Tag Archives: some bitter

Norwegian Wood Dry Hopped Farmhouse Ale – Four Winds Brewing

by Mike

From Four Winds Brewing in Delta comes their “Norwegian Wood Dry Hopped Farmhouse Ale”.  The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with a white head and a ton of bubbles.  The aroma consists of oranges, orange peel, oak, pepper, spices and pineapple.  The flavour is of lots of oak, tannins, resin, pepper, citrus rind, mild citrus, pineapple, mango and some bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.2% with an IBU of 35.  This was a really tasty beer and well worth being a 4th Anniversary release.  Keep up the great work Four Winds Brewing.

Commercial Description:  4th Anniversary Ale.  Norwegian Wood was fermented warm with Kveik (traditional Norwegian farmhouse yeast) in French oak barrels and bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces claussenii.  They say that this ale sings brightly with notes of pineapple and citrus, balanced by a pleasing mineral dryness. It was hopped exclusively with Enigma and rounded out by naked golden oats.

 

Luck of the Irish Red Ale – Russell Brewing 

by Mike

From Surrey’s Russell Brewing comes their “Luck of the Irish Red Ale”.  The beer pours a deep copper red colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of toffee, sweetness and mild fruit.  The flavour is of caramel, toffee, mild toasted malts and some bitterness.  The beer comes in at 5% with an IBU of 30.  This is an enjoyable easy drinking Red Ale.

Commercial Description:  Bitter is not always better when it comes to craft beer. As a beer style, this red ale is intended to be malt-forward, offering toffee and caramel sweetness which is beautifully balanced by a restrained use of hops. The natural rich red colour comes from the generous use of imported roasted barley and specialty malts. Finishes clean and smooth, leaving you wanting more.

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Barrel Aged Dry Hop Blonde – Kettle River Brewing Co

by Mike

From Kettle River Brewing in Kelowna comes their “Barrel Aged Dry Hop Blonde”.  This beer was bottled on March 11, 2016 from lot BR004.  The beer pours a copper colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of wine, citrus, oak and fruit.  The flavour is of wine, lots of citrus, biscuit, pine and some bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.4%.  I am not huge on wine dominated barrel aged beers but I do think that this one did work together well to make a good beer just not to my personal preference.  Thanks for picking this up for me Chelsea of Brewtiful British Columbia.

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Barrel Aged Belgian Red IPA – Bridge Brewing Company

by Mike

From Bridge Brewing Company in North Vancouver comes their newest in the Ironworkers Series (No 04) “Barrel Aged Belgian Red IPA”.  The beer pours a deep brown colour with a red tinge and a tan head.  The aroma consists of port, oak, Belgian yeast, dark fruits and some hops bitterness.  The flavour is of port, citrus, tropical fruits, berries, dark fruits, earth, oaky and some bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7.7% with an IBU of 59.  I would not usually think to barrel age an IPA but this one seems to have worked out pretty well.  Keep up the good work Bridge Brewing.

Commercial Description:  This Belgian red is loaded with intense flavour.  Pouring a deep ruby, the munich, crystal and special W malts provide a strong malt background for tropical, citrus and berry notes from the Mosaic and Citra hops used.  It has been additionally barrel aged in port barrels, enhancing the aromatics and adding smooth oaky tannins.  This is an intense and complex Belgian IPA.

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HOPDEVIL Fresh Hopped Pale Ale – Strange Fellows Brewing

by Mike

From Strange Fellows Brewing in Vancouver comes their “HOPDEVIL (a.k.a. Cowichan Valley Bine)” Fresh Hopped Pale Ale a beer using fresh hops from Maple Bay Hop Company.  The beer pours a golden colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of herbal hops with mild malts and citrus.  The flavour is of grassy and herbal hops, citrus, grapefruit, mild stone fruit, biscuit malts and some bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 4.5%.  This is the first fresh hop I have tried from Iain Hill the brewmaster and it was in line with all of his beers.  Very well made and full of flavour!

Commercial Description:  The Hopdevil – that incarnate of the late summer storm capable of destroying hop fields before harvest – is feted each year by the farmers of Hoppeland, Belgium. After harvest, they parade & then burn effigies of the Hopdevil with the hope that he will be discouraged from returning.  Of the opinion that a little superstition goes a long way, we raise a glass of HOPDEVIL – our fresh hop beer – to the prolonged absence of the Hopdevil in our local hop-growing regions.  Brewed with Fresh Cascade hops from Maple Bay Hop Company this beer showcases the cones, using malt character only as a balance to the earthy & fruity hopiness. Flavours of honeydew melon & citrus escort this extremely session-able fresh hop beer.

Food pairing as per brewery:  light savoury foods, spicy dishes

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