August 17, 2017

269/2087) Niagara College Teaching Brewery:  Good Porter by Niagara College Teaching Brewery of Ontario:  **;  4.5%;  dry and roasty with a grainy finish;

Continuing the trend of this trip, it's another tasting flight.

270/2088) Niagara College Teaching Brewery:  Natter Jack Toad by Niagara Teaching Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  6.8%;  the sweet caramel notes ably disguise the alcohol;

The impact of the Niagara College Brewmasters course can been seen across Canada.  It's remarkable how many of their graduates are setting the trends and pushing the boundaries.  There is also a Teaching Winery located very nearby staffed with similarly young and enthusiastic individuals.

271/2089)  Niagara College Teaching Brewery:  Rogue 1 by Niagara College Teaching Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  this is a sweet, nearly sugary, Belgian style beer;

I was afraid to ask if there was a course in beard grooming offered but based on the evidence I am going to say there is.

272/2090)  Merchant Ale House, St. Catharines:  Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Stout by Murray Street Brewing of Ontario:  **;  4.4%, 30 ibu;  with locally roasted coffee from Block Coffee Roasters;  strong coffee ground nose;  creamy coffee flavours;

The Merchant Ale House is located on St. Paul Street in St. Catharines but be aware there is also a St. Paul Street West of which number 68 is a set of flats.

273/2091) Merchant Ale House:  Drunken Monkey Oatmeal Stout by Murray Street Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2;  4.8%, 28 ibu;  mild roastiness;

Here again, this is a tasting flight.

274/2092) Merchant Ale House:  Triple Plaid Barrel Aged Scotch Ale:  **;  6.1%, 20 ibu;  the nose is pretty much your standard scotch ale nose but the flavours a level beyond the usual:  sweet vanilla and oak feature strongly;

The story is that the name of the pub is Merchant Ale house but the license reads, "Murray Street Brewing Company", named for the street the owner grew up on in Hamilton.

275/2093) Merchant Ale House:  IPA by Murray Street Brewing of Ontario:  **;  6.4%,60 ibu;  earthy fresh picked hops, mild citrus, bitter finish;

The Merchant Ale House is a very comfortable place and it's a good spot for a late lunch.  My wife gave me a nibble of her burger and I would rank it as the best I have ever encountered.

276/2094) Merchant Ale House:  Uncharted American Pale Ale by Murray Street Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2;  5.2%, 30 ibu;  strong malt backdrop;  sweeter than most IPAs;

277/2095) New Limburg Brewery, Nixon:  Lesson 5 Table Beer by New Limburg Brewing Company of Ontario:  *;  a 3% table beer;  mildly spiced;  refreshing but non-descript;

New Limburg Brewing is housed in a former school which reminded me of Balmoral Public, later Senior Public (I attended it both ways) in lay-out.  Another beer flight.

278/2096) New Limburg Brewery:  Dubbel by New Limburg Brewing Company of Ontario:  **;  7%;  minerally nose;  added candi syrup;  sweet, fruity, light spice; 

This is a good example of their focus on Belgian style beers.  The label on the bottled version features St. Amandus who lived in the area of France and Flanders.  St. Amandus is the patron saint of wine makers, beer brewers, merchants, inn keepers, bartenders and boy scouts.

279/2097) New Limburg Brewery:  IPA by New Limburg Brewing Company of Ontario:  *1/2;  8.5%;  a Belgian style IPA, brewed with local hops;  saison like yeastiness;  sweet, fruity;

Our dinner on this day was left-overs from our lunch at the Merchant Ale House which wasn't quite enough but fortunately they had a snack menu and the fresh baked bread and artisanal cheese was exactly what we needed.

280/2098) New Limburg Brewery:  Black Sheep Milk Stout by New Limburg Brewing Company of Ontario:  **;  5%;   roasty and sweet from the addition of "a touch of vanilla";

They strongly suggest the derives from this being the least Belgian of their beers;.