Craft Beer Awards 2015: Best Strong

These high-alcohol brews, ranging from seven to 10 percent alcohol by volume, are meant for slow, mindful sipping. Their full body and rich array of complex flavours – like dried fruits and, sometimes, rich molasses, sherry, and umami notes – are best enjoyed at cellar temperature in a small snifter glass.600x600_strongGOLD:Steamworks Brewing Co.’s Imperial Red Ale(Vancouver)An imperial red ale with enough malt backbone to stand up to aggressively bitter hopsSILVER:Central City Brewing’s Thor’s Hammer Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barley Wine(Surrey)Mahogany-hued barley wine-style beer tastes of cola, herbs, burnt sugar, and caramel.BRONZE:Townsite Brewing’s Charleston Belgian Triple(Powell River)A Belgian triple out of Powell River? A Belgian brewer coaxes out pie spices, pear syrup, and coriander.