New Holland: Imperial Hatter

First off, I have to apologize for not keeping up on my posts. Things are a little crazy this time of year while I am preparing to tour Canada next week with one of my 3 (4?) bands, while the other bands are still very active in rehearsing, recording, and playing shows.


I'll admit i was drawn in by the label, or scuffs on the label. This afternoon I thought it would be appropriate to finally get to try the Imperial Hatter India Pale Ale from New Holland Brewing Company. The bottle was in a fridge full of brightly labeled beer (a lot of generic American macro-brews) and a bomber with an off green print on it stood tall amongst the rest (most likely misplaced in the wrong fridge). Some scuffs were off the label giving it a bit more character, and then reading Imperial and India Pale Ale on the label just had me sold on this bottle.

This is apart of the High Gravity Series that New Holland released. It's 20 P, and 9.4%ABV… the perfect patio summer beer. The description reads:

"A robust renovation of the India Pale Ale. Assertive dry-hopping provides an aromatic telltale nose, indicative of the bitter symphony to follow. Bold hop character with lively grapefruit and citrus notes."

Well, what am I waiting for? Doesn't that sound inviting to you?

It pours a beautiful dark orange, clear, with a slight copper note to it, while a nice fluffy white head sits on op. The nose brings out a lot of… pine!? and then some clementines and pink grapefruit follows with the heavy caramel from the malt. There is a touch of biscuit and even a hit of tartness from the alcohol. I will admit I was struck by how pine forward this was on the nose. Pretty different from a lot of the American I-IPA's.
The flavour again is huge on pine and big malt sweetness. There is a little grapefruit bitter on the end, but the lingering flavour is pine, a touch of alcohol that translates into a slight tart cherry behind the malt and yeast character. This is still pretty bitter. To add to the bitterness is how dry this sucker is. This snaps off the tongue and leaves a nice pine aftertaste (I haven't been chasing this with gin, just to let you know). The medium to fairly high carbonation, light (for style) body, and dryness make this unbelievably drinkable. If you like a wallop of hops, this beer is for you. Don't forget that there are a load of balancing malts that give it an initial sweetness, that will quickly turn around and bite you bitter.

I am shocked in a great manner that this is pine forward and not citrus. I love citrus hops, but getting that evergreen bitter lingering on the tongue is quite nice. I know what the discretion says, but my palate and/or this bottle say otherwise. Not a complaint, just an observation.


What draws you to to pick up a mystery bottle?

When I Grow Older I Want to be Just Like...

Ola Dubh, you make life run smoothly. I must say, I feel fortunate to have tasted the Ola Dubh Special Reserve 12 and Ola Dubh Special Reserve 40 from Harviestoun Brewery, located in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland (Thanks Doug!). It truly is great to see these graze the shelves of the LCBO, if they even made it to the shelves.

Ola Dubh is based on the Old Engine Oil and aged in scotch whiskey casks from Highland Park Distillery. This is apparently a "nod to the classic Imperial Porters (and Stouts) of the 19th Century,".

It makes you wonder sometimes about how age really does affect scotch and beer in characteristics, quality, and even price. I felt like putting it to the test. I started with the Special Reserve 12.

Bottle from July 2009 : 59997

Just prying the cap off lifted a beautiful bouquet of pleasant aromas.

It has a rich molasses nose, oak, whiskey sweetness, some roasted malt characteristics, a little tobacco along with some other subtle grassy notes, moss-like. All of these aromas are very soft but enchanting as it brings the eyes to the opaque black body and a creamy tan head that lasts and laces beautifully.

Tastes of rich bittersweet chocolate, hints of black pepper, smoke, blackstrap molasses with warming alcohol bringing up some rich red fruits, plums, raisins, and currents. It tips to a dry and bitter ending of scotch whiskey, oak, and the grassy notes from the nose. This is very malt forward, no off sensations, just a very fine balanced beer.

The mouthfeel is silky and rich. A little oily, possibly from the oats. Full of warming, near hot sensations on the palate, with a nice dry finish in it's moderate carbonation. There is a mild astringency that I am linking to the hot alcohol and potentially the wheat.

This is very drinkable. Very calming.

I could have continuously put my nose in this beer. Very pleasant.

Then there was the Special Reserve 40.

Bottle # 00639 : August 2009

This pours a silky, oily, opaque black with slight burnt brown notes as it thins around the edges. Thin, fine bubble head, slightly tanned. Beautiful lacing. Markings of every sip.

The aroma is huge of cherries, chocolate, scotch, ripe plums, figs, hickory, oak, smoke and tabacco grassy notes. The roasted malt presence is very brilliant and spiked with the oak cask and scotch whiskey. Brilliant aroma.

A huge rush of vanilla, thick bitter blackstrap molasses, herbal, licorice, roasted malt, scotch, dry oats, and warming alcohol. Bold flavours of raisins, pete, and really dark stewed cherries. Each sip brings out other similar flavours, some peak more than others. The oak is ever present and really gives this beer a beautiful finish. The whiskey backing is defined very nicely and a 40 year old one at that.

This is oily, thick, somewhat chewy, medium to high carbonation for the style, a little edgy and brash, though I can only imagine how this will age. It still finishes very dry, yet milky on the end. This is complex and complete. This is a beautiful beer. It really does have a sparkle and shine that the 12 year old doesn't quite have.

Top notch.

The little medallion with the mouse is pretty awesome too.

The 40 was indeed beautiful and regardless of price, it would be well worth every penny. I hope to see more of this and look forward to when it hits the shelves again. The website actually fails to note the Special Reserve 40 is a part of the regular lineup.

(I meant to post this last night, but I was far too relaxed and caught up in the moment of great beer to write about it).

Cheers!