Ngon Bistro has just put a new cask on. It won’t last long so if you’re a fan, or haven’t yet had a chance to try Lift Bridge’s Chestnut Hill, get over there soon.
Chestnut Hill is a brown ale, naturally carbonated in the firkin and aged with toasted almonds, hazelnuts and pecans. Yum, nuts!
I think a trip to St. Paul is in order! Doesn’t hurt that the food there is great too.
This sounds like what a friend of mine calls “a stunt beer.” Something odd and different just for the sake of being odd and different.
I would caution anyone about making such statements if they have not yet tried the product.
@beerfan, I’m maybe not as experienced a beer drinker as your friend, but I’ve certainly had brown ales from other breweries and have never had that thought cross my mind. I’ve also had the Chestnut and I think it’s a pretty excellent example…so did this cicerone Autumn Beers Part II.
Cheers!
I didn’t think that a wild rice brown ale sounded especially appetizing either, but Barley John’s Wild Brunette is pretty frickin good. I’m definitely willing to give a nut-aged brown ale a try.
I’m a little more interested in that smore-infused porter, though. Anybody hit up Flat Earth for that? Maybe I should switch threads…
I think beerfan is talking about the Chestnut Hill being aged on a bunch of nuts. Unless this is how it is normally served, it’s odd and different.
Looking at this as odd or a stunt is one way to look at it. However, aging it on nuts to enhance the flavor is no different than using additional hops (double hopped), oak, birch, fruit, etc. We like doing firkins to explore new flavors. So, our goal wasn’t to be odd, but to create a different twist on one our beers. Expiration and experimentation is one thing I like about the craft. Hope you enjoy it.
Dan-
Do oils from the nuts affect head retention?
@beerfan, They do. So you will find this beer to have less head than the regular version of Chestnut Hill.
I’m putting my money on “It will rock.”
Dan-
Stopped by Ngon and had two of their tasty happy hour small plates along with this beer and a Crosscut.
I was skeptical, but enjoyed the Chesnut Hill. It has a luscious toffee, caramel, toasty flavor and mouthfeel. The finish dried out with a tiny annoying bit of harsh bitterness on the end, which could have been the hops or perhaps over-roasted nuts, a slight flaw in an otherwise quaffable beer.
I enjoyed the Crosscut too, which was served too cold. It was refreshing, however, and I drained it before it had a chance to warm up.
@beerfan. Thanks for checking it out and for sharing your experience. I am glad you enjoyed both beers. BTW, I love Ngon’s…
Ate at Ngon yesterday. As usual the food was fantastic and the Lift Bridge Chestnut Hill was equally as fantastic!