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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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas Day 1: Sawdust City's Winewood Series # 2 Foma

Beer # 247 FOMA

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Barrel Aged Flavoured blend of Session and Berliner Weiss 
4.2 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml
$13.95 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter: @sawdustcitybeer


The first beer of our 2-4 Days of Christmas is another Sawdust City offering Just like last year we started with Sawdust's Winding Road for 7 KM. But this year we sample the second edition of their Barrel Aged Selections: The Winewood Series. Winewood is a street that is near the brewery and is of course a double entendre for the wooden wine barrels used in the ageing. This is a blend of two beers a Session and a berliner Weiss that have been barrel aged and flavoured with peach, lemon zest and pink peppercorns.

Onto the tasting...

Pours a very light gold with a slight haze to it. Super fluffy white head made up of small to medium bubbles. The aroma is lemons and peppers with a hint of sour. First sip is light and fruity with a hint of sourness. Some citrus, grapefruit and a light woody caramel. Some breadiness with a light peach sweetness. Aeration gives us a citrus sweet roasted grain. Some bitterness and a touch of astringency, slightly unbalanced.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 3/6 SO-SO
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order:  4/6  PASS
Experience:  4/6 PASS
Christmas Cheer:  4/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:

I can't say I was as entranced with this beer as I was the first Winewood Series, the 1606. generally smooth overall and a nice flavour I would get a break of astringency every now and then which killed the flavour of the beer. otherwise it was a nice beer.
CJT


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