Dominus Vobiscum Triple - Microbrasserie Charlevoix

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

4.39/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A:
Pours a slightly cloudy, pale whitish dirty yellow, with a really active pristine white head that is a bit creamy and quite effervescent. Champagne-like carbonation, beautiful. Absolutely perfect head (literally feel likes cream when it gets on your lips). Great retention pretty thick lacing. Takes two pours.

S:
Pretty sweet, floral crispness with some thicker banana/vanilla-scented yeast tones. Some citrus rind, pretty soft smelling.

T:
Not brash. Really refreshing and floral. A little lingering sourness. Some broad mineral tastes.

M:
Soft and creamy with a rising tinge of carbonation. Warm and round. Not overly boozy but there is definitely a little tingle from it. Long, smooth, gentle finish.

O:
An all-around enjoyable experience from start to finish. Gorgeous, smells nice, delicious. I honestly expected nothing so good. On my way to get more.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 21:03:27 | More by TheDoctor

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a fairly clear, light golden color, large effervescent head, bubbles all around the sides and bottom of the glass. Head leaves some thick lacing as it recedes (recedes pretty quickly though).

As the description on the bottle says, this does smell fairly hoppy for a tripel; smells of fairly bitter citrus, orange zest and grapefruit, pepper with pretty aggressive spice, some yeasty banana, some flowers. Has a very sharp character overall.

Taste has the same citrus up front but here it's more sweet than bitter, there's also a nice yeasty sweetness that tastes the same as the Blanche I had before this so in guessing it's the same house yeast, spices and pepper again but much milder. Nice balance between the hops and the yeasty character (this is also not fresh so hopes are likely not what they were).

Excellent mouthfeel much like the Blanche, very soft and milky/creamy.

Very solid tripel, has a lot in common with the other Charlevoix beers I've had.

7.9/10

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 00:50:25 | More by AlexFields

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a brown 16.9 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy dark golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is mild, some fruits and malts. Taste is fruits, alcohol, yeast esters, some hops, pretty good. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall this is a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 19:17:41 | More by tone77

polloenfuego

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a Charlevoix glass.

A: pours a hazy gold with a high fluffy head that stays around for quite a while. When it breaks down, it leaves a small film and good lacing.

S: the smell is sweet and yeasty. There are floral and fruit tones present.

T: sweetish...fruits come through as does the yeast. It is a light and pleasant taste.

M: soft and creamy. Carbonation is there but not overpowering. It is a smooth beer.

O: a nice triple. Charlevoix does a nice job this beer. I appreciate the smooth and refreshing taste that comes through. This might be my go to summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 17:26:56 | More by polloenfuego

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500ml. bottle, bottled 2012/10/02.

Appearance: Pale gold, pretty clear with slight haze, nice voluminous white head that lasts super long with some lacing.

Smell: Pears, yeast brings out a flowery aroma, heady with hints of spices.

Taste: Mix of pears, bananas, citrus fruit, tail end has a bready feel with some mild spicing.

Mouthfeel: Prickly carbonation, nice & long feel.

Overall: I always enjoy Charlevoix's tripel, maybe more so than Unibroue's.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 23:24:48 | More by papat444

BostonHops

Massachusetts

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

500ml bottle served in a snifter.

pours a cloudy, bright golden-yellow tone while yielding a foamy 2" head. very nice retention and some patchy lacing. nose offers a good dose of fruity sweetness with notes of yeast, spice, and a little malt. all the trappings of a good tripel.

taste is even better. fruit comes through (apple, maybe a little lemon zest), spice, yeast, and a touch of booze. very enjoyable. medium bodied mouthfeel with some zest carbonation.

overall, nothing otherworldly here but no question it's a very solid tripel, flavorful and tasty. highly recommended.

(originally reviewed: 08-30-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 01:05:23 | More by BostonHops

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow, really hard to fault this beer. Poured at a good temperature with colossal, off-white, fluffy, foamy, frothy, billowy head that lasts a while and lots of lace. Color is a clear amber with a ridiculous number of bubble trails. Aroma is yeast, bread dough, malt, spice. Flavor's like nose with sweet on top and cut by carbonic tang and finally by bitter of hop and yeast. Huge mouth fill and perfect carbonation. Finish is like flavor, lasts a while, and has some alcohol warmth. Fab beer! Wish I could get it locally.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 00:54:11 | More by drpimento

nickfl

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours with two fingers of white foam on top of a clear, golden body. The head settles at a moderate pace and leaves nice lace on the glass.

S - A strongly yeasty aroma of clove and pear with a bit of honey malt and pepper.

T - Sweet malt with pear and clove up front. More thick malt in the middle with peppery character and clove. The beer finishes pepper, honey, clove and a lingering anise character.

M - A thick body, high carbonation, and a fairly dry finish.

D - This is a big, and very thick beer and while it fits in the style, it has an overly thick malt character and way too much clove for my taste. There are some promising pepper and pear notes up front, but they are overwhelmed by excessively sweet malt and make for a beer that is lacking in balance and subtlety.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 03:39:36 | More by nickfl

smakawhat

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Bottled March 17th 2010.

A fast forming white head that doesn't stick, but always manages to leave a good collar while drinking. Body color and appearance hints at large cola carbonation, but the beer eventually settles into a nice muted orange yellow and slight orb glowing body. Not bad.

Great nose for a triple. Sweet candied malts, hints of apple, a little oaky butter, sweet tropical mushy mango. Dense yeast as well it seems. Very nice.

Taste brings a nice controlled sweetness. Fruit cobbler action with hits of vanilla in the palate. Sweet candy and malts on the finish with a nice bittering hop. Warming yet not boozy with a solid simple mouthfeel that isn't too impressive but not a syrupy mess either.

Really enjoyed this one for taste and pleasure, great feeling and it has a wonderful warmth which doesn't seem to be derived from alcohol for a very masked abv at 9 percent. i would love more!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 23:34:06 | More by smakawhat

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours five+ finger white head that fades very slowly, leaving a good lace. Hazy straw color. Very good carbonation and medium bodied. Belgian yeast nose and flavor is sweet fruit and Belgian yeast. Nice triple. $7.99 for a 500ml bottle from Julio’s Liquors Westborough, Ma. Bottled Mar 2010.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 22:11:54 | More by jdhilt

cmadd

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours into the glass a straw coloured body with three fingers of head.

S: Ripe fruits, apples, pears, spicy Belgian yeast, but very clean. Really big smell.

T: Follows nose, with a slight yeast bite opening. The middle is HUGE sweet pear/apple flesh and honey. The yeast dominates the finish. I can't believe this is 9%.

M: Nicely carbonated, smooth. Clean.

O: A great clean example of the style, so heavy on the ripe orchard fruits, that it is definitely one of my favourites in the style. It's not super dry like Westmalle, but I honestly prefer this.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 05:55:29 | More by cmadd

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from tasting notes on March 26, 2011. Thanks Michael for sharing. Bottle dated November 16, 2010.

Beer on lees, so we made sure to pour carefully to avoid disturbing the sediment. Poured crystal clear, yellow, with no head (likely due to careful pour). What foam did form disappeared quickly. Some lacing.

Aromas of apple, fruit and alcohol in the bouquet.

The taste was a bit harsh. Fruity and a bit bracing. Could do with some aging to take the edge off.

Mouthfeel was high carbonation, a little much for me and acidic.

This is a decent Canadian Triple, but still not quite in the same league as Fin du Monde. If I see some on my next Montreal visit, will grab some and age for 2 years or so and give it another go.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 22:13:41 | More by DaPan

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into a 22oz snifter.

A - Huge billowy white head, even with the most gentle pour I could manufacture. As usual, this pour is a long, drawn out process, as always with Dominus. The color is a deep, hazy golden-straw color. Thick frothy clumps of lacing cling to the glass all over. Great head retention.

S - Not quite as spicy upfront as I expected. Much more fruity notes here, almost citrusy even. Tons of apricot and tangerine, with some peaches thrown in there as well. Lots of Belgian yeast, but not a lot of spice or candi sugar like one might expect. This one has more of a fruity/yeasty aroma, which I prefer over a more spice forward bouquet anyways. There is one off part of this aroma though, and it's not the first time I've detected this in a Dominus Vobiscum brew, and that's this peculiar tomato-like note, like Heinz ketchup or something... The spicy character is still here however, just not that pronounced. At this point I'm just rambling until this head dies down...

T - Right off the bat, this almost tastes like a dubbel. Lots of figs and licorice notes upfront. The finish is more typical of the style, with a dry, slightly phenolic burn of spices, yeast, and light alcohol. The fruity sweetness from the aroma shows up as well, helping balance the spices very well. It isn't quite as fruity as I had hoped based on the aroma, but the flavor is still better and more balanced than some other tripels I've had. The spicy phenolic character bounces nicely off of the sweet fruit notes. Nice bready malt backbone too, that works well with the strong yeasty notes and light grassy hops. One of the better tripels I've come across for sure.

M - Nice and smooth, with some fine carbonation nicely sprinkled in. The spice adds a kick to the finish that doesn't overwhelm, but balances the sweetness well. Slight alcohol warmth, but that's to be expected with the style. It could be a touch smoother, but as is, it's really good.

D - A fantastic and well balanced tripel. Great flavor profile, with a wide range of ingredients on display. Although tripels aren't exactly my favorite style, I could definitely see myself picking this one up again. Dominus Vobiscum continues to impress me.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 03:28:24 | More by Converge

duracell

Quebec (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500mL bottle into a tulip glass.

A - Pours a bright golden yellow color, quite clear, with a 3-finger snow white creamy head. Very beautiful! Pretty decent retention.

S - Typical smell from Belgian Tripel, very complex, spicy, but dominated by the yeast and the malt. I pick out some herbal notes, biscuit, nuts and honey besides. Delightful!

T - The taste is a tad less complex than the smell. Spices and malt upfront. Then raw sugar with some caramelized apple.

M - In my opinion, this beer is overcabonated, leaving a foamy feeling in the mouth which masks the typical powderish feeling coming from the yeast.

O - An excellent beer which fits perfectly the style, very complex and perfectly balanced!! My only concern is the overcarbonation which leaves a relative unpleasant feeling in the mouth. But don't get me wrong, I would drink this brew all day long!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 06:53:49 | More by duracell

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It has a nice semi-cloudy golden color to it. It has a nice thick white head that dies down moderately and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of banana, citrusy/tropical fruit, piney hops, some spices and yeast.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a very nice tropical and citrusy fruit feel, piney hops in the back, banana, nice cloves and spices and some yeast

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

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

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 21:30:04 | More by SebD

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

golden hue of it had a nice cloudiness to it that seemed to come through nicely with a bit of lacing around the sides.

aroma is light bready notes and hints of banana, cloves, pears, light tart apples and a touch of spice on the edges. clean, very clean flavor that it is very hard to find really any fault here in that. super clean with light body and a nice medium palate with hints of grain and light fruits that seem to dance all over the place. light bears and nice touches of fruit and light spice. smooth, clean finish

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 01:57:52 | More by mikesgroove

GodOfBeer

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice orange-peach colour with a very thick white head, lots of tiny carbonation.

Smells of apricots, peach, tropical fruit, citrusy hops, coriander, banana, I could goes on and on here...

Tastes of sweet tropical fruits upfront, a nice citrus rind, coriander and spices, finishes with a nice piney astringent hoppy undertone. The alcohol is very well hidden, but becomes noticeable as it warms up.

Very intense carbonated mouthfeel, this beer is alive!

Overall one of the best Tripel's I've ever had, Quebec sure knows what's up!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 02:45:49 | More by GodOfBeer

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

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

500ml bottle pours a clear, dark orange with lots of head into a duvel tulip glass. Tastes of dark fruits with green apples and plum like fruit flavours taking the lead. For the 9% it drinks down pretty smooth and its not hot at all. Its not a bad beer overall, but Tripel's are not my favourite style. So this B+ rating is saying a lot as I have a soft spot for this brewery who make some really nice beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 02:31:46 | More by WeedKing4

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

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

Glad to see these offerings at the LCBO, certainly a nice treat.

A - Pours slightly hazy golden colour, finger of head with some retention and no real lacing.

S - Sweet yeast ester notes, cloves and bananas, honey and a touch of leafy green hops.

T - Much like the nose with the sweet yeast esters and cloves, sweet alcohol adds a bit of heat, and the leafy green hops adding a touch of bitterness. Full flavoured tripel, but surprisingly drinkable.

M - Heavy on the carbonation, filling the mouth with big bubbled swigs, goes down a tad prickly but finishes with a touch of dryness.

O - A complex ale that will give your tastebuds a run for their money. Worth grabbing a bottle and I'll be grabbing a few more before they disappear from the shelves.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 17:01:27 | More by andrenaline

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle poured in to Duvel tulip.

A - Poured a light orange colour wiht a tinge of amber and two fingers of thich, bubbly head that receded to a small ring around the edges of the glass. A lot of visible carbonation.

S - Banana, cloves, apple, pear and a slight Belgian yeast nose.

T - Cloves, banana, apple, pear, apricot. The ABV is noticeable and warming. Beligan yeast flavour are present but subtle. Very robust and flavourful.

M - Medium body with moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 14:38:37 | More by TheSevenDuffs

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dominus Vobiscum sounds scary but the beer looks rather approachable; a perfectly clear, albeit worn-out golden, there's little to be intimidated by. Light flickers off it like it does a warm lake on a sunny summer day. Its head is persistent, but irregular and warty, with bubbles that spring up like mushrooms after a heavy rain.

It's not unusual for beers of this style to have floral, fruity bouquets, but Dominus Vobiscum Triple smells like some kind of ethereal garden. The voices of angels can be heard signing. It's an aroma perhaps best described by a botanist as notes of magnolia, gooseberry, sweet briar, violets, blueberry and ambrosia are instilled.

The flavour, likewise, could warrant a whole gastronomy thesis. Apple orchard, rose petal, muscat grape, cedar wood, cereal grain, fresh cut grass, honey, artichoke, and passionfruit - I understand a list like that may sound made up, but I assure you those flavours were carefully selected from dozens more that could have been added.

And the descriptors continue into the mouthfeel: It has the herbalness of dill, the zest of fresh grated ginger, the spice of caraway seed, the earthy bitterness of truffles, the dryness of straw, and the citrusy aftertaste of tangerine. Add to it a pumpkin spice-like complexity and just an ounce of inevitable alcohol warmth. Wowza.

Like Tony Bennett, Dominus Vobiscum Triple is a timeless, universal classic that has perfected its craft. Other than the obvious Belgian staples I can think of few other tripels so complex and so charming. It is far and away one of the most layered, intricate beers I've tried, so much so that it's probably made me sound a liar. Emphatically recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 20:40:01 | More by biegaman

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottled July 27, 2011

Beer is a very clear, light golden colour. A huge, frothy white head builds up during the port but begins to dissipate very quickly. Very little lacing.

Not to confuse senses, but the smell is very smooth and velvety. Honey, lemon, chamomile, banana, yeast and miscellanous light fruits. Reminiscent of Triple Karmeliet but not in the same league.

Taste has a lot of the same flavours. Light fruit, apple, banana, honey and a bit of peppery spice. A bit of an alcohol burn at the end. A slight malty flavour.

Pretty high carbonation level- a bit for much for me, some irritation. Medium to heavy body. Alcohol dries out the mouth a bit. Improves as the beer settles a bit.

Overall, a good tripel but not fantastic. I like this brewery a lot and was actually a little disappointed by this one, as it is one of my favourite styles. Still, cannot get down on it- definitely a good beer and one I would be happy to have often.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 18:09:26 | More by jrenihan

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Orange/blonde colour, one finger of dense white head, settles to a layer of white head on top that retains forever, some lace left behind. Smell is yeasty up front, lots of lemon and citrus, hoppy, green apple, sweet candy like notes, some banana, tropical fruit, very fruity. Taste is fruity and yeasty, green apple, citrus, lemon rind, bubble gum in finish, moderate hop profile, spices in aftertaste. High carbonation, med weight, med-full body. Nice and complex but very approachable, I really enjoyed this, had this at volo a couple years back and it blew me away, wasn't as impressed this time but it is still top notch and still love it.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 01:47:41 | More by peensteen

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured a one finger head into an over sized wine glass - cloudy - could hear the bubbles coming to the top - dark cider with some orange in the colour - some lacing with great retention - the smell is spectacular - lemon zest, melon, citrus, floral hops, banana, herbal tea - taste follows the nose with some pepper and mango - mounthfeel is medium body with some carbonation, slightly dry with some sweetness, not overly bitter, the abv is completely masked - overall on of my top 10 of all time - really quite spectacular - complex yet supremely drinkable

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 03:17:20 | More by Stocean1

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle served in a snifter.

pours a cloudy, bright golden-yellow tone while yielding a foamy 2" head. very nice retention and some patchy lacing.

nose offers a good dose of fruity sweetness with notes of yeast, spice, and a little malt. all the trappings of a good tripel.

taste is even better. fruit comes through (apple, maybe a little lemon zest), spice, yeast, and a touch of booze. very enjoyable. medium bodied mouthfeel with some zest carbonation.

overall, nothing otherworldly here but no question it's a very solid triple, flavorful and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 02:24:26 | More by perrymarcus