January 7, 2025

7/4488) Home:  Bourbon County Brand Stout 2023 by Goose Island Beer Co. of Illinois, U.S.A.:  ****1/2; 14.1%, 60 ibu Boubon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout; aged in freshly emptied barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Wild Turkey; “barrel aged for an average of twelve months”; black, thin, short lived head; nose of alcohol, bourbon, oak; tastes of bourbon, fudge, oak, and alcohol; 

There is also a 14.6% version.

January 6, 2025

6/4487) Home:  Bourbon County Brand Bananas Foster Stout 2023 by Goose Island Beer Co. of Illinois, U.S.A.:  ****; 13.9% stout aged in bourbon barrels; brewed with bananas, almonds, cassia bark, “natural flavours” and wheat; black with a scanty tan head; nose of bourbon, oak, roasted malts, cinnamon; tastes of bananas, bourbon, cinnamon and vanilla;

January 5, 2025

5/4486) Home:  Double Tempest 2024 by Amsterdam Brewery of Ontario:  ****1/2; 11.9% Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout; black with a wispy tan head; boozy bourbon nose with vanilla and oak; tastes of chocolate, vanilla, booze, bourbon and oak;

January 4, 2025

4/4485) Home:  Lagershed India Pale by Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***;  6.0%, 45 ibu India Pale Lager; brewed with Ontario and Australian hops; pours clear, golden; nose is malty, biscuity with mild citrus; tastes malty with citrus in the background;

January 3, 2025

3/4484)  Home:  Barrelshed Pale Ale by Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.0% Pale Ale; pours amber; malty, herbal nose; tastes malty with prominent herbal hop notes;

January 2, 2025

2/4483) Amsterdam Brew House:  Raglan Road by Amsterdam Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.2% 26 ibu Irish Stout; appearance is as expected; roasted malt and mild chocolate notes; 

January 1, 2025

1/4482) Home:  Vintage Ale 2024 by Fuller's of England:  ****1/2; 8.4%; Crystal extra dark malt; Pilot, CF299 hops; bottle conditioned; with invert sugar; bottle #141424; pours brown/amber; nose of marmelade, hint of lemon, Christmas cake; Tastes of Christmas cake, marmelade with dry, herbal notes;

 “While we always put a best before date on this bottle, the flavours will continue to defelop for many years after that.”

Maybe it’s me, but I find this edition more complex in its fresh state than those of previous years.