Wee Heavy
Microbrasserie Pit Caribou

 

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a large tulip. No lot # or brewed date but was only made available in Dec. 2012.

A: Pours dark, burnt, pretty opaque red mahogany coloured that you only see when held directly to the light. Very smooth, darkish cream coloured head, not too thick with an aggressive pour, that settles into a nice film floating on top. Decent retention and lacing on the edges.

S: Tricky one here...The main thing I get on the nose is really bright, young oak, woodsy smell. Also some other aromas I can't quite get but perhaps some dark ripe fruit with some caramel malts.

T: Tricky leads into traditionally strong. Right off the bat, strong flavours of roasted, caramelized malts, on the top you get a bit of that grassy, woody, dark tea taste, followed by maybe a hint of fermenting-boozy fruit that as it swirls around the back of your throat leaves with with a slight smoky alcoholic aftertaste.

M: Boozy, smooth, slight tingles... if this was your first time, it'd be pleasant :) Nicely balanced, that leaves a heavy, nice alcoholic lacing in your mouth.

O: I'd have to say this is one of the better, non scottish scotch ales I've had. For sitting around the fire (or heater) in winter in a mood for something comforting and a wee bit heavy (sorry..) but not yet in the mood to crack out the scotch this fits the bill perfectly. For my first Pit Caribou I'm impressed. It's nicely balanced in the caramel malts (not too sweet) and the smoked malts..with that little bit of bitterness thrown in for good measure. I'd say if you like the style it's worth a go... and hopefully this will become a usual seasonal.