Our fearless correspondent Rob Mangelsdorf taste-tested nine high-ABV beers from BC Ale Trail breweries.
It wasn’t so long ago that thirsty beer drinkers with a hankering for a high-test brew had very few options. Big beers were once brewed only to give drinkers more bang for their buck, and flavour was an afterthought for these “malt liquor” offerings.
The early days of the craft beer boom soon brought more options, but not many. If you were lucky enough, you might be able to find a barleywine or a barrel-aged imperial stout with a double-digit ABV—but even then, they were likely to be small-batch seasonal releases. Blink, and you’d miss them!
Today, however, there is a plethora of full-bodied, fully-loaded libations produced by B.C. breweries, in just about every style imaginable. And unlike the repulsive paper-bag brews of yore, these beers are unequivocally delicious, with bold and complex flavours that are complemented and heightened by their higher alcohol content.
It goes without saying, of course (but I’m saying it anyway): please enjoy these beers in moderation. Many are so deceptively smooth and so dang tasty that they can get you into trouble if you’re not careful.
So, with that in mind, I think it’s high time to set out on the BC Ale Trail and explore this new generation of high-test beers…
Weighty by Four Winds Brewing (Delta, South of the Fraser Ale Trail)
10.0% ABV | Triple IPA
This utterly opaque Hazy IPA has the appearance of a glass of orange juice with a dollop of meringue on top. The intoxicating aroma of mandarin orange and tropical fruit creates an expectation that this beer totally delivers on. Imagine a Creamsicle in beer form, with notes of citrus, tangerine, and vanilla. Big hop flavour and aroma, with almost no perceived bitterness and a complete absence of alcoholic heat. This beer is so smooth, it should probably come with a waiver to sign. Four Winds has done it again! Is anyone surprised?
Entropy Series No. 31 Balaton 12° by Dageraad Brewing (Burnaby, North of the Fraser Ale Trail)
10.5% ABV | Mixed Culture Barrel-aged Quadrupel with Balaton Cherries
Dageraad has long been B.C.’s own gateway to big Belgian-style beers, and Balaton 12° is yet another in a long line of exceptional releases as part of Dageraad’s ongoing one-off Entropy series. This deep crimson-brown ale sports a sturdy, if not vigorous, off-white head (you might want to consider opening it over a sink). It’s delightfully tart and complex, with notes of cherry, dark fruit, spice, fruitcake, burnt sugar and balsamic vinegar. You’re going to want to pair this one with a lovely charcuterie plate or roasted pork loin.
Numbskull Rotator No. 13 by Lighthouse Brewing (Esquimalt, Greater Victoria Ale Trail)
9.1% ABV | Double IPA
After more than 10 years, it’s safe to say Esquimalt’s Lighthouse Brewing has their gargantuan DIPA rotator dialled in at this point. Lucky number 13 features French Barbe Rouge hops, a relatively new hop on the scene known for its aromatic red berry notes. This decidedly “West Coast” take on the DIPA pours a brilliant gold with a fluffy white head with notes of dank citrus, strawberry, Meyer lemon, kiwi, and pine, offering just enough hop bitterness to clean up the finish without puckering your lips.
Double Dark Sour by Field House Brewing ABBY (Abbotsford, Fraser Valley Ale Trail)
11.5% ABV | Fruited Sour Ale
Field House’s Dark Sour has long reigned as one of the best fruited sour ales in the province. Despite clocking in at 10%, the absolute maniacs at Field House decided that wasn’t good enough. Introducing the Double Dark Sour, brewed to celebrate the brewery’s 8th anniversary, and boasting even more alcohol. Yet, just like the original, it still manages to keep that alcoholic warmth almost undetectable. Deep purple with a rapidly dissipating pink head, this beer features increased acidity as well as alcohol, offering tart, lively notes of cranberry juice and blueberry.
Tenth by Longwood Brewery (Nanaimo, Vancouver Island Ale Trail Part I)
9.0% ABV | Barrel-aged Golden Ale
What a way to celebrate a 10th anniversary! Longwood’s production brewery and tasting room in Nanaimo may have opened a decade ago, but this barrel-aged wild ale tastes like they’ve been brewing beer in a Belgian monastery for centuries. Likely one of the best Belgian-style beers I’ve tried all year, Tenth pours a brilliant crimson-brown with a thin, off-white head, offering notes of dark fruit, plum, cherry, vanilla, oak, balsamic vinegar, spice, leather, bourbon and funk. It’s as complex as it is impressive, and I regret not buying an entire case of it.
Eins by Abandoned Rail Brewing (Naramata, Penticton Ale Trail)
11.0% ABV | Barrel-aged Doppelbock
Naramata might be best known for its wine, but in just one short year, Abandoned Rail and its award-winning beer might be changing that perception. Eins is the brewery’s first anniversary release and it’s pretty spectacular, with bold malty flavours of dark fruit, burnt sugar, bourbon, vanilla, oak, raisin, toast, and fruitcake. The great thing about brewing in wine country is there’s no shortage of barrels at your disposal.
Occultation by Temporal Artisan Ales (Brewed at Container Brewing, Vancouver, Yeast Vancouver Ale Trail)
11.0% ABV | Barrel-aged Stock Ale
First off: can we talk about how adorable this little itty bitty baby can is? I’m pretty sure this is the first 250 mL-format can the B.C. craft beer scene has ever seen. But despite the dainty packaging, the contents pack a punch. This beer pours so black, that Anish Kapoor is not allowed to drink it, with huge flavours of cocoa, coffee, toffee, caramel, vanilla, bourbon, and oak. It’s so sweet, smooth and rich, Occultation might as well be the Ryan Gosling of beers.
Infinite City by Small Gods Brewing (Sidney, Greater Victoria Ale Trail)
10.0% ABV | Fruited Sour Ale
Sidney’s Small Gods hasn’t been around for long, but they’ve certainly made a name for themselves in just a year and a half of existence. Infinite City is a great example as to why. This huge fruited sour ale is tart and delicious, with acidity restrained enough to not overpower the flavours of citrus, lemon, mandarin orange, strawberry, kiwi, and vanilla.
Hermannator (2022) by Vancouver Island Brewing (Victoria, Greater Victoria Ale Trail)
9.5% ABV | Ice Bock
If you’ve been drinking B.C. craft beer for a hot minute, then you had to know the Hermannator was going to be on this list. VIB’s classic winter seasonal release has been around since the dawn of time and it still absolutely slaps. Malty, fruity goodness, with notes of chocolate, coffee, toffee and cereal grain. If there’s a Mount Rushmore of B.C. beer, Hermannator is on it.
