Beau’s “Strong Patrick” Irish Red Ale makes LCBO debut this week
Barrel-blended Strong Irish Red Ale has pleasant toasty and toffee notes, subtle wood and vanilla nuances, and warming alcohol & whiskey flavours
Strong Patrick
VANKLEEK HILL – (Feb. 11, 2015) For anyone looking to warm up for St. Paddy’s Day celebrations March 17, the new strong Irish Red Ale from Beau’s coming out this week, “Strong Patrick,” will be just the ticket. Strong Patrick is the third release for Beau’s month-long winter celebration of beer “feBREWary,” and will be tapped beginning Feb. 12 at 150 restaurants and pubs across Ontario. Additionally, Strong Patrick will see province-wide release into LCBOs in Ontario this week, and within a few weeks will also be available in Québec.
Strong Patrick is a 6.7% ABV interpretation of an Irish Red Ale. Part of the batch has been aged in whiskey barrels and then reintroduced, adding subtle wood and vanilla nuances. The style is typically lightly hopped, well rounded and balanced, with a pleasant toasted malt character. Brewmaster Matthew O’Hara describes the beer as luscious and red-hued with a malty backbone, showcasing toasty and toffee notes complemented by warming alcohol & whiskey flavours.
Strong Patrick will be available on draught at Beau’s 150 feBREWary partners; a list is online at www.beaus.ca/feBREWary. The beer will also be sold and served at the brewery in Vankleek Hill, ON beginningThursday Feb. 12, and over the weekend as Beau’s feBREWary celebrations continue. Bottles will be sold at LCBOs and the brewery for $7.95, and can also be ordered for home delivery in Ottawa via beer delivery service BYBO (www.bybo.ca).
Beau’s resident chef Bruce Wood will be on hand at the brewery both Saturday and Sunday, pairing Strong Patrick with $5 small plates of what he calls “proper shepherd’s pie” – made with locally raised lamb, Chef Bruce’s homemade stock, and of course, a healthy addition of Strong Patrick. The new ale will be available in a traditional cask-conditioned format over the weekend, served naturally carbonated and at about 12 C, to let the complexity of the flavours shine through.
Ottawa’s Darcy McGee’s on Sparks St. will be celebrating Strong Patrick’s release with a Warm up for St. Paddy’s Day Party on Thursday Feb. 12 – the festivities include Strong Patrick on tap, as well as Irish music, strength competitions, and contest giveaways. Toronto’s Monarch Tavern will also host a St. Paddy’s Practice Day on Tuesday Feb. 17, with free Strong Patrick t-shirts for the first 40 attendees. A “Meet the Brewer” beer dinner at Urban Pantry in Uxbridge is also planned as part of this week’s Beau’s feBREWary events – more details are available on the feBREWary website listed below.
FeBREWary 2015 is Beau’s All Natural’s 4th annual month-long beer event designed to “Give Old Man Winter a kick in the snowpants.” Next week’s feBREWary release from Beau’s is Cœur Noir Black IPA, an obsidian-coloured hop-forward brew that pulses with citrusy, resinous aromas. Details on all the new beers, as well as upcoming events at the brewery and across the province at licensee partners are available online at www.beaus.ca/feBREWary. Details of Strong Patrick’s Québec availability will be made available shortly.