“Routes des épices (French for “Spice Route”) is a rye beer brewed with both black and green peppercorns. Initially, the beer reveals flavours of fresh grain and malt, which give it notes of chocolate, caramel, and fruit. The pepper flavour and aroma is fully revealed in the finish, which leaves a pleasant, spicy, tingling sensation on the tongue.”
This is a world class drop, we actually first tried it at slow beer in Melbourne city and fell in love straight away.
Served in a shaker glass the deep amber/copper pour produced a 1/2 inch off-white head that settled to a thin film on top. Minimal lacing. Every world class beer should possess a brilliant aroma and that’s exactly what this ale has. The feature ingredient, being the peppercorns are showcased really well with the spice offsetting the malts harmoniously. The less significant but still quite evident rye compounds the existing spice and boosts it. Underneath all of this quietly sits undertones of honey, toffee and chocolate. Brilliant balance, brilliant aroma. In the mouth it’s silky smooth, only just slightly bordering on being too thin. Mild-medium carbonation. Medium body. Caramel malt and toffee upfront are completely dominated by a big explosion of peppery spice in the mid-palate. The heat from the pepper continues and finishes slightly sweet with the mouth alive with warmth. This heat endures long after our last sip displaying excellent duration. 5.3% ABV is spot on. Perfect winter warmer. What a beautifully put together beer, enormous respect for these Canadian brewers. Well done.