March 10, 2017

75/1893) Home:  Three Philosophers by Brewery Ommegang of New York, U.S.A.:  **1/2;  described on the label as "98% quadrupel ale, 2% ale with cherries added";  9.7%;  as they describe it, this is a merger of their quadrupel ale with a  cherry kriek;  sweet candi sugar nose, only the faintest hint of cherries;  rich, sweet and fruity with a sharp cherry edge, especially at the finish;

March 9, 2017

74/1892) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Some Like It Hot by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  *1/2;  a Thursday night cask;  it's their feature Double IPA (which has sold out) with Thai curry spices, mango and ginger;  mango features strongly in the nose;  it's a wild blend of flavours with lingering heat in the aftertaste;  best described as a lot like a hopped curry;

March 4, 2017

72/1890) beerbistro:  Pilsner Urquell by Pilsner Urquell Brewery of the Czech Republic:  *1/2;  4.4%;  by virtue of the fact that it is brewed in Pilsn, this is the original Pilsner;  dry central European hop nose, mildly grassy;  dry saaz hoppiness;

73/1891) beerbistro:  Harry Porter and the Coffee Hoarder by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  **;  6.5%;  dark coffee nose;  roasted malt and coffee flavours;

March 3, 2017

Plainly Silly Season is upon us.  In an article dated February 20, 2017 titled "Taking A Stand Against Sexist Beers", from All About Beer Volume 38, Issue 1, the writer rails against "all the unfortunate beers that use the color of a woman’s hair that also coordinate with a beer style—Blonde, Amber".

It's hard to know where to begin but I will start by suggesting that while people may or may not (and it's "not" in reality more often than is claimed) be sexist it is hard to imagine a blend of malted barley, hops, yeast and water being so.  Mind, we are dealing with an individual whose limited interactions with human beings have shielded him from observing that it's not exclusively women who sport blonde hair.

March 2, 2017

71/1889) The 3 Brewers, Heartland:  Two Hearts Wrapped In A Poncho by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  **;   a Thursday cask offering;  a coffee infused blonde ale with El Dorado hops;  strong coffee bean nose with a flash of pineapple;  coffee beans are subdued until finish where they dominate; it's bit of mango, a bit of pineapple to then;

February 26, 2017

On her album "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter", Joni Mitchell sings, "I'm not above gossip but I'll sit on a secret where honour is at stake".

I don't think any honour is at stake here so I will share a tale I heard yesterday at the beerbistro.  It was mentioned that the hotly anticipated Church Street reincarnation of the Volo may not happen as soon as we think.  Word has it the landlord and Ralph are not seeing eye to eye.

February 25, 2017

69/1887) Home:  True North Inukshuk IPA by Magnotta Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  6.5%;  in the English style; the nose reminds me of marmalade;  sweet citrusy notes, reminiscent of oranges but not exactly;  mildly bitter finish;  a surprise, I am glad I tried it;

It comes in the flimsiest sixpack case I have ever encountered - this was the only one on the shelf that wasn't torn and it didn't stay that way for long.

70/1888) beerbistro:  Pinball Wizard by Clifford Brewing of Ontario:  **;  5.7%;  a low key American Pale Ale with a mildly hoppy nose and mildly citrusy hoppiness;

I experienced what I believe people call a "teachable moment" on the way home today.  After ordering a "classic" grilled cheese at the McDonalds in the York Concourse of Union Station I inquired as to the availability of such arcane items as Big Macs and the like and I was informed,  "Oh, no, we're Mc Cafe"  The end of the world cannot happen soon enough.

I have no intention of becoming a foodie blogger but if they are to run a McDonalds without McDonalds food I hope I can get away with sharing the observation that they are well justified to play the up bread they use for their grilled cheese as there is scant evidence (save for visual) of the presence of any sort of cheese.