So, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have a tendency to gush on and on about Dieu du Ciel!, as well as their Ontario importer, HMH Negotiants. If you haven’t been reading for long, you might not know this. But trust me, I do. It gets a little embarrassing for everybody, kind of like that couple everybody knows who get a little too cuddly in public. So I’ll spare you that. Suffice to say, DDC makes some truly amazing beers. And we owe a debt of gratitude to Ralph and Tom Moranna for busting their asses to bring us these beers. Okay? As far as this particular bottle goes, “Peche Mortel” means “Mortal Sin”, and for many people this beers includes two of their preferred sins: Coffee and booze. At 9.5% and with a generous dose of black coffee, what could go wrong?
Peche Mortel - Dieu du Ciel!
From a 341ml ISB with a freshness date stamped into the side of the label, the beer pours an opaque brown so dark it’s nearly black. A dense tan head dissipates to a nice film pretty quickly. Aroma is lovely warm coffee and sweet malts, with a generous alcohol bite. Taste is just amazing, though nearly overwhelming. Huge coffee roastiness, woody and bitter. After that initial taste, a hugely sweet warm malt comes in, nearly sugary sweet, which gets swept away by a heavy boozy alcohol (it is 9.5% after all), but the finish is all coffee again, dry and bitter. Despite being absolutely massive, this beer is amazingly well-balanced. It drinks almost like a liqueur, though a lightly carbonated one. Probably a bit too big to consider it a breakfast beer, unless you’re me or one of my ilk, it would go amazing with a sweet dessert, possibly a cheesecake. I think the richness of the cake would juxtapose the bitter/alcohol of the beer. It’s definitely a slow sipper, and it’s one of a few beers that I’m glad is only 341ml. I don’t know if I could do a full 500ml in one sitting. Still, this is one of the best coffee-based beers I’ve had. If there’s any left at the LCBO, go get it. If not, it’s time for a drive to Gatineau. Seriously, buy this beer.
Cheers, DDC!
