Whistler Brewing Company Black Tusk Ale

Whistler Brewing Company
Black Tusk Ale
Whistler, BC
$12-15 for 6 x 330ml  +192690 Available at BC Liquor Stores & select private liquor retailers
www.whistlerbeer.com

Today is Robbie Burns Day, a day when kindred spirits the world over has free reign to wear kilts, roll off some Scottish brogue, squeeze some bagpipes, devour a heap o’ tatties and cheers (slainte!) with a potent potable. Of course, whisky is the natural choice to toast the Bard with today, but if you’re looking for something more crowd-accessible and January-budget friendly, I suggest picking up some of Whistler Brewing Company’s Black Tusk Ale.

Named for a supernatural Whistler landmark, the majestic jet-black core of an extinct volcano in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Black Tusk was known as the “landing place of the Thunderbird” to the indigenous Squamish peoples. The brewery references the landmark on the label (and no – there are no wooly mammoths in Whistler).  This dark, English-style mild ale reminded me of a Nut Brown Ale via notes of roasted barley, coffee and a touch of bittersweet chocolate and walnut shell. The very soft and smooth palate is more of the same – mild coffee and chicory notes and British chocolate biscuit – though with a surprisingly crisp and very clean finish. When drinking this I was thinking ‘mild, smooth, subtle’, but after I swallowed, the bright and pleasantly bitter kick on the finish made me reach for more, and more…  In short, this easy-to-drink ale could end up making for a very festive Robbie Burns celebration, and you might find yourself kicking up that kilt and wailing like a wooly mammoth on those bagpipes. Would work with haggis, meat pie, or grilled sausage. Black Tusk Ale is a seasonal beer, available only from October – April, and is also part of Whistler Brewing Company’s mixed seasonal Party Pack (along with their Powder Mountain Lager, Whiskey Jack Ale and Bear Paw Honey Lager).

87 Points

*January DRINKs will focus on budget-friendly selections, all ringing in under $17.