Brune au Miel

by John Breese
(Beer Delegate, QC, Canada)

Brune au Miel: a strong honey brown ale. Something to celebrate. Also rejoice in the fact that you've never been featured on COPS

Brune au Miel by Microbrasserie du Lievre will make you glad you're not in the deep, deep south.

Everyone has to love the show COPS. Where else can you find such a fine extension of the Jerry Springer dysfunctional family? I sometimes ask myself, are some of these people faking off like they do on Springer or is it all real? With one hand on the bible I assure you, people, it's all 100% cinema vérité.

I know it appears too good to be true when the cops show up to some dilapidated clap-board house and are met by a drunken louse stumbling down his busted front porch with airplane glue dripping off his moustache, but I have encountered my share of such specimens. As said drunken louse stumbles towards the camera, his two foot mullet blowing about in the gentle southern breeze, the lens captures the charming array of sweat and wine stains that adorn his wife beater.

"Whuts da problem, office-ers?" Captain Mullet asks, obviously perturbed.
"We received complaints from neighbours about you playin' yer music too loud sir, and that you've disregarded several demands to keep the volume down," replies officer Boss Hog in an authoritative tone.
"Well, that's jus' a great big pile of beep-ing bull-beep!" Captain Mullet declares before posing a cigarette between his crusty lips and trying in vain to light it with his car keys. "Goddamn cheap lighter... mus' be made in Tie-one or sumpin'."

I can almost understand then why our esteemed Captain Mullet was too busy sharing a case of Milwaukee's Best (8.5% ABV) with his ten- and eleven-year-old sons to realize he was treating the neighbourhood to an aural blast of German speed metal. He likes a drink that has a sting to it, and so do I for that matter. But whereas Captain Mullet likes the hard stuff because it helps him forget the fact that he's two steps away from trading in life at casa del clap-board for the luxurious back seat of his rusty Camaro, I like strong beer because I figure it enhances the brew's other features.

Low alcohol content has unfortunately kept me from giving more time and attention to one of my favourite types of beer, the almighty Honey Brown. That's quite unfortunate, too, because I really love do Honey Brown ales, but as anyone who reads my reviews knows, I have an affinity for beer that kicks like a mule.

Then one day, it happened. I was down at the local veggie store and there of all places was the Microbrasserie du Lievre’s Brune Au Miel sitting in the fridge. As I approached to examine the details on the label, I realized I had finally found it: a strong Honey Brown. "Verdict: our esteemed brewers have come up aces in producing a Honey Brown that carries a punch while serving up a smooth taste with hints of caramel."

I also found myself being able to camp a bit as I drank, for the taste got more potent as the beer warmed up. I found the aftertaste pretty mild, maybe even a little weak for my preferences, but I am happy to report that I have finally secured myself a strong Honey Brown.