It’s almost St Jean Baptiste, so what better time to delve into some beers brewed entirely (or almost entirely) with Quebec ingredients?
As the craft beer scene in Quebec matures, there has been a marked movement by many Quebec breweries to use and celebrate local ingredients in their recipes. Not only does such a move fit with the “drink local” ethos inherent to “craft” beer, but in the current economic climate it makes a lot of sense. It is often cheaper and easier to procure malts and hops from your own backyard, rather than competing over the newest hype products from thousands of miles away and paying the associated shipping!
This is not to say, however, that breweries are cheaping out by turning to Quebec ingredients, however. Indeed, as these following beers will show, it could not be further from the case! In recent years Quebec-grown malts, hops and yeasts have really developed in quality and variety as dedicated teams of farmers and scientists across the province work tirelessly to provide a local alternative that can stand up to the tried and tested foreign brands.
Each of their products offer unique flavour profiles and can really bring a sense of terroir to the beers they are used in, especially as they are mastered by our many talented brewers. So without further ado, let’s dive into some of these brews!
À L’Heure des Poules- La Souche Microbrasserie
La Souche is a brewery known for using many local ingredients in its beers, especially aromatic additions that have been foraged in the boreal forests of the province. Recently, they decided to make their previously one-off Landbier, À L’Heure de Poules, a mainstay of their lineup, demonstrating their commitment to using local ingredients wherever possible. With a wide-reaching distribution network, they are making locally-inspired beer accessible to all.
Inspired by the German “Landbier” or ˆbiere de terroir”, À L’Heure de Poules is brewed using ingredients sourced in all corners of the province, including Crystal hops from Houblons Jarrets Noir in the Chaudière-Appalaches region and El Dorado from Houblonnière Lupuline in the Outaouais before being fermented with Kveik Hornindal from Le Labo who are based in La Pocatière. Sadly they offer no information on the provenance of the malts, but you can rest assured that they are Quebec-grown!
The El Dorado hops bring interesting notes of mandarin alongside a dose of fresh-cut grass, which combines nicely with some surprisingly fruity Kveik esters and more classic bready malt notes. It’s fruity, citrusy and plenty malty throughout with some interesting floral hop accents specking every sip. It leans a little sweeter than most lagers in the finish, with more of the fruit than a biting, super crisp bitterness.
Helles Lagerbier- Arthabaska Fermentation Sauvage
Relatively new on the scene, Arthabaska Fermentation Sauvage celebrates the Quebec terroir in all its forms, making beers and ciders entirely from Quebec ingredients. While based around Victoriaville, they are currently brewing out of O Quai des Brasseurs in Trois Rivières, where their concoctions ferment with locally sourced wild yeasts in neutral barrels.
Their second beer is a German-style Helles brewed with malted barley (some of which was smoked) from Malterie Caux Laflamme, Saaz hops from Houblons Jarret Noir and yeast from Le Labo. It was then lagered in old 228 litre barrels for 8 weeks to impart a unique character to the brew.
And as a result, the beer is really interesting. It’s very rustic throughout, with aromas akin to a wood-fired farmhouse loaf. Indeed, classic bready notes abound, accompanied by a subtle smokiness and hints of wood, all sprinkled with mild touches of Saaz on the nose.
On the palate, it’s all about the doughy malts and honey, but this is well balanced by a present barrel character which adds some drying tannins, complimenting the crisp cereals and grassy hop bitterness. Undertones of smoke linger throughout for a unique profile that’s moreish. If you haven’t encountered Arthabaska yet, this is a great introduction to some of the fantastic work they are doing!
La Petite Saison- Robin Bière Naturelle
Another brewery that prides themselves on using Quebec ingredients is Robin Biere Naturelle in Waterloo. While typically Robin ferments wort produced elsewhere, they have turned their hand at brewing on several occasions and produce some great little beers, made with entirely Quebec-sourced ingredients. La Petite Saison is one of their regular beers and while only available in cans, really captures the finesse Robin is known for in their larger bottled brews.
La Petite Saison is a Table Beer, brewed with malted barley from Innomalt, raw wheat from the farm of La Ferme Brasserie, oat flakes from Moissons Dorées, before being hopped with hops from Houblon Bastien and fermented with wild yeasts and lactobacillus strains from Le Labo as it aged in barrels at Robin.
It opens with a complex bouquet of floral notes, tangy lemon/lactic acidity, oak barrels and white wine all on top of the aromas of a fresh-cut bale of hay. The tangy lemon acidity and soft cereals continue on the palate, with relatively high carbonation bringing forward the sourness and making it a little sharper. The interplay between soft body and the sharp acidity is really interesting, making this beer a delight for the tastebuds despite its low alcohol volume. It then finishes very dry and slightly tannic with hints of oak making it super refreshing and the perfect apéro.
Salicorne- Menaud Brasserie
Based in Charlevoix, Menaud goes out of its way to use ingredients local to this beautiful region, basing their series of beers around different aromatics used in each. One such aromatic is an herb called glasswort, or salicorne, which grows in the marshes of l’Isle-aux-Coudres. While traditionally used in the glassmaking process, today it is handpicked and dehydrated by the brewers at Menaud to be used to flavour the beverages produced at their distillery and brewery, including this beer, Salicorne.
Naturally, the saltiness of the glasswort lends itself to a Gose, and Salicorne follows the key elements of this style, adding in only a touch of coriander seeds for extra aroma. It offers fresh lactic acidity on the nose with some citrus, floral and coriander notes sprinkled on top.
The same can be said on the palate, as these notes compliment some clean cereals, which mellow the acidity somewhat to a persistent and refreshing citrus tang. The saltiness of the glasswort lingers lightly in the background throughout and adds an extra touch of mouthfeel too which fleshes things out a little, leaving an interesting and satisfying mouthfeel. It’s a unique twist on this style that really lets you taste the region in which it was brewed!
Vive Le Quebec Lager- Microbrasserie 4 Origines
Finally, it wouldn’t be St-Jean without a themed beer to celebrate!
For the second year running, Microbrasserie 4 Origines has produced their Vive Le Québec Lager! for the holiday. Many of their other beers, however, feature Quebec ingredients prominently, especially unique Quebec-grown hops from the likes of Houblon Bastien and Duke25 Hops.
Vive Le Quebec Lager! is brewed malts from Malterie Caux Laflamme and Innomalt, a yeast strain from Le Labo and Hallterteau Tradition, Glacier and Chinook hops from Houblon Bastien. On the nose, it offers noble hop accents and the light fruity aromas of the German lager yeast used.
On the sip, the malts shine, conjuring up the sweet crust of a farmhouse loaf or the vast cereal fields of our countryside. It drinks sweet and smooth with enough of a noble hop kick in the finish to make it crisp and refreshing. Easy-drinking and smooth, I recommend a few of these for your St Jean BBQ!
Cheers!
So there you have it! Five breweries and five beers that explore the variety of ingredients grown across the province. There are many others who did not make it here who also deserve to be celebrated. Indeed, the number of beers featuring Quebec ingredients is growing exponentially and will soon be hard to keep up with. I for one am all here for this movement!
Originally from England, Mike Davis came to Quebec ten years ago to study history. During this time he fell in love with the microbreweries of Quebec, which reminded him of English pubs. Now, he holds a Ph.D in History from McGill University, but works in the beer world as the Brand Ambassador for Microbrasserie 4 Origines.
Laisser un commentaire