Microbrasserie Les Trois Mousquetaires Série Signature – Maibock Maibock at 6.8% ABV (C$7.44 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, bottle date 10-Jul-2015)
Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with one finger of fluffy off-white head diminishing fairly rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grainy malt, floral, herbal, honey. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light pepper. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter and spicy finish. (4/5)
A bit beefy all-round – which, I guess, is bang-on for the style, which is intended to walk the line between too little and too much. I didn’t even look at the label before tasting, and was surprised at the alcohol presence – not “hot” as such, but definitely there. The lingering bitterness of the finish was also a surprise, given the stated 26 IBU. (Have I mentioned lately how much I love LTM labels? OG, FG, ABV, IBU, aging, serving temperature and glass, tasting notes and food pairings. Why doesn’t everybody do this?) I actually had to go back and read the BJCP guidelines for this style, and was slightly surprised how well this thing ticks all the boxes. I actually thought Maibocks/Helles Bocks were supposed to be a bit lighter all-round, but apparently they’re not. The only area this one really falls flat (so to speak) is the lack of persistence for the head, along with a bit less clarity than the style requires. I waffled a bit as to whether I actually liked this or not, but came down on the side of “yes”. At the very least, it’s an interesting brew. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
