December 20, 2013

315/964)  C'est What:  Manitoba Mouse Trap by Junction Craft Brewing of Ontario:  **;  4.2%;  on cask;  a dry hopped English bitter;  earthy hop nose;  refreshingly bitter with a strong hop presence;  I am uncertain about the significance of Manitoba and mice but it may be a reference to the fact that (evidently) the province is over-run with said rodents;

316/965)  C'est What:  Friar Buck's Sarrasin Buckwheat Ale by Church Key Brewing of Ontario:  *1/2;  brewed with toasted buckwheat and lactose;  sweet grainy nose;  notes of honey up front with a candi sugary sweet after taste;  described as a Quebec/Belgian style brew'

317/966)  C'est What:  Jamaican Fire by Spearhead Brewing of Ontario:  **;  8%; brewed with coffee, mango and scotch bonnet peppers;  the nose is like a caffeinated hot sauce;  I don't often laugh out loud on my first sip of the night's third beer but the idea that someone would think of something like this tickled me;  bitter coffee, hints of chocolate with a fiery aftertaste;  Oh yes, I would try this one again;  it occurs to me that this would be a great beer to cook with it as well;

The purpose of this visit, prior to an evening of Medieval music for the season, was to cheer myself up.  I had begun the day in a magnificent sweater but before it was over I had "won" the office ugly Christmas sweater contest, judged by our new Purolator driver. What does he know?

Anyhow by the end of the evening I couldn't stop thinking of a line by Captain Beefheart, "My smile is stuck.  I can't go back to your Frownland."