Something Special Brewing

Getting wine-adjacent this week

As you know, we like to keep our horizons broad here at Wiz Manor. I’ve been hanging on to a special bottle for a while, and I thought I’d better drink it sooner rather than later before it starts getting warmer.

Say hello to Winey Bastard by Nickel Brook Brewing Company!

I’ll try a stout now and then. Constant Reader M. still chuckles to recount my attempt at drinking a créme brûlée stout at a work happy hour some years ago. (It started out not bad but ended… poorly.) And I’ve found I actually do like Guinness, but only in Ireland. But show me a beer aged in leftover pinot noir wine barrels? Clearly this warrants further investigation.

The color is purplish brown. On first opening the bottle (after chipping off all the wax from the top), I definitely got a whiff of wine. In the glass I get aromas of stewed black fruits, coffee, and chocolate. On the palate, it’s got a lovely texture and more cocoa.

At 11% alcohol, you’re not going to throw more than one of these down at a time, and with 500ml (damn metric socialists) in the bottle, share this one with a pal, or seal to save the rest for later. This creative Canadian brew is a definite treat for crafty beer lovers and wine fans alike. Enjoy!