Sunday 30 June 2019

June 1, 2019

161/2761) Home:  MacTavish by Le Trou du Diable of Quebec:  *1/2; 5%; billed as In Memoriam Legendary Ale; yeasty, musty nose; yeasty with light spice, a vaguely Belgian style golden ale;


May 30, 2019

160/2760) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Trouser Snake by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 6.3%, 25 ibu; their feature Milkshake IPA with Waimea and Wakatu hops from New Zealand; double dry hopped; fruitiness of the original remains with a touch of leafy hops; mildly bitter if short lived finish; somewhat drier than the original;

I am not sure if it speaks to Justin's standing within the chain or management's lack of attention that he gets away with naming a beer in this manner.

May 28, 2019

159/2759) Home:  Pumpkin Ale brewed by me in Ontario:  **1/2; I have no idea what the abv might be;  brewed with pureed pumpkin, Sorachi Ace hops, cinnamon sticks and cloves; not quite so over carbonated this time; pumpkin and spice nose; hazy; my son says it reminds him of Black Creek Historic Brewery's beers - an appropriate comparison, I think, particularly given the modest carbonation; I get all three - the pumpkin, cinnamon and the cloves; I was tempted to add nutmeg but demurred; no honey taste like earlier bottles;

Of my attempts at home brewing this is my wife's favourite to date.

May 27, 2019

The airport at St. John's is remarkably civilised, not to mention affordable.  There is a second Yellowbelly Public House there with the same beers as the one in town and the prices were not extortionate as they are everywhere in Pearson Airport.

May 25, 2019

158/2758) Bernard Kavanagh's Irish Loop, Ferryland, Newfoundland:  Honey Brown Ale by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  5%; a sweet amber ale;

The best feature of this establishment is the view.  Plenty of icebergs but no whales while we were there.

May 24, 2019

157/2757) Our Room at the Best Western, St. John's, Newfoundland:  Wicked Good Pale - East Coast Haze by Garrison Brewing of Nova Scotia: *1/2:  5%; opaque; vaguely citrusy, tannins to the nose; hint of Asian tea and, oddly enough, notes of pears;

May 23, 2019

156/2756) Our Room at the Best Western, St. John's:  Calm Tom's Double IPA by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  **; 7.5%; a tribute to Tom Beckett, craft beer pioneer of Newfoundland in general and Quidi Vidi in particular; opaque orangey colour; nose of peaches and mangos; tastes of peaches and mangos with just the slightest hint of alcohol;

May 22, 2019

152/2752) Yellowbelly Brewery & Public House, St. John's Newfoundland:  Yellowbelly Pale Ale by Yellowbelly Brewery of Newfoundland:  **; 4.5%; they go onto describe this as a Best Bitter;  grainy, malty nose; sweet and malty with an herbal hop snap at the finish;

153/2753) Yellowbelly Brewery & Public House:  Come From Away Islander Pale Ale by Yellowbelly Brewing of Newfoundland:  **1/2; 6%; brewed in collaboration with The Happy Hour Guys and Five Boroughs Brewing Co of New York, U.S.A.; brewed with Broadway cast and crew of the play by the same name; made with Vermont Ale yeast, Cascade, Armillo and Cashmere hops; grapefruit and citrus zest nose and flavours;

154/2754) Yellowbelly Brewery &  Public House:  St. John's Stout by Yellowbelly Brewing of Newfoundland:  **; 4.8% in the Irish style; Guinness like head; grainy with a dry finish; a very hearty stout;

It was definitely worth picking our way through all the construction to find this spot.

155/2755) Amelia's Lounge:  Black Horse Premium Lager by Molson Coors Newfoundland:  *1/2; 4%; a pretty standard lager, with mineral notes as a lot of local beers have - owing to the local water?;

I had been led to believe this was another Quidi Vidi offering but it turns out to be a regional Molson beer.

Tuesday 25 June 2019

May 21, 2019

149/2749) Dildo Brewing, Dildo, Newfoundland:  I'se Da Bye PA by Dildo Brewing of Newfoundland:  **1/2;  6.5%, 55 ibu; citrusy nose with pine; flavours of pine, with some leafiness;

I was thisclose to conceding that I was nonplussed with Newfoundland's local beers but this brewery made me a believer.  We also had a great lunch here.

150/2750) Dildo Brewing, Dildo:  Stout Dildo by Dildo Brewing of Newfoundland:  **;  4.5%, 50 ibu; roasty nose; roasted malt flavours;

We saw icebergs from Signal Hill on our first full day in Newfoundland but today we hit the Trifecta:  icebergs, puffins, and whales - quite remarkably close to the shore.  I was also "Screeched In" today: born in Quebec, lives in Ontario and a certified Newfoundlander.

151/2751) Amelia's Lounge:  IPA by Granville Island Brewing of British Columbia:  **; from Granville's Under The Bridge Series; malty nose; malty caramel backdrop with a bitter herbal edge and finish; strikes me as a hybrid;

May 20, 2019

144/2744) Quidi Vidi Brewery. St. John's:  British IPA by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  *1/2; 5.7%; leafy, grassy;

This was a tasting flight.

145/2745) Quidi Vidi Brewery, St. John's:  My Milkshake Brings All The Buoys To The Wharf by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  **; a 7.5% mango milkshake IPA; fresh mango flavours, citrus zest finish;

Yes, Quidi Vidi brews many different beers.

146/2746) Quidi Vidi Brewery, St. John's:  Dayboil Session IPA by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  *1/2; 4.5%, 43 ibu; citrusy with a bitter, herbal aftertaste;

I gather the village of Quidi Vidi was absorbed into St. John's a number of years ago.

147/2747) Quidi Vidi Brewery, St. John's:  Cappuccino Stout by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  **; 6.5%, 20 ibu; contains lactose; sweet mocha notes;

The trail at Signal Point is every bit as hazardous as Peggy's Cove, or the CN Tower Edgewalk for that matter, but no one seemed worried which made things a lot easier.

148/2748) Our room at the Best Western, St. John's Newfoundland:  Weizen Hammer Weizenbock by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  **;  8%; very yeasty, sweet with notes of cloves and alcohol; mostly cloves to the nose; at 8%, this is well suited good for sharing;

The odd thing is the hotel cannot be found using a GPS.  We set it to the airport and it was just beyond.

May 19, 2019

141/2741) Amelia's Lounge at the Best Western, St. John's Newfoundland:  1892 by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  *1/2; 5%, 20 ibu; a malty, mildly sweet amber ale; commemorates the great fire of 1892 which destroyed most of St. John's;

It was my wife who figured out that the Amelia in question is Amelia Earhart.  On reflection, I ought to have spotted that what with all the aviation imagery.

142/2742) Amelia's Lounge:  Iceberg by Quidi Vidi of Newfoundland:  *1/2; a lager brewed with iceberg, or rather bergy bits, water;  mineral notes;

We learned that, strictly speaking, the ice has to stick thirty feet above the water to be a fully fledged iceberg.  The smaller ones are growlers and the ones small enough to be hauled ashore and melted in order to make beer, or vodka, are called bergie bits.

143/2743) Amelia's Lounge:  India Beer by Molson Coors of Newfoundland:  *1/2;  more of a lager than an IPA; very pale, nearly clear; leafy notes;

The tap and branded glass would have had me believing this was by "Man's Best Friend".  Still, it is a regional beer, only available in Newfoundland.

Monday 24 June 2019

May 18, 2019

140/2740) Home:  Nowhere Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout by Merit Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; 10.67%; red wine, alcohol and chocolate to the nose; tastes of sweet bourbon, roasted malt, red wine with hints of vanilla; very fine;


May 17, 2019

139/2739) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Milkshake IPA (2019) by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 6.3%, 25 ibu; reformulated with apricot puree and double dry hopped with Mosaic hops; murky with a thick mouthfeel; fruity nose; not as sweet as many milkshake IPAs; rich and fruity;

May 16, 2019

138/2738) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Raj's Sister by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 5.6%, 40 ibu; cask; Saint Stout with mango, chai and habanero; strong habanero nose, chia lends a near ginger edge; lingering heat/burn; chocolate elements of the original Stout are fleshed out with mango pulp and a rich blend of spices; another odd one from Justin that works just the same;

May 14, 2019

136/2736) Home: Hops and Robbers Suckerpunch IPA by Double Trouble Brewing of Ontario:  *; 6.5%, 38 ibu; variously described and a Sour and Tart IPA or a sour Farmhouse IPA; nose is, well, tart and sour with tannins; lemony sour with mild grapefruit notes; not exactly working for me;


137/2737) Home:  Icebreaker Brut IPA by Whitewater Brewing Co. of Ontario:  *1/2; 5%, 46 ibu; nose of grapefruit zest; dry taste, dry finish, dry after taste;


May 13, 2019

134/2734) Home:  Eclipse Milkshake India Pale Ale by Lost Craft of Ontario:  **; 6.0%; brewed with the addition of wheat, oats and lactose; herbal, Asian Tea nose; much drier than most milkshake IPAs; dry herbal, floral flavours;


135/2735) Home:  Wright House Red Ale by Furnace Room Brewery of Ontario:  **; 5%, 15 ibu; named for Harry Wright's Station House which he took over in 1913 as a place for beer and a meal at the end of a train ride; remnants can be seen from the brewery; brewed with the addition of wheat; sweet, malty caramel nose; malty with caramel notes; not as sweet as many red ales and very nice for it;

May 11, 2019

132/2732) Fionn's, Brampton:  Fat Tire Amber Ale by New Belgium of Colorado, U.S.A.:  *1/2; 5.2%, 22 ibu; malty nose; sweet and biscuity with mild caramel notes;

133/2733) Home:  Magma by Brouwerij The Musketeers of Belgium:  **; 9%, 45 ibu; from their Troubadour series; a Tripel; dry hopped, refermented in the bottle; yeasty nose; yeast and spice flavours, spice lingering into after taste;


It is liquid, but not hot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVo1S52xdpI


May 10, 2019

131/2731) Mugshot Tavern, Toronto:  Paper Salesman IPA by Dominion City of Ontario:  **; 5.6%; cloudy, nearly murky; citrus pulp nose; citrus, particularly grapefruit flavours;

The Mugshot Tavern is very close to High Park but I suspect it would have been busy even if the cherry blossoms were not at peak bloom.

May 9, 2019

130/2730) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Suspiciously Long Hug by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 5.6%, 40 ibu; on cask; Saint Stout with cranberry and almond; berried edge to the nose; cranberries add acidic notes to the stout; almond add perhaps a touch of richness, especially to the after taste but beyond that they are scarcely present;

May 6, 2019

129/2729) Home:  0.97 Low Alcohol Pale Ale by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  **; 0.97%; reminds me a bit of Ransack the Universe; citrusy, tropical nose; fresh and fruity;

This is not Bellwoods' first attempt at a low alcohol beer but it has an even lower abv than Stay Classy.  Both are fine beers first, low alcohol second.

May 4, 2019

128/2728) The 3 Brewers, Yonge Street:  Memento Mori by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 9.4%, 30 ibu; a Belgian Tripel; yeasty, sugary nose, hint of dark fruit; quite aggressively sweet - candi sugar sweet, not dark sugar sweet; I can only manage the one; I like it but at the same time I wish there was something to balance all that sweetness;

May 1, 2019

127/2727) Home:  Northern Lights Hazy IPA by Bobcaygeon Brewing Company of Ontario:  **1/2; 6.1%, 30 ibu; usual four ingredients plus wheat and oats; hazy; citrusy, tropical nose; fresh citrus, tropical; no hint of the bitterness that I had been expecting; very nice;


April 30, 2019

125/2725) Home:  Dynamo Cream Lager by Furnace Room Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2; 5%, 10 ibu; named for Georgetown's first electricity generator; minerally nose; usual mineral notes of a cream ale but there is a sweetness which is unusual and a malty fruitiness;

126/2726) Home:  Gravel Run Session IPA by Cowbell Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; 4.5%, 40 ibu;  Asian tea notes to nose; I suspect Sorachi Ace hops; Asian tea, citrus and tropical notes;

A gravel run was a "spirited trip over rural back roads with great friends, usually involving a lively destination with cold libations".


April 28, 2019

123/2723) Home:  Dark and Sticky IBA by Cameron's Brewing of Ontario:  **; 5.5% India Brown Ale; nose is roast and grapefruit zest; sweet biscuity notes, touch of coffee and roasted malt;

124/2724) Home:  12 Mile India Pale Lager by Cameron's Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2; 5.2%; named for 12 Mile Creek, a gathering place for early pioneers; brewed with lager yeast and New World hops; pours clear; citrusy nose; mildly citrusy flavours;

Sunday 23 June 2019

April 27, 2019

116/2716) Birreria Volo:  Hoppy Fingers by Unfiltered Brewing of Nova Scotia:  **;  a 4.8% American Pale Ale; tropical fruit nose; fresh, tropical; bitter resiny finish;

Today was billed as An Afternoon With Unfiltered Brewing.  Owner Andrew Murphy was there and I managed a few words with him towards the end of my stay.

117/2717) Birreria Volo:  Fist of God by Unfiltered Brewing of Nova Scotia:  **1/2; a 7.5%; double IPA; cloudy; citrus nose; citrus and tropical flavours with a fruity finish;

118/2718) Birreria Volo:  Twelve Years To Zion by Unfiltered Brewing of Nova Scotia:  **; an 8% double IPA; clear; fresh tropical nose; thin mouthfeel; muted tropical flavours;

119/2719) Birreria Volo:  Inducement by Unfiltered Brewing of Nova Scotia:  **1/2; a 7.5% double IPA; cloudy, nearly murky; citrus, tropical nose; citrus, apple with tropical fruit at the finish;

120/2720) Birreria Volo:  Flat Black Jesus by Unfiltered Brewing of Nova Scotia:  **; a 7% American Stout; nose of dark coffee, bitter cocoa; astringent unsweetened cocoa flavours with roasty, almost burnt malt;

121/2721) Birreria Volo:  2019 Commissar by Unfiltered Brewing of Nova Scotia:  ***; 11%; a Russian Imperial Stout aged on oak; sweet nose of rum hides the alcohol very well; tastes of rum, oak, bitter chocolate;  marvellous;

122/2722) Birreria Volo:  Dark Arts:  Surreal Stout by Magic Rock Brewing of England:  **1/2; 6%; roasted malt nose; flavours of cocoa and cola with touch of fruitiness; this was from a can;

I was sufficiently intrigued by the name to deviate from the wares of Unfiltered Brewing however, even with five ounce pours, at this point in the festivities I am not sure if I am qualified to comment on how surreal it truly was.

April 26, 2019

115/2715) Home:  Early Bird Breakfast Barley Wine by Cameron's Brewing of Ontario:  **; 11.8%, 80 ibu; aged in bourbon barrels with Ontario maple syrup and cold steeped coffee; brewed with Chinook hops; strong coffee nose with alcohol; flavours of bourbon, sweet maple, coffee and warming alcohol; a candidate for aging;

My wife picked this up at the brewery in Oakville.


April 25, 2019

114/2714) Home:  Monty Python's Holy Grail by Black Sheep Brewing of England:  *1/2; a 4.5% golden ale "tempered over burning witches";  sweet, malty nose; cereal, biscuit notes; not so bad but I wished for better given the circumstances and all;

The label advises this, "goes beautifully with Spam™", albatross or battered herring"; It is from Yorkshire, like the individual who introduced me to Monty Python back in high school.  This beer was originally commissioned to commemorate Python's 30th anniversary and I kept the bottle at the time.  It is next to the six pack that has returned to Ontario recently.


April 24, 2019

113/2713) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Fish Sauce by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *1/2; 4.7%, 18 ibu; billed as a Hefeweizen or a Pad Thai White; cask; their White with peanut butter, tamarind, lime peel and habanero; sweet peanut nose; mostly peanut, the lime and tamarind kick in at the lingering mildly burning finish;

April 22, 2019

112/2712) Home:  Black Raspberry Thunder Milkshake IPA by Muskoka Brewery of Ontario:  **:  6%; brewed in collaboration with the Kawartha Dairy; brewed with the addition of wheat, oats, black raspberries, raspberries, lactose and vanilla; nose and flavours of a sweet raspberry parfait;


April 21, 2109

There is some doubt, or rather the absence of a definitive pronouncement, but it appears that the brewery at Black Creek Pioneer Village will not re-open for 2019.  The website still proclaims, "Something's BREWING at the Village" and the emphasis is their's, and what's more we are urged to "Quench your thirst for history!" but almost immediately one reads that the brewery is "now closed" which means I have accumulated more growlers that I cannot return for the deposit.

April 20, 2019

110/2710) Home:  Vimy Cream Ale by Vimy Brewing Company of Ontario:  *1/2; 5%; Reinheitsgebot compliant; clear; grainy nose with mild fruity sweetness; not as minerally as many cream ales; biscuity, grainy flavours;

Had I been thinking, I would have consumed this on the anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

111/2711) Home:  Paper Chase Birchwood Ale by Beau's All Natural Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2; 5.8%, 27 ibu; a FeBREWary offering from Beau's Wild Oats series; usual four ingredients plus oats and birch bark; aged on roasted Canadian birch wood; described as "delicious (and deciduous)"; woodsy sweet nose; herbal, sweet; an odd one;


April 18, 2019

108/2708) Wvrst, Union Station, Toronto:  Pine Tar Incident by Left Field Brewery of Ontario:  **; 6.6%'; juicy, tropical nose;  tropical flavours with a mildly dry finish; 

For further information on the notorious pine tar incident see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbEHAsZxRYo

Clearly, the umpires made the correct call and what's more George Brett ought to have been suspended for his physical altercation with the umpires.  I may like George Brett and I may dislike Billy Martin but Billy was in the right in this instance.  If only he had chosen a better pitching coach, but that is even farther off topic.

109/2709) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Shere Khan Orange Stout by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **1/2; 5.6%, 40 ibu; cask; Saint Stout with orange and chocolate; nose is fresh unsweetened orange; dark chocolate finish; notes of orange zest and dark chocolate;  possibly the best cask Jason has come up with;

This is post "Four Chords and a Gun" at the Fleck Dance Theatre at Harbourfront with my eldest son.  A very nice, very intimate venue.  I am glad I didn't break the bank for the most expensive seats because every seat seems like a pretty good spot.  It is billed as a play followed by a concert, albeit a brief concert.

April 17, 2019

107/2707) Home:  Hazed & Confused Juicy IPA by Muskoka Brewery of Ontario:  **; 6.5%; "a graduate of our Moonlight Kettle series"; brewed with the addition of oats and wheat; cloudy; sweet, tropical nose; tropical flavours; unusually sweet but with a bitter, resiny finish;



April 16, 2019

106/2706) Home:  Fortunate Islands by Modern Times of California, U.S.A.:  **1/2; 5%, 46 ibu; pours golden; opaque; brewed with Citra and Amarillo hops; wonderfully fresh nose of tropical fruit; fresh mango and tangerine notes;

"This beer is vegan." The tin quotes Lewis Mumford, ""Forget the damned motor car and build the cities for lovers and friends".  This was purchased in the midst of the condominium maze that is Toronto.



Saturday 22 June 2019

April 13, 2019

105/2705) Home:  AK 1870 English Bitter by Amsterdam Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2; 4.7%, 40 ibu; an Adventure Brew; brewed with beer historian Gary Gillman using U.K. grown hop varieties and Chevalier U.K. heritage barley malt; leaf hop, Goldings hops; honey and black tea nose; tea, especially in the after taste, and berries;

A fascinating story.  Mr. Gillman give the details on his blog:  Amsterdam 1870 AK Bitter

April 12, 2019

104/2704) Home:  Tradition Oatmeal Stout by Amsterdam Brewery of Ontario:  **; 4.4%, 28 ibu; an Adventure Brew; roasty nose with coffee; dark cocoa, touch of fruit and coffee;


April 11, 2019

102/2702) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  The Steamer by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *; 5.3%, 25 ibu; a California Common or steam beer; very clear; malty, mildly bitter, minerally edge to the nose; minerally flavours like a cream ale; sort of unremarkable but I'll bet it goes well with the sauerkraut hot dog they are advertising;

103/2703) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Don't Tempt Me, Frodo! by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *1/2;  5.6%, 40 ibu; on cask; Saint Stout w/ith espresso, vanilla and sarsaparilla; nose is very forward sarsaparilla and vanilla; espresso lends a bitter backdrop to the sweet vanilla and sarsaparilla, a bit too much so for my liking;

April 9, 2019

101/2701) Home:  Thomas Hardy's Vintage Ale 2017 by Meantime Brewing of England:  ***; 11.7%; brewed with cane sugar; bottle number 30202; boozy, dark fruit, nearly what one would associate with a Belgian beer's nose; alcohol, sweet dark fruit; rich and wonderful;

The return of a classic beer, long missed.  I am glad I bought that second bottle to age.


The bottle on the left goes back a good many years.

April 8, 2019

100/2700) Home:  Boundless IPA by Creemore Springs of Ontario:  **; 5.1%; brewed with barley and wheat; pours clear; mildly tropical nose; tropical notes with a hint of mustiness;


April 6, 2109

97/2697) Bandit Brewery, Toronto:  Orage DIPA by Bandit Brewery of Ontario:  **; 8%; double dry hopped with Galaxy, Mosaic and Columbus hops; tropical nose; mango and passionfruit flavours with a resiny edge;

98/2698) Bandit Brewery, Toronto:  Mangrove IPA by Bandit Brewery of Ontario:  **; 6.8%; brewed with Simcoe, Columbus and Galaxy hops; fresh tropical nose; tropical flavours, black peppery finish;

99/2699) Mugshot Tavern, Toronto:  Ball Drop Champagne Ale by Stack Brewing of Ontario:  **; 11%, 33 ibu; billed as a Belgian Triple; twice fermented with champagne yeast; champagne like nose, sparkling mouthfeel; a dance of champagne and mild hops; an unusual one;

The Mugshot Tavern is a great place for a meal.  The walls are adorned with mugshots of celebrities from Vince Vaughn to Vince Offer.

April 4, 2019

96/2696) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  When I Was A Young Warthog by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *; 6%, 25 ibu; on cask; Paths of the Dead Porter with bacon and sea salt; salty at first then a hint of bacon emerges;  I am not convinced but the backdrop porter is nice;

April 3, 2019

95/2695) IPA No.9:  Brut India Pale Ale by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **1/2; 7.1%; brewed with Azacca and Citra hops; unfiltered yet only mildly hazy/translucent; pours a  golden colour; double dry hopped; citrus and mango nose; not so dry as bruts can be; tropical flavours and bubblegum;



April 2, 2019

93/2693) Home:  ESB by Beau's All Natural Brewing of Ontario:  **; a 5% Extra Special Bitter; rich, sweet, malty, hints of caramel; very nice;




94/2694) Home:  Bride of Shucky Oyster Stout by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  **;  5%, 10 ibu; from their 7 Barrel Series; brewed with the usual four ingredients plus "mollusks"; sweet chocolate nose; sweet chocolate and mocha flavours with a mild hint of the sea;

March 30, 2019

90/2690) Wenona Craft Beer Lodge:  Galactic Dry Hopped with Azacca by Granite Brewery of Ontario:  **; on cask; mildly piney nose; malty with mild pine notes;

Today was a Cask Social.  The announcement featured this curious note "…this will be the Galactic Pale Ale brewed with Galaxy hops!"

91/2691)  Wenona Craft Beer Lodge:  IIPA by Godspeed Craft Brewing of Ontario:  **1/2;  8%; grapefruit zest nose; resiny with a citrus finish;

This was on draught, not cask, but Nicholas Pashley assured me no legal proceedings would result.

92/2692) Wenona Craft Beer Lodge:  ESB by Neustadt Brewery of Ontario:  **;   very English; dry malty nose; fruity, malty;

I also had time to exchange pleasantries with Mirella Amato but I had to dash back to Brampton to wish a fellow Tracks Brewpub regular well on the journey he is about to embark on.  The whole affair felt like a wake.  He is looking distressingly frail and I fear there will be another wake - my fourth in fourteen months - sooner rather than later.  My wife thinks there is a lesson for me about all the time I spend at Tracks Brewpub.

Friday 21 June 2019

March 29 2019

88/2688) Home:  Henderson Cup by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **;  6.8%; Henderson's Ides of February 2019 release; a traditional bock; winner of the 3rd annual Henderson home brewing competition; a lovely dark bock; sweeter than I am used to with those caramel notes but very nice;

89/2689) Home:  7² by The Exchange Brewery of Ontario:  **; 7%, 71 ibu; a New England IPA brewed with Amarillo, Citra, El Dorado, Galaxy and Mosaic hops; unpasteurized; relatively clear, only slightly misty; citrus and peach nose; dry, nearly bitter finish; juicy and citrusy; not so far of the New England IPA mark as some suggest;


March 28, 2019

87/2687) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Golden Slumbers by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 6.5%, 30 ibu; cask; Rustic Whiteout with orange peel, chamomile, cardamom and honey;  nose of orange zest, honey, spice;  sweet orange flavours with peppery spices, faint bubblegum notes and mint;  another one well suited for summer;

March 27, 2019

86/2686) Home:  Flagship IPA by Steamworks Brewing Co. of British Columbia:  **; 6.7%, 65 ibu; brewed with Mosaic, Galaxy and Citra hops; fresh lemony Asian tea nose; largely Asian tea with lemony notes towards the finish;



Thursday 20 June 2019

March 26, 2019

84/2684) Home:  The Ugly by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **; 8.4%; brewed in collaboration with Brewdog of Scotland; a Belgian dark strong ale; dark fruit, dark sugar nose; tastes of alcohol and dark fruit; very rich;

Named for Toronto a punk band from 1978, The Ugly, founded by one Sam Ugly and fronted by the late Michael Nightmare.  If I recall correctly they feature in soundtrack and DVD of The Last Pogo.


85/2685) Home:  Hespeler Village IPA by Hespeler Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **; 6%; an English style IPA brewed with Cascade and Centennial hops from Tavistock; as billed, very much in the English style; very malty with dry hoppiness;


March 25, 2019

83/2683) Home:  Le Petit Best by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **; a 3.5% "ordinary bitter"; rich and malty in the English style;

"Fournisseur de lubrification social"



Wednesday 19 June 2019

March 24, 2019

75/2675) Birreria Volo:  Péché Mortel Bourbon 2019 by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  **1/2; 9.5%; alcohol and bourbon nose; alcohol, bourbon, vanilla, coffee flavours;

Yesterday was Péché Day but I attended the Happy Birthday Bach Walk with my wife and my daughter.  These are the day after Péché Day leftovers.

76/2676) Birreria Volo:  Fortified by Tooth & Nail of Ontario:  **; a 9.5% Imperial Oatmeal Stout with coffee and chocolate; on nitro; modestly sweet chocolate nose; thick and creamy mouthfeel; sweet chocolate and dark coffee flavours;

While we had a glass or two at Louis Cifer yesterday we ate dinner at the Edmund Burke - highly recommended.

77/2677) Birreria Volo:  April by Burdock Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2; a 3.8% stout; on nitro; coffee notes to nose; tastes rather washed out with notes of weak coffee;

Of course I did hear lots about what I missed out on by people who were there the day before as well but I had a hard enough time deciding what to order as it was.

78/2678) Birreria Volo:  Same IPA Different Day by Barncat Artisan Ales of Ontario:  **; a 6.8% American IPA; strong fresh citrusy nose; flavours of grapefruit, peach, mango;

These were all five ounce pours.

79/2679) Birreria Volo:  Lazy Bones by Rainhard Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **; 6.7% double dry hopped IPA; sweet citrusy nose contrasts with a sharp dry citrusy, especially grapefruit, flavours;

80/2680) Birreria Volo:  Battle Jacket by Barncat Artisan Ales of Ontario:  **; 8.2% double IPA; juicy, pulpy citrus nose; grapefruit and peach flavours;

81/2681) Birreria Volo:  Bump & Grind by Barncat Artisan Ales of Ontario:  **; 8% stout with lactose and coffee; espresso nose; dark coffee flavours with a hint of sweetness;

82/2682) Birreria Volo:  Scoop by Leftfield Brewery of Ontario:  **; a 7.1% Tartufo dessert stout with lactose,cherry and cacao; sweet chocolate and cherry nose; cocoa with a snap of cherries;



Tuesday 18 June 2019

March 23, 2019

73/2673) Louis Cifer, Toronto:  Belialed Bourbon by Louis Cifer Brew Works of Ontario:  **; 8%, 50 ibu; Imperial Stout with bourbon and oak; bourbon and dark coffee nose; bourbon edge with notes of vanilla and mild oakiness;

74/2674) Louis Cifer, Toronto:  Gothic American Brown Ale by Louis Cifer Brew Works of Ontario:  *1/2; 5.8%, 36 ibu; brewed with citra hops; bitter edge to the nose; roasty flavours; the dry finish reminds me of a black IPA;  a fine brown ale but the Citra hops feel out of place;

March 21, 2019

71/2671) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Tale As Old As Time by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *1/2; 6%, 30 ibu; cask; Rustic Whiteout Saison dry-hopped with Ekuanot and Nelson Sauvin hops, accented with a hint of hibiscus flower; faint grapefruit to the nose; peppery, mildly citrusy; 

72/2672) Home:  HOPeration SMASH New England IPA by North American Craft of Ontario:  **; 6.2%, 62 ibu; brewed with El Dorado and Comet hops; usual four ingredients plus wheat flakes; citrus and Asian tea nose; similar flavours with tannins; tea notes feature prominently in the after taste;


March 20, 2019

70/2670) Home:  Etobicoke Collab #1 New England Pale Ale by South Etobicoke Brewers:  **; 5.5%; pours cloudy; zest and pulpy citrus nose; juicy and citrusy;

South Etobicoke Brewers is a collaboration between Black Oak, Great Lakes Brewing, Indie Ale House, Von Bugle and Big Rock;

March 14, 2019

68/2668) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Genie In A Bottle Baby by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 6%, 30 ibu; cask; Rustic Whiteout with green apple, lime peel and ginger; cloudy appearance; mildly tart, fruity nose; the fruits are in the foreground, ginger less so;  would be great in the summer;

69/2669) Home:  Hearts Collide 2018 Stout by Rainhard Brewing of Ontario:  **1/2; an 11% stout aged in rum barrels for 12 months; bottle 214 of 412; sweet, spiced nose with alcohol and oak;  I can taste alcohol and sweet rum, especially in the aftertaste; the best of the bunch that I picked up at the brewery;

Monday 17 June 2019

March 11, 2019

66/2666) Home: The Boss: East Coast IPA, Family Style by Syndicate Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **; 4.5%, 40 ibu; only very slightly hazy; I am getting the pulpy East Coast nose, but it is milder than often; juicy with a bitter finish; slightly washed out;


"Bad guys making good beer";

67/2667) Home:  Hearts Collide 2018 by Rainhard Brewing of Ontario:  *; 11.5%; stout aged in bourbon barrels for two years with vanilla beans; bottle 128 of 412; nose is red wine with a hint of vanilla; possibly spoiled - I have witnessed this far too often of late; red wint, hint of oak, hint of vanilla;

March 9, 2019

63/2663) Home:  Harry Porter Vanilla by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2; 6.5%, 20 ibu; purchased at Great Lakes Brewery; nose is roast and vanilla; roastiness of the original is sweetened with vanilla; very  nice, perhaps even an improvement on the original;


64/2664) Home:  61 Deep Pale Ale by Marston's Brewery of England:  *; 4.1%; 61 metres is the depth of the well at the brewery; 5 American and Australian hops; clear; musty nose; pilsner-ish flavours, grassy hops;


The tin reads,  "Dive in".

65/2665) Home: Cult Hero DIPA by Rainhard Brewing of Ontario: **;  7.8%;brewed with pilsner malt; hops are Cryo Citra, Cyro Columbus (I'm not sure if that is a typo or not) and Ahtanum; pours hazy; citrusy nose, especially orange and grapefruit; citrusy flavours with hints of pine at the finish;

Sunday 16 June 2019

March 8, 2019

62/2662) Home:  Hearts Collide 2019 by Rainhard Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; 11.5% stout aged in bourbon barrels for two years; raisin and licorice nose; red wine, alcohol flavours;

Purchased at the brewery - mine was bottle #425 of 412 which is a neat trick.


March 7, 2019

61/2661) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  That Creek At Lamaze by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; a 6%, 30 ibu Saison/Farmhouse; this cask is their Rustic Whiteout with Simcoe hops and spruce;  Sam describes it as "woodsy";  pine and citrus nose; spruce highlights the hops nicely;

March 6, 2019

60/2660) Home:  Mad & Noisy Coconut Porter by Creemore Springs Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2; 5.6%; nose is deep roasted malt; I am getting only a touch of coconut if any at all; mostly dark roast and coffee;


March 5, 2019

59/2659) Home:  Heir Apparent by Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery of Virginia, U.S.A.:  **1/2; 11.7% , 60 ibu; an Imperial Stout with peppers, vanilla and cinnamon; the nose is like a spiced Péché Mortel - coffee grounds and chili; warming, lingering chili spice flavours throughout with coffee grounds; cinnamon mostly adds a degree of dryness;



March 3, 2019

I am not sold on the idea of pubs having Twitter accounts for anything beyond sharing beer lists and news of upcoming events.  It seems to easy to offend potential or existing customers or to look foolish.

C'est What has had a pair of regrettable tweets over the past two days.  On March 1st they marked the 46th anniversary of the release of Pink Floyd's remarkable Dark Side Of The Moon by quoting from the follow-up Wish You Were Here. 

The following day they passed along a quotation which has been attributed to Dr. Suess for a long time in the complete absence of any evidence that he had ever said or written it. "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." is a lovely sentiment but there is no indication it came from Dr. Seuss.

March 2, 2019

One observes many things at a pub and as a public service I will share a lesson in how to be asked to leave The 3 Brewers.  Last time I was at The 3 Brewers I noticed the individual sitting beside me had returned with a small plate of food.  It seemed odd that no one had run it to him but I carried on.

Soon after a manager asked if he could have a word and they stepped away.  It turns out there was a party booked, as often there is, and he had taken a plate and helped himself.  I found it hilarious and I suppose there is a logic to it.  There was all sorts of food left over but the fact is the party organisers pay twenty five or thirty dollars a person so one should not need to be told it is not on to step in and take a plate.



March 1, 2019

58/2658) Home:  No Place Like Home by Black Oak of Ontario:  *; 5%, 24 ibu; purchased at the brewery; a barrel aged Nut Brown Ale brewed with two wild yeast strains; aged in Rioja wine barrels; a take on one of their first recipes; to my mind, the wild yeast ruins this; tart nose overshadows the hints of chocolate and oak; chocolate and oak are stronger in the taste but still overshadowed; would have been a full maybe one and a half stars higher without the wild yeast;




February 28, 2019

57/2657) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Nuttin' On You Peanut Butter Cup Porter by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 6%, 30 ibu; Paths of the Dead porter with peanut butter, chocolate, vanilla and lactose; a similarly named beer from a while ago used the Brown ale as its base;  strong peanut nose; peanut overshadows chocolate and coffee notes to a degree; sweet owing to use of both vanilla and lactose;

February 27, 2019

56/2656) Home:  Henderson's Beast 2018 by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **1/2; a 12% bourbon barrel aged Imperial Amber Ale; aged 9 months; very strong but warming, boozy bourbon nose; sweet, dark sugary, boozy; quite something;

February 26, 2019

55/2655) Home:  Runes - Galaxy and Centennial by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  **; a 6.7% double dry hopped IPA; nose of stone fruit, especially peach; peach and grapefruit flavours;


February 25, 2019

53/2653) Mill Street Brewpub:  Scadding Cabin IPA by Mill Street of Ontario:  **; 6.8%, 79 ibu; brewed with Simcoe, Chinook and Cascade hops; piney nose; piney notes, mild bitterness against a biscuity malt backdrop;

Named for the oldest known surviving house in Toronto (1794).

54/2654) Mill Street Brewpub: Corktown Porter by Mill Street of Ontario:  **; 6.5%, 31 ibu; brewed in collaboration with Longslice; roasted malt and coffee nose; in the Irish style, roasty with mild coffee notes;

This was the Distillery District location, after a late afternoon at the annual Lights Festival.

Wednesday 12 June 2019

February 23, 2109

50/2650) Rainhard Brewing Co., Toronto:  Dark Fire by Rainhard Brewing Co. of Ontario:  *1/2; a 7% barrel aged stout with cocoa, coconut and Scotch bonnet pepper; mild spice to the nose with bourbon;  sweet chocolate and coconut with lingering heat in the after taste;

51/2651) Monk's Kettle, Etobicoke:  Irish Stout by Beau's All Natural Brewing of Ontario:  **; 4.1%, 39 ibu; dry coffee nose; roasty coffee notes;  a solid Irish stout;

The Great Lakes Brewing coaster my glass was set down on read, "Keep tippin' your glass in the right direction".

51/2652) Home:  Canadian Brown Ale by Batch Brewing of Ontario:  **; 5.8%; mildly sweet nose; rich and malty;

February 22, 2019

49/2649) Home:  Sparklepuff Triple IPA by Flying Monkeys of Ontario:  **; 10.2%; 37 ibu; strong peach nose; mostly peach flavours with a hint of resin; the alcohol is very well disguised;

I have read comments of globules afloat but this is so murky it is hard to say.


February 21, 2019

48/2648) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Like Angels Sighing by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 6%, 35 ibu; cask - Rustic Whiteout with Nelson Sauvin and Sorachi Ace hops; lemony nose; lemon flavours, Asian teas especially in the after taste;

Tuesday 11 June 2019

February 20, 2019

47/2647) Home:  Rube Goldbeer Belgian Tripel by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **1/2; 8%; sweet, yeasty, fruity nose; tastes of dark sugar, yeast and dried fruit;

There is a Rube Goldberg machine at Henderson Brewing.   I saw it in action the last time I was there, when I picked this up.  It opens a bottle in a foamy manner.

February 14, 2019

46/2646) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Sticky Fingers Smores Porter by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **1/2; 6%; their Paths of the Dead Porter with chocolate, lactose, cinnamon, marshmallow, molasses and honey;  nose of chocolate and maple sweetness;  sweet chocolate, maple and vanilla notes;

February 13, 2019

44/2644) C'est What:  Polar Vortex Porter by Royal City Brewing of Ontario:  **; 4.8%, 20 ibu; "Made with REAL vanilla"; nose of vanilla, chocolate, coffee; sweet vanilla and chocolate flavours; 

An appropriate choice in the wake of another ice storm that closed both rinks I tried to visit.

45/2645) C'est What:  Paulie Walnut Brown Ale by Silversmith Brewing of Ontario:  **;  5.5%; very dark brown; sweet nutty nose; sweet, malty, nutty notes;

Today is C'est What's 31st anniversary.  They took 31% off my lunch bill.

Monday 10 June 2019

February 12, 2019

43/2643) Home:  Imperial Porter Winter Warmer by Batch Toronto of Ontario:  **;  8.6%; bottled January 17; roasty nose; roasty, nearly burnt malt flavours; only a hint of all that alcohol, at the finish;

Strictly speaking this was brewed by Creemore Springs at Batch Brewery.

February 10, 2019

42/2642) Home:  Duchess Caroline Imperial Porter by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **; 10%, 70 ibu; aged four months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels; nose is vanilla, alcohol and dark coffee; tastes of roasted malt, dark coffee - little vanilla or oak to the palate; this is the third time around for these barrels, by their count;

February 9, 2019

40/2640) beerbistro:  Revealed Constellations by Eastbound Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **; 4.4%; citrusy nose; pulpy, grapefruit notes;

41/2641) Home:  By Any Other Name by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **; a 10%, 80 ibu Cinnamon bun stout brewed in collaboration with Rosen's Cinnamon Buns; brewed with Rosen's cinnamon bun paste, cinnamon and vanilla;  Ides of December 2018 release; I think this would benefit from aging; cinnamon bun nose; very sweet but there is a bitter finish;

Sunday 9 June 2019

February 8, 2019

39/2639) Home:  Whiskey Barrel Stout by Boulevard Brewing Company of Missouri, U.S.A.:  **1/2; an 11.8%, 32 ibu barrel aged imperial stout; roasted malt and coffee nose; flavours of alcohol, dark fruit, licorice, oak; lovely;


February 7, 2019

37/2637) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Rustic Whiteout by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *1/2; 6%, 35 ibu; Saison/Farmhouse Ale; faintly lemony nose; flavours of lemon with a snap of rye; dry after taste; it must be the yeast that puts me off saisons - this is made with their "house" yeast and I like this one more than most;

38/2638) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Mornings With Gerhardus by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *; cask; 6%, 60 ibu; their IPA with maple and coffee; strong sweet maple nose; opens with maple, splashes of coffee and pine at the finish with a bitter after taste;  I wanted to like this one but it's a bit of a mess - the elements do not work together for me;

February 4, 2019

36/2636) Home: Daily Bread Ale by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  **; brewed in collaboration with the Drake Commissary; named for Toronto's Daily Bread food bank; a dry hopped pale ale brewed with leftover bread from the Drake Commissary; a Sourdough pale ale; yes, it has a bready - sourdough - nose with citrus; fresh citrus flavours, bitter after taste; I wasn't sure I would like this one;


February 3, 2019

34/2634) Home:  Alexei by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2; Bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout with Detour coffee; aged four months in Kentucky bourbon barrels; a blend of bourbon and coffee to the nose; tastes a bit like Peche Mortel but the vanilla and coffee are more up front while the "dirt" or "mud" notes are toned down; very nice;

35/2635) Home:  Ghost Cow by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2; 7.1%, 18 ibu; a milk stout with ghost peppers and cocoa; brewed with flaked oats, lactose, cocoa, Scotch bonnet, habanero and ghost peppers; considering the ingredients, a remarkable roasty nose; only the mildest of heat with sweet cocoa notes;

The bottle reads, "The way of the Samurai".


February 2, 2019

33/2633) Home:  Nikita by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **; 11.9%, 60 ibu; Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with vanilla and strawberry; aged four months in Kentucky Bourbon barrels;  sweet vanilla strawberry shake nose; the vanilla does not stand out, rather adds sweetness to the strawberry; bourbon and alcohol assert themselves at the finish;


These were picked up at the brewery in late November.

Saturday 8 June 2019

January 31, 2019

32/2632) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  One Night With You by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *; 4.8%, 28 ibu; cask; a sour-gose; their Brown with hibiscus, French oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, sea salt; smells like the ocean, very salty with chocolate notes; a bit of a mess for my unfashionable tastes; salty, bitter, hides most of the character of the original; as it warms I am getting lemony notes;

January 30, 2019

31/2631) Home:  Black Butte XXX by deschutes Brewery of Oregon, U.S.A.: **1/2; 13.6%; 30th birthday reserve; a porter brewed with Dutched cocoa, wheat malt, soy flour; aged in eight different types of oak barrels; nose is alcohol, whiskey, oak, bitter chocolate; sweet oaky notes, dried fruit, alcohol; marvellous but it must be said, I have experienced its equal at a fraction of the price;


January 29, 2019

30/2630) Home:  Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **; 11.5%; nose of vanilla, oak, bourbon, alcohol; blends flavours of vanilla, raisins, roasted malt; splash of dark coffee at finish;

Very warming after shoveling snow in a high wind during a deep freeze for a second consecutive evening.


January 28, 2019

29/2629) Home:  Collective Project:  IPA No. 8 by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **1/2; 8%; a double IPA brewed with Simcoe, Moutere and Columbus hops; also, barley malt, wheat malt, oats, dextrose; unfiltered; hazy; nose is oranges and grapefruit zest; flavours are tropical:  mango, papaya; mildly bitter finish; lovely;



Friday 7 June 2019

January 25, 2019

28/2628) Home:  Silkie Stout by Loch Lomond Brewery of Scotland:  **; the label reads 5.0%, while the sticker applied by the LCBO indicates 5.8%; an Oatmeal Stout; mocha nose; dry mocha flavours; smooth, soft mouthfeel;

I drank this to observe Robbie Burns Day.


January 24, 2019

27/2627) Home: Speyside Oak Aged Blonde Ale by Belhaven Brewery of Scotland:  *1/2; 6.5%; aged in whisky seasoned oak; sweet nose; notes of oak and unusually sweet vanilla;

Thursday 6 June 2019

January 23, 2019

26/2626) Home:  Scottish Oat Stout by Belhaven Brewery of Scotland:  **; 7%; brewed with roasted barley and oats and three types of malt; the brewmaster writes a piece for each label of this set which is nice; malty, roasty nose; notes of coffee, chocolate, roast; a lovely example of the style;

January 22, 2019

25/2625) Home:  Craft Pilsner by Belhaven Brewery of Scotland:  *1/2; 4.8%; brewed with 100% Scottish barley and water drawn from their own well; perfectly clear; sharp central European hop nose; biscuity berry notes; subdued hop snap;

Wednesday 5 June 2019

January 21, 2019

24/2624) Home:  90/~ Wee Heavy Rich Scottish Ale by Belhaven Brewery of Scotland:  **; 7.4%; "like Christmas cake in a glass"; sweet malt and alcohol nose; spice, dried fruit; sweet malt; warming;


January 19, 2109

22/2622) Home:  Vanishing Point 02 by Innis & Gunn of Scotland:  **1/2; 11% Imperial Stout; aged 365 days in first fill bourbon barrels; 2nd of a series; someday I might tire of bourbon barrel aging but not yet; oak, vanilla and bourbon nose; sweeter than many bourbon barrel aged stouts - less stout, more bourbon barrel than many, perhaps owing to length of barrelling;

23/2623) Home:  Peanut Butter Milkshake by Whitewater Brewing Co. of Ontario:  *1/2; 4.5%, 30 ibu; a peanut butter stout; brewed with lactose, chocolate extract, peanut extract, wheat and flaked oats; super strong peanut nose; very sweet, nearly off-puttingly so; peanutty with a hint of chocolate; interesting and fun but I cannot picture myself doing this again;