BONUS # 2! Pointless Marketing Imperial Session IPA Accidentally Aged...

Pointless Marketing Imperial Session IPA Aged 9 Months

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery 
ABV 7.1 %  IBU: 55
Aluminum Can 500 ml.
$3.00 (Canadian) At the The Brewery

Twitter @SawdustCityBeer

So yeah.

I have a confession to make. I am a beer horder. Annnnnnd... I don't necessarily have the best memory of where I leave them sometimes. I do remember that this was the last can of Pointless Marketing left at the brewery and I was convinced to take it home. It then took up residence in the front hall closet (for some reason) and there it stayed... for nine months. If you are wondering what is prompting this sudden re-discovery of hidden gems, well I have been working on a new shelving unit in the basement so a sudden urge to re-organise is prompting me to clean up some old beers. I don't think I actually got to write about Pointless Marketing when it came out, so here is the info. Every year Sawdust City holds a competition in conjunction with The Only Cafe called the "Mighty Mustache Competition." Last year it was won by Chris Glasser. As his prize he got to build a brew with Sawdust's Head Brewer Aaron Spinney. The result was this lemon peel infused Imperial Session IPA. (Yes... Imperial and Session generally are considered opposites in the beer world... but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt). The manufacture date on the can is September 28 2015, Should still be good... Right?

Onto the tasting...

Pours a cloudy orange amber with a fluffy off-tan head made up of small to medium bubbles. I will not lie, the beer is showing a bit of age but it has held up very well. Aroma is malty and caramel. If I remember correctly when this beer came out it had a very fruity nose with hints of lemon. Now there is much more caramel with hints of vanilla and a touch of sourness. The first sip gives us lots of more malt with traces of licorice The lemon opens up on the finish, and I am happy it is still there. The body of the beer is far more nutty and bready than the citrus and fruit it is supposed to be, meaning the effect of the hops has died down significantly. Pine and some resin shows up very late in the finish. Dried fruit and some raisins begin to show up as the beer warms. Aeration amps up the pine, some burnt toast and hints of dried apricot.

Final Thoughts

Well it's a different beer to what it started out as... but it it very drinkable, still. I actually like the complex changes it has undergone, making a more raisiny, piney, malt driven brew. However, I should PROBABLY pick a better place to age beer than the front hall closet. (I'm sure My Loving Partner in Crime, The Queen of Pint Jockey Headquarters would be thankful...)

Cheers


CJT


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Beer #276 Pacific Jade Wide Body IIPA Barnstormer Brewing

#276 Pacific Jade Wide Body IIPA

Barnstormer  Brewing

Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Brewpub/Brewery
IIPA 9.3 % ABV 
14 oz Pint
$6.25 (Canadian) At the Sawdust City Brewery Saloon (Guest Tap)

Twitter: @BarnstormerBeer

A quick trip out to the pub revealed to me this little gem. A nice IIPA with a good kick of alcohol. Barnstormer really is the little Brewpub that could, some excellent beers come out of this Barrie Brewery... I wish we could get more up this way.

Onto the tasting.

Pours a dark amber with an off-white head made up of tiny bubbles. Nose is hot alcohol malt and caramel hints of tropical fruit and pine.  First sip confirms this is a 9.3 % beer. The alcohol is very present at the start. As is a sweet and smooth malt flavours. Very rich with lots of caramel. Some residual  sugar vanilla and a touch of licorice. Aeration brings out the heat of the alcohol and it bites the tongue a bit. However it is still very smooth for such a high alcohol content. Light hints of wood and cinnamon finish the beer off.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6  PASS
Re-Order:  6/6  EXCEPTIONAL
Experience: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:

Quite a bit going on in a little glass. Lots of complex flavours, but still quite smooth despite the high alcohol content.

Cheers

CJT

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I need to borrow you for one second...

One of the best things about being a writer is that you get to surround yourself with other writers. We are all a little geeky, awkward, reserved, and strange, but we are really fun at parties... I swear! I've had the pleasure of keeping company with a good friend of mine since high school, by the name of Tori L. Ridgewood. Normally I don't generally ask my of readers anything but the chance to enjoy my beer soaked musings but this time Dear Readers I need a little help. Tori is a hard working Teacher, Mother, Whovian, and a pretty darn good writer too. She has just completed her first couple of books "The Talbot Trilogy." However, and this is where you come in Dear Reader, Her latest project is an entry into the Inkitt.com "Grand Novel Contest," and she needs some likes. Many writers have submitted brief examples of their work with the hopes of getting a contract to publish their works. Tori's Entry is called "Rip Gone Wrong" and is a Young Adult adventure novel. So I would consider it a PERSONAL Favour if you could sneak over to the website and give Tori's story a once over, and then smash that like button. Tell your friends, sign up your dog and get him to like it.

 If you want to check out her collected works her Amazon page is Tori L. Ridgewood or you can order print on demand copies of The Talbot Trilogy at Lulu.com Tori L. Ridgewood .

Please hurry, today is the last day (June 7th!)

Cheers

CJT