February 8, 2026

42/4788) Home:  Winter Warmer by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 9.3% “Strong beer conditioned on raspberries, wildflower honey, vanilla and ginger"; opaque with a foamy white head; nose of ginger, raspberry, honey; sweet vanilla flavours with honey notes, especially at the finish, raspberry moderately overshadows ginger;

43/4789) Home:  Barrel Stock by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  ***1/2; 10% barrel aged strong ale brewed with oats; aged for one year in barrels previously used for Kentucky Bastard Imperial Stout; brown with a thin white head; nose of piney hops and oak; tastes of dark sugar, alcohol, oak and pine; a bit like a barley wine;

Here again, I must admit that I do not fully understand the style.  Strongly hopped beers like Headstock should be consumed fresh.  The idea of aging them does not feel entirely right to me.