10 Bitter Years

10 Bitter Years is an Imperial I.P.A. from the Black Oak Brewing Co., out of Toronto, Ontario. It's brewed in honour of Black Oak's 10th anniversary, an auspicious occasion to be sure. It comes in a great big 650mL bottle and contains 8% alcohol. The bottle has the Roman numeral XIII (13) on it.  I have no idea why.

10 is a handsome pint--copper coloured, crystal clear, and topped with a near-white head. It's the colour of a shiny penny. It is very aromatic, with notes of caramel packed in amongst big hop scents of evergreen and grapefruit. The flavour is very bitter, but there is a good deal of balance. There are malt elements as well as a kind of earthiness that lends a bit of warmth. Also, there's a whole pile of booze, which also contributes to the warmth. The mouthfeel is quite dry. It's strong as hell. As for the bitterness, this Imperial India Pale Ale hits some of my favourite hop notes--resin and evergreen. It has a great flavour that isn't just a hop-a-thon.

This is a really excellent strong beer. It's a potent and flavourful brew. If you don't want it, I'll gladly drink yours.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.