NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON – The Exchange Brewery has announced the release of the first in a planned series of aged Vintage Reserve ales.
Belgian Stout Vintage Reserve 2016 is a 7.2% abv ale that head brewer Sam Maxbauer describes as follows:
Our Belgian Stout has been carefully selected to be our first Vintage Reserve bottle because it is a higher-alcohol and full-bodied beer, hence well suited to aging. The robust roasted malt flavours have mellowed over the last year, bringing forward more fruit notes. With age, we see a complex balance of malts, a slight tartness and some great funky notes starting to come through.
The vintage release of Belgian Stout has been released alongside the 2017 edition, which has “chocolate and roasty flavours, with roast malt giving almost a black cherry note, and French oak barrels imparting a very mild note of vanilla as well.”
Both beers are available now in 750 ml bottles at The Exchange retail store, with the 2016 vintage selling for $13, and the 2017 for $12 per bottle.
Upcoming 2016 Vintage Reserve releases from the brewery will include Dubbel in May and Belgian Pumpkin Ale in October.