Tag Archives: whiskey

Strong Patrick – Beau’s All Natural Brewing

by Mike

From Beau’s All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill Ontario comes their “Strong Patrick” an Irish-style Red Ale.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a beige head.  The aroma consists of mild roasted malts, caramel, hint of chocolate and sweetness.  The flavour is of chocolate, caramel, earth, mild roasted malts, hint of oak and whiskey and sweetness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.7% with an IBU of 24.  Not all Irish-style Red Ales are made the same but this one is definitely a really enjoyable sipper.

Commercial Description:  Strong Patrick is a bold rendition of an Irish-style red ale. Brewed stronger than most, it is luscious and malty, with toasty caramel and coffee. A portion of the ale has been aged in Jameson® Irish Whiskey casks, then reintroduced to add a rich accent of wood and warmth to this year’s blend.

Food Pairing as per brewery:  Traditional style lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, firm goat cheese, warm corned beef with steamed root vegetables, gingerbread with applesauce, shortbread.

Scarlet Red Rye Ale (Barley Wine) 2017 – Steamworks Brewing

by Mike

From Steamworks Brewing in Burnaby BC comes their latest release the “Scarlet Red Rye Ale” a Rye Barley Wine that is part of their 2017 Barrel Aged series.  The beer pours a deep reddish colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of rye malts and rye whiskey, oak, red wine, dark fruits and some sweetness.  The flavour is of  rye malts and whiskey, oak, vanilla, dark fruits, red wine, sweetness, low bitterness and an alcohol note.  The alcohol content comes in at a healthy 9.5%.  This is probably the breweries most complex beer to date and I really enjoyed it.  This beer has some good aging potential also.

Commercial Description:  This robust Rye Barley Wine was carefully aged for months in Woodford Reserve rye barrels resulting in a vibrant red brew we fittingly named Scarlet. With rich flavours and a warming finish, it’s perfect for rainy days.

Whiskey Barrel Aged Porter – Powell Street Craft Brewery

by Mike

From Powell Street Craft Brewery in East Vancouver comes their “Whiskey Barrel Aged Porter”. The beer pours a deep black colour with red tinges when held up to the light and a small brown head that fades quickly. The aroma consists of roasted malts, dark fruits, cherry, sweet vanilla, some chocolate and whiskey. The flavour is of chocolate, cherry, dark fruits, brown sugar, roasted malts, vanilla, whiskey and some oak.  The alcohol content comes in at 6% with an IBU of 27.  I would have to say this is one great barrel aged porter and I hope it becomes an annual release!

Commercial Description:  We’ve aged a robust porter for six months in American whiskey barrels.  Notes of cherry and vanilla enhance the subtle dark fruit and coffee flavours of this limited edition beer.

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Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged Series) 2013- Parallel 49 Brewing (Aged 2 years 11 Months)

by Mike

From East Vancouver’s Parallel 49 Brewing comes the first beer in their Barrel Aged Series aged almost 3 years the “Russian Imperial Stout”.  This beer was aged over a number of months in Jack Daniel’s Barrels and was release in January 2013.  The beer poured a opaque black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of dark fruits, toffee, chocolate and a sweet finish.  The flavour is of chocolate, toffee, caramel, sweet dark fruits, mild earthiness, oak, mild whiskey, anise and almost no booze notes.  The alcohol content of the brew is 10.9% with an IBU of 49.  I really enjoyed the beer fresh but after almost 3 years it is even better!

Commercial Description:  In the 18th century, this bold, strong stout was brewed in London for the long and treacherous trip to the Imperial courts of Russia. In keeping with this stoic tradition, this whiskey-barrel aged imperial stout is warm, full bodied and fit for a Czar.  Ingredients: Roasted Barley, Pale, Chocolate, Munich & Crystal Malts, Magnum & Fuggles Hops, Yeast.

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Darkness Russian Imperial Stout 2014 (Aged 1 Year) – Surly Brewing Co

by Mike

From Brooklyn Center Minnesota’s Surly Brewing Co comes their “Darkness” Russian Imperial Stout 2014.  The 2014 edition was barrel aged in High West Rye Whiskey barrels for 4-6 months.  To acquire a bottle of this beer you have to either attend the breweries event Darkness Days or be lucky enough to trade for a bottle (and I have never been to Minnesota)!  The beer poured an opaque black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consisted of chocolate, caramel, toffee, vanilla, oak, whiskey, sweetness and alcohol.  The flavour is of toffee, creamy milk chocolate, caramel, vanilla, burnt malts, earth, coffee, brown sugar, oak, whiskey with a boozy finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 10.3%.  The beer is worth the hype!  If I had the money and the time off I would have loved to go to Minnesota for the Darkness days this year on October 24th, 2015.  This is one huge beer in flavour and in alcohol content and I would love to drink it again if somehow possible.

Commercial Description:  The legendary Harpy tortured unwary travelers by stealing their precious food and drink.  This year’s cruel creature defends her cauldron of Darkness with razor claws and a dead stare of malevolence.  Don’t mess with her Darkness.  She’s hoarding this massively opaque barrel aged Stout screaming with notes of chocolate, coffee, dried tart cherries, vanilla, rye Whisky and raisins.  The thick body of this Russian Imperial Stout finishes sweet, with a piney resinous hop character.  Dar if you will to open this bottle and steal from the imagination of our 2014 Darkness artist, Erica Williams.

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Photo from Erica Williams website

Video From Surly Brewing on Darkness Days