Beau's Bogwater

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:38 am

I tried Bogwater when it first came out a couple years ago. It was a novelty beer, glad I had tasted it, but wasn't overly impressed.

I had a chance to revisit it on tap at Allium restaurant here in Ottawa last night. I was very impressed. I'm not sure whether it's been changed since that first batch, or I have, or the temperature was different etc. etc. etc. but I just couldn't get enough of it.

Most interesting to me, it seemed to have a dunkel weizen type malt character which I didn't notice last time that played well with the bog myrtle. So, for any Ottawa folks, I'd suggest you seek it out.

Ralphus · Post by **Ralphus** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:54 pm

I had a pint from cask at the Cheshire Cat Saturday. It was decent and the myrtle was more evident than I remember from last year.

Mr. Lou Pepe · Post by **Mr. Lou Pepe** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:23 pm

Tried it on cask - very strange beer, indeed interesting.
They brew it with the bog myrtle plant which replaces the 'hop'. I like it when Brewers experiment, but this may be a bit to far?

**EDIT** forgot to mention, it is a dirty brown ale, (dubbel style), and they use Trappist yeast.

Inkling · Post by **Inkling** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:24 pm

I consider myself a fan of Bogwater and I also noticed a difference between what I had this year at the Cheshire Cat and what I had last year at Beau's (and the growler I took home). I hope to make it back to the 'Hill to pick up some more before it sells out. My only complaint with Beau's is that the seasonals disappear too quickly.

Queef · Post by **Queef** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:10 pm

Inkling wrote:I consider myself a fan of Bogwater and I also noticed a difference between what I had this year at the Cheshire Cat and what I had last year at Beau's (and the growler I took home). I hope to make it back to the 'Hill to pick up some more before it sells out. My only complaint with Beau's is that the seasonals disappear too quickly.

Pretty sure the cask at Cheshire Cat is Treading Water, a blend between Bogwater and Lug Tread, not positive though.
It (Bogwater) seems more Belgian-esque this year, compared to the past. Yeast change maybe?

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:11 pm

Hey There,

We have made a few important tweeks to BogWater this year. We used a belgian abbey yeast strain, which really adds character that compliments the bogmyrtle.

We also got the bogmyrtle dried out more this year - when used fresh it has more of a weed-like aroma and when dried it is earthier.

It is definitely intended to be a challenging beer and I appreciate folks who come back to it for a second round.

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:14 am

I've yet to have the Bogwater, but I did find some Treading Water on cask a while back, and thought it made an excellent pint. I'm yet to have a bad beer from Beau's and I'm highly anticipating drinking their IPA on some sunny patio this summer. If I could bottle any one Ontario beer that would be a leading contender.

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:02 pm

It's definitely improved Steve, I tried it again at Johnny Farina's last night. Well done on the tweaking.

Queef · Post by **Queef** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:21 pm

Had a discussion with a friend about this, and wondering if I am right.
There are NO hops in Bogwater, right? He was thinking the myrtle was just a complimenting spice, but I thought someone at the brewery had told me last year (maybe year before) that it was just the bog myrtle and no hopping whatsoever.

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:08 pm

Queef wrote:Had a discussion with a friend about this, and wondering if I am right.
There are NO hops in Bogwater, right? He was thinking the myrtle was just a complimenting spice, but I thought someone at the brewery had told me last year (maybe year before) that it was just the bog myrtle and no hopping whatsoever.

Heh, I believe Beaus has always told the LCBO there were hops in it.

Queef · Post by **Queef** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:37 pm

Bytowner wrote:
Queef wrote:Had a discussion with a friend about this, and wondering if I am right.
There are NO hops in Bogwater, right? He was thinking the myrtle was just a complimenting spice, but I thought someone at the brewery had told me last year (maybe year before) that it was just the bog myrtle and no hopping whatsoever.
Heh, I believe Beaus has always told the LCBO there were hops in it.

but it's not available in the LCBO

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:18 pm

Queef wrote: but it's not available in the LCBO

I could be wrong, maybe it was CFIA or something like that, but I thought it was for LCBO classification purposes.

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 7:51 pm

You need LCBO approval to sell it at all, for some reason. The 'official' recipe has exactly 1 hop pellet because it legally can't be sold as beer without some amount of hops.

velovampire · Post by **velovampire** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:06 pm

SteveB wrote:You need LCBO approval to sell it at all, for some reason. The 'official' recipe has exactly 1 hop pellet because it legally can't be sold as beer without some amount of hops.

What about the Traditional Scottish Ales gift pack? I could be mistaken, but was under the impression that those (or at least some of them) lacked hops and contained various native herbs as flavouring agents...?

velovampire · Post by **velovampire** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:07 pm

SteveB wrote:[...]it legally can't be sold as beer without some amount of hops.

So how is Molbatts legally allowed to sell their beer then? Badumbum! (Sorry, someone had to...)

The Bar Towel

Beau's Bogwater

Beau's Bogwater

bogwater