Tuesday, 30 October 2012
May 10, 2012
72/472) Home: Augustijn Grand Cru by Brouwerij van Steenberge of Belgium: **1/2; in the tradition of the Augustin Fathers; as with the others in the six-pack it referments in the bottle; this one checks in at 9%; very rich and fruity sweet nose; taste is fruity with sweet yeast and a touch of alcohol; my favourite of the 6 so far;
May 9, 2012
69/469) Home: Augustijn Brune by Brouwerij van Steenberge of Belgium: **1/2: sweetish nose; dark and rich tasting;
70/470) Home: Jaipur India Pale Ale by Thornbridge Brewery of England: **1/2; a 5.9% ale, unpasteurized, unfiltered; it is a bright, almost neon blonde; nose has a hint of West Coast with a touch of citrus (lemon) against an almost biscuity, bready back-drop; opens slightly citrusy with a bitter, earthy finish and after-taste; a top flight British IPA;
70/470) Home: Jaipur India Pale Ale by Thornbridge Brewery of England: **1/2; a 5.9% ale, unpasteurized, unfiltered; it is a bright, almost neon blonde; nose has a hint of West Coast with a touch of citrus (lemon) against an almost biscuity, bready back-drop; opens slightly citrusy with a bitter, earthy finish and after-taste; a top flight British IPA;
May 7, 2012
68/468) Home: Augustijn Blonde by Brouwerij van Steenberge of Belgium: **; this 7% beer was first brewed in 1295; a monastic beer with a sweet, faintly fruity, yeasty nose; pours cloudy; touch of sweetness, hints of fruit (dried) with a brown sugary finish;
May 6, 2012
The winners were announced yesterday in the 2012 World Beer Cup in San Diego. A full list of winner can be found at <www.worldbeercup.org> but I will mention my highlights below.
I take perhaps a bit too much pleasure in this but Labatt's 50 took silver among fourty-six entries in the Golden or Blonde Ale category.
Others that stood out for me were Amsterdam's Framboise which took bronze among twenty-eight entries in the Fruit Wheat Beer category; King Dark Lager took silver among thirty-four in the European Style Dark/Munchner Dunkel stakes; Cameron's Dark 266 won bronze in the German-Style Schwartzbier competition against fourty-three competitors;
I always have a chuckle when I see 50 win something like this. Unexpected things happen in a blind tasting and beer fanciers have had several moments to compare with the notorious tasting, in the 1970s I think, where California wines scored higher than French wines. I can think of two movies inspired by this event.
It is entirely possible that we are little more than poseurs. I look forward to the day when, alongside figures for abv and ibu we have something to tell us how much street cred we gain (or lose) being seen drinking a particular beer.
I take perhaps a bit too much pleasure in this but Labatt's 50 took silver among fourty-six entries in the Golden or Blonde Ale category.
Others that stood out for me were Amsterdam's Framboise which took bronze among twenty-eight entries in the Fruit Wheat Beer category; King Dark Lager took silver among thirty-four in the European Style Dark/Munchner Dunkel stakes; Cameron's Dark 266 won bronze in the German-Style Schwartzbier competition against fourty-three competitors;
I always have a chuckle when I see 50 win something like this. Unexpected things happen in a blind tasting and beer fanciers have had several moments to compare with the notorious tasting, in the 1970s I think, where California wines scored higher than French wines. I can think of two movies inspired by this event.
It is entirely possible that we are little more than poseurs. I look forward to the day when, alongside figures for abv and ibu we have something to tell us how much street cred we gain (or lose) being seen drinking a particular beer.
Monday, 29 October 2012
May 5, 2012
There I was minding my own business at the Runners' Expo for the 2012 Mississauga Marathon when I heard a young lady's voice from behind asking me if I had received a free beer yet. I didn't need to be asked twice.
It turns out that they were handing out tins of low calorie Michelob Ultra. After stamping my hand I made off with a free beer. It really couldn't get much better so I left. I imagine I will be saying, "Shame about the beer, though." as some point but you find your pleasure where you can.
Not that I am running anything in May but I reason that those vendors pay good money for their booths and whether or not I am running something major that weekend I am a customer with cash in hand.
It turns out that they were handing out tins of low calorie Michelob Ultra. After stamping my hand I made off with a free beer. It really couldn't get much better so I left. I imagine I will be saying, "Shame about the beer, though." as some point but you find your pleasure where you can.
Not that I am running anything in May but I reason that those vendors pay good money for their booths and whether or not I am running something major that weekend I am a customer with cash in hand.
May 4, 2012
65/465) Caffe Volo: Night Train, a House Ales/Amsterdam collaboration, both of Ontario: **1/2; this is a Belgian-style brown ale aged in wine barrels - Wildass Red by Stratus to be specific; I have a couple of bottles of Wildass Red at home, as well as a bottle of Tollgate and a Vigonier so I know this winery well; wine is most prominent in the nose; mild sweet chocolate notes with sharp wine finish;
66/466) Caffe Volo: 25th Anniversary Robust Porter by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario: **1/2; thick rich foamy head; rich and chocolatey; dry after taste with just a touch of hops;
67/467) Caffe Volo: Naughty Neighbour by Nickel Brook Brewing of Ontario: **1/2; an American Pale Ale; very piney nose with delicious pine notes; originally ** but on reflection that ** was more a reflection of how tired I am getting of this hops, HOPS, HOPS! mentality than of what was in the glass; sorry about that;
House Ales is the Volo's nano-brewery, which as I understand it is little more than a corner of their kitchen.
It's good to take a minute to congratulate Great Lakes on achieving 25 years and to thank them for all the pleasureful sips.
66/466) Caffe Volo: 25th Anniversary Robust Porter by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario: **1/2; thick rich foamy head; rich and chocolatey; dry after taste with just a touch of hops;
67/467) Caffe Volo: Naughty Neighbour by Nickel Brook Brewing of Ontario: **1/2; an American Pale Ale; very piney nose with delicious pine notes; originally ** but on reflection that ** was more a reflection of how tired I am getting of this hops, HOPS, HOPS! mentality than of what was in the glass; sorry about that;
House Ales is the Volo's nano-brewery, which as I understand it is little more than a corner of their kitchen.
It's good to take a minute to congratulate Great Lakes on achieving 25 years and to thank them for all the pleasureful sips.
May 2, 2012
64/464) Home: Dark Horse Stout by Broadhead Brewing of Ontario: **1/2; this came in a 1.89 litre growler picked up by my wife when she was in Ottawa; pours very dark brown with a soft creamy head; nose is mocha; rich tasting with notes of sweet chocolate; "almost like a meal" quoth my wife;
These new breweries just keep popping up. This is a great time to be a beer fancier. I have been saying that for a number of years and things continue to get better.
These new breweries just keep popping up. This is a great time to be a beer fancier. I have been saying that for a number of years and things continue to get better.
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