A very nice little group of beers here from the fall/winter release, as well as reviews on the Samuel Smith's gift pack. The pack includes a pine glass and three trophy examples of great British beer. Also check out the Rochefort 8, a top notch Belgian Trappist ale at a rock bottom price, a duo of massive stouts and a balls-to-the-wall IPA from Great Lakes that makes most beers seem as flavourless as a Molson's product.
550 mL bottle. Pours crystal clear, medium brown with a tight tan head. Aromas of almond, apple sauce, toffee, cocoa, and earthy hop. A hint of sweetness back by good hop bitterness. Moderate body with low to moderate carbonation. Palate coating. Get’s better as it warms, solid.
Samuel Smith's India Ale
550 mL bottle. Pours golden with a thin white cap. Mild biscuit like malt, saltine, herbaceous, earthy hop, citrus and wax. Not particularly bitter for the style. Light to medium body and moderate carbonation. Clean palate. Not bad, but I was hoping for more here.
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
550 mL bottle. Pours opaque black with a thin off white cap. Cocoa, cooked oats, meaty roast aromas, cooked apples and a hint of malty bitterness. Mildly sweet with a slightly bitter finish and a touch of roast. Full bodied with moderate carbonation. A tasty stout.
Rochefort 8
330 mL bottle. Pours hazy mahogany with a murky off white cap, leaves no lacing surprisingly. Rich aromas of bready malt, a hint of cocoa, dried fig, raisin. Slightly sweet balanced by moderate to high carbonation and a hint of alcohol. Luxurious texture, but not heavy at all. Do let this warm up before enjoying.
Amsterdam Tempest Imperial Stout
500 mL bottle. Pours opaque black with a nice tan head and lots of lacing. Rich chocolatey aroma with layers of vanilla, coffee, deep caramel, roast and herbal hop. Big lingering mouth feel with moderate carbonation and a full body. Lightly sweet offset by a good hop bite. Undetectable alcohol. Very well made.
St. Ambroise Stout Imperiale Russe
341 mL bottle. Pours black with a creamy khaki head that leaves lots of lace. Dark chocolate, espresso, vanilla, smoky oak and roasted malt. Rich and full bodied with a lingering mouth feel and lasting bitterness. Lightly sweet with a big bitter back bone. Sticky on the palate with moderate carbonation, only a slight hint of alcohol. A well balanced giant of a beer.
Great Lakes Brewing Lake Effect IPA
650 mL bomber. Pours a hazy light orange with a lot of yeasty bits. Aroma is pure American hop; mango, guava, grapefruit, pine, orange, only a hint of maltiness. Almost sweet from all the fruit notes, backed by a big bitter punch. Crisp, but not harsh. Clean on the palate with lingering bitterness. Very refreshing, goes down all too easy.
Nickelbrook Headstock IPA
473 mL can. Pours a hazy straw with a rocky white head. Aromas of mango, pineapple, grapefruit, resin and a hint of biscuit. Moderate and lasting bitterness. Light bodied with average carbonation. Clean and lightly bitter finish. Not bad, not great.
Waterloo Union Mills Porter
473 mL can. Pours dark reddish brown with a tan cap. Cocoa, coffee and a hint of tobacco like hop. Slightly sweet, a touch of roasty bitterness, and a hint of hop bite. Moderate body and carbonation. Alcohol well hidden. Not a bad beer, expected a bit more bang.
Wellington Quick Brown Fox ESB
Draft. Pours almond colored with a thin beige cap. Nuts, caramel, toast and apple on the nose. Starts out a little sweet and finishes with a rounded bitterness. Palate coating with moderate body and carbonation.
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