February 22, 2016

29/1614) Home:  Body Dubbel Belgian Ale by Great Lakes Brewing of Ontario:  **;  6.3%, 18 ibu;  from their Tank Ten series;  nose is not as yeasty as one might expect, it's fruity instead;  fruity flavours with a distinct lack of Belgian yeastiness;

February 21, 2016

28/1613) Home:  Brygg Mästarens Swedish Premium Gold by Åbro Brewery of Sweden:  *1/2;  5.9%;  clear, golden;  a pretty standard European lager, albeit with slightly toned down hops;  sweet fruity nose with a bitter Europhop edge;  mostly bitter Eurohopiness to the taste;

February 20, 2016

27/1612) Home:  Fireside ESB by Collingwood Brewery of Ontario:  **;  5.8%;  ruby colour;  fresh, malty nose with a sweet edge;  rich and malty with hints of caramel;  very British;

February 19, 2016

26/1611) Monk's Kettle, Etobicoke:  Midnight Mass by Brimstone Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; 6.6%, 35 ibu;  a Chicory Oatmeal stout;  dry, grainy, mocha nose;  uncommonly dry, almost bitter with notes of mocha;

I admit that part of the reason for this selection was so that when I got home I could say it was Midnight Mass that caused me to be so late but by any name this is a great beer.

This was after the Art of Time Ensemble's performance of  Zappa:  The Genius of Irreverence of Genius.  There were enough Zappa fanatics among the season subscribers to make things interesting.  At one point between numbers someone bellowed, "Turn the guitar player loose!" (and they did, too).

I made a point of passing by 75 Victoria Street on my way and the window still reads, "Local love from Creemore."

February 13, 2016

25/1610) Home:  Leffe Royal by Abbaye de Leffe of Belgium:  **1/2;  7.5%;  brewed with three varieties of hops;  nose is a blend of clove, banana, vanilla, Belgian yeast and alcohol;  cloves and banana feature in the flavours along with an alcohol edge;

February 12, 2016

24/1609) Home:  The Imperial Bout by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  Imperial Vanilla Bean Coffee Stout;  11.9%;  brewed with vanilla pods and Station cold brew coffee;  right away the strong coffee nose agressively hits the nose, there is scarcely a hint of vanilla here:  coffee wins this bout;  strong coffee flavours with mere hints vanilla;

Today is Great Lakes Brewing's 29th anniversary.

February 11, 2016

23/1608) Home:  Stranger Than Fiction Porter by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **;  6.5%;  nose is grainy with a hint of chocolate;  notes of cola, chocolate, wheat and mild hops;

Collective Arts features art by up and coming talent on their cans.