December 18, 2016

232/1817) Home:  Gouden Carolus Classic by Brouwerij Het Anker of Belgium:  **1/2;  8.5%;  pours dark chocolate brown;  strong burnt sugar nose;  burnt sugar, molasses flavours;

This is the second of the boxed set that I have not previously enjoyed.

233/1818)  Home:  Root of Evil Prohibition Lager by Whipsnapr Brewing Co. of Ontario:  *;  4.5%, 27 ibu;  a pre-prohibition lager;  smokey nose;  mild smoky flavours;  not a particularly strong anti-prohibition argument;

December 17, 2016

231/1816) Home:  Gouden Carolus Ambrio by Brouwerij Het Anker of Belgium:  **1/2;  8.0%;  dark amber;  dark sugar nose;  flavours of dark, singed sugar, warming alcohol;  sweet fruity finish;

Part of this boxed set, with a branded glass.

December 14, 2016

230/1815) Home:  Deep Tracks American Brown Ale by Flying Monkeys of Ontario:  **;  6.2%, 45 ibu;  described on the tin as, "an alluvial brown" and "a folksy craft beer" - I would term it a "Brown IPA";  very piney nose;  the brown ale flavours are largely overshadowed by all those hops but it's interesting just the same;

December 13, 2016

229/1814) Home:  Midnight Bock by Lake of Bays Brewing Company of Ontario:  **;  from their Wild North series;  5.5%;  the usual four ingredients plus malted wheat and molasses;  grainy, roasted malt nose;  roasty flavours, sweet after taste;

December 11, 2016

228/1813) Home:  Blue Collar Pale Ale by The Hamilton Brewery of Ontario:  **;  5.5%;  pours perfectly clear; in the English style with a sweet malty nose and a dry hop bite at the finish;

The Hamilton Brewery is a contract brewery.  The brewing took place at Railway City in St. Thomas.

December 8, 2016

227/1812) The 3 Brewers, Adelaide Street:  Festive Ale by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  ***;  6.5%, 42 ibu;  I am vaguely reminded of the late, lamented Winter Warmer and indeed the 3 Brewers' website indicates that this beer was modeled after British Strong Ales, "the precursor to Winter Warmers and other Festive Ales';  spice, malty alcohol nose;  warming sweet spice with a touch of alcohol and hops towards the close, which makes things even more warming;

I did give this one my 3 pint glass rating as I have gone out of my way since to enjoy another glass.

December 2, 2016

225/1810) C'est What:  Shinnicked Stout by Muskoka Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  5.2%, 19 ibu;   brewed in collaboration with Muskoka Roastery using their Lumberjack Coffee;  mocha nose, grainy roasty flavours;

The rating may be a bit unfair (and I did want to like this one more) but the sad fact is this was up against some uncommonly tough competition.  I was here for the St-Ambroise Stout Impériale Russe which comes to Ontario once a year, if that, and is yet another reason to treasure the winter.

Shinnicked is "that numbing, gasp-for-breath feeling you get when you plunge into a Muskoka lake for a chilly late night dip in the fall or walk outside on a -20 winter day".  I imagine with all the skating I do I spend a good deal of time in a "shinnicked" state but there is nothing like diving under the covers in such a state at the end of the day.

I will give this another go under less unfavourable conditions.

226/1822) C'est What:  Shakedown APA by Big Rig of Ontario:  **;  75 ibu, 5.6%;  piney nose;  earthy, piney flavours;  astringent after taste;