I live in Montreal, QC. I mainly drink IPA and APA and have tried almost everything worth trying produced in Quebec. However, during these cold Winter months I find everything I normally love is just not as good during the winter, it's almost like they're not putting in as much effort. I'm mainly referring to Le Castor Yakima IPA, Dieu Du Ciel Moralite, and Simple Malt Double IPA DH. These are Quebec's chart topping, world-class rated IPA's and if you've tried them in the summer, and pick it up now from say Depanneur Peluso where everything is always fresh and hasn't been on the shelf for 6 months, you'l know what I'm talking about. Anyone else realizing this? Anyone have an explanation?
Check the dates on the cases, Moralite and Yakima when fresh kick ass every time. SM DIPA DH I don't think has been brewed since Oct. and yeah that was only good for the first 3 weeks. Dubai Pille from TDD bottled on Jan. 15th-16th has already changed so much I would leave it on the shelf if I saw it and I really like that beer. Early Jan. I picked up a case of Moralite Bottled on 30-12-14 and it was just a good as when I buy it any other time it has less than a month. I am a big fan of IPAs but I no longer buy them past 3 weeks from the bottled on date. I even drained a 2 months old SOS recently
I think it has less to do with effort than with the quantity of people that are buying those types of beer this time of year. Hell, road conditions and distribution could even come into play. During the summer I never have trouble finding Moralité that is within two weeks or less of having been bottled, but nowadays I am lucky for it to be within a couple months. Can't speak for Yakima as I haven't gotten it in a while. On a related note, I picked up a bottle of Pit Caribou Australoaméricaine Pale Ale a couple days ago and it was absolutely excellent (although I don't recall ever seeing it before so I don't have a good base for comparison). Give that a shot, I thought it was one of the better hoppy QC beers I've ever had, hopefully it and some stouts can tide you over till nice weather comes again.
I recently has some two week old Moralité and Yakima and they tasted as good as they always do in my opinion. Are they kept in fridges at the store?
Freshness is probably the culprit - the cases of Moralité and Disco Soleil at my local store are months old at this point. Then again, maybe you just aren't enjoying it as much because the weather isn't quite as appropriate for drinking hoppy IPAs? I know that I drink more Belgians in the winter, it just seems to fit the climate better.
If you're going to call out breweries on laziness, I can think of some much better examples than Dieu Du Ciel or Le Castor.
Here here! I feel weird asking to see the case the bomber came out of .... Luckily, Yakima turns over fast enough around here that it's usually stored in the case box.
I'll be in Montreal in two weeks and should have access to Bellwoods Witchshark, Boogie Monster, Monogamy (Summit), Great Lakes Karma Citra, and Robohop if you're looking to change it up.
I had a pint of Sabotage over at Benelux on Saturday and it was taaaaaaaaaaasty. So if you're hurting for good IPA, try hitting up your local brewpub.
This, get it fresh at the source. Also, a new batch of Pit Caribou`s Brett IPA just came out if you want to stray from your traditional IPA
It`s the Brett version though the Sorciere came out not too long ago. Gotta get my ass out before they sell out.
Both are Brett IPAs, but from what I heard at Peluso the other day, it's the session IPA that just arrived. I bought one of each when I was there on Sunday and I've had the Sorcière, which was good, but didn't have the intensity that it does when it's super fresh. I should crack open the session IPA before it gets much older, but I've got a cold right now and I'd like for it to go away...not that that stopped me from sampling 3 beers at Vices et Versa last night.
