This brewery from Quebec makes some very unique beers, including an ale made with peppercorns and a wee heavy with maple syrup. I still think they’re my second favorite Canadian brewery behind Unibroue. They are worth a try if you can find their stuff. This particular ale incorporates hibiscus flowers in the brewing process.

The Pour: A red maple body with little head retention was the body of this seemingly simple looking beer. The body shimmered with semi-active carbonation.

The Nose: A tea-like quality and flowers were on the nose. Some sweetness remained along with (call me crazy) an aroma similar to strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups. A somewhat “powdery” yeast aroma also made its way to my nostrils.

The Taste: I personally enjoyed the initial hint of sour tartness to Rosee. There was a flowery quality to the beer, but I don’t know that I would have picked out exactly how or why it tasted that way if not for the label. If you can pick out hibiscus flower without previous knowledge, then do a guest post for us from time to time. As the nose indicated, there were nice tea leaf qualities and an herbal spice/powdery yeast touch to this strange brew. The yeasty finish combined with a touch of graininess, forming a dry and sticky impression in the mouth. I personally found this stickiness to be a detraction from the beer. But we all know how sticky hibiscus flowers are (I made up this part).

Overall, I would certainly drink this beer again. There is a certain degree of novelty contributed by adding this or that flower to some ales. Some brewers might use Kenyan mountain roots, Sardinian goat hair, or arrogant Texan sweat…but if it doesn’t make a beer better or fit in well, what’s the point? I’ve seen exotic beer that had terrible additions. This is not simply a beer of novelty, this is a beer of quality, which is the important factor for making this imminently drinkable.

Mike’s Rating:

Overall Satisfaction:  

Among other Ales:  

Among other flower beers: