May 13, 2026

99/4845) Nickel Brook Taproon, Etobicoke:  Riff No. 2 by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% “No Coast”  IPA; grain bill includes oats and wheat; Cryo-Fresh Simcoe and Strata hops; hazy; nose is grapefruit with a hint of pine; tastes of grapefruit and pine;

I also bought some from the retail counter.  I hope this place is busy at night because when I go there during the day I am their only customer.

May 10, 2026

98/4844) Home:  Kombine by St. Bernardus of Belgium in collaboration with Weihenstephan of Germany, the world’s oldest brewery:  ***1/2; 6%, 25 ibu unfiltered Helles’/hazy blonde; dry, malty, yeasty nose; it tastes sweeter than the nose would lead one to expect – yeasty, spiced, malty; 

It's a a bit unusual, especially the story:  this is a  bottom fermented beer produced b a brewery known for top fermenting beers.  The word oxymoron is used, as an unfiltered Helles is a contradiction in terms.  In addition, this is the first St Bernardus beer not to undergo bottle fermentation.  They used Weihenstephan 's yeast and hops from each brewery. 

May 6, 2026

97/4843) Home:  St. Ambroise Ale á l’erable/ Maple Ale by Brasserie McAuslan of Quebec:  ****; 4.5% 25 ibu Maple Ale brewed with Crystal malt, local maple syrup and wheat; hopped with Golding and Willamette; clear, copper/dark brown – the same colour as maple syrup; nose is not overly sweet natural maple syrup; maple candy/syrup flavours;

Fram McAuslan's Influencer series.

May 5, 2026

96/4842) Home:  Whatevs by Refined Fool Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **1/2; 5% 25 ibu lagered IPA; “Lightly dry hoppedwith Luminosa and Sabaro”; golden and mildly hazy; faint tropical and peach aromas and flavours;

“As if we even care”

May 4, 2026

94/4840) Mugshot Tavern, Toronto:  Outside Jokes by Town Brewery of Ontario:  ****; 5% pale ale; golden, hazy; mildly sweet citrus nose; pleasantly sweet citrus flavours, particularly grapefruit;

95/4841) Home:  How To Pretend You're A Normal Human Family by Refined Fool Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 6% Hazy IPA; grain bill includes wheat and oats; hazy yellowish colour; nose of orange, tangerine and grapefruit; juicy, mostly orange and tangerine; just a touch sweet;

May 3, 2026

92/4838) Home:  Kicked Out Of Another Tickle Party by Refined Fool Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 7% “West Coast Style IPA”; clear, golden with a frothy white head; dank, citrusy nose; dry astringent citrus flavours;

93/4839) Home:  Uncles In The Wild by Refined Fool Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.6%, 30 ibu IPA with wheat; hopped with Sabro, Simcoe and Citra; hazy, golden, white foamy head; nose of citrus and stonefruit; tastes of citrus and stonefruit with a hint of coconut;

From their IPA Fun Box, 12th Edition mixed pack.

May 1, 2026

91/4837) Home:  Donnybrook Easy IPA by Cowbell Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 4.3% 24 ibu; with oats and wheat; hazy, amber; lemony citrus nose; tastes of mixed citrus with lemon the most prominent;

“Named for a well known local crossroads – and a good old fashioned Canadian barn burner."