merci ma belle-soeur préférée
My favourite sister-in-law has me singing “We Are Family”. * You know the song, “We are family, my sister-in-law got beer for me.” If you have a sister-in-law that brought you beer you can sing along with me. Perhaps more explanation is needed. Consider this texting conversation.
Favourite Sister-in-law: I’m going to bring a gift back for you from the Gaspé for your recent hospitality.
Me: No need to do that, your presence is our present.
Favourite Sister-in-law: We are stopping by Frontibus Microbrewery and I thought I would bring you back a few beers.
Me: Make sure you pick up their Rousse.
Je parle un peu but the word Frontibus was foreign to me. My first thought was that’s where the driver sits. My enquiry to the COMDB Translation Department was met with a curt and in my opinion discourteous comment, edited for propriety, “We don’t do Latin”. Latin? Well, this looked like a job for our egghead Editor, who tells me that “Frontibus” means “forehead”? ** He also tells me he is never wrong, but that can’t be right, can it? Apparently, it is. “Frontibus” is actually a traditional French drinking song. *** Time to see if this Frontibus Rousse can carry a tune.
A ruddy and ready reddish pour, no head fore or aft. Malt roast caramel with a smoky aroma to it, must be from those Gaspé bonne fires. First taste and right away I know I have a unique Rousse on my hands, and in my glass. It has a malt body, with fizz and floral, as well as the traditional caramel there and in the finish. An interesting sequence and combo. Complex. Certainly not an amber and not really a red. A light watery mouthfeel, but since it’s so complex, it’s not exactly smooth, but not aggressive either. As unique as the Gaspé and just as enjoyable to visit. As the fizz and floral fade what is left is a slightly smoky malt with mild caramel and a touch of bitter on the finish.
A unique and tasty take on the classic Quebecois Rousse. A family friendly Frontibus, well done.
*Pedantic Editor’s Comment: The opening lyrics to the 1979 number one hit “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge are “We are family, I got all my sisters with me.” Clearly there is no reference to beer in the original song, although there are some grammar issues that Sister Sledge should have dealt with.
**Editor’s Comment: The egghead comment was unwarranted, and I wouldn’t say I am never wrong, only very seldom. Frontibus, from the Latin “Fron” for “forehead, the slang plural being “frontibus”.
***COMDB Translation Department: The Frontibus Drinking Song.
Ami, lève ton verre et surtout, ne le renverse pas, et porte le du frontibus, au nasibus, au mentibus , au ventribus, au sexibus, à l’aquarium , et glou et glou et glou .
Friend, raise a glass, and above all don’t spill anything, and put it from your forehead, to your nose, to your chin, to your belly, to your sex, to your mouth, and gulp, gulp, gulp.
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