Better Bitters Nickel Brook Ale (pre 2009)

Formerly brewed at Better Bitters Brewing Co.
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Burlington, Canada

Sampled at the Brewery, they are certainly very VERY passionate about their beer. I have to say I am as well. Definately not common or bland, a great mix sweet fruitness that I can’t resist! And, very smooth.

WowWowWeWa now this is a good beer. Super Hopy yet still smoth in flavor. A very good summer beer due to it’s smooth flavour. Best suited to drinking on a warm summer evening. My only complaint is that it’s not a bitter dispite it’s name.

341 mL Bottle. Murky copper body with a small foamy off-white head that just seems to want to cling to the sides, and yes, it coats the sides of the glass with some nice lace; my curiosity is piqued. This ale has a strong but interesting aroma of sweet malt, crystal malt, prunes, mission figs, and little hints of chocolate and fresh-ground coffee. No slouch for flavor; notes of chocolate, prunes, raisins, and mission figs accentuate the rich malty body. All of it lingers in the aftertaste in a way that it would probably go well with a fine cigar, and then fades to a finish that invites for another sip. Better Bitters, I’ll be beating a path to your door.

RERATE: Bottle from the brewery. I’d heard that they had tweaked the recipe on this one, so I thought it deserved a re-rate. Aroma hasn’t changed much, aside from being a bit fresher. Flavour is quite improved - the off-flavours I detected before are gone, leaving a mild, fresh, rounded character. Still not an overly complex beer, but a well-crafted one that will likely make some repeat visits to my fridge.

ORIGINAL RATING: Bottle from the LCBO - courtesy of tupalev. Pours a very light clear copper with a moderate white head that disappears quickly. Aroma is malty, a bit woody, with a honey-like sweetness coming through as it warms. Flavour is malty and grainy with an odd harsh edge that I can’t really describe - Josh mentions "an underfermented wortiness" is his review below, so maybe that’s what I’m tasting. It’s not awful, but it’s fairly middle of the road. [6/3/5/2/11]

Unique orange-hued beverage holds lots of promise. Aroma is really nice and fruity: kiwi, pineapple, strawberry and orange peel immediately pop out. Nice, tight fizz. Medium bitterness. Fruity favours are less expressive than the nose, with sour cherry being the most obvious flavour note. Pretty good.

Sampled from a bottle filled that day at the brewery. Far from being a "blonde or common "golden ale", according to the brewer this ale is a modern revival of the cream ales that were made by most independent commercial Canadian brewers in the 40s and 50s before EP Taylor sanitzed the style with blandness, adujnct ingedients and fast fermentation methods. This is granddad’s cream ale....a fruity accented mild all malt ale with lager dinkability characteristics. .........pours a golden-amber into the glass, fluffy 3 finger sticky white cap that laces well ( good quality malt mix). Aromas of caramel malts , unripened fruits (pears/apricots) and wet hay. Medium-light bodied, creamy mouth feel, mild character with defined malt spine and distinct ale yeast fruitiness. Malts, yeast and hops blend harmoniously in this very drinkable mild-mannered, but tastey, cream ale....finishes semi-wet with a light fruity-peach finish...malty but not sweet. A very well put together cream ale and one of the best examples of the style I have tasted. Seeing how Cream Ale is a Canadian brewing invention of the early part of the last century, its a shame not too many authentic examples exist in today’s cottage brewing industry....this is one of them

I found this to be very tasty without a hoppy head. The barley flavor gives a smooth wet finish. This beer lacks a nice aroma but it’s got a true barley taste and saveur.

The beer pours with light amber color. The notes of malt show through with the hops coming to bear on the palate and on the finsh. It shows nice balance at the end.