Vicar’s Vice Olde Ale comes in a wax sealed bottle. There’s something about wax sealed bottles that draw me in – perhaps it’s the extra bit of effort required to open one, perhaps it’s the possibility of cellaring the beer inside.
Amsterdam Brewery releases this bad boy every winter, and while stocks are running low, it’s still possible to pick up a 650 ml bottle at select LCBOs for $8.95. Clocking in at 8.5% ABV, it’s definitely possible to leave this in your cellar until next winter and see how it matures.
Amsterdam recommends serving this one at 8C in a snifter glass. We went old school and enjoyed it in a Belgian-style chalice to help warm the brew and release its aromas.
Appearance: Rich dark chocolate brown colour with a creamy tan coloured head.
Smell: Smoky vanilla flavours with hints of tobacco and cinnamon.
Taste: Malt forward profile with flavours of roasted nuts and toffee, sweet on the palate. Underlying notes of dried dates and apricots.
Aftertaste: Sweet aftertaste, with a lovely bitter finish.
Overall: A lovely old fashioned beer, but oh man do I hate battling the wax tops. Someone usually gets hurt, and it’s usually me.
Shawna has visited vineyards in 8 countries on 3 continents, and has a knack for finding the hoppiest beers around. A dedicated Booze Hound, Shawna completed the Wine Specialist Certificate at George Brown College in 2018.
She can be found drinking alka-seltzer and coconut water in the morning.
Email: [email protected]
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