Granville Island Winter Ale- Vancouver

"The Granville Island Brewing Company (GIB) is a microbrewery originally based on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1984 (as Canada’s first microbrewery)".  The beer on tap for today is the Lions Bay Winter Ale. A definitie favorite of mine. Released seasonally in the winter months I am quick to purchace quite a few six packs of this beer.

Appearance: a clear, dark amber, light off white head, slight lace and retention.

Smell: roasty malt and caramel, nutty yeast, dense chocolate and vanilla bean.

Taste: thin bready malt initially, followed nutty chocolate and strong hints vanilla.

Mouthfeel: light carbonation with a smooth, creamy, fluid body followed by an amazing dense vanilla finish.

Drinkability: a great winter ale with an extreme vanilla personality makes this the perfect beer up on the mountain or by the fire on a cold winter night. the elegant mixture of chocolate, yeasty malt, and vanilla give a great balanced feel.

If you decided to visit Vancouver check out the Granville Island Brewery. They do daily tours which are under 10$ and include 4 sample beers one of them being a seasonal (pumpkin ale, winter ale). I went in the summer and it was great.