Tag Archives: honey

A.E. Cross Barley Wine Barrel Aged – Last Best Brewing & Distilling

by Mike

From Last Best Brewing & Distilling in Calgary Alberta comes their second ever bottled beer the “A.E. Cross Barley Wine Barrel Aged” the second of their Lineage Series.  This is a 2016 Vintage and has been cellared by the brewery itself until 2018.  The beer pours a deep orange brown colour with an off white head.  For the second release they split the beer into two versions one unoaked and then this one that was barrel aged for 10 Months in Alberta Rye Whiskey Barrels.  The aroma consists of mild oak, dark fruits, stone fruit, brown sugar, caramel, toffee and rye.  The flavour is of oak, dark fruits, cherry, toffee, caramel, grapefruit rind, honey, resin, rye spice, rye whiskey, bitterness and alcohol.  The alcohol content comes in at 11.8% with an IBU of 45.  This is a borderline American Barelywine and really enjoyable.  I hope they make more of this in the future.

Commercial Description:  With our 2nd lineage release, we pay homage to a prairie legend with our riff on a classic style. The Alfred Ernest Goss Barley Wine uses locally sourced barley wheat, and rye as a fitting tribute to the founder of Calgary Brewing & Malting and the embodiment of the Last Best West.  We split this release into two: one unoaked and one aged for 10 months in 100% Alberta rye whiskey barrels Layered with subtle, integrated oak and a developing rye spiciness, this beer is characterized by its sweet caramel and barley malt base alcohol warmth, hints of dark fruit and a touch of light malted wheat Serve it at cellar temperature and age for years to come.

Ascension Triple IPA – Howe Sound Brewing

by Mike

From Squamish BC’s Howe Sound Brewing comes the “Ascension Triple IPA”.  The beer pours a cloudy deep orange with an off white head.  The aroma consists of melon, tropical fruits, candy sugar, floral hops and alcohol.  The flavour is of melon, tropical fruits, mango, candy sugar, honey, pine, resin, bitterness and alcohol.  The alcohol content comes in at 11% with an IBU of 70.  For the ABV this stuff is ridiculously drinkable. I recommend picking up at least a bottle of this.

Circuitous Double IPA – Pueblo Vida Brewing

by Mike

From Pueblo Vida Brewing out of Tucson Arizona comes their “Circuitous Double IPA”.  The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of very juicy notes of tropical fruits, pineapple and lots of overall fruit notes.  The flavour is of tropical fruits, pineapple, mango, citrus, honey, mild resin, some bitterness and alcohol.  The alcohol content comes in at 8% with an IBU of 60.  This is an extremely good cloudy Double IPA and if you end up in Tucson make sure to grab some soon.

Commercial Description:  DOUBLE IPA BREWED WITH MALTED OATS…HOPPED WITH MOSAIC 3-WAYS (CO2 HOP EXTRACT, HOP PELLETS & LUPULIN POWDER).  TASTING NOTES: MANGO, PEACH, HONEY

 

Steve’s Beer Advent Calendar Day 4 – Blonde – Abdij Van St Martin

by steveeh

From Brasserie de Brunehaut for Abdij Van St Martin, Brunehaut, Belgium is their Blonde.

Pouring a cloudy, vibrant orange, there are noticeable suspended particles stationary in the beer though no visible carbonation. The head is thin, white with an orange tinge.

The nose is floral and vanilla with orange blossom. A little bit of grain at the end.

The flavours are effervescent and flit by quickly on the tongue while maintaining complexity. There is a base of lager-y, Molson-like “beer” flavour with a vanilla and honey sweetness to add balance and interest. There is a mineral bitterness to counter the sweet and the finish is of bitter orange.

Commercial description:

  • Look: A golden straw colour, with a strong foam once opened then the bubbles gently rise to the top and a good head remains.
  • Nose: Sharp, lively and nervous, fermentation with a touch reminiscent of a flowery cheese.
  • In the mouth: A round, balance and full flavour. In the mouth it is floral, elegant and direct, almost feminine. A great beer that perfectly suits cheeses with a hard crust or some fine Bries and Camemberts.
  • The aftertaste has a noble bitterness.

Honey Wheat Wine (S2S) – Howe Sound Brewing

by Mike

From Squamish BC’s Howe Sound Brewing comes their new beer in the Sea To Sky Series of beers a “Honey Wheat Wine”.  This one is release  number 13 in the series.  The beer pours a copper colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of honey, wheat, vanilla, caramel and fruity esters.  The flavour is of honey, wheat, candy sugar, fruit, caramel, wheat, vanilla, low bitterness and some alcohol.  The alcohol content comes in at 11.3% with an IBU of 25.  At first sip I thought this may end up being a bit to sweet but the flavour is great and never gets cloying.