Time for something local . I miss the Rose & Thistle in Brampton. It was a friendly, convivial place, jam-packed with "charactors". I have never seen so many a single joint.
This was back in the days when Double Diamond on tap was pretty exotic and I enjoyed a number of glasses poured by Leslie, who is probably my all-time favourite barmaid. When Josie sold the business to open a place in Oakville the general tone of the place dropped pretty quickly. You never had to endure tables of drunken fools under Josie's watch.
Not that there weren't "incidents". There was sort of a scrap one night between two tipsy Scotsmen but no punches were landed as they were leaning shoulder to shoulder holding each other upright. The next day they were standing side by side at the bar, chatting amiably as if nothing had happened. Likely if you had asked, neither would have recalled anything amiss the night before.
A decade later when I was working in Oakville I dropped in to Josie's new place but I didn't see her. I saw a lady who looked suspiciously like Leslie but she didn't look old enough to have been serving beer even a couple of years ago so I guessed it was a relation - or maybe Leslie takes particularly good care of herself.
These days there is still a pub in the same location and while the people were nice the one time I went it didn't have the charm of the Rose & Thistle. Few places ever did.
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
May 16, 2013
99/747) Caffe Volo: XS Imperial IPA by Rogue Brewery of Oregon: **: 9.5%; earthy hop nose; bitter hop notes;
100/748) Caffe Volo: 6-4-3 Double IPA by Left Field Brewery of Ontario: ***; 8.4%; bright orangey yellow; earthy, sweet, tropical, almost wine-like nose with resiny citrusy hop notes; a "wow" moment, this has become my favourite DIPA; if you see it on the chalkboard, order it;
101/749) Caffe Volo: Immodest Imperial IPA by Nickel Brook of Ontario: **; 9.3%; nose is bitter but there are sweet, citrusy, resiny notes; strong hop flavours with mildly sweet fruity finish;
I have seen photos of bottles of Left Field Brewery's products but I have no idea whether or not they have an outlet where I can buy their wares. So far, no reply to my query by way of the Contact Us button. No fooling, this is a great beer and I will travel to find it.
I guess it was a night for IPAs. I met an interesting fellow named Andrew who has draught lines in basement! What a guy!
May 15, 2013
98/746) Home: Hellwoods Imperial Stout by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario: **1/2; 10%; pours as dark as night with a scanty head; faint mocha nose; bitter alcohol bite is prominent with notes of unsweetened chocolate;
Monday, 5 August 2013
May 13, 2013
97/745) Home: Roman Candle IPA by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario: **; 6.8%; hoppy, earthy nose with a nutty malt presence; well balanced: earthy, hoppy flavours are countered by malt; hops win out in the end, or finish;
May 12, 2013
96/744) Hop Wired IPA by 8 Wired Brewing of New Zealand: **1/2; brewed with New Zealand grown pale ale malt and hops; strong malt presence but it's all about the hops; New Zealand hops have been receiving a lot of attention of late; there is a Sauvignon Blanc nose with tropical, citrusy notes; bitter hop bite to open; fruity wine-like finish; we need to see more beers from New Zealand;
May 9, 2013
95/743) Home: Spring Thaw Maple Ale by Mill Street Brewery of Ontario: *1/2; 5.3%; brewed with smoked malt and maple syrup; sweet malty nose; mild sweet maple flavours;
Is anyone else tiring of seeing maple syrup everywhere?
May 8, 2013
94/742) Home: Mead Braggot by Trafalgar Ales and Meads of Ontario: *1/2; the usual four ingredients plus honey; nose is honey & cider; honeyed notes with a slightly funky edge;
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