Beer Review
Crabbie's Ginger Beers
Throw in a slice of lime and you are ready to kick it on the dock. You could also use it as mixer in a really grown-up rye and ginger. I love ginger ale/beer. I rarely drink soda, but ginger ale is always an exception. I …
Canuck Pale Ale — Great Lakes Brewery
I think this is a Toronto Beer Blog first: I'm re-reviewing a beer. And it's much needed. The beer in this case, Canuck Pale Ale from Great Lakes, deserves it. For one thing, my old review is, well, not awesome. I have …
Detour — Muskoka Brewery
So if you read my post yesterday, about Spearhead's excellent India White Ale, you will know I'm not 100% okay with the over-use of the word "India" in terms of beer-style naming. India Pale Ale, in its American and …
India White Ale — Spearhead Brewing Co.
One of the downsides of this beautiful new theme for my blog (if you're here for your first time, it used to look a lot different. Worse), was that building it into my blog ate up a lot of my time. Like, I barely did any …
Sunlight Park Saison — Left Field Brewery
I know I sometimes seem to kind of gush on and on about certain breweries. [cough]Amsterdam[cough]. But you might have noticed I also have something of a crush on Mark and Mandie from Left Field. Heck, I worked their …
Session Raspberry/Lemon Verbena Saison — The Local Seven
So, I'm hoping you knew this already, but this weekend it's Session! This is cause for excitement. Session is always a great festival, featuring only craft breweries. This year it's going to be at Yonge and Dundas Square …
Thrust, an IPA — Great Lakes Brewery
There are many excellent brewers in Toronto, but most would agree Mike Lackey at Great Lakes has a dab hand with the hops. Uncanny, you might say. He's more than capable when it comes to barrels and sours and weird …
Springbock — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Despite the fact that we are again in the throes of a polar vortex (which I suppose is better than a Peruvian Sharknado), spring is just around the corner. Hiding like a sadistic child wearing a planet of the apes mask, …
Rebecca — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Well, despite assertions from major beer-writers in Toronto (I'm looking at you, Ben), this is the perfect beer for Valentines Day. Even if it doesn't hit shelves till tomorrow It's at the retail stores now! Get it on …
Coors Banquet — Molson Coors
Another foray into the world of what we sometimes call macrobrewing, today I'm checking out Coors Banquet. My understanding is that the original Coors beer brewed way back when was known as "The Banquet Beer". This is a …
Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA — Arch Brewing Co.
Hey, did you read my post yesterday, about the explosion of new brewers out there? Well, Arch is in that cohort, but is definitely one doing things well. Partnered with Paul Dickey, and making their beer on contract at …
Barrel Aged Double Tempest — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
You know those imperial stouts, that are like, double imperial stouts?....... So lots and lots of people really like Amsterdam's tempest Imperial Stout. Like, it's pretty normal to hear descriptions like "Best Imperial …
Bellwods 3 Minutes to Midnight vs Amsterdam Sour Cherry Imperial Stout
Despite to much evidence to the contrary, I love it when somebody proves me totally wrong. Such was the case with this pairing. I know Bellwoods' 3 Minutes to Midnight well. We got the first ever cask of it at Castro's …
Great Lakes Etobichoker vs Indie Alehouse Instigator IPA
Okay, I'm the first to admit it: today's match-up is a totally uneven bout. Indie Alehouse's awesome Instigator IPA is a rock-solid American-style IPA, and a constant crowd-pleaser at the brewpub. Etobichoker is a new …
Bellwoods Hellwoods vs Amsterdam Tempest
Day two of the battle royale. Today it's a shaolin vs grasshopper kind of day, with Bellwoods Hellwoods Russian Imperial Stout matched against Amsterdam Tempest Imperial Stout. You should probably know that both Luke and …
Great Lakes Lake Effect vs Bellwoods Cat Lady
So here starts the head-to-head battles between beers. Before I address the two contenders, let me make something clear: The four breweries involved are absolutely top brewers in Toronto. None of these matches are likely …
urBock — Creemore Springs Brewery
Bock beers have a well earned reputation as wonderful, if not occasionally misunderstood, beers. Glorious Maibocks help us welcome back warm days and outdoor drinking in the spring. Sturdy bocks and doppelbocks keep as …
Vanilla Porter — Mill Street Brewery
As fall seems to have officially hit here in Toronto, it's no surprise that I find myself with a fridge full of classic cold weather brews. This one, from Mill Street, is a classic for drinkers at their brewpub or new …
Autumn Hop Harvest Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Fall is a great time for beer drinking. Sweet Oktoberfest Marzens that you drink by the litre, pumpkin beers with their earthy rich flavours, and a range of "harvest ales" that range from spiced warmers, to hoppy pale …
Nama Cho — Ontario Spring Water Sake Company
Wait a second, why are you reading a review about a rice wine on TorontoBeerBlog.com? Right? I mean, come on, it's WINE. Well friend, let me take a moment to defend myself: What is wine? It's a fermented drink made from …