Beau’s Matt’s Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout, Ontario LCBO $7.95 (600ml bottle)
Whilst I wouldn’t usually be one to rave about a beers soporific qualities, in this unusual release from Beau’s Brewery I appear to have discovered the ultimate nightcap in beer form. Indeed I believe this Belgian Imperial Stout, weighing in at 8% alcohol to be one of the very best beers of this particular style I have tasted in quite some time.
Roasted Pale Ale, NA 2-Row, Caramunich, Carafoam, Cararoma, Roasted Barley, and Carafa organic malts are combined with American Perle, Centennial, and Cascade hops and a splash of Belgian Ale yeasts, all aged on American oak staves, making for a complex and satisfying glass. Pouring a deep, dark mahogany with an attractive beige, creamy head, this stout certainly looks the part.
The roasted malts dominate, but then there are bags of chocolate, banana, treacle, caramel, Horlicks, and baking spice. The palate is rich, unctuous, and luxuriant, though in no way cloying, and perhaps a little drier than one would expect. The finish is sustained and really rather delicious. With five minutes of finishing this little beauty I was out for the count, and went on the have one of the more restful sleeps I can remember.
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Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And that made him feel so very schleepy… Zzzzzzzzz…
