La Vache Folle Double IPA - Yeoman
Microbrasserie Charlevoix

La Vache Folle Double IPA - YeomanLa Vache Folle Double IPA - Yeoman
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From:
Microbrasserie Charlevoix
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 8.7%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
25
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 26, 2012
Added:
Jun 26, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by wordemupg:
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
500ml bottle poured into tulip 11/10/11

A glows a clear copper with just a few slowly raising bubbles that feed a finger of cream colored foam leaves a thick ring followed by some random lace

S heavy on the caramel and toffee, slight floral earthy smell and a little booze, smells more like a nicely aged barley wine

T what I smell but the caramel and toffees toned down quite a bit, very malty with a little rind but its faint

M thick and syrupy with just the right amount of bubbles too cream it up a bit, a little sticky on the lips and only a little heat keeps it from perfection in this area

O interesting stuff with a large helping of sweet malt, not what I was expecting but pretty good overall

reminds me of a barley wine and I almost want to buy one just to age out of curiosity. not the best one from the series but still worth a shot
Oct 11, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by artemh from Canada (AB)

Dec 26, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Molson2000 from Canada (ON)

Sep 13, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by wookievath from Canada (QC)

Jun 18, 2012
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft: Poured a clear deep burgundy color ale with a large foamy head. Aroma of dry fruit with some light sweet ester and some floral hops that are more subtle then expected. Taste is not as hoppy as expected with some great caramel malt with nice notes of dry fruits that are very reminiscent of an Abbey Dubbel. No alcohol was discernable with great carbonation. Very well done event though not close to what I was expecting.
May 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by Wordslinger from Canada (ON)

May 05, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by oldp0rt from Canada (QC)

Mar 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by citycrab from New York

Jan 23, 2012
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
500 ml bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a crystal clear copper, topped with several foamy fingers of off-white head. This retains with a tight looking ½ finger cap that leaves back a thick and frothy cascade, which coats the sides of the glass with heavy sticky lace. This just has a beautiful looking IPA look to it. The aroma has freshly floral, spicy, and piney edges to it, which surround a very sweet smelling core of ripe tropical fruit, bread, and a touch of caramel. Thankfully the sweetness of the nose is still balanced out by a bitter citrus character that sits underneath, giving this a real leafy tanginess in the nose. Maybe just a smidge of extra alcohol spice works itself into this as well.

The taste has a bright and clean hop flavor to it, which is immediately evened out by a ripe twang of juicy fruit character and a malt backbone of sweet caramel and lightly toasted grains. The finish is bitter, but not overly so, with lingering notes of leafy pith, dry resins, and spice. The mouthfeel is medium to fuller bodied, with a lively crispness that is undercut by a good bit of oily slickness that keeps things flowing across the palate. The ABV feels just about right here, adding just the right amount of warm sweetness while still helping to pop those hop flavors a bit but not getting in the way of the overall drinkability of this.

This was my first beer from this Quebec brewery and it was definitely a pleasant surprise. The hop profiles had that nice fresh brightness to them that I love in a good IPA and that 8% ABV body felt perfect for the flavors and overall presence that they seemed to be shooting for with this. I wouldn’t hesitate to try this one again.
Dec 13, 2011
Photo of tonyf55
Reviewed by tonyf55 from Canada (AB)

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From the bottle into a Pilsner Pockal (Steamwhistle brand)

Visual (3.5): Nice amber color with a medium clarity. Single finger brownish head quickly settles into a bubbly film on the glass that leaves a nice lacing. Very attractive amount of small carbonation bubbles well dispersed throughout the body.

Aroma (3.5): Light scents of sweet caramel balanced by earthy hop aromas. The sweetness of the malt is evident with the hop really taking a back seat. Surprising, and a little disappointing for a DIPA. Alcoholic lingers are present, but not dominating.

Taste (4.5): A very balanced DIPA. The malts are less pronounced in the flavour with the hops lending a welcome bitterness that seems to grow on the pallet after a sip. This is not to say it is hop dominated; very sweet syrup malts hit on the initial taste and take the edge off the spicy, almost grapefruity, hop flavour. On their own these flavours would seem completely off-kilter, but balanced just right and this great taste is found.

Mouthfeel (4): The initial feel hits with active carbonation while a certain amount of smooth creaminess follows on the swallow. The alcohol slightly numbs the pallet, giving a reminder of DIPA status. Surprisingly easy drinking for its 8% ABV.

Overall (4.5): Right from the initial dark amber colour, to the caramel scents, to the stark malt balancing of the Yeoman hops, La Vache Folle - Yeoman is a DIPA that is not afraid to let its malts do the talking. You cant really tell its an 8% beer at any point, only light alcoholic lingering give any evidence; which is great when you're focusing on a well-balanced hop flavour.
Dec 13, 2011
Photo of IronDjinn
Reviewed by IronDjinn from Canada (AB)

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From a 500 ml brown bottle. Pours out a hazed light copper hue, with a chunky, creamy off-white head that settles to a thick cap.

Sweet toffee malt on the nose, some candy sweetness, dried apricot and red currants, some dates.

Flavour initially reminds me of an Old Ale or even an English Barleywine. Sweet toffee malt with some candied date and fig up front in the flavour, perfumey hops and some mild fruit esters in the middle, dry leafy, spicy hops on the finish.

Light-bodied mouthfeel, silky smooth texture, with medium carbonation.

Enjoyable, yet rather distant from the style it claims to be on the label by a far cry. Plus the malt seriously gets in the way from spotlighting what this rare old Yeoman hop variety is capable of delivering. Once again, a good beer, but not what it claims to be.
Dec 04, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by kelvarnsen from Canada (ON)

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of ZorPrime
Reviewed by ZorPrime from Canada (QC)

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Color of this beer is amber with a nice looking foamy head. The foam looks like soap. Intense aroma for this mono-hop series. One of the strongest. Piny and citrusy. Nice aroma. Taste is fruity with a dry finish. However, it isn't very bitter. Honey like too. Creamy. The alcohol is well hidden.

The bitterness is not strong however it lingers in the mouth for a good amount of time. Nice. Sweet. Nicely done. One of my favorite.
Nov 12, 2011
Photo of joemcgrath27
Reviewed by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)

3.46/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - slightly hazy orange copper, two finger of head left fairly consistent lacing as it slowly dissipated
S - a very rich aroma of caramel and alcohol, some earthiness, not quite what I was expecting in a DIPA
T - a sticky sweet mix of caramel and syrup, traces of lemon and earthy hops rise through, although much sweeter and maltier than I was expecting
M - syrupy with lower carbonation, sticky and full with a building bitter
O - its good but I must say that its not what I've come to expect from the La Vache Folle series, more sweet and malty than hoppy, a bit of a dissapointment
Nov 12, 2011
Photo of fostachild
Reviewed by fostachild from Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
bottled on: 2011/06/06

pours a clear light amber colour. inch of foamy head - leaves behind a ton of lacing until the end.

smell was quite hoppy, sweet, caramel, some fruit.

taste also hoppy, some caramel, fruit with sweet malty aftertaste.

good carbonation and drinkability - alcohol is hidden well. really enjoyed this.
Nov 05, 2011
Photo of abraxel
Reviewed by abraxel from Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A - Very clear golden-orange, with carbonation streaming off the glass. A few inches of bountiful, creamy head that clings to the side of the glass like it's going out of style.

S - Somewhat delicate aroma, with nice caramelly malt under some earthy, slightly fruity hoppiness.

T - My, this is tasty. There's a very solid, slightly complex malt backbone, with touches of burnt caramel and toffee and a fair amount of sweet fruitiness. Of course, the hops are the star of the show, and it's a hop profile unlike any I've had before. The label touts the Yeoman hops, and I assume that's what I'm tasting: the very earthy, maybe in some way fruity, hops. It goes quite well with the malt flavors.

M - The mouthfeel is pretty full, with a nice prickle of carbonation.

Overall, I'm impressed. This is a very well-done, relatively malty DIPA. I love the complex malt profile, and it seems to match well with the Yeoman hops.
Oct 21, 2011
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
500ml bottle. Keep 'em coming, mes amis...

This beer pours a pale copper hue, with three fingers of puffy, foamy off-white head, which leaves a broken chain link of lace around the glass as it settles. It smells of sweet, somewhat creamy caramel malt, mild molasses, bitter citrus rind, pine resin, and warming alcohol. The taste is more tilted down the bitter, astringent path, with zingy floral, somewhat metallic hops, that seem to lose a lot of the initial citrus/pine backing. There's still a decent, but also shrinking caramel/toffee malt spine, bending as it would, amongst a swirling booze sweetness. The carbonation is soft, and gently prodding, the body medium-full, and ethereally smooth. It finishes surprisingly sweet, the caramel malt gaining a certain bready character, the hops coming across as duly spent.

I can't say I don't relish this ongoing experience in single-hop expression DIPAs. This time around, the noble British hop shows its flavour well (I suppose, I don't know that I've encountered it before), and also its limitations, in the sense of permeating a DIPA, as we hopheads have come to expect. Still, the ABV is well integrated, and it's pretty easy to put back, preconceptions aside.
Oct 20, 2011
Photo of spinrsx
Reviewed by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

3.55/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
500ml Bottle

Appearance – Clear light copper colour with an average size fizzy beige coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation visible and there is a good amount of lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, hops, caramel, grapefruit/oranges

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, caramel, and some light hops. The is also some light citrus taste and something along the lines of a honeydew melon. At some points I was sure I could taste blue cheese as well.. must have been my imagination. Anyways, it finished with a sugary sweet caramel/malt aftertaste with some mild hop bitterness.

Overall – Not what I'm used to as far as DIPA' go.. but still a decent brew. It was probably my least favourite Charlevoix beer so far though. Maybe I just need to try a fresher bottle.
Oct 03, 2011
Photo of Digimaika2
Reviewed by Digimaika2 from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Pours a clear amber colour with a finger of creamy marshmallow like stark-white foam head. Good retention as a blanket lingers on-top, and good retention.

S: Caramel, dark and dried fruits (cherries, dates, figs), fainter tropical notes, and a bit of nut. Leans towards a malt forward smell with a more subdued hop presence.

T: Caramel tasting malts upfront, but a hard bitterness works its way into the profile with those hops. Sweet tropical tastes of pineapple and papaya can be picked up. Alcohol is quite well hidden and near undetectable. Quite a smooth and mellow taste.

M: Medium body with an oily feel, and a relatively low level of carbonation for the style.

D: A nice Imperial IPA that is more malt forward rather than a real hop focused IPA. As mentioned above, this is quite a mellow and smooth IPA that makes for a tasty beverage.
Sep 30, 2011
Photo of Long813
Reviewed by Long813 from Canada (ON)

4.32/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours an clear orange body with two fingers of white bubbly head. Retention is moderate and lacing is minimal.

S: Huge front of pine and caramel malts first hit the nose, then accompanied by a load of sweet fruits. Very good smell to this IPA.

T: Follows the nose quite well with a huge amount of caramel malts and some hoppiness. There is a load amount of sweet fruits which blends quite nicely with the malt and hops.

M: Medium bodied and low carbonation. Texture is chewy and leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste. No alcohol is noted.

O: Another amazing beer from this series. I found this to be a great blend of hops and sweetness, rather than extreme hops.
Sep 20, 2011
La Vache Folle Double IPA - Yeoman from Microbrasserie Charlevoix
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 25 ratings