July 10, 2023

143/4104) Home:  Double Ratclops by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  ****; 8.1% Double IPA brewed with oats and wheat and hopped with, wheat, Columbus, Citra, Idaho 7 and Mosaic; translucent; pine nose; tastes of pine and tropical fruit;

July 9, 2023

142/4103) Home:  Perroquet by Le Trou du Diable of Quebec:  ***; 3.5% session North East IPA; Perroquet translates as parrot; grain bill includes wheat and oats; pours hazy, golden; aromas of tropical fruit, especially pineapple; mildly washed out flavours with faint dankness, tropical and citrus notes;

July 8, 2023

141/4102) Home:  Carlsberg Robbie Fowler (Away 00*01) by Carlsberg Group of Ontario:  ***; 5%, 15ibu pilsner/light lager;  clear; grainy, bready nose; ordinary clean, crisp later; 

Carlsberg is marking 30 years of partnering with Liverpool FC by commemorating celebrated players on their labels.  I hear tell the original Carlsberg has new recipe which is not going over well.  I suspect what I have here is not a one-off but rather the current Carlsberg with a limited time label, in which case I share the general disappointment.  

July 7, 2023

139/4100) Third Moon Tap Room, Milton:  Barrel Aged Bestowed - Maple Bourbon (black wax) by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****1/2; 13%; brewed for Canada Day; sweet maple and sweet bourbon nose; oak, flavours of bourbon, vanilla, maple syrup, roasted malt and dark coffee;

140/4101) Badlands' Beer Garden:  Dora #61 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ***; 6%; brewed with a new liquid hop product, YCH702, designed to amplify whirlpool in addition to the usual whirlpool charge; hopped with Citra only;  murky; tropical nose with citrus; mix of tropical flavours;

One imagines that at some point YCH072 will acquire a cute or clever name.

July 1, 2023

138/4099) Home:  Rush:  Signals - Limited Edition 2022, 40th Anniversary by Henderson Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 11.9% Extra strong Belgian style blonde with Riesling must and whole pressed apples; also flaked wheat and hibiscus flower; opaque; cider like nose; tart grape, apples, pleasant tartness; sparkling wine mouthfeel; brewed in collaboration with the surviving members of Rush;

The fire hydrant on the LP cover, reproduced here for the label, was manufactured almost a century ago at 137 Sterling Road, approximately 100m away from where Henderson Brewing currently resides.

For Dominion/Canada Day.

June 30, 2023

136/4097) Home:  Common Language by Collective Arts of Ontario:  ***; 5.1% Pilsner; pours a  translucent straw colour; tastes grassy, the sharp tang of central European hops is more pronounced than is often the case; fine as pilsners go;

137/4098) Home:  Prophets and Nomads by Collective Arts of Ontario:  **1/2; 4.5%, 12 ibu (sour) gose with coriander and Himalayan salt; also referred to as an unfiltered wheat beer; translucent yellowy golden; nose is salted spice; hint of salt with tartness; 

For some tastes I am certain this is ideal but one can only drink so much beer and as such I will be avoiding this.

These are from a 10th anniversary six pack, with 5 oldies and one new beer.

June 27, 2023

More sad news to report - the Monk's Kettle is permanently closed.  The Bloor/Islington to Royal York area is becoming progressively duller what with this and the loss of Orwell's.  The Squire has little going for it in my mind, save for memories from when I worked across the street but even then I preferred Orwell's.  Perhaps something nice will take its place.  The Monk's Kettle did appear to be holding aces and eights during my most recent visits.

June 26, 2023

135/4096) Home:  Helles Lager by Stockyards Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***; 4.7%, 12 ibu Helles Lager/Dortmunder Export; brewed with German Hallertau hops and pilsner malt; pours translucent and golden; nose is grainy, hints of honey, green tea; grassy, honeyed muted hop presence; a fine example of the style;

June 25, 2023

133/4094) Home:  Dog Day by Grain & Grit of Ontario:  **1/2; 6% Sour IPA with guava, mango and raspberries; opaque, little to no head; nose is mostly tart and funky; tartness overshadows all else; I am not sure why someone would do this;

134/4095) Home:  Nice One by Grain & Grit of Ontario:  **1/2; 4.4% Mexican lager with Magna and Gelena hops as well as flaked corn; clear, golden; grainy nose; tastes of grains, adjuncts - sort of bland;

June 24, 2023

131/4092) Home:  Home:  Fat  Tire Ale by New Belgium Brewing Company of Colorado, U.S.A.:  **1/2; 5.2%, 50 ibu golden ale; replaces their Amber Ale, to the dismay of many; clear, golden; grainy, malty nose; sweet, grainy, malty; a bit ordinary;

132/4093) Home:  Time Flies by Grain & Grit of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6% IPA with German Callista, Ariana and Hallertau Blanc hops; cloudy; nose like a New England IPA with , sweet orange and white grapes; tastes of orange, grapes, tangerine, rather sweet;

June 23, 2023

130/4091) C'est What:  Entheogen - Citra, El Dorado and Galaxy by Blood Brothers of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6%; New England IPA; cloudy; tropical, mildly dank nose; tropical fruit flavours;

June 22, 2023

128/4089) Home:  Fazy by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Idaho 7; hazy; nose of grapefruit and berries; interesting blend of sweetness, dankness, berries and red grapefruit;

129/4090) Home:  On The Nose by Grain & Grit of Ontario:  ****; 6% IPA with Ahhhroma hops from Glacier Hops; also wheat, oats and sugar; clear, in spite of the New England appellation; nose of oranges mango, papaya, zest; tastes of oranges, mixed tropical, candy like notes;  

June 21, 2023

126/4087) The 3 Brewers, Yonge Street:  Aloha Island IPA by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.6%, 40 ibu; Crystal and Citra hops; tropical fruit salad nose; sweet, almost sugary notes nearly overshadow the tropical flavours;

127/4088) The 3 Brewers, Yonge Street:  Bri's Dilemma by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6%, 40 ibu; coffee porter with maple syrup; nose is coffee grounds and maple syrup; again, nearly too sweet with all that maple syrup which is only somewhat offset by dark coffee;

June 20, 2023

125/4086) Home:  Mingle June 2023 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; hopped with HBC586, Citra and Motueka; cloudy; citrusy and tropical nose; tropical flavours with citrus and berries;

June 18, 2023

124/4085) Home:  #Select El Dorado 2023 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.5% IPA; cloudy; lemon lime aromas; lemony with lime and a hint of sweetness;

June 16, 2023

123/4084) Badlands' Beer Garden:  Pedestal Superdelic by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; murky; mostly tropical aromas; tropical flavours and Pez candy, again;

June 15, 2023

122/4083) Home:  Capitals 2.0 by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  ****; 6.9% 40 ibu IPA brewed in collaboration with Dominion City Brewing of Ottawa, Ontario; with Superdelic hops from New Zealand and oats; cloudy; citrusy nose; tastes citrusy, a bit like I remember Pez candy, of which I am being reminded frequently of late;

June 14, 2023

121/4082) Home:  Fighting Weight by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  ***; 3.6%,  20 ibu Low-Cal IPA; 90 calories, 4mg carbohydrates; mildly hazy; mild orange aromas; washed out, somewhat citrusy; an Octopus Wants To Fight Lite, if you will;  

June 7, 2023

120/4081) Home:  #Select Simcoe by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; cloudy; citrusy nose; citrus flavours, particularly lemon and orange;

June 6, 2023

119/4080) Home:  #Select Mosaic 2023 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; cloudy; aromas of berries, yes, even the blueberries Badlands speaks of; flavours of berries, including blueberries;

I revisited this a few days later at their Beer Garden and someone mentioned Pez and I do get that as well, now that he mentions it.

June 5, 2023

118/4079) Home:  #Select Idaho 7 2023 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****1/2; 6.5% IPA; murky; nose is a blend of red grapefruit and tropical; similar flavours;

June 4, 2023

117/4078) Home:  Sand Trap by 254 Brewing Company of Kenya:  ****1/2; 7% American IPA; old school clear; aromas of caramel, pine, oranges; caramel malt backdrop, pine notes, oranges, berries, tiny touch tropical; outstanding;

This was purchased by my wife at at a grocery store in Kenya; Ant Lions dig pits in the sand to trap prey, usually ants.

June 3, 2023

116/4077) Home:  #Select Citra 2023 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; only cloudy; fresh citrusy aromas, almost no dankness; citrusy and delicious;

June 2, 2023

115/4076) Home:  Grande Noirceur Rye (2022) by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  ****; 9% Imperial Stout, Rye Barrel Aged; brewed with oats; pours jet black; nose of roast, chocolate, dark fruit, berries, mildly boozy; tastes of chocolate, roasted malt, dark fruit, blackberries, anise, oak, mild rye with a hint of vanilla;

May 29, 2023

114/4075) Home:  Genèse Sauvignon (2022) by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  **1/2; 9% Apricot Tripel, barrel aged in Sauvignon; with wheat, sugar, apricots and “Bretts”; hazy, off-gold appearance; tart nose with apricots; tartness overshadows notes of apricot, dark sugar, oak, spice, sauvignon;

May 28, 2023

113/4074) Home:  Rigor Mortis ABT Brandy 2022 by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  ****1/2; 10.5% Belgian style Quadrupel, brandy barrel aged; nose of sweet brandy and burnt sugar; tastes of caramel, apple, fruit and brandy;

May 28, 2023

112/4073) C'est What, Toronto:  Hot Knives by Town Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; 8.3% Imperial IPA; cloudy; tropical with mild dankness;

May 24, 2023

111/4072) Home:  Stairway To Evan by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 8.2% Double IPA dry hopped with Nelson and Simcoe;  cloudy; nose is a tiny bit smoky and citrusy; tastes sweet and citrusy;

May 23, 2023

110/4071) Home:  June DIPA (2023) by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 8.2%; new hop, at least to me, called “Pink” from Idaho plus Citra; cloudy; sweet tropical and citrus nose; tastes of citrus, tropical, no dankness, no hint of alcohol;

May 21, 2023

108/4069) Home:  Birthday Bestowed (3rd Anniversary) by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 11% Imperial Stout with chocolate cake, chocolate sprinkle and lactose; pours jet black, low carbonation;  nose of mildly sweet chocolate; tastes of chocolate icing but not overly sweet; a bit thin;

109/4070) Home:  Dora #60 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; modified dry hopping schedule; all Citra; murky; nose of fresh sweet mixed Citrus; no dankness but rather sweet citrus;

May 20, 2023

106/4067) Home:  Heart LEFT Bleeding by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 9.5% Triple IPA brewed in collaboration with Fifth Frame Brewing of New York;  with oats and hopped with Peacharine, Nelson Sauvin and Citra; cloudy/murky appearance; dankness only to the nose; dankness is only moderate in the flavours with strawberry, melon, papaya, mango, citrus and peach;

107/4068) Home:  Parallel by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 11.9% Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with Se Baron of Quebec; with wheat, oats, chocolate, orange zest; Se Baron opened the same day as Third Moon in the midst of the lock-downs; pours black with minimal head; aromas of chocolate and orange; tastes of chocolate, orange and zest, essential oils;

Two more anniversary one-offs.

May 19, 2023

104/4065) Badlands' Beer Garden:  Same Same by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5%; murky; citrus nose; no dankness, comparatively sweet citrus flavours;

105/4066) Badlands' Beer Garden:  Pedestal Luminosa by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5%; lemony nose; lemon candy flavours and lemonade; another relatively new hop, to me;

May 18, 2023

103/4064) Home:  Bone T(h)ree by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.5% Double Dry Hopped IPA with oats, Citra (extra large dose) and Cryo Citra for their 3rd anniversary.; swampy; nose is a burst of mixed citrus; sweet citrus with muted dankness towards the finish;

May 17, 2023

102/4063) Home:  Selected by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 8% Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Blood Brothers and Badlands; with oats, hopped with Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, El Dorado and Columbus; from their 3rd anniversary release; swampy; nose of oranges; dank flavours with orange and tropical notes;

May 16, 2023

100/4061) Home:  Triple Dry Hopped Bone T(h)ree by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 10.5% Triple Dry hopped Triple IPA hopped with Citra, Cryo Citra, Citra Incognito and Citra Spectrum; a 3rd anniversary variation of their flagship IPA; cloudy; nose of peaches and zest; tastes of stone fruit, melon, citrus zest; scarcely a hint of all that alcohol;

“This is a new record for the most hops we have ever put into a beer!” 

101/4062) Home:  Du houblon et des patentes by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***; 8% Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Messorem Bracitorium of Quebec for Third Moon's 3rd anniversary; with oats and hopped with Motueka, Hallertau Blanc, Citra and Citra Spectrum; murky; nose is dank with a suggestion of burning plants; tastes of dank orange, tropical fruit and singed herbs;

May 15, 2023

99/4060) Home:  trilly by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ***; 5.6% Pale Ale with whole cone Cascade hops; translucent copper; sweet, malty nose; almost like a red or Scotch ale; sweet and malty with mild herbal hop edge;

May11, 2023

98/4059) Home:  Karmageddon by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  ****1/2; 8.1% Double IPA with oats, wheat, hopped with Columbus, Citra, Idaho 7 and Mosaic; translucent; pine nose; tastes of pine and tropical fruits;

May 10, 2023

97/4058) Home:  Karma Sabro by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.6%, 45 ibu IPA with oats and wheat; nose of lemony citrus and zest; lemon and zest flavours;

May 9, 2023

96/4057) Home:  No Country by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5% Alsatian Pilsner /French style pub lager brewed in collaboration with Badlands; French malt, French Strisslspalt hops; clear; nose of apples and grain; interesting take on the style; not nearly as sharp and biting as Saaz which allows the grain and malt to shine;

May 8, 2023

95/4056) Home:  Cheap Seats by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ***; 4.2% “Lite Beer”; “touched with” Simcoe and El Dorado; hazy; mostly tropical aromas; mildly citrusy with a little tropical; somewhat washed out;

May 7, 2023

94/4055) Home:  Buggywhip by Abe Erb of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.3%, 60 ibu India Pale Ale; pours Old School clear; floral and citrusy nose; floral notes dominate; mild bitterness;

May 4, 2023

93/4054) Home:  Péché Mortel Stout Mexicain (2023) by Dieu du Ciel of Quebec:  ***1/2; 9.5% Double Coffee Stout with spices and Mexican hot peppers as well as sugar, coffee, wheat, cocoa beans and vanilla beans; jet black; tan head; nose of earthy coffee, hot peppers; tastes of coffee, somewhat muted hot peppers still linger with a mild burn at the finish; also hints of vanilla and astringent cinnamon;

May 2, 2023

92/4053) Home:  Péché Mortel Édition Spécial 2023 by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  ****; 9.5%, 75 ibu Double Coffee Stout; brewed with Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta coffee which differs from the classic version from Café Mystique Coffee roasters; jet black, tan head; nose is not so different from the “classic’ – dark roast, nearly muddy; some sweetness at first, almost at once overtaken by dark, nearly burnt bitter coffee notes;

April 29, 2023

91/4052) Home:  Barrel Aged From Underneath by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****1/2; 11.5% Imperial Chocolate Porter aged 12 months in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels; deep dark brown; nose of licorice, roasted malt, dark coffee, boozy bourbon and oak; strong bourbon flavours with vanilla, oak and chocolate; mildly sweet;

April 28, 2023

90/4051) Home:  From Underneath (2023) by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 10% Imperial Chocolate Porter with Ghanaian cacao nibs; pours jet black; nose of semi sweet chocolate; flavours of semi sweet chocolate, coffee, roasted malt; dangerously drinkable;

April 27, 2023

89/4050) Home:  Cream Egg Bestowed by Third Moon Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 11.5% Imperial Stout with cream eggs, chocolate and lactose; deep dark brown; nose is sugary with chocolate and dark coffee; one does notice the sweetness, primarily towards the finish; unsweetened chocolate, dark coffee, dark roasted malt, finishing with a sugary sweet cream egg; alcohol is scarcely present; thick, heavy mouthfeel;

April 25, 2023

88/4049) Home:  Lone Tree by Third Moon Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% West Coast IPA brewed in collaboration with Sawdust City and Beertown Public House; uses a New England IPA hop bill and malt bill of a West Coast IPA, inspired by Bone Tree and Lone Pine; golden and translucent; nose of pine and grape fruit; flavours of pine and grapefruit against a caramel malt backdrop;

April 23, 2023

87/4048) Home:  Breakfast Stout by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ***; 11% Imperial Stout with oats, coffee, Madagascar vanilla and maple syrup; pours black with a dark tan head; aromas of sweet sugary maple syrup, cocoa and vanilla; nearly overwhelmingly sweet with sugary maple, vanilla, cocoa, dark, burnt coffee; the mouthfeel is thick and heavy, almost syrupy;

April 22, 2023

86/4047) Home:  Link Up (2023) by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; all Citra fermented with thiolized yeast (aids in increasing tropical aromas); murky; nose is a blend of citrus and tropical with hints of dankness; flavours of citrus and zest;

April 21, 2023

83/4044) Third Moon Tap Room, Milton:  Bestowed - Chocolate Covered Strawberry (2023) by Third Moon Brewing o. of Ontario:  ****; 11%;  brewed with chocolate and strawberry; aromas like the name suggests with a hint of vanilla;  flavours of sweet strawberry, semi sweet chocolate with a dark roasted finish; 

84/4045) Badlands' Beer Garden:  Dory #59 by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5% IPA; using a modified mash regimen, hopped with Citra and Citra Cryo; murky, uncommonly thin mouthfeel; stonefruit nose and similar flavours, especially peach; 

85/4046) Badlands' Beer Garden:  Peach Nectar by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.5%; hopped with Peacharine and Nectaron from New Zealand; murky; thick, heavy mouthfeel; dank, nearly sulphurous nose; blend of dankness and stone fruit;

April 20, 2023

82/4043) Home:  Tripel 2022 by Stonehooker Brewing Company of Ontario:  ***1/2; 7.9%, 26 ibu; golden brown; sweet and fruity with mild tartness; tastes of fruit with sweet dark sugar;

April 18, 2023

81/4042) Winter by Grain & Grit of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.6%, 22 ibu White Stout; brewed with oats, wheat, cocoa nibs ,candy canes and peppermint; golden, translucent; peppermint and candy cane nose; mostly peppermint and candy cane with hints of cocoa in the background;  an odd one but definitely Christmassy;

April 16, 2023

80/4041) Home:  Blarney by Stonehooker Brewing Company of Ontario:  ***1/2; 4.1%, 30 ibu stout brewed with malted and flaked barley and malted oats; black as coal, scant tan head; roasty with notes of chocolate and hints of coffee;

April 15, 2023

79/4040) Home:  Origin of Darkness by Collective Arts of Ontario:  ***1/2; 10.8% Port barrel aged Imperial Stout with Vidal Ice Wine; brewed in collaboration with Cloudwater Brew Co. Of England; grain bill includes wheat and oats; refermented with ice wine juice and finished in port barrels; deep brown, thin tan head; aromas of port, ice wine, grape skins; tastes of sweet ice wine, dry port, vanilla and dark fruit; an odd one;

April 14, 2023

78/4039) Home:  Origin of Darkness by Collective Arts of Ontario:  ****1/2; 10.8%; full name:  2022: Madeira Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Pecans and Coffee; brewed in collaboration with Burial Beer Co. of North Carolina; a Pecan and Coffee Pastry Stout brewed with wheat, oats, pecans, “aged in extremely unique Madeira Whiskey barrels from blackened whiskey;  jet black, thin, wispy head;  Madeira is strongest to the nose, also booze, oak, dark fruit; flavours of dark fruit, oak, Madeira, currents, licorice – this is marvellous;

April 12, 2023

77/4038) Home:  Double High Grade by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 8%, 70 ibu Double IPA “packed with raw oats & sticky-icky tropical hops”; hazy, golden; tropical aromas; mixed tropical fruit, no hint of the alcohol;

April 10, 2023

76/4037) Home:  CABC No. 20 by Collective Arts of Ontario:  ***1/2; 10% Triple IPA with Galaxy, Spectrum, Simcoe and Mosaic hops; translucent, golden; we think the nose is passionfruit; very much a tropical fruit bowl;

CABC stands for Collective Arts Beer Club.  My wife purchased these at the brewery itself.

April 9, 2023

75/4036) Home:  Creeper Reaper by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5% Spooky India Pale Ale; hopped with Galaxy, Strata, and Nelson Sauvin; also Pilsner malt, flaked oats, wheat, Vermont Ale yeast;  cloudy; interesting blend of tropical citrus and white wine aromas; my can is a bit old and the flavours are slightly washed out but I am sensing a dank edge, white wine and tropical notes;

As best I can tell, this is an annual with varying abvs and hops.  "conjured under the light of the full moon”;

April 8, 2023

74/4035) Home:  Big Slugger by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  ***1/2; 8.2% Imperial IPA with oats; opaque; citrusy, especially oranges; citrus flavours with a touch of dankness;

April 5, 2023

73/4034) Home:  Beer With No Name by Nickel Brook of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.3% West Coast IPA with Ekuanot, Mosaic and Cashmere hops; golden, translucent; fruity nose – citrus and tropical; citrusy flavours, malty caramel sweetness; 

There is a contest on to name this but the QR code rules me out.

April 3, 2023

72/4033) Prenup Pub:  Triple Imperial by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs of Belgium:  ****; 10%, 30 ibu; chestnut with scanty head, much sediment; nose of dark fruit; dark fruit flavours, cherries;

April 2, 2023

70/4031) Home:  Hades by New Ontario Brewing Company of Ontario:  ***1/2; 10.2% Imperial Coffee Stout on Nitro; brewed with premium Roasted Hades coffee; deep, rich chestnut colour with a frothy pale tan head;  strong dark coffee aromas; tastes of strong coffee of the cold brew variety of which I am not necessarily a fan;

71/4032) Home:  Bright Side by Grain & Grit of Ontario:  ****; 5.7% India Pale Ale with Idaho 7 and Ekuanot hops; pours translucent; nose is citrusy with a hint of powdered sugar; tastes primarily of citrus with sweetness from the malts;

April 1, 2023

69/4030) Home:  Vanilla Stars & Blackberry Hearts by New Ontario Brewing Company of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.2% Porter; deep dark brown, tan head; prominent blackberry nose; blackberry and vanilla gives illusion of a turnover with icing; still, there is a bit of an off-flavour which seems consistent with this mixed pack;

March 31, 2023

68/4029) Home:  Lonely Howl by New Ontario Brewing Company of Ontario:  **1/2; 4.7% Extra Stout; jet black; nose of roast and chocolate; flavours of roasted malt, hints of dark chocolate and mocha; thin mouthfeel; 

Halfway into this mixed pack I am non-plussed.

March 30, 2023

67/4028) Home:  Santa's B-Team by New Ontario Brewing Company of Ontario:  **1/2; 4.2% Milk Stout with lactose; pours dark, scanty head; roasty sweet mocha nose; mocha flavours with a touch of lactic acid;

March 29, 2023

66/4027) Home:  Fear, Movie, Lions.  Hazy Double IPA by Stone Brewing of California, U.S.A.:  ***1/2; 8.5%, 60 ibu Hazy Double IPA; brewed with wheat and hopped with Loral and Mosaic; dank nose with tropical and citrus notes; a bit sweet, along side the dankness, tropical outshines citrus flavours to a degree;

March 28, 2023

65/4026) Home:  Haze Of The Dead by Destihl Brewery of Illinois, U.S.A.:  ****1/2; 8.5%, 83 ibu Double Dry Hopped Hazy Imperial IPA; hopped with Citra and Simcoe; also contains oats and wheat;  hazy; aromas of lemony citrus; strong flavours of lemon, citrus and pine; delicious;

From their Deadhead IPA Series.

March 27, 2023

64/4025) Home:  Frosty The Friendship Dragon by Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; 8.3% Whipped Frosting IPA; Amarillo, Motueka, Ekuanot, Citra and Idaho 7 hops, also oats, wheat, lactose, lemon purée, vanilla beans; translucent; lemon, primarily, among other citrus; tastes of lemon, vanilla, mixed citrus; deceptively drinkable;

March 26, 2023

63/4024) Home:  Crowd Surf Motel by Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery of Ontario:  ***; 7%, 35 ibu Passion Fruit IPA; brewed with oats, passion fruit purée, Ekuanot Cryohops, Citra, Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin;  golden, mildly hazy; passionfruit and citrus nose; some bitterness especially at the finish, passionfruit and citrus;

March 23, 2023

62/4023) Home: BOYD X by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  *****; 10.6% Imperial Stout aged in Cognac barrels; brewed with oats and rye; 7th incarnation, brewed for Bellwoods’ 10th anniversary; nose of oak, cherries, anise; oak, cognac, figs, dark sugar, cherries;

March 22, 2023

61/4022) Home:  Wishing Well 2022 by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 10.2% Imperial Stout with toasted coconut, vanilla, single origin Columbian coffee and Yerba Mate; pours jet black; aromas of dark, nearly bitter coffee, coconut, vanilla with Yerba in background; sweet coconut, bitter coffee; perhaps a bit too much;

I tried Yerba Mate at a South American cafe in Toronto and it is quite an experience.

March 20, 2023

60/4021) Wvrst, Union Station:  Rise by Third Moon Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.2%; brewed with oats and Citra, Mosaic and Cashmere hops; murky; nose is citrus and tropical with an herbal edge; citrus overshadows tropical notes;

March 18, 2023

59/4020) Home:  Ol' Erebus by Great Lakes Brewing of Ontario:  ***; 5% Porter with wheat; deep chestnut; roasty nose with mocha; mild roast, hint of mocha, hint of coffee;

 This is named for the ill-fated HMS Erebus whose crew perished in the Canadian Arctic.

March 16, 2023

57/4018) The Village Genius (formerly The Village Idiot): Tennant's Stout by Tennant Caledonian Brewery of Scotland:  ****; 4.7%; deep, rich brown; thick Guinness like tan head; sweet roasty nose; notes of coffee, mild roast, faint mocha;

58/4019) Wvrst, Union Station:  Velvet Elvis by Town Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; brewed in collaboration with  with Fogorig of Campbellford, Ontario, which would make them neighbours of Churchkey Brewing; murky; citrus and tropical; citrus and dankness;

Given the location I expected things would be expensive but I did not expect the 10PM last call.

March 15, 2023

56/4017) Home:  Beard of Zeus 2023 by Great Lakes Brewing of Ontario:  ****1/2; 10.9%, 60 ibu barrel aged barley wine; aged in bourbon barrels in excess of one year; brewed with four ingredients; deep rich brown; aromas of burnt sugar and bourbon; tastes of dark fruit, alcohol, bourbon and caramel; this would be a good choice to age;

March 14, 2023

55/4016) Home:  Karma Simcoe by Great Lakes Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.6% American IPA; Tank Ten series; with oats, wheat, packed March 9; translucent orangey gold; old school piney nose; flavours as above – terrific, as Hammy Hamster might say; hint of caramel malt;

March 12, 2023

54/4015) Home:  Husk by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.6% Robust English Porter with coconut; aged on coconut; deep brown, wispy tan head; nose of dark roasted malt and fresh coconut; lingering coconut flavours, roasted malt with a hint of chocolate; one wonders if a similar effect could not have been achieved with Sabro hops of which Badlands is so fond;

March 10, 2023

53/4014) Home:  Tranilla by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.6% English Porter with vanilla, triple vanilla in fact:   Madagascar, Tahitian and Mexican; pours dark brown with a scant tan head; sweet vanilla aromas with roasted malt; tastes of sweet vanilla, milk chocolate, roasted malt and caramel;

March 9, 2023

52/4013) Home:  Catstronaut by Refined Fool Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***1/2; 4.5%, 20 ibu session IPA with wheat and oats; hopped with Bru-1, Cashmere and Strata; hazy, golden; mixed citrus especially lemon; an uncommonly fine session IPA;

March 7, 2023

51/4012) Home:  Bad Moon Rising (2023) by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 8.2% IPA brewed in collaboration with Third Moon; differs from the 2022 version in that here they use a modified DIPA malt base with a higher proportion of oats; hopped with Mega Motueka (Phantasm + a variety of Motueka high in thiols) in the whirlpool and dry hopped with Rakau, New Zealand Cascade and Motueka; cloudy; nose of white wine and stone fruit; white wine, berries and stonefruit;

March 6, 2023

49/4010) Home:  Peppermint Pattie by Wellington Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6.6%, mint-chocolate milk stout with wheat and oats;  jet black, tan head; nose is roasty with bitter dark coffee; only the mildest hint of peppermint; beyond this a fine, dry, roasty stout;

50/4011) Home:  Seeing Double by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 8.2% single hop double IPA with Nectaron hops; side reads, “Fool me twice”; cloudy, nearly murky; mostly stone fruit aromas; tastes of stone fruit, pears, mixed citrus, a bit sweet;

March 4, 2023

48/4009) The 3 Brewers, Yonge Street:  Patrick The Legend by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  ****; 6.2%, 38 ibu stout; black with a tan head; roasty, grainy nose like That Other Irish Stout; roasty, grainy, hint of chocolate, a tiny bit sweet;

March 1, 2023

47/4008) Home:  Bolddogge by Furnace Room Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; 8.6% Imperial Stout with oats; pours black; aromas of burnt malt, dark bitter coffee, unsweetened chocolate; tastes of bitter chocolate, touch of vanilla, burnt malt; strong tasting;

February 28, 2023

46/4007) Home:  Jätku Leiba by Põhjala Brewing SA of Estonia:  ****; 12%, 15 ibu; Barrel aged Imperial Porter; brewed with barley, rye, oats and toasted rye flakes; aged in bourbon and American rye whiskey barrels; black, scanty tan head; nose of bourbon and roasted malt; sweet bourbon cherry licorice, oak; abv. is dangerously well hidden;  

This is closer to what I had come to expect from Põhjala.  From their Cellar series.  A sticker applied by the LCBO indicates a 12.5% abv., not 12%.

February 27, 2023

45/4006) Home:  Chȃteau Noir by Põhjala Brewing SA of Estonia:  ****; 12%, 45 ibu “Avinous barrel aged imperial Baltic Porter aged in 2017/18 Bordeaux red wine barrels and Pedro Ximenez (Sherry) barrels" from their Cellar series; very dark brown, scanty head; nose of roasted malt, dark fruit, caramel, soy, boozy red wine and sherry; flavours of red wine, sherry, dark fruit, hint of burnt malt; very warming, chocolate notes emerge as it warms and it becomes mildly sweet;

February 25, 2023

41/4002) Birreria Volo:  Péché Mortel Bourbon 2023 by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  ****; 9.5%; nose of coffee, bourbon, oak; coffee is every bit as forward as the original, against a  back drop of bourbon and oak; vanilla is muted, scarcely there; this would be an interesting one to age; 

I am a week late for Péché Day but a number of items are still available.

42/4003) Birreria Volo:  Péché Latte by Dieu du Ciel! of Quebec:  ****; 9.5%; Imperial Coffee Milk Stout on nitro; nose is again very forward coffee with soft sweet notes; like the original but with unexpected, yes, latte style sweetness; 

43/4004) Birreria Volo:  Remedial Chaos Theory by Short Finger of Ontario:  **; 10% Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout; tart nose; tartness overshadows roasty notes;

44/4005) Birreria Volo:  Old Primeval by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  10.2% Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Stout; red wine nose with licorice, raisins; strong flavours of sweet rum, oak, cherries; 

I also tried BOYD 2017, previously listed, and noted the dried fruit and raisins nose – six years have brought the fruit notes forward.

February 24, 2023

40/4001) Home:  Banaananen by Põhjala Brewing SA of Estonia:  ***1/2; 13.5%,  35 ibu Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – rum; Cellar Series; brewed with barley, rye, oats; jet black; aromas of rum and  mild, banana; tastes of  ripe banana, sweet boozy rum, but nothing is extreme, dark roasted malt, hint of dark chocolate;

February 24, 2023

39/4000) Home:  Gone Camping by Põhjala Brewing SA of Estonia:  ***1/2; 11.5%, 40 ibu BA Imperial Stout with rye and oats;  from their Cellar Series; pours jet black; aromas of dark roasted coffee, rum, alcohol; very boozy, blend of spirits, rather sweet, dark roasted malt; very nearly too much;

“An epic Imperial Stout aged in Rum, Mezcal and Scotch for 11 months.”

February 22, 2023

38/3999) Home:  Baltic Porter Day 2022 by Põhjala Brewing SA of Estonia:  ***; 10%, 25 ibu Imperial Porter; brewed with barley, rye and oats; aged on Palo Santo wood; jet black; nose of dark roasted malt, coffee, alcohol; roast, coconut, salt towards finish, cherry cola notes;

February 20, 2023

37/3998) Home:  Pacific Dreams by Stockyards Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 6.5%, 60 ibu West Coast IPA with oats, Double Dry Hopped with Centennial and Citra; translucent copper; old school piney nose; pine, hints of citrus;

This was a very successful mixed pack in my view.

February 19, 2023

36/ 3997) Home:  Missed Calls by Stockyards Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ****; 8%, 80 ibu double dry hopped Double IPA; with oats, Citra and Mosaic hops; hazy golden yellow; mostly tropical nose; mild, dank edge; tropical, citrus, bitter finish; a solid DIPA;

February 17, 2023

35/3996) Home:  Iron Horse Trail by Stockyards Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.3%, 60 ibu India Pale Ale with oats, Citra, Galaxy and Mosaic hops; hazy pale yellow; grapefruit and tropical aromas; balance of grapefruit and tropical with mild herbal notes;

Stockyards' first brewery overlooked the Iron Horse Trail, a CP rail line that ran between Kitchener and Waterloo.  Yes, they were also giving away a packet of coffee.  I might not have brewed it properly, as I found it a bit weak.

February 16, 2023

34/3995) Home:  Zeven Aonden Invidia by Hugel of Belgium:  ****; 10 % Imperial Stout; pours black; sweet cocoa aromas; tastes of cocoa with caramel notes;

Google translates the name as Seven sins.

February 15, 2023

33/3994) Home:  Mosaic Four Ways by Collective Arts of Ontario:  ****; 6.4% IPA; the four varieties are T90, Cryo, Incognita and Spectrum; pours hazy and golden; fresh tropical aromas; delicious tropical flavours;

February 11, 2023

32/3993) Home:  Pong Lord by Prince Eddy's Brewing Company of Ontario:  ***1/2; 8% Double IPA brewed with barley, wheat and oats; hazy orange; sweet tropical nose; tastes of pine with tropical notes and a sweet finish;

February 10, 2023

31/3992) Home:  Far From Home by Redline Brewhouse of Ontario:  ****1/2; 6.7%, 50 ibu Vermont IPA with Magnum, “Idaho #7”, Mosaic, Citra hops, Vermont ale yeast, malted oats plus three malts, including pilsner malt; hazy yellow orange; nose of oranges, mango and pine; pine notes evokes a  West Coast IPA but mango and oranges take us back to the East coast;

February 9, 2023

30/3991) Home:  Dream Weaver by Redline Brewhouse of Ontario:  ****; 5.4%, 33 ibu pale ale; four ingredients; hazy, yellow; mixed tropical fruit nose; delicious tropical flavours with a hint of berries;

February 7, 2023

28/3989) Blue moon Brewery at Stakt Market:  Ginger Bread Stout by Blue Moon of Ontario:  ****; 5.5%, 20 ibu; deep brown; gingerbread nose; mildly sweet gingerbread flavours;

29/3990) Amsterdam Brew House:  QQ Pub Ale by Amsterdam Brewery of Ontario:  ***1/2; 4% Session ESB; malty, biscuity nose; very much an English style ale, toasty, biscuity with a mild herbal hop edge;

February 5, 2023

27/3988) Home:  Series 4 Barrel Aged Tripel by Redline Brewhouse of Ontario:  no rating; 9.7%; bottle reads,  "VIN1364"; pours hazy, golden; 

This bottle was quite plainly infected.  I cannot fairly rate this one.

February 4, 2023

26/3987) Home:  Backwoods Bastard by Founders Brewing Company of Michigan, U.S.A.:  ****1/2; 11%, 50 ibu; updated recipe; ale aged in oak bourbon barrels; dark brown; nose of sweet bourbon, vanilla and oak; moderately strong bourbon flavours with oak, mild alcohol presence, raisins and vanilla;

February 3, 2023

25/3986) Home:  Area 51 by Redline Brewhouse of Ontario:  ****; 8.5%, 65 ibu Double IPA with flaked oats; opaque, amber; aromas of pine with sweet candied notes; old school piney; abv. is well hidden; hints of candy – unusual;

February 2, 2023

24/3985) Home:  Crew by Railway City of Ontario:  ***1/2; 4.5% lager with four ingredients; pours clear straw; mild berry aromas; berries and a touch of caramel; a perfectly serviceable lager;

January 26, 2023

23/3984) Home:  Twice Checked by Railway City Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6%, 15 ibu Winter Spiced Ale with ginger, cinnamon, allspice, brown sugar, “fancy molasses” and vanilla extract; dark brown; strong scents of clove with ginger; like a very heavily spiced gingerbread - clove ginger and brown sugar;

January 25, 2023

22/3893) Home:  Hudson 2850 by Railway City Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.9%, 80 ibu West Coast IPA; hopped with Centennial, Simcoe and, Lemon Drop; opaque; nose of citrus and pine; piney, citrusy with a hint of caramel – very Old School; 

Commemorates the first Canadian Royal visit, 1939, George VI and Elizabeth, via CPR Hudson Class steam engine #2850.

January 24, 2023

20/3981) Bar Volo:  A Dent by Badlands Brewing of Ontario:  ****; 6.5%; cloudy; citrus and tropical with a dank edge;

21/3982) Bar Volo:  Forza! by Volo of Ontario:  ****1/2; 8.7% Imperial stout; on cask; coffee, roasted malt nose; alcohol, mild roast, dark coffee;

January 22, 2023

19/3980) Home:  Chocolate Bar by Refined Fool Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6%, 45 ibu Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout; with oats, peanuts, a milk stout base, and “real peanut butter”; deep brown, nearly black; mostly peanut butter to the nose; I am getting real, not artificial, peanut flavours which linger but are not overly strong; also mildly sweet milk chocolate;  a novelty beer but not so bad at that;

“...modelled after a popular ridged disc-shaped treat. We can’t really say much more than that, and we’re sorry but you’ll likely never guess which one.”

January 20, 2023

18/3979) Home:  Roasted Vanilla Espresso by Waterloo Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6% dark lager; again, “natural flavout”; rich deep brown; nose of vanilla and dark chocolate; tastes of vanilla, dark chocolate and mild roast with a hint of coffee;

January 19, 2023

17/3978) Home:  Irish Cream Stout by Waterloo Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6%; with oats and “natural flavours”; very dark brown; sweet and creamy nose, much like your favourite Irish Cream; perhaps not quite so artificial as yesterday’s entry; whenever I sense lactose I think, “Artificial”; very Irish cream-like against a stout backdrop; I would like to try this stout unadorned;

January 18, 2023

16/3977) Home:  Apple Crumble Porter by Waterloo Brewing Co. of Ontario:  ***1/2; 6%; with “natural flavours”; deep, dark brown; aromas of sweet vanilla overshadow notes of apple; flavours of vanilla, caramel, apple, cinnamon – tastes just a bit artificial;

From Waterloo's Signature series.

January 17, 2023

15/3976) The 3 Brewers, Yonge Street:  Wondermalt by The 3 Brewers of Ontario:  ***; 5.5%, 26 ibu California Common; clear; malty nose, slightly grainy; malt forward, a touch minerally with a bitter edge at the finish;

January 15, 2023

14/3975) Home:  Das Boot Bier by Furnace Room Brewery of Ontario:  ***; a 4.3% Oktoberfest German Lager brewed in compliance with Reinheitsgebot; malty with spiced nose; herbal and malty with mild spice flavours;

January 10, 2023

11/3972) Home:  Cherry Milkshake by River Road Brewing & Hops of Ontario:  **1/2; 5.2%, 54 ibu Milkshake IPA with lactose and fresh cherries; pours ruby red; some sweetness, some cherry to the nose; not getting much of either in the taste, again bitter club soda notes;

12/3973) Home: Blind Descent by River Road Brewing & Hops of Ontario:  ***1/2; 5.8%, 22 ibu Oatmeal Stout with local oats and lactose; jet black, no head whatsoever; roasty, mildly sweet nose; sweet and roasty with a thin mouthfeel – the best of the bunch;

13/3974) Home:  Thirst World by Fairweather Brewing of Ontario:  ***1/2; 8.2% Double IPA; dry hopped with Motueka and Sabro; hazy yellow-gold; aromas of coconut and mixed tropical fruit; sweet flavours of orange and coconut;

I shared the last one.  The side of the tin reads, "Have It All". 

January 9, 2023

9/3970) Home:  Tr-hop-ical Feeings by River Road Brewing & Hops of Ontario:  **; 3.8% Dry Hopped Session IPA; Sabro hops; hazy, golden; mild tropical nose; not a lot of flavour; rather like dank, bitter club soda;

10/3971) Home:  Mudmen B.S. by River Road Brewing & Hops of Ontario:  ***; 4.2% Session Pale Ale; mildly hazy; malty aromas; malty with similar club soda notes to above though marginally more successful;

Named for a popular band.

January 7, 2023

8/3969) Home:  Robohop NE Style DIPA by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  ****; 8.5%, 40 ibu; brewed with oats and wheat; murky; mixed tropical aromas with a tiny hint of dankness; mixed tropical, only a bit sweet;

January 6, 2023

7/3968) Blue Moon Brewery at Stakt Market:  Hazy Pale Ale by Blue Moon of Ontario:  ***1/2; 4.9%, 30ibu; hazy, golden; sweet with a mild fruitiness;

January 5, 2023

6/3967) Home:  Comfy Slipper by Square Brew of Ontario:  ***1/2; 4.5% Vanilla Porter, “A seasonal take on our Irish Stout”; added vanilla; deep brown; vanilla and caramel aromas; notes of dark roasted malt and vanilla; a bit thin, watery; some piney hop bitterness at the finish;