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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   @pintjockey




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