Abel Turcault
Microbrasserie de l'ile d'Orléans

Abel TurcaultAbel Turcault
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Microbrasserie de l'ile d'Orléans
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
7.8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.64 | pDev: 15.11%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
22
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 07, 2018
Added:
Jul 07, 2007
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.75 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Oct 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by rugene from Canada (QC)

May 25, 2018
 
Rated: 4.65 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Jul 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by MetalCath from Canada (QC)

Mar 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by KJ2013 from Pennsylvania

Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Socialiste from Canada (QC)

Sep 20, 2015
Photo of Voonder
Reviewed by Voonder from Canada (AB)

3.59/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours deep brown with massive hue which rather slowly dissipated. Smell is not too strong, earthy, malty, slightly nutty. Taste - slightly smokey upfront then grainy earthy, touch of caramel and plum. Raisins are also there. Bitterness is present but not overwhelming. Well balanced, alcohol is there but in a nice non-aggressive way. There is something in the finish I am not a big fan of, but I can't but a finger on it. Overall it's a solid brew, which I would have again.
Jul 18, 2015
Photo of TheDoctor
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

3.47/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A:
Pours an inpenetrable dark brown with an overly large/explosive head that goes from four fingers + to a thick film that is easily roused. Top notch retention; no lacing. (4)

S:
Sweet and rich. Leather, lacquer, spiced rum, molasses, dark fruits in the back. (3.5)

T:
Sweet and a touch hot. Coffee, dirt, burnt sugar, overripe cherries, rusty water. (3.75)

M:
Dusty velvet is what immediately comes to mind. It is pretty thin and medium-bodied with a dry finish that doesn't linger too long. (3.75)

O:
Okay Scotch Ale.
It is too carbonated to not consider it a bit off in that respect and is very boozy (especially considering it is only 8 some odd %). But it looks nice, doesn't taste overtly bad, and will keep you warm on a cool fall night such as this.
It pours violently but leaves a very nice looking brew in the glass. At first whiff it is quite sweet and varied in aroma, but as you go through it it really starts to get boozy. The palate is quite interesting and nice between this and the insane carbonation/head, but it is too thin IMO for the style.
Would not turn down if offered; not outright offensive, but not a stellar Wee Heavy either, try as you will. (3.5)
Oct 14, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by MNBeerGeek from Minnesota

Aug 23, 2014
Photo of VbolieuV
Reviewed by VbolieuV from Canada (QC)

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Second time I buy this beer, on the bottle it says it's a Strong scotch ale, smoked and caramelized. The first time I tasted it I didn't taste any smoky flavor though.

From a 500 ml bottle to a nonic pint glass.

Appearance: Brown in color with red/orange hints with a good 1 to 2 inches thick foam that disappear quickly leaving no lacing to the glass.

Smell: A fruity smell with some smoky hints. You can smell some caramel in there too. Usually I absolutely love the smell of scotch ales, this one is pretty average in my opinion, still a pleasant smell though.

Taste: Starts with a smoky taste that immediately lets its place to a caramel flavor. Really sweet but not too much, almost no bitterness is present. I was really happy to detect some smoke flavors this time, you really have to search for it though since it doesn't last long before becoming a sweeter caramel taste. As most scotch ale, you can't detect any alcohol even with its 8% ABV.

Mouthfeel: Really smooth with a good carbonation that is not too much, just perfect for this brew, goes down really easily.

Overall: I really like this beer, really easy to drink, quite refreshing too (especially for a 8% beer). It stands out from most scotch ales with the smoky flavors. Like I said it's the second time I drink it, and it's definitely not the last time.
May 23, 2013
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown bodied. A bit of smoke and burnt caramel aroma. Burnt caramel taste a bit of smoke in the taste as well. Very malty, a bit bready. Good drinkability. Above average mouthfeel. I have had better and more interesting in the style, but still good.
Mar 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Noelito76 from New York

Mar 02, 2013
Photo of Jeffo
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

3.04/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2
Got this one at Peluso in Montreal.

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter

APPEARANCE: A careful pour yields a large, three finger, thinner looking, light cream-yellow head with good retention. Bistre brown in color with medium levels of carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a thick foam cap. A good, full wisp remains but leaves little lacing down the glass. Head was a little loose, but the the body was decent.

SMELL: Scotch and whisky malt, with some nice caramel and toffee as well. Notes of tobacco and dark chocolate ride through the malt base too. Notes of melon and pineapple round out the nose. Pretty bold and complex. Nice stuff.

TASTE: Scotch and whisky malt again, tobacco and some caramel sweetness up front. Pretty flavorful with lots of grainy scotch/whisky malt flavors. Bold and lingering finish of grainy scotch sweetness, tobacco, leather, boozy and spicy alcohol, and a touch of bitter chocolate as balance. Quite nice and enjoyable.

PALATE: What a letdown. All that nice flavor and aroma, only to have a lousy palate ruin it all. Light body with very high levels of carbonation. Light and airy on the palate, unfortunately. Tries to be creamy, but it's too airy and prickly. Goes down slightly harsh and finishes a touch dry. This makes it hard to drink.

OVERALL: A very disappointing beer, as is their D'Esgly stout as well. The nose and flavor were actually extremely nice, but the light, thin, airy palate made it a chore to drink. This brewery shows a lot of potential, so I can only hope they'll get their carbonation under control and beef up the feel, as all their beers would be great if the feel were sorted out. Support and encourage, but both this one and D'Esgly are too overcarbed and light to be particulary enjoyable.
Sep 12, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by clesius from Canada (QC)

Mar 10, 2012
Photo of fostachild
Reviewed by fostachild from Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
pours a very dark brown color, okay tan head that fades quickly - no lacing.

smell slighty bitter, alcohol. hint of smoke.

taste is malty, bitter, bit of smokiness. not the greatest carbonation.

overall not bad, but not what i expect to taste from a scotch ale. that being said, it was a lot more drinkable and well balanced than similar 'smokey' scotch ales i've had.
Aug 23, 2011
Photo of Matt1516
Reviewed by Matt1516 from Canada (QC)

3.77/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a pint glass. Dark brown--nearly black with a one-finger head that quickly dissipates.

Smells smoky with caramel notes.

Tastes a little burnt and smoky, with a bit of scotch flavour. Nice maltiness and the alcohol doesn't over-power. Although it has an initially sweet taste, the late finish is just bitter and dry enough to keep you coming back.

If it wasn't for the prohibitive price, I could get used to this.
Jan 07, 2011
Photo of ZorPrime
Reviewed by ZorPrime from Canada (QC)

4.24/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Why I haven't tasted this earlier... I don't know. Better late than never. This beer pours brown color. Very dark brown almost black. The head is beige and is not stable. It disappears quite fast. The aroma is caramel malts with some burnt/smoked notes. The aroma is intense and strong. The taste is very good. Caramel with some smokiness (light). The bitterness is good and comes from smoked malts. I really dig this. Easy to drink too and somewhat refreshing. This is an excellent scotch ale if you ask me.
Sep 07, 2010
Photo of ReFill31
Reviewed by ReFill31 from Canada (QC)

4.05/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500ml bottle poured in a pint glass.

A : Nice brown color, really dark, we cannot see through it. The head goes down rapidly and leaves no ring on the glass.

S : Although the smell is not that strong, we can smell the smoke and some butterscotch.

T : Excellent, we can taste easily the caramel and the smokiness of the beer, We do not taste alcohol at all.

M : Pretty good, enjoyable, medium bodied.

D : It goes down easily. The smoke flavor is not so strong. Otherwise it would be undesirable...
Jan 23, 2010
Photo of bobsy
Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours almost identical to my previous beer, Surly Bender. Deep oak liquid with ruby highlights, and a light tan head that exhibited good retention and laced well. Strong caramel aroma, mixed in with a doughy breadiness and a hint of spice. Form sight and smell alone its an attractive scotch ale.

Upfront the initial thought I get from the flavour is 'holy shit, this is sweet'. Fortunately, the sweetness is the engine that drives this freight train and once its past me by, the main body hits, and I like it. Strong caramel flavours dominate over everything before a deep breadiness fights to wrest control, amalgamating into more of a toffee taste. The finish is sweet, yet bitter, and it pleasantly lingers on the tongue. The sugars make themselves felt again in the mouthfeel, which edges towards syrupy, but fortunately a moderate carbonation alleviates this somewhat.

This is a decent beer, but perhaps not an overly-accurate representation of its style. Smokey, earthy, peaty flavours are AWOL, and its perhaps a touch too sweet, even for a style of beer known for this characteristic. That aside, I really enjoyed this. I didn't detect any of the flaws that previous reviewers have mentioned, so I either struck it lucky or these guys have got their shit together. Either way, its nice, and I'd recommend giving her a go.

Cheers to Goldorak for sending this as part of CanBIF 5. Thanks Martin!
Apr 29, 2009
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle: Poured a deep brown color ale with a nice foamy head with limited retention. Aroma of deep caramel and cookie dough is dominating. Taste is also quite sweet with some nice toffee and caramel malt with some strong cookie dough notes. Carbonation is quite good with a full body. Interesting take on the style but would have appreciate more peat characteristics.
Sep 12, 2007
Abel Turcault from Microbrasserie de l'ile d'Orléans
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 22 ratings