I’ve always enjoyed my visits to Bog Iron Brewing in Norton, excellent beer, great people, fun place to hang out or grab some beers to go, just a quintessential local brewery. A trip to visit had been long overdue for a while, my life is crazy with a demanding job and two young kiddos, so it is rare that I can take 2+ hours out of any day to swing a brewery visit, especially with the whole pandemic going on. Fortunately I built up some extra goodwill over the holidays and I was finally able to make the trip. It was a quick stop, I am still not drinking in bars and taprooms just grabbing beer to go, but I was able to stock my fridge with a wide range of awesome beers including a few that were new to me. Included in my haul was Bold Move a new-to-me dark lager with black currants, and Swiss Mistress, a milk stout with cocoa that I’ve enjoyed in the past but hadn’t had a chance to review. Both beers are available on a rotating basis on draft and in 16 oz cans.
Bog Iron Bold Move pours cola brown with a solid tan head. The aroma is mild, just a hint of roasted malt. The malts lead the flavor, notes of toffee, bread crust and biscuits. The currants add a subtle fruity undertone that melds well with the malt flavor. Some earthy and herbal hops round out the flavor and add balance. Bold Move is medium to light bodied, easy drinking and not too boozy at 5.1% ABV. The finish is very clean, just a touch of residual malt. This is an interesting dark lager, good flavor and very drinkable, a dark beer for all seasons. Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Bog Iron Swiss Mistress pours nearly black with a small light brown head. The aroma pops with cocoa and rich roasted malts. The flavor is malt forward, notes of caramel, chocolate cake and molasses, plus a noticeable but not cloying sweetness. The cocoa is well represented and melds well with the roasted malt flavors. A hint of late hops round out the flavor and add a counter note to the malts. Swiss Mistress is medium bodied and very smooth, not overly boozy at 6.5% ABV. The finish is rich with some lingering malt and cocoa flavor. This is an excellent stout, you get the sweetness/chocolate but it isn’t overdone like too many “pastry” stouts. Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
Previous Bog Iron Reviews:
Bog Iron Campout Mild, Bog Iron Drawing a Blank and Fancy French Name, Bog Iron Devil’s Footprint, Bog Iron Jump Back, Bog Iron Ryezing Son, Bog Iron Middle Child, Bog Iron Stinger IPA, Bog Iron One Down Robust Porter
Hoppy Boston 
