BEER NUMBER 500!

Beer # 500 Glory and Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Cuvée Ale


Brewery: Nickle Brook Brewing Company


Type: Independent Brewery    Est.:  2005

Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Fruited and spiced Cuvée Ale Bourbon Barrel-aged Sour Ale 

ABV: 9.5 %     IBU: 37

Format: Brown glass bottle waxed sealed crown cap  Size: 500 ml

Cost: $9.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

nickelbrookbrewing      

    @NickelBrookBeer              

So we just passed the ninth anniversary of the Blog on November 8th, and coincidently I just hit my 500th beer post. So many things have changed since I started writing. The blog was originally intended to help me improve my writing and get me used to writing more often. I thought originally that I wanted to try 1000 beers because that sounded like an impressive number. I also thought it would take two to five years. Well, as I enter the 10th year of the blog I'm only halfway, and the blog is still evolving.

So over the coming months (and years) I will be fine-tuning and updating to keep the blog fresh and relevant. My goal is no longer 1000 beers, just a quest for knowledge and the desire to share it with you. Here's to many more milestones in the future.

Tonight's beer is Glory and Gold which is a fruited and spiced sour ale, that has been aged for 2 years in bourbon barrels. I figured "Gold" was the way to go for my 500th beer. 

Onto #500...

Pours a translucent medium chestnut colour with a firm off-tan head made up of small to tiny bubbles. The aroma is similar to a foeder beer, rich tangy, woody and hints of vanilla and spice. The first sip is very tart and tangy, with some caramel and vanilla. hints of dried fruit and wood. slight whiskey burn at the back of the throat. Aeration gives us some sweet tarts some malt and medicinal liquorice and horehound candy.

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:

This is a very interesting beer, there are lots of flavours going on. However, my overall impression is that this beer is not ready yet. This beer really needs to be laid down for at least 2 more years. it needs more aged to smooth out the complex flavours and create a more harmonious beer. I would buy a couple of these and put them away, and maybe one to drink now for comparison. 

Cheers

CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition Day 21: Where the Buffalo Roam By Cameron's Brewing Company

Beer # 480 Where the Buffalo Roam

Brewery: Cameron's Brewing Company


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  1997

Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Barley Wine

ABV: 13.0%      IBU: 90

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $11.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

cameronsbrewing

    @cameronsbrewing

Well as they say it is better late than never... which I kinda feel I'm stretching to the extreme by posting my last Christmas beers in March. But I had the notes made so why waste them? Tonight's beer is a can of Where the Buffalo Roam Barley Wine by Cameron's Brewing. Thing is.. I've had this can for about 2 years... so we will see if it is still good.

Onto our beer...

This beer took some work to taste. It first poured an amazing cloudy dark honey colour with an off-tan head made up of super fine bubbles. The aroma was nutty and woody with hints of liquorice. However, since this was a beer that was over two years old there was a considerable amount of can-shock. First sips were very bitter and closed. Aroma opens up with honey, toast, whisky, wood, and hints of coconut. Alcohol is very present, there are some hints of wet dog from the ageing process. brown sugar and molasses round out the middle. Interestingly, there is not much in the way of bourbon. I get some whisky, but not the sweet vanilla, toasted oak that usually indicates good bourbon. Aeration gives us some more barrel flavours and with touches of dried fruit and sawdust.

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
Christmas Cheer 5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

This was a very interesting beer and it starts shows the lengths that beer can be aged in a can. While it took some time to air out and show all of its flavours... I don't see it as a fault. It forced you to slow down and appreciate the beer. Barley wines are high alcohol and should be sipped, and is more akin to a whisky than a beer. So waiting half an hour for this beer to release all of its flavours should not be a terrible thing. You can always binge watch Netflix while you wait.


CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition Day 19: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter 2018 by Collective Arts

Beer # 478 Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter 2018 Edition

Brewery: Collective Arts Brewing

Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2013

Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Barrel Aged Imperial Porter

ABV: 11.5%      IBU: 38

Format: Brown Glass Bottle  Size: 500 ml

Cost: $14.25 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

collectiveham

    @CollectiveBrew

After a short break, we are back to finish the Christmas beers... Apologies for the delay.

This beer choice was mainly the responsibility of The Queen of Pint Jockey Headquarters. She loves bunnies. And this beer features an art print of a bunny on it's label. (Not to mention she is a huge fan of big bold porters and stouts #keeper). Collective arts brews out of Hamilton Ontario and it focuses on new artists and musicians. Their can art is often young and undiscovered artists and each beer run will feature several different artists. This beer's artist was Kait Cooper An Illustrator and graphic designer from Montreal. The Beer actually included a print of the bunny Image which the Queen has claimed, so I have to frame it for her. Tonight's beer is a bourbon barrel aged Imperial porter. I seriously can get enough of these beers when they come out in the winter... so delicious. 

Onto our beer.

Pours a very dark brown almost black with a deep tan head made up of small bubbles. Nose is laced with whiskey, smoke leather, chocolate and fresh coffee. First sip is rummy and malty, with vanilla toffee, and liquorice.  Lips are left sticky, and tongue is quite warm from the alcohol. Malt, molasses, jammy fruit and an oaky creamy finish. Very reminiscent of sticky toffee pudding. As the beer warms brown sugar comes out near the finish. Aeration brings out some chocolate hints of toasted oats, and a long lingering sweet finish.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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


Final Thoughts:

I've had a few Collective Arts beers and for the most part, they are pretty good, but this one is great. Fantastically rich and smooth with all the right flavours one would expect from this style. A good hint of alcohol, perfect for warming up on these cold nights. Really good check this one out if you can. 

Cheers

CJT


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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition Day 12: Great Lakes 30th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout

Beer # 471 Great Lake 30th Anniversary Beer 

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewery


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  1987 

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout with Coffee, Vanilla and Cocoa

ABV: 11.9%      IBU: 70

Format: Brown Glass Bottle with Gold Leaf Label  Size: 650 ml

Cost: $15.50 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

 greatlakesbeer

    @greatlakesbeer

Another bottle I have had lurking in the back of the #FridgeofFame for about a year, I was confident that this one would be fine, and I was quite excited to try it, especially after the Boulevard Stout I just tried was in great shape. The bottle is quite nice. The label is real gold leaf giving the bottle a nice rich feeling. Very suitable for a thirtieth anniversary.

Onto our beer...

Pours a very dark brown with a deep tan head made of small bubbles. Nose is chocolate and marshmallows, with hints of campfire coffee. Some notes of biscuit and malt in the very back. First sip is whisky and vanilla with backgrounds of chocolate. Super warming, the whisky warmth flows through the entire body. The taste finishes up with long notes of biscuit and burnt sugar. Aeration amps the vanilla and whisky almost heading over into rum territory.

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
Christmas Cheer 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL


Final Thoughts:

A very good beer, even after a year in the #FridgeofFame. The beer even tastes like it could survive a few more years of ageing. Very festive, and worthy of a nice place by the fire to while away the winter months.

Cheers

CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition Day 11: Bourbon Barrel Quad 2015

Beer # 470 Bourbon Barrel Quad 2015 Smokestack Series

Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company


Type: Large Scale Brewery Fully Owned By Duvel Moortgat USA    
Est.:  1989

Location: Kansas City Missouri, USA

Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Quadruppel flavoured with cherries

ABV: 11.8%      IBU: 19

Format: Brown Glass Bottle with a cork enclosure  
Size: 750 ml

Cost: $14.30 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

bobcaygeonbeer

    @bobcaygeonbeer

So this bottle has lurked in the back of the #FridgeofFame for about 2 years now. I just haven't had time to get to this. The best before date on the bottle is actually over a year ago (September 9th 2017). Quite frankly I wasn't even sure if this was still good. I was betting on it because it was high alcohol and Quads do tend to hold up over time, but I seriously had no intention of holding this bottle this long. So it was with a bit of trepidation I opened this bottle... and I was pleasantly surprised. The carbonation had died down a bit, probably from the real cork enclosure. and it seemed a bit cloudy but still smelled great. There was also a touch of sediment in the bottom of the glass. I have seen this listed online as "The Sixth Glass," but that name was not listed on the bottle. Personally, after six glasses of this, I would forget my name too...



Onto our Beer...


Pours a cloudy chestnut brown with a short but fizzy tan head made up of small bubbles. First sniff gives us a beer that is still quite alive.  Brown sugar and molasses mixed with apple juice. First sip is sweet, smooth, and fruity with hints of molasses and vanilla. A definite whisky tang with hints of wood and a very small amount of smoke. Hints of cherries and cherry whiskey, and Dr Pepper... Aeration brings out some leather whiskey and dried fruit.

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
Christmas Cheer 5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

Very impressive! A really good beer even after two years in my less than ideal storage conditions. Some of the reviews I read online were less than favourable, but I assume they were written when the beer was young. Seemingly, it seems like this beer was made for ageing and I just lucked out by forgetting it. I would advise you to try this one out, but I doubt they are any bottles left... Unless there are some other absent-minded beer bloggers out there like me.

CJT

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Deforestation Collaboration Sawdust City and Forked River Brewing

Beer # 225 Deforestation
Collaboration

Sawdust City Brewing Company
Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Forked River Brewing Company
London, Ontario

Independent Microbreweries
Imperial Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale
9.1 % ABV 10 oz Draft (296 ml.)
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter @SawdustCityBeer @ForkedRiverBrew

'Tis, apparently, the season of collaboration. Last, (I think) in our string of collabs is this huge, barrel aged brown ale from Sawdust and Forked River in London. Forked River has graces our pages here before, and the beers I have had from them are always fantastic... this one was no exception.

Let's jump right in...

Pours a dark chocolate-black with hints of chestnut. Head is darker tan and short, made up of small bubbles. The nose is deeply complex with aromas ranging from oak to creosote, to pine tar, bourbon tobacco, chocolate, coal dust, molasses and deeply bruleed sugars. First sip is all whiskey.with hints of rye, oak and vanilla. Shades of rye and coke. Nice strong hits of alcohol mixed with malty sugars. Aeration brings out an earthy dusty woody cigar box, with notes of chocolate and cocoa.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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

Final Thoughts:

Wow. Big, bold, great flavour. It would take days to contemplate every nuance of this beer. (But at 9.1% not very feasible!) Alcohol is evident and trust me you will feel it. They served this in a 10 ounce tulip and it still packed more punch than a full pint of normal beer. Sip this one at either brewery in Gravenhurst or London, while you can. But this one is so good it should be a regular seasonal (in my opinion).



Cheers


CJT


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