Stock Ale
Henderson Brewing Company

473 mL can from the LCBO, included in a Henderson / Bench collaborative mixed pack; coded Sep 9 2024 and served barely chilled. #100 in Henderson's Ides series.

Pours a deep, clear chestnut brown colour, taking on more of a crimson red hue when illuminated. One finger of dense, creamy, light tan-tinted head gathers atop, but collapses within a couple of minutes; the survivors include a tight collar and a patchy cap, though there's also plenty of lace deposition after each sip. Malty aroma of toffee, toasted bread, nuts & grains, with suggestions of dried fruits, coffee cake and herbal hops.

This is a delicious beer with a rich and intriguing flavour profile; generally malt-forward, but too well-balanced to describe as saccharine. Brown sugar, toasted bread, biscuity sweetness and a note of cocoa powder are apparent, with hints of hazelnut, date fruit and raisin. Nuttier on the back end, with earthy, herbal hops and some blonde-roast coffee bitterness leading into an aftertaste of toffee, herbal hops and faint booze. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation that rolls softly along the tongue, resulting in a smooth, almost silky mouthfeel that makes for an exceptionally crushable strong ale. One of those cases where I really wish I had another can.

Final Grade: 4.03, an A-. I prefer to avoid reviewing year-old canned beers, but this time I actually stored it on purpose: a true stock ale should have no issues weathering twelve months in a cool cellar. Henderson's Stock Ale held up very well, indeed, and I genuinely hope that the brewery makes this an annual winter seasonal. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys strong British ales or malt-forward ambers.

Dec 3 2024