Tag Archives: pepper

Sofie 2017 – Goose Island Beer Company

by Mike

From Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago Illinois comes their “Sofie” 2017 a Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale barrel aged in white wine barrels. The beer pours a cloudy golden colour with a white head. The aroma consists of wheat, grain, peppery, fruit, sweetness and some floral hops. The flavour is of grainy, wheat, citrus, lemon, orange peel, peppery, yeast, vanilla and sweetness. The alcohol content comes in at 6.5% with an IBU of 20. Once again this one was quite enjoyable.

Commercial Description:  Our sparkling Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale is wine barrel-aged with an abundance of hand-zested orange peel. Spicy white pepper notes contrast the citrus tartness. The light, refreshing, creamy vanilla finish will excite those fond of Champagne.

Goose Island Beer Co is owned by AB InBev

FRESH HOP RED IPA – Stanley Park Brewing

by Mike

From Stanley Park Brewing (Turning Point Brewing) in Delta comes their “FRESH HOP RED IPA” a part of their new Sampling Series in Bombers.  The beer pours a deep reddish colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, rye, caramel, grapefruit and floral hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, rye, caramel, toffee, chocolate, earth, grapefruit, grapefruit rind, pine, pepper, herbal and bitterness.  The alcohol content  comes in at 6.4% with an IBU of 70.   This Red IPA has a similar roast malt characteristic of some Cascadian Dark Ale’s.  I quite enjoyed this one although it is definitely more roasty than most.  Stanley Park Brewing is now owned by Labbat.

Commercial Description:  A robust Fresh Hop Red IPA with Crystal Rye malts and heaps of fresh, locally-grown Cascade and Chinook hop cones direct from bines at B.C. Hop Co.’s picturesque hop fields in the heart of the Fraser Valley.

Santa’s Sac Golden Strong Ale – Bridge Brewing Company

by Mike

From Bridge Brewing Company in North Vancouver comes their “Santa’s Sac Golden Strong Ale”.  The beer pours a golden colour with a white head.  The aroma consist of bubblegum, Belgian yeast, citrus and some spices.  The flavour is of bubblegum, yeast, candi sugar, sweetness, fruit with some peppery spice.  The alcohol content comes in at 10% with an IBU of 30.  This brew drinks much like a Belgian Tripel with a strong sweetness.  If you are big on that style then make some to pick this bottle up.

Spicy Nuggs Imperial Rye Stout – Bomber Brewing (Sawdust City Brewing Co)

by Mike

From Bomber Brewing in Vancouver in collaboration with Sawdust City Brewing Co out of Gravenhurst Ontario comes their “Spicy Nuggs Imperial Rye Stout”.  The beer pours an opaque black with a brown head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, smoke, ash, earth, rye, chocolate, anise and a hint of hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, smoke, ash, earth, chocolate, anise, big rye spice, chipotle pepper and hops bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 9% with an IBU of 70.  While I usually don’t really enjoy spiced beer I saw some real potential in this one and all of that potential and more was realized and more!  This beer is an awesome mixture of flavour.

Commercial Description:  Forged in the fiery furnaces of a new-found friendship, Spicy Nuggs Imperial Rye Stout is a festival of flavours and one F’n good collaboration.  Ridiculous measures of roasted and rye malts lay the base, while spicy nugget hop hash and smoky chipotle pepper bring the heat to this massive inter-provincial ale.

INSEPT1ON Saison – Torque Brewing

by Mike

From Torque Brewing in Winnipeg Manitoba comes their “INSEPT1ON Saison” a beer aged in French Oak red wine barrels.  The beer pours a yellow colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of saison yeast, spices, oak, citrus and some wine in the finish.  The flavour is of wine, oak, yeast, pepper, bready malt, lemon and generic citrus with a mild bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6%.  I really enjoyed this wine barrel aged saison and I hope they do more beers like this in the future.

Commercial Description:  Aged 6 months in French oak red wine barrels, this bottle conditioned Saison is both refreshing and light with hints of oak and vanilla.