May 28, 2013

109/757) Home:  Framboise 2013 by Amsterdam Brewing of Ontario:  **;  6.5%;  pours a deep, rich, ruby red;  brewed with Canadian raspberries and Belgian wheat malt;  these days it is brewed once a year;  the nose is a combination of raspberry and wheat;  strong fresh raspberry flavours;

This used to be available in bottles year round at the Amsterdam outlet on Bathurst Street and, if you wish to go back even further, on tap at the old Amsterdam brewpub on John Street and in the sister brewpub, Rotterdam on King Street.  It is a great year-round drink to my way of thinking.  It's a shame to have to be searching for this.

May 27, 2013

108/756) Home:  Dogstalker April Bock by Grand River Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2;  6%;  bottled April 25th;  pours a rich amber colour;  bready nose; a bit thin for my liking - there's not as much going on as I would wish for in a bock but maybe this is better on draught;

May 24, 2013

106/754) Caffe Volo:  Monogamy Simcoe American Pale Ale by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  **;  6.5%;  cloudy, yellowy straw colour;  pine nose/flavours;

107/755) Caffe Volo:  L'Esprit D'Escalier American IPA, a Shacklands/Radical Road collaboration, both of Ontario:  **;  6.5%;  aroma of pine;  pleasant pine flavours with a touch of sweetness;

I'm not sure precisely how many beers comprise Bellwoods' Monogamy Series but so far they are all winners.

May23, 2013

105/753)  Home:  Spring Imp Spring Bock by Mill Street Brewery of Ontario:  **;    7%;  beautiful clear amber;  malty, bready nose;  sweet with some richness;  am very fond of bocks in general and this is a good example;

May 22, 2013

104/752)  Home:  Saison Dupont by Brasserie Dupont of Belgium:  **;   6.5%;  "a classic Belgian farmhouse ale";  unfiltered, hazy golden colour;  spicy, peppery nose;  dry peppery notes, lemon zest;  the label is right:  it is very refreshing; 

I don't quite get this saison/farmhouse trend but I do like this one.

May 20, 2013

103/751) Home:  Amber Ale by Six Pints Specialty Beer Company (Beer Academy) of Ontario:  **;  5.4%;  pours dark brown with a creamy persistent head;  this was Recipe 01/Batch01;  malty biscuity nose;  faint chocolate notes, mildly bitter hop finish;

May 19, 2013

102/750)  Home:  Bridge Burner by Lakeport Brewing of Wisconsin:  **1/2;  8.5%;  brewed in Milwaukee;  pours dark brown with a frothy head;  hop presence in nose;  notes of dark sugar, sweet dried fruit;  an interesting blend of hop notes and fruitiness with an almost Belgian sweetness'

There is a great story on back label as well.