3 Minutes To Midnight (Hellwoods on Sour Cherries) — Bellwoods Brewery

Oh my oh dear. Is there anything Bellwoods makes that doesn’t turn to solid gold?  Yes, those things that turn to platinum.  If you like beer, and you haven’t experienced a beer from Bellwoods, stop reading this very instant, and go get some.  Seriously.  Consistently phenomenal beers, creative, exciting, stellar. While Bellwoods’ main production is for service in the brewpub and for sale at their retail store, some kegs make it out, and the rare old cask (we’ve had two at Castro’s Lounge, and that’s a lot).  We scored this beauty last week, as it was the twin of a cask they prepared for Cask Days.  It’s their amazing Hellwoods Imperial Stout, aged on sour cherries.  And yes, that’s as incredible as it sounds.  They decided to Christen it “3 Minutes to Midnight”, as we were commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis.  A perfect name for a perfect beer.

3 Minutes to Midnight (Hellwoods Imperial Stout on Sour Cherries) — Bellwoods Brewery

3 Minutes to Midnight (Hellwoods Imperial Stout on Sour Cherries) — Bellwoods Brewery

Served on cask at Castro’s Lounge, 3 Minutes to Midnight pours a solid opaque black with a 1.5″ tan head.  Aroma is big on imperial stout: burnt sugar, smoke, rum and molasses, with a nice sharp pop of cherries in the mix.  Hops are there if you’re attentive, and give a touch of astringent pine to the nose. The taste is huge and sexy. A whole lot more burnt sugar, now joined by espresso and more smoke.  There’s also hints of chocolate, figs and dark dried fruits.  A huge shot of sour cherry swells on the mid-palate, and balances the bitter and sweet of the stout really well.  It adds lovely curves and depth to the beer, especially as the beer warms.  The finish is a lingering smokey burnt sugar and more tart sour cherries.  It’s full bodied, and conditioned to just off still, which gives it a nearly port like quality.  A perfect after-dinner drink, maybe while you enjoy a lovely cigar or pipe. Just magnificent; an absolutely incredible beer.

Cheers to Mike and Luke!

Buy This Beer

I know we’re out at Castro’s and it all sold at Cask Days.  I can’t imagine they wouldn’t make more, so I would presume that you could get it on tap at Bellwoods, or in their retail store.  If any more comes along on cask, I will beg borrow and steal to get it at Castro’s again.

Drink It With

Chocolate is an obvious choice, as are dark fruits,  but let’s try and broaden ourselves here.  What this taste experience is missing is salt and umami, so what can we eat that will bring that to the table, and still work with the beer?  Well, I certainly haven’t confirmed this, but here’s a totally crazy idea that just might work: marmite spread on some sort of neutral to sweet vessel.  So, like, a simple piece of bread, possibly toasted.  If you’re really adventurous, try it out with Nam Prik Pao, instead of the marmite.  In fact, I solemnly swear to try this at the next possible opportunity.  Because it could be huge.  For cheese, think along the same lines: salty/funky, so maybe a medium blue, or a farmhouse wrapped cheddar.  On the flip side of that, fresh cream cheese spread on a simple cracker.  The creamy slightly sweet cheese will give a good canvas for the beer to work on.

About The Brewery

Bellwoods Brewery, located at 134 Ossington is one of the newest, hippest breweries in Toronto.  Luke and Mike combine to make some of the most progressive exciting beers in the city, which are served mainly at the brewpub, to a lesser extent at great beer bars, and occasionally at their pop-up retail store next door.  Drop by to give them a try, or check their website at http://bellwoodsbrewery.com

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