Saturday, 3 August 2013
February 9, 2013
31/679) Caffe Volo: Long Dark Voyage To Uranus by Sawdust City Brewing of Ontario: **1/2; that's not a bum joke - it's really what the beer is called; they hope to get this into the LCBO - I suppose stranger things have happened; bitter, mocha nose; dark coffee notes; another great stout and another great beer from Sawdust City;
32/680) Caffe Volo: Root of All Evil by Great Lakes Brewing of Ontario: **1/2; a root beer stout; licorice nose; rooty, herby flavours with anise notes and distinct root beer flavours;
We had just come from a performance by the Shuffle Demons at the Pilot, which is a great place for jazz on a Saturday afternoon. I met someone there who had received the same warning that I did, only in my case it came from no less than a manager. It seems that the Pilot attracts some serious jazz fans and they take up all the tables well over an hour in advance of the show. It sounds a good idea, why not enjoy some lunch beforehand? The thing is, they are Very Serious and they will shoot darts from their eyes at anyone who dares speak during a performance.
Me, I camped out at the bar so I was immune. Besides, I shut up when the music is playing myself but today I was corrupting my daughter by taking her to a jazz club. She liked it a lot: the music and the grilled cheese. She was not impressed by the Volo, however. She found it too dark but she will learn in time.
February 5, 2013
30/678) Home: Pothole Filler by Howe Sound Brewing of British Columbia: **1/2; from their John Mitchell Series; comes in a one litre bottle: at 9%,; this is clearly one for sharing - and you will want to share this wonderful stout with someone; it is brewed with blackstrap molasses; very dark coffee like nose; astringent mocha notes; finish is mildly sweet molasses; very nice, indeed;
February 2, 2013
27/675) Home: Patio Saison by Beau's All Natural Brewery of Ontario: *1/2; Wild Oats #19 from Beau's; brewed with organic dried bitter orange peel and organic elderflower; the nose is yeasty with notes of orange; orange is very prominent through to the finish;
28/676) Home: Stereovision by Flying Monkeys of Ontario: *; described as an "American Krystal Wheat"; sweet bready nose; the taste is mellow with just a touch of hops towards the finish; I have to admit, from this brewer it is somewhat of a disappointment;
29/677) Fionn MacCool's, Brampton: Bard's Gold - The Original Sorghum Malt Beer by Bard's Tale Beer of Minnesota, U.S.A.: *1/2; this was a bottle; a gluten-free beer; while I found it unchallenging and inoffensive it was refreshing; notes of apple;
I'm not sure if I really wish to pursue the debate as to whether it can be called a beer or not in the absence of barley or other grains. I'm just happy that as a result people who might not otherwise be able to enjoy a beer, or beer-like beverage, can now do so.
28/676) Home: Stereovision by Flying Monkeys of Ontario: *; described as an "American Krystal Wheat"; sweet bready nose; the taste is mellow with just a touch of hops towards the finish; I have to admit, from this brewer it is somewhat of a disappointment;
29/677) Fionn MacCool's, Brampton: Bard's Gold - The Original Sorghum Malt Beer by Bard's Tale Beer of Minnesota, U.S.A.: *1/2; this was a bottle; a gluten-free beer; while I found it unchallenging and inoffensive it was refreshing; notes of apple;
I'm not sure if I really wish to pursue the debate as to whether it can be called a beer or not in the absence of barley or other grains. I'm just happy that as a result people who might not otherwise be able to enjoy a beer, or beer-like beverage, can now do so.
February 1, 2013
Writing about Growlers reminded me of Duggan's Brewery, as is often the case, so this will be the second installment of the Joints I Miss series.
The on-line reviews at the time seemed to focus on odd servers but I was always well looked after. I recall ordering a glass of the bock and the fellow behind the bar said, "This usually comes in half pints but you look as though you can handle it." as he placed a pint in front of me.
They always had great beers there, brewed just metres away, and at very reasonable prices. The food was great and, again, I felt I received full value. My favourite food memory was the V & Chips. It sounds like a practical joke but it was a smallish loaf of bread with a "V" shape carved into the top. So as not to waste food, this part was used to make bread crumbs for other dishes. The groove created was heaped with Duggan's frites and topped with a curry gravy. I was training for a run at the time and to me this represented carb-loading at its finest.
That curry sauce had a story attached. It was a family recipe of one of the kitchen staff and out of respect for their beliefs it was used only for non-meat dishes.
Early on in this blog I detailed the demise of Duggan's so there is no need to go into it again. I wished for better for this place because it really should have worked, but what do I know? At least I get to keep the memories.
The on-line reviews at the time seemed to focus on odd servers but I was always well looked after. I recall ordering a glass of the bock and the fellow behind the bar said, "This usually comes in half pints but you look as though you can handle it." as he placed a pint in front of me.
They always had great beers there, brewed just metres away, and at very reasonable prices. The food was great and, again, I felt I received full value. My favourite food memory was the V & Chips. It sounds like a practical joke but it was a smallish loaf of bread with a "V" shape carved into the top. So as not to waste food, this part was used to make bread crumbs for other dishes. The groove created was heaped with Duggan's frites and topped with a curry gravy. I was training for a run at the time and to me this represented carb-loading at its finest.
That curry sauce had a story attached. It was a family recipe of one of the kitchen staff and out of respect for their beliefs it was used only for non-meat dishes.
Early on in this blog I detailed the demise of Duggan's so there is no need to go into it again. I wished for better for this place because it really should have worked, but what do I know? At least I get to keep the memories.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
January 31, 2013
26/674) Home: St. Ambroise Vintage Ale (2012) by McAuslan of Quebec: **1/2; 10% abv; unfiltered, deep mahogany colour; nose has a hint of raw sugar, sweet dried fruit and yeast; a rich, astringent, fruity, complex beer very much in the Belgian style; there are sweet sugary notes as well as mild alcohol notes;
January 30, 2013
25/673) Home: Farm Table Belgian Pale Ale by Beau's All Natural Brewing of Ontario: *1/2; 4.5% makes for a sessionable beer; the nose is primarily Belgian yeast and cloves; it tastes of sweet cloves with a peppery finish;
January 29, 2013
I confess this item has contributed to the delays here because I am rather hesitant to publish this bit of news lest I be banned from my favourite art galleries and revue cinemas.
I have never been to the Rhino on Queen Street West in Toronto. It's not because of the on-line reviews by people with an axe to grind regarding a particular server or the unavailability of their favourite beer. The simple fact is my gateways to Toronto are Union Station, Islington Station and Yorkdale and none of these are particularly convenient to the Rhino. Indeed, I suspect I might succumb to temptation and choose not to pass by one of any number of places on the way if I did set out to pay a visit..
This past weekend a "Cowboys & Indians" birthday event ended up, unannounced, at the Rhino. The twittersphere took flight and soon the joint was flooded with people from all across town making their first visit to the Rhino in order to loudly declare that they were never coming back.
One individual was reported to have spent thirty dollars on a white knuckle taxi ride from his condominium. The possibilities boggle one's mind. Does the earth end at Bathurst Street and beyond There Be Dragons? Do Bixis not function so very far from Yonge Street? Might one encounter public transit riders wearing last season's fashions? We may never know the motivation.
Yes, it was silly, childish, juvenile and a number of adjectives of your choice but if you can't be that way after a few what's the use? Must we all be so very easily offended?
The best lines concerning this affair were either the third paragraph of this article
http://staging.blogto.com/city/2013/01/rhino_under_fire_for_racist_cowboys_and_indians_event/
or perhaps they belong to a server who is alleged (though the club vehemently denies it) to have uttered, “It’s just a costume, get over it”. He might well have added, "and get over yourself while you're at it." but that only happens in my imagination.
In any event, the Rhino issued two (2) grovelling apologies on their blog.
Clearly, this is a joint that bears close scrutiny in the days leading up to March 17 and I'd better not see any white guys with dreadlocks if I ever do find my way there.
It's not just the neo-prohibitionists taking the fun out of drinking these days.
I have never been to the Rhino on Queen Street West in Toronto. It's not because of the on-line reviews by people with an axe to grind regarding a particular server or the unavailability of their favourite beer. The simple fact is my gateways to Toronto are Union Station, Islington Station and Yorkdale and none of these are particularly convenient to the Rhino. Indeed, I suspect I might succumb to temptation and choose not to pass by one of any number of places on the way if I did set out to pay a visit..
This past weekend a "Cowboys & Indians" birthday event ended up, unannounced, at the Rhino. The twittersphere took flight and soon the joint was flooded with people from all across town making their first visit to the Rhino in order to loudly declare that they were never coming back.
One individual was reported to have spent thirty dollars on a white knuckle taxi ride from his condominium. The possibilities boggle one's mind. Does the earth end at Bathurst Street and beyond There Be Dragons? Do Bixis not function so very far from Yonge Street? Might one encounter public transit riders wearing last season's fashions? We may never know the motivation.
Yes, it was silly, childish, juvenile and a number of adjectives of your choice but if you can't be that way after a few what's the use? Must we all be so very easily offended?
The best lines concerning this affair were either the third paragraph of this article
http://staging.blogto.com/city/2013/01/rhino_under_fire_for_racist_cowboys_and_indians_event/
or perhaps they belong to a server who is alleged (though the club vehemently denies it) to have uttered, “It’s just a costume, get over it”. He might well have added, "and get over yourself while you're at it." but that only happens in my imagination.
In any event, the Rhino issued two (2) grovelling apologies on their blog.
Clearly, this is a joint that bears close scrutiny in the days leading up to March 17 and I'd better not see any white guys with dreadlocks if I ever do find my way there.
It's not just the neo-prohibitionists taking the fun out of drinking these days.
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