Bertwell 80/-
Nickel Brook Brewing Co.

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From:
Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Scottish Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.49 | pDev: 10.32%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
12
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 12, 2013
Added:
Nov 28, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Part of the Wet Hop Series. Bertwell 80/- is a typical Scottish style 80/- in terms of malt, it is then accented with wet Bertwell hops, the variety originally found in Prince Edward County in Ontario, now being grown at Harvest Hops and Malt in Guelph. The hops were used as a finishing hop and in dry hop.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Viggo:
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

3.48/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Volo.

Pours a clear copper/golden, medium sized but thick white head forms, good retention, nice lacing. Smell is sweet and malty, some bread and citrus, very clean. Taste is pleasant, malty, some toffee, bread, little yeast, citrus, grainy goodness, wasn't impressed with the finish however. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with low carbonation. Better than their apple pilsner, decent enough but was expecting more.
Dec 09, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Feb 12, 2013
Photo of TheSevenDuffs
Reviewed by TheSevenDuffs from Canada (ON)

3.53/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from the brewery. Batch #420. Listed as brewed on September 5, 2012. Stated IBU of 29, so I am surprised to see this as an English IPA.

A - Medium amber with a thin layer of cream coloured head.

S - Light bitterness up front with some floral notes that gives way to big sweet caramel and bready malt aromas.

T - Slight bitterness with some floral and earthy flavours. The malt base steals the show though, adding big sweet caramel and bready flavours with the faintest touch of coffee

M - Light to medium body. Slightly sticky. Moderate carbonation.
Dec 27, 2012
Photo of HATS4BATS
Reviewed by HATS4BATS from Canada (ON)

4.02/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Drinkable and rich. Copper in colour. What little carbonation exists fills head with purpose. Fresh nose that does not yield what taste is to come. Sophisticated spurts of flavour punctuate experience ranging from malt/hops to notes of coffee. Result is a satisfying, sour finish that lingers.
Dec 25, 2012
 
Rated: 2.75 by dipso123 from Oregon

Oct 29, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ThinkAgain from Canada (ON)

Oct 11, 2012
Photo of jbsteiny
Reviewed by jbsteiny from Hawaii

3.83/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On cask for Victory's cask event on a cool, rainy Sunday.

Attractive mahogany-amber makes me think that the brewer has tweaked the malt bill since the earlier reviews, which describe it as much lighter. Not much in terms of head, but it's a gravity cask with no hand pump, so what are you going to do.

Nice mix of hop and malt aromas. I think it's a bit hop forward for the style, but the brewer (who I spoke with) said that's why he's calling it the "Canadian 80-", that it's Scottish inspired, but dry-hopped with a whole-leaf Canadian hop, the name of which escapes me. Though I believe he said it was bittered with Nugget and aroma'd with Fuggles. Anyway, biscuit, toasted brown bread, a little nutty, earthy-herbal hop. All very appetizing.

Similar palate. Even tastier than it smells. I think it's a bit thin for the style, but with quite low carbonation, I don't think it could pull off being much richer, even with a relatively dry finish and the good hop presence. Complex session beer. On cask, this is definitely in the upper echelons of Scottish ales I've had the pleasure of trying.
Dec 05, 2011
Photo of bobsy
Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

3.38/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Volo and way off style. This is a decent beer, but an wayward attempt at a scotch ale.

Pours a clear amber with a tight white head that exhibited decent retention and lace. Fruity aroma with some citrus mixed in with berry. Taste is decent yet all wrong. The malts don't really come through all that strongly, and there's not much in the way of a scotch taste. What we do have is a light generic citrus bitterness with berries lurking in the background, along with some sweet malts. Its pleasant in an understated way. Carbonation and body are medium.

Not a bad beer, but as I said not really what it purports to be.
May 23, 2009
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.5/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Brownish colour, fizzy carbonation, end of the tap line at Volo. Some scotch taste, quite on the malty side.Medium mouthfeel. A bit high on the gas, probably explaining why I was spritzed on the tap pour. OK beverage and for its style. A bit stickly sweet.
Dec 12, 2006
Photo of pootz
Reviewed by pootz from Canada (ON)

3.86/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Unfiltered, fresh from the bright tank before kegging:

Increadible shimmering Orange-burnished gold color....rich frothey 3 finger meringue cap that lasted the drink and laced up the glass.

Aromas of unripe apricots...a hint of citrus over sweet spiciness.

Rich malt body, creamy mouth feel, almost perfectly balanced character.

Starts rich with chewy caramel and bready malts then the fruity tones appear with the spicey hops to totally balance the taste...mid palate you detect more complexities from the malt mixture and get deeper peach tones from the esters...finish is pleasnatly bitter with a biscuity presence....light bready after taste with some metallic lingering.

This is a really flavorful and comforting ale but very drinkable...perfect for sessions.
Dec 09, 2006
Photo of mrmanning
Reviewed by mrmanning from Canada (ON)

3.16/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Chaucer’s Pub in London, Ontario.Pours deep mahogony, and is topped with a thick foamy beige cap, that sticks and lasts. Aromas are fairly malty, english hops, rye bread, and a touch of tin. Flavours are sweet malt, dark bread, some hops to back up the malt. FInishes slightly bitter, pretty creamy, smooth mouthfeel. The only drawback is a slight metallic flavour in the finish. A step up from their other beers. I like it. Thanks for getting this one in Milos!
Dec 07, 2006
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

3.61/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On-tap at Chaucer's Pub/Marienbad Restaurant in London, Ontario.

It's unfiltered, unpasteurized & naturally carbonated... so I'd still call it cask.

A: Dark caramel in colour with an off-white head. Decent retention & initially leaves some nice lace.

S: Modest aroma of earthy minerals, dark/burnt caramel and a hint of orange rind/zest.

T: Earthy mineral, dark caramel, nut. Plenty of malt flavour. Slight zesty/rind flavour, but very little hop flavour. Bitterness is very mild as well (Hops are limited, in the Scottish style, but there's enough for a pleasant balance).

M: Moderate to full body is impressive for its strength yet it is still well-attenuated, with very little sweetness (almost dry). Nicely fermented. Moderate carbonation.

D: Quite good.
Nov 28, 2006
Bertwell 80/- from Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 12 ratings