Beer #156 11.05 2014 Triple IPA Sawdust City

11.05 2014 Triple IPA
Collaboration with  Nickel Brook Brewing Company

Sawdust City Brewery

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Triple IPA IIIPA 11.05 % ABV Aluminum Can 473 ml.
$6.95 (Canadian) At the Brewery
Twitter: @SawdustCityBeer @NickelBrookBeer


Well anyone of UK descent like yours truly will know that November 5th is Guy Fawkes Night, or bonfire night. It is the night the English commemorate the Gunpowder Plot where a group of revolutionaries attempted to blow up the British Parliament when King James was coming to open the session in 1605, as can be told in the poem below:

The Fifth of November
English Folk Verse (c.1870)

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England's overthrow.
But, by God's providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James's sake!
If you won't give me one,
I'll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

Anyone NOT of UK descent may still recognise the verse from the DC Comics movie "V for Vendetta" which shadows the Guy Fawkes storyline. And for anyone who is interested, Guy Fawkes was actually the first Fall Guy. He took the whole blame for the plot despite the fact he was merely guarding the gunpowder.

Closer to home. November 5th is the birthday of two brewers: Sam Corbeil of Sawdust City, and Ryan Morrow of Nickel Brook Beers. While being born 5 years and a hundred or so miles apart they have since decided to celebrate, jointly, each year by brewing a special beer entitled the "11.05." Last year was a barley wine and this year they have chosen a face melting triple IPA with a whopping 11.05 % ABV... (Hmmm I've heard that number before). And when I say face melting... I jest not. I was informed this morning as I picked up the very first two cans of this limited 2000 can run, that there was a total of 170 POUNDS of hops in this batch. As it was put so delicately on the website, that is the weight of an average man in hops.

Without further ado, Let us light our bonfires, and raise a glass of 11.05 to Sam and Ryan. Onto the Tasting.

Orangey-amber in colour slightly cloudy with a bright white head made of tiny bubbles. Bright citrus and pine, pineapple, and mango shot straight out of the can way before I even poured it. First sip is bright fruit juice pineapple. Pine, and menthol co me out in the middle. So. Much. Hops! This is not a hop bomb... it is a Hop Tactical Nuke. But while the hop flavours dominate the brew they do not overwhelm it. The fruit and pine balance themselves There is a sweetness on the finish with a little hard candy, cooked sugar flavour, and surprisingly a hint of candy cane. If we were not celebrating Guy Fawkes tonight... I would say this is a Christmas beer. Alcohol is present, warm and lingering (waiting to sneak up on me no doubt). I could easily drink this all winter. Aeration gives up a smack of alcohol that made my eyes water... kind of like snorting white lightning. In the background however there was some grilled pineapple and a hint of caramel.


 Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL (Get it while you can and beg them to make more!)
Experience:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL

Final Thoughts:


Wow.

Just Wow. This is a phenomenal beer. I am in awe of the fact that they stuffed so much hops in here and didn't turn the beer into a writhing bitter mess. Get it and try it if you can. It is at the brewery or on tap at several bars in downtown Toronto.


Cheers


CJT



Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online

And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.