Bas-Canada — Saveurs de Clown

Style

Barleywine – English

ABV

11.9%

Origin

USA

Aging

Bourbon barrel 42+ months

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with profound bourbon-soaked oak and dark toffee, layered with vanilla custard, dried figs, and subtle leather. Over 42 months of aging delivers complex oxidative notes of sherry and toasted nuts. The palate is rich and viscous, showcasing deep caramel malt sweetness balanced by warming alcohol and oak tannins. Bourbon barrel influence permeates throughout, bringing waves of butterscotch, dark fruit compote, and baking spices. The finish is exceptionally long and warming, with persistent toffee, oak char, and a hint of dark chocolate lingering beautifully.

Food Pairing

Pair with aged Gouda or sharp English cheddar to complement the caramel and toffee complexity, the cheese’s crystalline texture cutting through the beer’s richness. Equally magnificent alongside slow-braised short ribs with a bourbon-molasses glaze, where the meat’s unctuous texture and sweet-savory profile mirror the barleywine’s depth and barrel character.

About Bas-Canada

Bas-Canada draws its name from the historic Province of Lower Canada, the British colony established in 1791 along the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This former territory, which covered the southern portion of present-day Quebec and parts of Labrador until 1809, was created through the Constitutional Act 1791 when the Province of Quebec was partitioned into Lower and Upper Canada. The designation “lower” reflected the region’s geographic position downriver from the St. Lawrence headwaters, distinguishing it from Upper Canada in what is now southern Ontario. The province itself was formed from part of New France, the French colony conquered by Great Britain during the Seven Years’ War that concluded in 1763. Lower Canada existed as a distinct political entity until its abolition in 1841, representing a unique chapter in Canadian history where French colonial heritage met British governance along one of North America’s most significant waterways. This rich historical context provides the foundation for the brewery’s identity and connection to Quebec’s complex colonial past.

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