Tag Archives: driftwood brewing

Sartori Harvest IPA (2017 Edition)- Driftwood Brewing

by Mike

Well it is that time of year again! Driftwood Brewing out of Victoria BC has brought us their 2017 version of their wet hopped “Sartori Harvest IPA”.  In traditional fashion I could not find this beer in Vancouver but I did find it while in Kelowna.  The beer poured a fruity tropical notes with floral and herbal middle and some pine at the end.  The flavour is of mild resin and bitterness, herbal notes, mild hint of malts with mild tropical fruits and a pine finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 7%.  I was happy to finally really enjoy a bottle of this as the last few years it didn’t do it for me.  I hope next years batch is as good or better than this version.

Commercial Description:  This wet-hopped IPA can only be brewed once a year when, in the midst of the hop harvest, fresh Centennial hops are spirited from Sartori Cedar Ranch near Chilliwack to our Brew Kettle in Victoria. Sartori’s fresh hops have a delicious profile unique to the patch of land they cultivate in the Columbia Valley making this limited release singular and remarkable.

 

Twenty Pounder Double IPA – Driftwood Brewing

by Mike

From Driftwood Brewing out of Victoria BC comes their “Twenty Pounder Double IPA”.  The beer pours a golden colour with a white head that leaves lacing on the glass.  The aroma consists of tropical fruits, mango, pineapple, caramel and some floral hops.  The flavour is of mango, pineapple, tropical fruits, sweetness, resin, pine, caramel and hops bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 9%.  With tons of fruit flavours and hops bitterness this is a really tasty Double IPA and well worth finding a bottle or three of it.

Commercial Description:  An agent of delivery for hops! As always, we believe in balance, so the double-shwack of hops is supported by a dense-but-clean malt base. Huge fruit in the form of mango, passionfruit, guava, citrus and pine makes this a hop head’s delight.

Singularity 2017 – Driftwood Brewing

by Mike

Victoria’s Driftwood Brewing releases a very limited release Russian Imperial Stout every year in the winter months.  This beer is called “Singularity 2017”.  The beer pours an opaque black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of bourbon, oak, chocolate, toffee, roasted malts and some ash.  The flavour is of and alcohol.  The alcohol content comes in at 13.2%.  This beer is always a winner and they have really outdone themselves this year.  If you can find this beer make sure to pick up a few bottles so you can age at least one.

Commercial Description:  Beer of infinite density. Massive, rich coffee and chocolate flavour mingle with the vanilla and dried fruit. A beer to be shared and savoured. Can be cellared. Enjoy with (or as) dessert!

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Mad Bruin (Sour Brown Ale) Cellared 4 years – Driftwood Brewing

by Mike

From Driftwood Brewing out of Victoria BC comes their “Mad Bruin Sour Brown Ale” the second release in their Birds of Pray series.  I have cellared this bottle for just over 4 years.  This beer was aged in oak barrels for 16 months.  This beer pours a deep redish brown colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of dark fruits, cherry, oak yeast and sweetness.  The flavour is of cherries, dark fruits, huge oak notes, tartness, vinegar notes, earth and some alcohol.  The tartness seems to have really picked up over the 4 years this beer has been in my cellar.  While I liked this beer when it was first released back in 2012 it has aged very well and has upped its game.  I am sad this is the last bottle I had of this beer.

Commercial description:  This Belgian style, Oud Bruin (Old Brown), was aged in oak barrels for 16 months and then blended with a  young ale for a unique profile of delicate malt, acidity and oak ageing. Mad Bruin will continue to develop more complexity with cellaring.

Original review.

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Twenty Pounder Double IPA – Driftwood Brewing

by Mike

From Victoria BC’s Driftwood Brewing comes the “Twenty Pounder Double IPA”. The beer pours a golden colour with a white head. The aroma consists of floral hops, tropical fruits, citrus and a sweet finish. The flavour is of tropical fruits, pineapple, lemon, melon, resin, hops bitterness, pine some mild earth and a some caramel and alcohol. The alcohol content comes in at 9%. This is a great Double IPA coming out of Driftwood. Make sure to pick up a bottle if you like the style.

Commercial Description:  An agent of delivery for hops! As always, we believe in balance, so the double-shwack of hops is supported by a dense-but-clean malt base. Huge fruit in the form of mango, passionfruit, guava, citrus and pine makes this a hop head’s delight.

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