While at Marche Jovi a couple of months ago, I was directed by a gentleman who was clearly my better in the ways of beer to a number of selections once he noticed my tell tale beer hounding, the shopping cart filled with single bottles. I am pretty sure this one one of them. The brewery, Microbrasserie Charlevoix, named after its region of the province, sits at Baie-Saint-Paul on the north shore of the St. Lawrence about 100 salty km downstream - or northeast - of Quebec City and about the same distance due west of the most northerly point in Maine.

This dubbel is likely too young to drink as the 9% strength combined with the rich sweetness could easily take a year of breaking down to gain a slight acidification and other nuances. But it is still a wonderful thing. It pours a lovely light chestnut with a heavy thick cream head. One the nose there is nutmeg, plenty of brown sugared malt as well as a well hidden seam of booze. In the mouth there is a mass of sweet cream spiced with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Cradled but not cut by twiggy hops. Some biscuit texture in amongst all that excess.

Just $3.99 for 500 ml. Stunning value. High praise from the BAers.