What're you drinking right now?

phirleh · Post by **phirleh** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:05 am

TheSevenDuffs wrote:Last night I had the Nickel Brook Old Kentucky Bastard.

This was a really interesting beer. After having the Winey Bastard (Pinot Noir Barrel Aged), which was so barrel-forward that it tasted more like a wine than a beer, I was expecting a bourbon bomb. This was anything but. The barrel qualities were very subdued and there was a strange oaky astringency present that I often find in Jack Daniel's barrel aged beers (not sure if that is what Nickel Brook used). I found the same thing in a recent bottle of Jack Daniel's barrel aged Tempest that I had.

I am curious what others thought of this beer (if anyone has had it yet).

I may have one on New Years, they used Buffalo Trace barrels for the Bastard. I`ve heard that when you get to the bottom of a glass of the winey bastard, it tastes more wine than beer. Never got to try it though.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:20 pm

phirleh wrote: I`ve heard that when you get to the bottom of a glass of the winey bastard, it tastes more wine than beer. Never got to try it though.

I had it on tap @ Bar Hop. They were originally going to bottle it but they seemed to have changed their plans.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:22 pm

TheSevenDuffs wrote:This was anything but. The barrel qualities were very subdued and there was a strange oaky astringency present that I often find in Jack Daniel's barrel aged beers (not sure if that is what Nickel Brook used). I found the same thing in a recent bottle of Jack Daniel's barrel aged Tempest that I had.

Well there's the craft of barrel aging, and then there's the practice of slapping on oak flavors. Too many examples to mention, but with beer it seems to be wildly hit-or-miss.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:39 pm

Belgian wrote: Well there's the craft of barrel aging, and then there's the practice of slapping on oak flavors. Too many examples to mention, but with beer it seems to be wildly hit-or-miss.

There's no doubt about that. I have seen some amazing examples of barrel aging from the likes of Firestone Walker, FiftyFifty, Founders and many others. I have also seen a lot of really bad barrel aging. Most of the barrel aged Ontario beers that I have had have ranged from terrible (Cameron's) to passable with the once exception being Sleeping Giant. That said, I have heard great things about Stalin's Choice from GL and I hope to try that soon. To be fair, barrel aging is relatively new in Ontario and I am sure that a lot of Ontario brewers are still learning the art by way of trial and error.

S. St. Jeb · Post by **S. St. Jeb** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 4:07 pm

phirleh wrote:
TheSevenDuffs wrote:Last night I had the Nickel Brook Old Kentucky Bastard.

This was a really interesting beer. After having the Winey Bastard (Pinot Noir Barrel Aged), which was so barrel-forward that it tasted more like a wine than a beer, I was expecting a bourbon bomb. This was anything but. The barrel qualities were very subdued and there was a strange oaky astringency present that I often find in Jack Daniel's barrel aged beers (not sure if that is what Nickel Brook used). I found the same thing in a recent bottle of Jack Daniel's barrel aged Tempest that I had.

I am curious what others thought of this beer (if anyone has had it yet).
I may have one on New Years, they used Buffalo Trace barrels for the Bastard. I`ve heard that when you get to the bottom of a glass of the winey bastard, it tastes more wine than beer. Never got to try it though.

Having a Dray Horse Ale and contemplating my New Year's Eve choice(s). I may just have the Nickel Brook Old Kentucky Bastard too.

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:29 pm

With Sprague11

Flying Dog Double Dog
Amsterdam Goedanavond
Nogne/Stone/ JP Special Holiday Ale

capped the night with Lagunitas Brown Shugga

ritzkiss · Post by **ritzkiss** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:48 pm

With our old friend Bobsy:

a homebrewed Belgian IPA
Muskoka Kristalweisse
Beau's Fous Allies (gaining a little funk, bottle foamed, still nice)
Pretty Things Our Finest Regards (one of the better barleywines I've had recently)

JK · Post by JK » Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:24 pm

So far today
-lug tread
-lug tread
-lug tread
-2011 stalin choice
-glb belgian dark strong
-glb audrey hopburn
-glb puzzeler
-glb 25th robust porter
-red racer
going the distance
-not done yet

NRman · Post by **NRman** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 12:57 am

Happy New Year!
First BT post of 2013!!!!

with Bearing, Carguy and Mrs Carguy
Smuttynose Robust Porter
Peche Mortel
Troegs Java Head
Red Racer
10BY
Nickelbrook Kentrucky Bastard
Pliny the Elder
Camerons VSPA - very good
Two Hearted Ale
Eight Ball Stout
Maudite
Smashbomb
Harvest Ale
Mad Tom
Hops and Bolts
Cobblestone
Paradise IPA

and now killing a fresh growler of Niagara College Brown Ale

grub · Post by **grub** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:44 am

pretty nice new years aft+eve! started with some imports and moved on to some vintage biergotter brews. damn fine night.

founders breakfast stout, tap (several)
stillwater stateside saison, 750ml bottle
stillwater autumnal, 750ml bottle
biergotter houblon-ish 2008, 650ml bottle (last bottle)
biergotter PORTer-OHHH (aka black kate moss) 2007, 330ml bottle (last bottle)
biergotter jamaican export stout 2007, 500ml bottle (2nd last bottle)
biergotter tribute (bottle 5/95), 500ml corked+caged bottle - midnight toast
biergotter imperial stout 2010, jim beam oak aged, 12oz bottle
biergotter belgian stout 2007, 650ml bottle

schomberger · Post by **schomberger** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:36 am

Brooklyn Oktoberfest (decent 5% pacer)
Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale (quite tasty, perfect with dinner)
Bare Naked Ladies Chocolate Stout (wow- is there a more intensely chocolate beer out there?)
Nogne o Porter (so delicious I'm tempted to drive back to Aurora and scoop up the remaining 20 bottles!)

phirleh · Post by **phirleh** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:09 am

Happy New Year!
Had a 2008 Mill Street Barley Wine with dinner, went great with my beef tortelini. Had an Old Kentucky Bastard with some homemade sushi, onion rings and raw oysters and first beer of the new year was a Westvleteren 8, no one talks about the poor 8 any more

Torontoblue · Post by **Torontoblue** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:54 am

biergotter belgian stout 2007, 650ml bottle

Happy New Year Russ! How was the Belgian Stout? I've got one here and just wondering......

jprime · Post by **jprime** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:55 am

Last night with distr0:

Westy Blonde
Russian River Damnation
Nickle Brook Cuvee (2010?)
Great Lakes Blackout Stout
Camerons RPA
Oast House Saison (thanks Scottatron - delicious stuff)
NB Old Kentucky Bastard

maybe more. Happy new year everyone

Scottatron · Post by **Scottatron** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 12:14 pm

matt7215 wrote:split a homebrewed sour blend batch3 with scottatron atmy place

then @ jprime's with dist01, and scottatron:

Santa Fe Happy Camper IPA
Oast House Crop Duster
Cantillon Mamouche (2012)
The Bruery Tart of Darkness
Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze (2007)

jprime wrote:
Great night. Can't wait for the uber tasting next month!!!

It was a great time! Many good beers had for sure. Every beer we had was solid. The uber tasting next month will be epic for sure.

jprime wrote:Last night with distr0:

Westy Blonde
Russian River Damnation
Nickle Brook Cuvee (2010?)
Great Lakes Blackout Stout
Camerons RPA
Oast House Saison (thanks Scottatron - delicious stuff)
NB Old Kentucky Bastard

maybe more. Happy new year everyone

Your welcome! Thanks for hosting the tasting.