May 21, 2016

89/1674) Home:  Sunnyside Session IPA by Great Lakes Brewery of Ontario:  **;  3.9%, 25 ibu;   fresh, hoppy nose - mild pine;  floral, piney flavours;

The abv of so called session beers has been climbing of late so it is nice to see one with a reasonable alcohol by volume figure.

Sunnyside is a beach region in west Toronto.  I hear tell my grandmother had her hat blown off on one of the rides back when.  This was purchased at the brewery today.

90/1675)  Home:  Haters Gonna Hate by Beau's All Natural Brewery of Ontario:  *1/2;  8%, 40 ibu;  an Imperial Kolsh;  Beau's Wild Oats Series No. 16;  brewed with barley and wheat malts and Nelson Sauvin hops;  a tribute, ten years later, to the first batch of Lug Tread which was accidentally brewed extra strong;  unfiltered, orange hued;  grainy nose with hints of white wine;  strong musty flavours;  hint of hops towards finish; dry after taste;

This is an appropriate name for a beer from Beau's.  After being, for many years, the darlings of the hipster craft beer crowd, beer forums have erupted in an endless, repetitive series of anti-Beau's tirades.  When an LCBO employee offered that Beau's beers sell very well it all fell in to place.

Sure, Beau's experiments a lot and maybe some of those experiments ought to have stayed in the lab but even when they fail, I respect them for trying.  What has happened here, as verified by the afore-mentioned LCBO employee, is that the Private Party is over.  People who know it is bad manners to wear a knitted hat indoors are buying Beau's.  People who own sedans and have real jobs are enjoying Beau's wares.  They have achieved success which to some translates as welling out.

Luckily, you have found a blogger who places more value on good beer than on personal street cred.  

May 20, 2016

88/1673) Home:  Monogamy Single Hop Pale Ale:  Simcoe by Bellwoods Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  6.4%;  65 ibu;  pours opaque;  strong piney citrusy nose;  delicious citrus flavours;

May19, 2016

86/1671) Home:  West Coast Style IPA by Mill Street Brewery of Ontario:  **1/2;  6.6%, 87 ibu;  brewed with barley, malted wheat and toasted oak;  pours opaque and cloudy;  fresh grapefruit nose;  floral opening, grapefruit finish;

This has proven to be a a somewhat controversial offering.  I am on the FOR side.  It is hard to tell how much is due to the audacity of the owners allowing themselves to be bought by Labatts.

87/1672) Home:  Red Racer Imperial India Pale Ale by Central City Brewing of British Columbia:  **;  9%, 90 ibu;  dry hopped with hops from the Yakima Valley;  brewed with Maris Otter English barley;  nose is green tea with hints of fruit;  strong bitter flavours, the alcohol makes its presence known in short order along with green tea flavours;  it is very nearly a bit too much;

May 18, 2016

Black Creek Historic Brewery has announced its schedule of specialty ales for 2016.  The list can be found here: http://www.blackcreekbrewery.ca/the-beer/

I will be dropping by several times this year.  If you tell them you are going straight to the brewery and back they will let you park for free and if you promise to be quick you can even avoid paying admission.

May 17, 2016

It was announced that Junction Craft Brewing will be relocating.  As it is now they are a short walk away from the Indie Ale House which is handy when I am in town to buy beer and they are right next door to the Toronto Distillery Co. Ltd.  You may have seen them on TV concerning their constitutional challenge.  Both partners are lawyers during the day and the one has a splendid mustache.  They also make an outstanding gin if that is your sort of thing - highly recommended.

The new location will place them very close to Shacklands Brewing and Rainhard Brewing once all is done.  I am only vaguely familiar with these two breweries so I will be looking forward to visiting as part of a beer run some time in 2017, if all goes according to plan.  (Does that ever happen?)

May 16, 2016

84/1669) Bar Volo:  Hanlon's Point, a collaboration between Great Lakes Brewing and Bar Hop, both of Ontario:  **;  a 6.5% coconut coffee porter brewed with the assistance of Juan of a Kind Coconuts and Sense Appeal Coffee Roasters;  sweet mocha nose;  sweet coconut and mocha flavours;

I spotted this on menus last year, on-line, but I never arrived anywhere in time to try it.  I have since learned it is significantly better on tap than bottled.

85/1670) Bar Volo:  L’Impératrice by Le Trou Du Diable of Quebec:  **; a 10% bourbon barrel aged imperial stout;  nose is chocolate vanilla and oak;  tastes of vanilla and sweet oak;  midly sparking cidery mouth feel;

Instead of referring to the Volo by how it has appeared on my VISA statements I am going to belatedly call it as it reads on their window.  Since we no longer have forever to do this, I took my sons here today.  I think they were impressed with the place and with how many people wanted to shake my hand, including Roger who asked,  quite loudly, "How does an ugly bastard like you have such handsome sons?".

It was successful enough that we decided to reconvene very soon.

May 15, 2016

82/1667) Monk's Kettle:  Lauter Tun Saints HPA by Brimstone Brewing Co. of Ontario: **;  5.3%,  HPA stands for Hybrid Pale Ale;  the bartender suspects this is referring to the factt that this is brewed with oats, wheat and rye as well as barley;  also uses Nelson Sauvin and Amaraillo hops;  hazy with a fresh citrusy nose;  warm gentle flavours against a grainy backdrop;

83/1668) Monk's Kettle:  Sinister Minister by Brimstone Brewing Co. of Ontario:  **;  7.5%,  "+90 ibu";  darker than above, stronger as well;  similar in that it, too, is opaque;  citrusy mildly resiny nose;  citrusy resiny flavours;

After today's performance by the Windermere String Quartet, it is pretty much the end of concert season.  Prior to concert season, I had mentioned that the Bay Street concourse at Union Station, and particularly the McDonalds therein, had permanently closed.  Between then and now I have shed some nine kilograms.  As Bear from Polka Dot Shorts might say, "Coincidence?  I think not!'.