Grande Cuvée Réserve De Noël
Les Trois Mousquetaires

Grande Cuvée Réserve De NoëlGrande Cuvée Réserve De Noël
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From:
Les Trois Mousquetaires
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
American Amber / Red Lager
Ranked #17
ABV:
11.3%
Score:
86
Ranked #19,870
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 14.02%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
36
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 10, 2022
Added:
Jan 26, 2013
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  5
Red lager brewed once a year with a special blend of spices that will evoke souvenirs from the Holiday Season.

25 IBU

Malts: 100% Malts du Quebec Pilsner, Seigle (rye), Ble cru (raw wheat), Avoine (oat), Cara 160, Sarrazin rôti (roasted buckwheat)
Hops: Centennial, Northern Brewer, Summit (dry hops: Centennial, Summit)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DannyBaldoni:
Photo of DannyBaldoni
Rated by DannyBaldoni from Canada (QC)

4.5/5  rDev +19%

Dec 14, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of janubio
Reviewed by janubio from Spain

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
750 cl corked bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a balloon glass. Honey-amber color, small head and no lacing. Aroma is at first too soapy, I even changed the glass, just in case. OK, then I figured it was hops, pine. There is also caramel, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, alcohol, wood, pepper. Medium to full body, thin texture, flat carbonation. Sweet finish. Taste follows the aroma. Good, but not great.
Jun 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.83 by samEBC from Belgium

Jun 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3.78 by mistahmojoryan from Canada (SK)

May 23, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Feb 23, 2019
Photo of BPVandenbroek
Reviewed by BPVandenbroek from Canada (AB)

4.13/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The beer pours clear and amber with copper highlights along the edge of my glass. THe head is dense, off white, and has reasonable retention.

The aroma is definitely Christmas in a glass. Present without being aggressive. Faint hint of brown sugar in the middle melds with gentle maltiness giving the overall aroma structure. There's also cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Maybe my imagination but I swear there's a tiny hint of the candied fruit from my mom's fruitcake.

The mouthfeel is smooth, appropriately slick, and very lightly carbonated. CO2 almost spritzes across my tongue. Same spices merge with pleasant malt character before moving into a gently spiced finish. Sort of cinnamon and brown sugar, if you will. Finish fades quickly, leaving you ready for the next sip.

Overall, this is a very pleasant beer that says Christmas without screaming it. My one complaint is the Christmas aspect is maybe a little one dimensional. I think I'd enjoy this a little more if the amber ale quality came out just a bit more. A little more malt maybe, a little more of the hop finish you'd associate with an amber ale.

Apart from that, I would have this again and again.
Feb 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.88 by Samact from Vermont

Jan 01, 2019
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4.5/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From Cervezasespeciales. 75cl. In Teku glass. Playing Oceanhorn. These guys work spices like nobody. Full of christmas spices and still not feeling overwhelming nor tiresome thx to great toasted malty These guys work spices like nobody. Full of christmas spices and still not feeling overwhelming nor tiresome, probabaly thanks to a great toasted malty base
Feb 10, 2018
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Deep ruby tinged amber, very little haze, and lots of slow rising bubbles, almost like snow in reverse. Topped with 3 fingers of beige tinged head that leaves a complex lacing.

Smells of Christmas spices, cinnamon and cloves, toasted malts and black liquorice.

The taste starts very earthy, then the cinnamon an cloves, and ginger come in, followed by a hint of rust on the first sip, but I don't detect it later. Its slightly sweet, and fairly malty.

Medium body, with a balanced but slightly tannic finish. Moderate, foamy carbonation.

Solid, well done brew. Reminds me of a lot of pumpkin ales as the spice is similar, but definitely looks like Christmas. I got this in Quebec, and am drinking it in Muskoka, Jan 12th, 2018.
Jan 13, 2018
Photo of Organdrew
Reviewed by Organdrew from Canada (QC)

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Bought from the local beer store for 13$. Bottled on 22/11/2017, drank 29/12/2017. This one was labeled as 10.5% ABV, and not 11.5% as in the Beeradvocate listing.

Appearance: pours a dark ruby-red color with lots of off-white head with medium retention. Little lacing that slides easily down the glass. It looks pretty dead in the glass after a while.

Smell: Without even taking a whiff, spices waft into the room from the bottle. Aroma is delicious and unique. Smells sweet, doughy, spicy, and candy-like - like those "chicken bone" candies. I perhaps notice a bit of yeast. Slight spruce sap.

Taste: An overwhelming candy spice takes over in the first sip which is almost too much. It's sweet, candy-like, spicy, doughy. Cinnamon, nutmeg, spruce is noticeable and fairly dominant. Definitely like liquefied Christmas treats. A spicy, sweet finish. More malt-like than hop.

Mouthfeel: Medium-body, thick. Warms in the stomach. A slight candy-stickiness builds up in and around the mouth. Carbonation is not very noticeable, either because there is little to begin with, or the boldness of the drink overpowers it.

Overall: I find the spruce and candy flavor a bit overpowering for my tastes. Didn't particularly like the stickiness. The flavor hits hard and fast, and subsides slow. There is a symphony of tastes and spices that dance on your palate. The ruby lager is apparent as a base, but loaded with heavy spices and sweetness.

Don't get me wrong, it's tasty, and definitely a treat, but like all treats good in small amounts. I think the spruce taste doesn't mix very well with the drink, and pulls it in another direction. A bit too much candy sweetness (I'm not a big sweet fan) and longed for a bit of hop or bitterness to pull it together. I love ruby lagers, but not overloaded with Christmas cheer.

Definitely a unique drink meant to be drunk as a special treat. To be shared with a friend or two. This isn't something you drink a lot of on your own.

I probably won't buy again.

Do I recommend? If you like sweet, strong beers with unique flavor, you might like this.
Dec 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by MakeBeerGreatAgain from North Carolina

Mar 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.28 by talbotjf99 from Canada (QC)

Jan 23, 2016
Photo of TheDoctor
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

3.62/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Service: Bottle
Bottled: 2015


A:
Pours a lightly hazy amber red with two fingers of tiny-bubbled beige head that seems content to hang around just the edges of the glass. OK retention; little lacing. (3.75)

S:
Holiday spices and doughy yeast. Cinnamon, spruce boughs, nutmeg, ginger, other random baking spices, Christmas potpourri. (4)

T:
Smooth spruce sap. Smooth piney sweetness engulfs your mouth followed by a light piney bitter twang and spicy biscuit yeast, root beer. (3.5)

M:
Medium bodied with light-medium carbonation, and a slightly sticky feel/aftertaste. (3.5)

O:
Pretty good, spicy Christmas beer.
It pours nice enough, but nothing spectacular. Everything else kind of follows suit. Everything about it is says Christmas. It is earthy, sappy, spicy, warm, doughy. A little over-the-top with the spices. It is amazing at first, but not super drinkable after a while. Defintely one to share for a toast or something. There is a real ginger/spruce/root beer character to the flavor that is damn tasty, but a little much for my tastes beyond a couple sips.
Not really my style, but I would have it again. (3.5)

It is a great beer at first, but I took the overall and palate down a notch, because it was a little rough and not super drinkable to me after a while. Basically, if this was in a small bottle or if I had only had a glass, my numbers likely would have been higher.
Jan 03, 2016
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.14/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
What to expect from an 11.3% amber lager, brewed with rye, wheat and roasted buckwheat, boldly dry-hopped, and amply seasoned with a variety of different spices? I'm unsure. But Réserve De Noël sure looks good, not to mention befitting: deep red with tinsel-like highlights and powdery white head.

Say what you will about it, but no one can question this beer's Christmas cheer. Les Trois Mousquetaires have been post-ghosts visit Scrooge-level generous when it comes to their "secret holiday spice blend". One can't be sure from smelling it which spices were used but it's obvious they have been.

Classics like cinnamon and nutmeg are almost certainties. I'd bet my presents under the tree that ginger and orange peel are in there too. Clove I'm less sure about but it wouldn't surprise me one bit. All these spices combine with brown sugar sweetness and fruitcake notes to mimic many holiday baked treats.

Spices aside, this beer has the piny, resiny hops and caramelly, sticky malts - both in more than ample supply - to resemble an American barleywine. At 10.5% it also has the alcohol content to fit the profile (though don't expect to taste any of it). Likewise it is great armchair accompaniment by the fireplace.

At the behest of those that already tried it, I was convinced to grab a second bottle of Réserve De Noël to stash away for next year. I'm glad I did. I suspect it'll hold up well. I must admit, however, that it's drinking just fine now, even at hardly over a month since bottling.

Réserve De Noël is a slightly unconventional winter warmer, albeit with some classic holiday features. The use of different grains provide a thoroughly rich and well-rounded maltiness, while spices marry well with the vaguely citrusy, somewhat dank nature of the hops. A true special occasion beer.
Jan 03, 2016
Photo of Poljazz22
Reviewed by Poljazz22 from Canada (QC)

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2013 version 10.5 % abv Polaris hops
Slightly hazy reddish colour, served cold, not much head white collar a bit of lacing.
Candied sugar aroma. Pumpkin pie comes to mind.
I taste orange peel, brown sugar, cinnamon, very sweet. A bit of hops as final. Very warming from the alcohol!
Very Xmassy ...But a a bit overboard for me. I'll try with some smoked Gouda....Tastes like a Leffe Brown on streroids.
Dec 29, 2015
Photo of CanadianBacon
Reviewed by CanadianBacon from Canada (QC)

3.99/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - This beer came in a 750 ml bottle poured into a brussels glass. The beer pours a very cloudy brownish amber color, with 2 fingers of off white head, the head receeds leaving a nice half finger head for so far about 10 minutes. Carbonation is extremely strong in this beer, especially considering its 10.5% abv.

Aroma - Gingerbread really stands out on this one, just behind it I get some cinnamon and nutmeg, a bit of orange peel, some caramel and toffee, vanilla and oak. Really nice smelling beer.

Taste - This is a palate buster if I've ever tasted one. the flavors beat up your mouth In a big way. I get a strong Gingerbread. cinnamon, orange peel, candied fruits like apple. some grape, then some sweet vanilla before you get smacked in the face with bittering oak.

Feel - This feels like a medium body to me with creamy medium carbonation, the bitterness one the end feels stronger than 33 ibu's but definitely brings character to the beer.

Overall - This is a very decent winter beer. The flavors and aromas definitely do a good job and sparking holiday memories and the aroma is absolutely amazing, I like the general mix of flavors here but feel if the oak had been toned down and the gingerbread less gingery and more sweet it would come off less harsh. That being said this is an excellent brew and I'm glad I tried it.
Dec 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Socialiste from Canada (QC)

Dec 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.05 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Dec 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by byronic from Canada (ON)

Oct 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by CurtisD from Canada (NB)

Apr 28, 2015
Grande Cuvée Réserve De Noël from Les Trois Mousquetaires
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 36 ratings