Hockley Valley Dark

473ml can
5.0% ABV
I tried this beer on June 7, 2008 after purchasing from one of my local LCBO outlets. The beer poured a very dark translucent brown, with some reddish hints. The head was tan coloured, and lasted. The aroma was roasted malt, chocolate, and toffee. The mouthfeel was medium bodied, creamy, with a sour hint. The flavour was roasted malt, dry cocoa, and a little bit of sourness and bitterness covering the tongue.

This was a 500mL can. The Hockley Valley Dark is indeed quite dark, with a cola like appearance, though proved to be deep red when held up to light. It had a fine, creamy head that lasted. Not much of an aroma, and what I did catch were nuts and caramel. Medium bodied with an overall easy feel. Overall a good local option.

Can - LCBO: Deep ruby brown body with a lasting eggshell head. Aroma: Nuts and some smoke & caramel. Flavour: Mmm, a bit of smoke, some definite bitterness with a small amount of malt, there is lasting malt finish however. Not a bad beer at all.

Can from LCBO Queen’s Quay (which is not a quay, incidentally). I love dunkels and brown ales, and this is a somewhat bitter, non-nutty brown ale that’s not malty enough. Could be thicker, and sweeter.

500ml can from LCBO. Off-white thin head that quickly disappears. Zero lacing. Body looks like a pepsi. Aroma of coffee and burnt toffee. Flavor is nice - coffee, cocoa, caramel and sweet. Slightly dry hop finish. Palate is thin, not much carbonation. Overall a very drinkable beer.

Canned at RBESG 2007. An amber beer with a thin tan head. The aroma is sweet with notes of malt and bread as well as a light note of caramel. The flavor is weet with notes of straw and malt as well as a light note of straw, leading to a dry bitter and strawy finish. The body is thin.

Watermelon-banana sweet aroma that is a bit oxidized. Looks like coca-cola with a little tan ring around the top. Sulfury and toasty sweet finish. Medium body and moderate carbonation.

Nice color dark but red when you hold it up to the light. Very peppy for a dark beer . Initially tastes like coffee beans- then the more sophisticated dark beer flavor hits. It’’s ok.