Mix pack brings the “Best of Beau’s” home for the holidays

Holiday hosts and gift-givers looking for a curated collection of tasty craft beers will have a one-stop shopping solution this season. The Best of Beau’s mix pack is returning for 2016 with four seasonally inspired beers, including a warming new Belgian-style quad, as well as a trio of fan favourites from the Ontario craft brewery.

Quads & Rockers, a brand new offering from Beau’s, is an extra-strong, dark and full-bodied Belgian-inspired ale. Expect rich, malty and bold flavours, with noticeable alcohol warmth. This 10.5% quadrupel (or quad) style pours deep mahogany with a tan head. The full, warming flavour impression includes elements such as cacao powder, cooked banana, and a touch of black pepper. So why a new beer in a “best of” collection? “We’ve recognized that one of the things Beau’s actually does ‘best’ is introduce new beers, so we decided that was a pretty good reason to include something new to try. It adds a fun element,” says Beau’s co-founder Steve Beauchesne.

The other three beers in the mix pack are:

·         Bush Fire – a returning beer from 2015, this flame-coloured ale is infused with teas made from two plants native to South Africa, rooibos and honeybush. These certified organic and fairtrade teas were steeped into a base blonde ale style. The beer is spicy, earthy, and has a gentle touch of sweetness, balanced by mild tartness courtesy of rosehips and hops.

·         Collabrrrewnaut – a classic Bohemian-style Pilsner blended with organic fairtrade coffee from Honduras, specially selected for this collaboration by Ottawa’s Bridgehead Roastery. This beer was lagered, then cold-infused with the coffee to create an unlikely but harmonious juxtaposition of light and dark.  First brewed by Beau’s in 2014, Collabrrrewnaut has an herbal, spicy noble hop aroma, with a subtle yet ever-present espresso note.

·         Dark Helmüt – an extra-strong version of a German black lager. The recipe was created for Beau’s feBREWary event in 2013, and its popularity sparked a return in 2014 as part of Beau’s Oktoberfest selections. It displays a mellow roasted character that is juxtaposed with the enjoyable lager crispness. It has refined mocha inflections and a surprisingly subtle roasted flavour for a dark beer.

The 2016 Best of Beau’s mix pack will be widely available very soon in Ontario LCBOs for the holiday season, and will see availability in a small number of The Beer Store outlets as well. Québec, BC, Alberta, Manitoba and New York markets will also receive limited quantities. Best of Beau’s is available now at the Vankleek Hill brewery’s retail store, as well as in the City of Ottawa through home-delivery service BYBO (www.bybo.ca).