Mike Loves Beer

Name – 3 French Hens
Country – United States
Type – Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Okay so I am back after a holiday a few days of just not feeling very well.  I guess it was just my allergies being the bitches they can be and not an actual cold.  For that I am thankful because I am no fun when I’m actually sick.

But I’m back today with a review for you folks and it is from one of my favorite breweries going today, the Bruery.  Today we have their next edition in the 12 Beers of Christmas series, 3 French Hens.  It is a blended beer of sorts.  What they did was take the same beer and age it on French oak (get it now?) and make a blend of the original beer and the oak aged beer.  They say 75/25 for the blend of the original and the wood aged version.

I was a huge fan of 2 Turtle Doves from last year and still have a couple bottles of it that I’m aging.  So I was super excited about this one and as I am with practically every Bruery beer I can get my hands on.

I poured the brew into my Bruery tulip because it is only right to do so.  It lands in the glass a cola like brown color with an off white head.

The nose has a lot of dark fruit in there.  I specifically picked up grapes and plums specifically.  There is also a distinct Belgian yeast character and candi sugar scent I picked up.

I get a lot of the same from the nose in the taste.  More dark fruit and the candi sugar are forward.  There is a slight oak taste in there but it isn’t all that forward.  The 10% alcohol is definitely present and even more so when it warms up.

In the end I though this was a good beer but I wasn’t blown away like I was with 2 Turtle Doves.  This seemed like a very standard Belgian style beer with a slight wood flavor in it.

I’m curious how well it will age and if it will last the next 9 years until the end of the series.  At it’s ABV it should last a few years but I don’t know about 9.  I have another bottle that I will hold on to and maybe get another.  That way I can try it again in a few years to see how it’s doing.

Grade - B-

Name – Autumn Maple
Country – United States
Type – Belgian Dark Strong Ale

Appearance – Poured a cloudy brownish red color with a nice sized tan head.

Smell – Maple syrup and molasses are apparent.  You can get a yam like quality mixed in there with some spices.

Taste – Lovely sweetness from the maple, molasses and yams.  There is some spices in there again and a slight bit of booziness as well.

I actually picked up a bottle of this last December in PA but didn’t get to drink it.  It waited for me at my aunt’s house until this past June when I had it.  It was so lovely.  The spices were toned down a lot with the age then it has new and the molasses comes out a lot more with the age.  As a brand new beer here it is still quite good.  I recommend have one now.  Have one for Thanksgiving and save another for the summer.  You will love what it turns into with that 9 months or so on it.

Overall Grade – A

Name – Trois Pistoles
Country – Canada
Type – Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Appearance – Pours a pretty murky deep brown color with a good sized tannish head.

Smell – Dark fruit and cherries along with some dark malt smells.  Slight Belgian yeast characteristic and a small alcohol burn in the nostrils.

Taste – You get the dark fruits again and a bit of a tartness to it with a cherry flavor.  Malts stand out for sure in this one.  Alcohol comes through slightly at first and even more so as it continues to warm up.

I have to say I’m a fan of Unibroue.  I know some people don’t care for them but a large amount of the brews from them I have had I end up liking.  This is another one on that list.  Very Belgian in character and very nice to sit back and sip.

Overall Grade – A-