Solstice D'hiver Réserve Spéciale En Fût De Bourbon
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Solstice D'hiver Réserve Spéciale En Fût De BourbonSolstice D'hiver Réserve Spéciale En Fût De Bourbon
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From:
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
American Barleywine
Ranked #62
ABV:
10.8%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,953
Avg:
4.18 | pDev: 8.13%
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
127
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 22, 2022
Added:
Feb 13, 2010
Wants:
  48
Gots:
  22
2009 vintage: 67.5% aged in Utopias barrels, 22.5% aged in bourbon barrels, 10% fresh beer.

All subsequent vintages are aged 6-12 months in bourbon barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by KeKeKumba:
Photo of KeKeKumba
Rated by KeKeKumba from Canada (ON)

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

Dec 19, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.17 by Tmappin from Canada (NS)

Aug 22, 2022
Photo of zolotarov
Reviewed by zolotarov from Canada (QC)

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: A turbid dark brown without a head
Smell: Dark stone fruits, malt, molasses, ethanol, woody aromas
Taste: Rich sweetness, plum, cherry and toffee notes
Mouthfeel: Milky smooth with low carbonation
Overall: An excellent barleywine, with dark rich flavours that mask the high alcohol percentage very well

From a November 10, 2020 bottle
Nov 27, 2020
Photo of edthehead
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Murky brown chewy looking appearance with a sparse bubbly fleeting tan head. Mild pleasant bourbon notes compliment by fig, brown sugar, and stone fruit notes. Moderate body, mild carbonation, velvety mouthfeel.
Mar 18, 2020
Photo of Drinker-Diary
Reviewed by Drinker-Diary from Canada (QC)

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
★★★★
Puissant et sucré!
En cette fin de samedi après-midi, j'ouvre cette bouteille de bière sachant ce qui m'attendrait. Une puissance sucrée vient me réconforter dans cette défaite épique que j'ai subie aux charlatans de Belcastel. Je menais pourtant outrageusement au milieu de la partie, mais je me suis fait donner une solide raclée...
Mar 15, 2020
Photo of TheDoctor
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

4.34/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Serving: Bottle
Bottled: (Consumed Dec-15)


It pours darker than I remember the non-barrel version being. Murky brown with a nice, finely-bubbled beige cap that leaves subtle lacing. The aroma is pretty noticeable upon cracking the bottle. Filled with dark fruits, some nutty oxidation, caramel, dark bread. The flavor is a nutty, treacley, buttery, caramely, toasty, ever-so-slightly-roasty experience with a touch of vanilla-bourbon notes and some bitterness and alcoholic warmth to finish it off. The feel is nice and dry for as strong as it is with a fluffy feel to the carbonation and a complex, warming finish. This is an incredibly nice beer. Especially coming in out of the cold on a Sunday night, putting on some music and sitting by the tree. As it warms I feel like it things out a bit and gets a bit sharper. This took away a little bit on the flavor and overall. That said, this is a great beer.

4.25...4.5...4.25...4.5...4.25
Dec 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Feb 01, 2019
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On draft, 25cl glass

Hazy dark copper colored, thick tan head. Good head retention. Big bourbon and malty aroma. Similar taste. Medium bodied, super smooth
Jan 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.62 by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

Jul 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.17 by goalie35 from Canada (AB)

Apr 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by Radcpa from Washington

Feb 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by Samact from Vermont

Dec 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.8 by dfhhead25 from Pennsylvania

Sep 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.59 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Jun 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.35 by aaronyoung01 from New Mexico

Jun 02, 2017
 
Rated: 2.61 by Rifugium from North Dakota

May 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.99 by groleau from Canada (QC)

May 14, 2017
Photo of papposilenus
Reviewed by papposilenus from New Hampshire

4.46/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
From a 12oz bottle, dated 2015-09-25. Served in an over-sized tulip. Mille fois merci to TheDoctor for both the bottle and the glassware - tres gènéreux!

Pours a semi-opaque burnt caramel with cheerful honey highlights and a scant half-finger of head that was gone before I really got a good look at it. Leaves a thin latte collar and a small, wispy island that looks like Papau New Guinea.

Nose of toasted barley, rye whiskey, fig jam and green, leafy herbs.

Sticky date pudding. Tastes of dark, caramelized brown sugar and vanilla cream, with a rich, soul-satisfying, sinus-engulfing bourbon booziness. Cherries, plums, cigar wrappers, and just a kiss of hop bittering on the tongue at the finish.

Feel is smooth and mouth-coating, medium-hefty with no more than enough carbonation to get the job done.

Overall, sweet, merciful Dionysius, that was mighty fine! Not a beer for the faint of heart, it is a full body experience, from the bourbon fogged sinuses to the flaming gullet to the tingling toes and the bruises on the forehead from staggering into doorways.
May 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by jaydoc from Kansas

Mar 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.58 by MakeBeerGreatAgain from North Carolina

Mar 09, 2017
Solstice D'hiver Réserve Spéciale En Fût De Bourbon from Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 127 ratings