Category Archives: Brewer

Insight Cellars Pot & Column Kriek

Brewery: Insight Cellars
Country: Denmark
ABV: 7.6%
Style: Wild Ale
Other Notes: Danish Wild Ale with cherries aged in Barbados rum barrels. 2021 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Named for the unique dual distillation method used to make Barbados rum, this beer is a blend of 75% Danish Wild Ale aged in Barbados rum barrels for two years and 25% two-year-old Danish Wild Ale macerated with a generous dose of whole Stevnsbær cherries. These special barrels from the birthplace of Caribbean rum infused our Danish Wild Ale with notes of coconut, caramel and citrus, which pair beautifully with the complex dark fruit and marzipan flavors of Denmark’s signature Stevnsbær cherries from Frederiksdal Estate.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.27

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled on 21st June 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A deep red colour with a slight purple tinge, and a one finger pink head that had good retention, that eventually settled to a thin cap, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, cherry, cherry pie, oak, caramel, with a splash of lemon zest.
Taste: Sour, tart, cherries, caramel, oak, light funk, with a finish that is of bitter grapefruit.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Good cherry in the aroma and flavour, while the bitter grapefruit on the finish is interesting, it actually works for me, and I enjoyed it.

Sante Adairius Long Distance Neighbors

Brewery: Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
Country: USA
ABV: 5.8%
Style: Farmhouse Saison – Fruit
Other Notes: Barrel-aged Saison co-fermented with fresh pear juice

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Meaningful connections often extend beyond mere physical proximity, and such is the case with Long Distance Neighbors. Beginning as a saison that utilizes California-grown raw grain from Sonoma County-based Central Milling, Long Distance Neighbors was then co-fermented with fresh pear juice from our friends at Mission Trail Ranches in San Luis Obispo County. The end result blurs the line between beer and perry, and stands as a testament to our kindred spirits who share a connected approach to their craft, while existing beyond our immediate region. Cheers to all of our neighbors, both near and far!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.04

Intro: A 750ml bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy golden straw blonde colour with a half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Light tartness, pear, lemon zest, grapes, oak, and a touch of funk.
Taste: Lightly sour and tart, lemon, pear, oak, with notes of apricot and funk.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: An interesting perry and saison mix, but probably not among my favourite SARA saisons.

Bofkont Olasz Rizling

Brewery: Bofkont
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2022 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) 1,2&3 year old lambic with Olasz Rizling grapes from Hungary. Skin maceration for several days. After this, the grapeslambic went back into a barrel for a year.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.43

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2022 vintage, bottled on 30th November 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden orange colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Funky, dusty, grape skin, minerals, oak, and honey.
Taste: Sweet and tart, grape skin, honey, lemon zest, funk, wood, boozy tea.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Nice enjoyable complexity with good aromas and great flavours.

Brew Your Mind Fruit Works – Raspberry-Blackberry-Blueberry

Brewery: Brew Your Mind
Country: Hungary
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Sour Ale

Brewer Description: (from can) Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.12

Intro: A 440ml can, poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A very nice deep purple colour with a slight reddish tinge, and a big two finger pinkish head, that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Sweet mixed berry sauce, jammy, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, vanilla.
Taste: Light sweetness, a touch sour, blackberry, blueberry, with a hint of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice easy drinking, with a good amount of fruit.

Vault City Gingerbread Latte

Brewery: Vault City Brewing
Country: Scotland
ABV: 11%
Style: Stout – Pastry Imperial

Brewer Description: (from can) A smooth, full-bodied stout fit for the season featuring chocolate malt, oats and creamy vanilla for a luscious, velvety mouthfeel. Additions of brown sugar creates delicate sweetness while subtle coffee notes meld with cosy, warming spices of cinnamon and ginger.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.84

Intro: A 330ml can with a best before date of 30th August 2029. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin tanned head that disappeared almost immediately, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, with a ginger and cinnamon mix that almost resembled banana.
Taste: Sweet, vanilla, chocolate, brown sugar, coffee, caramel, cinnamon, with light notes of ginger.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, smooth, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Sweeter than I wanted it to be, as I was hoping for stronger ginger and cinnamon spiciness, and less sweetness.