Thursday 23 April 2020

February 13, 2020

44/3024) Goose Island Brewhouse, Toronto:  Don't Hassle Me, I'm Local by Goose Island Beer Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; a 5.5% American Pale Ale; orangey nose; brewed with locally sourced Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial hops; bright and citrusy;

45/3025) C'est What:  Lorna Bray Fly Girl (nitro) by Cowbell Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2; 5.1%, 20 ibu; mild mocha nose; muted mocha flavours;

Lorna Bray is the latest Blyth native to be commemorated by Cowbell.  Her flying career began at the age of sixteen.  In addition to flying she parachuted, became a flying instructor and an aviation inspector.

February 12, 2020

43/3023) Home:  Dasha by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2; an 11.9% Cognac barrel aged Imperial stout; brewed with barley malt, wheat malt and oats; nose of oaky booziness, hint of cognac;  flavours of cognac, dark roast, oak, alcohol; marvellous;

From their 2019 UVB-76 release.



February 11, 2020

42/3022) Home:  The Iron Bridge Brown IPA by Furnace Room Brewery of Ontario:  **; 5.7%, 32 ibu; brewed with "barley and malted barley"; as billed, like a hoppy brown ale; nose very much that of an IPA, with grapefruit notes; a rich brown ale with chocolate notes and at the same time, pine and grapefruit; as much as I like this, I would like it even better if it were split into two beers;

The Iron Bridge, or Grand Railway Bridge was built in 1859 to cross Grand River and it is still in use today.


Wednesday 22 April 2020

February 10, 2020

41/3021) Home:  Chicken Man Pale Ale by Furnace Room Brewery of Ontario: **; 5.4%, 30 ibu; brewerd with malted barley and wheat as well as three hop varieties, though these are not mentioned; malty nose with mild citrus; mild citrus, malt, mild pine and earthy bitterness;

This is named for a man of whom little is known save that he rides his bicycle through through the streets of Georgetown with his pet chicken aboard.  I hear tell his name is George Chaplin.  There is a write up on him at www.georgetownvault.com.



February 6, 2020

40/3020) Home:  Barrel Aged Double Tempest 2015 by Amsterdam Brewery of Ontario:  ***; 11.9%; brewed with twice the malt and twice the hops of their Tempest Imperial Stout; uses Warrior hops; aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for ten months; bottle says it ages well up to three years; nose is boozy, bourbon; sweet, boozy, oak, bourbon; marvellous;

Purchased in November at Amsterdam on what used to be known as Double Tempest Day.  It was a more subdued affair.  I would not have known about it had someone not mentioned it to me on Badlands' Beer Bus.


February 5, 2020

39/3019) Home:  Pinky Swear India Pale Ale by Grain & Grit of Ontario:  **1/2; 6.2%; brewed with Galaxy, Centennial, Chinook and Sabro hops; the grain bill includes oats and wheat; billed as a New England IPA; nose has elements of sweet bubble gum, citrus, apples; sugary sweet and citrusy; perhaps best in small doses;

Tuesday 21 April 2020

February 4, 2020

37/3017) Home:  Pale/Blanche by Big Drop Brewing Co. of England:  **; 0.4%; brewed with the addition of wheat and milk; bitter nose of Asian tea, herbal; dry herbal notes; a bit thin but I would not say washed out;

38/3108) Home:  Dark/Noir by Big Drop Brewing Co. of England:  **; 0.4%; added milk, oats, rye, cocoa nibs; mildly sweet chocolate nose; roasty with chocolate notes; again, a bit thin but it might fool a blind-taste tester;

Both are perfectly acceptable "near-beers".


February 3, 2020

36/3016) Home:  Ol' Fog Burner by Garrison Brewing of Nova Scotia:  **1/2; a 10.1% unfiltered barley wine from Garrison's "Cellar Series"; sugary sweet, boozy nose; sweet, alcohol, dried fruit, brown sugar flavours; very warming;




February 2, 2020

35/3015) Home:  Bourbon County Stout by Goose Island Beer Co. of Illinois, U.S.A.:  ***; 15.2% (not a typo); bourbon barrel aged ; brewed with wheat and barley; oak, vanilla, bourbon, alcohol nose; dried fruit, roast, alcohol, boozy vanilla flavours;

This is released on Black Friday.  I ordered on-line.  I was cryptic concerning why I would be late arriving at the office that morning.  Oh, yes, I will be buying this next year.


February 1, 2020

33/3013) Home:  Tokyo IPA by Far Yeast Brewing Company of Japan:  **; a 6.0% Belgian IPA; "a beer inspired by Tokyo"; unpasteurized;  bitter, herbal nose; brewed with sugar which causes the flavours themselves to be not nearly so bitter; a balance of sweetness with an herbal edge;


34/3014) Home:  Molina India Pale Ale by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  **; a 6.3% New England IPA dry hopped with Citra, El Dorado and Enigma hops; orange, peach, lemon nose; juicy orange and lemon flavours;



Monday 20 April 2020

January 31, 2020

32/3012) Home:  Winter White Stout by Grain and Grit of Ontario:  *1/2; 5..5%, 22 ibu; brewed with candy cane and cacao; mild mint nose; minty with cocoa in the background;


January 30, 2020

31/3011) Home:  Cherry Porter by MacLean's Ales of Ontario:  **;  5.6%; subtle cherry notes, not overpowering; roasty, grainy;


January 29, 2020

30/3010) Home:  IPA No. 12 by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **1/2; 6.9%; brewed with Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic hops; unfiltered; opaque; white wine nose; has a touch of tropical flavours, wine, white grapes;


January 27, 2020

29/3009) Monk's Kettle, Etobicoke:  Art of Conversation by Sawdust City of Ontario:  *1/2; 8.5% Belgian Spiced Ale; oaky and spiced, also tart; not really my thing;

January 25, 2020

26/3006) C'est What:  Reggie Bar by Left Field Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2; 7.5%; the nose of chocolate and coffee does not prepare one for the onslaught of sweetness to follow; brewed with cocoa nibs and peanut butter; chocolate, sweet jelly, peanut towards the finish; extra half for being inspired by one of my favorite baseball players;

The Great Reggie Jackson was heard to say in 1976 as the free agent frenzy began that if he played in New York City they would name a chocolate bar after him. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner introduced Jackson to chocolate bar company executives as part of the courting process.  According to legend, the day they gave away free Reggie Bars at Yankee Stadium, Reggie, ever the big moment player, hit a monstrous blast and Reggie Bars rained on to the field.

27/3007) C'est What:  Single Handed:  Enigma by Stone City Ales of Ontario:  **1/2; 5.7%, 53 ibu; billed as an Australian Pale Ale; nearly clear; nose of stone fruit; sweet tropical and stone fruit notes;

28/3008) Home:  Icelandic Wee Heavy by Einstök Ölgard of Iceland:  **;  brewed with angelica root and smoked Icelandic barley; sweet caramel, malt nose; hint of smoke; sweeter than I am used to - sweetness lingers through after taste; smokey edge, but not intolerably so;

An Icelandic take on the style for Robbie Burns Day.






Sunday 19 April 2020

January 23, 2020

24/3004) Home:  Aria Session IPA by Birra Dell'Eremo of Italy:  **; 4.6%; brewed with barley malt and wheat malt; citrus nose; fresh citrus flavours, bitter after taste;


25/3005) Home:  Dolle Dries 2 Imperial Porter by Demoersleutel Beer Engineers of the Netherlands:  **1/2; 9.4%; brewed with coffee and apricot pits; the tin reads 11%, but a sticker added by the LCBO indicates 9.4%; dry chocolate nose; chocolate, hint of coffee;




January 22, 2020

23/3003) Home:  Glory & Gold Cuvée 2019 BBA by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  *; 9.5%, 37 ibu; from their Reserve series; aged 2 years n bourbon barrels; brewed with malted barley, malted wheat, lactobacillus, demerara sugar, dried figs, orange peel, raisins, cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, cardamom, vanilla beans; could have done with fewer ingredients, especially the lactobacillus; tart, dry, astringent; the hint of the wonderful beer this could have been saves it from a half star rating;

On tasting it my wife exclaimed, "They wrecked it!".



January 21, 2020

22/3002) Home:  Origin of Darkness, a collaboration between Collective Arts of Ontario and Prairie Artisan Ales of Oklahoma:  **; 11.9% Imperial Stout with coffee, wafer, vanilla and cocoa nibs; ingredient list includes barley malt, wheat malt, flaked oats, cocoa nibs, "lactose sugar", maltodextrin; nose of chocolate and cookies; of the four the alcohol is the most prominent here; oaky, sweet chocolate finish;

January 20, 2020

21/3001) Home:  Origin of Darkness, a collaboration between Collective Arts of Ontario and CR/AK of Italy:  **1/2; 8.4%; Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with chocolate and pistachio cannoli; ingredient list features wheat malt, cannoli, flaked oats and "lactose sugar"; chocolate and pistachio nose; flavours of oak, raisin, sweet vanilla, nuts, chocolate;  another remarkable collaboration;

January 19, 2020

19/2999) Home:  Set A Reminder IPA by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  **; 6.5%; brewed with Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado hops; citrus and papaya nose; less candied hop flavour than usual; citrus and tropical notes mostly;

20/3000) Home:  APA Beer by Woodhouse Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2; 4.9%; hops used are Citra, Centennial and Simcoe, which is added late; only modestly hazy; grainy, citrusy nose; mild, nearly washed out, citrus flavours and malt;


January 18, 2020

17/2997) Home:  Pedestal (Strata) by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  **; 6.5%; tropical, citrus nose; citrusy flavours;

18/2998) Home:  Origin of Darkness, a collaboration between Collective Arts of Ontario and Siren Craft Brew of England:  **1/2; a 9.6% rum barrel aged Baltic style porter brewed with raisins, dates and prunes; the grain bill is barley malt, wheat malt and flaked oats; nose reveals oak and fruitiness; tastes of rum, oak, all three fruits listed; quite a blend; the alcohol is muted;

Collective Arts released four collaborations under the name Origin of Darkness.



January 17, 2020

15/2995) Home:  Dora #19 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  **; 6.5%; brewed with Galaxy and Cashmere hops; uses a modified "water profile"; a bit sweeter than many Badlands IPAs; peach, pineapple nose and flavours;

16/2996) Home:  Galaxy Strata IPA by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  **;   6.5%; I am getting mostly pineapple;


January 16, 2020

13/2993) Home:  Oatmeal Stout by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  **1/2; 6.0%; roasty with mocha flavours;

14/2994) Home:  Take A Hike Double Dry Hopped Ale by Upper Thames Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; 6.0%; unpasteurized with a murky appearance; pineapple, mango, resin to the nose; fresh grapefruit flavorus; remarkable;


January 15, 2020

12/2992) Home:  Troubadour Westkust by Brouwerij The Musketeers of Belgium:  **1/2; 8.6%, 100 EBC, 55 ibu; dark brown, nearly black; malty, spiced nose vaguely like a Scotch Ale; malty and spiced with hints of caramel and vanilla;


Saturday 18 April 2020

January 14, 2020

10/2990) Home:  Midnight Oil Coffee Porter by Goose Island Beer Co. of Ontario:  **; 6.8%; brewed with barley, wheat and oats; strong dark coffee nose; dark coffee flavours with a hint of alcohol;

11/2991) Home:  Mantis IIPA by Goose Island Beer Co. of Ontario:  **; a 7.8%, Imperial IPA; brewed with barley and oats; dry hopped with Columbus, Simcoe and Chinook hops;  only somewhat hazy; pineapple, mango nose; pineapple, tropical flavours with spice;



January 13, 2020

9/2989) Home:  Nautical Disaster by Lake of the Woods of Ontario:  **1/2; a 6.4%, 55 ibu dry hopped IPA; grain bill is malted barley, malted oats, flaked corn; a tribute to the "trouble and tragedy" of 100 years on Lake of the Woods; grapefruit nose; grapefruit flavours; clear; truly Old School; nearly three stars;


January 12, 2020

7/2987) Home:  Northern Glow Brut IPA by Lake of Bays Brewing Co. of Ontario:  *1/2; a 4.3%, 38 ibu sparkling IPA;  brewed with wheat and champagne yeast;  also Idaho 7, El Dorado and Belma hops and dry hopped with El Dorado and Belma hops; partially filtered; only mildly hazy; dry nose - approaching sour; very dry, like a flat champagne with a dry finish;

8/2988) Home:  Twilight Hour Coffee Stout by Lake of Bays Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **; 5.5%, 30 ibu; brewed with oats, coffee; dark roasted coffee nose; very strong dark roasted coffee flavours;




January 11, 2020

6/2986) Home:  St. Bernardus Extra 4 Belgian Abbey Ale by Brewery St. Bernard NV of Belgium:  *1/2; 4.8%; bottle fermented; brewed with added sugar and Belgian hops; slightly musty yeast nose; faintly sweet, yeasty; nearly champagne like mouthfeel; dry, musty finish;


January 9, 2020

2/2982) The 3 Brewers, Yonge Street:  Tic Tom by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; 8.7%, 63 ibu; billed as an Old School Imperial IPA; clear; bitter resiny nose; dank bitter resiny flavours; lingering dry after taste;

3/2983) The 3 Brewers, Yonge Street:  Wee Willie Winkie by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **; a 9.8% Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy; malty nose; rich and malty with caramel notes;

4/2984) beerbistro:  Origin of Darkness, a collaboration between Collective Arts of Ontario and Voodoo Brewing of Pennsylvania:  **1/2; an 11.5% Imperial Stout, Bourbon barrel aged for 21 months; brewed with cocoa nibs and cassia bark which some people call Chinese cinnamon, as well as wheat malt, flaked oats and demerara sugar; interesting coconut nose with raisins, dates and cinnamon ; tastes of raisins, coconut, mild cocoa with strong cinnamon notes and malt; quite remarkable;

5/2985) Home:  Sam Roberts Band Ale by Spearhead Brewing Company of Ontario:  **;  4.5%; malty nose; herbal hop notes;


January 7, 2020

1/2981) Home:  Mustkuld Porter by Põhjala Brewing SA of Estonia:  **; 7.8%; contains milk; roasted malt nose; roasty malt flavours with milk chocolate notes;