La Vache Folle- RyePA 6%

This beer took me close to an hour to get down. Not because I had to choke it down (unlike Charlevoix’s Milk Stout), but drinking an out of the ordinary beer, whilst taking pictures and having an open notebook attracted two american beer geeks. For about 35 minutes these super cool gentlemen talked my ear on and off with so much knowledge of american beer culture that I had a hard time keeping up with notes of places and brews that I “absolutely had to try”. What really shocked me was that they were here on business and every time they come up to Canada they felt like there was nothing to drink. Maybe I should hit the states this summer. That being said, Paul, a man who looked and sounded much like David Cross but with way better side burns, gave me his card and urged me to email him if I was ever in the states. He was confident that he would give me the best breweries and bars in which to supply my demand, where ever I was. None the less, two of the friendliest guys that have ever approached me in public. Cheers guys!

On to zee beers!

La Vache Folle RyePA by Microbrasserie Charlevoix. The last time I had one of their beers it was the milk stout, so I was fairly hesitant in trying this for fear of getting a $16 kick to the mouth that I could only drink half of. I half heatedly thought I would end up drinking something similar to whiskey, with beer for colour.

To start, it poured with a hazy amber-red colour, with a slight golden tinge if in the right light. Big three finger off white head that gave way to a thickly laced webbing around the glass. Probably one of the most gorgeous all around looking beers I’ve ever seen. From colour, to head, to retention and thick lacing, they definitely did something right here.

Not a whole lot going on with the nose here. Slightly floral and spicy from the hops and a odd yeasty scent I couldn’t put my nose on. Might have just been yeast… 😛

On to the flavor. Personally, I only half understand the idea behind “RyePA”. You do get a grassy-mandarin orange flavor, with a fair bit of spice of front, but it is quickly (yet subtly) diminished by a malted rye flavor. It reminded me of a pale Belgian triple, just not as good. Nice medium body and good carbonation, very suited to the style. The hops broke through on the finish, giving a grapefruit flavor with hints of pine and thyme. Notes of caramelized sugars rounded out the back end making it bittersweet and quite pleasant. So to call this an IPA is a bit unjust to the hops. They are there but certainly not show cased; more overlapped by a think rye malt that takes over the flavor and qualities of this brew.

Don’t get me wrong- I did enjoy this. But at the same time i didn’t. I think my enjoyment sprawled from my expectations and predispositions from past experiences with the brewery. It was unexpectedly good, but at the same time I’m not sure what they were trying to accomplish with this one. Maybe I just enjoy simplicity and straight to the point. Out-of-the box does initially intimidate me when it comes to beer, but only interests me further. I think with some recipe tweaks this could be a solid RyeP-whatever-it-wants-to-be. But as the name translates: “The Crazy Cow”, they sure do make us doubt their sanity. While not insane, Charlevoix is a bit crazy.

8.5/10 (7 if it didn’t look so damn pretty)

Tomorrow: Green flash- Rayon Vert, one hell of a baller bitter.