Tag Archives: tannins

Old Ale 2017 – Moon Under Water Brewing

by Mike

From Victoria BC’s  Moon Under Water Brewing comes their “Old Ale 2017″ a beer in the Ancient Ale Series.  The beer pours a deep reddish brown with a tan head.  The aroma consists of spices, mild vinegar notes and semi sweet notes.  The flavour is of mild sour notes, spices, herbal notes,  tannins, earth, oak and some wine notes.  Most reviews I have read spoke of smoke but I did not get that in my bottle.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.9%.  This is definitely a very different beer but I really enjoyed it none the less.  I mean I am always hoping to try new and crazy beer and this one fits that mold.

Commercial Description:  A long time ago.  In a civilization far, far away…  For 9,000 years our history has been shaped by the myriad of ingredients use to crate fermented beverages.  This series pays homage to the variety of starches, spices, fruits and whatever else civilizations of the past have used to satisfy humanity’s love affair with alcohol.

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.

 

Entropy Series No 2 – Dageraad Brewing

by Mike

From Dageraad Brewing in Burnaby BC comes their “Entropy Series No 2” the second of their barrel released beers.  The beer pours a very deep amber colour with a very active off white head.  The aroma consists of candy sugar, pear, oak and some mild brett.  The flavour is of resin, tannins, oak, pear, tropical fruit, candy sugar, pepper, herbal hops and some mild alcohol.  The brett character of this beer will build over time but it is pretty darn subdued right now.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.8%.  This is tasty fresh but if you got two bottles then you should really hold onto the second bottle and let the brett build!

Commercial Description:  Amber Ale aged in a pear brandy barrel and bottle conditioned with brettanomyces.

 

Monster Ale Barleywine 2007 Vintage – Brooklyn Brewery (Aged aprox 9 years 4 Months)

by Mike

From Brooklyn Brewing out of Brooklyn New York comes their “Monster Ale” this bottle being a 2007 vintage Barleywine.  This bottle was opened on May 2nd 2017 making it in the neighborhood of 9 years and 4 months old if I assume the beer was released in December.  Unfortunately this beer was discontinued in 2013 after their cat named Monster passed away.  The beer poured a chestnut brown colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of chocolate, toffee, dark fruit, brown sugar, sweetness and some mint.  The flavour is of chocolate, toffee, caramel, brown sugar, dark fruit, orange, sherry, mild resin, tannins and sweetness.  This beer coats your tongue with every sip.  The alcohol content comes in at 10.1% with an IBU of 47.  I am really bummed to hear of the demise of this beer as this close to 10 year old bottle tastes bloody amazing!

Commercial Description:  Brooklyn Monster Ale is a classic barley wine, a style of ale originally brewed by the butlers to the English and American aristocracy. It is brewed from three mashes of heirloom British malt and spiced with aromatic American Willamette, Cascade and Fuggle hops. After four months of aging, it has a magnificent burnished copper color, an aroma redolent of sherry, citrusy hops and fruit, a soft, warming, complex palate, a spiritous finish, and a strength of 10.3%. It is vivacious when young, but will age gracefully for many years, becoming more complex over time.

Food Pairing as per brewery:  Brooklyn Monster Ale is a fine accompaniment to a variety of cheeses (especially Gruyere, Stilton and aged cheddar), ice cream, flourless cakes, crème brulee and good cigars.

Here is my review of the same vintage from December 2012.

Barrel Aged Sparkling Wit – Dogwood Brewing

by Mike

From Dogwood Brewing in South Vancouver comes their brand new “Barrel Aged Sparkling Wit” a beer aged in Pinot Noir barrels.  The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of wheat, yeast, lemon, wine, vanilla and some mild oak.  The flavour is of Wine but more of a white wine than a Pinot Noir, vanilla, lemon, citrus, yeast, bubblegum, mild oak flavour and a sweet although dry finish with some tannins.  The alcohol content comes in at 6%.  This is one of the most complex beers that I have enjoyed from Dogwood Brewing.  Head over to the brewery to give it a try as this will only be available at the tasting room and select taprooms around town.

Commercial Description:  This Organic Belgian Wit was brewed with Coriander and Black pepper, then aged for 3 months in Organic French White Oak Pinot Noir Barrels. Delicate spicy esters create the perfect base for layer after layer of Flavour that Evolves as your glass warms, creating a thoughtfully refreshing drinking experience. Bright Lemon plays counterpoint to the deeper flavour of vanilla and oak imparted by the young barrels which; like a good pinot noir, pairs well with all types of food. Made with all Organic Local B.C ingredients, this creamy Wit is beautifully rounded in its complexity and finishes Dry with a hint of tannin. We’re very proud of this limited release and sincerely hope you enjoy.