Very Special Pale Ale (VSPA) - Cognac Barrel Aged | Cameron's Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Cameron's Brewing Co.
Ontario, Canada
cameronsbrewing.com
Style: English Strong Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.70%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
Cameron’s Very Special Pale Ale (VSPA) Cognac Barrel Aged is a unique, first time creation for the Brewery. Cameron’s VSPA is aged for six months in French cognac barrels. VSPA delivers a delicate fruity pear character, with an oaky flavor derived from long aging in toasted barrels. Cameron’s version of the pale ale style is brewed with warm fermentation with predominantly a British malt blend that is well balanced with specialty imported hops. Cognac is a variety of brandy that must meet strict legal production requirements to carry the name. The brandy must be twice distilled in copper pot stills and be aged at least two years in French oak barrels from Limousin or Tronçais. Cognac matures in the same way as whiskies and wine when aged in barrels, and most cognacs are aged considerably longer than the minimum legal requirement. The resulting flavor that resides in the oak barrels has contributed to Cameron’s VSPA Cognac Barrel Aged’s spectacular taste.
Added by TheSevenDuffs on 12-28-2012
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 4 | Reviews: 2
Reviews by peensteen:
More User Reviews:
2.78/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured in to tulip.
A - Hazy medium orange, amber in the middle. Half a finger of dirty white head.
S - Big woody aroma up front that gives way to sweet caramel, pear and light citrus notes.
T - Huge oak/woody flavour up front from the barrels. the base beer adds caramel, pear, peach and a light citrus flavour. The finish is oaky with a big astringency and a touch of cognac coming through. After a few sips the astringency really becomes distracting. The barrel didn't really come together with the base beer well, perhaps this was meant to age? A little rough.
M - Light to medium body. Light carbonation.
O - My second experience with a Cameron's barrel aged beer. This was better than the last one, but still very rough.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured in to tulip.
A - Hazy medium orange, amber in the middle. Half a finger of dirty white head.
S - Big woody aroma up front that gives way to sweet caramel, pear and light citrus notes.
T - Huge oak/woody flavour up front from the barrels. the base beer adds caramel, pear, peach and a light citrus flavour. The finish is oaky with a big astringency and a touch of cognac coming through. After a few sips the astringency really becomes distracting. The barrel didn't really come together with the base beer well, perhaps this was meant to age? A little rough.
M - Light to medium body. Light carbonation.
O - My second experience with a Cameron's barrel aged beer. This was better than the last one, but still very rough.
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Very Special Pale Ale (VSPA) - Cognac Barrel Aged from Cameron's Brewing Co.
3.24
out of 5
based on 4 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hazy golden orange colour, 1.5 fingers of white head, lots of lace here as well. Smell is a bit funky upfront, big barrel presence, a fair bit of fruit, vinous congnac notes come in, some spice with more oak and vanilla. Taste is a bit spicy up front, cognac is a little light on the pallate but the oak is pretty in your face, fruity in the finish with a bit of alcohol heat also. Lightly carbonated, medium light feel. This wasn't bad and actually quite interesting, however certainly not good enough for repeat purchases especially at the price point of this.
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