Curieux

Curieux hits you with immediate oak and vanilla on the nose—it smells like someone poured a bourbon cocktail into a glass of blonde ale and let it marry. The first sip is creamy, almost oily in texture, with caramel and a whiskey warmth that builds gradually. There's a drying oak tannin in the finish that lingers longer than you'd expect from an 11% beer, and the alcohol feels integrated rather than hot. It's contemplative—the kind of beer you want to nurse for 45 minutes.

Mélange à Trois

This one leads with Belgian yeast character—that signature spicy, peppery, almost clove-forward thing—before the barrel presence emerges in the mid-palate. It's lighter in body than Curieux, more nimble despite being fractionally stronger. The wood aging is there, definitely, but it reads as restraint rather than statement; you get toasted grain and subtle vanilla without the bourbon dominance. The finish is clean and slightly dry, with a peppery aftertaste that keeps you coming back for another sip.