I hope the next East Vancouver creation from this generally awesome brewery exceeds my expectations. After finishing this brew I found it a bit disappointing especially after the last several seasonal brews form Parallel 49. The finish is mild and a bit disappointing with a hint of light grapefruity hops. A light sweetness with a hint of cocoa and a subtle earthen woody note. The body is incredibly light and nearly watery with a mild roasted malt unlike the nose made me believe. A subtle note of smokey cocoa tantalizes me to take me first sip. The nose is rather exceptional with big grapefruit and mild spiced hop resinous. The cavalcade of amazing beers from Parallel 49 keeps on coming and the newest arrival is Black Hops Cascadian Dark Lager a Schwarzbier type of Black IPA.īlack Hops pours a purely black body with a foamy bubbly beige head and a few sparse carbonation bubbles in the body. Augustine’s one of Vancouver’s best craft beer bars with a bonkers rotating tap list, the brewery has quickly grown into one of BC’s best. Since their inception and arrival on the Alberta Craft Beer scene I have had nothing but accolades for the small East Vancouver brewer Parallel 49. Well balanced, Isseki Nicho is a unique twist on the style of saison despite being alot like an Imperial Stout. The finish is heavy with a mild saison yeast and a roasted malt bitterness that lingers for a while.

More subtle flavours of smoke, wood, bourbon, lemon zest and barnyard dust work their way through. My first sip has a thoroughly roasted, heavy malt flavour with a note of espresso and vanilla. The aroma is rather elogent and the heaviness is a refreshing change for the saison style. Soft esters complement the light saison yeast well with light barnyard dust notes and mild citrus zest. The nose has a general rich malt aroma with a moderately heavy roasted note, hits of coffee and chocolate and a beautiful mild saison style yeast scent. The head settles slowly with larger bubbles and small, dense bubbles forming well. A gloopy, pure black viscous body with a thick, bubbly, tan head forms in the glass. Twisting off the cap a slow hiss of vapor trails out of the bottle.

At 9.5% ABV this brew is certainly a heavy hitter in the class on an Imperial Stout.

Isseki Nicho is described as having a grain bill of an Imperial Stout with a saison twist. Isseki Nicho is a collaboration project between Dieu du Ciel! and Shiga Kogen a Japanese sake producer. Dark Saisons from breweries such as Stillwater, Widmer and Upright have all been recently released. The newest beer from Dieu du Ciel! to arrive in Alberta is Isseki Nicho an Imperial Dark Saison a style which has started to slowly develop in the craft beer community.

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