From Mission BC’s Mission Springs Brewing comes their “Spirit Bear Spiced Chocolate Imperial Stout”. The beer pours a deep black colour with a brown head. The aroma consists of all spice, chocolate, roasted malts and some sweetness. The flavour is of burnt coffee, chocolate, all spice, roasted malts, bitterness and earth. The alcohol content comes in at 8%. I was personally hoping for the chocolate to shine through much more with this beer as the all spice is really prominent.
From Russell Brewing out of Surrey BC comes their new “Naughty and Spiced Porter” a beer that had me at the label. The beer pours a deep brown with a tan head. The aroma of the beer is of roasted malts, sweet cinnamon, all spice and nutmeg. The flavour of the porter is of roasted malts, oak, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg which covers up most of the hops bitterness. This brew has an alcohol content of 6.5% and an IBU of 30. I was quite impressed with this new porter offered by Russell Brewing and will be happy with this new addition as long as it does not interfere with their Black Death Porter!
Commercial Description: Available in 650ml bottles, this is a rich winter porter that’s been spiked with seasonal spices like all-spice, cinnamon and nutmeg and aged on oak chips to provide a subtle vanilla flavour and aroma. Refreshing and flavourful. available in 650ml bottles at BC’s private liquor stores. This is a limited edition holiday treat. Please enjoy responsibly.
From Fernie BC’s Fernie Brewing comes the “Pumpkin Head (Pumpkin Brown Ale)”. This is yet another in the growing number of pumpkin beer being produced in BC. This beer pours a deep amber/brown with an beige head. The aroma of this beer is huge with pumpkin, spices, nutmeg and sweet roasted malts. The flavor is just about as huge with pumpkin, spices including nutmeg and cinnamon, clove, all spice, coriander, sweet roasted malts and a slight hopyness. The beer has an alcohol content of 5% with an IBU of 13. I had a falling out with pumpkin beers as I tried every single one a few years ago and overdid it. Luckily this one reminded me why I liked them and will make put pumpkin beer back on the radar.
Commercial Description: Our Pumpkin Brown Ale stems from our infamous First Trax Brown Ale, but is instead brewed with organic pumpkins, cinnamon, nutmeg and numerous spices to create a deliciously smooth and tasty accompaniment to your favourite seasonal dish. Resulting in a brew fit for any beer connoisseur or your average turkey aficionado.
Food pairing as per brewery: A deliciously smooth and tasty accompaniment to your favourite seasonal dish.
Mike's Craft Beer 