Zeppelin - Framboise
Les Brasseurs du Hameau

A- The bottle is dark with a black label....very mysterious! The stout pours a very brown/black cola color with a very fizzy head that starts at two fingers thick and noisily settles into a thick film that reminds me of pop....it is dark and caramel in color. Carbonation, while I can't see it, I'm guessing it is aggressive in nature....lacing is modest with lots of sticky clumps of foam initially and then sliding back into the liquid.

S- This is interesting.....tart raspberry is the first thing I smell...really! After this, there is the traditional stout aromas of burnt malt, yeasty malt, molasses, dry Earth and perhaps some licorice! The fruit aspect is somewhat sweet and syrupy after a few minutes of air! The finish is dry and very mildly bitter....

T- The flavors are very intriguing indeed! This seems like a cola with extra flavoring of raspberry/cherry syrup, some drying molassess, dark roast malt, hints of dark chocolate and coffee and there is a mild punch of alcohol on the finish that almost becomes of dark rum sweetness. Much different than the aromas first let on....after the swallow, there is dry Earth/soiled roots....quite nice actually!

M/O- This is medium bodied and as I suspected, the carbonation is quite aggressive and I feel this is actually highly drinkable....it's not too heavy on the belly and has a little alcohol warmth. Quite dessert like and enjoyable on it's own or with some finger foods, like canned oysters! A nice beer overall!

Served from a 500ml bottle to an English tulip

Note: ( My bottle had entirely different graphics and was labeled as 7% ABV)

A: Fairly dark but not entirely black. Ruby red begin to appear when light is near. Poured a one finger head with decent retention but not much lacing.

S: Some deep roasted malts. Raspberry's are quite dominant.

T: Dark roasted malts typical of stout form an interesting contrast on the palate when combined with the framboise (Or raspberry to those not living in la belle province). I don't find it to be the most pleasing of contrasts to be honest but it is acceptable. Hop bitterness is decent and not overpowering. The raspberry taste hits first, then the malt, and it finishes rather unique with both flavors being present. The beer very much reminds me of rasperrys soaked in bakers chocolate.

M:The mouth feel is rather thin contrary to my expectations. Carbonation is perhaps a bit to high for my preference but it works well enough. Alcohol is masked well.

O: Probably would not buy again and was nothing special but not horrible either. The premise of the beer was intriguing and unique but really did not seem to head anywhere special.

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a medium size brown foamy head with good retention and light lacing. Aroma consists of dry roasted malt with sweet notes and faint raspberry puree. Taste is also a mix between some light dry roasted malt with a sweet backbone and some light raspberry puree. Body is quite full with spritzy carbonation and no apparent alcohol. A bit too sweet for my taste and not enough raspberry flavour.

Bottle from Broue HAHA.

A - Pours black with lotsa carbonation coming up to the loose, fizzy cola type head of 2 fingers. Head fades fast to a cap of a half finger and leaves a small amount of lacing.

S - Aroma of sour raspberries and cherries. Very little in the way of stout elements.

T - More roasted malt with the fruit again being pretty strong. Chocolate and coffee in the finish. Seems a little scrambled. It doesn't work together all that well and the quality elements of a typical big stout get lost in a mix of competing characteristics.

M - Good carbonation with a lighter than should be for it's ABV body. Sweet and dry in the finish with a touch of raspberry.

O/D - Waste of time really. This wasn't a good beer and I won't be finishing it. Just a mash-up of uninteresting characteristics with no one element done well enough to be worth the $6 price tag.