Author: dpatrickryan

Bières de Chimay S.A. Grande Réserve Vieillie en Barriques (Cognac) Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 10.5% ABV (C$35.62 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 10-Aug-2016, acquired 13-Dec-2017, reviewed 6-Feb-2018)

Appearance: clear brown with one finger of dense creamy tan head, excellent retention and  moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready yeast, cherries, raisins, brown sugar, wood, brandy. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild spice. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming spicy finish. (4/5)

I was a bit surprised to see that this was clearer than the Rum version, and maybe even slightly lighter in colour. I also found the aroma to be slightly milder, but not wildly different than the non-barrel-aged Blue. Again, the aromas are relatively mild compared to the flavours on the tongue, it drinks easily, and there is an impressive near-complete absence of alcohol. Triple the price of the standard Grande Réserve still seems like a bit of a steep premium, though. And on a completely unrelated note, this might well be the heaviest beer bottle I’ve ever seen in my life – and that includes the “we had way too much to drink last christmas eve so we’re only allowed to have two beers this christmas eve” 1.5 litre novelty beers I brought home for the brother-in-law. I’m not convinced I could actually break one of these, if I’m honest. Big chunk of glass for a big beer. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Bières de Chimay S.A. Grande Réserve Vieillie en Barriques (Rum) Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 10.5% ABV (C$35.62 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 15-Feb-2017, acquired 13-Dec-2017, reviewed 6-Feb-2018)

Appearance: hazy brown with one finger of dense creamy tan head, excellent retention and  moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready yeast, cherries, raisins, brown sugar, oak, rum, cloves. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild spice. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, sweetish warming spicy finish. (4/5)

Not wildly different than the non-barrel aged Blue, but there’s certainly a note of oak and rum that wasn’t present in the original. The aromas are relatively mild compared to the flavours on the tongue, but it drinks easily, and the near complete absence of alcohol is pretty impressive. (Not to mention, I’m not much of a fan of rum, so the fact that I don’t find its presence off-putting is no mean feat either.) Helluva good beer, but I’m not sure it justifies the price tag of, what, triple the price of the standard Grande Réserve (Blue)? (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Evil Twin Brewing / Westbrook Brewing Co. Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break American Double / Imperial Stout at 10.5% ABV | 60 IBU (C$17.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 5-Feb-2018)

Appearance: solid black with no relief, one finger of rocky beige head diminishing gradually to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: chocolate, vegetal green chilli, cinnamon, coffee, nuts. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, mild spice. (8/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate-low carbonation, sweetish warming spicy finish. (4/5)

Solid enough brew. The peppery spice is even-handed on the tongue, and doesn’t linger inappropriately, but on the nose it’s a vegetal green chilli note that’s not entirely welcome. Not offputting, by any means, or even intrusive, but just a bit out of balance in the context of the chocolate and nuts. A redder, warmer spice note might’ve worked better, but this is a bit too green. (And to be clear, I’m not objecting to spice, but its character. I’m Leonard-of-Hap-and-Leonard-level when it comes to spice: I can’t taste shit unless my ass is on fire.) (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Omnipollo Noa Pecan Mud Cake Imperial Stout at 11% ABV | 60 IBU (C$10.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 5-Feb-2018)

Appearance: nearly solid black with a hint of brown relief, one finger of dense creamy beige head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: chocolate, nuts, vanilla, hint of coffee. (10/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate-low carbonation, sweet warming finish. (4/5)

You know it’s a good beer when you lick the drip off the side of the bottle and go “Oh my gawd that’s good!” I mean, literally. Out loud. Chocolatey and pecany (is that a word? let’s say it is) and rich and just generally decadent – yet not excessively sweet. I will give this one of the biggest compliments I can give: I wish the bottle were bigger. I’m literally nursing the last inch in the glass to make it last longer. Luckily, the aroma is probably its best feature, so I can probably keep that up for the better part of an hour. Stupidly good. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Õllekunsti OÜ (Põhjala Brewery) Põhjala Öö Cassis Baltic Porter at 10.5% ABV | 60 IBU (C$6.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 5-Jan-2018, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 5-Feb-2018)

Appearance: nearly solid black with a hint of brown relief and some particulate, a thin short-lived beige head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malt, dark chocolate, red berries, coffee, liquorice. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, mild tart. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate-low carbonation, sweet warming finish. (4/5)

Not dramatically different from the base beer, particularly in the aroma. However, on the tongue, there’s a slight currant tartness that also lifts the texture of the body. Given the BB date on this one, I suspect it’s a fair bit older than the original version I had a year ago, and I think the age has tempered the alcohol edge somewhat. Not clearly better than the base beer, but an interesting alternative. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing Barrel Aged Hermannator Eisbock at 9.5% ABV | 25 IBU (C$11.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, packaged on 6-Oct-2017, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 4-Feb-2018)

Appearance: clear amber-brown with one finger of loose beige head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: chocolate, red wine, oak, stone fruit, toffee, nuts. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry warming lightly tart finish. (4/5)

I haven’t had many Eisbocks, but this reminds me of G. Schneider’s Aventinus, which is another stonking good lager. Which leads me to my next point: ever notice how, without fail, when somebody compliments a lager, it’s always qualified by “for a lager”? (Or maybe, “, almost as well as an ale!”) I further invite you to observe that I didn’t do that. It’s that good. (For a lager.) (Oops.) (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Vancouver Island Brewing / Gladstone Brewing Company Burton Ale English Strong Ale at 7.5% ABV | 75 IBU (C$6.69 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, packaged on 30-Aug-2017, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 4-Feb-2018)

Appearance: hazy deep amber with one finger of loose beige head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, minimal stringy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toffee, molasses, nuts, apples, leafy weeds. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)

Huh – so that’s a Burton Ale, huh? Intensely malty, with heavy molasses. How is this is the precursor to IPAs? Oh, wait, there’s the finish. OK, maybe I see it now. Ooh, hang on, there’s the hops. Neat. Yeah, I see it. This is a seriously weird beer: as it warms up, it gets nuttier and nuttier on the nose, with very little hop character on the front end, but the taste and finish are reminiscent of a big old-fashioned DIPA. I have no idea as to its authenticity – the size of my white beard notwithstanding, I wasn’t around for the original – but I like this. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

To Øl Mr. Blue Saison at 7% ABV | 53 IBU (C$9.30 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 330 ml, best before 1-Mar-2021, acquired 17-Dec-2016, reviewed 4-Feb-2018)

Appearance: clear deep ruby with one fat finger of rocky pink head, good retention and heavy, soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: blueberry, red wine, spicy rye, barnyardy funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild funk. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lightly funky finish. (4/5)

One of the drawbacks of the amount of time I’ve spent in “The Heart of the New West” is that when I see “Mr. Blue” I immediately hear that Garth Brooks song… This is interesting, though, almost like a blueberry wine in a lot of ways. There’s also some spicy rye and an earthy, barnyardy funk. Quite good, but it feels like it could’ve been next level somehow – perhaps a little more sweetness, or a bit more dry-hopping. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

To Øl Mr. Orange Premium Bitter / ESB at 7% ABV | 49 IBU (C$8.70 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 330 ml, best before 8-Mar-2018, acquired 17-Dec-2016, reviewed 4-Feb-2018)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with two fingers of dense creamy white head, excellent retention and heavy, soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus flesh and peel, toasted malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry oily astringent finish. (4/5)

I have no idea what makes this an ESB, but I like it! If you ask me, it’s more like an American Pale with citrus adjunct, not an ESB, but what the hell do I know? (Well, perhaps not – there’s definitely a toasted malt component in there, and none of the pine I’d expect if this were an APA or A/IPA. So, fine, it’s an ESB. A heavily hopped, citrus adjunct, beefy ABV ESB.) They weren’t kidding when they called it Mr. Orange, though, because that’s by far the dominant character, right down to an oily orange peel astringent finish. Good stuff. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Driftwood Brewery Latus Sour Ale (2017) Sour / Wild Ale at 6.8% ABV (C$12.85 at Hume Hotel Liquor Boutique, 650 ml, packaged on 1-Dec-2017, acquired 30-Jan-2018, reviewed 3-Feb-2018)

Appearance: clear ruby-tinged amber-brown with a short-lived fizzy head and no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart raspberry, stone fruit, oak, mild funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, mild funk. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, dry tart lightly funky finish. (5/5)

This might be one of the best (if not the best) non-Belgian Flanders Red/Browns I’ve had. After far too many bandwagon kettle sours, it’s ever so nice to get a real barrel-aged sour, and this is quite a good barrel-aged sour, with plenty of depth and complexity, while remaining approachable. I’m a bit of a sucker for this style, so I might be a touch enthusiastic in my scoring, but only a touch. (And, so common an occurrence for Driftwood as to hardly merit mention, yet another gorgeous label.) (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com