Townsite Brewing Inc. – Biere d’Hiver Brown Ale

Rating

4 out of 5

Appearance

3.9 out of 5

Aroma

3.7 out of 5

Flavour

4.1 out of 5

Mouthfeel

Total

3.9

3.9 out of 5

Overview

• Brewery: Townsite Brewing Inc.
• Beer Style: Brown Ale, Winter Ale
• Pros:

  Burnt caramel, bitter-sweetness

• Cons:

  A bit on the sweet side

• Conclusion:

  Nice, full bodied (Winter) Brown Ale

Townsite Brewing Inc. – Biere d’Hiver Brown Ale Review

Townsite Brewing Inc. is in many ways the little brewery that could. From their small home in Powell River BC the brewing team has released several award winning beers since opening less than 2 years ago.  As a winter seasonal this small-town brewery has released the Biere d’Hiver for the second year. After winning a 2013 Canadian Brewing Award this re-release has been highly anticipated. Pouring a deep chestnut brown topped with three fingers of loose, mocha coloured head the aroma is lighter that expected when it comes to winter ales. A sweetness comes through the smell with light caramelization paired with a cherry/currant plumness balancing the notes of bitter and sweet with a touch of sour. The taste is not like many similarly categorized beers. Starting off a malted body comes into play with a currant bitter-sweet and lightly sour touch which builds to include a defined sweetness. As the sugar builds on the palate it shifts to a lightly burnt caramel flavour that gives a bitter-sweet finish. The plum and currant notes add a healthy dose of uniqueness to the flavour profile and combined with the lightly burnt caramelization this is a unique and delicious winter warmer. The Biere d’Hiver is not by any means typical but that is what we have come to expect from the wonders of Powell River.

Alcohol – 7.5%
IBU – 29
Size – 650ml
Price – $6.50 (Private Liquor Store)
townsitebrewing.com

Biere d’Hiver

n. In Powell River, the sugar plum fairy swings into winter on a zunga, bringing with her a delicious winter ale, full of spicy, plummy flavours.

Original review done on Feb. 5, 2013. Updated on November 30, 2013.