{"title":"Nickel Brook","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"nickel-brook-cafe-del-bastardo-750ml","title":"Nickel Brook Cafe Del Bastardo 750ML","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNickel Brook Cafe Del Bastardo 750ML\u003c\/strong\u003e is a bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout from Ontario, Canada, bottled at 12% ABV in a 750ml format. Scoring 94 on BeerAdvocate and earning a 99% rating on RateBeer, this limited release stands among the most acclaimed barrel-aged stouts produced in Canada.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Burlington, Ontario, Canada  |  Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Nickel Brook Brewing Co.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNickel Brook Brewing Co. operates out of Burlington, Ontario, and has built a devoted following through its barrel-aging program. Cafe Del Bastardo begins as a full-bodied Russian Imperial Stout that spends a full year maturing in bourbon barrels. What distinguishes this expression from standard barrel-aged stouts is the coffee infusion process: the brewery hand-selects coffee beans and adds six pounds per bourbon barrel, resulting in an intensely layered brew where coffee character and barrel influence develop in tandem rather than competing. This beer is a companion to the brewery's Kentucky Bastard, their non-coffee bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vibrant espresso leads immediately, followed by waves of dark cocoa powder and toasted oak. Underneath, subtle vanilla and a gentle waft of bourbon warmth round out the nose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is rich and full-bodied, with bold dark coffee and bittersweet baker's chocolate dominating the front palate. At mid-palate, bourbon-soaked oak and creamy vanilla emerge, balanced by a cocoa powder bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. Licorice and dark fruit undertones add depth as the flavors layer and evolve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long and warming, with a pronounced bourbon kiss that lingers alongside roasted coffee and residual oak tannins. The aftertaste is dry enough to invite another sip, with vanilla and chocolate fading slowly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Cafe Del Bastardo\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eServe this stout at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F (10–13°C), in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate the complex aromatics. It drinks best on its own as a sipping beer, treated more like a digestif than a session ale. For a decadent float, pour it over a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream — the bourbon and coffee notes create something close to an affogato. It also pairs beautifully as the base of a beer cocktail riff on an Espresso Martini, where its natural coffee intensity replaces cold brew. For a simple highball-style serve, a small measure blended with chocolate bitters and served short over a single large ice cube highlights the vanilla and oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSharing after dinner as a dessert beer with fellow craft beer enthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting to a barrel-aged stout collector who values limited Canadian releases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCellaring for one to two years to see how the coffee and bourbon integration develops\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing alongside a curated dessert course at a tasting dinner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Cafe Del Bastardo taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Cafe Del Bastardo delivers bold espresso and baker's chocolate up front, layered with bourbon, vanilla, and oak from a full year in barrels. The overall impression is rich, warming, and complex, with a dry cocoa bitterness that balances the sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Cafe Del Bastardo compare to Kentucky Bastard?\u003c\/strong\u003e Both beers come from the same Nickel Brook barrel-aging program, but Cafe Del Bastardo dials back the bourbon intensity and turns up the coffee character significantly through the addition of six pounds of coffee beans per barrel. Kentucky Bastard leans more heavily into vanilla, caramel, and straight bourbon barrel flavors without the coffee infusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Cafe Del Bastardo good for sipping neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e At 12% ABV with layered bourbon, coffee, and chocolate complexity, Cafe Del Bastardo is built for slow sipping from a snifter at cellar temperature. It rewards patience and warms as it opens up in the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Cafe Del Bastardo made?\u003c\/strong\u003e Cafe Del Bastardo is brewed and barrel-aged by Nickel Brook Brewing Co. in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The bourbon barrels used for aging are sourced from American distilleries, and the stout matures in those barrels for a full year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Cafe Del Bastardo?\u003c\/strong\u003e Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and coffee notes directly. Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs stand up to the beer's intensity while echoing the barrel char. A classic tiramisu mirrors the espresso and vanilla flavors. Aged cheddar or Gouda provides a savory counterpoint to the sweetness. Crème brûlée works beautifully, as the caramelized sugar plays off the bourbon and vanilla.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Cafe Del Bastardo come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e Cafe Del Bastardo is available in a 750ml bottle, a format common for premium barrel-aged craft beer releases intended for sharing or cellaring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Cafe Del Bastardo worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e Cafe Del Bastardo positions as a premium limited-release barrel-aged stout, and its pricing reflects the year-long bourbon barrel aging and hands-on coffee infusion process. With a BeerAdvocate score of 94 and a RateBeer rating of 99%, it delivers critical acclaim consistent with its premium tier.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Cafe Del Bastardo?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe defining detail here is the six pounds of hand-selected coffee beans added to each bourbon barrel — a production choice that creates a stout where coffee isn't an afterthought but a co-pilot alongside the bourbon wood influence. A full year of barrel aging at 12% ABV builds genuine complexity rather than relying on raw intensity. The beer has earned a 94 on BeerAdvocate and 99% on RateBeer, placing it among the top-rated Canadian barrel-aged stouts. For anyone serious about imperial stouts, this is a benchmark release from one of Ontario's most respected barrel-aging programs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nickel Brook","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838727352489,"sku":"29483","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/nickel-brook.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}