Beer O'Clock: The Four Surfers of the Apocalypse

It's been several months since I've had a brew from la belle province du Québec, let alone reviewed one, and it's high time that I do so. After all, it's just a hop across the river from me.

Actually, I found this Shawinigan, QC, brew at my friendly neighbourhood LCBO, so I didn't even have to cross the Ottawa River. Lucky me. And given the name of today's brew, if I would have had to cross the river, perhaps hopping isn't the right way to cross.

Perhaps surfing?

But in trying to remember the last time I reviewed a beer from this brewery, I had to go all the way back to October of 2015, at Beau's Oktoberfest, in Vankleek Hill (a town I last visited this past Sunday). Again, it was high time that I took a look at Québec beer.

You've heard about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Well, being the height of summer, imagine those grim folks on surfboards. And hopefully, these surfing dudes don't bring pestilence, war, famine, or death.

Let's take a closer look.

Les Quatre Serfeurs de l'Apocoalypso White IPA (6.5% ABV; 60 IBUs)
Le Trou du Diable (The Devil's Hole)
Shawinigan QC

Appearance: pours an unfiltered, pale apricot-gold with a foamy-white head that starts quite thick and settles to a finger-thick depth.

Nose: sweet tropical fruit such as pineapple and mango.

Palate: lychee flavours come first and are followed by pine resin and a hint of pear. Initially, it's sweet but the bitterness tempers that, and the pear softens the bitter bite. The finish is long and can be savored.

Overall impression: I tried to come up with some profile characteristics that could be associated with each of the four surfers but there was nothing that could be directly related. This IPA, which harkens to a bit of a blend between a Belgian wit and an American-styled IPA. There's the bitterness of an IPA that is kept at bay by the malts and fruit flavours. And unlike a lot of Québec IPAs, this one doesn't have the high-alcohol booziness that almost seems a standard.

This is a refreshing, easy-drinking brew that is a wave of flavours. Grab your surfboard!

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

Grab yourself Les Quatre Serfeurs de l'Apocoalypso and treat yourself to a summer quencher.

I have another white IPA that I'll review, as comparison, next week.

Cheers!