Published by BARONMAG
Ontario craft brewery Beau’s will be re-releasing two of its award-winning dark beers for a limited time this November. The Bottle Imp, a coffee-infused Russian imperial stout, as well as the crisp and malty Dunkel, will both be released on November 2 in Ontario and Québec, while The Bottle Imp will see further distribution to British Columbia, Alberta, Massachusetts and New York.
The Bottle Imp is a Russian imperial coffee stout with an ABV measurement of 9.0 %, first brewed by Beau’s in 2013 as a part of its Pro-Am Series. The recipe was co-created with David Thompson, who won the Toronto Beer Week Homebrew Contest and the prize of coming to Beau’s for a day to brew a beer.
This dark, roasty and rich creation benefit from an infusion of Nicaraguan and Guatemalan fair-trade organic coffee, which was roasted locally by Bridgehead in Ottawa. The blend of coffees was selected by the team at Beau’s for this year’s release based on their flavor profiles of toasted nuts, smokiness, caramel, strawberry, and blueberry. The coffee character is fully integrated and complements the roast of the malts.
The Bottle Imp experience is rich and intense, with gentle alcohol warmth, and a long complex finish. It took Bronze at the 2014 Canadian Brewing Awards, and First Place (Stouts) at the 2014 National Organic Craft Beer Competition in California.
Also seeing a November 2 release is Dunkel, a Bavarian-style and malt-forward dark lager that was first brewed earlier this year as a part of the Beau’s Farm Table Series. The limited batch became a fan and staff favourite, leading the team at Beau’s to bring it back before year’s end.
Dunkel pours mahogany with a billowy white foam while the aroma offers mocha and bread crust notes. Its flavour features deep malt impressions, hints of chocolate and a balanced, reserved hop presence. It’s a satisfying choice for those who love both the rich roastiness of a dark beer and the clean finish of a lager. Dunkel won Silver at Prix du Public 2017 (Bières) in Quebec City earlier this year.
The Bottle Imp will be available starting November 2 in Beau’s signature 600 ml bottles in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia, Alberta, New York and Massachusetts. Also look for The Bottle Imp at select craft-friendly pubs and restaurants within those provinces and states. Dunkel will be available in bottles and on tap in Ontario and Quebec starting on the same day.
Both The Bottle Imp and Dunkel will also be available at the upcoming Beau’s Black Friday event, which takes place at the Vankleek Hill brewery November 24-26. A dark beer tap takeover, DJ music, stein-hold struggle competitions, delicious food, and special Black Friday promotions are all on deck for the weekend. Buses are available from Ottawa and Montreal. More information and bus tickets can be found at www.beaus.ca.