L'Impératrice - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Le Trou Du Diable

L'Impératrice - Bourbon Barrel-AgedL'Impératrice - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
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From:
Le Trou Du Diable
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.8 | pDev: 11.05%
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
78
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 25, 2021
Added:
Oct 29, 2011
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  11
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.81 by DannyBaldoni from Canada (QC)

Jul 25, 2021
Photo of larryi86
Reviewed by larryi86 from Delaware

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- Black with a huge light tan head.

S- Roasted malts, some dark chocolate, touch of dark fruits, touch of bourbon.

T- Roasted malts, some bourbon, touch of caramel, some dark chocolate, dark fruits, touch of coffee.

M- Smooth, medium body, high carbonation.

O- A decent barrel aged stout, barrel is weak but still enjoyable.
Jan 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.29 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Nov 13, 2020
 
Rated: 3.93 by Chico1985 from Massachusetts

Sep 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.05 by desint from Belgium

Jun 19, 2020
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
i love these guys, and was stoked to find this one on tap, been way too long since ive had one of their beers! pretty pour here, a matte dark brown to black body and a thick inch of tan head as thick as shaving cream and permanent, leaving a lather of foam on my upper lip after each sip. the aroma is somewhat understated compared to what we have gotten used to in the style, not as huge on the booze or bourbon as a lot of them are, and with a cool yeast element and fruitiness among all the dark grain, a little more layered and interesting than has become the standard, but nothing forced at all, and high quality is obvious, as it always is with their stuff. i get some whiskey and some barrel char in the taste, but its definitely behind the dark roasted malt in this, bitterness though is somehow really minimal. i get rich chocolate tones in here, but overall this is on the dry side of the spectrum for the style. i also get neat tart cherry tang in the center of it, an an almost astringent element, like some of the barrels in the blend have began to sour this, ever so slightly, but with the bready earthy yeast and the malt depth, its quite a nice little wrinkle, i notice it most when the beer has warmed up. this is very complex, but its also not beating me over the head with a hammer, lots of little twists and turns through it, but it remains mellow, almost patient or something, really good. a nice night cap after a fine evening of drinking ales, and very well hidden alcohol.
Aug 01, 2019
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

3.24/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass.

A big frothy if surprisingly tight fine foamy head out of the bottle. Manages an easy two finger with light tan to khaki coloring, and a soft styrofoam looking top. Body color is classic opaque, with a bit of reddish very dark brown walnut color.

Aroma seems to be large on sweetness more than anything. Creamy touches of milky fruit strawberry, with a touch of little roast. Not much oak or barrel character coming off this or even thick malt richness. Comes off very English ale estery fruity more than anything, and very unexpected.

Palate for a barrel aged beer doesn't provide much. Very watery body with hardly any malt depth at all. Minimal roast character touches more of milky chocolate that comes out slight touch peppery with a small hint of char. Extremely fleeting palate.

Sadly there is next to nothing going on here. Was this in a barrel for a week and that's it? Something doesn't add up, I usually expect more from these guys.
May 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Mar 09, 2019
Photo of Bitterbill
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

3.27/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Bottle has a Lot with a rectangle that's supposed to give a date, I presume. Illegible.

Pours black with a heck of a nice tan head of long lasting foam.

I smell a lot of caramel malt, Bourbon, bits of dark fruit, toffee.

The taste is kinda roasty with caramel malt, toffee, and a weird bitter sweet thing going on. Mixed with the Bourbon, it's not something that I favour. There's some booziness but it's tolerable.

Medium bodied with light carbonation.

All in all, I find this very disappointing. I have no idea how old it is. Shrugs.
Nov 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by irishkyle21 from Canada (ON)

Jul 06, 2018
Photo of TheBierdimpfe
Reviewed by TheBierdimpfe from Canada (QC)

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Opaque black color. Creamy light brown 3 finger head, lasting around 5-10 minutes, average legs and decent swirl reaction. Flavors of dark grains, wild berries, vanilla, cocoa, coffee, oysters, wood, and herbal hops. Slick and soft creamy medium body with moderate crispy carbonation. Strong strength finish, mostly roasted and earthy, slightly dark fruity, with a mild bourbon barrel effect. Good balance and alcohol well hidden, intensity is nice and warming. Can easily be consumed in a big glass but makes a decent appetizer too. Pretty good complexity, though feels a bit thin. Overall high quality craft.
Feb 04, 2018
Photo of LampertLand
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

4.14/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Le Trou Du Diable 'L'Imperatrice' @ 10.0% , served from a 750 ml bottle purchased for $20
A-pour is a cola brown from the bottle to a near black in the glass with small tan head leaving a spotty lace along the snifter
S-coffee & bourbon
T-boozey BA Imperial stout , hints of vanilla & carmel
MF-decent carbonation , full bodied
Ov-other than the price , kinda liked it
prost LampertLand
Dec 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.22 by csmrx7 from Canada (AB)

Nov 04, 2017
Photo of ryan1788a5
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
750ml bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pitch black. Being head forms and retains well. Wispy/patchy lacing.

S: Chocolate truffles, burnt brownies, caramel, bourbon balls. Roast. Bourbon is fairly forward as well.

T: Follows the nose. Very roasty with chocolatey undercurrents. Smoke. Char. Acrid. Bourbon has a very firm grip too. Big pull of black currant darkfruit. Big, warm barrel finish.

M: Thick and rich body. Chewy and full. Sharp carbonation has a bite to it. Warming.

O: A nice imperial stout. All the hallmarks of the style are there. The barrel is quite assertive, and does dominate in the end though.
Jun 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by pagesofphotographs from Colorado

Apr 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.48 by MakeBeerGreatAgain from North Carolina

Mar 09, 2017
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

4.06/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a mountain of head that stands and leaves some lace.

Aroma is like a Belgian strong dark, boozy with a little spice.

Doesn't taste as dark as it looks, black licorice, molasses, rum, wood, vanilla. Perhaps a bit of Brett?

Well-attenuated, highly carbonated, with a drying finish.
Feb 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by Mousel from Canada (ON)

Feb 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by McBraniel from Virginia

Dec 31, 2016
 
Rated: 3.68 by peensteen from Canada (ON)

Dec 20, 2016
L'Impératrice - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from Le Trou Du Diable
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 78 ratings