I’m celebrating all this week with Amsterdam Brewing Co, who have now officially moved in to their new premises, in Leaside. If you had ever been to their brewery at 21 Bathurst, you knew it was simply a matter of time until that space would become a condo (blah), and indeed, that is what is finally happening. While I’m sad to see them go, and extra sad they didn’t end up in the East Portlands, which would have put them about a 10 minute bike ride from my front door, Leaside has gained a most excellent business partner, and Amsterdam has found themselves a good stable home in a growing neighbourhood. To make things even better, Amsterdam is returning to their roots and opening a brewpub on Queen’s Quay. To say I’m a little excited is an understatement.
So, to kick things off, I’ve got a lovely bottle of barrel-aged barley wine made as a collaboration between Eric Ecclestone of Biergotter and Iain at Amsterdam on their pilot system, and aged in their barrel-aging program. It’s a perfect example of the direction Amsterdam is heading in. In the past few years, they’ve invested in a really beautiful pilot brewhouse, and in dozens of barrels, ranging from bourbon and whiskey, to red and white wine. They have been pursuing various collaborations, and are fast becoming one of the most innovative breweries in the city.
Sleeping Giant Barley Wine — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
From a 500ml bottle, Sleeping Giant pours a hazy reddish/brown, with about 1″ of soapy head. Aroma is exactly what you would expect, rich sweet malts, hitting on caramel and rum, some astringent esters, something nutty, alcohol and a hint of spicy hops. The barrel definitely gives some oak and a beautiful touch of whiskey. Taste is just massive, and so traditional. Rich, boozy and sweet, the malts and heat from the high alcohol balance with the big whiskey flavours from the barrel. There are spices, which could be hops or yeast, or both I suppose. Maybe a touch of white pepper and ginger. A little woody, the big sweetness and barrel notes give the beer a nearly maple syrup like finish, with a lingering hint of whiskey. The body is on the heavy side of medium, and it carries the weight of the 10.2% abv well. Medium carbonation keeps the mouthfeel bright and interesting, and provides for a touch of head that clings to the glass most of the way through the drink. A perfect beer for this grey, dreary Toronto Monday.
Cheers to Amsterdam and Eric, this one really is a giant!
Buy This Beer
Well, I’m not really sure to be honest. I got this bottle weeks ago, during the summer. I would assume they have bottles of it at the Brewery, but I’m fairly sure they’re not for sale at the moment. Follow Amsterdam on Facebook and Twitter to keep track of when special bottles like this go on sale.
Drink It With
Well, really, it actually would make a lovely glass of beer to sit down with after dinner, rather than drinking it with food specifically. However, that’s not the point of this paragraph, so let me give you some ideas: Have it for breakfast with a nice steaming bowl of Scottish oatmeal. If that’s a bit too much for you, see if you can find some bottles of it for your next Burn’s supper. The clear whiskey flavours will pair perfectly with your haggis and neeps & tatties. The sweet woody beer will bring together the rich fatty meats, and will compliment the earthiness of the root vegetables. And while it’s massive 10.2% abv is huge for a beer, it’s easier-going than drinking 40% whisky for the whole night. As far as cheese goes, you’re going to need to go with something hard and sturdy. Maybe a Drumloch cheddar? As always, Beemster XO would probably hold up just fine. A smoked gouda could go well with the whiskey as well, and is probably a bit easier to find, if you get most of your cheese at the grocery store.
About The Brewery
Founded in 1986, The Amsterdam Brewing Company was the first brew pub in Toronto, ON, Canada. Originally opening on John St. in the illustrious entertainment district of this great city, the brewery was a success and grew quickly enough to require a relocation to a larger King St. facility in 1988. As the craft beer market in Toronto continued to grow throughout the 90s, the restaurant space of the brew pub was converted to manufacturing space in order to increase brewing capacity and to facilitate the launch of bottled Amsterdam beer to the market in 1997.
