From Coronado, California’s Coronado Brewing Company comes their “Stupid Stout 2015″. The Imperial Stout pours an opaque black with a brown head. The aroma consists of roasted malts, toffee, ash and chocolate. The flavour is of roasted malts, ash, chocolate, toffee, molasses, anise, earth and mild bitterness. Even with the alcohol coming in at 9% you do not taste it. I really liked this one but then an Imperial stout without and alcohol burn is amazing in my books.
From Brewsters Brewing Company out of Calgary, Alberta comes their “Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout” 2015 Vintage something I have been sitting on for a while. The beer poured an opaque black with a brown head. The aroma consists of molasses, roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, oak, brown sugar and sweetness. The flavour is of molasses, toffee, vanilla, brown sugar, chocolate, roasted malts, bourbon, oak, earth and even hints of milk with alcohol in the finish. The alcohol content comes in at 11.9%. This beer was phenomenal and I hope to try it again some time soon!
From Brewsters Brewing Company out of Calgary, Alberta comes their “Blue Monk Barley Wine” a bottle from the 2015 vintage. Last time I had this beer it came in a much smaller bottle and I wonder why they made this change as half a bomber is an easier sitting with a huge barleywine. The beer pours a deep copper colour with an off white head. The aroma consists of dark frits, caramel, toffee, brown sugar and sweetness. The flavour is of dark fruits, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, earth, resin, bitterness, maybe a hint of citrus hidden with alcohol bringing in the rear. The alcohol content comes in at 9.5% with an IBU of 65. There is no doubt this is a true barleywine and its pretty enjoyable. I wish people would stop trying to pass off Triple IPA’s as Barleywines these days.
Commercial Description: The monk represents discipline, respect and morality but that doesn’t mean he can’t indulge in a holy brew now and then. Blue Monk Barley Wine is an English style strong ale characterized by an intense, fruity flavour with notes of bread and toffee. Malt varietals include 2-Row, Carastan, Special B and Munich. Hop Varietals include Chinook, Magnum and Cascade.
From Chambly Quebec’s Unibroue comes the “La Résolution 2015″ a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. The beer pours a deep brown colour with a beige head. The aroma consists of toffee, sweetness, dark fruits and gingerbread. The flavour is of toffee, dark fruits, anise, roasted malts, caramel, gingerbread with a sweet finish. The alcohol content comes in at 10% with an IBU of 21.5. I haven’t had a Unibroue beer for a while and this was the right one to come back to! The flavour was great and really works in the winter months.
Commercial Description: La Résolution is a dark ale with spicy character inspired by a recipe our brewmaster Jerry Vietz created for his friends. At 10% alcohol, its spicy caramel aroma evolves on the palate into pleasant and complex notes of toffee with reminiscence of a tasty gingerbread. The perfect balance between spicy, caramel and roasted malt flavours is complemented by a nice roundness and persistent finish.
Limited Release
From Aldergove’s Dead Frog Brewery comes their new “Commander Imperial Stout 2015”. This years edition of Commander has been altered from last years edition once again. This Russian Imperial Stout pours a deep opaque black colour with a chocolate brown head with lots of lacing. The aroma consists of vanilla, dark fruits, banana and roasted malts. The flavour is of vanilla, bourbon, oak, roasted malts, banana, earthy, molasses and chocolate. The alcohol content comes in at 10.5% with an IBU of 65. If I had to choose I think I would pick up a bottle of the 2014 Vintage before this edition because I enjoy the flavour profile more. This is still a great beer and will age very well and change over time.
Commercial Description: The 2015 Commander was updated to make it more approachable without maturation. Steve Black, Dead Frog’s head brewer said of this year’s release, “it’s a little lighter-bodied with an emphasis on oak and honey whiskey, backed by hints of molasses and chocolate.”
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