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Barn Owl No. 15

Bellwoods Brewery
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🌍 Canada · Sour Ale · One of 24 Sour Ales in hopIQ

Barn Owl No. 15 opens with a prominently sour character that frames bright citrus, cinnamon and cherry aromas—a distinctly tart profile where stone fruit brightness meets spice. On the palate, ripe strawberry and red currant lead, shadowed by crushed almond and subtle vanilla, which soften the acidity without erasing it. At 6.5%, the beer sits light enough to drink across an evening, neither aggressive nor shy. The sourness is the grammar here; everything else—the fruit, the spice, the almond depth—hangs from it. A sour ale for those who want their refreshment with edges.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
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How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Dry and crisp.

A trim frame with a clean break — the beer says what it needs to and moves on.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Sour Ale.
Fermentation & yeast
sour
tart
fruity
Distinctive notes
berry
spicy
vanilla
Hop character
citrusy
Malt character
nutty
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Barn Owl No. 15

Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and lively carbonation visible throughout. The head forms a fine, delicate foam that clings to the glass with light but persistent lacing, characteristic of the style's refined structure.

pale goldcrystal clearfine lacing

Aroma

The nose leads immediately with bright citrus and a clean sour note, folded through with cinnamon and spice that sits alongside cherry and stone fruit aromatics. Beneath these primary impressions lies a subtle almond and vanilla undertone that softens without obscuring the tart profile.

sour, citrus-forwardcinnamon, cherryalmond, vanilla

Taste

Ripe strawberry and red currant dominate the palate entry, backed by the beer's defining sour backbone that frames every sip without aggression. The mid-palate brings crushed almond and gentle vanilla warmth that ease the acidity while preserving its essential tartness, leaving the palate both refreshed and structured.

tart, berry-brightred currant, strawberrysoft almond finish

Finish

The finish remains clean and dry, with the sourness persisting as a pleasant prickle on the palate. Aftertaste carries faint stone fruit and spice notes that fade gradually, leaving a refreshing, slightly tart impression.

dry, lingering acidityrefreshing exit
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Barn Owl No. 15

Serve at 6–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Barn Owl No. 15

About Sour Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Sour Ale?

Sour Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Sour Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sour, berry, tart character as Barn Owl No. 15 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Sour Ales in hopIQ

Explore all Sour Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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