Widmer Brothers origins date back to 1979 when homebrewing became legal in the state of Oregon. In 1984 Kurt and Rob Widmer quit their day jobs and opened the Widmers Brother Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon. Widmer Bros. is one of the first craft brewers in a state chock full of great craft breweries. The Barrel Aged ’12 is an imperial version of Widmer’s Brrr Seasonal Ale that has been aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels and additionally for a year in bottle. Brrrbon touts a heavy 9.5% ABV and 40 IBU’s with the addition of Alchemy, Simcoe and Cascade hops. 

The pour is a light amber colour with copper tones on the fringes. The head is soft and fizzy with a colour of off white. Tons of lacing rings are left on the glass as the head subsides. The aroma is rich with barrel aromas and wooden notes as well as mild fruity and hop notes. As the beer warms a bit I notice light floral and spicy hop notes along with apple and light citrus fruits. Light toffee and candied caramel malts in the middle lead with apple and fruity flavours. The finish is heavy and burdened with alcohol presence. A subtle flavour of vanilla pervades on the finish through the wood and barrel flavours. Slight bitterness subsides quickly leaving light sweetness and a mild astringent aftertaste. A good balance overall with a prominent alcohol flavour in the flavour profile. 

Grade: 84/100

Over the past several years Alberta has received a treasure trove of new beers to satisfy our appetite for the bigger and better. No single brewery has been more wanted or requested than Escondido, California’s Stone Brewing Co. The beer we have today for review is the Double Bastard Ale which is a hyped up “imperial” take on their flagship Arrogant Bastard Ale. Double Bastard is an 11.2% American Strong Ale by category that has been described as “one lacerative muther of a beer” and that “your feeble palate is grossly inadequate and thus undeserving of this liquid glory.” The Arrogant Bastard Ale has a similar but much less intensive warning.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Opening up the Double Bastard there is no hiss of carbonation which is a bit offputting at first. Pouring a deep and rich amber colour with a clear, sparkly body and a thin beige head that clings to the glass. The aroma is heavy and rich with loads of toffee and caramel malts atop surprisingly sweet and fruity aromas of orange peel and citrus. A bit of spice and bready malts pervade that aroma. The first sip is overly sweet and sugary with toffee and caramel malts, notes of nuts, pine and citrus hop notes and raisin. Towards the finish the fruit notes peter out leaving more hop emphasis with pine and grapefruit resin notes. Alot of biscuity and bready malts leave a rather heavy mouthfeel that comes across a bit oily and thick. The finish is dry and moderately astringent with a surprising smoothness. The alcohol is well hidden but for a slight warmth on the finish. A nice big brew with an interesting profile and a good balance of hops to malt. 

Grade: 88/100

One of the newest American craft breweries to launch into Alberta is Spokane, Washington’s No-Li Brewhouse. The Winter Warmer is a 7.5% ABV American Strong Ale and is brewed as a seasonal specialty. No-Li was founded in 2012 and is passionate about using ingredients sourced from the inland Northwest. 

Opening up the bottle this Winter Warmer pours out a dark burgundy with a copper hue in the body. The head is full and creamy with a thick, frothy yellowish foam that dies slowly. Tons of lace coats the glass nearly 360 degrees. The aroma is hopped well with boisterous notes of grapefruit and floral hop notes. Aromas of caramel and light toasted toffee are also noted. A bit sweet with mild toffee and hazelnut notes that impart a bit of a richness to the profile. Nice floral and spicy hop notes with added grapefruit and citrus hops notes that balance well with the maltier aspects. Caramel and honeyed malts layer to the finish with a hint of vanilla and hazelnut. The finish has nice notes of spicy hop bitterness with loads of  pine resin and mild grapefruit. A great balance between malts and hops in this barley wine esque brew. When I think of a winter brew I usually foresee some sort of toffee malt based brew with unusual spices and fake vanilla extract notes. Being a unique self dubbed Inland NW Winter style brew I love the attempt at originality in a market filled with flavoured and spiced junk.

Grade: 87/100