Charlevoix Vache Folle RyePA - Microbrasserie Charlevoix

jbonapar

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Without a doubt the most underrated brewery in Quebec. Whenever i see a new one of their beers, i have to try it. I've never been a huge fan of ryes, i find they a bit too "over-bodied" so to speak. This, pours a wonderful mahogany red with a crazy thick head. Taste is woody, hoppy, piney. Flavor is superb I'm actually kind of shocked by it. So many flavors, so complex. Hops, candy, surgar-cane, honey, pine, oak...velvety smoothness. Its pretty amazing for a Rye.

In my opinion, the best rye I've had. beats Dieu di Ciel's as far as Quebec goes. Superb and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 03:03:27 | More by jbonapar

Krakpoff

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-07-2013 20:29:49 | More by Krakpoff

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a clear amber/copper colour with two fingers of airy beige head.

Smell - Leafy hops, tropical fruits, light rye.

Taste - Leafy hops are very present, along with spicy rye and a hint of citrus.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Dry finish.

Overall - A well-crafted and flavourful rye beer. Hops are at the right level, not over the top and balances well with the rye.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 03:28:38 | More by leaddog

Muhly

Alberta (Canada)

4.04/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle says it was bottled July 27, 2012.

Poured into rounded beer glass.

A-amber with read highlights. Pours with a lot of white foam. Head retention is decent but not spectacular. Lacing is quite strong, starting in walls and degrading into lanes and webs on the glass.

S-sweet malts are prominent and forward. Hops are definitely there with a bit of piney bitterness., but hanging out in the background. Also getting some subdued spice or pepper.

T-unlike the aroma the hops are a bit more forward in the taste. Pine and grapefruit pith seem to be at the forefront. The malt is there but more subdued and of course a bit of spice from the rye.

M-coats the tongue a bit. Carbonation is low to medium. A bit of astringency from the hops, but the malts balance that a bit too.

O-a nicely balanced beer with some complexity from both the malt and hop bills.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 02:32:04 | More by Muhly

cbnz

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-11-2013 03:12:11 | More by cbnz

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -21.7%

04-06-2013 05:21:34 | More by Molson2000

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

03-25-2013 01:25:15 | More by kwjd

jrempel

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +11%

03-19-2013 02:50:12 | More by jrempel

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-28-2013 03:17:42 | More by NightINgale

nquigley16

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-20-2013 23:43:16 | More by nquigley16

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%

11-29-2012 01:30:08 | More by KalanM

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

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

Props to joemcgrath27 for yet another tasty treat, part of an early Christmas cross Canada trade.

A- Pours a nice amber colour with a deep red hue, thumb of fine bubbled beige head with incredible retention and thick sheeting lacing. Fantastic presentation.

S - An earthy pine and cedar hop profile, burnt sugar, caramel and pepper notes linger.

T - The earthy hop profile continues to dominate with the sweet caramel coming through on the finish, butter notes and peppery toasted bread linger alongside a sour citrus hop profile.

M - Medium bodied, a tad prickly going down, but finishes nice and wet.

O - Another great brew by Charlevoix, offering up a solid hop profile that was nicely balanced with a sweet malt profile. Definitely a worthy selection and super stoked I had the opportunity to try it out.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 02:23:54 | More by andrenaline

Edgerrin32

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +11%

11-12-2012 02:12:24 | More by Edgerrin32

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle poured into tulip 25/10/12

A hazy reddish amber with a large three finger foam that has great retention slowly falling to an island, leaves just a thick single ring of lace that sticks out off the glass

S spicy fruity malt with a little caramel, strange yeast profile almost has a Belgian flair but I just can't place it, not the strongest nose but decent

T not far from the smell, could use a hop injection as the rye malt takes over a little, I'm still tasting Belgian yeast and I'm almost certain they don't use it with this beer, strange.

M has some body and could use a few more bubbles but nowhere near flat, spicy finish

O I'm not sure if I'd call this an IPA as the malts taking over more then the style allows, there's balance and then there's not enough hops.

It's OK but compared to other LVF series its lacking, its a three month old bottle but I can't imagine the hops dropped off entirely. I could have another don't get me wrong its decent beer but I was craving a Mad Cow Hop Bomb

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 07:00:02 | More by wordemupg

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled July 27, 2012. Thanks to Papat444 for this one.

Amber in colour with a very large white head. Head is very solid and just sits there, unmoving. Excellent retention.

Spicy rye in the nose. Not much else to me. Fairly faint smell.

Taste contains a spicy rye flavour, bready malt, some caramel and grassy hops. Malt flavours dominate the hops.

Medium to full bodied, moderate carbonation. A bit sticky.

Overall, a disappointing beer from a brewery I really like. Certainly not bad but not up to their usual standards.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 01:32:40 | More by jrenihan

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - clear copper, tower of tan head wasn't going anywhere with plenty of carbonation rising from the depths
S - mandarin and pineapple, strong grains, hints of herbs and grass
T - big pineapple hops and rye grain up front, mild caramel malt, herbs and light pine to finish
M - medium body, starts juicy then moves to a medium hop bitter with a thinning finish
O - i found the fruity aspect of this very surprising and tasty, there is definitely a big rye grain impact, but still balanced enough to keep it very drinkable, well done

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 02:23:45 | More by joemcgrath27

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.78/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Got this bottle at the Intermarche St-Roche in Quebec City. If you're in the city and are looking for a good stop, this place is pretty soild.

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter.
Bottled 17 May 2012

APPEARANCE: Pours a two finger, medium looking, fluffy, off-white head with very good retention. Clear burnt orange with no carbonation evident. Head fades to a full wisp that clings to the sides of the glass. A full wisp remains with some nice lacing down the glass. Beer looks good.

SMELL: Smells alright. Rype malts, pale malts, melon, fruit, some green apples and floral hops for sure. Some piney hops in there as well.

TASTE: Rye malts, pale malts, green fruits, and lots of spices up front. A good dose of cooriander, tyme, and some nice spicy yeast notes at the swallow. Mild yet lingering aftertaste with green fruits, spicy yeast and a touch of floral bitterness. This is much like a Belgian strong pale ale or triple. Not quite to style.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. A little airy on the palate, though smooth enough. Goes down fine with a bit of scratch and finishes quite dry. A little airy and light on the palate.

OVERALL: Don't really like this as an IPA. Not a bad Belgian strong pale ale perhaps, but this is not my style of IPA. This brewery has yet to impress me, but I will continue to try things and hope for the best. There is definite potential here. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 23:17:39 | More by Jeffo

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle, a fresh shipment from across this land of ours - ooh la la! Nice to see that crazy cow once again.

This beer pours a murky medium brassy amber hue, with three morbidly obese fingers of fine, puffy, foamy pale beige head, which leaves some broad swaths of patchy lace around the glass as it quite slowly fades away.

It smells of sweet caramel malt, spicy rye grain, citrus cream, herbal, leafy, and earthy hops. The taste is understated, but still sassy rye malt, much less sweet than was let on, some attendant breadiness, mildly bitter citrus rind, a twinge of pine resin, and leafy, musty herbal hops.

The bubbles are still subtly active after their opening number, the body a fleshy medium weight, and smooth, but with a slight tackiness. It finishes off-dry, the sweetness neither here nor there, as the rye grain lingers, jaywalks, and hits on your sister.

Less IPA than big-time rye ale, though the essences of the former punch through at times. Tasty, and a welcome harbinger of truth in advertising.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 02:27:52 | More by biboergosum

MattPS

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

08-12-2012 16:14:00 | More by MattPS

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

08-10-2012 02:29:47 | More by chickenm

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from ZorPrime, 500ml into a tulip. Thanks Eric! Bottled May 17, 2012.

Unfiltered reddish brown, with a big, thick offwhite head. Solid lace, dense head. Nose is bready, light rye, caramel, grapefruit and citrus zest. Good bit of eyast character. Taste has bitter citrus, grapefruit, orange, rye bread. Light medicinal/mineral qualities as well. Leafy hop notes as well, some banana flavour as well. Medium full feel, medium bitterness. A nice hoppy rye amber beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 18:20:13 | More by liamt07

MasterSki

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to papat444 for this offering. Bottled May 17th, 2012. Served in an Alchemist pint glass.

A - Voluminous off-white foam settles to a thick, creamy cap, leaving intricate lacework. Lightly hazed amber-bronze body.

S - Lots of rye, bready malts, and some mild earthy hop notes. Somewhat understated and lacking in sizzle.

T - Taste has more malt sweetness, with caramel, fruity notes, and spicy rye in the finish instead. Fairly low hop presence and residual bitterness.

M - Quite dry, with a bit of grain to an otherwise creamy medium body. Pleasant carbonation level, and no obvious alcohol.

D - Definitely more Rye Pale Ale than Rye IPA, at least at this stage (even though the bottle says this is supposed to be more of the latter). Hops have faded quite a bit in the last two months, or weren't overly present to begin with. Still, the malt bill has sufficient complexity for this to be pretty enjoyable stuff. The 500ml bottle is a reasonable serving size here.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 04:07:31 | More by MasterSki

kylesobrien

Quebec (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This "rye PA" pours with a thin white head and a translucent shade of golden amber. The aroma is very hoppy, and hints at the bitterness to come. The first sip is less bitter than I expected, and as my wife suggested, is followed by what almost seems like celery seed in the finish. The aftertaste is pleasantly hoppy, although I'm not detecting as much of the spicy character I've come to enjoy from other rye ales.

Very drinkable. The malt and hops are very well-balanced, and I wouldn't have guessed that it's 6% ABV. I'm just beginning my journey into the world of Québec microbrews, but all in all this is definitely one of the best I've tried so far. I may be biased given my steady consumption of IPAs in the past, but this is a fine choice for anyone looking to try a nice hoppy beer with a little more character. I'll definitely pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 00:35:20 | More by kylesobrien

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice clear golden/orange color to it. It has a nice thick beige head that dies down slowly and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of spicy rye malts, caramel, some citrusy hops and a perfume like scent.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some nice spicy rye, some roasted caramelly malts and some citrusy and piney hops. All and all not that bitter.

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

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

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 22:24:24 | More by SebD

Foudebiere

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +11%

07-15-2012 02:03:30 | More by Foudebiere