head. Not much lace, foam quickly faded.
Aromas of some caramel, bready grains along with some earthy, herbal hops.
Same elements are in the flavor. Malty and slightly bready to start, fruity sweetness follows.
Medium bodied, very smooth, easy to drink.
Tastes pretty good, but kind of unremarkable, nothing to set it apart. I know there is hemp in it from reading the description, but not tasting anything unique or different.
Maybe it was just me, but need to give this one another chance.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 01:14:28 | More by BigBry

tonyf55

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle into a tulip glass.

Visual (3.5): dark amber colour, minimal clarity. Single finger off-white head with little lacing left on glass. Head dissipates quickly. No visible carbonation. Ruby hue in the light

Aroma (4): malty smells dominate, with undertones of yeast, leather, and spices such as ginger, nutmeg, and light hidden maple. Smells roasted, even though colour doesn't hint at this.

Taste (4): gives way to the spices, but leaves a sweet flavour on the palette. Tastes of grains, nutmeg, breads, and hints of cinnamon. Hops are well hidden in a balance of malt and spice flavours.

Mouthfeel (3.5): fairy medium body with a dry texture. Leaves the palette dry but flows over the tounge in a lively fashion. Good for a spiced beer.

Overall (4): I have a preference for spiced beers. The smell, the taste, and the mouthfeel have a nice complexity that I really like in a "sit-and-enjoy" kind of beer. Not remarkable in the spiced beer category, but a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 22:04:56 | More by tonyf55

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance. Pours a hazy deep amber with almost two fingers of pale yellow-amber head.

Smell. Thick sweet malt and caramel. Some earthy hops, lemons, and a bit of roasted nuts.

Taste. Nice caramel and roasty grains with some citrusy hops. Fairly dry with some nice wet green grass and roasted nuts in the end.

Mouthfeel. Just above light in body with stronger than medium carbonation.

Overall. Nice hemp beer. Has a definite Dieu Du Ciel uniqueness with hemp flavours that you can really taste.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 00:34:37 | More by Rutager

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Fumisterie smells, like almost every Dieu du Ciel beer I've had, very rich and malty. In this case, the malts bring aromas such as heavy brown sugars, vanilla, cookie dough, milk chocolate, dates, and richly toasted grains. In other words, the beer smells delicious: like grandma's house on a Sunday afternoon.

On the tongue, the brew is immediately sugary, but also has a surprisingly strong hints of nuts--pecans mainly, with suggestions of Brazil nuts and peanuts. Still present are the brown sugars, chocolates, and darker fruit esters, but they are joined by light apricots and a good runnel of lightly toasted grains (tasting like the scent of wet wheat), and rounded off by a well-balanced hoppy bitterness. The aftertaste is largely hops and nuts, with just a hint of fruit. Mouthfeel is medium-light, and carbonation is medium-light.

Overall, this is excellent fare, and surprisingly for its focus on nut flavors. Well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 18:54:45 | More by jondeelee

MasterSki

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle courtesy of papat444. Served in a Bell's tulip. The label describes this as somewhere between a German alt and an English brown. Unknown vintage as no one there actually notches the labels.

A - A finger of white foam settles to a thick cap, leaving a few spots of lace on the sides of the glass. Hazed orange-brown body.

S - Malt, caramel, grain, perhaps a hint of smoke and rye. Whatever hops were here are long gone.

T - Note of caramel, toffee, bread and perhaps a bit of spicy grain character that might be hemp or rye.

M - Some mild carbonation zest, smooth medium body, quite sticky.

D - Just a straight up malty beer. The use of hemp seems like a gimmick. Not surprised they replaced it with an altbier. Nothing really wrong with this, but I have much better beers to spend my time with.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 14:51:40 | More by MasterSki

zachariaIPA

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle dated November ’10.

Pours a deep hazy brown with a one inch layer of tan head.
Dude, is that thick lacing or did someone hotbox my tulip glass?

Notes of hops, sweet fruit, candy, smoke, malt. Smells like a winter bock.

Diving through the thick creamy foam, hop bitterness strikes first, followed by fruit then from caramel and quickly to chocolate.

Suprisingly full flavored for a 5.5 ABV. So much character and complexity for a hemp beer. Good carbonation with a nice balance of sweetness and bitterness. This blows Buzz out of the water but still, one is enough for me.

Why do they call them fingers when I never seem them fing? Wait..woah..

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 04:00:50 | More by zachariaIPA

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - a swampy orange brown, fluffy tan head retained and laced respectably
S - herbal, grassy, light lemon, caramel sweetness and some light roastiness
T - hop notes of herbs and grass give way to butter toffee and nutty malt, with a grapefruit zest hop finish
M - lower carbonation, very smooth with a mix of bitter and sweet on the finish
D - unique flavour but subtle enough not to take away from the fact that it is a beer, smooth and rich

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 02:59:23 | More by joemcgrath27

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a slightly hazy copper with a ruby red hue, finger and a half of beige head ad some nice sticky lacing.

S - Quite complex with some sweet caramel, leafy hops, pepper spice, rye and peat on the finish. Some fruits are also detectable with some apples and pears.

T - More of an earthy amber ale flavour dominated by musty caramel and toffee malts. Buttered bread lingers amongst leafy green hops and a bitter lemon citrus. Rather unique.

M - No complaints in this department, medium bodied ale that goes down smooth and finishes with a touch of dryness.

O - Overall a unique experience and could easily be a session ale. Definitely worth a trya s it offers some rather unique flavours that would be appreciated by any fan of a complex ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 16:23:24 | More by andrenaline

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Seeing as how it won't be bottled anymore after this month, figured i'd grab a bottle for a review before there's none left. Had it with my supper, soup & bread.

Poured from a 341ml. bottle. Notches are ambiguous but the case has a bottled date of Nov. 2010.

Appearance: As i pour, foam starts very slow and i'm wondering if i'll much but near the end it balloons to a solid 3 finger head. and retains itself for a few minutes at least. Lacing around the rim and coats the glass all the way down. Color is a hazy, dark amber.

Smell: Piney hops, strong malt and caramel. Very resin-like.

Taste: Good hop bitterness upfront with strong caramel and toffee with a solid malt background. There's some fruit in there also (tropical?) and ends with a nice dry astringency.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is a tad high but doesn't inhibit the smoothness of the body.

Drinkability: Bitterness is kept in check and allows for a pleasant drink. I like this one and would have it if seen on tap.

Overall: It seems the key with this one is freshness though mine had at least 3 months age and still tasted great. Too bad they won't be bottling this one anymore.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 12:22:01 | More by papat444

woosterbill

Connecticut

2.68/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to Ernie for sharing this at a tasting. Poured into a Weyerbacher tulip.

A: Medium amber body with a thin off-white head. Mediocre.

S: Fairly rich caramel, toffee, and bready malts. Nothing more, and nothing particularly Belgian-y. Still, fairly enjoyable.

T: Sharply sweet toffee. One note, and a rather boring one.

M: Light-to-medium body with similar carbonation. A little boring, but ok.

D: Too sweet and too boring.

Notes: My only other experience with this brewery is the fantastic Péché Mortel, and this is worlds apart in both style and quality. Perhaps age is to blame for this beer's lack of complexity, but it was a thoroughly one-dimensional experience. Too bad.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 02:30:28 | More by woosterbill

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours slightly hazy dark amber with a moderate head. Looks decent with a quite attractive colour. Has a nose full of grain and malt. Some fruit and sugar, as well as an odd (but pleasant) earthy funk that may be from the hemp.

Earthy and slightly herbal. Noticeably hoppy, but with a big sweet malt finish. Tasty, again in an odd sort of way somehow. I'm thinking maybe the hemp is doing a bunch of things here that the palate is not used to. A rather full, slightly creamy mouth feel.

An interesting beer across the board, but one I'd want to lay my hands on a coupe more times just to better understand what's happening.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 22:12:09 | More by TerryW

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Appearance - pours a cloudy hazel brown colour with a generous size fluffy off white head. Appears to have some fantastic lacing.

Smell - hops and brown sugar, maybe even some molasses.

Taste & Mouth - some decent carbonation and the hops at first, then a refreshing sweetness kicks in , then a slightly bitter finish and notes of toasted oats and some sort of smokiness. Oddly enough, I only really noticed hemp when I burped.. I also picked up on the buttery flavour.

Drink - A truly interesting beer. Unlike any I've had before. Give this one a try if you happen to see it at the store.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2010 02:36:44 | More by spinrsx

scott451

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a glass chalice. No head to speak of. Yellowish brown. Fair carbonation. Dark malty smells. Nice round flavour. Malty with a hoppy finish. Very interesting aftertaste. A little second coming of flavour. Nice. The label claims that this is brewed with hemp seeds, but no sign of that. Moderately good mouthfeel. The carbonation soon diminishes. The sweetness is a little cloying which makes it not so good for a long session.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2010 02:32:15 | More by scott451

Long813

Nova Scotia (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dated: 07/09
From: Premier Wine & Spirits, 341ml

A: Cloudy copper body with half a finger of off white head. Head dissipated quickly into nothing and leaves minimal lacing.

S: Grains (what I can imagine as the hemp), hints a caramel, a heavy earthiness to it. Very mild aromas, nothing very strong or note worthy.

T: Grains come through a bit more in the taste with faint notes of caramel. Profound earthiness and some bitterness.

M: Medium bodied and high carbonation. Has a chewy texture to it and leaves a odd earthy after taste.

D: What can I say? Slightly disappointing for DDC, but not a terrible beer. I don't think it's anything special or worth buying again though.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 01:52:52 | More by Long813

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First of a DDC mix pack a friend of mine picked up in Montreal. It's really a shame that so few of their offerings ever make it to western Ontario...

Poured into a Duvel goblet. A nice ruby-russet hue, with about a 1/2 inch of head. Some lacing, a thin ring survives.

The nose is...different. Not necessarily a bad thing. Toasted malts (not roasted), caramel, tea, and a creamy, milk product scent. Some folks have said yogurt; I get buttercream.

Not bad, certainly flavorful. Toasted malts and caramel up front. The creaminess is countered by a grapefruit-tea hop character, giving the brew a slightly bitter finish. Not quite balanced, but certainly drinkable.

Velvety and creamy - carbonation works well here.

Actually, I weigh in favor of this brew, but there's definitely some areas of Fumisterie that need work. The taste is a little unbalanced, and the cream/butter isn't the greatest flavor. Still, a solid brew - worth trying just for the name!

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2010 18:25:58 | More by JohnnyBarman

OskarL

Sweden

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A cloudy amber color with a bit dark white head that settles fast and leaves some lacing.

Smells grainy, earthy and wet grass.

Tastes caramel, roasted malt, lemon and grassy hops with little bitterness.

Medium body, soft carbonation, creamy and a bit dry.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 01:31:42 | More by OskarL

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Hemp beer....should be a favourite of the 4-20 crowd..( wink-wink)

Brownish-orange in color. hazy, with a so so head...but classic DDC lacing.

Balance of grainy and toasted malts...nice balance of these two aromas.

Grainy malt in front, really nice rich nttiness from the toasted malts in the middle. Not as balanced as the aroma. Slight mineral water twang in the back end. Finishes with a tea-like dryness.

Agree with other reviewers in the mouthfeel is almost like velvet...very nice.

mMight be miscast as a BPA...more like a darker cream ale or a brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 04:05:43 | More by Shadman

prosper

Alberta (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a pretty ordinary beer, actually. It's amber in colour. Smells faintly malty. Taste is quite bitter, with no real distinguishing character. still, it's pleasant.
Actually, there is a faint hint of smoke that comes out more as the beer warms up some.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 00:56:25 | More by prosper

Yoonisaykul

Quebec (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

Anxious to try this 341ml bottle.

L- Beautiful light brown. Not too many bubble rising. Lots of lacing. Thin patchy head.
S- Smelled a bit rotten at first. I then found pleasant orange slice, fruit salad smell. Something reminds me of yogurt.
T-Pretty ordinary. Ruby red grapefruit. Very little punch but leaves a pretty delicious and refreshing taste. There does seem to be an off flavor in here. That yogurt-y thing from the smell.
M- A little gross. Watery and slimy (I'm exaggerating a little to get my point across)
D-If it wasn't for the issues I wrote about this would be a highly drinkable brew.

There is something here it just doesn't seem professionally made.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 01:29:11 | More by Yoonisaykul

jbonapar

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a nice bottle bought ina 12-pack variety pack.

Poured a nice foamy head with excellent lacing overtop a amber clear brew.

Smell - faint sugars, figs and earth. Not an overpowering aroma by any means.

Taste - Starts with a sweet burst of honey they quickly builds its hoppy bitterness. The bitterness leaves just a quick and a spicy tartness lingers. very well balanced and very smooth. Perhaps some subtle sweet fruits in there as well.

Very drinkable and very refreshing as well. Like most of the Dieu Du Ciel! beers, unique, enjoyable and fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 01:17:40 | More by jbonapar

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

2.53/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle- Deep ruby with a frothy mocha cap. Nose of malts and dirty blankets, wet hay. Tastes sweet, of grass and nasty grains. Overly sweet malty finish. Not good at all. The only smoke screen here is the one of quality that the brewer is trying to hide this beer behind. Another failure from a usually brilliant brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2009 11:23:00 | More by mrmanning

TonyReaves

Maine

2.7/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

This is my second disappointment ever from Dieu du Ciel, who are easily one of my favorite breweries. I wasn't sure what to expect from a hemp beer, but I didn't enjoy it.

Poured into a tulip glass, it displayed a handsome dark red color and a cream-colored head. The smell was vegetable- disappointing.

Taste had some mild biscuit, then a load of vegetable. Maybe vegetable in beers is an acquired taste? Is that the hemp flavor? People seem to enjoy this, so maybe I'm missing something here.

This had a nice, dry finish. If not for the veggies, I could see this being a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2009 19:57:26 | More by TonyReaves

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a sampling glass. Very old bottle, we think it was one of the first batches.

Pours a nice light red color with just a tinge of head. Nose is rye, very odd but suer appealing.

Taste is very earthy, light herbal taste. There's some like stem qualities to it and some light hoppiness, very good for such an old bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2009 14:32:46 | More by kingcrowing