Équinoxe Du Printemps - Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel

Gyle41386

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a snifter. Been excited about trying this one for a while, so might as well crack it open for review #400. Cheers.

The pour is a brownish orange, or maybe an orangeish brown. It actually kind of looks burnt orange to me, but maybe that's because it's the fall and I've got college football on the brain 24/7. There's just a bit more than a finger of tan foam. Head retention is very good, and there is some thick lacing stuck to the glass.

The nose is a sweet one. I'm smelling apples, molasses, toffee, caramel, brown sugar...one of those could very possibly be maple syrup that I've misidentified. There's a little bit of booze in the nose, but it's certainly not overpowering. Warmth brings out a spicy note, too.

I have to say, I'm surprised that this beer isn't sweeter. That spice that appeared later in the nose provides a little balance, as does a bready kind of flavor. I'm not tasting the apples that I smelled, instead maybe raisins. There's also a touch of smoke, some vanilla, and a bourbon-like flavor that fortunately lacks boozy heat. Maybe a little brown sugar in the finish. There's some light maple flavor, nothing you'd want to pour on your waffles or chug against your fellow highway patrolmen.

Full-bodied with a creamy texture. It took me a while to decide if I was a fan of the mouthfeel. I couldn't decide if I'd rather have a more syrupy texture, but near the end of the glass I was glad it wasn't. The alcohol is only occasionally noticeable in the taste and instead provides a nice lip/tongue numbing effect. This beer became significantly better with warmth. A fairly easy drinker for the style + ABV.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 04:05:06 | More by Gyle41386

MADPolo

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-25-2013 12:00:42 | More by MADPolo

AngusOg

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-24-2013 14:29:24 | More by AngusOg

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

The most noticeable attribute about this beer is its incredibly low carbonation. When I poured it, not even a slight head formed. The body is very befitting of a beer with such a low carbonation; very smooth and slightly syrupy. Speaking of Syrup, the maple syrup, the sweet maple flavor blends very well with the natural flavors befitting of scotch ales and especially with this one; sweet, caramely, malty, peaty, slightly smokey etc. But overall this beer is sweet. Not overly sweet, but sweet nonetheless. Good beer to try once, but this is something I definitely will not be buying again. Slightly dissapointed, since not only have I heard such amazing things about Dieu du Ciel!, but I also love wee heavies. I've had brown ales flavored with maple syrup before but never any scottish ales. It seems like a great idea and I definitely wouldn't mind trying another one like this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 02:09:40 | More by Zachtheporter

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-22-2013 05:23:43 | More by Kmat10

shehateme

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-19-2013 20:44:39 | More by shehateme

ADTaber

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-13-2013 23:41:17 | More by ADTaber

macrosmatic

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-12-2013 17:27:03 | More by macrosmatic

tastymug

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-11-2013 22:58:32 | More by tastymug

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-08-2013 07:43:24 | More by beernads

Auror

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

05-03-2013 17:02:53 | More by Auror

deonreds

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-01-2013 06:20:27 | More by deonreds

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-29-2013 17:53:57 | More by rfgetz

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.99/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a sediment-ridden cloudy sunset red color with a 1/2 inch of head

S: Lightly smoky malts, some woodiness, maple syrup, and a light fruitiness highlight the nose

T: Follows the nose. Very light smoke, woodiness, a light sweetness, maple syrup, and some fruitiness. Finishes with a dry sweetness

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A solid scotch ale with a nice mellow sweetness from the maple syrup. Nothing in your face, but it's decently complex and interesting. The 9.5% is nowhere to be found, and sneaks up on you. Not around for very long as it's only brewed once a year, so get some if you find it

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 01:59:52 | More by BEERMILER12

JakerLou

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-26-2013 21:19:10 | More by JakerLou

surfotog

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-26-2013 00:40:42 | More by surfotog

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This is something I've had before but didn't review. Glad to get a second chance!
Special thanks to ricochet173 for this.

Light, semi translucent root beer colored pour. Half finger light beige head. Lacing is decent.

Caramel, toffee, with some fresh baked cookies and some maple syrup. This reminds me of cornbread muffins we make warmed with maple syrup. Slightly buttery and decadent.

Caramel, toffee, maple syrup, brown sugar, light roasted coffee, burnt toast.

Light to medium body, slightly syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 23:04:20 | More by korguy123

MrTinnedPEach

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

04-22-2013 01:43:25 | More by MrTinnedPEach

ToasterChef

Maine

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-19-2013 00:23:09 | More by ToasterChef

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-17-2013 14:11:10 | More by Whatup14

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed with Kim Lachance. Collaborative review.

Appearance: It has a nice merky orange/amber color to it. It has a nice deep beige head that dies down quite fast and leaves next to no lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of sweet dark fruit (raisins, blackberry), sweet toffee, some maple syrup.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some dark fruit, some maple/toffee sweetness, some grassy notes and a roasty bitterness

Mouthfeel: It has a low carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 02:48:30 | More by SebD

stunna

Maine

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

04-07-2013 00:01:44 | More by stunna

cfh64

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-06-2013 01:39:59 | More by cfh64

Jayhoop

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-03-2013 16:17:47 | More by Jayhoop

Greywulfken

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: into a large snifter, brown beer with but a brief bubbly head (with a center-pour)

S: sweet maple and caramel malt, suggestions of dark booze

T: syrupy sweet malt forward - almost approaches an English barleywine, but has something vaguely peaty or smoky that cements it as a Scotch ale. Maple and toffee sugars dominate, accompanied by spice-like flavors that remind me of the winter holidays

M: coating, warming, smooth, slick, after-bite of spice and alcohol

O: a nice Scotch ale - I wasn't overly fond of the maple - maybe it made it too maple syrupy for me. I would have like some drier flavors in there (this would probably blossom if aged in whiskey barrels). A solid beer from a great Canadian brewery.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 20:21:37 | More by Greywulfken