February 6, 2022

10/3727)  beerbistro:  Fenrir by Little Beasts Brewing of Ontario:  ****;  9.5% Belgian Strong Dark Ale aged six months in red wine barrels previously used to aged another Little Beasts beer, Odin; red wine and oak to the nose; red wine is the most prominent flavour with oak, dark fruit and mild chocolate notes; it is mildly tart with a slightly astringent finish; 

I visited beerbistro two days after their "Get Sprung! Imperial Stout Beer Fest" seeking leftovers.  Admission to the event would have been $30.  This included which included five tickets good for a three ounce pour, which works out to less than a pint.

11/3728) beerbistro:  Malevolent Benevolence Imperial Hawaiian Stout by Rorschach Brewing Company of Ontario:  ****; 11.9%; conditioned on hazelnuts, coffee, coconut, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans;  coconut and chocolate nose; thick, heavy mouthfeel, strong coconut flavours with dark chocolate;

This was a taster sized pour.

12/3729) beerbistro:  Malevolent Benevolence Imperial Stout 2021 French Calvados barrel aged by Rorschach Brewing Company of Ontario:  ****1/2; this is basically the same beer as above save that it is aged in Calvados barrels for eighteen months; the nose is oaky and boozy; tastes of oak and chocolate with boozy apple notes; quite remarkable; also contains oats, sucrose and lactose; 

This was a bottled selection, and $25 at that which is as expensive as any bottle I have tried.  It is just as well I saved on the admission fee.

13/3730) beerbistro:  Freibier by Stiegelbrauerei of Austria:  **1/2; 0.4%; very, very malty, minerally, pilsner style beer; it did not work for me;

Luckily, this was another taster.

14/3731) beerbistro:  Kentucky Bastard Imperial Stout Cherry Russian Imperial Stout by Nickel Brook Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 14.5%; aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels for over a year; nose is oak, chocolate and cherry; cherry is strongest at the finish after oak and vanilla notes;