United Nations of Beer

IPA du Lievre

by Ashley Cotter-Cairns
(UNOB HQ)

IPA du Lievre, Microbrasserie du Lièvre, Mont-Laurier, QC, Canada. Worth driving up north for!

IPA du Lievre
Microbrasserie du Lièvre, Mont-Laurier, QC, Canada

This is another of the beers I picked up after visiting the recent Flaveurs Bieres et Caprices 2007 beer and food pairing event in downtown Montreal.

One of my interests to pursue in 2008 is whether good beer and women mix. Most ladies are far more likely to be seen hoisting a wine or martini glass than a pint and I wondered to myself whether this was an image thing, or a taste thing. What better way to test this theory than by finding a really hoppy beer, something that most women, even if they drink beer at all, have probably never been exposed to before, then asking them to try it?

This is a true test of the qualities of IPA du Lievre, a high Laurentians beer coming in litre bottles with a swing-ring top. I tried it on my sister- and mother-in-law during the Christmas holidays and to be totally honest, I had pretty low expectations for their reaction.

An IPA can be really tricky, especially if you're not accustomed to dry-tasting, hoppy ales. At 8% ABV, this beer is strong, potent and challenging.

Brenda (sister-in-law) normally drinks Corona with lime. It's hard to imagine many readily-available beers that could be more different than her usual choice: certainly an IPA won't cut the thirst the way the clean, if dull, Corona can.

She seemed to enjoy it. I fully expected the "Oh my god" face when she took a sip, but she liked it well enough to try a couple more mouthfuls. It remains to be seen whether she seeks out different beers next time she wants a brew.

Marina (mother-in-law) normally drinks nothing. I was more confident that Marina would be okay with IPA du Lievre, as she has recently tried a fair few of the beers I've reviewed and liked them well enough.

Her reaction was very positive and I'm sure she'd drink another small glass of IPA if I offered it to her in the future.

I really enjoyed this beer. It's a great example of the style, with everything you want from an IPA. And, only being available in litres means you won't be left wanting after the first pint.

The best IPA I've had since the summer. Would probably win "The beer of Flaveurs et Caprices" for me, IF there weren't such amazing competition (that title is probably going to an Imperial stout). Certainly the IPA of the event, for me.