Starting at Full Speed - Cinquième Baron Microbrasserie
Keeping business running during a global pandemic has been a challenge for all breweries, regardless of how long they’ve been in business. It’s a whole other ballgame for those that had to start their brewery during the pandemic! Obviously no one would choose to open their operations for the first time during a pandemic lockdown, but as with any business it takes years of work and planning in advance of actually opening your doors. Not having any idea how long it will be before the business can be running close to normal, some breweries have had to navigate opening during these uncertain times.
One such brewery that opened about a month ago in Aylmer, Québec, a short 20-minute drive from downtown Ottawa is Cinquième Baron Microbrasserie. In the short time they’ve been open they’ve pumped out a wide range of styles and have been met with a surge of interest, frequently selling out releases in a matter of days. Their branding is on point with a clean logo and colourful can label artwork. I got to try a handful of their recent releases. Let’s see how they’re tasting!
Eye-5
Collaboration with Bistro L’Autre Oeil - IPL 6.0%
I love a hopped up lager, so I reached for the IPL first. I was into it immediately on the aroma alone; full-on dank, earthy wet hops. It actually made me think of the kind of aroma and palate you’d get from a wet hop ale, a style I’m in love with. It drinks delightfully smooth. The carbonation level is perfect, making it nice and frothy. The hop profile gives earthy and grassy flavours with a bit of pine alongside some fruity notes of melon and peach. The malt bill is mild, giving it a slightly bready background. It’s a bit peppery near the end with a mild bitterness. I think it could have even used a bit more bitterness. This is a style I love and this one was beautifully executed.
Des Moines
Helles - 5.0%
Their Helles pours a cloudy golden straw colour. The malt profile is whole wheat bread crusts with a peppery spice tone. It’s got a good amount of bitterness and a really nice dry, crisp finish. I think the only thing it’s missing is the slightly sweeter note you’d generally expect to have with a Helles, which makes it drink a bit more like a pilsner, but a damn good pilsner at that.
Broken Cue
Double NEIPA - 8.0%
Cinquième Baron definitely brings the haze too. Broken Cue pours a gorgeous, thick, milky yellow-orange with a fluffy white head. The mouthfeel is insanely smooth, creamy, and peach-fuzzy (gotta be some Mosaic in there). I feel like they must have added oats or something to elevate the texture because it is next level. There’s a ton of super juicy peach and mango flavour along with a bit of white grape. It’s chalky on the finish with a bit of boozy warmth. It is definitely on the sweeter side, but on the whole, this is haze done right. It’s in the ballpark of some of the best I’ve tasted.
Lucide Dream
Breakfast Stout - 8.5%
This is a big imperial stout infused with a blend of Brazilian and other South American coffee from Aylmer’s Brown Bag Coffee Roasters. I was amazed to discover that there’s no lactose in this because it has the thick creamy mouthfeel and background sweetness of a milk stout. That they managed to create that silky texture from the grain bill alone is impressive. There’s a mild earthy vegetal note in the background, but much more prominent is the heavenly coffee flavour. It basically drinks like a thick foamy cold brew. It’s dangerous too as there’s not a hint of booziness despite the big 8.5% ABV.
Overall I am super impressed with what I’ve tasted and seen from Cinquième Baron so far. This does not taste like a brewery that’s been open for business for less than two months. The popularity they’ve achieved after such a short amount of time (not to mention in exceptionally difficult circumstances) is a testament to the quality of the product they’re producing. Though it’s clear that they are capable of brewing hyped up styles in line with some of the best, they are by no means focusing on haze alone and are nailing lagers and other styles just as well. From what I’ve gathered, they seem to be meticulous about quality and keen to continuously tweak and improve to make the best beers they can. I’m really excited to see how these guys grow and continue to expand their lineup. We’ve got some great beer in this region and it seems to keep getting better!
Photography by Nathan Does Beer.
Find Cinquième Baron Microbrasserie online:
Nathan
Nathan is a craft beer enthusiast from Ottawa, ON. He is the Co-Founder of @TeamLactose, he’s passionate about travelling for beer and he loves talking about beer from Ontario, Quebec and beyond.