BLOOD OF CTHULHU (2016) ~ SAWDUST CITY BREWING

This season brew is a monster! Blood of Cthulhu has been rereleased for 2016 and is better than I remembered. The brew is an imperial stout that has been brewed with raspberries, cranberries and tart cherries, along with a ton of malt. Sampled from a pint on draught, this beer poured a deep ebony with a generous creamy dark tan head. The head had great retention and left beautiful lacing as it settled into a cap. The nose has lots of wasted and toasted malts, along with dark chocolate, and red berries. This beer was like a Black forest cake for adults, lots of chocolate and berry flavour, especially from the cherries. Mid palette the beer has a slightly acidic bite but finishes with a roasted bitterness and dark chocolate.. The body was medium full and the stout had a creamy thick mouthfeel. The carbonation was medium to soft. Be careful he 9% can creep up on you! A beautiful cold weather treat.

9.5% from Gravenhurst, Ontario

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY STOUT ~ MUSKOKA

STOUT WEEK - This imperial stout was a seasonal offering from Muskoka. I love Muskoka’s Chocolate Cranberry Stout, it seem like they are expanding their fruit stout repertoire.
Sampled hand-pulled on cask. This beer poured an opaque almost black with ruby highlights. There was a small beige bubbly head that fades. Raspberry and chocolate danced on a boozy sherry like nose. The flavour had raspberry notes, with dark roosted malts, and chocolate. The beer was neither hoppy nor grainy. It was a beautiful dessert in a glass without being sweet or cloying. The beer had a smooth mouthfeel and was average bodied. A beautiful way to end the night.
8% from Collingwood, Ontario  25 IBU

HITACHINO NEST ESPRESSO STOUT ~ KIUCHI BREWERY

STOUT WEEK - Many thanks to Linda for bringing me this most delicious imperial stout from Japan. Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured black with a milky coffee coloured foamy head. The head lasted a while before leaving a cap on the beer and lacing down the glass. The aroma contained acidic coffee, dark chocolate, floral hops, dark fruits (prunes and black currants), liquorice, and roasted malts. The flavour was coffee forward, with the tastes of acidity espresso beans, notes of chocolate, vanilla dark fruits and berries, roasted malts and molasses. The finish was dry and pleasantly bittered with earthy peppery floral hops. A little warming alcohol was also noted. The stout was full flavoured and robust, but smooth at the same time. The beer was lightly carbonated and creamy. This one is definitely worth a try.

7.5 % from Naka-shi, Ibaraki Japan

BLOOD OF CTHULHU ~ SAWDUST CITY & BARHOP

Blood of Cthulhu is an imperial stout brewed with cherries, raspberries and cranberries and a ton of malts.  It is collaboration with Bar-Hop, initially it was intended as a one-off, but they have made it again this year.  Sampled on draught, the beer poured almost black with a substantial mocha head, which left lots of lacing.  Its nose contained notes of chocolate, berries and roasted malts.  The flavour had lots of dark chocolate, cranberries and dark cherries and hints of coffee and spice.  The sweetness of the berries finishes with dark chocolate and coffee bitterness.   The stout had a creamy texture and good carbonation.  Though it gives you a warming feeling the booze is well hidden.  A delicious treat for a cold winters night.

10% from Gravenhurst, Ontario

PÉCHÉ MORTEL ~ DIEU DE CIEL!

Péché Mortel  means Mortal Sin in French.  It is a wonderful intense coffee stout created by Dieu de Ciel! in 2001. I cannot say enough good things about this beer.  It dances in your mouth!

It pours a very dark and opaque with a dark brown foam.  The nose is full of coffee, chocolate and roasted malts.  The flavour is a romance with my taste buds: espresso coffee, rich expensive dark chocolate and roasted malty goodness.  It is beautifully balanced and has a smooth creamy mouth feel that lingers on your tongue. 

Péché Mortel  is Imperial Stout, originally brewed for Russian royalty.  Like an IPA they were more heavily hopped then their English counterparts in order to survive the journey.  The bitterness does not distract from this beer at all.  At almost 10% this is a beer to end your evening with, a real treat!

9.5% from Montreal, Quebec

WINTERBEARD ~ MUSKOKA

Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout.  Made with chocolate malts, dark chocolate and fresh local cranberries.  

Pours very dark brown, almost black with red highlights.  Nose is very chocolatey, with subtle cranberry.  The creamy beer introduces as chocolate with the tart cranberries singing in the finish.  Very smooth and velvety - a winter gem! (Only available between November and February)

 8% from Granvenhurst, Ontario   25 IBU
-beer 69-