Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus - Microbrasserie Charlevoix

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml capped bottle courtesy of eat (Colin), thanks for bringing over this highly regarded gem!

Pours murky fresh squeezed apple juice color with piles of ridiculous meringue head pillowing up in my tulip. It has amazing retention, just sticking around forever and as it slowly recedes leaving piles of sticky lacing attached to the glass. Very pretty.

Some nice esters off the yeast jump out of the nose (after having Hibernus next to this one, Charlevoix definitely has a distinctive yeast profile in these two), lemon zest, apples, hint of spicing and a pleasant dose of herbal/grassy hopping that doesn't smell like it's going to push this beer in the Belgian IPA territory, which IMO is a good thing.

Really fresh, zippy beer that is extraordinarily well made and well deserving of any accolades. Sweet pale malt up front that doesn't overwhelm as it's followed up by a round juicy fruitiness, apples, pears, lemons, oranges. As it develops the fresh squeezed apple profile comes out. Balanced by a grassy, lightly bittering hop profile that never asserts itself but knows how to play a complementary role. A light mustiness, hints of coriander and other spicing, dry finish to complement the juicy body, zippy carbonation that is more pillowy than harsh, alcohol very well hidden just a touch in the finish if you're looking for it.

Kudos to Charlevoix for bringing this back and living up to expectations, this is a terrific beer. I wouldn't want to drink too much as the 10% sneaks up on you but it's quite refreshing for such a big beer. Big thanks to Colin for cracking this one!

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2010 14:48:43 | More by ritzkiss

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-21-2013 00:41:08 | More by Kmat10

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-19-2013 17:11:24 | More by tom10101

Xzfgiimtsath

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-17-2013 18:09:00 | More by Xzfgiimtsath

seinfeldette

Ontario (Canada)

2/5  rDev -53.2%

05-17-2013 18:07:30 | More by seinfeldette

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-07-2013 22:10:51 | More by Kegatron

Krakpoff

Quebec (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

05-07-2013 20:27:33 | More by Krakpoff

polloenfuego

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.3%

04-27-2013 20:04:02 | More by polloenfuego

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

04-17-2013 14:46:56 | More by Whatup14

JonnyBeers

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.3%

04-17-2013 05:46:47 | More by JonnyBeers

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.01/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a clear light golden color with a big thick head, lots of lacing.

Smells pretty dank, even a little bit funky, some lemon zest, some odd flower notes, lots of spice, yeast. Pretty funky smell but pretty nice.

Taste is sweeter, some honey, kindof funky and a little dank again, spices and flowers, not very citrusy but slightly bitter and maybe a touch of zest, Belgian yeast is noticeable.

Very nice mouthfeel, great carb, very creamy.

Pretty unique beer, very good.

8.1/10

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:38:43 | More by AlexFields

AugustusRex

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -18%

04-12-2013 14:24:02 | More by AugustusRex

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.3%

03-15-2013 20:35:16 | More by yancot

timiskin

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

03-14-2013 03:45:01 | More by timiskin

kevanb

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle poured into a stemlesss wine glass.

The beer pours a nice, light copper color, hues of orange and gold with a huge white soapy head, nearly 4 fingers high that has great retention and leaves behind a large network of soapy lacing. The aroma is of bitter, earthy hops with a bit of bright citrus, a touch of funky yeast, sweet alcohol, floral notes, with peppercorn in the finish. Bitterness hits the tongue straight away, hops are pinier on the tongue, tangerine and grapefruit come out as well, floral and yeasty notes are right behind it, lots of pale grain and sweet, boozy alcohol. The balance on the tongue is a bit questionable with the alcohol being quite dominant and creates a bit of a harshness that mutes some of the brighter and vibrant notes. The body is thick, yet very lively, almost creamy but zesty with a prickly texture that isn't quite hidden in the finish.

Verdict: A nice Belgian IPA and one that I'm glad to have tried. I was able to pick this bottle up when I was in Montreal on recommendation and was not disappointed, the alcohol could be dialed back a bit and I think it would really help this beer out, otherwise the hop character is a really pleasant aspect.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 00:27:58 | More by kevanb

PeerlessMark

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

02-20-2013 22:56:19 | More by PeerlessMark

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

02-15-2013 02:22:52 | More by DaPan

GoHabsGo

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

02-03-2013 05:45:12 | More by GoHabsGo

TCgoalie

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.3%

01-15-2013 18:27:05 | More by TCgoalie

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.3%

01-14-2013 01:07:01 | More by spycow

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

01-09-2013 17:56:01 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

JRod1969

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

01-04-2013 02:09:21 | More by JRod1969

vincechan

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.3%

01-03-2013 04:13:32 | More by vincechan

Melomanemusher

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

12-29-2012 02:37:08 | More by Melomanemusher

nquigley16

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

12-26-2012 01:24:42 | More by nquigley16