To the romantically inclined, spring means robins, flowers that you can’t tell the difference between and endless days of warm sunshine. Reality often lands closer to what we’ve experienced this week: slate-gray clouds and rain blown by vicious winds. For days like today, we still need warming, stronger beer like the maibock from Les Trois Mousquetaires.
Maple beers have made an effort at securing our attention, but there really is no point in trying to improve on what the brewers of Munich have been releasing for May Day since the early 19th century. (Just as Oktoberfest cheats into September, maibocks come out in April, so there is no reason to wait for May 1.)
This time of year calls for a beer with warming alcohol strength, a touch of malty toastiness and a pale colour. Two hundred years ago, pale beers were generally fashionable, now, I think they’re just a good reminder that brown beer season is over and summer is on its way.
From the bottle, this beer pours a hazy but bright yellow-gold with lots of fluffy white head. Light cereal aromas are joined with some floral and tropical fruit notes as the beer warms and opens up. Spices, malt and banana dominate a flavour profile that is balanced by a touch of hop bitterness and extended by a lingering, slightly sweet finish.
Without the slick marketing of Le Trou du Diable and Dieu du Ciel, and without the monastic formality of MicroBrasserie Charlevoix, beers from Les Trois Mousquetaires tend to receive comparatively less attention in Ontario. They do well when tasted blind, and they have won their share of awards. This lack of fashionable cachet may explain why excellent options like this maibock are available at such a reasonable price.
Les Trois Mousquetaires Maibock, $6.90 for a 750 mL bottle, LCBO #318451
In addition to covering beer, new restaurants and food trucks for Post City, David Ort writes about food and drink for several Toronto publications including Spotlight Toronto and his own site, Food With Legs. For more of his thoughts on food, beer and life in general, follow him on Twitter.