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JeffPorter
Joined: 26 Jul 2011
Posts: 2152
Location: Brampton, ON
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 Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:49 pm Post subject: Nickel Brook Headstock 473ml can |
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Won't bother with an overall review, as most of us have had it.
It holds up well in the can, and at 2.65/tallboy, it's a pretty good deal for such a big beer. I notice a little more of the dark malts in this than I seem to recall, but the hops still taste pretty fresh.
Let's hope they don't make massive batches, and are able the rotate the stock quickly.
But between this, Mad Tom, and Crazy Canuck, there's a good range for local hop fixes...
Edit: For some reason, this isn't in the system yet - not sure what other stores it's at, but I got them at 401/weston...
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"What can you say about Pabst Blue Ribbon that Dennis Hopper hasn’t screamed in the middle of an ether binge?" - Jordan St. John |
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midlife crisis
Joined: 08 Jan 2004
Posts: 1172
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| And Cameron's Rye P.A., if you can get it -- the best of the bunch! Highly recommend. |
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TheSevenDuffs
Joined: 17 Sep 2010
Posts: 1871
Location: Mississauga
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| midlife crisis wrote: | | And Cameron's Rye P.A., if you can get it -- the best of the bunch! Highly recommend. |
Has that been bottled? Brewery only? |
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GregClow
Joined: 10 Aug 2001
Posts: 3835
Location: Parkdale
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| TheSevenDuffs wrote: | | midlife crisis wrote: | | And Cameron's Rye P.A., if you can get it -- the best of the bunch! Highly recommend. |
Has that been bottled? Brewery only? |
Yes, bottles at the brewery only, draught at various places around town.
And I agree with midlife crisis - it's one of the best hop-forward beers ever made in Ontario.
As for the Headstock, I look forward to trying the new cans. Distribution just started a couple of days ago, which is probably why it's not showing in the LCBO system yet. |
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cratez
Joined: 15 Mar 2010
Posts: 1365
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Had a few cans on Saturday. The packaging is great, the price is right, and it's a killer take on an Imperial Amber. In fact, to me this beer compares to the better examples of the style, like Red Rocket, Lucky 13, and Hop Head Red. The appearance (deep reddish brown with a cream coloured head), malt profile (toffee and caramel-like, slight sweetness), balanced bitterness, and hop variety (same as Nugget Nectar) all suggest that Headstock is a U.S.-style Red Ale, so it's unfortunate that the brewer is calling it an IPA (likely because of the high IBUs and big hop character). But, misclassifcation aside, I'll be grabbing a ton of this over the spring and summer. It's an awesome brew!
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"This whole being pleasant (thing) is fucking exhausting. I'm running out of nice juice to spray at these shit-munchers" - Veep |
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JeffPorter
Joined: 26 Jul 2011
Posts: 2152
Location: Brampton, ON
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| cratez wrote: | | Had a few cans on Saturday. The packaging is great, the price is right, and it's a killer take on an Imperial Amber. In fact, to me this beer compares to the better examples of the style, like Red Rocket, Lucky 13, and Hop Head Red. The appearance (deep reddish brown with a cream coloured head), malt profile (toffee and caramel-like, slight sweetness), balanced bitterness, and hop variety (same as Nugget Nectar) all suggest that Headstock is a U.S.-style Red Ale, so it's unfortunate that the brewer is calling it an IPA (likely because of the high IBUs and big hop character). But, misclassifcation aside, I'll be grabbing a ton of this over the spring and summer. It's an awesome brew! |
Good description - it does seem like a hoppy red ale, which is fine by me...Like I said - 2.65/can is pretty great!
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"What can you say about Pabst Blue Ribbon that Dennis Hopper hasn’t screamed in the middle of an ether binge?" - Jordan St. John |
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TheSevenDuffs
Joined: 17 Sep 2010
Posts: 1871
Location: Mississauga
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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| cratez wrote: | | Had a few cans on Saturday. The packaging is great, the price is right, and it's a killer take on an Imperial Amber. In fact, to me this beer compares to the better examples of the style, like Red Rocket, Lucky 13, and Hop Head Red. The appearance (deep reddish brown with a cream coloured head), malt profile (toffee and caramel-like, slight sweetness), balanced bitterness, and hop variety (same as Nugget Nectar) all suggest that Headstock is a U.S.-style Red Ale, so it's unfortunate that the brewer is calling it an IPA (likely because of the high IBUs and big hop character). But, misclassifcation aside, I'll be grabbing a ton of this over the spring and summer. It's an awesome brew! |
I wonder if the intent was a Nugget Nectar clone? When I was at the brewery a month ago, the guy told me it was hopped with Nugget. At the time I hadn't had it so I expected a west coast IPA, but you are right, the malt profile does lend itself more towards an imperial amber ale. |
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cratez
Joined: 15 Mar 2010
Posts: 1365
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| TheSevenDuffs wrote: | | I wonder if the intent was a Nugget Nectar clone? When I was at the brewery a month ago, the guy told me it was hopped with Nugget. At the time I hadn't had it so I expected a west coast IPA, but you are right, the malt profile does lend itself more towards an imperial amber ale. |
I'm sure you'll agree that Headstock isn't nearly as robust and comlex as Nugget Nectar (no other amber ale is IMO), but it's certainly similar to Cascazilla, Red Rocket, Hop Head Red, etc. I'm guessing they've called it an IPA simply because most Ontarians are not familiar with "hoppy reds," whereas IPAs are starting to gain traction at the 'BO.
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"This whole being pleasant (thing) is fucking exhausting. I'm running out of nice juice to spray at these shit-munchers" - Veep |
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TheSevenDuffs
Joined: 17 Sep 2010
Posts: 1871
Location: Mississauga
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| cratez wrote: | | TheSevenDuffs wrote: | | I wonder if the intent was a Nugget Nectar clone? When I was at the brewery a month ago, the guy told me it was hopped with Nugget. At the time I hadn't had it so I expected a west coast IPA, but you are right, the malt profile does lend itself more towards an imperial amber ale. |
I'm sure you'll agree that Headstock isn't nearly as robust and comlex as Nugget Nectar (no other amber ale is IMO), but it's certainly similar to Cascazilla, Red Rocket, Hop Head Red, etc. I'm guessing they've called it an IPA simply because most Ontarians are not familiar with "hoppy reds," whereas IPAs are starting to gain traction at the 'BO. |
No disagreement here. Cascazilla is a pretty good comparison IMO. |
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heebes
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
Posts: 385
Location: ON
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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| this was unexpectedly great. hoppy and tasty, though I get the feeling once the inital freshness wares off and old stocks start sitting on shelves expired malt bombs are going to be frequent and unpleasent. as of now though this is a great alternative to Mad Tom. |
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sprague11
Joined: 19 Sep 2008
Posts: 1390
Location: Newmarket, ON
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Nothing mind blowing, but easily the best beer I've had from Nickle Brook, and a bargain at that price point. |
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Timmy
Joined: 09 Jan 2009
Posts: 167
Location: St. Catharines
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:48 am Post subject: |
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| I picked some up yesterday and haven't tried it yet. Based on the comparisons here I'm gonna go back and get like six more. |
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elproducto
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 262
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JeffPorter
Joined: 26 Jul 2011
Posts: 2152
Location: Brampton, ON
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| elproducto wrote: | | This might just be the best IPA in Ontario right now.. amazing. |
You clearly haven't tried the RYE PA from Cameron's 
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"What can you say about Pabst Blue Ribbon that Dennis Hopper hasn’t screamed in the middle of an ether binge?" - Jordan St. John |
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elproducto
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 262
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