March 24, 2018

80/2301) Birreria Volo:  Echoes of the Void by Redline Brewhouse of Ontario:  **1/2;  8.5%;  sweet, nearly berry, nose;  described as a "Crème brulee imperial stout" and indeed there are sweet, burnt white sugar notes;

This is my second Péché Day.

81/2302) Birreria Volo:  Skeleton Key with Coffee by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  **;  10.5%; a rum barrel aged Imperial stout with spices and coffee; Dr. Pepper/tangerine nose;  herbal, spiced flavours with a rum finish;

Things started earlier than last year, at 11AM which helped with the crush but there was still a line when I arrived prior to 11.

82/2303) Birreria Volo:  B. A. Nowhere by Merit Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; a 10.5% bourbon barrel aged imperial stout;  nose of vanilla and alcohol; flavours of bourbon, oak and vanilla;

The early opening also made it possible for me to visit and leave in time to attend Willie's wake at Tracks Brewpub.  He was one of a kind.

83/2304) Birreria Volo:  Péché Bourbon 2017 by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  **1/2;  9.5%;  strong, earthy (dirty, muddy) coffee nose;  in the tasting, coffee takes a back seat to bourbon and oak;

These were all five ounce pours.

84/2305) Birreria Volo:  Péché Bourbon 2018 by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  **1/2; 9.5%;  nose similar to above but the flavours are sweeter with more vanilla;

Owing to my lateness I am not revealing a confidence when I mention that the original Bar Volo will be re-opening after all.  The initial deal fell through which might not be bad as it was in front of this building where an unfortunate young lady was found murdered a few months back.  The anticipated location will be on St. Nicholas Street, not all that far from Yonge and Dundonald.

85/2306) Birreria Volo:  On Fleek!, a collaboration between Stillwater Brewing of Maryland and Casita Cerveceria who have breweries in Vermont and North Carolina:  **; 13%;  the nose is red wine and vanilla;  coffee, cocoa, oak flavours;

Fleek is slang for fancy, according to Chris, behind the bar.  I have since learned the term was originally applied to perfectly groomed eyebrows.

86/2307) Birreria Volo:  Black Forest Bastard by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  **1/2; 8.9%;  smells like a boozy Black Forest cake; flavours of chocolate, cherries, marvellous;

There was also Péché Mortel on cask which was a last minute addition.

87/2308)  Birreria Volo:  Belgian Stout (2016 Vintage) by Exchange Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2; a 6.7% oak barrel aged Belgian style stout;  cola notes to the nose;  tastes of cola, sarsaparilla;

The cask made up, in part, for the absence of Founders CBS Bourbon Maple Syrup Barrel Aged Stout with coffee and chocolate which became unavailable to Birreria Volo at the last minute.

88/2309) Birreria Volo:   Péché Latte by Dieu du Ciel of Ontario:  **1/2; a 9.5% Imperial coffee milk stout, on nitro;  usual strong coffee nose is muted, but only slightly, by sweet creaminess;  sweet, milky latte café au lait flavours with a dark coffee finish;

Another very successful Péché Day.  The early opening was inspired.