Beer Review
Original Cider - Alexander Keith's (Anheuser-Busch/InBev)
First out of the gate for Cider Week is Alexander Keith's Original Cider. Right out of the box (literally) Keith's wins the massively over-the-top packaging award. My two cans of Original Cider arrived in a 22"x14"x7.5" …
Conductors Craft Ale - Junction Craft Brewing
If you've been following along with the beer scene in Toronto, you will know that there are a bunch of fairly new breweries popping up. Some are bricks and mortar (Bellwoods is now officially open!) and a few are …
Bolshevik Bastard - Nickel Brook
A while ago, Ryan Morrow, who is brewmaster at Nickel Brook, handed me some beers to check out (too long ago, my apologies Ryan). I have never really gone crazy for a Nickel Brook beer; I've never had a bad one (like …
Lake Effect IPA - Great Lakes Brewing Co.
So, I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it: Great Lakes Project X is an awesome event. And it happens every month, so I hardly have an excuse for missing it so damn much. If you're not familiar, Project X is run by …
Coors Light Iced T - Molson Coors Canada
Okay, I can hear the groans, etc, already. And I know: flavoured beer, right? Come on. So before I give my review Coors Light Iced T, let me talk a bit about why, and a bit about the product. Stick with me, okay? First …
Lava – Ölvisholt Brugghús - 2010 and 2011 Vertical Tasting
For those of you following along, you will know I am a big fan of Ölvisholt Brugghús, from Iceland. A young brewery in a country with a young brewing heritage (they had prohibition on beer until 1989. Yeah. I know....) …
Irish Red - Cheshire Valley Brewing
Know what I like? Beer. I think that goes without saying. I am particularly fond of Cheshire Valley, the "virtual brewery" of Paul Dickey (his words). Paul makes some of my favourite beers in Toronto. His mild might well …
Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout
If you're not familiar with Nøgne Ø brewery from Norway, don't worry. I think most average folks in Toronto would be surprised to see a beer from Norway at the LCBO, but for this year's winter release, that is exactly …
Old Rasputin - North Coast Brewing Co.
In the world of American Russian Imperial Stouts, there are many notable versions, from right across the USA. The first one that really came to my attention, via chatting to beer geeks around Toronto and reading threads …
St Ambroise Scotch Ale - McAuslan Brewing Inc
The last bottle of my McAuslan care-package that I got a while back, and really a perfect beer for today, for more reasons than one. Yes, it's true, Scotch ales are generally big and hearty ales that warm the cockles of …
Winter Ale - Great Lakes Brewery
I remember the first time I went to Cloak and Dagger, on College St. I was meeting a friend before hockey, and we had decided to just randomly find a place near College and Bathurst, as that was a good meeting spot. I …
St Ambroise Special Reserve Russian Imperial Stout - McAuslan Brewing Inc.
There is no secret about my love for McAuslan Brewing from Montreal. I kind of go on and on about them..... Their Pale Ale makes me quiver, etc. So, when I was sent a bunch of their brews, I was a little more than …
Brown Ale - Snowman Brewing - 2011
Frequent readers here will know that I have been championing a pair of brewers here in Toronto who are doing what I thought was the impossible: Brewing gluten-free beers that actually taste like their gluten-full …
Deviator Doppelbock - Cameron's Brewing Co.
Here's to my first Christmas beer review of the year! Indeed, as the day grow short and the weather is grey and damp and cold (and hopefully turns to snow!), people start reaching for higher alcohol brews, often Imperial …
Grande Reserve 17 2011 - Unibroue
Most readers of this blog will need no introduction to the mighty mighty Unibroue, pride of Chambly, Quebec. One of the best brewers of "Belgian-style" ales outside Belgium, they have remained a massive force in Quebec …
St Ambroise India Pale Ale - McAuslan Brewing Inc
McAuslan is another one of those breweries, that if you read here enough, you know I've got a bit of a thing for. A big bit of a thing. Their Pale Ale is just amazing, their Oatmeal stout is one of my favourite stouts, …
Mocha Porter - Lake of Bays Brewing Co.
So another beer from my new friends at Lake of Bays Brewing Co. As I noted in my post on their Pale Ale, I would have been happy with them, even if they were making some very simple plain beers to support their …
Pale Ale - Lake of Bays Brewing Co.
I grew up spending summers in Muskoka. As a very young fellow, it was at resorts like Delmonte in the Pines and Idylwilde (sp?) on Sparrow Lake/Severn River. I also camped at Sparrow Lake Camp. As time went by, we got a …
Gluten Free Maple Stout - Snowman Brewing
It's time for me to get something out in public, and go back on early stuff I used to rant about. A little more than a year ago, I had tried a couple of gluten-free beers in the hope of discovering that they weren't …
The Rambam - Gluten-free Belgian Quad - Snowman Brewing
You know what I love? Good beer. I think that goes without saying, but I said it anyways. I love weissebeirs and dunkels and pilsners and stouts and imperial lite lagers. I like it all. Incidentally (and seemingly …