A New Beer Event is Born in Shawinigan:La Soirée des Brasseurs
By Marc Demeule
It is so true that simple ideas are often the best. The Trou du Diable team simply wanted to create a “get together” with other brewers they appreciate but just don’t have the chance to visit often enough. A total of 15 breweries shared the Willow Street for a one evening and the only competition was to serve the crowd that attending the first (and I can surely announce it will now be annual) event simply called “La Soirée des Brasseurs” (the brewer’s night).
The setup has been reduced to the minimum: A tent for two breweries, a table and great beers in small quantity. All the rentals were supported by Le Trou du Diable, so no sponsors were on the site. Two live bands, Jah Cutta and Afrodizz , gave a live show and a musical atmosphere to the evening.
What where the great beers of the event? Here are my preferred, in a completely random order. Just for the the event, Les Trois Mousquetaires released a cask of the Baltic Porter, bottle version will be available in September-October. Les Brasseurs du Temps offered an oak aged version of thier barley wine Mea Magna Culpa that just correctly heated my throat with its 9 % alcohol content and the raspberry pale ale Framboyante restore my palate. Actually, they offer 12 taps at the brewery. The Brouhaha brew pub released his first bottle, and a good one! Gaz de Course (Racing fuel) will soon be on the shelves. This extra strong beer is a deep smash of hops. The use of a randall gives a wall of hoppy taste to that very structured brew. Note to the brewer: Can’t wait to get some at our local beer store in Saint-Hyacinthe. This beer is a geek sure shot, so it is for their Campwagon equipped with taps. If you are a regular customer of Brouhaha broue pub, you may have tried guest beers that visited the randall, like some Dieu du Ciel! beers, and it gives a totally different profile to your preferred one. Always a good experience.
The others brewers showed up with regular products that I can certify of their quality and good taste, but as a beer geek, I’m always looking for something new… Here are some you are always willing for a glass: La Saison du Tracteur – Le trou du diable, Pêché Mortel – Dieu du Ciel! MacKroken Flower – Le Loup Rouge, Wescott IPA- Broadway Broue Pub, Kébek – Brasseurs et Frères, Bitter Extra Houblon – Le Corsaire and Yakima – Le Bénélux. For those who missed this event, you will have the chance to catch them up at La Fête Bières et Saveurs in Chambly, September 3rd to 6th.
Cheers.
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