Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Can from the LCBO. Very dark brown under a large foamy khaki coloured head. Nose is coffee, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, light caramel. Light caramel sweetness under a medium- dark chocolate and coffee bitterness. Mouth is medium+ and creamy with slightly soft carbonation.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 17
An unfiltered deep caramel body topped by an active, well-laced off white head. Nose is fruity with caramel, celery and a noticeable acidity. The wine barreling counterbalances the classic sweet caramel and fruity notes. Herbal and spicy undertones are also apparent. Some melon and green apple in the finish. Nice density but not too sticky. Out on an unusual limb here, but very enjoyable.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 3 | Overall - 16
Bottle from the brewery. Unfiltered mahogany body with thin lacing. Nose features caramel malt, fruity hops and some booziness. A little thinner on body than expected, but hits an endearing taste mix. Sweet caramel malt, citrus hops, apples, grapes honey blend nicely for a superior scotch ale taste experience. Nice balance too.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 16
Out of the bottle, a low tan head on a deep brown body. The nose is musty chocolate and roasted malt with some sweetness. The chocolate and pepper heat lead the taste profile. Notes of the cinnamon and vanilla mingle with the dominant flavours. Chocolate fudge and sweet ripe berries are down there somewhere as well. The peppers are a bit sharp, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Nice density, smooth and slightly sticky. Very solid offering.
Appearance - 5 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 15
A dense off-white head with sustained lacing on a deep auburn body. Sweet malt, spice and toffee on the nose. Well roasted german malts, walnuts, caramel, ripe berries, plums, and chewy biscuit build a substantial taste profile. Slick, sweet and slightly sticky. A great winter warmer indeed.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 16
A laced pure white head on a creamy yellow body. Fresh squeezed pineapple and tropical fruit in the nose. The pineapple leads the taste profile with tropical fruit notes, melon and orange adding to a fresh, juicy mix. A slight piney astringency and smooth sweet malt round out one of the best of the \"Starring\" series
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 17
A dense white head with enduring lacing on a light straw body. The nose pops with pine resin, grapefruit and fruit rid hoppiness. Nose elements carry through to the taste profile with additions of orange pulp, lemon and melon over a sweet malt base. Very fresh and juicy with a nice astringent hop edge. Top shelf.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 16
A fine but substantial white head on a light amber body. Well sustained lacing. The nose is a burst of grapefruit, pineapple, lemon and sweet malt. More of the same in the taste profile. Very fresh and edgy fruit presence. The malt is slightly more roasty and chewy than suggested by the aroma. Touches of mango and cherry underneath. Top drawer!
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 17
A thin, quick dissipating tan head on a deep brown body. Coffee, chocolate, sweet malt and damp wood on the nose. A slick porter with dark chocolate, some coffee, caramel and citrus hops leading the taste profile. A slight woodiness works nicely. Edging its way towards the black IPA category, but holds the line nicely. Balanced, smooth with freshness in lead notes. A big league porter.
Appearance - 3 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 16
Outdoes NE IPAs for dense, creamy straw body. Relatively short lived white head with some lacing. The nose and taste profile are a pungent blend of fresh tropical notes and more astringent resin, grapefruit rind and pineapple hoppiness. The rindy fruit accents grow through the taste experience. A challenging, popping hop mini-bomb.