Spencer Gift Pack: Trappist Imperial Stout

The Spencer Brewery’s Trappist Imperial Stout is an 8.7% alcohol brew from Spencer, Massachusetts. The certified Trappist ale comes in 330mL bottles. It’s a near totally black ale with a fairly thick tan head.

Spencer’s imperial stout has a warm, malty nose with a whiff of anise. The beer has a malt-driven flavour that is rich in molasses and leather notes. The front end is smooth, but the back end has some bitterness, some funky yeast, and a bit of smokey tang.

Not the best imperial stout I’ve ever become acquainted with, but not a bad one either, Imperial Trappist Stout is a strong and flavourful beer worth trying.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Beau's Sleepy Time

Sleepy Time is a Belgian Imperial Stout from Vankleek Hill, Ontario's Beau's All Natural Brewing Company.  I had a pint on tap at a Hamilton beer bar.  Sleepy Time is a pretty much opaque, black brew. It contains a sizable 8% alcohol and arrived with a tan head.

The subtle aroma has notes of coffee and is fairly malty. This beer is very smooth bodied for a strong stout. The flavour is surprisingly mild, with notes of fruitcake and chocolate. It starts malty, building to a patient, bitter finish.

Sleepy Time is warm without tasting overly boozy. It's really nicely balanced for a high alcohol stout. Rich, flavourful, strong, and a tad unusual, this stuff makes for a pretty interesting pint. Buy some if you dig chewy stouts.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.