3 Monts Amber Ale On Lees - Brasserie De Saint-Sylvestre

Dantes

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Package: 750ml (1 pint, 9.4 oz) “stapled” & corked, heavy brown bottle. No date or ABV information. Classy, wine-bottle-like front and back labels. Key label information: bottle-conditioned, sur lie, and artisanal. Cork stamped, “11/11.” This particular bottle was bought about 18 months ago and properly cellared.

Cost: $5.99

Presentation: tulip glass at ~50º. The heavy staple is easily removed with the blade of a waiter’s corkscrew (or a screwdriver), but the small edge of cork above the bottle’s mouth makes using a corkscrew (or pliers) recommended.

Appearance: Lovely lees dust the bottom of the bottle. The cork pops firmly out of the neck of the bottle, along with substantial tendrils of gunsmoke. The color is extraordinary. The nubilous yellow-apricot body has an inner glow I only seem to see in the best beers. Generates a very fluffy, dry, sticky, barely off-white head that laces down the entire glass. Numerous streams of small bubbles race to the replenish the head.

Smell: Stunningly complex. Meadow-fresh cut grass, floral, and earthy at the same time. This beer expresses it all: sweet malty alcohol, piquant hoppiness, and gentle herbal notes. Smells almost as substantial as most beers taste.

Taste: Like the aroma, the taste continually evolves; maturing from a crisp, herbal hoppiness to a fuller, heavier, sweeter, maltier beer. The more one looks, the more there is in this beer. The initially dry, herbal, and floral notes deepen into a malty, biscuity stage and then a more honeyed fruitiness that includes crisp apple and a tropical mango, pineapple, and durian flavors. The second glass can be entirely different from the first. The balance is on the “soft” side (fruitiness dominating over astringency) but still structured. The alcohol is detectable but unobtrusive, helping this to a deep, long warm finish.

Mouthfeel: A tiny bit of alcohol warmth on the palate, buoyed by the extremely fine, “petillant” carbonation. Manages to be soft and crisp at the same time. Good body, especially as it warms.

Drinkability: Top marks here. Although relatively high in ABV, this is very smooth and easily drinkable. You’ll go through a bottle in no time.

Backwash: One of the finest beers in the world (definitely top 20 for me), and vastly underrated (or under-known). I drank this particular example back-to-back with a “regular” 3 Monts. Frankly, I don’t find the differences that substantial. I’d compare the relationship between the Grand Réserve and the standard offering as the difference between an “extra brut” and a “brut” Champagne (although both are less dry than typical Champagnes). Stock up, this is one of the best cellaring candidates and one of the greatest bargains out there. Sublime.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2004 19:17:23 | More by Dantes

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-18-2013 04:38:56 | More by DaftCaskBC

AdamP

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-11-2013 00:35:56 | More by AdamP

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-17-2013 15:03:11 | More by Whatup14

nzerbe

New York

4/5  rDev -1%

03-09-2013 19:05:51 | More by nzerbe

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -1%

03-04-2013 01:36:21 | More by JuliusCaesar

Kloug

Quebec (Canada)

5/5  rDev +23.8%

02-07-2013 00:43:11 | More by Kloug

tastymug

Ohio

3/5  rDev -25.7%

02-04-2013 01:24:02 | More by tastymug

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

01-30-2013 05:59:52 | More by spycow

andylipp

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

01-19-2013 01:22:57 | More by andylipp

NYR_Rob

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

01-12-2013 04:11:10 | More by NYR_Rob

flagmantho

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750mL corked bottle into a tulip. My bottle indicates 8.3% ABV rather than the above-noted 9%.

Appearance: medium amber-orange hue with a crystal-clear body and a very light effervescence. Head is two thick fingers of frothy ivory foam leaving a nice lace as it dissipates. Attractive.

Smell: lightly fruity malt aroma with a pear character and a hint of apple, although not cidery at all. A very subtle hint of spicy/phenolic character is also present, but it serves merely to liven up the aromatic palate. Light, but quite nice indeed.

Taste: malty with a bit of a grainy component, but quite balanced. The pear and apple qualities are still present, and there's a little bit of a hint of toastiness as well. Finish has a hint of bitterness which is well balanced. I find that I'm really loving this beer. Wonderful!

Mouthfeel: medium bodied with a well-integrated carbonation. You'd never think of it, based on the lack of apparent effervescence, but this is a very well carbonated and highly creamy concoction. Love it!

Overall: I bought this beer on a whim, knowing nothing at all about it. I am so glad I found it -- this is a delicious treat from start to finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 19:15:12 | More by flagmantho

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

4/5  rDev -1%

12-17-2012 17:35:50 | More by stereosforgeeks

Stizz19

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

12-17-2012 06:33:12 | More by Stizz19

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

11-29-2012 08:39:23 | More by KalanM

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 11 20 printed on the back label (best before date?). Pours lightly cloudy golden orange color with a nice 3 finger fluffy white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice foamy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big pear, grape, citrus zest, pepper, clove, herbal, floral, earth, grass, hay, light funk, bread, and yeast spiciness. Damn nice aromas with good balance, strength, and complexity. Taste of pear, apple, citrus zest, pepper, clove, herbal, floral, grass, hay, earth, bread, light funk, light honey, and yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of light fruits, pepper, clove, hay, grass, herbal, floral, earth and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic flavor balance and complexity; nice spicy/malt flavor balance; zero cloying flavors on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a lightly slick and very crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Biere De Garde! Great flavor balance and complexity; very smooth to sip on for 8.3%. This is extremely crisp and delicious stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 05:33:11 | More by superspak

Geiseman

Illinois

5/5  rDev +23.8%

10-06-2012 18:22:48 | More by Geiseman

Apathetiq

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +23.8%

09-10-2012 21:06:33 | More by Apathetiq

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

08-31-2012 13:05:02 | More by t0rin0

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -1%

08-18-2012 17:50:44 | More by 4ster

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -25.7%

08-15-2012 02:55:36 | More by pin

mmarv74

4/5  rDev -1%

07-04-2012 21:47:43 | More by mmarv74

oberon

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my Ommegang chalice a dull medium golden with a nicely formed white one finger crown that held well atop.Aromas are lightly spiced with a big dose of pilsner malt,a bit of drunken fruit as well.Flavors are again lightly spiced with the pilsner malt being the backbone of the flavors,a bit of drunken fruit lingers.Not overly complex but it's food friendlyo the hilt.I liked the "basic" 3 Monts a little better I think.
8.3% ABV. per bottle label.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 21:27:21 | More by oberon

draheim

Washington

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL (code 11 20) into a Hennepin glass. Pours a clear honey amber w/ a thick fluffy white head that leaves big sticky clumps of lace on the glass. Not nearly the same carbonation level as the regular 3 Monts.

Aroma is a combination of wet hay, spices and fruits. Similar to a saison. Yeast leads the way.

Taste is spicy, fruity malt and Belgian yeast. Apples and pears, with a mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a clean dry finish.

Overall a really nice smooth Bière de Garde. Aside from less carbonation, not vastly different from the golden ale version.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 00:17:27 | More by draheim

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

06-09-2012 01:35:11 | More by chickenm