Aphrodisiaque
Style: Cocoa and Vanilla Stout
ABV: 6.5%
Presentation: 6 packs of 341 ml brown bottles
Brewery: Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel
Country: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
KANPAI! w/ Jeff Werstiuk
No offense, but if you’ve been living under a rock the past while please allow me to fill you in on this brewpub and microbrewery from Montreal that has become one of the darlings of the beer world, especially throughout North America. Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel has even managed to capture the hearts, palates and wallets of our neighbours to the south in the same way Unibroue did about a decade ago.
However a quirky bit of trivia regarding this particular stout from Dieu De Ciel is that to be acceptable to the American market under some sort of curious FDA standards the name of it had to be changed to Aphrodite. Apparently marketing an alcoholic product under the name of Aphrodisiaque (a French word no less, by no means an official language of the Republic) would in such a manner make false and inappropriate claims, and potentially incite unwanted lascivious behaviour of folks who wished to consume it, or even considered imbibing it. Yet a quick name change to the Greek goddess of love and desire, who no less was given credit for creating aphrodisiacs in the first place and providing them her own namesake, is perfectly fine. Okey-dokey then….. Thanks be to the Greek god of loopholes for such matters.
If that wasn’t enough of a hassle for this alluring stout to endure, it also tends to get overlooked while caught in the shadow of its bolder and more popular sibling Péché Mortel, which just so happens to be one of the most sought after Canadian beers on this continent. Both are strong savoury stouts, both have soft creamy textures, and both are in peak form regarding quality and craftsmanship. And while I fully acknowledge the finesse it took to pull off something as formidable yet welcoming as Péché Mortel, it was Aphrodisiaque that truly seduced me. I mean how often do you hear a grown man admitting that a beer made his toes curl in delight? Yeah, it’s that good. Plus I always tend to fall for the underdog….
Two elements that give this stout such enticing charm are the addition of premium quality vanilla beans and the use of organic fair-trade cocoa. Only the best for you! Add to this a silky smooth texture and you have yourself here is a date with delight. Let’s get on to some tasting notes.
A mug or a pint glass will work fine, or if you wish to set the setting with someone special, use a pair of red wine glasses. I’d let the bottle warm about 15 minutes after pulling it from the fridge, a bit of chill still works with this stout as it’s robust enough to handle some cold without being totally numbed by it.
Get ready for a luxuriously opaque black stout upon the pour, totally impermeable to light. Crowning it is a thick frothy creamy sand coloured head. It should only take a few inhales to at least pick up some notes of creamy roasted malt and dark chocolate, dry cocoa and raw vanilla bean. There’s a bit more complexity than this, but I’ll allow you the pleasure of deciphering and discovering it on your own. The moment it touches your tongue and rolls across your palate and through your mouth you’ll be greeted by a nearly full mouthfeel, creamy and velvety in texture, with a light rounded carbonation on the finish, a gorgeous sensual experience in its own right. But of course the best part is the flavour. Roasted, slightly smoked malt at first, toasted earthy cocoa and carob rises in the middle and carries to the finish, while the aftertaste is earthy with intense dark coffee notes. Sweet earthy vanilla bean rises intermittently throughout the experience, and begins to coat the palate in its own right after a while, providing almost a bourbon-like essence.
This stuff is ambrosia, and is easily satisfying on its own. If you feel a deep and utter necessity to pair it with food, then stick to desserts. Heck, Aphrodisiaque can fill in as a dessert unto itself. Once again, if feeling peckish while consuming this stout, chocolate and chocolate based desserts will be the ticket, however a chocolate cheesecake might be too overwhelming, you’ve been warned. Fruit and fruit based desserts will provide a pleasant contrast in turn, although you might want to avoid the citrus variety which will do nothing but clash. If feeling even more adventurous try chasing Aphrodisiaque with a high quality bourbon for a match made in…er…the classy part of Purgatory at least.
The next steps in the cooler:
From This Brewery:
Blanche Du Paradis
Corne Du Diable
Dernière Volonté
Fumisterie
Paienne
Péché Mortel
Rosée D’hibiscus
Route Des Épices
Chocolate Stouts:
Rogue Chocolate Stout
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Amber’s Kenmount Road Chocolate Stout
Other Stouts:
St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
Half Pint’s Stir Stick Stout
Yukon Midnight Sun Espresso Stout
Jamaica Stout
Old Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout - North Coast
Lateral Steps:
Rogue Mocha Porter
Paddock Wood London Porter
Fuller’s London Porter
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
Chimay Blue
Unibroue Trois Pistoles