Double Russian Imperial Stouts By Innocente Brewing

A couple of Imperial stouts I picked up when I was in Waterloo and I felt it would be great for a side by side tasting.  Both of these stouts were aged in Tennessee Whiskey Barrels,  the first for 2 years and the second for 3. Let's get stuck in... 


Beer # 456 Until Proven Guilty  2015 Russian Imperial Stout

Brewery: Innocente Brewing Company



Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2014

Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Tennessee Whiskey Barrels

ABV: 11.9%      IBU: ?

Format: Bottle  Size: 500 ml

Cost: $11.95 CAD     Purchased At: The Brewery

Pours a super dark chestnut, almost black with a very dark tan head made up of small bubbles. Nose is creamy with hints of aged cheese. Large spike of alcohol smell with a warm note of whiskey wood and old leather. First sip is very dry wood with lots of smoky leather. It is a deep contemplative sipper, complex, warming, dusty and earthy. Takes a long time to open up. Hints of meatiness, smoky sausage, umami. Aeration brings out more woodiness, soy sauce and Worcestershire.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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

Experience: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL











Beer # 457 Until Proven Guilty  2014 Russian Imperial Stout

Beer Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Tennessee Whiskey Barrels

ABV: 11.9%      IBU: ?

Format: Bottle  Size: 500 ml

Cost: $12.95 CAD     Purchased At: The Brewery

What a difference a year makes. 

The colour is the same, but the head is thinner. The nose is rich chocolate brandy and whiskey. Overwhelming, barrel influence, some corn, malt, molasses, and an almost medicinal nose. First sip is dry earthy and whiskey with hints of wood, fig and prune Taste is more closed than it's younger brother while the nose is wildly exciting. Some cooked and off notes with hints of oxidation. Aeration is hard, alcohol is very high but brings out a winey, grapey flavour with hints of caramel and tawny port.


Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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

Final Thoughts

Both are Excellent beers. The 2015 just edges out the 2014 in my opinion. I'm not sure if the extra year in wood oxidised the beer or what but there was just a certain something off about it. The aroma is fantastic but the body of the beer is just off somehow. Both are worth trying if there is any of the dwindling supply left.


Cheers

CJT

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Sothern Ontario Road Trip Day 3: Rose tint my world keep me safe from my trouble and pain

Our last day in Stratford started at my favourite coffee spot in the town Balzac's. Great coffee in a rickety old building. I had the "Las Rosas" a coffee produced by a Collection of 400 Female coffee growers dedicated to supporting women in the coffee industry. It was a perfect post-theatre buzz pick me up (seriously my body was still vibrating with excitement! it was such a good show!). The long trip home was supposed to include a couple of stops but The beer gods were not on my side. First I tried to get to Shakespeare Brewing Company which is in the nearby town of Shakespeare, just outside of Stratford. Sadly... they were closed. So I took a picture of their hops. Next year when we go to see "Little Shop of Horrors" we will stop in... and maybe make an appointment. So after some careful GPS reconsideration, we pointed the Beermobile North- East to Kitchener-Waterloo and headed to Innocente Brewing... which was open. Later we tried to have lunch at Elora Brewing Company, however, the Town of Elora must have been having the busiest day of the year and we could not find a table... In the WHOLE TOWN! the streets were super crowded with tourists, we just wanted a beer and a burger... but no dice. We ate pate and cheese with grapes in the Beermobile and bought some beer to take home (No drinking and driving kids!).

Innocente Brewing Company

Another non-descript brewery stuck in a suburban commercial development that totally belies the hidden beauty of this little spot. Such a warm and cosy space despite the noise and traffic and construction outside. The leather couches are comfy and inviting and the brewery gleams. The panoramic shot above does not even properly convey how nice this place is. You may have to click the picture and blow it up... better yet head out on a road trip and check this place out.

Beer # 452: Tafelbeir Belgian Table Beer

Tafelbeir

ABV: 3.1%    IBU: ?

Cloudy blonde with a grain-forward nose. Clove and banana with a wheaty, green, herbal and citrus body.




Beer # 453: Inn O'Slante Irish Red

Inn O'Slante Irish Red (almost forgot picture)

ABV: 5.0%    IBU: 18

Very dark crimson with a lacy head. Nose is sweet smoky malt. the first sip is all smoke and deeply roasted malt spice, wood, and caramel round out the body. The finish is a nice clean bitter green hops.




Beer # 454: Charcoal Porter (Forgot Picture)

ABV: 5.1%    IBU: 25

Very dark chestnut with a thin lacing of head. Smoky malt nose with an underlying sweetness. The initial attack is smoked meat a big round umami flavour. Smoke, malt, and caramel fill ou the middle. Very well balanced with a light mouthfeel. Finish is quite fruity.



Beer # 455: Two Night Stand Double IPA

Two Night Stand Double IPA

ABV: 8.5%    IBU: 100

Brassy gold in colour with a light lacy head. Intense pine and citrus nose. Very warming, well-balanced pine and malt. Lips are left sticky with a pineapple and guava finish spiked with hints of bitter hops.

Final Thoughts

Such a neat place, and wonderfully crafted beers. Just go there... you will enjoy it.

Cheers

CJT

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Southern Ontario Road Trip Day 2: What ever Happened to Saturday Night?

The second day of our South-western Ontario road trip was our main reason for going. I bought tickets in January to go see The Rocky Horror Show at the Stratford Festival. And honestly, it could not arrive soon enough. I'm an old theatre kid at heart. I've done my tour on the stage back in high school. Wrote some plays, trod the boards. And honestly, I don't know a theatre kid that does not love this play and can recite lines and sing the songs by heart. First written in 1972-3 By Richard O'Brien as almost a joke, it opened in London on 19th of June 1973 and ran for 7 years. In 1974 It opened on Broadway, and a year later the now cult classic film Rocky Horror Picture Show was filmed and released.  Written as a homage to the cheesy B-movie sci-fi flicks of the 1940-1970's, the play is chock full of catchy tunes and innuendo. I'm not going to go too much into it, because if you haven't seen it (we call you people Virgins...) weeeeelll, it's really too hard to explain. Go find yourself a Rocky expert and have them take you to a showing, preferably at midnight, in a run-down old theatre, after a few drinks. And let there be lips...

What was doubly exciting about this play is that it was being put on at the Stratford Festival. For those of you who do not know what the Stratford Festival is, it is our annual celebration of Shakesperean plays. Formed in 1953 and first performed in a tent, The festival put on their rendition of "Richard III" with none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi in the lead role (That's the original, Sir Alec Guinness, I don't think Ewan McGregor is that old...)  They celebrate their 50th season in 2003 with a return of one of their most popular actors Christopher Plummer in the lead role of "King Lear" ( I managed to see that one it was excellent). Then the artistic directors started to think about the future. While the festival started out just showcasing Shakespeare, over the years they began to work in other relevant productions. They expanded from one theatre (the main Festival Stage, a unique purpose-built thrust stage). To 4 theatres as of 2002. With the extra performance space, they began to grow their idea of the festival To include more modern and popular shows. This year was the first that they tried anything like Rocky Horror. I'm not sure if they even suspected how amazingly popular it would be. The play opened on June 2 We went to see it on September 2, It is still playing as of now, and will not close until December 2, if they do not extend it again. That is a huge difference to other plays that show at the Festival that only run 4 weeks or so. The play was directed by Donna Feore she is a renowned Canadian choreographer and director who is married to longtime Stratford Festival actor Colm Feore who I have had the pleasure of seeing in "Romeo and Juliett" (Mercutio) "Hamlet" (Hamlet) and "Love's Labour's Lost" (Berowne). He also starred in one of my all-time favourite Canadian Movies "Bon Cop Bad Cop"  (watch it!!! it's on Netflix I believe...).

Obi Wan Kenobi Was here

I won't talk more about it, but the play was stellar. It was the best theatre experience of my life. What's even more exciting is that Donna Feore is returning next year to take a shot at another Theatre Kid's longtime favourite "Little Shop of Horrors." I'm counting down the days to buy my tickets.

Well, we had time to kill so we decided to look around Stratford. We drank our morning coffee in a shop that used to be the home of a 16-year-old Thomas Edison. He apparently was a signalman on the railroad. He fled to the US after he nearly caused a train accident when the device he invented to alert him when there was a train approaching failed, and he was too busy tinkering with experiments. He also spilled acid that seeped through the floorboards onto his boss's desk in the office below. He got called to Toronto to be reprimanded but ran out of the office and hopped a train and never came back.

We did the touristy, window shop thing and then settle down for some cheese and beer at one of Stratford's best breweries.

Black Swan Brewing Company

Nestled in a storefront on one of the main side streets of the historic downtown. Black Swan is unassuming and quaint. 5 or 6 tables await for you inside with an open concept swag-room tasting bar and brewery, you can see clear to the back and watch everyone working. I tried the main four beers on tap and we had a very nice cheese platter from a local cheese shop that complemented the beers quite well. Believe it or not... one of the cheeses was Limburger! and it works very well with beer.

Beer # 453: Road Trip Golden Ale
ABV: 4.3 %    IBU: 15

light gold beige with a thin skiff of a head light barley aroma hints of citrus.. first sip is grassy wet dog...molson golden entry level not exciting

Beer # 454: English Pale Ale
ABV: 5.0%    IBU: 29

copper colour with a thin head tradition spicy malty nose... standard pale ale lines malt forward  fruit and spice very close to Bass Pale ale

Beer # 455: Porter
ABV: 5.3%    IBU: 45

dark brown thin head nutty malty aromas . very malty smooth and light kind finish with a hint of pepper at the end excellent

Beer # 456: Milk's Doubt Milk Stout
ABV: 5.0%    IBU: 15

warm nutty coffee and malty aroma hints of liquorice and molasses creamy milky huge amounts of rich creamy chocolate
fantastic!

Final Thoughts

The two lighter beers were not terribly exciting; where Black Swan shines is their darker beers. The Milk stout and the porter were true stars of the day deep, rounded, and very flavourful. 

The Mercer Kitchen and Beer Hall

Later, and prior to the show, we met up with the Queen's sister and her husband for dinner and drinks. after careful consideration, we picked the Mercer Hall. The food was quite good, and the beer selection was not bad at all.

Beer # 447: Cowbell Renegade Series # 008, Paradise Lime Wit

ABV: 4.0%    IBU: 12

2

Ginger lime on the nose translucent light gold... skiff of a head.. sweet lime and ginger warming wheat and biscuit.



Beer # 448: Burdock Brewery Té Sour Berliner Wiesse

ABV: 4.3%    IBU: ?

4

Cloudy opaque light beige in colour. pine and cat pee on the nose light sour.. grapefruit grassy citrus and bitter greens.

Beer # 449: Forked River Brewing Hansel and Brett'el Saison

ABV: 4.9%    IBU: 22

8.

Clear gold light white head. clean malt and Brett nose tart apple citrus... fresh and alive

Beer # 450: Indie Alehouse Breakfast Porter


ABV: 7.2%    IBU: 60
6.
Very dark chestnut no head. nose is coffee. creamy malty coffee and chocolate. woody bourbon smooth and light mouthfeel.

Beer # 451: Collective Arts Liquid Art Fest IPA

ABV: 5.9%    IBU: ?

12

Unfiltered cloudy opaque almost chunky light beige. fruity nose with hints of pine thick and creamy mouthfeel.

Final Thoughts

Everything seemed to be a prelude to our amazing evening. The beer was great we had good food and amazing company. Can't wait for next year. Going to bring more battery power as you can tell I didn't have any pics of the beers at the Mercer.

Cheers

CJT

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Two Beers by Half hours on Earth

Beer # 451 Affection

Brewery: Half Hours on Earth Brewery


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2016

Location: Seaforth, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Aged Flavoured Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 7.0 %      IBU: ?

Format: Green Glass Bottle  Size: 375 ml

Cost: $12.00 CAD     Purchased At: The Brewery

halfhoursonearth

    @hhoebrewery

Two beers I brought back from Seaforth. The first one is an oak aged spelt farmhouse ale spiced with rosemary and sage. The second is a farmhouse saison blended with Revel Cider's Perry and aged in cider barrels. Onto our beer.

Cloudy light gold with a generous and slightly greyish off-white head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is tart and sour Brettanomyces with spicy notes of grain and toast. First sip is slightly sweet with strong grain notes. citrus and sage predominate with backgrounds of heady rosemary. Woody aromatic spices with hints of oak and vanilla.





Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 



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


Final Thoughts: richly complex beer with a lot going on. My first beer made from spelt. Hopefully not my last. This beer certainly nails home the reason why Half Hours is such a talked about brewery.



Beer # 452 Blueprint


Brewery: Half Hours on Earth Brewery


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2016

Location: Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Farmhouse Saison aged in Cider barrels blended with Revel Perry

ABV: 4.5 %      IBU: ?

Format: Green Glass Bottle  Size: 375 ml

Cost: $11.00 CAD     Purchased At: The Brewery

Pours a cloudy gold with a fuzzy white head that doesn't last long. Nose is full of brett sour and citrus hints of apple and pear. An interesting and smooth blend of cider and beer.Tart acidic apples and pears good hint of sweetness mellowed by the barrel ageing and the funk of brett. Hints of smoke and oak near the finish. Aeration brings out a cheek-puckering malic acid. It is very light in mouthfeel and such an easy drinking beer.







Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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


Final Thoughts: This is the sixth beer I've tasted from Half Hours, and the sixth beer I have been blown away by. Every beer is so light and airy, strong yet delicate. Full of flavour yet not exhausting. How they manage to balance everything is beyond me. I just hope they keep doing it! This beer, in particular, doesn't sound like it should work. Pear cider mixed with beer? Yes I know there are some pub concoctions using cider and Guinness etc. but This is a sour farmhouse it should work... But it does! I could drink this all day, and at 4.5 % ABV why not?


Cheers

CJT

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