Like Fine Wine - Tasting Notes

Bavik Brewery Petrus Triple Ale (7.5%), Belgium ($5.79/330 ml)

Although not described as a Lambic, this powerful brew has the funky character of wild yeast on the nose with some bitter astringency. Dried-fruit sweetness kicks in on the palate with a long, fruity sweet finish closing with a touch of dryness. It really packs some punch.

Duvel Belgian Golden Ale (8.1%), Belgium ($3.79/330 ml)

Top-fermented, with a secondary fermentation in the bottle, this beer will be cloudy unless allowed to stand and then carefully poured, leaving the yeasty residue behind. Belgians will normally opt to drink it cloudy with the residue included. Head is thick, creamy and remarkably persistent. Lightly fruity, nutty and bready yeasty aromas lead into delicate fruitiness and light dryness on the finish. Pleasantly creamy texture and mild flavours despite the high alcohol.

Liefmans Brewery Goudenband Ale (8%), Belgium ($4.49/330 ml)

Goudenband means “wedding ring,” although I am not sure of the significance of this with regard to this very strong, assertively flavoured darker ale. The beer has a Champagne-style cork and can age well for many years. It has certain wildness on the nose, together with some dusty dryness and a trace of sourness. Strongly fruity-sweet flavours linger on the palate.

Orval Trappist Ale (6.3%), Belgium ($3.79/330 ml)

Complex sweet and slightly sour scents combine with hints of gameyness and traces of subtle spice. It has more delicacy on the palate than you would expect, despite the relatively high alcohol, showing subtle orange and spicy flavours that suggest pairing with Asian food. Real finesse.

Fuller’s Limited-Edition Bottle-Conditioned Vintage Ale 2006 ($7.49/8.5%), London, United Kingdom ($7.49/500 ml)

This unique ale smells almost like wine except for the obvious rich fruity malt aroma. There are also scents of dried spicy orange peel, a hint of chocolate and a subtle trace of hops. Rich sweet fruity malt fills the mouth, finishing with spice and bitter baker’s chocolate. A heart-warming winter ale, just as good as a glass of Port on a cold winter night.

Rogue Imperial Stout (11%), Newport, Oregon ($4.99/355 ml)

Rogue Ales, of Newport, Oregon, are seriously dedicated brewers. The brewery bottles its products with oxygen-absorbing caps, brown glass for better shelf life and plenty of hops to provide stability. Rogues Imperial Stout uses multiple hops and malt varieties, rolled oats and a couple of secret ingredients. Opening with bitter chocolate and floral/herbal aromatics, it shows both sweet fruity flavours and emphatic bitterness. This powerful winter warmer will develop with further aging and needs at least a year or two in bottle.

Rogue Old Crustacean (11.5%), Newport, Oregon ($4.99/355 ml)

An English-style barley wine weighing in at 11.5%. An unfiltered, intensely rich and complex malty brew which has been described as the “Cognac of beers,” it should be aged, preferably for several years.

Garrison Brewery Premium Halifax Black Lager (8.3%), Halifax, Nova Scotia ($5.95/500 ml)

Brooding aromas of dark dried fruit, molasses and licorice introduce rich, slightly sweet dark fruity malt and chocolate flavours. Very smooth on the palate, it finishes with fruity and moderately dry bitter notes. A connoisseur’s brew to be enjoyed as a sipper on a cold winter’s night.

Propellor Brewery Revolution Russian Imperial Stout (8%), Halifax, Nova Scotia ($2.75/341 ml)

Propellor’s seasonal winter brew shows dark-roast-coffee colour with a roasted malt and fruit aroma and flavours of dark chocolate, black coffee and fruity molasses. Smoothly textured, it ends with a very long bitter grip. A serious beer that will improve with further keeping.

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