Ölbeat 334 (BC17 #21): Dieu du Ciel Solstice d'Hiver

Brewery: Brasserie Dieu du Ciel
Country: Canada
Style: Barley Wine
Abv: 10,2 %
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What about the beer?

Colour is dark brown with a tiny natural white lace. Aroma has caramel malts, raisins and dark fruits. Taste begins with sweet fruity malts. Caramel malts and sweet raisins take over with gentle fruity alcohol bitterness and dark chocolate. Towards the end dark fruity bitterness gets through with strong piny-boozy kick. Aftertaste has lasting fruity bitterness and piny alcohol kick.

Rich and complex Barley Wine. Malts have their time in the spotlight, but in the end hops and strength take control. Pretty delicious. Dieu du Ciel keeps the Maple Leaf high, despite the difficulties in availability here in Finland.

Ölbeat

Since it's named "Winter Solstice" - the day that has the shortest period of daylight - today is the right day in the Northern Hemisphere for this beer. In Finland, the darkness, and possibly the coldness, of winter often makes people turn inside their shell and interact with other people less than during the brighter seasons. I'm not considering it a bad thing. Quite the opposite: everyone needs some time with only oneself every now and then, so why not in the midst of winter?

Black Sabbath: Solitude (YouTube)

From the 1971 album Master of Reality, the song was written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward.

Ölbeat 109: Dieu du Ciel Rigor Mortis Abt

Brewery: Brasserie Dieu du Ciel
Country: Canada
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Abv: 10,5 %
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What about the beer?

Colour is hazy copper brown with a thin whiteish head. Aroma has sour and sweet fruits like orange, plum, and raisins, yeasty aroma and a hint of sweet berries. Taste begins with fruits, gentle hops and yeast. Sour sweetish citrus-peachy firework fills the mouth, joined by yeast, sweet spice and caramel flavours. Towards the end sourness, yeast and soft alcohol step in front. Aftertaste has alcohol warmth and dry fruity bitterness.

After a little bit slow start, this beer's motor really gets going - despite the name. Very complex and delicious fruity Quadruple with nearly perfect symphony of sweet, sour & bitter parts. A true masterpiece from the Canadians - worth every cent.

Ölbeat

The band actually had their first hit with a song called Rigor Mortis, so the far-fetched connection in the theme is there. Since the brew is actually far from being dead stiff, so I'll pick a piece that has life, heartbeat and fireworks like the beer does.

Cameo: Word Up! (YouTube)

From the 1986 album Word Up!, the song was written by Larry Blackmon and Tomi Jenkins.