January 10, 2018

12/2233) Home:  Eldon Oak Infused Imperial Stout by Thornbridge Brewery of England:  **1/2;  8%;  among the listed ingredients are wheat, Demerara sugar, bourbon soaked oak and fish…;  I believe this refers to Isinglass finings which are regularly used to speed up the fining, or clarification of beer;  the nose has mocha notes;  tastes of oak with very pleasant mocha and a hint of alcohol; 

January 9, 2018

11/2232) Home:  B by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  **;  the second installment of their Mystery Pack is a 4.5% New Egland Session IPA;  brewed with wheat;  pours cloudy;  strong, fresh citrusy nose;  fruity and citrusy but perhaps a bit thin;

January 8, 2018

10/2231) Home:  A by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  *1/2;  a 4.5% Stout brewed with oats;  feels a bit thin;  mild coffee nose;  hint of mocha, faint sweet coffee; 

The schtick is there are four beers, with only descriptions and ingredient lists on the package.  Whichever beer receives the most votes is their next release.

January 7, 2018

8/2229) Home:  Starry Night by Bobcaygeon Brewing Company of Ontario:  **;  a 6.3%, 23 ibu chocolate stout brewed with cocoa nibs and lactose;  sweet, roasty nose with a touch of mocha;  sweet, milk chocolate flavours;

9/2230) Home:  Imperial Coffee Porter by Mill Street of Ontario:  **;  7%;  brewed with Balzac's Winter Blend Cold Brew and flaked wheat;  a fine tuned version of something I sampled at the Mill Street Beer Hall;  smells like a mildly sweet, roasty espresso;  understated coffee notes with a chocolatey finish;

January 6, 2018

6/2227) Home:  30th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  11.9%, 60 ibu;  listed as 30th Anniversary Ale at the LCBO;  brewed with cold brew coffee, vanilla beans and cocoa;  coffee and alcohol nose;  sweet vanilla and bourbon notes play off nicely against the coffee;  very warming alcohol especially at the finish;

7/2228) Home:  Pecan Pie Porter by Double Trouble Brewing of Ontario:  **;  5.6%;  brewed at Wellington for Double Trouble;  brewed with natural pecan flavours;  sweet, sugary pecan nose;  tastes a lot like a Turtles chocolate but then the sweetness arrives and I am reminded of pecan tarts;  unusual enough that I do want to try it again;

January 4, 2018

5/2226) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Old Face; Young Body by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **;  4.8%, 28 ibu;  described as a Brown Ale - Belgian;  their Brown Ale with sarsaparilla, vanilla, American oak, bourbon, lactose, honey;  sweet nose of oak, lactose and bourbon;  nice blend of sarsaparilla, oak and bourbon, accented by the vanilla;  possibly a case of a couple of unnecessary ingredients;  I wonder if adding lactose eliminates this for some people with food allergies;

January 3, 2018

4/2225) Home:  Marmalade IPA by Innis & Gunn of Scotland:  **;  5.6%;  made with Scottish marmalade, mandarina, goldings and mosaic hops;  citrusy hop and marmalade nose;  prominent marmalade and a bitter citrus zest finish;

January 2, 2018

2/2223) Home:  Makami Pineapple IPA by Mill Street of Ontario:  *1/2;  6.2%, 60 ibu;  brewed with mosaic hops, pineapple juice;  mild pineapple nose;  leafy hop flavours; 

3/2224) Home:  Black Ball, brewed brewed for To Øl of Denmark by Be Proof Brouwerij of Belgium:  **1/2;  8%;  an Imperial/Double Porter brewed using Cassonade sugars, American hops, rolled oats;  dark bitter coffee nose;  flavours of dark bitter coffee, unsweetened chocolate;  the alcohol becomes more noticeable towards the finish;

January 1, 2018

1/2222) Home:  Bad Life Decisions 2017 by Amsterdam Brewery of Ontario:  **;  7%, 70 ibu;  this one has existed in a few versions, hence the 2017 appellation;  brewed with Sorachi Ace and Centennial hops;  piney nose with Asian tea notes;  resiny Asian tea flavours;  this was the Cask Days Official IPA Challenge Champion in 2016 and a Finalist in 2017;

That bitter taste in my mouth might be a poor life decision I made in 2017 but I live in hope that I might get a re-do on that one.