SCREAMING BEAVER ~ BEAU’S

Sampled on draught…by surprise! At my local I ordered Mango Saison…the keg had been changed but not the tap label. Taking a big swig out of this one was a bit of a surprise for unsuspecting taste buds. Screamin’ Beaver #3 in Beau’s ‘Wild Oats’ series and is also a featured bottle in their best of Beau’s 2015 collection. It is an oak-aged Double IPA. It is influenced by both American and English IPA's; it is aggressively hopped like an American IPA, but still contains a malty sweetness at its centre like an English IPA. It weighs in at 9.9% ABV and 99 IBUs. The beer has been dry hopped and aged on oak staves. The beer poured medium amber with reddish hues (coppery colour) with a small amount of off white head, that stayed for quite a while and then left lovely lacing. The nose and the flavour of this beer had a nice complexity. The nose contained oak, grapefruit, brown sugar caramel, ripe tree fruit and cracker-like grains. The flavour also had grapefruit and orange rind, an earthy oakiness, caramel, and ripe fruit. Near the end a sweet complexity picked up along with hop bitterness. This beer did not taste like 99 IBUs nor did it taste like it was almost 10% alcohol. The beer had a medium- full-bodied mouthfeel, moderate carbonation and a creamy texture. Over all, complex, well balanced, but a sipper for sure.

9.9% from Vankleek Hills 99 IBU
Malts: Pale Ale, Munich, Caraform, Caramunich ( all organic)
Hops: Cascade, Pacific Gem, Challenger, Centennial (All Organic)
Yeast: : Dry English Ale
Other: Organic cane sugar, local spring water