Monday 21 May 2018

February 16, 2018

50/2271) Home:  Collective Project:  IPA No. 5 by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **1/2;  an 8.2% New England style double IPA;  Citra and Simcoe hops;  opaque;  tropical nose;  rich, juicy, citrusy, tropical;



February 15, 2018

48/2269) Great Lakes Brewery:  Blonde Lager by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  5%;  grassy;

This was a "Taste & Tutor" session.  At the end of the evening we received certificates evidencing that we are certified Pompous Asses.  We had to pass a quiz first but everyone scored ten of ten.

49/2270) Great Lakes Brewery:  Restrained Jubilation Helles by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  *;  4.8%, 12 ibu;  gluten reduced;  hazy;  match head aroma;  nutty, smokey; 

We were given this to sample the day before its official release.

It wa a multifaceted evening.  A fellow named Alistair, who prefers to be called Alli, guided us through the process of making beer emphasizing each of the four ingredients at one of the steps with an eye to how the final product is influenced at this time by variations in this ingredient.

At the same time we were pairing beers with cheese.  Canuck Pale Ale was matched with a Canadian cheddar, Pompous Ass with Brie, Lake Effect with a blue cheese, their Blonde lager with goat cheese, and Harry Porter with Collier's Welch cheddar, an unpasteurized cheese, not intended for the Canadian market.

We also tried Harry Porter and the Cherry Hoarder.

I met the Ontario Beer Guy but I didn't have the nerve to ask how wise it was to drive with personalized licence plates decreeing this title.

February 13, 2018

45/2266) C'est What:  Hard To Say DIPA by Stone City Ales of Ontario:  **; 8.2%, 90 ibu;  brewed with Citra, Simcoe and Summit hops as well as oats and wheat;  murky;  nose of pine and tropical fruit;  strong, nearly overpowering pine with citrus notes;  a bit much;

46/2267) C'est What:  Ninho Do Corvo Coconut Porter by Beau's All Natural Brewing of Ontario:  **; 5.6%, 25 ibu; a FeBREWary beer brewed in collaboration with Weird Barrel craft brewery of Brazil;  brewed with organic toasted coconut and cacao nibs from South America; nose is as much chocolate as coconut;  blend of chocolate, coffee;  the coconut is somewhat subdued until the finish;

47/2268) C'est What:  Winter Stout by Collingwood Brewery of Ontario:  **; 5%, 30 ibu;  from their Freestyle series;  an oatmeal stout with orange peel, cocoa nibs and cinnamon;  nose is primarily roasted coffee with a hint of cinnamon;  I am getting the cinnamon and cocoa but the orange is subtle;

Today is the 30th anniversary of  C'est What.  My lunch was 30% off.

February 9, 2018

44/2265) Home:  Yuletide Barley Wine, Vintage 2017 by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **;  9.8%, 55 ibu;  nose is dark sugar with a hint of alcohol.;  dark sugar, alcohol, sweet malt flavours;


February 8, 2018

42/2263) beerbistro:  Azacca India Pale Ale by Founders Brewing Company of Michigan, U.S.A.:  **;  7%;, 70 ibu;  citrus nose;  earthy, resiny flavours;

Azacca hops are named for the Haitian god of agriculture.

43/2264) beerbistro:  Avebode Abbey Beer by Brouwerij Huyghe of Belgium:  *1/2;  7.5%;  the major selling point for this was that it is from the same manufacturer as Delrium Tremens;  clove and banana nose;  yeasty with notes of cloves and bananas;

February 7, 2018

41/2262) Home:  Huronic Tripel by Side Launch Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  9.5%;  from their 1st Launch series;  nose is yeast and cloves;  yeasty with clove notes and mild banana flavours;


February 6, 2018

40/2261) Home:  Mosaic Promise by Founders Brewing Company of Michigan, U.S.A.:  **;  5.5%, 50 ibu;  a single hop pale ale brewed with barley malt and wheat malt;  citrusy nose with a dry, earthy edge;  citrusy with an herbal finish;


February 5, 2018

39/2260) Home:  Yellow Truck Complicated Blonde Lager by Draught Dodger Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  4.8%, 20 ibu;  brewed by Cool Beer Brewing for Draught Dodger;  the tin, which I seem to have neglected to take a photo of, helpfully gives instructions for home brewers wishing to recreate this;  malty with mild orange and lemon flavours;  as lagers go...

I was intrigued by this one as it has this been available at the Monk's Kettle for a long time and the MK is not exactly a lager bar.  Whether it remains so I cannot say as their twitter feed is "restricted". 


February 4, 2018

38/2259) Home:  Yeti Imperial Stout by Great Divide Brewing Co. of Colorado, U.S.A.:  **1/2;  9.5%, 75 ibu;  roasted malt and chocolate nose;  flavours of cocoa, roast, bitter coffee;  warming and wonderful;


February 3, 2018

37/2258) Home:  A Doppel Do Ya by Lake of Bays Brewing Company of Ontario:  **;  6.5%, 29 ibu;  from Lake of Bays' Wild North Series;  a Doppel Weizen with wheat added to the usual four ingredients;  nose of dried fruit and cloves;  layers of flavour, died fruit, cloves;


Someone tried to tell me the name was regarding Frank's Red Hot sauce but that assumes no one remembers those old Brylcreem ads.

February 1, 2018

36/2257) Mill Street Brewpub:  Raspberry Stout by Mill Street of Ontario:  **;  5.3%, 24 ibu;  nitro pour;  a seasonal effort - we were in the Distillery District for the Light Festival;  fresh raspberry nose;  strong raspberry flavours with creamy chocolate notes; 

January 31, 2018

35/2256) Home:  Cheat Day Black Forest Porter by Hop City Brewing Co.of Ontario:  **1/2; 5.7%, 28 ibu;  brewed with vanilla and sour cherry juice from Germany;  chocolate and cherry nose;  cherry is  very prominent along with chocolate notes;


Yes, it is a lot like Black Forest Cake

Thursday 10 May 2018

January 30, 2018

34/2255) Home:  Barn Owl No. 10 by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  *; 6.5%;  a Brett IPA with apricot;  Foeder aged for one year;  bottle conditioned; nose is apricot and citrusy hops;  throughout, the tart funk overshadows what is no doubt, considering the source, a very fine IPA;

This came into my possession courtesy my eldest son.

January 29, 2018

33/2254) Home:  The Beer With No Name by Lake of Bays Brewing Company of Ontario:  *1/2; a 6% Raspberry Ginger Wheat Ale;  ginger dominates the nose while it is the raspberry that is foremost in the flavours;


January 26, 2018

32/2253) Home:  Road 2 Ruin Double IPA by Two Roads Brewing of Connecticut, U.S.A.:  **1/2; 8%;  "Temptingly Hoppy";  brewed with seven American hop varieties;  strong piney hop nose;  earthy, resiny pine flavours with a touch of fruit (orange);


January 25, 2018

31/2252) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Not-So-Secret-Work-Crush by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 7.8%, 70 ibu;  their Double IPA feature with blueberry, orange peel and Mosaic hops; the colour is from the blueberries;  nose is blueberries and zest;  tastes of blueberries, zest, with a dry astringent snap at the finish; a Thursday night cask;

January 24, 2018

30/2251) Home:  Tartan Pants Scotch Ale by Big Rig Brewery of Ontario:  **;  6.4%;    sweet, malty, caramel nose;  mildly sweet; rich and malty;


Yes, it's a day ahead of Robbie Burns Day but I have plans.  Long may your lum reek.

January 23, 2018

29/2250) Home:  Black Stone Porter by Driftwood Brewery of British Columbia:  **1/2; 6%;  a London style porter;  roasted coffee nose;  opens with roasted coffee flavours; finish and after taste feature chocolate notes;


January 22, 2018

28/2249) Home:  Cheeky Bastard Stout by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  **; 4.5%, 35 ibu;  brewed with roasted and malted barley, flaked wheat and flaked oats;  roasty mocha nose;  roasted malt is the primary flavour with a touch of dark coffee;


Wednesday 9 May 2018

January 21, 2018

26/2247) Home:  Rye Knot Rye Pale Ale by Taps Brewery of Ontario:  **;  5%, 30 ibu;  brewed with malted barley and malted rye;  a corruption of Robert Kennedy's corruption of George Bernard Shaw appears on the tin:  "Some ask why?  We say rye not?";  rather a bready nose;  sharp bite of rye with an earthy hoppiness;


27/2248) Home:  Imperial Porter by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **1/2; 8.6%;  a Collective Project brew;  by their description, this builds on their Stranger Than Fiction Porter;  roasted malt nose;  bitter coffee, roasted malt, licorice, warming alcohol which is very well hidden;  I like this more with each sip; 







Tuesday 8 May 2018

January 20, 2018

24/2245) Ice Eater Chinook Single Hop Pale Ale by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **;  5.2%, 35 ibu;  nose is biscuity malt and herbal hops;  mildly piney flavours; 

25/2246) Shadowy Pact Irish Dry Stout by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  4.4%, 20 ibu;  nose of roasted malt;  sweet roasty flavours;  perhaps a bit bland;


These were also picked up at the brewery in Guelph.

January 19, 2018

23/2244) Home:  Mikhail by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  same base as previously with Mexican style hot chocolate spices;  brewed with cinnamon sticks, cocoa powder, dried chilis, vanilla beans;  nose:  I am getting the cinnamon, vanilla and mild spice;  spice, vanilla, sweet coconut like flavours;  lingering, warming chili after taste; 

What a series!

January 18, 2018

22/2243) Home:  Boris by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  the original UVB-76 brew with "hazelnut flavours" and vanilla beans;  same abv and ibu as the others;  sweet hazelnut, vanilla and oak nose;  lovely mix of hazelnut and bourbon, accentuated by vanilla;

These were purchased at the brewery.

January 17, 2018

21/2242) Home:  Olga by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  11.9%, 60 ibu;  this is the UVB-76 series base (Roman) with star anise;  strong anise/licorice nose with sweet vanilla poking through;  the same flavours dominate the palate with a very warming finish;  another winner

January 16, 2018

20/2241) Home:  Roman by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  11.9%, 60 ibu;  Bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout;  aged in excess of four months in first use Kentucky bourbon barrels;  straight up, no extras save for wheat and oats - the base for three variants to follow;  nose is bourbon, vanilla;  sweet, sugary vanilla, bourbon;  warming and wonderful; 

This series is inspired by a mysterious Russian radio station which has been broadcasting a buzzing tone, punctuated by the names used in these beers since 1973.  You can play an excerpt at
https://www.wellingtonbrewery.ca/beers/past-releases/uvb76