Hopscotch Festival 2005

Vancouver's 9th annual Whisky and Premium Beer Festival
Friday November 4
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours Train Lounge

This year's edition of Hopscotch moved from the former train yard of trendy Yaletown's Roundhouse Community Centre out to the grungy side of the tracks in the False Creek Flats area. This area is undergoing redevelopment as the neighbours include a Hope Depot, and a Moe's Home Collection furniture store. The Rocky Mountaineer Railtours Lounge is a large open space with plenty of room for thirsty tasters and vendors.

What a wonderous thing malted barley and fermentation are. From this ingredient and process comes the waters of life--beer and whisky. Here are my tasting notes on the waters which passed my lips.

Echt Kriekenbiere Flemish Sour Beer
This fine Belgian fruit beer has a delicious sour cherry flavour and makes a fine dessert drink.

Scapa 14 yo Single Malt
This light bodied Scotch has a sweet start and a spicy finish.

Glendronach 12 yo Single Malt
With a toffee nose this light bodied Scotch was sweet on the tongue with an orange peel zest.

Johnnie Walker Gold Label
The pricey Gold Label is very, very sweet and smooth. Probably one of the easiest drinking Scotches out there. They offered the pour with a chaser of a square of Lindt Excellence 70% cocoa dark chocolate. A wonderful taste combination but I think I prefer the...

Johnnie Walker Green Label
Sweet, honey, woody, and a hint of peat make for a very good blended Scotch.

Talisker 18 yo
My favorite Scotch of the night. A perfect balance of sweetness and smokiness. Smooth as silk--a dream.

The Macallan Fine Oak 10 yo
This malt is not as sweet as their signature sherry casked 12 year old. The oak makes for a lighter bodied, smooth whisky.

The Macallan Fine Oak 21 yo
Unfortunately they ran out of this before I got a chance to taste it. *SNIFF*

Alisa Craig Blended Scotch Whisky
A very young 3 year old blend which probably needs a few more years to mature. It's harshness and oiliness are overpowering.

Glen Garioch 15 yo Highland Malt
It's heathery sweetness is characteristic of the Highland malts.

Springbank 10 yo Single Malt
Slightly peaty, vanilla, and spice with a citrusy aftertaste. Quite nice but it's older brother...

Springbank 15 yo Single Malt
This is my second favorite Scotch of the night. Similar to the 10 yo but smoother and sweeter with an added dark chocolate flavor.

And that's when they started to close down the place. Eleven o'clock comes too early or maybe I needed to start earlier. Until next year...