La Grivoise De Noel | Le Trou Du Diable
Brewed by:
Le Trou Du Diable
Quebec, Canada
troududiable.com
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by eat on 12-20-2009
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 95 | Reviews: 39
Reviews by Krakpoff:
More User Reviews:
3.74/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.95/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
large bottle from Brew and Co in Bedford, NY
Pours murky light brown, moderate cap, fading to some fine bubble froth and slight film
Honey and holiday spicing on the nose.
Perhaps a tad thin mouthfeel wise
More honey, more spices and more holiday notes on the palate. On the sweeter side, but not cloying...nothing amazing but this is better then decent/nice fall, winter kinda sipper
389 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
large bottle from Brew and Co in Bedford, NY
Pours murky light brown, moderate cap, fading to some fine bubble froth and slight film
Honey and holiday spicing on the nose.
Perhaps a tad thin mouthfeel wise
More honey, more spices and more holiday notes on the palate. On the sweeter side, but not cloying...nothing amazing but this is better then decent/nice fall, winter kinda sipper
389 characters
3.79/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
600ml bottle. Well, it's past mid-November, so I guess it's time for my first Christmas beer of the year - and perhaps a wee bit of the ol' ribaldry - yeah.
This beer pours a clear, dark orange brick amber hue, with two chubby fingers of puffy, tightly foamy, and somewhat bubbly beige head, which leaves some streaky Wile E. Coyote cliff lace around the glass as it evenly bleeds away.
It smells of biscuity, bready caramel malt, sort of acrid earthy yeast, muddled dark berry flesh, a suggestion of dry nougat, a clove/coriander and white pepper spice character, and soft alcohol esters. The taste is gritty, grainy caramel malt, brown sugar, dead yeast, mildly tart black fruit, a hint of spicy, peppery wheat, biscuity honey cookies, mixed savoury seasonal spices, and a well-behaved metallic booze warming.
The carbonation is rather actively frothy and in your face up front, before settling into a dull roar thereafter, the body actually on the light side of medium weight, and generically smooth, the yeast and spice kind of doing a drive-by neutering. It finishes off-dry, the brown sugar and caramel malt both guarding the door, but with a certain elan, rather than a sledgehammer of sweetness.
Definitely more of a laid-back and subtle dose of Belgian-style strong dark ale - the typical flavours are all there, but not so much, y'know? Perhaps the proclaimed ribaldry of this offering is illustrated in that - dial everything back a notch or two, including the ABV. What charlatans are these?
1,512 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
600ml bottle. Well, it's past mid-November, so I guess it's time for my first Christmas beer of the year - and perhaps a wee bit of the ol' ribaldry - yeah.
This beer pours a clear, dark orange brick amber hue, with two chubby fingers of puffy, tightly foamy, and somewhat bubbly beige head, which leaves some streaky Wile E. Coyote cliff lace around the glass as it evenly bleeds away.
It smells of biscuity, bready caramel malt, sort of acrid earthy yeast, muddled dark berry flesh, a suggestion of dry nougat, a clove/coriander and white pepper spice character, and soft alcohol esters. The taste is gritty, grainy caramel malt, brown sugar, dead yeast, mildly tart black fruit, a hint of spicy, peppery wheat, biscuity honey cookies, mixed savoury seasonal spices, and a well-behaved metallic booze warming.
The carbonation is rather actively frothy and in your face up front, before settling into a dull roar thereafter, the body actually on the light side of medium weight, and generically smooth, the yeast and spice kind of doing a drive-by neutering. It finishes off-dry, the brown sugar and caramel malt both guarding the door, but with a certain elan, rather than a sledgehammer of sweetness.
Definitely more of a laid-back and subtle dose of Belgian-style strong dark ale - the typical flavours are all there, but not so much, y'know? Perhaps the proclaimed ribaldry of this offering is illustrated in that - dial everything back a notch or two, including the ABV. What charlatans are these?
1,512 characters
3.8/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Le Trou Du Diable event at Volo. A very decent X-mas beer. Yeasty with Above average mouthfeel of cardomon, ginger, corriander and spruce. Fragrance wafts of spruce and pine. Decent for the style.Decent drinkability.A little head on cocoa coloured body.
253 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Le Trou Du Diable event at Volo. A very decent X-mas beer. Yeasty with Above average mouthfeel of cardomon, ginger, corriander and spruce. Fragrance wafts of spruce and pine. Decent for the style.Decent drinkability.A little head on cocoa coloured body.
253 characters
3.6/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Label on my bottle says 7.5ABV. DOn't know why there are no notches on any of the date markers.
A- Like a great looking light coca-cola. Almost-beige head.
S- Smells good. Alcohol. Hard to tell what it smells like a part from... spicy.
T- Cinnamon, alcohol and some other crazy spices I can't figure out. Reminds me of a less bitter chinotto. Alcohol is a major component.
M- High carbonation. Smooth and creamy if you swish it around. Pretty dry.
D- Good but I don't like brio or chinotto so the bitterness kind of wears me out.
Very good Christmas beer. I'd buy it again... if it was Christmas.
603 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Label on my bottle says 7.5ABV. DOn't know why there are no notches on any of the date markers.
A- Like a great looking light coca-cola. Almost-beige head.
S- Smells good. Alcohol. Hard to tell what it smells like a part from... spicy.
T- Cinnamon, alcohol and some other crazy spices I can't figure out. Reminds me of a less bitter chinotto. Alcohol is a major component.
M- High carbonation. Smooth and creamy if you swish it around. Pretty dry.
D- Good but I don't like brio or chinotto so the bitterness kind of wears me out.
Very good Christmas beer. I'd buy it again... if it was Christmas.
603 characters
4.17/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The label (a very nice one, I might add) lists the style as Extra Strong-Ale. No production date but it must be recent. Translated description: "Inspired by Christmas beers, this beer, refermented in the bottle, possesses a very complex but always agreeable taste thanks to it's little spiced-candy side."
Great cloudy, copper coloured beer with a frothy off-white head, receding to a solid layer across the surface which sticks around until it's all gone. Almost no lacing.
Crackers, candy, apple cider, wheat, yeast, light Belgian spices. Very nice. I originally gave it a 4 but the smell really opened up as it warmed.
It tastes like it could be a legitimate Belgian ale (as in...brewed in Belgium). Complex and warming, this is definitely a great winter beer. The taste is a bit acidic with quite a lot of warming alcohol (to be expected at 9.5%), though not an overpowering amount. Wheat, candy and a nice spice mix. The finish is dry and bitter.
Awesome feel, I noticed right as it entered my mouth. Creamy medium body with a sparkling moderate carbonation which pairs well with the flavour.
Quebec is known for their true-to-style Belgians and Le Trou du Diable ranks right at the top along with Unibroue and Dieu du Ciel. This isn't the most conventionally drinkable beer, but it isn't supposed to be. This is a sipper meant to be enjoyed by a fire on a cold winter's night and consumed as such is extremely drinkable. I would definitely buy this again and highly recommend checking out this or any of their other beers. I can't wait until they start bottling regularly.
1,586 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The label (a very nice one, I might add) lists the style as Extra Strong-Ale. No production date but it must be recent. Translated description: "Inspired by Christmas beers, this beer, refermented in the bottle, possesses a very complex but always agreeable taste thanks to it's little spiced-candy side."
Great cloudy, copper coloured beer with a frothy off-white head, receding to a solid layer across the surface which sticks around until it's all gone. Almost no lacing.
Crackers, candy, apple cider, wheat, yeast, light Belgian spices. Very nice. I originally gave it a 4 but the smell really opened up as it warmed.
It tastes like it could be a legitimate Belgian ale (as in...brewed in Belgium). Complex and warming, this is definitely a great winter beer. The taste is a bit acidic with quite a lot of warming alcohol (to be expected at 9.5%), though not an overpowering amount. Wheat, candy and a nice spice mix. The finish is dry and bitter.
Awesome feel, I noticed right as it entered my mouth. Creamy medium body with a sparkling moderate carbonation which pairs well with the flavour.
Quebec is known for their true-to-style Belgians and Le Trou du Diable ranks right at the top along with Unibroue and Dieu du Ciel. This isn't the most conventionally drinkable beer, but it isn't supposed to be. This is a sipper meant to be enjoyed by a fire on a cold winter's night and consumed as such is extremely drinkable. I would definitely buy this again and highly recommend checking out this or any of their other beers. I can't wait until they start bottling regularly.
1,586 characters
3.71/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a clear amber color ale with a large off-white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of fruity ester is very enticing with some nice Belgian caramel malt. Taste of sweet Belgian malt with candy-like ester is very nice though a bit subdued for the style. Body is slightly fuller then average with good carbonation and no alcohol was perceptible. The aroma is close to perfect on this one though taste could be sweeter and more full.
462 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a clear amber color ale with a large off-white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of fruity ester is very enticing with some nice Belgian caramel malt. Taste of sweet Belgian malt with candy-like ester is very nice though a bit subdued for the style. Body is slightly fuller then average with good carbonation and no alcohol was perceptible. The aroma is close to perfect on this one though taste could be sweeter and more full.
462 characters
3.82/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Clear,amber/red color. No head at all, and no lacing too.
S: Cinnamon, spices (some cloves?)... a typical belgian aroma with the presence of some yeast. Medium intensity.
T: Still some spicy cinnamon in the taste similar to spicy candy. Light bitterness.
M: Warmth from the alcohol.
D: A nice sipper that does down smoothly. Definitely to go get some more.
364 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Clear,amber/red color. No head at all, and no lacing too.
S: Cinnamon, spices (some cloves?)... a typical belgian aroma with the presence of some yeast. Medium intensity.
T: Still some spicy cinnamon in the taste similar to spicy candy. Light bitterness.
M: Warmth from the alcohol.
D: A nice sipper that does down smoothly. Definitely to go get some more.
364 characters
3.64/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high off white head that died down but never completely faded away.
S: Light aromas of candi sugars are present in the nose along with hints of Belgian yeast.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but also has some notes of earthy yeast and hints spices. The candi sugars lend bits of sweetness, but these are balanced off in the finish by the spices.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer doesn't have as much complexity as some of the other beers in the style and doesn't have any aromas or flavors of dark fruits.
697 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high off white head that died down but never completely faded away.
S: Light aromas of candi sugars are present in the nose along with hints of Belgian yeast.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but also has some notes of earthy yeast and hints spices. The candi sugars lend bits of sweetness, but these are balanced off in the finish by the spices.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer doesn't have as much complexity as some of the other beers in the style and doesn't have any aromas or flavors of dark fruits.
697 characters
4.12/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
500ml as an extra from Pier-Luc, an excellent extra! Recently won a silver at the World Beer Cup in the Belgian Strong Dark category so it's certainly no Belgian Strong Pale as is indicated in BA's style...
Pours a rich, dark, cloudy, coppery brown with 2 fingers of head that fizz up on the pour but quickly recede to a thin layer on top.
Initially I pick up a fair bit of spicing on the nose, followed by some wheat, biscuits, raisins, a hint of herbal hopping.
A pretty balanced beer, perhaps a little on the sweet side. Initially the spicing and malts hit you, caramel, bready, allspice, cloves, anise, touch of vanilla. A bit of wheat presence followed by a minerally, earthy twang, sweetness running through with bit of cherry in it, finished by a nice dry 'pinch' and a touch of candy-sugar residual sweetness. Slightly thin body for the style and the ABV, just a light alcohol presence in the finish, well hidden. Carb is a little too aggressive, comes across as prickly and a touch bloating.
A pretty tasty beer that adds to this brewery's reputation. Perhaps a little better than this rating suggests, I just couldn't quite pull the trigger on the 4.5 for the taste. After having La Buteuse Brassin Special, it is great to see another Canadian brewery stepping up and delivering quality craftsmanship. Certainly worth checking out.
1,346 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
500ml as an extra from Pier-Luc, an excellent extra! Recently won a silver at the World Beer Cup in the Belgian Strong Dark category so it's certainly no Belgian Strong Pale as is indicated in BA's style...
Pours a rich, dark, cloudy, coppery brown with 2 fingers of head that fizz up on the pour but quickly recede to a thin layer on top.
Initially I pick up a fair bit of spicing on the nose, followed by some wheat, biscuits, raisins, a hint of herbal hopping.
A pretty balanced beer, perhaps a little on the sweet side. Initially the spicing and malts hit you, caramel, bready, allspice, cloves, anise, touch of vanilla. A bit of wheat presence followed by a minerally, earthy twang, sweetness running through with bit of cherry in it, finished by a nice dry 'pinch' and a touch of candy-sugar residual sweetness. Slightly thin body for the style and the ABV, just a light alcohol presence in the finish, well hidden. Carb is a little too aggressive, comes across as prickly and a touch bloating.
A pretty tasty beer that adds to this brewery's reputation. Perhaps a little better than this rating suggests, I just couldn't quite pull the trigger on the 4.5 for the taste. After having La Buteuse Brassin Special, it is great to see another Canadian brewery stepping up and delivering quality craftsmanship. Certainly worth checking out.
1,346 characters
3.53/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Flashback #294
14 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Flashback #294
14 characters
4.13/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber and cloudy with a little carbonation, its topped with 3 fingers of beige tinged head.
Smells of bananas and spices, and is a little like Christmas pudding. A lot like many strong Belgian ales. I get a little ginger and nutmeg, and Belgian phenols for sure.
The taste is very spice forward. Lots of fruitiness and cinnamon and nutmeg, fruity like fruit loops and the candied fruit you get in Christmas cake and pudding. Bananas are in there too.
Medium body, medium to low carbonation.
Got this at a gas station in Quebec, north of Montreal. Drinking it in New Hamburg, ON, Dec 26th, 2017. Really nice spin on a Christmas themed ale.
648 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber and cloudy with a little carbonation, its topped with 3 fingers of beige tinged head.
Smells of bananas and spices, and is a little like Christmas pudding. A lot like many strong Belgian ales. I get a little ginger and nutmeg, and Belgian phenols for sure.
The taste is very spice forward. Lots of fruitiness and cinnamon and nutmeg, fruity like fruit loops and the candied fruit you get in Christmas cake and pudding. Bananas are in there too.
Medium body, medium to low carbonation.
Got this at a gas station in Quebec, north of Montreal. Drinking it in New Hamburg, ON, Dec 26th, 2017. Really nice spin on a Christmas themed ale.
648 characters
2.83/5 rDev -25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
From a 500 ml bottle
Brown color, pretty appealing.
Everyone around told me of the great christmas spices aromas I would encounter in this beer. It was indeed spicy, but with a dominant banana smell, reminiscent of fermentation.
Mouthfeel was ok, but a bit heavy. Definitely not my kind of beer, but pretty good compared to many other christmas spices beers.
362 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
From a 500 ml bottle
Brown color, pretty appealing.
Everyone around told me of the great christmas spices aromas I would encounter in this beer. It was indeed spicy, but with a dominant banana smell, reminiscent of fermentation.
Mouthfeel was ok, but a bit heavy. Definitely not my kind of beer, but pretty good compared to many other christmas spices beers.
362 characters
La Grivoise De Noel from Le Trou Du Diable
Beer rating:
3.82 out of
5 with
95 ratings
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