Big Spruce Brewing
Microbrewery
in
Baddeck,
Nova Scotia,
Canada 🇨🇦
Associated Venue: Big Spruce Brewing
Contact
64 Yankee Line Rd, Baddeck, B0E 1B0, Canada
Description
A blurry picture of a sweet little farmhouse popped up on their computer screen. They smiled. A few short weeks later Melanie and Jeremy White were standing at the bottom of a curving drive, somewhat stunned to realise they had just bought over 100 acres of pristine Cape Breton farmland. Perched on a southern slope facing the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Bras D'Or Lake, a hopyard was planted, and the land was certified organic. Water naturally rich in minerals was perfect for brewing. Construction began.
Ten years later, Big Spruce Brewing is focused on creating exceptional ingredient-driven beer. All of our ales and lagers are brewed with organic grain & hops, and we continually strive to keep giving you the perfect pint, every time.
Ten years later, Big Spruce Brewing is focused on creating exceptional ingredient-driven beer. All of our ales and lagers are brewed with organic grain & hops, and we continually strive to keep giving you the perfect pint, every time.
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8
Bottle: Poured a slightly hazy amber color ale with a medium size off-white foamy head with OK retention and light lacing,. Aroma of caramelized malt notes with some Cognac notes. Taste is also a mix of caramelized malt with some residual sugar and some warming Cognac notes. Body is about average with good carbonation and some alcohol notes are discernible. Enjoyable barleywine but less discernible alcohol notes would have been better.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 May 2026
at 00:55
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
22oz @ SF shared with almost full gang (missing two biggest guys only).
Aroma: bready, a bit of balsamic and cherries.
Taste: moderately acidic, intense, aggressively carbonated. Finishes with some cherry notes.
Overall: interesting.
Aroma: bready, a bit of balsamic and cherries.
Taste: moderately acidic, intense, aggressively carbonated. Finishes with some cherry notes.
Overall: interesting.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Feb 2026
at 07:10
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
650mL bottle, pours a cloudy dark orange amber with a small white head. Aroma has plenty of semi-tart dark red fruits, balsamic, and Worcestersshire sauce. Flavour is tart, fairly dry and somewhat fruity, with tart red fruits, gentle balsamic, some Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of vinous character. Not super complex but reasonably integrated. Pleasant.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Feb 2026
at 07:08
7.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Amber and hazy. The aroma is oaky, seems like brett c on there, and it's clean. A light body, vibrant, oaky, tart. This is well-balanced, with fairly clean acidity. Mellow berry notes, and lemon peel, this is quite good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Feb 2026
at 07:06
7.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Poured from 650mL bottle. Hazy orangey amber with small white head. Amber gold with small off white head. Plummy, woody, feintly vinous, fairly soft, decent.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Feb 2026
at 07:02
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
650mL bottle. Pours murky dull orange with a white head. Raisins, plums, and a touch of balsamic on the nose. Flavour has golden raisins, plums, a very light touch of balsamic, tart raspberries, a touch of sweet-sour lemon. Nice, moderate complexity.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Liquid Assets
on 06 Feb 2026
at 03:13
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a dark brown foamy head with some retention and some lacing notes. Aroma of chocolate notes with some deep rum notes with light vanilla notes. Taste is also a mix of chocolate notes with some deep rum notes and vanilla notes with residual sugar notes. Body is full with an oily texture and good carbonation with quite a bit of discernible alcohol notes. Enjoyable BA stout but maybe a tad too boozy.
Tried
from Can
on 26 Jan 2026
at 18:58
6.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6
473mL can. Pours murky dull yellow with a white head. Juicy tropical fruit, mostly mangos, on the nose. Flavour has lots of juicy tropical fruit, fairly dry grassy finish. Maybe a touch thin and chalky, but overall not bad.
Tried
from Can
on 24 Dec 2025
at 12:46
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
On tap at Stillwell. Pours clear blonde with a white head. Dry grass and corn on the nose. Flavour has dry grass and corn. Fairly uncomplicated. Crisp & clean. It serves a purpose.
Tried
from Draft
at
Stillwell Beer Bar
on 21 Dec 2025
at 03:45
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
A real treat from a small-town brewery that succeeds in a wide variety of brewing styles. Hazy deep straw body with a thin white head. Nose hints at alcohol, rich malt and some sweet fruit. The taste profile features stone fruit, appricot, solid west coast hops with some fruit sweetness. Dense and slightly slick. The hops keep the profile from becoming to slick. Nice fresh snap in the taste elements. I'm all in!
Tried
from Can
on 23 Sep 2025
at 20:17