Trafalgar Oak-Aged Rye

Nothing terribly spectacular. But a good taste of cream and rye malts. Nice smooth taste with a full palate. Surprisingly good.

I went to the LCBO looking for other beers that do Oak Aging because the one I love (Innis & Gunn) is so expensive. I came across this local brew that said it was Oak aged. Overall this is one of the worst beers I have ever tasted. The Aroma alone is nauseating. Reminds me of stomach acid. Stay away from this brewer.

650ml bomber from the LCBO spring seasonal release. Very fresh bottle. Pours a deep copper with virtually no head. The aroma is odd, but good. Spicy, very sweet, rye malts, and fruity. The flavour is entirely different. Quite sweet upfront with a surprising amount of fruityness, making way for some mild spice at the back of the mouth. A tad woody and with very tasty rye malts as the backbone. Fruity, and with maybe just a subtle hint of oak, though I seriously doubt they actually ’aged’ this 5% beer in oak. Quite different and not at all what I expected, a pleasant surprise, and really very good by Trafalgar standards. I really feel like they’re on the way to redeeming themselves for the pathetic excuse of a brewery they used to be.

Brown bottle, 650 ml, best before August 2008, purchased at the LCBO, savoured on January 3 2009; eye: brown, no effervescence, hazy, suspended matter, tan head that falls and turns into a tiny ring, good lacing; nose: grain, hops, woody; mouth: grain, hops, slightly sour, wood is quite present, finale in grain with presence of hops, medium body, slick, average carbonation; overall: ordinary FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 650 ml, meilleure avant août 2008, achetée à la LCBO, savourée le 3 janvier 2009; œil : brune, pas d’effervescence, voilée, matière en suspension, mousse fauve qui tombe et se transforme en un petit anneau, bonne dentelle; nez : grain, houblon, boisé; bouche : grain, houblon, légèrement sûrie, boisé assez présent, finale en grain avec une présence de houblon, corps moyen, coulante, carbonatation moyenne; en résumé : ordinaire

650ml bottle, cloudy amber-orangeish hue, leaving laces with a fruity, oaky, vanilla nose, with a buttery, grainy rye cereal ,fruity winey aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a wet, winey, oaky, watery character, with a vanilla woody oakiness, a faint fruity sour apple note, leading towards a fruity, winey acidic finish.

(large bottle) deep amber with off white head. Aroma is all oak. Flavor was all oak and quite sour. Perhaps this bottle was going off.

Medium brown color with a low, tan head. Aroma of amber malts, rather sweet and caramel, with decent hops, wood, and rye. rich oak flavor, with rye and caramel malts. Buttery and creamy. Very nice flavor, distinctive, oaked like a chardonney. Some chocolate as well. Malty, buttery finish with a touch of sour. Very interesting and flavorful with complex malts. the rye is light but noticeable. Unlike the German varieities, more ale like. Slightly too sweet and buttery.

Bouteille de 22 oz achetée chez LCBO (Ottawa, ONT). Arôme: Légère odeur de citron et de légumes bouillies. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée foncée et une faible densité de bulle. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Léger goût de seigle, de vanille et de légumes. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement aqueuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence de seigle rôtis en arrière goût. (Rating #1897)