We hadn't thought we'd need the Métro, but because we didn't quite feel safe getting to the Plateau district skateless, we caved. It took us quite a while to find Dieu du Ciel once we disembarked at Laurier Station, but eventually we turned a corner and found ourselves in a small, warmly-lit brewpub.
On most days, Dieu du Ciel is a notoriously difficult place to find a seat. However, in light of the nasty weather, we were lucky and found a table right away.
Our copper-topped table gave us a great view of Dieu du Ciel's extensive beer list, and it wasn't long at all before we were able to order four six-ounce beers to taste and a cheese plate to nibble on.
Here's what we thought:
Aphrodisiaque
Deliciously chocolatey but a little too heavy. Bitterness balances out the sweetness of the chocolate and vanilla, though. A little like drinking a 99% cacao bar.
Prémiere Neige
Delicate anise flavor. Light, sweet but not sugary, warm and complex, anise at the floor point. Most of the flavor on the next breath. Our top pick, excellent with a baguette and Brie, or with green olives.
Solstice d'Hiver
Barley wine. Excellent with pungent cheeses and onion chutney. Dark, fragrant, reminiscent of wine or brandy, but with an inner heat.
Péché Mortel
A Coffee-infused Imperial Stout. Intriguing on the first sip, but entirely too heavy for continued enjoyment. Pretty good with nuts.
To accompany our beers, we ordered this big beauty.
The kitchen at Dieu du Ciel treated us well, and gave us an assortment of nuts, crusty bread, green and kalamata olives, onion chutney, Brie, what we're guessing were a type of Porter cheese, and two other pungent and delicious cheeses.
We also decided to try Dieu du Ciel's Cidre Rosé, and our expectations were far exceeded.
The cider was absolutely beautiful, with a semisweet, dry fruity palate. It would be wonderful with creamy cheeses, Baked Brie, or Camembert, but alas we didn't save any of the cheeses on our plate to accompany it.
Everything was absolutely delicious, and I don't think we could have ordered anything better for such a cold and dreary day.
Over the course of our meal, we met some other Americans--a couple who were in Montréal to explore its pub scene. They recommended some other breweries to us, including Le Cheval Blanc, Station HO.ST, and Le Saint Bock--the other brewpub we visited on our last day in Montréal.
On Wednesday, we stopped into Le Saint Bock to try their beer and have one last Poutine.
From bottom to top, we tried RIP Brett (Porter Imperial Russe aux Brettanomyces), Prémiere Dame (Stout Imperial), 666 (Black IPA), Malédiction (Milk Stout), and Sweet Jesus (Scotch Ale).
RIP Brett Porter
Cedary, vinegary nose. Thin layer of eggshell foam. Tart, woody, and spicy in flavor, almost like Dijon mustard. Vinegar and smoke aftertaste. Pretty gross, probably would not order again.
Premiere Dame
Nice layer of foam the color of coffee with milk. Light malty bouquet. Aftertaste like smoked ham; lovely mesquite flavor. Very easy to drink, would pair nicely with a creamy mild soup like Cullen Skink, a nice cold weather beer.
666
Basically no foam at all but a thin, patchy later topping a cola-colored brew. Heady, tropical fruit smell, like Passionfruit. Extremely hoppy, but has a nice fruit base to balance it out. Bitter but not harsh. Hoppy, sour aftertaste. A perfect, sexy summer IPA, and a good party beer. D's favorite.
Malédiction
Dark Chocolate and smoky smell. A little bit of dark foam that sank down over time. Tastes a lot like semisweet chocolate, with an aftertaste of baking cocoa and hops. My favorite.
Sweet Jesus
Effectively no foam. Deep burgundy wine color. Malty, slightly cocoa-y, clean smell. Musky, earthy, apple-y smell; almost musty but absolutely delicious. Aftertaste like dried fruit and the air in a preserves cellar. Not particularly sweet, but almost like a really dark mulled cider.
If you're in the area and love a good brew, Montréal is really your oyster.
Happy exploring!
Xx
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