Eats Writes Shoots

Living & Tasting Life's Passions

  • Home
  • Eats
    • Beer
      • Hopped & Bothered Reviews
      • Beer Reviews
        • Amber/Red Ale
        • Bitter
        • Blonde
        • Brown Ale
        • Farmhouse (Saison)
        • Pale Ale
          • India Pale Ale (IPA)
          • Double (Imperial) IPA
          • Imperial Black IPA
          • American Pale Ale
          • English Pale Ale
        • Lager
        • Scotch Ale
        • Seasonal and/or Specialty
          • Beer with Fruit
        • Stout
          • Imperial Stout
          • Milk Stout
        • Wheat Ale
        • Winter Beers
    • My CSA Challenge – 2013 Edition
    • Recipes
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Baking
        • Dessert
          • Cookies
      • Drinks and Cocktails
      • Egg
      • Fish
      • Gluten-Free
      • Lunch
      • Mains
        • Asian
          • Thai
        • Barbecue/Grilling
        • Beef
        • Fusion
        • Greek
        • Italian
        • Lamb
        • Mediterranean
        • Mexican
        • Pasta
        • Pork
        • Poultry
        • Veal
        • Vegetarian
      • Preserves
      • Salad
      • Side Dish
      • Soup
  • Writes
    • Canadian Food Experience Project
    • Poetry
    • The “Benjamin” Project
  • Shoots
  • About the Author
You are here: Home / Beer / Beer Reviews / “la Messe de Minuit” (Seasonal/Christmas Beer), Les Brasseurs du Temps (BDT)

“la Messe de Minuit” (Seasonal/Christmas Beer), Les Brasseurs du Temps (BDT)

January 7, 2013 by Dale Leave a Comment

la Messe de Minuit - BDT Christmas beerIn homage to the seasons (just passed) here’s a delicious brew that, admittedly, I’m a few weeks late in reviewing. I bought it at BroueHaHa with the best of intentions, but it was a busier season with less imbibing than I forecast … and cross-country ski season has arrived, so hours are in shorter supply.

First, let me say, if it isn’t already too late, run out and buy a couple of bottles of this. You’ll most certainly find an occasion in the cold days of January to quaff them, I promise.

I will admit, I was a bit leery to buy this bottle, but on our last trip to my candy store (aka: BroueHaHa), Anne insisted I buy something seasonal and this was recommended. The time before, I had gone in pursuit of St Ambroise’s pumpkin ale which I was disappointed to learn had finished its season a few weeks before Halloween. Instead, I had “settled” (emphasis on “settled”) for BDT’s pumpkin ale which was a watery disappointment.

I’m happy to say, BDT improved their record with their Xmas brew. At 9% and with an almost iridescent “cowboy coffee” hue to it, this beer drinks like and is almost certainly a Porter, born and bred.

Now, let’s face it, a huge porter isn’t to everyone’s taste to begin with. No chauvinism intended, the porter was brewed for those burly men that port pianos. You know, the one’s that drink a six-pack as an aperitif and eat an extra large pizza as an hors d’œuvre. And as much as I’m type casting, I’m also revering: really, “We’re not worthy.” Where am I going with this? This “minuit” has no Chopin to it – it’s a big beer. And, unless you move pianos for a living, this big bottle needs to be shared.

Yes, anise (i.e. Chinese licorice) is pronounced from beginning to end – but there is a delicious bit of clove and allspice to it that I think any French Canadian is going to love. This beer is “comfort food” – it’s tourtiere and creton and all things big and yummy. But I’d wager most English will love it too as it is figgy pudding all the way. The spices are strong – and perhaps a wee-bit too heavy, depending on your taste. But the brewmaster is clearly of a “go big or go home” philosophy. But like with those foods above, when done well, a little piece is all the palette needs.

Personally, for a seasonal beer, this creates a wonderful tableau: me curled up in front of fire, a bit of Dickens in hand and some good toutiere or some braised Asian short-ribs beside me … I think this beer is a good accompaniment. The only thing better would be Anne herself ….

My only advice to you all: at 750ml, find someone to share it with – this beer is way too big (and the bottle bigger) for one person. A pint-sized bottle would have been a smarter choice. Still, well worth the adventure. Enjoy … and happy belated holidays to all …

Stats:  Porter/Seasonal Beer. 9% ABV. Gatineau, Quebec.
Colour: Dark (dark) brown
Mouth Feel: heavy, hard carbonation which overpowers a bit.

78 points

Share this:

  • Share
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Beer Reviews, Eats, Seasonal and/or Specialty Tagged With: BDT, beer, Brouehaha, Christmas, food, Gatineau, la Messe de Minuit, Les Brasseurs du Temps, microbreweries, porter, Quebec, Review

« “West Coast Pale Ale” (Pale) by Church-Key Brewing Company
“Black IPA” (American Black Ale), Brasserie DunHam »

I would love to read your comments ....Cancel reply

30 Poems in 30 Days – Global Poetry Writing Month (2022)

  • A Love Song

    A Love Song
  • Chosen

    Chosen
  • Wormwood

    Wormwood
  • Bashert

    Bashert
  • Lumber Dog

    Lumber Dog
  • Aisling for the Land

    Aisling for the Land
  • Hard Boiled Boy

    Hard Boiled Boy
  • The Blasted

    The Blasted
  • Sense of Time

    Sense of Time
  • We Reflect

    We Reflect
  • A Family Grown

    A Family Grown
  • Fly — Away

    Fly — Away
  • Curtains

    Curtains
  • A Question Heard

    A Question Heard
  • The Storm

    The Storm
  • A Dis-Ode to the Mushoom

    A Dis-Ode to the Mushoom
  • Bun in the Oven

    Bun in the Oven
  • The world don’t owe you nothing

    The world don’t owe you nothing
  • the syrphid

    the syrphid
  • Osborne

    Osborne
  • Love is not a Word

    Love is not a Word
  • Meta

    Meta
  • Super-Pop

    Super-Pop
  • footprints on the sands of time

    footprints on the sands of time
  • Spring Grows

    Spring Grows
  • Neptune’s Recline

    Neptune’s Recline
  • Red Light, Green Light, Stop

    Red Light, Green Light, Stop
  • Wuthering Heights

    Wuthering Heights
  • Afterwinter

    Afterwinter
  • The Story of a Dog

    The Story of a Dog

Recent Posts

  • A Love Song
  • Chosen
  • Wormwood
  • Bashert
  • Lumber Dog

Join My Community

Simply enter your email address and never miss another post.

Join 827 other subscribers

2012-2022 © Dale Schierbeck.

All rights reserved. All material and content is the original property of Dale Schierbeck and “EatsWritesShoots” 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without expressed and written permission from this blog’s author and owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author (“Dale Schierbeck”) and the site (“EatsWritesShoots”) and with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Connect with Me on Facebook

Connect with Me on Facebook

Top Posts & Pages

  • Recipe for Low-Phosphorus Dog Food ~ Caring for a Dog with Chronic Renal Failure
  • Ben ~ In Memoriam
  • Homemade Super Dog Food ... aka Ben's Breakfast
  • 18 Forever ....
  • Penne Arrabiata (Penne with Italian Sausage and Shishito Peppers)

Join the Conversation

  • mb on Ben ~ In Memoriam
  • Dale on Ground Beef Tacos
  • Nicholas Robert Parkes on Ground Beef Tacos
  • Molly on Recipe for Low-Phosphorus Dog Food ~ Caring for a Dog with Chronic Renal Failure
  • Dale on Chosen

RSS Feeds

RSS feed RSS - Posts

RSS feed RSS - Comments

Archives

Categories

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d