Beer Review
Rickard's Cardigan Premium Spiced Lager — Molson-Coors
I must, once again, begin this review with some apologies. The good folks at Rickard's are very consistent in sending me their new products to review, and while I'm generally not bad at getting the reviewed in a timely …
Hops and Bolts IPL — Mad and Noisy Brewing (Creemore Springs)
Fact: there is a lot of blustering going on right now in the craft beer scene in Toronto, about what is, exactly, "craft beer". I won't enter that debate here (though I promise I will elsewhere soon). There are sort of …
Altbier — Creemore Springs Brewery
25 years in business — any business — is cause for celebration. True, there are breweries in Europe that date back more than a century, but only Europeans pull that "thing X is better in Europe" nonsense. In craft …
Mongozo Premium Pilsner — Gluten Free, Oraganic and Fair-trade
Well, it really comes as no surprise, to those following along, but we're about to see a lot more gluten free beers in Ontario. Snowman Brewing has announced it will be brewing on contract at Black Oak in the very near …
Oktoberfestbier — Hofbräuhaus
"The Court's Brewery", sounds somewhat regal and important, doesn't it? Indeed, that is roughly the translation of the German word "hofbräu". That being said, throughout the brewing history of Germany, numerous breweries …
Munich Gold — Hacker-Pschorr Brau GmbH
While most people see beers from places like Hacker-Pschorr and Paulaner, and think "Oktoberfest", Munich Gold is actually more of a summer time beer. It's a helles lager, which translates to "Pale" lager. Outside of …
3 Minutes To Midnight (Hellwoods on Sour Cherries) — Bellwoods Brewery
Oh my oh dear. Is there anything Bellwoods makes that doesn't turn to solid gold? Yes, those things that turn to platinum. If you like beer, and you haven't experienced a beer from Bellwoods, stop reading this very …
DeuS (Brut des Flanders) — Bosteels Brewery
Quick, think of a beer that has really small bubbles. Like, micro-bubbles. With me? Yeah, I thought so. I knew you would know about DeuS (Brut des Flanders) from the epic Bosteels Brewery in Belgium. Indeed, long before …
Oktoberfest Bier — Paulaner Brauerei
First off, I must apologize to you, dear reader, as well as the myriad breweries that sent me Oktoberfest beers to review. The week I planned on doing all Oktoberfest actually turned into all hard work week, and I'm only …
Tempest Imperial Stout — Whiskey Barrel Aged — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Perhaps this will come as news to you, but aging beers in oak barrels is kind of a big deal. True, you probably won't see a Maker's Mark aged Lite Lime Lager in this lifetime (thank God), but more and more breweries are …
Tempest Imperial Stout 2011/2012 — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Today was Amsterdam day, in Amsterdam week. I was able to check out the space that the new brewpub will be in, visit the new brewery in Leaside and hang around with some of my favourite brewers. More on all that tomorrow …
Calm Before The Storm — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Amsterdam week continues, and today was a noteworthy day: I walked in to 21 Bathurst St for what is likely to be the last time. Just stopped by to borrow a couple of shives, and was in and out, but couldn't help but …
Sleeping Giant — Amsterdam Brewing Co.
I'm celebrating all this week with Amsterdam Brewing Co, who have now officially moved in to their new premises, in Leaside. If you had ever been to their brewery at 21 Bathurst, you knew it was simply a matter of time …
Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It — Church-Key Brewing
While I review their beers far too infrequently, I am a long-time big-fan of Church-Key Brewing. An early micro-brewery favourite of mine, Church-Key is located right along the "back roads" route to my wife's family …
No Pants With Miranda — Great Lakes Brewery
After reviewing Great Lakes Brewery's excellent 25th Anniversary Belgian Saison, which included lots of references to their No Chance With Miranda Saison, I thought it was the right time to dig into my pile of beers …
25th Anniversary Belgian Saison — Great Lakes Brewery
Many of you will already know that Great Lakes Brewery is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. If you didn't, Great Lakes Brewery is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Now we all know. With that in …
Deviator Doppelbock Bourbon Barrel Aged — Cameron's Brewing Co.
So, if you know me, you know I love it when breweries try new stuff. And if you know about the craftbeer "scene", you know oak-aging beers is kind of a big deal. Amsterdam has a mountain of oak casks with a variety of …
Augusta Ale — Kensington Brewing Co.
I had a startling realization ta few days ago, as I grabbed a couple of beers for the weekend: one of my new standard beers, which I've been drinking on draught for what feels like ages, is a beer I've never actually …
Smashed Blueberry — Shipyard Brewing Co.
So, I don't know if it's Ontario brain-washing, overly romantic memories of cottaging in Muskoka as a child, or a geniune love of the little blue berries known (cleverly) as Blueberries. In pancakes, as jam on toast, in …
St Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale — McAuslan Brewing Inc.
Continuing along with my "stuff in beer" reviews, is St Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale. I've said it in past posts, but I'll say it again: I don't go in for this seasonal beer stuff. True, I think there are beers for …