It may be the end of August but it's never to soon to anticipate the many winter warmers that will grace the fridges of the beer loving people soon enough. Even break out the ones you stashed from years past.
Today just seemed like a great day to drink something a little different than the many pale beers that gracefully sit on patios and quench the thirst of the people. My table proudly props up a fine glass of Burly Wine (blue wax, 2009) from Half Pints Brewing Company located in Winnipeg, MB.
I'll just start by saying this is one hell of a beautiful looking beer. A murky bog water caramel brown body, rusty golden hues and a tanned head that remains small but full (and laces right to the very bottom of the drinking vessel).
The aroma is earthy, oak-like qualities drenched in a boozy dried fruit cake. Treacle soaked currents, raisins, dates, and lighter apricot notes with a sweet grain bill that comes out like heavy caramel and sugared cereal (Sugar Crisp anyone?!). The hops have a great noble appeal, herbal and almost that of spruce trees.
The flavour is very syrupy/ treacle-like. There is a wood like earthiness on the tongue, but on further sips that flavour appears more nutty than anything else. Big sweet yeast bread flavours, a touch of grain which is dominated by the stewed fruit flavours. Sweet cherries seem to come out more on the tongue than the lighter apricot notes in the nose. The alcohol is well hidden for what is supposedly 10.5%ABV (I will note the outside of the case it came in is marked at 8.5%ABV). I'll assume the latter. There are some bourbon qualities that linger on the tongue with a semi-dry finish. The raisins, plums, and currents are strong in sweetness, while the hops really keep this balanced. 75IBU's and still sweet will give you a good idea of how huge this grain bill must be.
The body is rich and full with a decent carbonation for the style. There is a heavy kick in this one. This is a satisfying mouthful. Granted, this sucker is still a little hot even eight months later.
This is going to be a great beer to age and watch develop over the months and years (if they last that long). It is amazing to have a brewery like this in Canada. Everything I've tried has had amazing quality, standard and consistency while remaining to be very unique on their own within the brewery's line up of beers.
Does anyone else get excited about beer in the cellar? What do you wait for to open one (or two… or three… or…)?
