Every week we’ll be posting tasting notes from our Friday Staff Tasting, providing you with our take on all the latest craft beer arrivals. This week we tackled several BC beers that are new to the store and Phillips Fermentorium’s new Hop Drop Elixir Liqueur. Our staff picks from the tasting are listed at the bottom of each beer’s tasting notes.
Persephone Golden Ale 6-pks 5% (Gibsons)
Pours a deep golden yellow colour. Light notes of fruit, earth and grant malts. On the palate you get biscuity malt, a little fruit and a bracing bitter finish. This is definitely not a run-of-the-mill golden ale. It has some complexity and is still quite sessionable. Two Rufus Paws Up from: Brent, David & Paul
Persephone Rum Runner Red Ale 650ml 6% (Gibsons)
Pours a deep chestnut red brown colour. Luscious malt notes of caramel and vanilla with a hint of citrusy hops on the nose. On the palate there are notes of round malt notes of caramel, toasted marshmallow, dark fruit and a hint of smoke. Nicely balanced with an assertive hop backbone. Great cold-weather ale.
Powell St. Old Jalopy Pale Ale 650ml 5.5% (Vancouver)
Pours a caramel brown colour. Hoppy fruity citrus notes on the nose. On the palate the malt is substantial with notes of grains, brown sugar and figs. Some citrusy hop notes as well for balance. A good, solid American pale ale. Two Rufus Paws Up from: Glenn & Adem
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale 650ml 7.2% (San Diego)
Pours a red chestnut colour. Caramel and dark fruit on the nose. Palate is more intense and complex with sweet boozy notes of dark fruit and caramel malts and a strong bitter finish. Creamy mouthfeel and very drinkable for such a bruiser.
Tofino Dawn Patrol Coffee Porter 650ml 6.5% (Tofino)
Pours a coffee brown colour with reddish tints. Notes of coffee, booze and smoke on the nose. Palate is slightly sweet with notes of smoke and coffee. Creamy mouthfeel. Body is relatively light. Two Rufus Paws Up from: Chanda
Phillips Fermentorium Hop Drop Elixir Liqueur 50ml & 200ml 29% (Victoria)
Pours a slightly tinted clear colour. Funky, cheesy and herbaceous hop notes on the nose. A bit unusual, but hopheads will get it. Palate is an unusual combination of savoury herbal notes (parsley) and fresh, grassy/earthy hop notes. Plenty of bitterness, as well. Would be interesting to play with by adding it to lightly hopped beers or using it in cocktails. Maybe not best served on its own.