I love barrel aged beers. Contact with the wood mellows harsh flavours and can impose unique flavours upon a beer. Such is the case with this release from Spinnakers, the barrel aged Cerveza. Aged in freshly emptied Mexican tequila barrels, one can immediately pick out the flavours of tequila right away. While I was not keen on the addition of citrus zest and salt, this beer was simple and tasty. Good tequila is sipped, like a fine vodka, rum or whiskey, not shot back with a salt lick and a lemon wedge. But this is just my snootiness coming though.

Spinnakers Cerveza Resposado = 6/10


I should really rethink my rating scale because tasty beers like this never get high scores. The nose does not shock with it's calm gold tequila hints and wood character. Each sip too is one dimensional with golden ale, citrus (both from hop and additions), crackers, tequila and wood tannins. The tequila flavour was subtle and not overpowering. It was a little salty, not gose salty, but just enough to linger on the lips. Overall I liked it and you should too. That is unless you have had a recent bad experience with tequila and are adverse to the flavour flashback. I'm decades out of college, so I was fine.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5%
Value +1
Appearance +1

Glassware: Whatever is clean. A simple pint glass will do.

Food Pairings: Light fare would be best, perhaps seafood. Something with lemon and salt to resonate with the beer. This just screams fish and chips

Cellar: Nope

Brevity shall be the order of writing today. Not due to lack of verbiage but lack of positive things to say. I think Mr. Beaumont mentioned a few months ago that not all things need to be barrel aged. Barrel aging will not make things inherently good.

Twisted Oak Rye Bock = 3/10


Perhaps this is a bit nit picky, but where to start - the aroma. It is very faint of cola, spicy rye and cardboard. Wood aging can round out a beer's flavour with complimentary oxidization; mild beers just smell like musty wood. The mouthfeel is right on at light to medium and lowish carbonation. Perhaps mild flavoured beers do not mesh well with barrel aging. I love that spicy, powdery rye flavour like a good Canadian. This beer just doesn't cut it. Each sip is lackluster with temperate tastes of cola, tannic oak, stale coffee and watered down Jack Daniels. The ending is a little boozy and metallic. Great pangs of guilt sting my fingers with each tap of the keyboard, but unbiased thoughts are paramount. To be fair the other two barrel aged beers by Phillips have been great: rum barrel red ale and Scotch ale.

Taste +1
Aftertaste 0
Alcohol Content +1 6.8% AB1
Value 0
Appearance +1 (Elegant label with good description of beer)

Glassware: Technically this is a lager, so elongated pint glasses or mugs are called for. Seeing this is a barrel aged version, perhaps something slightly rounded would be good. A red wine glass would do well.

Food Pairings: Normally bocks are rich and pair well with wild game or rich bread dishes. This one, with its rich tannic notes, might do well with cedar smoked salmon.

Cellar: Nope

One of the best, and worst, parts about blogging is that there is no set schedule. The spring months are forgiving because brewing efforts are focused on lawnchair lagers and away from new seasonals. Thankfully hockey season is over so new bombers should be hitting shelves soon. I think Lighthouse has something coming out Thursday. Moon has the Berliner Heist and Phillips has something out called the Elsinore? Must be in the showcase pack.
 
Twisted Oak Scotch Ale (Phillips) = 7/10


Immediately one assumes this will taste like an Innis and Gunn bottle. Not true. While it does share the familiar vanilla, caramel and whiskey nose; the Phillips version is not as overly sweet. It is all there: the sweet toffee, burning whiskey, aromatic vanilla and tannic oak. Each mildly carbonated and warming sip fades to coat the tongue with slight vanilla and whiskey notes. This was pretty good, worth the price anyways. I'm remember seeing a few boxes left at Hillside liquor store.


Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 6.8% but not hot
Value +1 pretty decent
Appearance +1 great label art and reasonable description of beer flavour

You can try and knock the big guys, but they are giving beer geeks what they want: new releases. This month Phillips released two brews. The Double Dragon red ale and a similar rum barrel aged version. Previous years of DD have been great, but recent releases have been lackluster. Their last month oak aged scotch ale is still in the fridge. Extra time is needed to allow the oak tannins to mellow before sampling. This sounds better than I am lazy and plan to get around to it later. Barrel aging is a wonderful thing; the addition of spirit flavours and tannins can truly enhance a beer. Perhaps Phillips will barrel age tap water one day?

Rum Barrel Aged Red Ale = 8/10


The red ale nose is sweeter than expected; lots of black strap molasses, rum and dry toast around.  Also unexpected was the creamy, medium full mouthfeel enhanced by a slight tannic astringency. This beer on its own would be quite boring, but the wood aging added something special. Grape must, cherry cola, nuttiness and rum are a great addition to any malt forward beer. A predictable ending of creamy, barreled rum with treacle follows each sip. Food pairings should include earthy flavours. Perhaps cedar planked salmon or creamy mushroom risotto. Don't stick this one in your cellar; there are not any sharp flavours that need to be mellowed.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 (6.8%) I don't think this is right though
Value  +1 (I liked it)
Appearance +1 (As always great label art

I have nothing to say. This is troublesome, as Victoria's eminent beer blogger, I should have lots to say. Perhaps I should substitute "eminent" with "only". Even Leapbeer is blogging about Victoria beers more than I am. Perhaps my articles are too short. Joe Wiebe's review of Central City's Imperial IPA was three times as long as mine. Making note to self: pull socks up, get off ass, do something.

In my defense, things have been quiet in the Victoria beer scene. Releases have been slight. Swan's does have the Tessier's Witbeir on tap, one of my favourites. Moon Under Water's summer hefe is not due out for a week or so. Lighthouse will have a new ale coming next week, whenever the caps arrive. Hoyne has a summer wheat beer (not hefe) with honey sourced withing walking distance.

There has not been any good news about beer/alcohol and health. Unless you count the Tim Stockwell media machine that says private BC liquor stores are killing us off. Mice got a bit of good press, demonstrating that they didn't get fat when given a rare nutrient found in beer.

Might as well fall back on an old formula; import beer review.

Ola Dubh 18 = 10/10

Ratebeer 3.84 99th percentile
Beer Advocate 93%

To smell this beer, is to understand the life of a Cooper. Roasted cocoa nibs, peat and ash aromas start the Pavlovian response. You don't sip this beer; it is more like chew. I don't mind a thick and full mouthfeel with abundant tastes of dark chocolate, pecans, whiskey, black berries and #2 HB pencils. Scotch vapours can sometimes fade, but Ola Dubh never leaves. The only downside to this beer is the bottle is too small. I would like to obtain a growler fill of this stuff! Look closely at the label. I want George's job: Master of Wood. 

Taste +5
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 8%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (simple and elegant labeling with great description of beer)

Tasting a bomber release from Phillips is akin to opening a suspicious looking can of nuts. Either a snake will pop out and someone will snicker, or it will actually be full of tasty, roasted nuts. This brew was a pleasant surprise - no snake.
The Double Barrel was aged in both Tennessee whiskey and Cab Sauv barrels. Wood aging does fun things to a beer. In the short term, it adds hints of vanilla, smooths out the brew and imparts flavours from within the barrels.


Double Barrel Scotch Ale (2012) = 7/10

Influence from the barrels is apparent; notable peaty, oak, vanilla and nutty aromas are present. For a 7.7% ABV brew it is remarkably smooth and not warming. This is not a flavour powerhouse, nor is it cloying vanilla sweet like an Innis and Gunn. It had clement tastes of peaty malts, caramel, vanilla, cola and whiskey. The finish was slick and didn't overstay its welcome. I didn't mind it; it was better than last year. This review is in stark contrast to my compatriot's at Vancouver Beer Blog. I too would have liked to taste a more robust brew with longer contact with the barrels.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 7.7%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (nice steampunk label with good description of beer)


Other wooded reviews
Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout (2009)
Dogfish Head Burton Baton
Highland Cask Innis and Gunn

You either like the Innis and Gunn style or you don't. All of their beers are barrel aged, but the wood style varies. They usually share common flavour profiles.

Highland Cask Innis and Gunn = 7/10

Ratebeer 2.78 32nd percentile
Beer Advocate B-

The nose is classic I&G: sweet with vanilla, honey, butterscotch and fruits. This one had a mystery sweetness. I assume it was heather because the box said so; I will make a mental note to smell heather next time I see some. The flavour followed the nose and delivered sweet vanilla, wood, light peat, fireweed honey and a vague fruitiness. A creamy ending only left more vanilla and butterscotch. The I&G style is either on your love or loath list.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 7.1%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (Always have classic boxed packaging)

I&G Canadian Cask 2009
I&G Rum Cask and a health kick

The barrel photos on the Driftwood website made my heart go a flutter. There are also rumors of a sour Flanders style in the works. Now that will be a great accomplishment. The Singularity is a Russian imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels for 4 months.

Singularity 2010 = 11/10

The nose is powerful stuff, full of sweet bourbon, nail polish and bitter-sweet chocolate. This big ABV brew gives a lasting warmth that travels all the way to your toes. Along the way it spreads liquid joy: the tastes are dark chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, toffee and coffee. These flavours never really leave you. Its thickness provides a long linger of warm bitter chocolate, bourbon and astringent vanilla. I hate to sound like a fanboy, but this is perhaps the greatest fluidic substance produced on Vancouver Island.

Taste +6
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 11.8% (wink wink)
Value +1
Appearance +1 (very modern label)

Pike Street Entire Wood Aged Stout 2009
Drake's Imperial Stout and Executive Class Guilt
Ten Fidy Imperial Stout

I like anything wood aged. The wood just gives an added dimension to the flavours: vanilla, tannins and sherry. I would wood age soy milk if the wife would let me.
Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale = 9/10
Ratebeer 3.84 99th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Anyone who has tried an Arrogant Bastard will remember the flavours: grapefruit citrus, resin and toffee. I'm sure many people buy this beer because of the catchy name. The wood aging gives an extra layer of flavours: vanilla, roast, tannins and (obviously) oak. Bready and toffee malts try very hard to keep this hop monster in check. Upfront is quite bitter but not pucking; it is oddly smooth for such a high ABV beer. Every sip leaves a long lingering of astringent citrus notes.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 7.2%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (great looking silk screened bottle - I kept it)

Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout 2009
Dogfish Head Burton Baton
Innis and Gunn Canadian Cask 2009

I like the wood. Wait.. that sounded really wrong.

Phillips Double Barrel Scotch Ale = 9/10

Ratebeer 3.64 89th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Yup, this fluid hit the wood. There I go again. I meant the nose was oaky with vanilla and cherries. It was smooth on the tongue with good alcohol warmth (not burn) and a medium-full mouthfeel. The flavours of wood, vanilla, sherry and peat are very long lasting. Did I mention the alcohol warmth than morphs into a burn at the end?

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 7.7%
Value +1
Appearance +1

Swan's Scotch Ale and Comedy Writing
Brooklyn Winter Ale and Historic Events
MacPelican's Scottish Ale

Dogfish Head Burton Baton

Ratebeer 3.74 98th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

To get a full appreciation for grandness of this beer, please read the Ratebeer description.

Taste +5

Whenever you open a bottle of Dogfish Head, you expect great things. Once the cap came off you know things were going to be good; the aroma was ripe with citrus, pine, slightly fruit and vanilla. Over every taste bud was draped a creamy citrus, vanilla and oak blanket. Picture a 90 minute IPA with the added goodness of wood notes, vanilla and resin.

Aftertaste +1

The creamy ending was all tangerine and grapefruits.

Alcohol Content +1 10%

Yup, that explains the warmth heading down my gullet.

Value +1

This is a good and strong IPA with the added benefit of French Oak aging.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle. This brew renewed my love for beer after the Paulaner Oktoberfest palate shattering.

Overall 9/10

This glorious brew blends two great ideas: a strong IPA and wood aged beer. This is one beer you must try before you die.

Red Racer IPA
Innis and Gunn Rum Aged Cask
Hop Stoopid IPA

Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout 2009

Ratebeer 3.77 95th precentile
Beer Advocate A-

I picked this up from the Pike Place Brewery. Wow this is a fun place, highly recommended. The food was great, atmosphere was fun and kids were welcome. I was there for their 20th anniversary party, purely by coincidence.

Taste +5

I was fearful because the nose was very light, but you could pick up burnt wood, coffee, bitter chocolate and vanilla. Pouring this beer was hard because it produced a huge fluffy head that never entirely went away. I should have used a shaker glass instead. The taste was just like the nose but only much richer. It is not often that you get a hop bitterness the is hard to distinguish from a bitter sweet chocolate ending. This brew was thick, rich and chewy. As it warmed up, it only got sweeter and smoother. It was not bitter at all.

Aftertaste +2

A very long, dry roasted coffee and bitter chocolate was a welcome ending.

Alcohol Content +1 9.5%

It was no where to be seen, either in the nose or the flavours.

Value +1

Bonus points given for beautiful packaging, the wax sealing was a nice touch. This would be interesting to cellar if you could wait that long

Ingame Enhancement +1

It is not often that you get a versus game of L4D going. Nothing is better than vomiting all over your friends, even if it is only virtual.

Overall 10/10

A perfect score for a prefect strong, bitter-sweet stout.

Obsidian Stout and Self Improvement
Blackheart Oatmeal Stout
Pike XXXXX Stout

Canadian Cask 2009 (Innis and Gunn)

Ratebeer 3.33 70th percentile
Beer Advocate B

This beer was brewery exclusively for Canada, using Canadian whiskey oak barrels.

Taste +4
Well now, this is something good. Massive nose of sherry, cherries, wood, vanilla and caramel. The taste is just like the nose but with added rye and fruit (raisin).

Aftertaste +1

Very smooth with a slight lingering of raisin and rye; quite dry.

Alcohol Content +1 7.1%

Oddly you cannot taste the ethanol, but you can feel the warmth and burn going down.

Value +1

Any special edition by Innis and Gunn is sure to please. At $5 for a 330ml bottle it is not cheap but worth it.

Ingame Enhancement 0

Nope did not play, did ask what I did either. I can't remember; this beer was finished some time in June.

Overall 7/10

I like a barrel aged beer, so this made my taste buds happy. Sadly it is a limited release, but I&G are always releasing something.

Other reviews
Innes and Gunn and the Health Kick
Ommegang Hennepin
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and a Love of Dogs

.
Flavius: I think I should go on a liver cleaning diet.
Meterman: Very timely, considering our hobby of drinking and reviewing beers.
F: There are so many options; herbal cleanses, colonics, fasting..
M: Draino, Rotorouter.
F: I hope it cleans out all my inner toxins.
M: Great, a nice clean slate for you to start polluting again with your beer and donut diet. Whenever I see you eat I think of the Exxon Valdez disaster.

Innis and Gunn Rum Cask Aged
Beer Advocate B
Rate Beer 3.17 58th percentile

Taste +3

The nose starts off with molasses, rum and cherries. The taste is oddly similar to a rum and coke. There is the rum and oak flavours that overlays the mild malty sweetness. Somewhere in there is little smokey/woody taste. This beer is quite unique

Aftertaste +1

The lingering is all malty/coke acidic sweetness. The finish was clean.

Alcohol content +1 7.4%

You can get just the slightest of alcohol ting at the end of a big mouth full.

Value +1

This was not cheap, but it does present well with the fancy box and all. You get 330ml for $3.50. It gets a positive score for its uniqueness of flavour.

Ingame Enhancement +1

WOOT, as always there was much bloody debris after Meterman, Nightware and I rampaged the virtual zombie infested forests for over an hour.

Overall 7/10

This was a very enjoyable and drinkable beer. I have drank two so far, with one more in my fridge. I plan to buy a few more before they are gone.