Toronto Beer Blog

Doc Perdue's Bobcat — Cowbell Brewing

Sun, 08 Jan 2017 22:50:57 -0500

It has become very very difficult indeed, to keep up with the growth and expansion of breweries in Ontario. But one brewery that didn't slip between the ever widening cracks in my attention was Cowbell Brewing Co, the soon-to-be-opened farm brewery in Blyth Ontario, that aims to be a fully carbon-neutral brewery. Even if I wasn't friends with Stephen Rich who will be brewing with them, the buzz around this project has been hard to miss. They are distributing their Absent Landlord Kolsch, and recently sent out cans of their Doc Perdue's Bobcat West Coast Red Ale (in the type of box that has become ubiquitous with hip beer releases of late: generally padded with wood shavings and branded with a logo, except this one is apparently locally-made with reclaimed wood, keeping in step with their mandate). I confess to having consumed the first of the two cans greedily and with no intention of review. It was just damn tasty and I wanted it. So without further delay, let's see what's inside this lovely can.

New Tattoo

Sun, 18 Dec 2016 20:39:43 -0500

Please indulge me; this has nothing to do with beer, but I needed a place to "host" this post, and I'm rather partial to my blog.

So some of you will know that I take a group of teens to Nicaragua every two years on a learning and service trip (some of you will remember my shave-or-grow fund-raiser two years ago). Some of you will also know that I have more than a few tattoos. Well, we're heading south again at the end of February, and so in the interests of fund-raising, I thought I would try something like the shave-or-grow initiative, but a little more permanent.

R-100 IPA — Muddy York Brewing Co.

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 01:42:45 -0500

Wow, I just looked, and I haven't done a full blog review since June. Did I mention I got a job? I'm not sure how real people manage it.... Regardless, I still get beers to review, and I still want to add content here, and I'm just going to have to buckle down and say "I don't need to spend a leisurely 3 hours reviewing a beer in the afternoon". If you're thirsty for more reviews (see what I did there?) I do periodically do more concise reviews on instagram, where I'm @ChrisSchryer. But I digress. A short while ago I was told I absolutely had to try this, and as I haven't posted a review from Muddy York in literally over a year, I thought the time was ripe to do it right. Not only do I already know and trust Jeff's abilities at making fantastic beers, but the label for R-100 IPA has a picture of what I would call a blimp, but which the label refers to as a dirigible, which is not a word you get to use every day. And I found myself bemused at the thought of dirigibles flying into and out of Toronto, which of course they did, but I never really considered. And now I have. And I've also gotten to drink, as I say, a fantastic beer.

[caption id="attachment_4690" align="aligncenter" width="540"] R-100 IPA — Muddy York Brewing Co.[/caption]

Eastbound Brewing Company Coming to Toronto's RiversideNeighbourhood

Thu, 13 Oct 2016 01:03:18 -0500

Super stoked to pass along this awesome news from a friend from around the scene, Adam. Big love and best wishes to him and his partners in Eastbound Brewing Co!

SAMUEL ADAMS Utopias Exclusive tasting at lcbo

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 11:59:13 -0500

September 7, 2016 – The rare and revered Samuel Adams Utopias 2015 blend is coming to LCBO on Friday, September 23 – the first time in three years this coveted product has been available for purchase in Ontario.

To coincide with the return of one of the world’s most sought-after brews, LCBO is hosting an exclusive tutored tasting lead by Jim Koch, founder of the Boston Beer Company and brewer of Samuel Adams. The tasting will take place on September 23^rd from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at LCBO’s Summerhill location at 10 Scrivener Square in Toronto.

The Ontario Craft Beer Guide

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:19:28 -0500

Heads-up, friends: Father's Day is this weekend (in Canada, at least). And while I try to eschew cheap stereotypes, a lot of dads I know do enjoy a good beer. I'm a dad, and I'm pretty fond of the stuff. So what is a father-loving person to do? Well, buy the old man a beer, or 12.

Beers and Burgers

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 18:02:36 -0500

Hey, you know what an advert on a bus told me the other day? That Burgers and Bud are the original power couple. Ignoring the ridiculousness (and gossip-obsessed grossness) of the term "power couple", can I just say that I disagree? While having a burger and a bud at some bar showing lots of sports on large TVs for a price that implies at least one of the two items can't be of excellent quality doesn't sound that bad to a lot of the population, we can, in fact, do much better. Bud (or America or whatever the hell it's being called) does pair with some food. That's the thing about beer; unless the beer is flawed or otherwise undrinkable, there is some food pairing that will work well. In the example above, though, surely the pairing is less about gastronomical elevation, and more about the fact that Bud is generally cold and fizzy and will get you drunk. It "pairs" with a burger insofar as when you eat a burger, you might want a drink. And a Bud is a drink.

But despite 180 words to the contrary, I'm not actually here to tear down what is surely a very very expensive partnership/marketing campaign (think, more than the yearly budget of a number of Toronto-based breweries combined). But rather, to help you actually pair different burgers with fitting local beers.

West Coast Session Lager — Local 7

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 18:37:33 -0500

For the uninitiated, every year for Session Toronto a group of bar owners (The Local 7) produce a limited release beer for the festival in partnership with Sweetgrass Brewing and Sawdust City. Each of the bars serve the beer during OCB Week, and it is available at a limited number of LCBOs. They've done a lovely saison in the past, but this year they've given a nod to the trend of session IPAs and lighter hoppier brews that are so popular. West Coast Session Lager is a 4.5% lager hopped like an IPA with a bit of lime added.

[caption id="attachment_4629" align="aligncenter" width="540"] West Coast Session Lager — Local 7[/caption]

Railside Session Ale — Sleeman Brewing and Malting Co.

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 14:30:39 -0500

One of the benefits in the surge in craft brewing, is the impact it is having on the big guys. Yes, we get crap like Shocktop, but we also get killer brands like Goose Island, Elysian, and even Ballast Point getting bought and having much wider distribution, with (arguably) no decrease in quality (and in some cases, an increase due to access to funds). Also, big brewers are starting to produce brands that lean towards the crafty side of the scale. Brands that enjoy near-universal hatred from the uber-beer-geeks like Alexander Keiths earn grudging admissions of acceptance from some for their single-hop series. And it is in that vein that Sleeman has brought out Railside Session Ale. Apparently there is some back story about hops falling off of rail cars on their way to the brewery back in the day, and growing along the rail line. This seems just to be a romantic bit of marketing (hops are propagated through rhizomes cut from their roots, and for the sake of producing usable plants, only the female plants are gown, so there are no seeds to be dropped and grow). Regardless, if this means another beer that isn't offensive and widely available when you find yourself in a big-beer bar, it's all good.

[caption id="attachment_4620" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Sleeman Railside Session Ale[/caption]

Ernest Cider — Faris Farms

Mon, 30 May 2016 18:14:17 -0500

Hey! It's Cider Week here in Ontario, and I'm stoked to have been passed a few cans of a new cider to try out. It's called Ernest Cider from Faris Farms, which is in Newmarket. The ingredients list apple juice (first), honey, organic cane sugar, and sulphites. The can says it's a dry cider, not from concentrate and slow fermented, so it sounds good so far.

[caption id="attachment_4623" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Ernest Cider — Faris Farms[/caption]

Beau's Sells Out!

Wed, 18 May 2016 18:14:38 -0500

Vankleek Hill, May 17, 2016 – Yesterday morning, Steve Beauchesne, CEO of Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company, Canada’s largest craft producer of organic beer, took centre stage in Ottawa’s ByTowne Cinema amidst the brewery’s employees to announce the news of its imminent sale under an Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Since its inception in 2006, Beau’s has experienced rapid growth at a compounded rate of 45 per cent year-over-year, and now employs approximately 150 full time staff. The offering of the ESOP is in keeping with Beau’s legacy as a fiercely independent, Canadian owned and family-run operation. The employees will become co-owners and an even greater part of the Beau’s family, with shared responsibility for the brewery’s future and continued growth as it sets to expand across the country by the end of the year.

Pekko Saison — New World Farmhouse Ale

Wed, 18 May 2016 17:28:57 -0500

A new trifecta of firsts for CrookedBullseye: Chris offered to do a Brew & A for GTA Brews, where people from the group are welcome to come out, brew with another brewer and learn from their processes, and ask questions. We're also using two new (to us) ingredients: New World Saison yeast from Escarpment Labs here in Ontario, and Pekko Hops to make our Pekko Saison. He was joined by Al and Trevor from the group on a bright sunny Tuesday morning. The brew for the day was a new world farmhouse finished with pekko hops, with the intent of entering it into the Because Beer Homebrew Contest. The yeast from Escarpment Labs is a blend of Saccharomyces and Brettanomyces, so it will ferment out quickly, then develop a nice brett funk as it ages.

Belgian Candi Sugar

Wed, 18 May 2016 15:34:47 -0500

We love farmhouse beers, particularly saisons. And if you starting digging through saison recipes, you'll keep seeing an ingredient with an annoyingly spelt name, specifically "Candi" sugar. It sounds like a sugar destined to be a cheerleader. But regardless, this sugar adds a seriously notable layer of complexity and authenticity to your saisons and other Belgian-style beers.

You can buy candi sugar from your local homebrew shop, in liquid or solid form. But if you follow along here, this won't surprise you: you can make it too. So we do.

Hipster Bitchslap — French Farmhouse IPA

Tue, 10 May 2016 19:50:38 -0500

It's no secret that we have a real love for the fantastic Wyeast 3711 French Saison yeast. And making farmhouse style beers in general. So a few weeks ago, when Chris' friend Mike who is from Muskoka said he was coing down and wanted to do a brew, 3711 was the inspiration for the brew. Also, the fact that Chris had about 10 oz of Nelson Sauvin hops in the fridge. Sort of a Nelson-influenced Belgian IPA with French Saison yeast. French Farmhouse IPA seemed like a fair style for it. And a Belgian-style IPA-ish thing with El Dorado and Nelson Sauvin is too cool for your fixie and beard oil, so Hipster Bitchslap it is (also, because I cracked a joke about it on the podcast, and I like to run with funny bits).

Stranger Than Fiction Porter — Collective Arts Brewing

Thu, 05 May 2016 15:11:59 -0500

With so much happening in the brewing scene in Ontario, it's often difficult to find a "thing" to be known for. And even if you do, you then need to make sure that you're being authentic. And that your beer is good. Oops, still being authentic? Collective Arts does all of this well. If you don't know them, they bend multiple art mediums and brewing into the same realm. Their labels all feature seasonally curated, beautiful works of visual art (launch party for the next series is coming up, May 14th! Details here). They host events in galleries. They sponsor the Black Box series on Indie88. And working with brewmaster extraordinaire Ryan Morrow (also of Nickel Brook), they produce a line of fantastic beers. They have their beers in bars across the city, at the LCBO, Loblaws (yes!) and for sale at their fantastic new brewing space in Hamilton. Stranger Than Fiction porter has been around for a while now, but I confess, this is my first crack at it. So let's get this thing going!

[caption id="attachment_4598" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Stranger Than Fiction Porter — Collective Arts Brewing[/caption]

DIY Stir Plate 2.0

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 19:01:27 -0500

In fine Crooked Bullseye form, our first stab at a DIY Stir Plate (read about it here, this will all make more sense) was, perhaps not a disaster, but certainly not a success. But we learned a bunch of things!

The basic plan, was using an old computer case fan, wired into a 5v DC converter, with 2 rare earth magnets glued to it. Stick it in a box (old cookie tin) that can support a 2l flask full of liquid. Make killer starters.

Vermont IPA

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:08:26 -0500

Partially because, at heart, Chris is just a giant hipster (even if he shaved off the beard), it was only a matter of time until he tackled a vermont-style IPA using Conan. Inspired by his recent video with Rudy from Community Beer Works, it was going to be a no-crystal all-late-hop IPA. And totally out of character for Crooked Bullseye, he brewed it by himself.

[caption id="attachment_46" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Yeah, that's 24oz of hops[/caption]

Chinook Farmhouse Pair

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:07:24 -0500

Here in Toronto, we don't get the real Chinooks like out west. That said, Josh and Chris were planning a brew day, and it was set to be an unusually warm day for an early March day. So throwing an homage to the warms winds from the Rockies, they planned out a Saison and Biere de Garde using all-Chinook hops.

DIY Stir Plate 1.0

Tue, 08 Mar 2016 22:09:50 -0500

I want to be honest with, this is how not to make a stir plate. As in, it didn't work. We didn't succeed. But there will be a follow-up 2.0 post about how to actually do this. I hope....

About

Tue, 08 Mar 2016 18:24:48 -0500

Crooked Bullseye is a loose group of homebrewers in Toronto, Ontario. We brew all-grain beers, on nearly all diy equipment. We often have kids help stir the mash. We have very poor record-keeping (though this blog might help change that), and feel that if we hit the bullseye, it's because it wasn't where we were aiming. Okay, we're not actually that bad, but our ethos and methods make A-type, highly accurate brewers cringe. That said, we've made some fantastic saisons, as well as other styles. We do a lot of new world/American style beers, basically because it's what we like to drink. We also just won our first accolade, taking 1st place in the Farmhouse Ale category in the GTA Brews Spring Showdown contest with our Chinook Biere de Garde.

Here's a Start

Tue, 08 Mar 2016 18:09:27 -0500

Hey, it's Chris and Josh, and our crew of other people who sometimes come out and brew with us. Welcome to the Crooked Bullseye Homebrewing blog. Here you'll find posts about our brews, diy projects, and other stuff. Content will be posted infrequently, kind of like our brewing schedule. All questions will be answered, maybe. Sounds like fun!

Anniversary No. 3 — Left Field Brewery

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 08:15:54 -0500

Sigh. Left Field. What can I say? Like watching a friend's child grow from cute quirky kindergartner into a mature confident adult (I'm looking at you, Taylor Jackson), I have been so very lucky to have been witness to one of the most lovely success stories in Toronto in recent years. From hanging out in a friend's basement making and drinking home brew, to seeing people react to an oatmeal brown ale at an Iron Brewer event, to watching a fledgling business quickly outgrow one contract brewing arrangement and have to find a second, right through to seeing a brewery built in a beautiful old building, and a two-person operation come to provide stable and meaningful employment for a staff of 12, I have watched and cheered with each new step and each new success. So with this, Left Field's 3rd anniversary month (as many important dates in their story happened in February), I am so very happy, and so very lucky to be able to review one of their anniversary brews. Anniversary No. 3 Strong Saison is a big saison made with French saison yeast and Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. Funny enough, exactly the kind of beer I make for myself, on the occasions I dust off the home brewing kit, and make a beer, just like me and Mark used to do, back in the Brewmance days, when I assumed Mandie thought I was a doofus, and I would have told you that you were mad, if you suggested that one day we would be making a podcast about craft beer together. Let's do this!

Sweetback's Milk Stout — Rainhard Brewing Co.

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:07:10 -0500

With so many other things taking up my time (mainly the podcast and Sight Glass Videos), it's been ages since I actually sat down to review a beer. But I was out to visit Rainhard Brewery to interview Jordan for a video, and when he handed me a bottle of Sweetback's Milk Stout, I knew right away I was going to set aside some time to review it. For the uninitiated, milk stouts have lactose (sugar) added to them. Yeast can't metabolise lactose (lacotse intolerant?), so none of that sugar is fermented, and it remains in the finished product, giving them a sweet taste and heavier body than other stouts. If you know Rainhard, you know Jordan is a man who loves his big hoppy beers, so it will be interesting to see what he does with a style that is not classically hop-forward.

[caption id="attachment_4562" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Sweetback's Milk Stout — Rainhard Brewing Co.[/caption]

Steam Whistle Gifts for the Holidays

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:51:29 -0500

Wrap-up your holiday shopping for your craft beer lovers. Custom Steam Whistle gift wrapping only $5

(Toronto – 7 December, 2015) – What’s better than finding the perfect gift for craft beer lovers? Knowing it’s arriving beautifully wrapped. Until December 25th, for $5 Steam Whistle’s beer elves will wrap your parcel with premium custom paper and ribbon. Shop by December 11th and guarantee your package arrives by December 24th. Visit shop.steamwhistle.ca now.

Kapow! IPA — Rainhard Brewing Co.

Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:33:50 -0500

A few years ago, I co-hosted a homebrew contest with Fred, from Edge 102. We put out a call to the homebrewers of Toronto, to send us their best brews, and we judged them in a head-to-head knock-out, with the best 5 (if I recall) then being judged by a panel of people who actually knew what they were talking about. Some of the entrants have since become successful commercial brewers; Jeff Manol opened Muddy York, Jason Mirlocca opened Northwinds Brewhouse, Jeremy Coghill opened Lansdowne Brewery, Brian O'Donnell now brews for Beau's All Natural, and Jordan Rainhard opened Rainhard Brewing Co. I like to think that we gave them a "Fred and Chris Bump", but really, these were passionate and talented brewers who were going places, and we were just another dot on their path. I managed to get out to Rainhard Brewing a few weeks ago (I'm very much an east-ender, and Jordan is very much west), and it was worth it. A cool small brewery, tucked away in an industrial zone, producing some truly amazing beers. I confess, I scored this bottle for review, took the photo and made my notes, then dragged my ass on writing the top and bottom of this post until now. But the good news is, a new batch of Kapow! came out of the fermenters recently and is ready and waiting for you. Here's why you shouldn't make it wait too long.

[caption id="attachment_4547" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Kapow! IPA — Rainhard Brewing Co.[/caption]

On Mill Street

Fri, 09 Oct 2015 17:58:18 -0500

Okay, I've got a Jays game to watch, so let's get this done.

If you have been asleep till just now, ABI has bought Mill Street Brewery.

This is not surprising. Not even a little. If anything, I'm surprised it's taken this long. It's not the kind of thing you talk about publicly, but I had always assumed Mill Street was aiming for the Creemore programme. At least after the first exciting year or two. And while it isn't sexy or us-against-the-world, it's not a bad business plan. I guess.

[caption id="attachment_4536" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I assume this sign will remain.[/caption]

Brewery Needs Input

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:52:12 -0500

A friend of mine is currently doing some work with a local brewery, and he sent through this request:

I'm conducting market research for a Toronto based brewery. Please take a minute to complete this beer and alcohol related survey. It's for a good cause...beer

Proof That We Simply Cannot Have Nice Things

Wed, 23 Sep 2015 19:54:41 -0500

"There were no foul lines, just base paths worn by year after year of cubs running the bases. So there were a lot of arguments about foul balls. There was a rule against sliding into second base, because second base was a rock. And any ball that was hit into the duck pond in left field was a ground-rule double and an automatic time-out while they fished it out." — The Berenstain Bears Go Out For The Team; © 1986 by Berenstain Enterprises Inc.

[caption id="attachment_4528" align="aligncenter" width="395"] The Berenstain Bears Go Out For The Team[/caption]

This has been a noisy day in the wonderful world of beer sales in Ontario. The Liberal government released the details of the new 195 page master agreement between The Beer Store, the Province (LCBO), and the new kids on the block, grocery stores.

Dereliction D.I.P.A. — Muddy York Brewing Co.

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:10:17 -0500

Hey, thanks for waiting around! I know it's been a while, right? Man, long story. Buy me a beer sometime, and I'll tell you. So here we go! I literally just popped by Muddy York after dropping a carload of garbage to the transfer station, and Jeff said I had to try this, and man was he right! If you haven't made it to one of his pop-up shops at his East York location, take this as your marching orders. Get there. Or check out Muddy York at Cask Days. Or whatever. Just get some of Jeff's fantastic brews down your beer hole.

[caption id="attachment_4522" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Dereliction DIPA — Muddy York Brewing co.[/caption]

South African tea-infused beer “Bush Fire” released this week from Beau’s

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:26:43 -0500

Organic and fair trade rooibos and honeybush teas contribute signature flavours to this flame-coloured ale

[caption id="attachment_4515" align="alignright" width="135"] Bush Fire - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co.[/caption]

VANKLEEK HILL – (July 28, 2015) A brand-new beer from Beau’s Brewery called Bush Fire will be released Thursday, July 30. The limited-edition release is a 5.8% flame-coloured ale that has been infused with two different organic, fair trade South African teas, rooibos and honeybush.

Bush Fire has initial aromas of earthy rooibos and sweet honeybush, rounded out with spiciness from certified organic Whitbread Golding Variety hops. Similar earthy-sweet flavours are present, with spicy notes and a mild tartness courtesy of organic rosehips and the hops. A bready malt profile helps to balance out the flavours, and a dry finish enhances the spicy and earthy character of the beer.

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Lone Pine IPA from Sawdust City

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:26:20 -0500

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Lone Pine IPA from Sawdust City

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Sweetwater Squeeze Radler from Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:25:46 -0500

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Sweetwater Squeeze Radler from Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Earn Extra Entries To Win Black Oak Summer Saison

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:25:10 -0500

Earn Extra Entries To Win Black Oak Summer Saison

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Thornbuy Pilsner

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:24:34 -0500

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Thornbuy Pilsner

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Side Launch Weissebeir

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:23:56 -0500

Earn Extra Entries To Win A 6-pack of Side Launch Weissebeir

Earn Extra Entries to Win a 6-pack of Great Lakes Canuck Pale Ale

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:18:45 -0500

Earn Extra Entries to Win a 6-pack of Great Lakes Canuck Pale Ale

Annual Free Retro Bottle Opener from Steam Whistle

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 14:30:14 -0500

Steam Whistle’s MAGEE CHURCHKEY Retro Opener celebrates Ontario’s craft brewing revolution. Now available in 6 packs and 12 packs

(15 June, 2015) – Steam Whistle Brewing, maker of Canada’s Premium Pilsner, is celebrating the craft beer revival across Canada with their 2015 edition in-case Retro Opener, aptly named The Magee Churchkey. This collectible opener is now available in both 6 and 12 packs of Steam Whistle Pilsner at Ontario LCBO and Beer Stores, while quantities last.

[caption id="attachment_4495" align="aligncenter" width="652"] Find yours in things like this.[/caption]

Drinking my way across Ontario's Southwest

Fri, 12 Jun 2015 18:11:46 -0500

I get asked to do a lot of stuff. Often, it's something simple, like reviewing a beer, or giving some coverage for an event. Those are nice, as it generally means I get some beer, or to attend an event. Sometimes I get asked to lend my name and brand to things I'm not comfortable with (or downright dislike). In those cases, I decline. And very very occasionally, I get asked to do something absolutely awesome, like when I recently was asked to do a two day tour of Ontario's Southwest, focusing on the craft breweries of London and Sarnia.

Here is what I knew about London: If you wanted craft beer you went to Milos' Craft Beer Emporium, The King Edward in Ilderton was sort of near there, and there was at least one brewery, in the form of Forked River, who has been going through a spot of bother with the AGCO regarding their retail store.

Here is what I knew about Sarnia: It was a border town, and Chris Hadfield cottaged on Stag Island nearby.

So when my list of breweries, restaurants, and attractions I should visit arrived I was pretty stoked to see a rather long list.

Win Tickets to The Brewer's Plate!

Mon, 11 May 2015 15:27:17 -0500

If you have been to The Brewer's Plate before, you probably hardly need an introduction and enticement. Just go ahead and scroll down to see how you can win a pair of tickets to this event.

If not, let me tell you about one of the very best, often (unfairly) over-looked, beer events in the city.

Brewer's Plate is a fantastic evening of beers paired with some of the best breweries from the GTA. It's a charitable event, in support of The Friends of the Greenbelt, who work to protect and support the largest permanently protect greenbelt (the natural, often agricultural area that surrounds/"belts" urban areas) in the world. If you live in the GTA and like fresh fruits and vegetables, clean air, and sparkling drinking water, you love the greenbelt, even if you didn't realize it.

[caption id="attachment_3242" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Food from 2012 — Photo from http://www.torontolife.com/galleries/brewers-plate/[/caption]

2015 Beer Fest Shirts Now Available

Fri, 08 May 2015 15:47:32 -0500

Beer festival season is upon us, and I couldn't be more excited! There is little I love more than heading out to one of the many amazing festivals we have here in and around the GTA, hanging out with other beer fans, and drinking amazing beers.

[caption id="attachment_4346" align="aligncenter" width="800"] See? I love them![/caption]

So to make the experience even better, I decided to make up a fun shirt for all you like-minded beer fest attendees. I'm calling it the 2015 Beer Fest Shirt (because I have a tendency to just call things what they are). And you can get yours now, for the low cost of $25USD (including shipping to Canada, and they're cheaper if you order more than one at a time!).

Buy yours now!

Goose IPA — Goose Island Beer Co.

Thu, 07 May 2015 17:13:17 -0500

Let's just get this part done and out of the way right now: Yes, I know Goose Island is owned by ABIB, and no, I don't like ABIB in even the tiniest way. Yes, I know many people were outraged (OUTRAGED), when Goose Island sold to ABIB, but want to know a secret? I've had pre- and post-buyout versions of a few of their beers, and things are going just fine. Sofie doesn't taste like Bud Light or corn or anything. If you're really offended by the whole thing, feel free to tap-out here, but if you like balanced IPAs (which Goose IPA is), you might want to keep on reading.

Goose Island has been in Ontario now for at least a few years. Sofie and Matilda have been available at the LCBO, and Honkers has been a safe bet in many a rocky landscape of noun and firkin-type pubs. There was never a doubt that we would see more of their products make their way north from Chicago. So I wasn't even a little surprised when I received a pair of Goose IPAs.

[caption id="attachment_4438" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Goose IPA — Goose Island Beer Co.[/caption]

Love Fuzz Red Pale Ale — Black Oak Brewing Co.

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 15:14:56 -0500

In the beer scene, beer names are often based off of puns, or pop culture references, or sometimes inside jokes. Sometimes, understanding the reference is like a rite of passage. Do you know who Johnny Simcoe is? Maybe. Do you know what river got lost near Bellwoods? If you're a history buff, probably. But who is Miranda, and why don't you have a chance? Love Fuzz from Black Oak fits into this category. I'm just going to leave it there, and assume it has to do with the musical tastes of John Hodd. I will speak to the fact that it's billed as a red pale ale, which is a "style" that sort of defies style. Before I poured it, I would have assumed it was an American Amber/Red. But it's definitely not. Looking and smelling, I thought basically a BIPA. But it's not that either. Let's see what it actually is.

[caption id="attachment_4419" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Love Fuzz Red Pale Ale — Black Oak Brewing Co.[/caption]

Win Passes to Toronto Festival of Beer Spring Sessions!

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:49:05 -0500

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Grace Kelly, enjoy the fest!

Well hello Toronto (and surrounding area) (and, well, the rest of the world, but unless you're traveling here this Friday, this maybe won't mean much to you). Do you like beer? Kind of silly question. You're reading a blog this very instant, that is entirely about beer. Do you want to drink beer with large crowds of like-minded folks? Well who doesn't? (if you don't, again, go ahead and tune out now). Well have I got news for you!

I've got a pair of passes to give-away, for this Friday's Toronto Festival of Beer Spring Sessions!

Ontario Beer Sales Changes

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 16:02:13 -0500

Are the proposed changes very good? A bit. Are they really rather bad? Sadly, yes. How is this even possible? Let me explain.

We have just seen the biggest proposed change in beer sales in Ontario, since the repeal of prohibition and introduction of Brewer's Warehousing (subsequently Brewer's Retail, now just The Beer Store).

It will be easiest if we start with why these changes are positive. Because some of this is quite good. First and foremost, if you regularly buy beer from The Beer Store, your life is surely about to get easier.

Changes to Beer Sales — Guest Post: Victor North, Garden Brewers

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:02:50 -0500

Hey, did you have a really big presentation at work yesterday? Or maybe, you spent the day at the spa? If so, you might have missed the big news about selling beer in Ontario. I'll be writing a post on it, but in brief: the province will issue 450 licenses to grocery stores to sell beer. The beer must be in a separate section of the store, with its own cashier. At both the beer store and grocery stores, 20% of shelf space has to be committed to craft beer. There are a couple of other things, like lifting the volume restriction on small breweries with two locations only having a retail space at one (if you're confused don't worry, it only affects one brewery that I can think of, maybe two), or being able to ship together (believe it or not, beer from two breweries cannot arrive on the same truck right now).

Like I said, I'm going to put a lot of my thoughts down later today (or not, I have to change the oil in my car too). But yesterday the response on twitter and facebook was immediate, as everybody listened to the press conference, skimmed the 67 page document in question, and read each others' posts. Of particular interest to me was from the smaller brewers, and immediately I noticed Victor from Garden Brewers has an interesting take on it. I ask him if I could republish it here, and he graciously agreed. He did want me to note that this was a first-look reaction, and doubtless his thoughts will have developed, and maybe changed a bit.

[caption id="attachment_4405" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Victor and Sonja North — Garden Brewers[/caption]

Arrogant Bastard Ale – Stone Brewing Co.

Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:44:59 -0500

Long before hipsterism brought a self-righteous disdain for pretty much everything to our pop culture, Stone Brewing Co. was brewing beers the way they liked them, and telling people who didn't that they could, effectively, go fuck themselves. While that attitude has nearly become normal in today's craft brewing scene, when Stone did it in 1996, it was revolutionary. As were some of the beers they brewed, big agressive hop-forward beers unlike most of what was being brewed at the time, even by other progressive craft brewers. Their IPA is a high-water mark for most people, when talking about the style. And Arrogant Bastard Ale effectively birthed the modern idea of "American Strong Ale". Even if you're put off by some of their marketing, it is hard to deny the quality of their beers, and their attention to detail. Stone Brewing Co. is so meticulous when it comes to details, that their website has a whole page dedicated to proper name usage. Stone Brewing Co. is okay, Stone Brewing Company is not. Seriously. They are also manic about freshness, having a beer named "Enjoy By" with a date. They have a reporting system for customers to notify them if they find old beer for sale. And they have stringent shipping and warehousing requirements of any importer they deal with. That last point (and, of course, the insanity of the LCBO) is why it seemed like they never had a chance in Ontario. But Horizon Beers reached out to them, and made it work. From refrigerated shipping, to a policy about the freshness of draught being poured, Horizon met their needs, and we all won.

[caption id="attachment_4392" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Arrogant Bastard Ale — Stone Brewing Co.[/caption]

Central City Brewers launch additional Red Racer Beers in Ontario

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:19:11 -0500

Introduces Red Racer India Session Ale (ISA), Red Racer Copper Ale & Reign of Hops Mixer Pack

Surrey, B.C. – The wait is finally over for Ontario craft beer fans who have been eagerly anticipating the arrival BC-based Central City Brewers + Distillers’ award-winning craft beers. The brewer is pleased to announce their expansion in Ontario with their latest additions, Red Racer India Session Ale (ISA), Red Racer Copper Ale, and the Reign of Hops 12-can Mixer Pack. These products join their best selling Red Racer IPA, which is already available at various LCBO stores throughout the province.

[caption id="attachment_4394" align="alignright" width="165"] Red Racer ISA — Central City Brewers + Distillers[/caption]

Changes Around This Joint

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 23:33:40 -0500

I started this blog in 2010. It would be fair to say that I've grown a lot. I've certainly experienced a lot of things that I never would have guessed at. Things have changed. In fact, sometimes I've pushed changes with excitement. But there have been a few things that I have resisted. But I'm finally caving.

The first thing that's changing here, isn't really here. It's over on Facebook. TorontoBeerBlog.com has a page.

[caption id="attachment_4385" align="aligncenter" width="500"] TorontoBeerBlog.com is on Facebook. Welcome to 2004[/caption]

Okay, let me say why this still kind of bugs me, and what I promise and on and on.

Terrible Ted Red — Lake of Bays Brewing Co.

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:57:52 -0500

A second-generation professional hockey play, Theodore "Terrible Ted" Lindsay played on the famous "Production Line" of Gordie Howe and Sid Abel. I think I most like him, though, because his gameplay was a key part in the league instituting penalties for elbowing and kneeing. He also was one of the primary players in organizing the NHLPA, to ensure players were treated fairly. In his day, it was not uncommon for players to have to work summer jobs to pay the bills. Seriously. He is an obvious choice to be featured in Lake of Bays excellent NHL Alumni Association series of beers. These beers are made in partnership with the NHLAA, and feature the stories of various players, from Curtis Joseph to Johnny Bower. Proceeds from the beers go to support the association and it's work with past players and their families, as well as their philanthropic efforts. Terrible Ted Red Saison is their 7th beer made in partnership with the NHLAA. Which makes perfect sense. His bright red number 7 proudly hangs in the rafters of the Joe Louis Arena.

[caption id="attachment_4367" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Terrible Ted Red Saison — Lake of Bays Brewing Co.[/caption]

Beaver River IPA from Beau's is Back!

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 14:53:26 -0500

Gold medal award-winning IPA has bold-yet-balanced blend of hops with citrusy, earthy hop aromas, complemented by bready maltiness and caramel flavours

VANKLEEK HILL – (Mar. 23, 2015) Beau’s Brewery has brought back their award-winning spring seasonal IPA for a 2015 engagement. Beaver River is an assertive yet-very-drinkable India Pale Ale that marries the typical flavour profiles of the British and American interpretations of this hoppy beer style. Beaver River will be available for sale this week at most LCBOs in Southern and Eastern Ontario, and will also become available in Québec later this spring.

[caption id="attachment_4363" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Beaver River IPA is Back![/caption]

Beaver River won Gold at the Canadian Brewing Awards in both 2011 and 2013. The 5.6% alc./vol. IPA is unfiltered to allow a full spectrum of bready malt and caramel flavours to come through, and it is dry-hopped to further amplify the bold-yet-balanced citrusy and earthy hop aromas. Weighing in at 60 IBUs (International Bitterness Units), this year’s hop blend showcases Cascade, Pacific Gem and Magnum varieties. First brewed by Beau’s in 2008, Beaver River was named in honour of the “Rivière Castor” in Eastern Ontario, which connects Ottawa to many small Ontario communities to the east of the city.

Release The Hounds Black IPA — Big Rig Brewery

Fri, 20 Mar 2015 17:00:51 -0500

With the explosion of craft breweries here in Ontario, it can be hard to keep up. Indeed, especially with my Toronto-centric view, breweries like Big Rig often float under my radar until somebody thrusts them into my line of sight. I've now sampled a couple of Big Rig's beers, and all have been decent to excellent. But I saved this one for review, as it won gold at last year's CBAs, beating out Malevolent from Nickel Brook and Grizzly Beer from Bellwoods. I'll be honest and say the BIPA is not a style I generally reach for. I love stouts, and I love IPAs, but I often find BIPAs to be unbalanced, or just too big. There are some great ones out there, but they're not the norm. That said, the CBAs are a pretty good standard to be held against, so I have high hopes.

[caption id="attachment_4356" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Release The Hounds Black IPA — Big Rig Brewery[/caption]

So-so news on the political front

Fri, 13 Mar 2015 14:47:29 -0500

I know it's early, and we're *this close* to March break, so I'll forgive you if you haven't heard, but Martin Regg Cohn broke a pretty big story for The Star this morning. You can read it here:

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/03/13/large-grocers-will-get-wine-beer-under-liberals-plan-cohn.html

but the short version is that it looks like the Provincial government's long-awaited plans to modernize beer and wine sales, is to open it up to "large grocery" chains as well. The products can be stocked in an aisle, like any other product, and will be paid for at the cash register. There isn't any immediate info about restriction on sales hours (can I hit my 24 hour metro at 4am for a case of beer?). Also, it's worth remembering that this is not-yet-confirmed, though I think it's safe to assume it's probably a pretty close representation of what we can expect.

Do we celebrate?

Happy International Women's Day

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 01:30:10 -0500

From the whole crew down here at TorontoBeerBlog.com, we'd like to wish everybody a big huge happy International Women's Day. I know not a small number of women who are huge superstars, but for the sake of this blog, I'd like to give special recognition to the wonderful women who make and sell beer around Toronto. Without much effort, I can think of at least a dozen solid females directly involved in the scene here. And that's saying something, in what is often perceived as a male-dominated industry. Hint, it's certainly got a lot of dudes in it, but to suggest they're dominant is ridiculous.

Muddy York Brewing Co. Ready to Launch in Ontario Next Week

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:30:07 -0500

Toronto, ON – Muddy York Brewing Co. is pleased to announce that they will be supplying licensees with their first offering, Muddy York Porter, next week. An official launch date of January 29th, 2015 will see this beer on tap at various locations, including The Wren, Buster Rhino’s, The Mugshot Tavern and The Bent Elbow with more coming soon. Visit muddyyorkbrewing.com for a complete list.

Cruiser – Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Sun, 18 Jan 2015 20:08:36 -0500

As much as I evangelize the goodness of drinking a variety of types and tastes of beers, I must confess: the beers I tend to keep on hand and reach for time and again, are hoppier pale ales and IPAs. And I know, everybody who hasn't drank the koolaid is probably pretty sick of hearing about IBUs and the West Coast and on and on. But there it is: I currently have cans of Amsterdam Boneshaker, Great Lakes Canuck Pale Ale, and Sawdust City Lone Pine IPA in my fridge. They're what I want, 9 times in 10. So even though I know I'm talking about a pretty saturated market that has limited (though growing) appeal, I'm also super stoked when a new product comes out that not only pleases me, but truly excels.

My Obligatory The Beer Store Critique.

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 04:09:17 -0500

I've said in the past that news about alcohol sales in Ontario is cyclical, but every time a story breaks the wave pushes a little further up the beach. If that's the case the leaked agreement before Christmas flooded the front garden bed, and the news today soaked the front hall.

The Great Sam Adams Debate

Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:47:02 -0500

While big brewers aren't bad for being successful, and small bars aren't bad for aiming to be unique, I have no time for blind hipsterism.

If you are a good little craft beer fan, you probably followed the moderate explosion in the craft beer world south of the border yesterday. Let's call it Jimgate. If not, you can read the article that started it all here: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/article/2015/01/05/jim-koch-sam-adams-beer/

Old News: The LCBO is The Beer Store's bitch

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:16:26 -0500

If you've been following along the usual social media channels today, you will likely have seen a good deal about the leaked document outlining the operational agreement between The LCBO and BRI Inc (the fancy name for The Beer Store). I was one of more than a few writers that got sent the leaked document from the tipster. I didn't post it here, because the reality is, there wasn't really anything new in it. It outlines details like the LCBO not selling anything in packages bigger than 6-packs (The Beer Store sells huge volumes of 24s), the LCBO not selling products to licensees (bars, restaurants, SOP holders, etc) that are available at The Beer Store, etc. That it documented it was a moot point to me, because those policies aren't secret.

Too Much News

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 18:26:42 -0500

Wow, stop blogging for a few weeks to actually do something to earn income, and you find yourself with a not small backlog of news, samples, and events. Let's get to this:

I Call It Uncanny

A few beers are now available in cans, and I couldn't be happier. Why? Cans are perfectly air-tight and light-proof; read: a better temporary home for your beer on its journey towards your mouth. The also are lighter than glass, so reduce the carbon footprint of shipping them. And while they can't be reused like glass bottles, they get crushed, so can be sent for recycling in an easy manner. Also, for any style other than big imperial stouts and barleywines, I prefer the slightly larger format. So who's rocking the new outfit? Mill St Tank House Ale (LCBO #399162), and St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout (LCBO #398677)!

Should I Shave or Should I Grow

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 20:44:18 -0500

Update!

Well, in the end, like a leafs game, it was a blow out. In total, we raised nearly $650 for the Nicaragua trip, and grow won with a very comfortable $500.

Turns out people really do like the lumberjack look!

So thank you thank you thank you. In addition to letting me keep my face warm through this winter, you all have helped raise funds for a really awesome opportunity for the youth at my church. I can't say how much I appreciate that.

New Beau’s “Ballot” Pale Ale rewards voting action in Toronto’s Ward 19

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 18:04:25 -0500

PUBLIC Inc. & Beau’s All Natural Brewing’s initiative celebrates young voter turnout in Trinity-Spadina at post-election events featuring Ballot, a “democratically elected” beer

[caption id="attachment_4252" align="alignright" width="233"] Vote Out The Vote[/caption]

(TORONTO – Oct. 16, 2014) Beau’s All Natural Brewery has teamed up with Toronto’s cause-marketing agency PUBLIC Inc. to create an electoral campaign designed to encourage and celebrate young voter turnout in Toronto’s Ward 19 (Trinity-Spadina) for the upcoming municipal elections.

Piperales — Garden Brewers

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 21:05:45 -0500

Brewing unique craft beer in Hamilton sounds like a Herculean task. And yet, I think I know the people who could pull it off.

Meet Victor and Sonja North, the couple behind Garden Brewers. They were recently pitted against Mark and Mandie Murphy in a cute/sincerity-off, but both couples simultaneously elected to make cheese fondue and play Scattegories instead.

Autumn Hop Harvest Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:50:12 -0500

Eat fresh; eat local. Right? How about drinking a beer made with hops picked the day it was brewed? Amsterdam's Autumn Hop Harvest Ale is exactly that, a "wet-hopped" pale ale. Wet-hopping is a term you may well have heard, if you're a craft beer loyalist these days. And it's a bit of a confusing term. The idea, I think, is that the hops aren't dried and processed when they're added to the brew, they're still "wet". Except dry-hopping isn't the act of adding dry hops to a brew, as nearly all the hops added are dried, and generally processed into pellets, before brewing with them. Dry-hopping refers to adding hops to the secondary fermenter (or cask), and I assume it's called dry-hopping because it should be a fairly dry process (compared to brewing). If you know what dry-hopping is, it's easy to assume wet-hopping is the opposite. But it's not.

Now that we've dealt with that, and you know what wet-hopping is (using fresh from the bine hops), we can talk about Amsterdam's wet-hopped harvest ale. The same day they brewed up this batch, a team headed out to the country to get fresh-picked cascade hops. A classic pale ale hop, known for being citrusy and spicy, it's the backbone of many epic ales.

[caption id="attachment_4233" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Autumn Hop Harvest Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Beau's Oktoberfest is This Weekend!

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:32:43 -0500

So I know I've been posting the press releases etc, but allow me just a minute to tell you exactly why I will drive 4.5 hours east on Friday, just to join a party the likes of which I could probably find closer to home. The answer is simple: I actually couldn't find it closer to home.

While there are numerous great parties for Oktoberfest in and around Toronto, Beau's weekend festival is different. Held on the Vankleek Hill fairgrounds, it's more than just a fun party where you drink a lot of beer.

[caption id="attachment_4089" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Joel Plaskett - Photo by Tim Brennan[/caption]

Throw Your Own Oktoberfest Party With These Beers

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:04:20 -0500

While some craft beer snobs turn up their noses at the Marzenbeirs served at Oktoberfest for their lack of IPA-level hops, these beers are fantastic, and make at least one beer writer more than a little giddy.

Yes, Oktoberfest is upon us once again. The festival is an anniversary celebration of the marriage of King Ludwig I (though he was the crown prince at the time), to his wife Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12th, 1810. The festival runs for the 16 (or so) days leading up to the first Sunday in October. The ginormous festival in Munich sees over 6 million people come out to wear Dirndl or Lederhosen, participate in fair activities, eat pretzels, sausages, potato salad and roast chicken, and of course, drink heaps and heaps of beer in 1 litre maß steins.

We are lucky to have a variety of great Oktoberfest celebrations here in Toronto. From The Original Kitchener-Waterloo version, to Steam Whistle's excellent party last week, to parties at Mill Street and Toronto Oktoberfest. But the one I look forward to most, and am willing to drive nearly to Quebec to join in with, is Beau's Oktoberfest, happening this weekend in Vankleek Hill.

[caption id="attachment_4221" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Kicking it with Sybil Taylor at Steam Whistle's Oktoberfest[/caption]

ONTARIO CRAFT BREWERS HOST THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SUPPLIERS MARKETPLACE

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 16:50:49 -0500

“Industry Event of the Year” features 30+ Speakers/Presenters/Experts
45 Craft Brewing Industry Suppliers in Marketplace
&
Special Guests, Scottish Craft Brewers on a “Learning Journey”

TORONTO (September 26, 2014) – Ontario Craft Brewers will host their third annual, one-day industry conference on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the Allstream Centre (Exhibition Place), 105 Princes Blvd,
in Toronto. The Ontario Craft Brewers Conference & Suppliers Marketplace 2014 is the craft brewing industry’s ultimate day of education, celebration, and business-to-business connecting.

Harvest Ale — Muskoka Brewery

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 17:12:58 -0500

In the onslaught of all the new fall beers at the LCBO, it's easy to overlook those classics that also come back every fall, like Muskoka's lovely Harvest Ale.

Believe it or not, this was Muskoka's very first seasonal special offering, now joined by such illustrious beers as Winter Beard, Spring Oddity, and Summer Weisse. My earliest memories of Harvest were less than exciting, but like Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale, either my tastes changed, the recipe got tweaked, or a bit of both. When I revisited it two years ago my jaw dropped. Here is why.

[caption id="attachment_4203" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Harvest Ale — Muskoka Brewery[/caption]

Shock-Top is Made by the Biggest Brewer in the World.

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:24:39 -0500

Despite what (apparently) 75% of you think, Shock-Top is produced by an international brewing conglomerate. Actually, the biggest one there is, Anheuser-Busch/InBev (ABIB).

Surprised? Maybe. Do you care? I'm sure readers here cover the spectrum from "Nope" to "Yup".

Before we get to the real issue here, let me say this: there is a lot of talk/chatter/in-fighting in the craft beer scene about what has come to be called "craft vs crafty". This post is not about that. I have no problem with small brewers being bought by big brewers (think Creemore by Molson-Coors or Goose Island by ABIB). If you do have a problem with this, then you'll be even more outraged by what I'm about to say. But I tend to think that beer is either good or bad, based on the actual beer. ABIB produces some fantastic beers. I've had truly awful beers from tiny mom n pop craft brewers. I like that — for instance — not only did Molson-Coors buy both Creemore and Granville Island to bring their products to a much wider market, but that they also opened The Beer Academy here in Toronto, where they make many lovely craft beers and host all manner of beer education programs.

So, with all that in mind, why am I telling you that Shock-Top is made by the biggest brewer in the world? Simply put: because they are planning on launching a campaign to try to hide that fact from us all. And not just a small social media effort, but an elaborate, $2.7 million campaign to specifically support the notion that Shock-Top is made by a small/craft brewer. They know from market research that 75% of people already think that (and yes, they do this type of market research *all the time*) and they think that they can convince more.

[caption id="attachment_4189" align="aligncenter" width="489"] Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit here.[/caption]

Steam Whistle's Authentic Oktoberfest Party

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:49:11 -0500

Steam Whistle Brewing brings Oktoberfest’s authentic experience to Canada and invites beer lovers from across the country to clank their steins and celebrate the largest festival in the world. Steam Whistle will be celebrating Oktoberfest with the Ultimate Oktoberfest Party on Sept 20th at the brewery.

[caption id="attachment_4180" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Steam Whistle a-plenty[/caption]

“ After taking our staff on a trip to tour Czech breweries and attending the world-famous Oktoberfest, we knew we had to bring part of the rich brewing culture home and recreate the magic here at Steam Whistle,” explains brewery co-founder Cam Heaps. “This is our 4th year celebrating Oktoberfest and it’s more than just a party; it’s about bringing the camaraderie, song, food, folk culture and pageantry that Germany is renowned for right here to Ontario. And we invite beer lovers to join in Steam Whistle’s take on this renowned beer celebration.”

Autumn LCBO Craft Beer Release – Stouts and Porters

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 13:35:12 -0500

With the constantly improving seasonal releases from the LCBO, it's no surprise the Autumn Release is full of fantastic Stouts and Porters to warm up to this fall.

I'm going to go ahead and assume that you know that short of visiting a local brewery, the LCBO is your destination for awesome craft beer. Yes, we can argue for hours on end on "what to do with the LCBO", but for now, let's rather focus on a much more important question: what you should buy the next time you find yourself with a thirst to slake.

[caption id="attachment_4174" align="aligncenter" width="540"] It's that time of year[/caption]

4 Shocking Ingredients in EVERY BEER

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:18:15 -0500

Every day, millions of people world wide enjoy a nice cold beer. We all assume that the brewers of those beers have our safety and best interests at heart

BUT DO THEY?

Some recent investigating by this reporter has turned up some truly shocking ingredients that are in, literally, every beer, including those so-called craft beers. Be prepared, this isn't going to be pretty.

Beau’s Fall Seasonal Beer Night Märzen Returns to LCBO

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:33:36 -0500

[caption id="attachment_4157" align="alignright" width="130"] Beau's Night Marzen is back at the LCBO[/caption]

OTTAWA – (September 2, 2014) All the bounty of harvest season has returned, and so has Night Märzen, a super-versatile, easy to pair Oktoberfest lager from Beau’s All Natural. The seasonal offering will be available in Beau’s signature 600 mL bottles at the LCBO and from the Vankleek Hill craft brewery, as well as on tap at various restaurants and pubs throughout the province.

Test Post, Ignore Me.

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:19:26 -0500

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam consequat neque at erat pretium, id elementum mi varius. Sed at placerat nibh. Vestibulum non lorem consectetur neque tristique scelerisque. Donec cursus, orci ac iaculis sollicitudin, risus felis rhoncus ligula, nec dapibus metus diam sed arcu. Mauris ante sapien, egestas tincidunt elit vel, consequat iaculis ligula. Phasellus malesuada, nisi sed ultricies lacinia, ligula lacus volutpat elit, sed hendrerit justo dolor at ipsum. Morbi dapibus, sem a ornare volutpat, felis ligula tincidunt metus, vel porta nisi ligula sed metus. Quisque bibendum est et massa sollicitudin auctor. Aenean sed dui eget eros sagittis suscipit ac euismod tortor. Donec laoreet erat malesuada, auctor risus sed, ultricies massa. Proin suscipit est vel tortor lobortis, ac vehicula augue bibendum. Aliquam lacinia luctus nulla, a tristique libero ultrices nec. Pellentesque non ante et nunc tristique vulputate a non nisi. Integer elementum ipsum sed metus pulvinar gravida.

Crabbie's Ginger Beers

Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:39:20 -0500

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 like it so much, I often make it myself, using brewer's yeast to create a bottle ferment to naturally carbonate the soda. I love it mixed with rye, gin, rum, or more exotic things like Cachaça. I like classic Canada Dry, and cloudy funky spicy Jamaican ginger beers. With me? So when I first saw a bottle of Crabbie's Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer at the LCBO, while looking for ciders for my wife who avoids gluten, I immediately grabbed a few. And they were delicious. It's now a regular tipple we bring on cottage trips, etc. I should mention, these are not gluten-free, and the ingredients note that they include wheat, though it isn't listed directly as an ingredient. For folks like Erika who aren't celiac, it can be a great option, but if you are 100% gluten-free, stick to a great cider, or keep your eyes open for Snowman Brewing, who are at last producing large enough volumes to sell around Toronto!

[caption id="attachment_4143" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Crabbie's Ginger Beers[/caption]

Toronto Festival of Beer is Here!

Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:36:47 -0500

I'm guessing if you're the type of person who reads this type of blog, you probably already knew this, but Toronto Festival of Beer starts today! If you're already in the know and are just like "come on, Schryer, just tell me how to win those tickets", scroll down, my friend.

[caption id="attachment_4138" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Do you love beer? I love beer.[/caption]

B-Side Brewing Label releases first single today, Kissmeyer Nordic Saison

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:58:43 -0500

OTTAWA – (July 24, 2014) B-Side Brewing Label, Ontario’s “record label, but for beer!” is releasing a new beer today, a Nordic Saison from brewing artist Kissmeyer Beer. This is the second beer release under the brewing label, which launched in 2013. Eastern Ontario’s Beau’s All Natural Brewery, which operates the B-Side label, is calling the new release a “single,” meaning that it will be available for a limited time only.

Pale and slightly opaque, the Nordic Saison is brewed with organic sea buckthorn berries, organic rosehips, and fresh local organic rhubarb and honey, for a uniquely Nordic and fruity character. The versatile beer is medium-bodied, lively and effervescent, and uniquely dry. It offers medium bitterness along with spicy floral and fruity aromas, and finishes slightly fruity, tart and crisp. The recipe was created and brewed by self-proclaimed gypsy-brewer and brewing industry icon Anders Kissmeyer, of Kissmeyer Beer in Denmark.

Canuck Pale Ale — Great Lakes Brewery

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 18:07:53 -0500

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 grown a lot in terms of both writing and tasting since then. Everything about my blog has gotten better. And that's just half of it. Canuck Pale Ale has grown up a whole heap too. The first release to the LCBO was in a bottle, with a label including skis that was an homage to out Canadian Nation Ski team, known since the 80s as "The Crazy Canucks". Of course, you are not allowed to use sports imagery in your marketing unless you're one of the big guys (who apparently, can easily bypass petty laws like that which cause smaller brewers all manner of insanity and trouble). The beer re-entered the LCBO in a can, with a design that perfectly matched the Chrysler Reliant they decorated with the branding. That's not a compliment. But the beer was so good, nobody cared. The progression of Canuck Pale Ale follows the rise of Mike Lackey's skills as a brewer, right up to Great Lakes being Canadian Brewery of the Year for the past two years. And now, finally, the can has been redesigned by Fabian and Garnet to match all the Tank Ten designs, and beer lovers everywhere rejoiced.

[caption id="attachment_4128" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Canuck Pale Ale — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Bee The Name

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 16:22:50 -0500

Cat Lady. Long Dark Voyage to Uranus. Long Dong. Cockpuncher. Shawinigan Handshake. There are some pretty epic beer names out there. And now you have a chance to add to that list!

Since 2011, The Royal York (yeah, that one) has been serving an exclusive beer made for them by Mill Street Brewery in their bars and restaurants. The beer is a honey ale, made with honey produced by the bee hives The Royal York has in their rooftop garden. And in case this just sounds like a marketing ploy, The Royal Stinger (as the brewers called it for lack of a better name, more on that in a minute) has won numerous awards, including a Bronze at the Canadian Brewing Awards.

But they're ready to give it an official name. And that's where you come in.

[caption id="attachment_4114" align="aligncenter" width="540"] "bzzzzzzz bzzzzzz, just making beer ingredients, bzzzzzz"[/caption]

Top Chefs Turn up the Heat at Toronto's Festival of Beer

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:22:38 -0500

TORONTO, Ont. (July 18, 2014) – The 2014 Toronto's Festival of Beer is turning up the heat with its celebrity chefs at this year's Beerlicious Grilling Experience.

The creative minds behind some of the trendiest restaurants in the Toronto area will be grilling unique and delicious fare to match the wide variety of beer that will be on offer from July 25-27 at Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place.

[caption id="attachment_4100" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Rock Lobster keepin it real.
Scott Szeto/theurbancraze.com[/caption]

"Our celebrity chefs are masters of the grill," said Les Murray, President of Toronto's Festival of Beer. "Their expertise and skill is unquestionable. This is a great opportunity for people to learn some great grilling tips while discovering how to pair gourmet food with good beer."

Because Beer Craft Beer Festival

Sat, 12 Jul 2014 13:59:23 -0500

How does this sound: Sun setting over a beautiful harbour; rowers practicing while sailboats tack across the bay. You're standing on a lawn that gently slopes towards the water, holding a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of beer. You're with a few hundred other people, enjoying the tastes and sounds of a beer festival. This can't be Ontario, right? Even the best festivals end up feeling very separate and "contained". But not so here.

[caption id="attachment_4096" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Cheers to a heck of a nice festival.[/caption]

Beau’s Announces Dates, Headliners for 2014 Oktoberfest

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:39:19 -0500

OTTAWA – (July 10, 2014) Tickets will go on sale Thursday August 7 for the 6th Annual Vankleek Hill Oktoberfest, presented by local craft brewery Beau’s All Natural. The two-day festival and signature fundraising event will take place Friday October 3 and Saturday October 4, at the fairgrounds in Vankleek Hill, Ontario.

A baker’s dozen of different Beau’s beers will be served up cold and tasty this year, with many German styles represented, and a mix of brand-new recipes and returning favourites. For those craving a sneak preview, four of these beers will be sold starting in early September at the LCBO, in a special Beau’s Oktoberfest 4-pack. The 4-pack will also sell through home delivery in Ottawa via BYBO (www.bybo.ca), and the brewery retail store.

[caption id="attachment_4089" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Joel Plaskett - Photo by Tim Brennan[/caption]

Detour — Muskoka Brewery

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 17:30:53 -0500

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 English formats, is great. I'm okay with the Imperial/Double IPA too. But things get a little silly. As noted yesterday, India White Ale gives a rough idea of what you're about to drink, but it could also have been called American Wheat. Detour, from Muskoka Brewery, is called a Session IPA. Which is to say, "like an IPA, but with low alcohol and lighter body". These beers (and yes, there are more than just Detour) actually clock in below Pale Ales. They do need *some* name to identify them, and IPAs are popular and easy to relate to. So I get it. Following in the US/UK Pale Ale and US/UK IPA (and US/UK RIS for that matter), I would like to have seen these beers called an American Bitter, but I digress. Again, getting hung-up on naming conventions in beer is not what I'm here to do (which isn't to say that those aren't important conversations to have). I'm here to chew bubblegum and review beer. And I'm all out of bubblegum.

[caption id="attachment_4084" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Detour — Muskoka Brewery[/caption]

India White Ale — Spearhead Brewing Co.

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 19:56:33 -0500

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 reviews, unless they were hugely time-sensitive. So there is a small pile of bottles in my beer fridge that are waiting to be reviewed. This one has been there the longest, and that's a shame. Spearhead makes some very creative and tasty beers. And while I'm a bit worried about all the India X Ales/Lagers that keep popping up (and tend to agree with Stephen about this), I'm always willing to give things a fair shake. Made as a mix of styles, between IPA and hefeweizen, but with added mango and orange juice/peel. The trainspotters will point out that German hefeweizen would never have fruit added, that would be more in line with a Belgian-style wit, but I assume they used a German yeast strain, and besides, they're hardly the first to look past this convention (I'm looking at you, Amsterdam!).

[caption id="attachment_4078" align="aligncenter" width="540"] India White Ale — Spearhead Brewing Co.[/caption]

Steam Whistle Expands Its Delivery Fleet

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 15:57:23 -0500

If you've always wanted one of Steam Whistle's ultra-cool retro delivery trucks to deliver beer directly to your house, your wait is over.

Pretty well anybody who lives or works in Toronto knows Steam Whistle's amazing fleet of company vehicles. Some deliver beer, some show up at festivals and events, and some just get driven around by sales reps, owners, or folks who win drunken bets with Greg Taylor. I jest, but it's fair to say, these bright green restored vintage vehicles are known around the city.

Media

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 23:31:04 -0500

Chris Schryer is a Toronto-based beer writer and educator. He has appeared on TV, radio and print, discussing various aspects of beer culture, from reviews and news, to brewing history and technique, to the politics of beer locally and abroad. Please feel free to contact him using the form here. Head-shots for news or appearances can be downloaded here (in a .zip archive with web and high-resolution images).

Wellington Brewery Takes Home Medals at U.S. Open Beer Championship

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 17:11:45 -0500

GUELPH, ON - For the third year in a row, Wellington Brewery picked up medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship this past weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The U.S. Open Beer Championship is an international competition that included over 3,000 beers entered in 81 different categories. This year the competition featured more than 20 international breweries from Iceland, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, and England.

Wellington Brewery won two Silver Medals at this year's competition. County Dark Ale was awarded a Silver Medal in the 'Brown Ale' category and Iron Duke took home a Silver Medal in the 'Old Ale' category.

Wellington brewmaster Marvin Dyck says, "it's incredible to have our beer recognized on an international level".

[caption id="attachment_4032" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Congratulations Welly![/caption]

Top 4 Fan-Favourite Beers Chosen for 2014 Best of Beau’s Mix Pack

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 16:57:53 -0500

Holiday mixer 4-pack will include a lavender-infused gruit, a coffee-infused amber ale, a Gold-medal-winning vanilla porter, and an American-Style IPA

OTTAWA – (July 4, 2014) The votes are tabulated for the brands that will make their way into the 2014 Best of Beau’s holiday mix pack, and the selections are a creative cross-section of the diversity of beer styles Beau’s All Natural Brewery has come to be known for. In order of number of votes, the chosen beers are: St. Luke’s Verse (lavender gruit), Winterbrewed (coffee-infused amber ale), Burnt Rock (vanilla porter), and Mission Accomplished (American-Style IPA).

A total of 2,097 votes were cast to choose the winning beers during the month of June. This was the third year Beau’s let democracy decide which of all the beers Beau’s has ever produced would go into the 2014 4-pack. Beau’s has released a total of 81 beers in the eight years the brewery has existed, and only a handful of brands that were impossible to recreate were excluded from the voting.

[caption id="attachment_4028" align="aligncenter" width="318"] Beautiful Beau's Bottles[/caption]

Sunlight Park Saison — Left Field Brewery

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 15:45:31 -0500

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 booth for a shift at last year's Beaches BBQ and Beer Fest. They are honestly two of the nicest people in an industry full of very nice people. Their core beers are all just wonderful. Their branding is sharp and their ability to connect with their customers is amazing. So when they floated a "name the beer" contest on Facebook, I got excited about a new beer. Even if they didn't pick my suggestion ("Catch De Taste Saison"; golly I miss Roberto Alomar), I was still way more than happy to grab a sample and review it. And if you're wondering, Sunlight Park was Toronto's first professional baseball park. It wasn't actually called Sunlight Park, but as it was adjacent to the Sunlight Soap factory in Riverside, that's how it came to be known. Nothing is left of it except a historical plaque now, but it's a perfect name for an awesome summer beer.

[caption id="attachment_4020" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sunlight Park Saison — Left Field Brewery[/caption]

Session Raspberry/Lemon Verbena Saison — The Local Seven

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 17:25:55 -0500

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 (!) and promises to be the biggest iteration of it yet. It also kicks off OCB Week, which in itself is cause for excitement. I'll be there, and you most certainly should be too. Tickets are still available for $39.50, or you can just show up and pay $50 at the door. You can get more info here: http://www.sessiontoronto.com/. Anyway, to celebrate this, and to help promote it, a group of seven local craft beer bars teamed together with Sam Corbeil (brewmaster at Sawdust City, brother of Session co-founder Jed Corbeil, and possessor of a lovely mustache) to produce a beer, Session Raspberry/Lemon Verbena Saison. Saisons are lovely Belgian-style beers, that are perfect for the warmer months, and were, in fact, made for just that. Historically, farmers would make them in the colder off months, partially to provide work for their farmhands, and also partially to provide them with refreshing beer through the summer. That the beer is a saison is fitting, as I spent most of session last year guzzling saisons to combat the obscene heat and humidity.

[caption id="attachment_4014" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Session Raspberry/Lemon Verbena Saison — The Local 7[/caption]

Feeling the breeze!

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:45:47 -0500

I know that hair provides a good layer of insulation, but I'm always pleasantly reminded of that fact whenever I cut my hair short. And last night I cut my hair *really* short. AND today in Toronto it's cool and breezy, so my lid is being tickled by gentle whispers of cool air. The only thing better feeling, is the sense that I've helped raise fund to support St Baldrick's, who in turn support research to cure children's cancer and also programs to provide support and care for kids with cancer, and survivors.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Action shot![/caption]

Today is the day!

Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:28:16 -0500

Well, the big day has finally arrived. Tonight I'll be getting my head shaved in support of St Baldrick's! You can read the full story why here. The event might be tonight, but it's not too late to donate to my campaign. And I've been saving a pretty awesome prize for one lucky donor. Today's giveaway is a bottle of Amsterdam's Double Tempest! This beer is ultra rare. It's release featured an hour long line-up to buy a personal limit of 4 bottles. This bottle has been happily aging in the cooler at Amsterdam, and was generously donated by Iain McOustra. If you missed out on buying one when they were available (maybe you were sick that day?) this is the perfect chance to redeem yourself. As usual, to enter to win, all you have to do is donate. Because there might not be any further draws (I will still be fund-raising, but I'm not sure if there will be more stuff to give away), this time, any donation gets you entered, but $20 or more gets you 4 entries into the draw, and $100 or more gets you 20 entries. No foolin'!

One more day to go!

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 17:31:42 -0500

Well, tomorrow is my big head-shaving day, and I'm super duper excited! If you haven't been following along, I'm shaving my head in support of St Baldrick's. You can find out more here. I've been doing give-aways to drive donations, and today is no different! Jason and his awesome crew at Indie Alehouse in the Junction have stepped up and generously provided me with a $50 gift card, which I believe can be used in either the brewpub or the retail store. If you haven't been to Indie, give your head a shake, and then get up there asap. I would usually go on and on about their amazing food, especially their BBQ and killer pizzas, except their beer takes the top spot in my mind. Nothing tame or bland here, just an array of hoppy pales and IPAs, funky things and oaked things from their insanely large barrel program, and various other rock-solid brews. So what do you have to do to be entered to win? Simple:

Support St Baldrick's and Get Crafty in the Kitchen

Sat, 31 May 2014 21:17:32 -0500

Did you think I was only going to give away beer and brewery stuff? Well have I got news for you. This weekend, if you donate to my head-shaving fund in support of St Baldrick's, you'll be entered to win something that combines two of my favourite things: beer and food. If only David Ort had managed to work a hammock or papasan chair into The Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook, I would have been in heaven.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] One heck of a book[/caption]

Reading The Sign

Fri, 30 May 2014 14:29:48 -0500

Man, writing attention grabbing openings for these is getting harder! I'm raising funds to have my head shaved in support of St. Baldrick's next Wednesday. You can read all the details here. If you're already in the loop, I know what you're thinking: "What's today's giveaway then?" Well, the good folks over at Great Lakes Brewery have provided me with a dope sign to give away. Whether you put it up in your den, or stick it to your front door so your neighbours all know you've got awesome taste in beer, this sign will serve you well. Contest closes tomorrow, Saturday May 31st 2014 at 10am. All donations of $1 or more are entered. As usual, $20 or more gets you entered into the following draw too, and $100 or more gets you entered into every draw until the event.

Donate here: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/ChrisSchryer

And a big congratulations to yesterday's winner, Suzann M! Enjoy that growler of Granite Brewery beer!

[caption id="attachment_3988" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Pretty dope sign![/caption]

One Week To Go

Wed, 28 May 2014 20:47:32 -0500

Woah, where did the last week go? I was on a roll fund-raising, then last week went and just got crazy busy. But in 7 days I'm having my head shaved, let's raise some more funds! So if you're just joining in, I'm shaving my head as a fund-raiser for St. Baldrick's. You can find out more here. I'm pretty excited, particularly because I've already raised a big chunk of my goal of $2500! Thanks so much, if you've already donated. Again, if you're new around here, I'm trying to put the fun in fund-raising. I was going to try to put the beer in fundraising, but it turns out three out of four of those letters aren't actually in the word. The point of this silliness is that through generous donations of various breweries, writers, etc, I have stuff I can give away to donors. So it's easy. Donate at least $1 and you're entered into that day's draw. Donate at least $20 and you're in the next draw too. Donate at least $100 and you're in every draw I hold. Sound good?

[caption id="attachment_3982" align="aligncenter" width="396"] Chicks dig bald dudes, no matter what size.[/caption]

Collective Arts & The Alliance: Unity Makes Strength

Thu, 22 May 2014 14:43:43 -0500

In a craft beer scene where there are dozens of really excellent beers being made by a variety of breweries, both bricks and mortar and contract, it is difficult to do something to stand out. It is also daunting to think about doing something to help out others, when you are probably committing most of your energy to just making enough beer. So that is why I find what Collective Arts is doing to be such a cool and refreshing example of how you can run a business.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="440"] So lovely[/caption]

Steam Whistle Long Weekend Gift Basket

Fri, 16 May 2014 00:46:29 -0500

First off, a big huge thanks to everybody who has donated to my fund-raising page so far! I'm so so thankful for your support.

So hey, did you know that it's the loooooooooong weekend? Happy Days! To celebrate, Steam Whistle has put together a banging gift basket, full of awesome swag, and provided it for me to give away. So, of course, I'm using it to raise funds for my head-shaving in support of St Baldrick's.

[caption id="attachment_3966" align="aligncenter" width="385"] That's a heck of a gift pack[/caption]

Haircut

Wed, 14 May 2014 16:31:03 -0500

So I don't know if you heard, but I'm going to get a haircut. Now, I used to get my wife to just drag a trimmer with a #2 guard on it across my noggin and call it a day. In the thick of my Lenten fast exposure, I actually went to a barber and left some hair on top and used a fancy-pants styling product. But I'm going to do something a bit different on June 4th. I'm going to shave my head bald. And I'm doing it in support of St. Baldrick's, a foundation committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long, healthy lives. Heck yes!

[caption id="attachment_3961" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Will I look this handsome?[/caption]

Wrapping It All Up

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 22:29:59 -0500

This post has been a little delayed, and for that I apologize. I broke fast this past Sunday, Palm Sunday, after my 40 days of fasting for Lent. The delay has been, in part, because I'm actually still doing interviews about the whole endeavor. Which is such an amazing thing. When I set out to do this, a part of it was trying to engage people in a dialogue about faith and spirituality. In all modesty, I was reasonably expecting to have my story heard by tens of thousands of people. That might sound like a lot, but at this point, that number is easily over a million. Maybe even millions. And while there is a part of me that gets a bit of a goofy grin thinking about that, the reality is, that was all heaven sent blessing.

[caption id="attachment_3953" align="aligncenter" width="467"] I actually had to get headshots for news agencies to use. So strange....[/caption]

Truly Enjoying Food — The Pleasures of the Table

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:43:10 -0500

This post might seem contrary to my claims that when I'm hungry I redirect my energy to thankfulness, study, or service, but I can assure you, it isn't. Writing about truly enjoying food comes directly out of reflecting on the blessing of food and community. When preparing food one thing I reflect on is being blessed by access to food, but another is the blessing of eating. Not just ingesting food, but actually *eating*. Enjoying the food; the presentation; the company.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="384"] Every Sunday night is taco night at our house.[/caption]

Half Way There

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:53:50 -0500

Monday marked the mid-way point of my 40 day Lenten fast. 20 days. Funny enough, it seems to have been quite long, and also feels like I just started. I thought today I would share some of the things I've learned so far in the process. If you're just jumping in, you can read all about what's going on here: /lent-2014/hunger-games-2014/ and read the posts so far here: /lent-2014/.

Boosting The Signal

People are interested. This is a late-breaking fact, but here it is: I've had some good coverage so far. Huffington Post published an article I wrote about the fast, which lead to a few radio interviews. Cool. Then this Sunday, my friend Jordan St. John covered my story in his column in The Toronto Sun. Due to the reach of The Sun/QMI, things kind of blew up at that point. The story has now been picked-up by publications across the world, with a column in the religion section of Time totally tipping the scale. Seth Meyers referenced me in his opening monologue Monday night. I have no idea, at this moment, how much traction it will have, given that the news cycle is now like minutes, but there has been a huge upswing in traffic at my blog, and messages are coming in via facebook, twitter, email and comments here at a surprising rate. As a big part of this journey was sharing my fast with as many people as I could, this is very good indeed.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="434"] Peter J. Thompson/National Post[/caption]

On Alcoholism

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:00:16 -0500

One of the things I was ready for, when I started this fast, was many different types of assumptions and misunderstandings. I've already covered off some in my past posts, but today is one that I wish I didn't even have to address.

I am not an alcoholic.

While talking on 1010 yesterday, I was watching the screen that was showing texts coming in from listeners, and another that had tweets coming in. I know better than to give much concern to that type of commenter, but still. I was a bit amazed at how many "he's obviously an alcoholic" type notes were coming in.

I can only imagine that these people have no idea what an alcoholic actually is.

[caption id="attachment_3927" align="aligncenter" width="292"] Token Barney Gumble reference[/caption]

Loud Fasting

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:33:19 -0500

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." — Jesus (or more specifically, Matthew 6:16-18)

Oh shit......

[caption id="attachment_3922" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Angry Jesus[/caption]

Thrust, an IPA — Great Lakes Brewery

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 18:30:30 -0500

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 bacterias; highly talented. But he just makes great IPAs and pale ales. Canuck pale ale, for instance. Or Lake Effect IPA. [cough] Karma Citra. So when he handed me a growler (Great Lakes has a growler filler now; if you didn't already know, rejoice) of a new IPA he made, I was a lot more than excited. My current Lenten fast has meant that opening a growler without a dance partner was a non-starter. But with the snow day today, I popped it open at 1pm, will have it as a snack mid-afternoon and also as my dinner. And I predict a lovely night cap of Great Lakes Thrust, an IPA before bed (with plenty of water; I've learned my lesson).

[caption id="attachment_3919" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Thrust, an IPA — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Little Easter

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 00:31:16 -0500

One of the discrepancies in different people's observation of Lent, is when you stop. You see, the interval between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is not, as you might think, 40 days. It's 46. This is why J. Wilson from Beervana did a 46 day fast. He went from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. But most people you talk to, will talk about the 40 days of Lent.

40 is one of the numbers that pops up with significance in the Bible. It rained for 40 days during the flood. Moses was with God on the mountain for 40 days. The Israelites eat manna in the wilderness for 40 years. Goliath taunted the Israelites for 40 days. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. Jesus remained on earth for 40 days after his resurrection. Women are pregnant (generally) for 40 weeks (not just in the Bible). There are a whole lot more (many measurements are in 40s, as well as reigns, ages, etc).

The above instances are all times of preparation or renewal. And so we use the interval of 40 for preparing for Easter, in this case, 40 days.

First Friday and Saturday

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 22:48:26 -0500

When I cook, I eat. Actually, that really should say "while I cook, I eat". One of the more unusual habits I've had to break, is the one of constantly tasting food I'm making, eating scraps, and just plain old eating a bit here, a spoonful there, because I quite like food. In the past two days I have done four things that all potentially carried challenges in terms of observing my fast. Bottling beer, playing hockey, grocery shopping, and preparing a lot of food today. But the food prep was the only really difficult one, and it was mainly a mental problem.

Brewmaster's Tithe — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:23:31 -0500

Name a beer you would drink everyday. I could name dozens. Now name one that you could drink for breakfast everyday. Probably a smaller list. You can see where I'm going with this, I'm sure. Before I had even actually committed to doing this fast (if you're just tuning-in, I'm fasting from food for Lent), I reached out to a good friend, Iain McOustra, Brewmaster at Amsterdam Brewing Co. All I said was "If I was going to fast from food for Lent, would you help me make a beer to drink so I don't starve?". He immediately said yes.

Rather than getting into the history of beer during Lent (that's for another day, but suffice to say, some monks would still drink beer while fasting in preparation for Christmas and Easter), I'll just tell you about the beer.

[caption id="attachment_3882" align="aligncenter" width="361"] Brewmaster's Tithe — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Ash Wednesday

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:39:00 -0500

And so starts the fast. It's Ash Wednesday, the day in the Christian year that marks the start of Lent, the 40 days of preparation for Easter. I announced a while ago, that I was planning on fasting from food for Lent, and will be getting sustenance from a beer I made at Amsterdam, as well as clear liquids. It's kind of crazy, I know.

[caption id="attachment_3877" align="aligncenter" width="357"] Breakfast; there's oatmeal in there, I swear.[/caption]

Springbock — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:18:48 -0500

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, waiting to terrify their kid-sister. Except that in this case, the terror is in the waiting. Unsure that, despite decades of personal experience, spring might never come. Well you need to relax, it is coming, and one of the early indicators is the return of maibock beers. These are the bocks that Germans brew to be enjoyed as the weather moves from shockingly cold, to manageable-while-wearing-a-sweater. When you can stand outside on a patio, not wearing gloves or a toque, but still surrounded by melting snowbanks. And Amsterdam's Springbock (which I'm guessing is some kind of a nod to South Africa's Dutch-influence in their history) is a classic maibock. So thumb your nose at the windchill, and crack open one of these beauties. As an aside, if you're going to join me and not eat for Lent, these would be a good beer to keep you upright. At 7.2% abv, you might not even notice you're not eating.....

[caption id="attachment_3873" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Springbock — Ansterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Rebecca — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 19:21:45 -0500

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 your way home. Why? Well, for starters, this vDay is on Friday. This is Rebecca Black IPA (get it?). The fact that this was actually named for an old Hitchcock movie be damned, it's Friday Friday! Also, because it's a Black IPA, it's dark and bitter, like your soul. Unless you had a date for Valentines. In which case it's complexity is like you, you poetic masterpiece.

[caption id="attachment_3864" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Rebecca — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Coors Banquet — Molson Coors

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 23:05:23 -0500

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 nod to the original, and is different from Coors Light, which most people think of these days when talking about Coors. Immediately, the most notable thing about it, is that I clearly have been sent an American can, as there isn't a spot of French on it, and one side has the volume in ounces. Despite my passion nearing zeal for local beer, I still have ingrained in my psyche a fascination and yearning for American beer. Especially classic-looking packages like this one, or the Yeungling cans.

[caption id="attachment_3861" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Coors Banquet — Molson Coors[/caption]

Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA — Arch Brewing Co.

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 20:52:22 -0500

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 Welly, they are taking the act of making great beer seriously.

[caption id="attachment_3855" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Dinner Jacket O'Red IPA — Arch Brewing Co.[/caption]

On wells and ambition

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:01:32 -0500

Hey, I'm back. Before I start kicking the hanging homes of stinging insects, thanks for reading! I know I've been off the grid for a while. I just moved, and the lead-up and unpacking totally sapped any time I might have had to write. It sucks, but it's mostly over now, so here I am! Anyway, let's just dive right in at the deep end:

Do you remember I said I was working on a beer guide for Ontario? Well, I still am, but the format has changed. It's going to be a web app now, and the reasoning is simple. The information just changes too quickly to make a printed guide viable. Like, just in the discovery phase like 5 new breweries were announced, a few went from in-planning to operating, and multiple bars opened and closed. That was in a 3 month period. I couldn't keep up. Aside from leading to the format change, it really highlighted the reality of brewing in Ontario right now. It's something I have been thinking a lot about, and also been talking with some friends in the industry a lot about.

Left Field to open new brewery

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:45:13 -0500

Hey, remember last spring when I shared news about a new brewery in the east end? Left Field was being started by husband and wife Mark and Mandie Murphy, and they would be contract brewing their amazing three beers, Eephus, Maris*, and 6-4-3 IIPA. Well, that post went sort of nutso.

New Year's Eve at Amsterdam

Thu, 26 Dec 2013 17:32:02 -0500

Maybe it's much too early in the game
But I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's Eve?

So, got any plans for NYE? I do, I'll be at a cottage, drinking beer and heating a sauna for the traditional midnight snow-roll. But if I were in the city, I would be seriously considering spending it with my friends at the Amsterdam Brewhouse.

[caption id="attachment_3838" align="aligncenter" width="540"] My view for New Year's[/caption]

The Hunger Games — 2014

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 16:44:59 -0500

Hey, ever give up something for Lent? I know people who've given up facebook, eating sweets, alcohol, caffeine, and a variety of other "vices". Well, I'm going to give up food. For reals.

[caption id="attachment_3824" align="aligncenter" width="291"] Fun-fact: you do a Google Image search of "Happy Monk" most of the hits are Buddhists.[/caption]

Some of you will be familiar with the story of J. Wilson — writer at brewvana.com — who in 2011 did exactly this; he stopped eating food, and drank lots of doppelbock made by Roockbottom Brewery, as well as water. He blogged about it, and has also written a book about it, and the origins of the doppelbock style. The book is available at Old Line Publishing, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, as well as better book stores. But years before that, probably around 2005, a friend of mine, Aaron, and his family had done a similar fast, though in their case, there was no beer involved. His Father, Mother, Sister and him all went without solid food for Lent, drinking only fruit juices, and having a bowl of beef broth each evening. At the time I was inspired by them, and have wanted to do something similar since. When Mr Wilson did has German Monastic-style fast, it tipped the scale for me. Fasting, plus beer? I'm in.

On Beer and Babies

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 16:02:16 -0500

There has been a few articles written recently, about drinking while pregnant. There has also been good accompanying discussion (and no shortage of less than good shouting-type reaction, as would be expected in an issue this polarizing). I haven't actually weighed-in in any form, and went too today, but realized that what I wanted to say exceeded the scope of a comment on Facebook.

[caption id="attachment_3808" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Andrew Bentley Schryer, about 10 minutes old.[/caption]

On Deadlines

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 20:47:59 -0500

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
— Douglas Adams

Yup, deadlines are a tough one, especially when they're self-imposed deadlines. I set myself one, and watched it fly by this past weekend. The deadline in question was to have something written. Specifically

The Ontario Craft Beer Guide 2014

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Highlander Blacksmith Smoked Porter

Sat, 30 Nov 2013 00:32:11 -0500

This week, Chris and Fred drink Blacksmith Smoked Porter, from Highlander Brewing. Now available at the LCBO (#362772)

Barrel Aged Double Tempest — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Thu, 28 Nov 2013 19:05:51 -0500

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 Stout in Toronto." etc. It's just really really good. It was even better when they made it Full City Tempest and included coffee in it. So when Iain doubled down, and made a Double Tempest, it was already a kind of off-the-hook situation. But then, you know, just for kicks, he tossed it into Four Roses bourbon barrels and left it there for nine months. This is a 15% monster. And I can hear you already, "I don't need to read your description, where do I get this amazing beer?" Well, friend, let me tell you: The Amsterdam BrewHouse. No, not at the bar, at the retail store. It goes on sale this Saturday at 1pm. Line-up, trust me. There is a 4 bottle maximum, but if you buy four, you get a voucher for a tasting at the bar, that includes a three year vertical sampling of the regular Tempest (for those not indoctrinated in beer-geek-speak, that means the Tempest from this year, as well as 2012 and 2011). You also get a glass of Barrel Aged Double Tempest. But that's not all, a variety of other rare brews will be available at the bar (Boxer, farmhouse ale with brett; Bastogne De Or, golden ale with brett. A collaboration with House Ales; Lady Stavoren, wheat wine with Nelson Sauvignon hops; Imperial Saison, with ice wine must and juice. A collaboration with Great Lakes Brewery; Four Barrels Barley Wine, aged in Ontario ash barrel. A collaboration with Four Barrels; Order and Chaos, wit aged in fresh Chardonnay barrels; Rye Peppercorn Saison, aged in Cab Franc barrels; Fracture IIPA, brewed with Simcoe, Columbus, Centennial and Citra hops then double dry hopped.) There will also be various bottles of other Adventure Series brews. Yeah, you want to be there. Bring your wallet.

[caption id="attachment_3789" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Barrel Aged Double Tempest — Amsterdam brewing Co.[/caption]

The Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook by David Ort — Reviewed

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 14:58:08 -0500

I own a lot of cookbooks. I'm a chef by training and I've been given a great many. It's funny, though, as I — like many other professional cooks and bakers I know — don't really "use" cookbooks. We read through them with interest, particularly if they describe an ingredient or technique we're not familiar with. We devour the photography lustily, as a 13 year old boy with a found Playboy might. We gain inspiration to combine different flavours in new ways or present familiar dishes with a new approach. But we rarely prop the book open on the counter, and follow the recipe. At most, those lists of ingredient are guidelines, right? So, to be honest, I don't personally get too jazzed about just any new cookbook.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="384"] The Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook — David Ort[/caption]

Bellwods 3 Minutes to Midnight vs Amsterdam Sour Cherry Imperial Stout

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:28:16 -0500

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 for our 50th anniversary celebration of the Cuban Missle Crisis. I'm not sure if they were already knocking the name around, or if it was inspired by the event, but either way, we got a firkin of it, and it was all I could do not to drink it all myself. Their epic Hellwoods Imperial Stout aged on sour cherries. Awesome. On the other hand, I can't even exactly remember how or when I got this bottle of Sour Cherry Imperial Stout from Amsterdam. I think it was about a month ago when I scored some year-old Vicar's Vice. No matter, I assumed, an imperial stout aged on sour cherries, it must be in the same category, right? Nope. Iain and I often chirp each other, and when I told him about the pairing he told me I was being a fool. What I didn't realize when I paired them up, was that the Amsterdam beer was a sour stout, barrel-aged on all manner of bacteria, as well as cherries. It was not just Tempest on cherries, which I had assumed. While I totally trust Iain, it wasn't until I tasted them both today, that I realized that they are, in fact, completely different beers, despite looking nearly identical. But the show must go on!

[caption id="attachment_3775" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Bellwoods 3 Minutes to Midnight vs Amsterdam Sour Cherry Imperial Stout[/caption]

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Bellwoods Farmageddon

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 21:39:41 -0500

Today Chris and Fred drink the ohmazing Farmageddon from Bellwoods, a Saison aged in barrels infected with brettanomyces, making it funky and dry. Also, the usual hipster-jokes ensue.

Great Lakes Etobichoker vs Indie Alehouse Instigator IPA

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 00:10:09 -0500

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 Tank Ten brew from Great Lakes, and is a Belgian double-IPA. While they both share three initials, that's probably where the similarities end. And I'm okay with that. There's no prize aside from bragging rights, and everybody will still be pals at the end of the day. So what the heck, here's a fight between a storm-trooper and a rider of Rohan!

[caption id="attachment_3766" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Great Lakes Etobichoker vs Indie Alehouse Instigator IPA[/caption]

Bellwoods Hellwoods vs Amsterdam Tempest

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:06:25 -0500

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 Mike of Bellwoods worked at Amsterdam before striking out on their own, and opening the immensely successful Bellwoods Brewery. Luke, Mike and their team are cranking out some amazing beers, particularly wild/sour beers in barrels. Funny enough, that's also what Iain and the team at Amsterdam are doing. Like I said yesterday, these guys are in the very top end of brewing skill in the city. I've had both these beers multiple times, though never side-by-side. They are both phenomenal. While I'm excited to compare them, I loath the thought of trying to pick a winner. But such is the responsibility of the poor old beer blogger. So, let's get it on!

[caption id="attachment_3757" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Bellwoods Hellwoods vs Amsterdam Tempest[/caption]

Great Lakes Lake Effect vs Bellwoods Cat Lady

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 16:16:54 -0500

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 to be landslide victories. In fact, I expect to have trouble picking winners. Mike and the folks at Great Lakes just won Best Brewery in Canada at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Iain and his team at Amsterdam (at both breweries) are turning out some amazingly innovative beers, especially around their barrel program. Mike, Luke and the crew at Bellwoods are also innovating and playing with barrels, wild yeasts, aging on fruits and more. When I needed some brettanomyces yeast, it was Luke who was like "yeah, we've got a 5 gallon carboy starter going, come on over and we'll draw you off a few hundred ml". Jason and Jeff at Indie are not only making incredible beer in a neighbourhood that only ditched prohibition around 15 years ago, but they are engaging with home-brewers, partnering with other breweries, and generally sticking their fingers in nearly every pie with wonderful success. Over-all, I'm even just realizing that a few months ago Great Lakes and Amsterdam had their Maverick and Gose at the LCBO, and when I was at Indie last week, they had a beer on tap that they made with Bellwoods, called (if I recall) "Tommy Likey". These guys are all friends. Indie, Amserdam and Great Lakes were all involved with the Niambic project. That I'm even putting these beers against each other is a bit silly. But there it is.

So, Great Lakes Lake Effect IPA was an occasional one-off that Mike made at least two times that I know of, maybe more. It is now one of Great Lakes' Tank Ten series, which are basically successful pilot batches that Mike (and others) make on the small system, scaled-up to full batch size. Bellwoods Cat Lady IPA is a new addition to their bottle shop, alongside their awesome Roman Candle IPA. I'm not sure if it will become a regular fixture, but it's at the brewery now, so go check it out!

[caption id="attachment_3750" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Great Lakes Lake Effect IPA vs Bellwoods Cat Lady IPA[/caption]

The Gang Fight

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:00:14 -0500

Nothing beats an old fashioned rumble. The good news is, nobody is calling the cops. For the rest of this week, I'll be blasting through eight beer reviews in a new format. A street fighter format, but with less down-right-x. Indeed, I've got beers from The Jets (Amsterdam and Great Lakes) and The Sharks (Indie Ale House and Bellwoods), and I'll be pitting them against each other.

D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc — Book Review

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:42:09 -0500

Pop quiz smarty-pants: What's the oldest operating brewery in the USA? It must be those makers of Budweiser, Anhueser-Busch, right? Founded in 1852, they are definitely old, but not the oldest. Okay, then it's Miller, right? Nope, 1855. At this point, given the title of this post, you can probably guess who we're talking about. Way back in 1829 David Gottlieb Yuengling opened his brewery in Pottsville Pennsylvania. 184 years later, not only are they America's oldest brewery, but they are also the largest American-owned brewery.

[caption id="attachment_3739" align="aligncenter" width="540"] D. G. Yuengling & Son Inc, by R. A. Munson, MD — Arcadia Publishing.[/caption]

A Public Service Announcement — Tempest Imperial Stout

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:13:06 -0500

A free lesson in the art and artistry of opening a (waxed) bottle of Amsterdam Tempest Imperial Stout.

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — King Dark and Stockyards BBQ

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 15:46:56 -0500

Today, Fred and Chris drink a world-class schwartzbeir, King Dark Lager, and eat some of the best BBQ in Toronto, from The Stockyards Smokehouse and Larder.

urBock — Creemore Springs Brewery

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 20:43:49 -0500

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 from starving during our 40 days fasting for lent (you do stop eating for lent, right?). The fact that these big malty brews are lagers often gets missed by the non-trainspotters of the beer world,but nobody should worry about that. And in fact, that's not a hard and fast rule, with some variations and sub-styles being top-fermented ales. It's understandable for people to assume that these dark, malty, complex beers fit into their concept of ale, not lager. And while they are not modern hop bombs, even the most ardent hop-head might find themselves quietly sipping a bock at the end of a long day, enjoying the sweet spicy brew. This time of year, it's not unusual to find a brewery producing a bock. They are generally released in fall, stick around for the holiday season and through till Easter, where they are perfect with the big seasonal feasts we generally over-indulge in. Historically, this was because of that whole fasting thing, getting yourself good and forgiven before a big Christian feast. Now bocks are seen more as celebratory beers perfect for the actual feast, rather than the fast leading up to it. And while our GTA winters probably aren't as epic as the northern German winters where these beers first started popping up, a bock at the end of a cold day is as welcome in Toronto as in Einbeck.

[caption id="attachment_3721" align="aligncenter" width="540"] urBock — Creemore Springs Brewery[/caption]

Vanilla Porter — Mill Street Brewery

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 17:08:38 -0500

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 beer hall in the distillery district. Long a seasonal favourite, when Mill Street announced that they had finally gotten a packing system in place for their Cobblestone Stout, people started wondering if perhaps Vanilla Porter would be next. And the murmurs turned out to be accurate, with tallboy cans packaged on the same nitrogen disc to create a dense, draught-like head. So are we to believe the hype?

[caption id="attachment_3723" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Vanilla Porter — Mill Street Brewery[/caption]

The Rhino Fall Beer & Cider Festival 2013

Sat, 26 Oct 2013 17:28:11 -0500

From the biggest cask beer festival in North America last week, we now hit two wonderful small/local fests. The first is tomorrow, Sunday October 27th, and is hosted at The Rhino with Canadian Beer News (and I'm guessing the newly minted Canadian Cider News). Personally, I'm super stoked.

A) I've been to the CBN/Rhino fests before and they're well done, with great beers, but in an intimate enough setting to still feel like you're hanging out at a bar.
B) There will be multiple Cideries present, and it seems craftbeer people are really coming around to the joys of good cider. And to be fair, more people are making wonderful cider for us all to drink. I'd like to think my Cider Week had something to do with this.....

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Northwinds Corduroy Rye Pale Ale

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:04:24 -0500

On today's break, Chris and Fred have a conflict of interest, drink a great Rye Pale Ale, and discuss..... beer.

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Muskoka Harvest Ale

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 18:46:58 -0500

This week, Chris and Fred drink Muskoka's excellent Harvest Ale, and talk about other styles of fall seasonal beers.

Cask Days 2013 Pictorial Survival Guide

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 21:35:21 -0500

It's Cask Days eve! I hope you have hung your steins by the window with care, in hopes that St. Ralph, soon will be there. Seriously though, if you like beer and are in the GTA, chances are you're going to Cask Days, either Saturday or Sunday. Or maybe both. last year I wrote a somewhat irreverent guide to cask days. This year I'm being (slightly) more mature. First off, I will admit, I have sort of kind of planned out what I want to drink, by checking the beer list. You might want to as well. Now what follows is my pictorial guide to surviving Cask Days.

[caption id="attachment_3692" align="aligncenter" width="540"] It might place you in Gryffindor[/caption]

Autumn Hop Harvest Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 22:28:42 -0500

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 ales. Amsterdam introduced their Autumn Hop Harvest Ale this year, featuring fresh ("wet") Cascade hops, literally picked at a Clear Valley Farms near Collingwood, and delivered to the brewery the day they were dropped into the brew. A lot of people don't realize this — given the popularity of west coast hops — but historically, southern Ontario and upstate New York were once a huge hop-growing region. Downy mildew destroyed so many fields in the 1920s that farmers shifted to other crops. But happily, with better science and new varietals of hops, growers are reappearing here, and local brewers have been quick to get on board to support them.

[caption id="attachment_3685" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Autumn Hop Harvest Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Kensington Tilt

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 21:13:06 -0500

Today, Fred and Chris talk about Tilt from Kensington Brewing Co, as well as fall/winter seasonal beers, and the new beers at the LCBO this season. Also, ignore the reference to Beau's Oktoberfest. We got delayed a week and forgot to edit that part out.....

Mill St Oktoberfest

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 14:17:53 -0500

How are you? I know, Oktoberfest season is a marathon. This is the part where the pros push through, and the weekend warriors fall back. Lets kick that wall down! Mill St has a shiny new Beer Hall, and a great line-up of events for Oktoberfest next week. The perfect way to round out Oktoberfest festivities.

[caption id="attachment_3675" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Prosit![/caption]

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Cask Days/The Granite

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:02:12 -0500

Sorry for the long lay-off on posting these. Firstly, one of our key producers in the beer breaks left Corus, and it took a bit of time to get realigned and back on track, then this video came out on Friday, and I was already on my way to Beau's Oktoberfest for the weekend. So now I'm playing catch-up. On last week's break, we discussed cask ale, drinking The granite Brewery's Hopping Mad, and also talked about Cask Days! Check it all out.

Nama Cho — Ontario Spring Water Sake Company

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 12:57:31 -0500

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 the juice of a fruit. Sound fair? What is beer? A fermented drink made from grains. Yes, most also have to have hops, but not all (gruits immediately pop to mind, and there are others). What is Sake? It's a fermented drink made from rice (a grain). Hmmmmm, interesting. Also, people "brew" sake, and the facility it's made at, is thus called a brewery. While I'm not arguing that sake is beer (it isn't, it's sake), sake and beer are much more closely related than sake and wine. And as such, I'm happy to review it here. Incidentally, the Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is the first sake brewery in eastern North America, and it's right here in Toronto. If you like sake, you'll want to check these guys out. If you're not sure if you like sake, you'll want to check these guys out!

[caption id="attachment_3665" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Nama Cho — Izumi 泉[/caption]

Barrel-aged Saison — Black Oak Brewery

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 19:13:42 -0500

One of my favourite perennial beers is Black Oak's Summer Saison. A wicked good saison, with lots of bright citrus notes and classic Belgian spices from the yeast, it's a heck of a beer. So I was obviously pretty excited when I was by the brewery and Erica told me she had some barrel-aged Saison for me to sample. As beers made by Belgian farmers to be kept from the cooler brewing months until the hot summer months, it's totally conceivable a lot of it ended up in old oak casks for storage. And while many people like their saison bottle-conditioned with bright prickly carbonation, I'm stoked to see how the beer works having lived in French oak for three months (chilling with Gooseberries, according to the label).

[caption id="attachment_3661" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Barrel-aged Saison — Black Oak Brewing Co.[/caption]

Spiegelau IPA Glass

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:51:47 -0500

When you drink, how many senses do you think you use? One, just taste? Two, taste and smell (remember that "taste" is limited to sweet, salty, sour and bitter, descriptions like "hoppy", "caramel", "herbal" etc are actually aromas)? Do you think you use all five senses?

I would challenge you, and say at the very least, you drink with four — taste, smell, vision and touch (mouthfeel) — and many people do in fact use all five senses.

The Wayward Son — Radical Road Brewing Co.

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:24:34 -0500

There was a time when I would have said that this beer had one of the most attractive and interesting packages. I mean, a real champagne bottle, very minimally labelled, in a beautiful stained-glass motif box? Just lovely. But that time is past. You see, I have had bottles of Radical Road Canny Man. That's an attractive, excessive all-round awesome packaging job. Incidentally, when I was out at Black Oak Brewery a few days ago, John (co-brewer at Radical Road) gave me a bottle of Canny Man. Literally, just a bottle of beer. No label, no paper wrapping, no neck hanger. He said I was welcome to wrap one myself, when I complained. But I digress. I really enjoyed both Canny Man's packing and the liquid in the elaborate attire. So I was obviously excited to lay hands on Radical Road's next foray into barrel-aged beers.

[caption id="attachment_3639" align="aligncenter" width="421"] The Wayward Son — Radical Road Brewing Co.[/caption]

Oaktoberfest —Black Oak Brewing Co.

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:32:01 -0500

While Bavarians are in full Oktoberfest swing, and the massive tents of Munich are full to overflowing with joyful celebrants, we are just starting to get our dose of German and German-style Oktoberfest beers here in Ontario. Black Oak's Oaktoberfest is the first one to come across my desk (or more specifically, into my fridge). Black Oak is known for making some excellent British-style beers (their Pale and Brown are both solid brews), as well as some newfangled styles (Ten Bitter Years is epic, and their barrel-aged Saison is quite something; more on that in another post though). So I'm excited to review a German-style beer from them. I know I had last year's iteration of this beer because a) Untappd told me so, and b) I do have memories of drinking it. I believe those memories were made on a night of Oktoberfest-esque consumption, so I certainly don't have any tasting notes from the experience. The good news, is this year I sampled it at home, and took photos and made notes and everything. And here they are:

[caption id="attachment_3631" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Okatoberfest — Black Oak Brewing Co.[/caption]

Beer Bubbles — Throwing my stick on the pile

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:56:39 -0500

Wow. Every few months, we get a "scandal" in the craft brewing world, and geeks get all in a tizzy and opinions get thrown around and people become overnight experts, then it blows over and we all have beer together. We're at the peak of one of these cycles, and it's all about craft beer growth, particularly in the USA.

If you're already glazing over, here is a video that still makes me laugh so hard. Feel free to watch it, then go about your day.

Steam Whistle's Oktoberfest

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 16:38:49 -0500

As confusing as this is to most North Americans, most of Oktoberfest actually happens in Munich during the last bit of September. It's a 16 day festival that ends on the first weekend in October. So don't be surprised as you see Oktoberfest events starting, well, this weekend, like Steam Whistle's version of the party.

Budweiser Crown — Anheuser-Busch/InBev

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 15:06:48 -0500

People drink with their eyes. They drink with the memories too. Even a fairly old and stale Guinness can still taste decent to me, because it sparks memories of incredible Guinness. Similarly, it can be hard for me to try to stay objective (or as objective as any sentient person can be), when I drink a product from one of the mega-big breweries, like Anheuser-Busch/InBev. I walk into the situation with expectations, no matter how much I try to be open-minded. I know that the vast majority of ABIB drinkers consume beers that are just not that exciting to me. But as the winds of change blow, the big guys are realizing that a bigger and bigger segment of the beer drinking population want more interesting, more flavourful beers. So we've seen things like Molson-Coors purchasing Creemore and Granville Island. We've seen ABIB purchase Goose Island in Chicago. And we have also seen them start making products in their portfolio to compete in the craft market. This has led to many many arguments among us geeks about "craft vs crafty" beer, but regardless of what you think defines "craft", there is no doubt some of these beers are actually quite good, and would please most beer enthusiasts, if they could get past the label. So I was interested when I received a package from Budweiser, with bottles of their new Crown Amber Lager. As my friend Jordan pointed out, by clearly and proudly making it under the Budweiser name, there can hardly be arguments about if this is a big company trying to fleece would-be craft drinkers out of their money. The beer will live or die based on it's quality, and not on any perceived trickery. So how does it hold up?

[caption id="attachment_3614" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Budweiser Crown[/caption]

Shawinigan Handshake — Le Trou du Diable

Wed, 04 Sep 2013 01:30:16 -0500

Probably the best label in the beer world, Shawinigan Handshake pays homage to the choke-slamming PM from PQ. The last in my mini-series on hopfenweisse beers, following Miami Weisse by Great Lakes and Hopfenweisse by Les Trois Mousquetaires, Shawinigan Handshake is a beer I've enjoyed numerous times, both on cask at Cask Days, as well as in the recent bottle release at the LCBO this summer. Le Trou du Diable is another brewery that is quite able to mix old-school styles and new-school brews in exciting and very skilled ways.

[caption id="attachment_3598" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Shawinigan Handshake — Le Trou du Diable[/caption]

Hopfenweisse — Les Trois Mousquetaires

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:47:40 -0500

Following on the tail of Great Lakes Miami Weiss, is another one of these quirky over-hopped wheat beers. This one from the excellent Quebecois brewer, Les Trois Mousquetaires. Known for making some epic classic style beers, their Hopfenweisse showcases their ability to pave roads as well as pay homage.

[caption id="attachment_3595" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Hopfenweisse — Les Troise Mousquetaires[/caption]

Miami Weiss — Great Lakes Brewery, 2013

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:33:59 -0500

The nature of the growth of the brewing scene, means that new styles are created, and variations on styles become their own. This is why we now have pales ales, and American pale ales. Brewers play with things, blend techniques, and tweak recipes. Such is the case with Great Lakes Miami Weiss. There are other similar beers (which I'll be reviewing today as well), that are really hoppy wheat beers, often using new world hops. Somewhere in the American Pale Ale to American IPA range, the spices and fruitiness from the wheat beer go amazingly well with the big hops. I can't recall if the first one I ever had was Miami Weiss or the Schneider-Brooklyn collaboration Hopfenweisse, but it's a style of beer I really dig. Miami Weiss is generally listed as an "American Pale Wheat", while ones of higher alcohol are generally put under the Weizenbock category. The former, while being a recent addition makes sense, the latter really only works if you assume that the style has a *lot* of room for interpretation in terms of hops presence. No matter, getting all hung up on what style a beer is gets really tiresome and boring, so we'll just drink beers that taste good, and leave the hair-splitting and train-spotting to the uber-geeks.

Imcidentally, I just realized that I reviewed Miami Weiss when it was at the LCBO in 2011. You can read the review here, and note how consistent it's been, and also how much better my photographs on this blog have gotten.

[caption id="attachment_3592" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Miami Weiss — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Craft Evangelism

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 17:08:25 -0500

Want to see me open about 7 different cans of worms in the span of about 1700 words? Watch closely now......

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...
Matthew 28:19a ("The Great Commission")

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="236"] My kind of JC.[/caption]

I am a Christian. In today's world it is pretty well impossible to say that without adding all sorts of qualifications, like "but I support gay marraige" or "but not like THOSE Christians". It gets tiresome. As none of those qualifications (or nearly none of them) matters in this conversation, I'll leave it. What is important about this statement, is how my journey in my faith relates to my journey as a fan of craft beer.

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Amsterdam BrewHouse Food Pairing

Sat, 31 Aug 2013 00:39:44 -0500

Today, we hooked up with Iain McOustra again, and ate a bunch of awesome food paired with stellar beers. Hard living, I know....

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Amsterdam BrewHouse Tasting Flight

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:35:13 -0500

Today, Fred and Chris got to hang out with Iain McOustra, Head Brewer at the Amsterdam BrewHouse. They got to enjoy the patio, as well as a flight of the excellent beers available.

Digging out of the news heap

Fri, 09 Aug 2013 00:25:11 -0500

So, every so often, I realize that I've totally neglected the blizzard of news releases and facebook events and whatever else people use to try to get the attention of a group of highly inattentive beer bloggers. So here's what's going on:

The Only

Indeed, it's that time of the quarter, and The Only cafe is doing their summer beer fest this weekend, August 9th and 10th. You want to be there. Both nights. Full details here: http://www.theonlycafe.com/theonly/fest/index.html

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Amsterdam De Wallen

Thu, 08 Aug 2013 13:11:39 -0500

So we're totally stoked to have Amsterdam join us in partnership for the beer break for the next few weeks! And of course, a big thanks to our friends at Toronto's Festival of Beer for all the fun these past few months. Onward! Today Fred and Chris were hanging out with Iain McOustra, head brewer at Amsterdam's new BrewHouse at 245 Queen's Quay West. Iain brought in De Wallen, their sour framboise.

Toronto Festival of Beer 2013 Thursday Contest

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 13:39:22 -0500

Another day, and more TFOB tickets! Today is looking like a beautiful day, so show me something beautiful and beery, for your chance to win four passes to the Sunday Session, featuring Easy Star Allstars and Big Sugar. Either on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, post a beer picture and tag me in it (facebook.com/chris.schryer, Twitter/Instagram @ChrisSchryer). Best pic wins (as totally and completely subjectively judged by me). All entries must be posted by midnight tonight.

Toronto Festival of Beer 2013 Wednesday Contest

Wed, 24 Jul 2013 13:07:38 -0500

It's hump day, and what better way to get over the crest than to win yourself four tickets to Toronto's Festival of Beer this Sunday? Just the thought of you, Steam Whistle box hat on your head, beer in one hand, food in the other, listening to Big Sugar, should be enough to make the last few days of this week sail past. So how could that be you? Simple, tell me what beer 5 Paddles Brewing says is "a great or terrifying introduction to 5 Paddles Brewing depending on your perspective." All correct entries will be pooled and the winner will be drawn from them.

Toronto Festival of Beer 2013 Tuesday Contest

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 11:40:49 -0500

A new day, and a new batch of four Sunday tickets for Toronto Festival of Beer! In addition to the excellent beers and food, this year we will be entertained by Easy Star Allstars and Big Sugar! Today's tickets can be yours, if you answer this simple question: What band plays Thursday nights at Castro's Lounge? All correct entries will be pooled and the winner will be drawn from them.

Toronto Festival of Beer 2013 Monday Contest

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:11:14 -0500

Well, as always, the good folks at Toronto Festival of Beer have hooked me up with passes to give away here on the old bloggy. Look for contests every day this week. Today, we're giving away two (two!) pairs (pairs!) of passes to the Sunday session, featuring Big Sugar with Easy Star Allstars as the supporting group. Also, heaps of good food and beer. So, how does one win this? Simple: Download the festival app (available for iPhone and Android), click into Beer/Food, and using the form below, tell me what exhibitor is at Booth #25. All correct entries will be pooled and the winner will be randomly drawn.

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — And Les Murray!

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:37:28 -0500

Today, Fred and Chris are joined by Les Murray, president of the Toronto Festival of Beer! They chat beer fest, and drink Creemore Mad and Noisy Sunny and Share Saison, and Anchor Brewing Liberty Ale.

Lawnmower Arm Saison — Great Lakes Brewery

Sat, 20 Jul 2013 19:35:12 -0500

I think I had Lawnmower Arm Saison before. I'm not really sure, but it sounded familiar. But when I was at the Great Lakes Brewery in Etobicoke this week, and I saw it, as a barrel-aged, on sour cherries, incarnation, I had to give some a whirl. Saisons often have influence from wild bacterias, like lactobacillus or brettanomyces, barrel-aging them can add to this (especially if the barrel in question is infected with it). Similarly, aging a beer on fresh fruit can introduce all manners of microorganisms. Actually, it's a bit of a crap-shoot, I'm sure. Not to spoil the fun, but Mike rolled a 7 on this one.

[caption id="attachment_3513" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Lawnmower Arm Saison — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Saison de la Canneberg — Great Lakes Brewery x Cassel Brewing

Sat, 20 Jul 2013 15:51:44 -0500

I love this. Here is what I know about this beer: Nothing. I haven't even texted Lackey for any insight. I'm pretty sure Saison de la Canneberg translates to "Cranberry Saison", but that's all I've got. I know Great Lakes beers well, and I know Cassel is a new Nanobrewery in eastern Ontario. And that is all. Mike Lackey from Great Lakes makes mean saisons, so I have high hopes.

[caption id="attachment_3509" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Saison de la Canneberg — Great Lakes Brewery x Cassel Brewery[/caption]

Sunny and Share Citrus Saison — Mad and Noisy Brewing

Sat, 20 Jul 2013 14:36:34 -0500

Well, you might remember when I wrote about Mad and Noisy Hops and Bolts IPL a while back. If so, you will probably be as excited as I was to hear that Creemore is back at it, now with their Sunny and Share Citrus Saison. Saison is becoming the hot summer beer (replacing weisse/wit beers, though they generally also have wheat (and sometimes rye) in their malt bill). If you're reading this and are totally confused, let me bring you up to speed: Creemore Springs has a line of beers (now up to two types) that they produce under the name Mad and Noisy Brewing, named for the two rivers that run through Creemore. Basically, these are beers that let their brewers play, and come up with cool tastes for smaller batches of beer. Their Hops and Bolts India Pale Lager, was sort of like Creemore Premium lager on bath salts (in the best possible way; no face-eating). Big, aggresively hopped, but still with echos of it's Creemore heritage. Sunny and Share Citrus Saison will likely deviate a bit further, as you can't make a Belgian-style farmhouse ale with Creemore's house yeast. But if the past experience counts for anything, this should be a solid offering.

[caption id="attachment_3500" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Sunny and Share Citrus Saison — Mad and Noisy Brewing[/caption]

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Beau's Opa's Gose

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 14:20:25 -0500

Just in to the LCBO, today Fred and Chris drink Opa's Gose from Beau's All-Natural Brewing. It's salty. Especially when you dump salt into it.

Orange Peel Ale — Great Lakes Brewery

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:23:57 -0500

One of my earliest craft-beer memories from my journey into better beer, was seeing a tap handle that was an orange. I don't know why I was so enamoured by it, but I was. It was, of course, the tap handle for Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale. While I have always loved that handle, Orange Peel Ale and I grew apart. I got uppity and "didn't like fruit beers" and was a "hop-head". Thankfully, I continued to grow, and now am open to pretty well every style. So when I was offered a glass of Orange Peel Ale at a party earlier this year, I gladly accepted. I was expecting something malty, with a nice tart orange juice flavour. What I got was a surprise. It was bitter and hoppy. The orange influence was it's bitter peel, not its fruity juice. It was snappy and crisp, not at all cloying. I didn't hesitate to have a few more. I decided then, that I needed to get more of it, and give this beer a fair review.

[caption id="attachment_3490" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Orange Peel Ale — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Black Oak Ten Bitter Years

Fri, 05 Jul 2013 20:22:03 -0500

Today, Fred and Chris get into some of Black Oak's anniversary beer, Ten Bitter Years Double IPA. They also show off their new custom-made bbBarFly bottle openers.

Friday Beer Break With Fearless Fred — Steam Whistle Pilsner

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 21:58:20 -0500

Today, Fred and Chris were joined by Marina from Steam Whistle, and a $3.2k solid gold bottle opener (seriously). Talking Toronto Festival of Beer, box hats, beer delivery and Willy Wonka.

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Spearhead Brewing

Fri, 21 Jun 2013 20:36:10 -0500

This week, Fred and Chris are joined by Dimitri van Kampen, of Spearhead Brewing, and he's brought some cool beers: Hawaiian-style Pale Ale, Morrocan Brown Ale and Big Kahuna Double IPA. Check it out below.

Friday Beer Break With Fearless Fed — Sawdust City Barrel-aged Ol' Woody

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:39:47 -0500

This week on the old beer break, Fred and I got into FOUR different bottles from Sawdust City. They are presenting their Ol' Woody Alt at Toronto Festival of Beer in a barrel-aged demo. So they've aged their excellent Ol' Woody Altbier in four different barrels. Two were old funky blueberry wine barrels, and they added fresh cherries to the mix to make a kriek-type beer. The other two went into a Kentucky bourbon barrel, and a Highland whisky barrel. Check out how it all went down, and make sure the stop by during the festival to try them for yourself. Fred and I also discuss the beer he made with Sawdust, Alison Brier, a raspberry saison. That one will be available this weekend at Session.

Crazy Canuck Pale Ale — Great Lakes Brewery

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:59:44 -0500

Well here's (I think) a TorontoBeerBlog.com first: I'm re-reviewing a beer. Actually it's really not that big a deal, particularly when the beer in question is Crazy Canuck Pale Ale, and the people who make it is Great Lakes Brewery. I'm not suggesting that Great Lakes is inconsistent (far from it), but particularly with a beer like Canuck, I would be surprised if the recipe hadn't gone through at least some tweaking, if not revision in the three years since I last reviewed it. Certianly, when I last reviewed it in 2010, it came in a glass bottle; now it comes in a tallboy can. Also worth mentioning, my skills as both a reviewer and writer have changed (I'd say "gotten better" but I'll leave that to you), so a second review is welcomed, even over-due. As a side note, if you check the old post, you will note that this was indeed pioneer days for the blog: iPhone 3 pic snapped on the corner of my desk with a legit 20LBS CRT monitor in the background. Pure bush-league......

[caption id="attachment_3451" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Crazy Canuck Pale Ale — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Alexander Keith's Hop Series

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:10:48 -0500

In today's episode, Fred and his faithful sidekick venture into bigger waters, and sample the Alexander Keith's Hop Series Ales; both the Cascade and Hallertau varieties. Listen live every Friday between 4:30-5pm and catch the videos here.

Wizard Wolf Session Ale — Bellwoods Brewery

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:21:44 -0500

If you've ever asked me about beers and quality, one thing that I will often bang on about, is that fresh is best (at least in most cases). So when I dropped by Bellwoods Brewery this morning to chat about some summer stuff, my answer to Mike's question "Do you want some of the Wizard Wolf we're bottling right now?" was a resounding yes (in case you're wondering, I also had a sip of their new smoked rhubarb Berliner weisse, and grabbed some bottles of the new batch of Omerta Pale Ale. All excellent). I've had Wizard Wolf in bottles and on draught, but I'm a sucker for super-fresh. Then I realized I still haven't done a review on it here. I hardly need an excuse to drink a super-fresh beer at any time, but if I needed one today, this was iron-clad.

[caption id="attachment_3435" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Wizard Wolf Session Ale — Bellwoods Brewery[/caption]

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Left Field Brewery

Fri, 31 May 2013 23:40:11 -0500

Chilling with Fred, and drinking both Eephus and 6-4-3 IIPA from our friends at Left Field Brewery.

About The Brewery

Know that feeling you get on opening day, after a walk-off home run or a suspenseful no-hitter? That’s exactly how we feel about beer.

Friday Beer Break with Fearless Fred — Beer Academy Maibock

Thu, 30 May 2013 13:00:45 -0500

Very happy to be back doing a weekly beer break with my friend "Fearless" Fred at 102.1 The Edge. For our first week back, we drank some excellent Maibock from the crew at The Beer Academy.

My Summer Beer List — Week One — Wheat Beer

Mon, 27 May 2013 20:43:41 -0500

[caption id="attachment_2142" align="alignright" width="336"] Robson Street Hefeweizen - Granville Island Brewery[/caption]

As the weather warms up, every beer blogger and their cousins are compiling lists of their summer beers for 2013. This isn't inherently a bad thing, and often might lead you to a new beer you had not tried before. It could also leave you crying into your lager, as you don't have access to any of the specific beers on a particular list. So while I'll suggest some specific beers, I want to present to you my list of ultimate summer styles, and why you want to drink them.

Today I'm going to cover Wheat Beers. For the next 6 weeks, I'll also cover off Fruit Beers, Saisons, Lawn Mower Beers, BBQ Beers, and Campfire Beers.

Brewmance Episode 4: The Great Outdoors

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:28:43 -0500

This month on Brewmance, Mark and I are joined by Aaron Spinney from Sawdust City Brewing Co. and we make a Belgian-style Golden Ale with Earl Grey Tea and mangoes! First outdoors brew of the year for me, too! It was a great day.

Fruit Stand Watermelon Wheat Ale — Kensington Brewing Co

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:58:19 -0500

There are a lot of beers out there with fruit in them. To start with, the myriad lite lime type things that seem to have endless marketing budgets. There are also more than a few pleasing beers made in Canada with things like raspberries, apricots or blueberries in them. And, of course, there are the classic Lambics from Belgium, many of which have fruits added like raspberries, cherries, peaches or black currants. I have had more than a few of these varied beers, and have liked some, disliked others, and been madly in love with a few. But until Brock from Kensington Brewing Co told me about Fruit Stand last summer, I had not yet come across a beer made with watermelon. Which is a shame; watermelon is a sweet juicy flavour, that should go well in a beer. So does it?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="428"] Fruit Stand Watermelon Wheat Ale — Kensington Brewing Co.[/caption]

Maverick and Gose — Amsterdam Brewing Co and Great Lakes Brewery

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:52:23 -0500

You might recall a few weeks back I wrote about how Maverick and Gose was about to become the first all-Ontario collaboration to hit the LCBO. Well, after the usual LCBO bureaucratic hiccup, it is rolling out! If you want me to save you some time, Gose is a style you can be forgiven for not knowing about. Considered the regional specialty of Leipzig, Germany (as a regional beer, it is allowable under the Reinheitsgebot even though it has spices and sometimes salt added to it), it is related to Berliner-Weisse, and is a sour spiced ale. Reading up on Gose is a bit tricky (indeed, there is no reference to it in the Oxford Companion to Beer), but it seems that it originally was made with local water that had enough mineral salts in it, to give it a somewhat salty taste. It was also lacto-fermented naturally, like other funky beers of its day. These days, the brewers generally add some salt to the water to compensate for the lack of traditional salty water, and add the lacto manually after the boil, to ensure it gets properly infected. While it was nearly extinct, according to wikipedia there are three breweries in Germany now making Gose, two brewers in Ontario have had a stab at it (Maverick and Gose, and Boom Gose The Dynamite from Beau's), and a search on beer advocate for "gose" returns 61 results. Gose is sort of the Chatham Island Black Robin of the beer world.

[caption id="attachment_3379" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Maverick and Gose, Amsterdam Brewing Co and Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Rickard's Shandy — Molson-Coors Canada

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:32:33 -0500

Years ago, I was sitting at Castro's, with a dear friend of mine named Christian. Christian is German. This is important to the story, trust me. At the time his English was fairly good, but occasionally, he would stumble to find a word or phrase. So when he ordered his beer, I assumed there was a problem going on with translation. In not so few words, he was asking for a half Hacker-Pschorr, half coke pint. This couldn't be right, so the server and I tried to ascertain what he actually wanted. Surely he wanted a Hacker and a coke. Like, he was just really thirsty or something. But after some conversation he explained that, no, in fact drinking mixed beers — a shandy as us UK descendants would call it — was totally normal for a lot of Germans. So the server duly poured him his (somewhat disturbing looking) drink. He insisted that I try it. And I'll be honest, it wasn't terrible. Coke is just too sweet for me when I'm thinking "beer", even if it is cut by half with a decent tart refreshing wheat beer. But I was somewhat impressed. So he ordered a few more favourites, like Hacker and OJ, and more I've forgotten. And they ranged for not-awful to actually quite tasty. And like that, I had my mind changed about the shandy. I had always assumed it was a drink for old people. But after this, I discovered the Radlermass (a German or Austrian mix of pils and some type of soda, generally a citrus), and that many English folks openly ordered a shandy on a hot summer day. And while I still rarely do myself, I'm much more open to the concept. So when I got a lovely wooden crate from Rickard's with some cans of their new shandy (and a bunch of lemons and a dope lemon-shaped USB key), I was quite intrigued. While Rickard's has a pretty good record with me, the spate of light lime type beers of late hasn't been my favourite development in big beer business. But I read the can, and noted there are no artificial flavours (a good thing), so I'm actually pretty stoked to try this.

[caption id="attachment_3347" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Rickard's Shandy — Molson-Coors Canada[/caption]

The Loose Moose, Toronto

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:41:47 -0500

"The Mississippi Delta, is shining like a national guitar/ I am following the river down the highway through the cradle of the civil war..."

Picture this: you were part of one of the most popular duos of your generation. Parting ways with your partner at the height of your popularity, you go on to be a massive solo act, but a decade later things have lost their shine. "Predictable". You're not really winning any new fans. So what do you do? Hopefully, you can pull off what Paul Simon did in 1986, when he released Graceland. One of the best albums of the 1980s it was simultaneously fresh and exciting, and familiar. Blending styles, partnering with other artists (and indeed introducing some, like Ladysmith Black Mombazo, to the World) and employing classic Paul Simon lyrics, Graceland is possibly one of the best "comeback" albums of all time.

And that is what The Loose Moose on Front St. has done. They have released their own Graceland.

Fracture Double IPA — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:33:51 -0500

I love hops, and I hope you do too. In fact, I have three hop plants on order from Toronto Brewing as we speak. I also have a hop vine at my mother's house. So, you would assume that I was a pretty big hop head. Give me the biggest, brashest, hoppiest thing you can find. No malts, they're for the weak. Etc. But I'm not. Actually, I value balance and subtlety a lot more, as I spend more and more time drinking excellent beers. Anybody can make a basic beer and chuck a crate of hops in it, but crafting a balanced beer, even if it is hop-forward, is no small feat. Because of this, I tend to prefer American Pale Ales over IPAs and Double IPAs. I find I get more well crafted pales, compared to more carelessly over-hopped IPAs/DIPAs. I know I'm generalizing here, in fact I mean to. Because this week I already reviewed the very nice, well made 6-4-3 DIPA. And last week, I popped by Amsterdam's brewery in Leaside to say hello, and Kody passed me a few bottles, including their Fracture Double IPA. If you read this blog enough, you know I have a somewhat indecent love for Amsterdam, so instead of worrying about it being a one-dimensional hop bomb, I was excited to see what the folks who brought us Boneshaker would do with a Double IPA.

[caption id="attachment_3323" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Fracture Double IPA — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Lady Stavoren Wheat Wine — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:18:09 -0500

It's always nice when I'm handed a beer, that is a style I'm not familiar with. I admit, it happens less these days then, say, three years ago. But when it does, it reminds me how awesome the beer world is. I felt this a while ago when Kody at Amsterdam grabbed me a bottle of one of Iain's really small-batch creations, Lady Stavoren Wheat Wine. Quickly I reached for my Oxford Companion to Beer, and sure enough, there was an entry on it. Turns out a Wheat Wine is a modern variation on Barley Wine, seemingly created during the 1980s, but made with (generally) at least half the grain-bill being wheat. They are generally brighter and fruity, with less aggressive hopping than an American Barley Wine. Lady Stavoren is one of Amsterdam's Adventure Series, but I'm sad to say that I think it's already all gone. That being said, as you'll read below, it's so flipping good, I wouldn't be surprised to see it made at the brewpub, once things get rolling down on the quay.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="428"] Lady Stavoren Wheat Wine — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

6-4-3 Double IPA — Left Field Brewery

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:25:55 -0500

Wow. Just Wow. How about Left Field Brewery? I don't know if you remember when, a few weeks ago (March 4th, to be specific) I mentioned Left Field Brewery launching. I remember, because it was the single biggest day of traffic on my blog. Seriously. People were jazzed about the new baseball-themed beer. Obviously, I have something of an interest here. Mark and Mandy Murphy, the duo behind Left Field, are friends of mine, and Mark and I do our monthly home brew webcast, Brewmance. But my own interests didn't prepare me for the onslaught of love and attention they were about to receive. Between savvy branding and excellent products, Mark and Mandy have seen their beers launch, been featured on TV news, and now have been chosen to do a celebrity brew with Dirk Hayhurst (and yes, The Garfoose) for Session this year. Bars all over the city now have their awesome mini-bat tap handles, and their beers are being met with enthusiasm. Having accidentally frozen an early iteration of 6-4-3 Double IPA Mark gave me (when I left it too close to the balcony door this past winter) I was both happy — and somewhat ashamed — to receive a lovely sample bottle of it from his this past weekend. And let me tell you: as far as sample bottles go, it's pretty sharp. It could be a retail bottle. For now, though, you'll need to seek them out on draught; bottles are a "down the road" plan. So throw me a sinking fast ball, and let me hit into a

[caption id="attachment_3308" align="aligncenter" width="540"] 6-4-3 Double IPA — Left Field Brewery[/caption]

Maverick and Gose

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:11:40 -0500

It's official: the LCBO will see it's first collaborative-brew from Ontario brewers (having had Brooklyn/Schneider's Hopfenweisse), with the release of Amsterdam/Great Lakes Maverick and Gose. What's extra crazy, is it's a gose, that old-fashioned, slightly salty tart beer. A big day for GTA brewing!

Look for it at LCBOs starting next week, $6.95/500ml bottle! It's time to buzz the tower!

[caption id="attachment_3303" align="aligncenter" width="132"] Maverick and Gose[/caption]

Canny Man Wee Heavy — Radical Road Brewing Co.

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:03:48 -0500

Last year, I walked into Black Oak Brewery in Etobicoke, and was greeted by a mountain of whiskey barrels. Seriously, like, 80, I think. I knew that many breweries were jumping onto the barrel-aging wagon, but this seemed like a bit much. So I asked Simon (Black Oak's brewmaster) what the deal was. It turns out, this was the first big move for him and John Hodd, who also brews at Black Oak, to take a stab at contract brewing.    Having an intimate knowledge of Black Oak's system, they coordinated a deal with Ken, Black Oak's owner, and made a plan. Contract brewers; their intentions are spend-thrifty, right? Well, not quite. You see, they decided to brew a Scottish Wee Heavy style of beer. Heaps of malt and booze. They also decided to age it in Highland scotch barrels. Which they had to get shipped from the Highlands. Then they had to get a fork-lift to stack the pallets of barrels. Then they decided to package it in one of the most elaborate, sexy, and totally decadent packages the LCBO has ever seen. Think individually boxed or tubed bottles from the likes of Innis & Gunn or St Ambroise look fancy? Try an opaque black Champagne bottle, corked and caged, wrapped in a branded paper, with a large shiny neck-hanger. In terms of Scottish-style beer, Canny Man is Colin and Justin to Innis & Gunn's Susan Boyle. Glamorous, sexy, and more than a little brash, this ain't your granda's Scotch Ale.

[caption id="attachment_3291" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Canny Man Wee Heavy — Radical Road Brewing Co.[/caption]

Brewer's Plate 2013

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:40:09 -0500

So, sorry for the delay, but last week was actually pretty crazy. Lots of evenings out, and sleepy mornings. At any rate, last Wednesday was Brewer's Plate, one of my favourite beer events of the year (as noted in my "Why The Brewer's Plate Matters" post). This year, it was held in the CBC's Barbara Frum Atrium, which was an interesting location. For one, (if you haven't been in), it is open to the top of the building, which gave it a huge open airy feeling. One of the major differences (and possibly a detraction, depending on your point of view) was that the tables were set up in aisles, a bit like a trade-show. Last year's event at Roy Thompson Hall was a little serpentine as it hugged the curve of the round music venue. The year before at Wychwood Barns was one long aisle, with lots of mingling in the middle. At first, I was a little put off by this year's format, but within an hour I seemed to have lost any animosity, though that could just have easily been because of the excellent food and drink on offer.

Hopwired IPA — 8 Wired Brewery

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:21:59 -0500

Did you ever read The Chrysalids in school? Remember Sealand, the awesome country where telepaths were normal and encouraged? Sealand was New Zealand. It survived the nuclear holocaust, basically because it's such an awesome place. Even Wyndham knew that it was that awesome. Think about it: It's Middle Earth; they have the All Blacks; Marlborough makes some of the nicest wines in the New World; they were the first country to elect a female Prime Minister; they have some of the most progressive conservation programs for their endangered wildlife; and of course, there's Flight of the Conchords. Not only are they growing incredible grapes for wine, but New Zealand has become something of a rock star in the hop production world. Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, Pacific Gem and more are some of the most sought-after hops in brewing culture right now. Beers that have them feature bright fruity notes, sometimes they're a little vinous. People like me get a little silly looking for adjectives to describe them. So it is with no small excitement that I picked up a bottle of Hopwired IPA from Marlborough's 8 Wired Brewery. You see, not only does it use Kiwi hops, but it uses *only* Kiwi hops. And not only does it only use Kiwi hops, but it also uses New Zealand-grown pale malts. It's as Kiwi as you can get. Like Neil Finn in a glass.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="367"] 8 Wired Brewing Hopwired IPA[/caption]

Why The Brewer's Plate Matters

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:27:03 -0500

I like what I call the Rule of 3. I first learned about it through a style of gardening/farming called Permaculture (actually, Permaculture is much much deeper than just gardening and farming, but that's how I met it). It's a way of sustainable growing and there are a set of rules to it. One of the policies is that anything you plant/grow has to have three purposes. Yup, every plant; three purposes. On the face of this, it sounds difficult, maybe impossible, but it's easier than you think. Corn, or instance, is a simple call: 1) You get corn to eat (or as feed) 2) The stalks can be turned into the soil as compost 3) By alternating rows, you can use the height of the corn as a shade for partial-sun plants. See? Simple. I liked this idea so much, I decided to think of other things I could apply it to, and found many. The kitchen, for instance. While there are exceptions, I try not to buy any tool/utensil, if I can't think of at least 3 different uses for it.

And this is at least part of why I like Brewer's Plate so damn much (okay, that and the food and beer....)

[caption id="attachment_3242" align="aligncenter" width="435"] Food from 2012 — Photo from http://www.torontolife.com/galleries/brewers-plate/[/caption]

Omerta Blood Orange Pale Ale — Bellwoods Brewery

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:56:27 -0500

Fruit in beers, what can I say? They range from light lime lagers to the epic Cantillion Lambics, and lots of iterations in between. In some cases, the fruit is really the only thing you taste, in other cases it used to compliment characteristics of the beer. I used to say I didn't really dig fruit flavoured beers, but with time and experience, I've found that there are actually many I do enjoy. So when I saw on Facebook that Bellwoods had a blood orange pale ale called Omerta from sale in their retail store, I headed right over to pick some up. It's likely sold out at the store now, but fear not, and read on; there are still at least two kegs in the city!

[caption id="attachment_3235" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Omerta Blood Orange Pale Ale — Bellwoods Brewery[/caption]

Roman Candle IPA — Bellwoods Brewery

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:37:30 -0500

I love a good fireworks display. When I was younger, it was all about lighting off the kind you buy at pop-up shops on the way to the cottage, firing them off over the lake on Victoria Day, Canada Day, and midnight on New Year's. As I'm getting older, I prefer just wandering down my street to the beach to take in the display from Ashbridges Bay (a much safer option. When I was about 21, I had a fairly large commerical firework jam and explode about 18" from my head, as I was lighting another one; not cool). I also have some pretty serious concerns about airborne heavy metals after displays (Google it, it's disturbing), and while I don't know if the math holds up, I feel one professional display for 8000 people is better than 800 small commercial displays for 10 people. Anyways, PSA aside, I still really enjoy watching a well-executed display. It evokes thoughts of summer at the cottage, and staying up late sitting on the dock with friends and all sorts of comfy thoughts. So when one of my favourite breweries (Bellwoods) released a beer called Roman Candle IPA, it was like a giant vortex of amazingness. If you like good hoppy beers, and all those good summertime feelings of fireworks and cookouts and whatever else you associate with summer, this could well be your go-to brew as the days get warmer and longer.

[caption id="attachment_3230" align="aligncenter" width="472"] Roman Candle IPA — Bellwoods Brewery[/caption]

Goedemorgen — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:03:41 -0500

Three years ago, if you had asked me about Amsterdam Brewing, I would have talked about their excellent quality, their awesome staff, and the (large) part they played in my journey into craft beer. I would not have talked about their cutting edge brews, pushing the culture of brewing in the city. Great Lakes Brewery, yes; Dieu du Ciel! too (though not in our city), but not Amsterdam. They made solid beers, but nothing really crazy. Things like Goedemorgen weren't even on the horizon, as far as I knew.

A lot has changed in 3 years.

The likes of Great Lakes are still doing amazing brews and putting out a crazy range of styles, having been major movers and shakers in the trend so that we now see places like Bellwoods getting line-ups on Tuesdays in the summer, and Volo launching their own nano brewery. We see Left Field Brewery launch with an oatmeal brown ale as their flagship, and nary a lager or lawn-mower beer in sight. But now, running full-out, right in the front of the pack with the top dogs, is Amsterdam. A brand new brewery in a neighbourhood that is changing for the better (we've heard that before, right Mill Street, Steam Whistle, Bellwoods, et al?). A brewpub in a KILLER location opening this summer. And Iain McOustra brewing on a pilot system, and filling a mountain of barrels from distillers and wineries with epic brews. Amsterdam has even started an "Adventure Brews" series of beers, featuring different and interesting beers exploring styles and history, and trying out new things. It is an exciting time to be a beer drinker in Toronto, and I'm so lucky to be able to be in the midst of it, drinking some phenomenal beers, and getting to encourage other people to do the same. Okay, "phenomenal" exhausted my hyper-positive adjective stock, so it's time to drink beer.

[caption id="attachment_3214" align="aligncenter" width="405"] Goedemorgen Belgian-style Golden Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co. — Aged in Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay Barrels[/caption]

Brewmance Episode 3: Sharing is Caring

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:53:17 -0500

Well, last month's Brewmance wasn't a home run, but this month, we've got Iain McOustra from Amsterdam Brewing Co. and a big old jug of Brettanomyces Bruxellensis. Indeed, we're going with a 100% brett pale ale, and a huge shot of fruity hops to finish it. Full video below, and recipe (sort of) there after.

Hop Series Hallertau Hop Ale — Alexander Keith's

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:36:52 -0500

Single-hop (and indeed, single-hop/single-malt pale ales), are becoming a bit of a "thing" in the beer scene. Using careful hop additions to draw out the characteristics of the hops is something of an art form. It's not easily done, and it's even challenging choosing which hop to focus on, right down to which crop or harvest to use. So my hesitance around Alexander Keith's new single-hop pale ales was reasonable. I was impressed with the Cascade Hop Ale, and was excited to get to try the can of Hallertau Hop Ale they sent me after the launch event. Hallertau is a very different hop than Cascade. It's a noble hop, of very old lineage. While it generally has very herbal and floral notes, it doesn't actually have a huge bitterness, compared to many of it's younger North American counterparts (including Cascade). I'm going to try hard not to compare the two brews in this review. It wouldn't really be fair, as a key flavouring ingredient is vastly different. So here we go!

[caption id="attachment_3204" align="aligncenter" width="489"] Alexander Keith's Hop Series Hallertau Hop Ale[/caption]

Market Pale Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:05:26 -0500

One of the best parts of spring returning, is the return of the dozens of farmer's markets around Toronto. Nothing is better than wandering around, seeing neighbours, and meeting the people who grow your produce. I take my kids to St Lawrence Market most Saturday mornings, but through the summer month, I alternate weekly, and we go to the Leslieville one Sunday around noon. We're still a few weeks away from the start of the season (Leslieville starts May 26th), but I'm already excited for the first offerings of the year; the ramps, mushrooms, spring onions, spring blooms and early herbs and greens. Through a good amount of preserving, we are able to eat local food most of the year, but there is nothing better than that fresh-from-the-fields taste. Rinsing actual soil off the roots of the onions and ramps. The way fresh spring flowers waft their aroma through the house. And it is in that spirit, that Amsterdam Brewing is launching their Market Pale Ale. A rock solid pale, made with quality ingredients. It won't be available in bottles or cans, via a store near you. Mainly because they want it to be fresh. Hella fresh. Market fresh. So you will only find it around the GTA on draught, and in growlers from the brewery. Nice and fresh.

[caption id="attachment_3198" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Amsterdam Brewing Co. Market Pale Ale[/caption]

The Monday Wrap

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:43:06 -0500

Well now, it's Monday morning. How was your weekend? I had my last Friday night hockey followed by drinks at the Monk's Table, Saturday was the epic Beaunly (more on that in a moment), and yesterday was nicely chill. I think I'm getting back into synch with Toronto living.

So About That Beaunly

[caption id="attachment_3192" align="alignright" width="334"] Nice sign, Fabs![/caption]

Oh yes. Hard to imaging a better idea than having Beau's take over all 24 taps and 1 cask at The Only on Danforth. From a killer list, ranging from standards like Lug Tread to crazy things like Pan-Ontario, I managed to tick boxes on everything I hadn't tried before. And I even made it home in one piece! Top picks were Bog Father with my Nicaraguan cigar, Party Beaver which is a sour parti-gyle from the Beaver River (if I recall correctly, and I wouldn't be surprised if I don't), and the Sticke Alt on cask. Big thanks to Steve and the Beau's crew, and Fabian and the folks at The Only. What an awesome night!

Well hello again

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:07:43 -0500

Hey there beer people in Toronto! Not sure if you noticed, but I've been gone for nearly two weeks. Indeed, I was off in Nicaragua (more on that in a moment) and while I'm not too pleased with the 40C difference in temperature (seriously) I'm glad to be back in the land of awesome beer made with lots of hops. So, let's get caught up, and talk about where we're going, okay?

Nicaragua

[caption id="attachment_3185" align="alignright" width="324"] Last full day in Central America; boat tour on Lake Nicaragua. Tona; $1. Local cigar; $2. Something about something priceless.[/caption]

Wow, just wow. I was so stoked to be able to go with a group from my church, to Managua, Nicaragua, for a ten day learning and service trip. So, first up, what's a learning and service trip? It's a chance to take people (in this case 9 teens and 6 adults) to a very different place, where they learn about the local culture, how our actions as North Americans affects their lives, and also how to do "something" new while serving the people we're working with. In this case, we were there through a group called Compañeros, and working in partnership with Techo. Techo builds affordable, dignified and reliable housing for people throughout Central and South America. Our group participated in building four homes, with the families as well as community volunteers. We also helped with painting a mural on the wall of the school in the community. So most of the group got handy with hammers, saws, etc, and a few of us (myself included) learned a lot about spray-painting/graffiti. In addition to living with Nicaraguan families, and working in a fairly impoverished community, we took time out to do some sightseeing, and touristy stuff. We hiked an awesome volcano, did some zip-lining and spent an evening in Grenada. If you're interested in more info on the trip, we'll be hosting an evening with the group that went down, showing pictures, telling stories, and doing fund-raising for 2015 (hopefully our next trip down).

Left Field Launch Party at 3030

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:19:04 -0500

If you were one of the 600 or so people who read my post on Left Field Brewery over the past few days, you might be excited to know, the launch party has been announced!

So You Think You Want To Own A Pub?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:42:07 -0500

[caption id="attachment_3114" align="alignright" width="280"] This is not The Duke of Bendale Inn[/caption]

Let me tell you about my bar. It's called The Duke of Bendale Inn. It's in an old Georgian home, with a large veranda on the front and a beautiful garden in the back. If you're interested in the latest news or meeting new people, the bar is for you. It's just inside the front door on your left, across the hall from the stairs to the second floor. The oak bar stretches most of the inside wall, and features six handpumps drawing great cask beer from the cellar. There's some quality spirits and a small but thoughtful selection of wines. Food is pretty simple: meat pies, a curry, a meat board and a cheese board, fish and chips. Simple things to nibble on like sausage rolls, bread and cheese, pickled eggs and sausages, and bowls of nuts. There's a Sunday roast dinner. If you're in for a meal, you will probably take a table in the back dining room. A dozen tables for 4-6 people are nicely set; the windows open to the garden and in the spring and summer aromas of lavender and rosemary might drift in. If you would rather have a quiet chat with a friend or two, the library is cozy and always available. It's just to the right as you come through the front door. The coal fire burns most evenings, and all day through the winter. You'll probably find that you favour one of the wing chairs in particular; some are firm and supportive, others are squashy and easy to melt into. You're welcome to grab a book off the shelves to read, you can take it home if you get hooked. Try to remember to bring it back, though, okay? We have a private dinning room on the second floor, where you can entertain anywhere from 4 to 14 people comfortably. It does a roaring trade leading up to Christmas, hosting family dinners for people who would rather not have to cook and clean-up. The back garden has a patio area where you can eat and drink during warm months, but you're also welcome to walk through the small garden. If you see an herb you need for a recipe, feel free to pinch a few sprigs. A server can get you a bag to take it home in. Every spring we have cuttings of herbs and flowers, which regulars are welcome to take home for their own gardens. In the basement there are dart boards, and we have weekly dart nights. A local club also uses the space for tournaments. The only time you will hear music is if we have a local group in playing in the bar, or there's a drunk Welsh or Estonian person. Drunk Welsh and Estonians are welcome, and are welcome to take a room if one is available and they don't feel like getting themselves home. While everybody is welcome to do this as well, we give competitive rates to Welsh and Estonians based on how many songs they sang. The rooms are on the third floor and are simple but comfortable. Four single rooms with a shared bathroom, and two doubles with their own small en suite. They can be let for days or weeks, depending on your need.

Of course, much like Orwell's beloved Moon Under Water, The Duke of Bendale Inn doesn't exist. But as you can tell, I've spent time dreaming about it. I note things I like about bars I drink at, and adapt the plan accordingly. In fact, the plan is more like a story. There are regulars who I've invented, recipes for specials that might never be served, mason jars full of preserves in the basement that are yet to be canned, shelves who's contents I know intimately from phone-chargers to stomach remedies to business cards of honest local tradespeople. It's possible I've put so much energy into planning a bar I will probably never open, because, well, I know I will probably never open it.

Hops Series Cascade Hop Ale — Alexander Keith's

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:43:38 -0500

Well it's New Brew Tuesday (okay it was...), and I'm flying by the seat of my pants! As I type this, I'm actually at a launch party of Alexander Keith's new Hop Series Cascade Hop Ale at the Duke of Westminster. Now, let's just get this out of the way upfront: Yes, I know Keith's IPA is not really an IPA by most people's standards. We can argue till we're blue in the face about this one, and it won't change the fact that they have a strong brand presence as such, and won't likely change anytime soon. Keith's IPA is not geared towards craft beer drinkers. It's made to be a Premium brand for people who are main line lager drinkers. Also, yes, I know Keith's is not independent anymore. They are owned by AB-InBev. If you're a really hardened macro beer hater, feel free to stop reading, but I really hope you give this post a chance. If you're here reading this, scratching your head wondering what I'm talking about, my apologies. Craft beer folks get all bent out of shape about the big guys (often for good reasons), and it's easier just to make clear I know A) Keith's is a "big guy" and B) That I'm going to objectively write about them anyway.

Left Field Brewery Launches

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:56:17 -0500

I mentioned in my Saturday post, but Ontario has hit 100 Craft brewers who are operating, or have at least applied to by licensed to produce beer in Ontario. Possibly, Left Field was the brewery that broke through the triple-digit barrier. My friend Mark Murphy and his wife Mandie have decided to join the craft brewer scene, and have started Left Field. Mark is an experienced brewer, having been part of Niagara College's inaugural brewing program. He was immediately employed by Molson-Coors, and has worked there since. Mandie brings years of experience in the sales and marketing end of alcohol sales in Ontario, working with a variety of brands of wines and spirits. They are both beer lovers and baseball fans, so the concept behind Left Field was an easy call for them.

The Should Have Been Friday, Saturday News Post

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:14:45 -0500

Well, I had the best of intentions, I really did. I had a bunch of great news items and events to post yesterday. Then I didn't. The good news, is I'm doing it now. And it's not too late! So if you're just getting back in from brunch, and wondering what to do with yourself, grab a beverage, your day-timer and get planning! But first, as it's Saturday morning:

Bikes and Dikes and Canals*

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="250"] Not behind the new Longos[/caption]

Well, I kind of went on and on about Amsterdam on New Brew Tuesday. Sort of proposed to their brewer Iain. And maybe you're thinking I'm going overboard or am being dramatic. Well, for one thing, thanks for having faith in me. And for two, go find out for yourself. Amsterdam runs free tours of their new brewery in Leaside every Saturday from 1-5pm, every hour, on the hour. Located at 45 Esander Dr (behind the new Longos), Amsterdam's new digs are well worth visiting.

Brewmance Episode 2: Three's Company

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:52:06 -0500

Well, this one is a crazy one. I don't want to give too much away, but M Night Shamallamadingdong wouldn't have seen this coming. It's me and Mark, taking our adventures to a whole new level, with Eric Ecclestone of Biergotter (and House Ales at Volo). Lagering? Decoction? Various immature puns? No problems!

St Ambroise Erable — McAuslan Brewery

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:46:56 -0500

I don't even know if I can adequately describe in words how much I love maple syrup. When I buy a new bottle (always Ontario), I open it on the spot and take a swig. Ben does this now, too. Be aware, if you are pouring syrup out of a bottle that I bought, it's had my mouth on it. I nearly always buy those little maple sugar candies that the syrup sellers always have on their tables, too. While I love the pursuit of the ideal pancake (and I'm closing in on it), basically as soon as the first bite or two has confirmed the quality of that batch, I really only care about the pancake as a vessel to transport the syrup to my mouth. So, it goes without saying, I'm a fan of maple beers. Much more so than honey beers. They vary in mapliness, but many are delightful. And as the sap runs in the trees, it's time to start drinking them again. First one this year for me, is St Ambroise Erable by McAuslan Brewery

[caption id="attachment_3089" align="aligncenter" width="540"] St Ambroise Erable — McAuslan Brewery[/caption]

Vicar's Vice Old Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:58:20 -0500

At this point, I expect many of my readers to be anxiously awaiting the save-the-date notice for my impending marriage to Amsterdam Brewing's Iain McOustra. I mean, I love the guy. And you're probably getting sick of hearing about it, but it's hard when a dude is equal parts amazing brewer and genuinely awesome person. And when he keeps on making these great beers, I have trouble not fawning. The latest in Amsterdam's Adventure Series is Iain's "Vicar's Vice Old Ale", and it is no exception in the trend. I was able to try it at The Only Cafe's fall beer fest, and was super excited to see it come out as a brewery release. Vicar's Vice is an Old Ale (which, according to Martyn Cornell is historically synonomous with Barley Wine), made entirely with British malts, hops, and yeast. With the coming storm, calling in sick cuddling up with a few of these could well be the best idea you haven't had yet.

[caption id="attachment_3079" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Vicar's Vice Old Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

St Ambroise Pale Ale — McAuslan Brewery

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:53:36 -0500

I was seriously shocked when I checked and discovered I had never actually reviewed McAuslan's St Ambroise Pale Ale. I mean, I drink it frequently, both in bottles and on draught. I often sing it's praises to others, and feel that it is one of the best English-style pale ales available in Ontario, if not the country. So I was super excited when I got a few of their new tall boy cans, and assumed it would just be a nice news notice here. But then there it was: no review. So happily I sat down and put on my serious-beer-guy hat and got into it. Here we go!

25th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout — Great Lakes Brewery

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:13:24 -0500

I like celebrating my birthday for like, at least a week. Between dinners with family, drinks with friends, drinking crazy and rare bottles of beer, and indulging myself, I find I need at least 5 days, though 9 is better. So I love that Great Lakes stretched their 25th anniversary celebration over the span of the year. In addition to anniversary events, they participated in numerous amazing projects, ranging from Volo's Funk Night and Cask Days, to the epic Niambic brew. They also released four anniversary beers, all available at bars as well as the LCBO. Bottled in 750ml bottles, the first three were all spectacular. A Robust Porter, a Belgian-style Saison, and a Black IPA. Great styles which beer geeks love, and which provided some amazing chances for folks picking up singles at the LCBO to try out some new things. And starting today at the brewery retail store (rolling out to bars and LCBOs), the fourth and final release is available: Their Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout. I assume this is a variation on Mike's excellent Dude Where's My Czar (or Stalin's Choice in a past life) Russian Imperial Stout. If so, it should be stellar.

[caption id="attachment_3067" align="aligncenter" width="540"] 25th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout — Great Lakes[/caption]

Snowy Friday

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:48:51 -0500

Yes, it's true, here in Toronto, it's snowing like we're in Canada or something. Shut the place down! The good news is, we still have beer. And in case you don't — despite predictions to the contrary — the world is not over, and places like the LCBO and many breweries are open for business today, so you can sort yourself out. But first, this just feels right, even if it's not December.

Episode #1 — Two men, one paddle — Rye Pale Ale

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:02:15 -0500

Please allow me to introduce myself. Your friend the beer blogger is also now your friend the friend of home brewers. Well, I guess I already was, as I co-hosted a contest for them, but still. This past Christmas, my friend Mark Murphy approached me with an idea for a monthly webcast to include in my podcasts. Mark is a Niagara College-trained brewer who works for Molson-Coors at the Toronto brewery. He also is a regular home brewer, and has co-authored a book with Jordan St John on this very topic (you can buy it by clicking the link on the right). So he proposed we do a video each month on home brewing. The format was pretty basic: get together, brew a beer, video some of the process. I liked the idea, and so we made plans. And here are the results

Bourbon Tasting at Castro's Lounge

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:40:27 -0500

Last full day of tasting in Whiskey Week, and it was a beauty! I only recently came to appreciate well made bourbons. If you, like me, perceived them as sort of one step above moonshine a) you're not alone and b) it's time to reconsider.

So, bourbon then. It is a grain distillate, made from corn (and possibly other grains), and particularly prevalent in the American South, especially Kentucky. There are a few types of American whiskey, including sour mash, blended grain, wheat malt, rye, and, of course, bourbon. Bourbon has interesting rules about it: Each batch has to be aged in brand-new charred oak barrels (many other forms of whiskey are made in bourbon barrels for this reason). It must contain at least 51% corn. It can only be distilled to 80% alcohol, and must be no more than 62.5% when it is racked into the barrel for ageing. It must be bottled at minimum of 40% though higher is quite common. And here's the strange one (to me at least): There is no requirement on ageing. Indeed, there are apparently bourbons sold in the USA that have only been in a barrel for a few months!

Because of the rule about having to use only fresh oak barrels, in the south, and again particularly in Kentucky, the art of the cooper (the barrel maker) is alive and well. Whereas there are (I think) currently three active coopers in Ontario, in Kentucky, you either are a cooper, or know one.

[caption id="attachment_3038" align="aligncenter" width="518"] American Cooperage — From http://FarmGirlFollies.com[/caption]

So, I'm not the only one to take a shine to bourbon recently. Many a bar is now stocking an impressive list, and the LCBO is bringing in a range of expressions for the demanding masses. And you can call me a homer, but I can't think of a better place to sip a glass of bourbon than my local bar, Castro's Lounge. Over the past year, through LCBO purchases and working with importers, Anthony and Stephen have been selling some truly excellent bourbons. I picked a few to try that are fairly easy to find, and spent a lovely afternoon feeling like a southern gent. Check out Castro's at http://www.CastrosLounge.com.

Scotch Day — Drinking at The Feathers

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:50:53 -0500

I know, you've been waiting all week for this. Whiskey week, and nary a mention of that peaty golden drink from Scotland. From the land, no less, of the man who inspired this whole week, and who thousands of people will toast this weekend. Robbie Burns, the personification of all things Scottish. So here it is, today we're talking Scotch whisky. And what a thing to talk about.

Forty Creek Distillery

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:11:48 -0500

Here's a fun fact: Whiskey made in Canada can be called three things, interchangeably. "Canadian Whisky" "Canadian Rye" and "Canadian Rye Whisky" are all acceptable, regardless of how much or little rye there actually is in the product (including when there's none). Seem silly? Here's an even crazier Rye fact: think of any "major" Canadian rye whisky. Guess what? It's not owned by a Canadian company. Even when the word "Canadian" appears in its title. Indeed such is the current state of international spirit sales, that most of the major brands are owned by a few major international companies. Sound familiar? So when I planned this whiskey week, and knew I wanted to cover Canadian whisky, I reached out to a local company, that is Canadian-owned.

Antrim

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:08:28 -0500

Colour me surprised. In yesterday's post, I noted that I had written a poem about the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. It was in a photo caption, in case you missed it. Surprisingly, I've had a few different people ask me to post it. Initially I didn't think I would, but hey, the whole point of whiskey week was to celebrate Robbie Burns, and I can think of little better tribute than sharing a poem — even if it is about Ireland, not Scotland. So, here you go. My only caveat is that I don't think of myself as much of a poet. But I'll let you judge.

[caption id="attachment_2988" align="aligncenter" width="459"] Sheep Island, on Northern Ireland's Antrim Coast[/caption]

Whiskey in the Jar — Irish at The Ceili Cottage

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:20:45 -0500

Rather than trying to convince you that you want to continue reading this post, I'll let The Dubliners do it for me.

Q. Why did God create whiskey?
A. To keep the Irish from taking over the world.

Whiskey Week is Here!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:22:58 -0500

[caption id="attachment_2970" align="alignright" width="240"] Me and Ben (two years ago), ready for some serious Whisky drinking. Well, I am, at least.[/caption]

With Robbie Burns day fast approaching, it's time to focus in on that wonderful spirit, whiskey. While it might seem a bit strange for a beer blogger to cover whiskey, bear in mind

Whiskey is a distillation of alcohol made from various grains, including barley/malted barley, rye/malted rye, wheat and corn. Sound familiar? Whiskey is like hop-less ber that's been distilled.

I really really like whiskey.

So all this week, I'm going to be talking whiskey. Reviews, distilleries, good whiskey bars, etc.

Friday, dust off your boots kids

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:49:46 -0500

Well, it's Friday, and there's stuff happening. And you probably should know about it, so you're not sitting at home, waiting by the phone for a call that's just not coming. Whatever that means.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face

In case you didn't know, the next line is "great chieftain o' the puddin-race!" I just wanted to point it out, because, really, it's just awesome. Yup, it will soon be January 25th, better known as Burns night. When everyone is Scottish and eats organ meat, jammed into a sheep's stomach then boiled. I would seriously suggest seeking out a good Burns Dinner for the actual night of. Poetry, food, whisky and good people. I'll probably put together a list of who's doing what closer to the date, but think about it. I know the crew at Ceili Cottage throw a massive Burns Supper. But there's other stuff happening too.

January 9th Resolutions

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:54:15 -0500

Well, here we go. Last year, I discussed why I dislike the notion of New Year's resolutions, and I've not changed my stripes since then. I succeeded (slightly) in my efforts last year, and felt I would do well to set some goals again this year. And here they are:

Semi-pro

I frequently joke about having a profession that I don't get paid for. Let's change that. Goal numero uno is to publish 5 articles that I get paid for. Either print or digital, I'm not picky. Must be beer-related.

Carmen Sandiego

I'm really digging the Google Hangout podcasts, so I think this goal will be a big one, but manageable: Interview people on all 7 continents. I know, right? Wouldn't that be crazy? Well, I'm feeling a little crazy.

VSPA — Cameron's Brewing Co.

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:45:04 -0500

Well, new year, right? I needed a big beer for the first New Brew Tuesday. Luckily, I took one such bottle to the cottage for New Year's, and remembered to photograph it and make notes and everything. I'm nothing if not professional. I am so glad to kick off 2013 beer reviews with a big old bottle from our friends over at Cameron's. They spent 2012 really kicking things into high-gear, with big new beers, barrel-aged brews and exciting events. Their Rye Pale Ale was a monster, and one of the best beers I had in 2012. In fact, in my review, I called it perfect. So when I was given a few of their barrel-aged bottles, I was pretty excited. The VSPA is a pale ale (might even by the Rye, or a variant therein) aged in a Cognac barrel. For those not in the loop, Cognac and brandy come with identifiers, like XO (Extra Old), SO (Special Old), and VSOP (Very Special Old Pale; seriously), among others. VSPA is a nice homage to that tradition, and an experiment in barrel ageing that I don't think has been done in Ontario before (I welcome corrections), using a Cognac barrel. But for all that, how does it drink?

[caption id="attachment_2935" align="aligncenter" width="540"] VSPA — Cameron's Brewing Co.[/caption]

Review of my January 5th Resolutions

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:36:58 -0500

[caption id="attachment_2927" align="alignright" width="309"] This is where I welcomed 2013. With three dear friends and a roll in the snow.[/caption]

Well, welcome back. I trust everybody had a wonderful holiday season? For myself, I spent a lot of time with ones dear to me, and also drank more than a few excellent beers. I actually hadn't intended to be off blogging for 3 weeks, but there you have it. I'm back, and feeling charged up for the new year.

But first, we have some business to attend to. You might recall, I made some resolutions last year, but not being one to make new year's resolutions, I did it on January 5th. So, 366 days later (actually 368, but I didn't make any last minute progress, don't worry), where am I?

Well, here's the original post: /miscellaneous/january-5th-resolutions/, in short: Check in my 500th unique beer on untappd, travel to three breweries in the USA, start my own home brewing set-up, start podcasting, and publish my 500th post here.

Podcast Thursday — December 20th 2012 — Making Butter Beer

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:42:40 -0500

Because I had such a big response to the butter beer recipe in The Beer Lover's Christmas, I decided for Podcast Thursday, I would make a video of me making it, because it so darn easy (it's magic)! Then I had to wait till Friday to post it, because it took youtube bloody 3 hours to upload it...... Anyway, it's there now, enjoy!

A Beer Lover's Christmas

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:29:39 -0500

I'll make a disclaimer right off: If you don't do the whole Christmas thing (either the secular or spiritual versions), this is a highly adaptable plan. This could be just a heck of a nice day, rather than denoting a love for presents or the birth of your saviour. Okay?

So, I don't know if any of you remember seeing "A Child's Christmas in Wales", but it was a perennial viewing in my house as a kid. I actually don't remember much about it, other than him talking about marzipan. But I think of this post being like that. Whatever that was. I'm sure it was a tutorial on Welsh Christmas (I assume it involved singing, rugby, mining for coal and marzipan).

Okay, here's the skinny on the big day (whatever that day may be). <— Worst intro ever......

Fish-eye P. A. — Kensington Brewing Co.

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:41:31 -0500

In a perfect world, every small neighbourhood would have it's own brewery (or two or three). Historically, beer could only be physically moved a fairly short distance, between freshness (a lack of refrigeration) and the energy required to move a fairly heavy item, it just didn't make sense. So brewing was a domestic activity, and "larger" breweries would only service a very small area. I've actually been knocking around the idea that big cities like Toronto could do with "nano breweries" as I called them (though that term has been co-opted into meaning "very small capacity brewpub", a la Volo/House Ales and Get Well Bar). So we would have a brewery here in The Beach, and it would only really serve in bars between about Greenwood and VP, south of Gerrard. If you wanted a Beach brewery bikini mild, you would come east. All this is to say, I got pretty stoked when I heard about Kensington Brewing Co, as it was very much a neighbourhood brewery. Now, it's true, they actually are served all over the city, and have their Augusta Ale in the LCBO across the province. But still, much of their vibe is community driven. This is their next major release, though I've also had their watermelon weisse (?) and it's going to be a hell of a summer-time brew, if it comes out in full batches.

[caption id="attachment_2894" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Fish-eye P. A. — Kensington Brewing Co.[/caption]

Podcast Thursday December 13th — Snowman Brewing

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 02:45:19 -0500

Joining me tonight for the Podcast, Kevin Snow and Hirsch Goodman from Snowman Brewing, Toronto's fully Gluten Free Beer!

@SnowmanBrewing — https://www.facebook.com/snowmanbrewing

The Best Beer?

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:05:22 -0500

I am not going to write about Westvleteren 12. I am not going to write about how Queen's Quay sold out in 4 minutes, moving 112 six packs at $76 each. I am not going to write about all this, because a lot of other people will. Westvleteren 12 is a great beer, world class, no doubt. I've had it a few times, and have always been impressed. It's a beer that every beer lover should try. But I'm not writing about that.

I often get asked, "What's the best beer you've ever had?" This is an interesting question, as it's not "what's your favourite beer?", a much easier to answer question. I also don't hear this question as being "what's the best-made beer you've ever had?". It's not strictly about the brewer's craft. How does one rate a beer, in terms that can then identify it as "best"? There are numerous judging standards, like the BJCP, which are a great start. Ratebeer.com and BeerAdvocate.com are user-rated beer databases, which rely entirely on (ideally) objective quantitative measures. Is the colour right? What about the aroma? etc. They are generally number-based, and fairly easy to use, if, say, judging a homebrew contest.

[caption id="attachment_2870" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Cask beer at Castro's in my Georgian-vintage pewter mug is at least 78% better than the same beer served in glass anywhere else.[/caption]

Winter Beard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout — Muskoka Brewery

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:54:30 -0500

I remember drinking Muskoka Cream Ale at my family's old cottage outside Bala, in probably 1999-2000. The beer was nice, and I found it so cool that it was made in Bracebridge. Then Muskoka kind of went of my radar. When I got into the craft scene pretty heavy, Muskoka was about to turn over a new leaf. Re-branding all their packaging and products, launching new products like the epic Mad Tom IPA, and generally moving from the middle of the pack to a yellow-jersey contender. Seasonal beers became a focus, and far and away, my favourite was their Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. I'm a fan of stouts, and they were sourcing their cranberries from my old cottaging stomping grounds. In addition to that, it was a damn fine beer. We've had kegs and casks of Winter Beard at Castro's, and every year I get a few bottles around Christmas. The 2012 vintage is out, and I was surprised to see I had never done a proper review of it. So it's on!

[caption id="attachment_2861" align="aligncenter" width="540"] I was considering my own Winter Beard today, but I really like a good shave.[/caption]

Let's call it Monday-Friday

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:01:39 -0500

Well, it's nice to blame missing a post on something other than being sick. Friday slipped by with no post, simply because it's that time of the year when other stuff keeps popping up. But we still have plenty to look forward to in the beer world, so let's get cracking!

Volo

In April 1997, Tiger Woods won his first Major, The Master's, becoming the youngest winner ever. He was tearing through the PGA, hitting longer than most players, winning events and signing huge endorsements. He was the biggest deal in golf, if not sports. So what did he do? He rebuilt his swing. Seriously. Working with swing-coach Butch Harmon, they totally re-worked his swing, giving him even better accuracy and better mechanics to protect him from repetitive strain injuries. This might not sound like a big deal, but changing fundamentals of your swing, even for a pro, is an immensely difficult under-taking, and it doesn't always work out.

Podcast Thursday (kind of)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:20:33 -0500

Okay, I know your sympathy is waning. But for real, this sickness has really effed up some of my better intended plans. So, I've been trying to line-up a podcast with some Brits, but it's proving tricky. Then I thought maybe (last minute) I could secure some local friends to tag-in, but it was too last minute. So, instead of hosting a podcast today, I'll give you a great little 41 minutes of video with far and away the most influential beer writer ever, Michael Jackson.

Beer Lovers Wish List

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:10:14 -0500

Well, it's probably time to think about gift-giving for this holiday season. There is no shortage of excellent beers to give that special beer-loving someone in your life.

[caption id="attachment_1989" align="alignright" width="150"] Lava – Ölvisholt Brugghús Vertical Tasting 2010 and 2011[/caption]

And old favourite is joined by a new favourite this year at the LCBO for the winter beer release. Lava from Ölvisholt Brugghús is back, in all it's smoked glory. I've reviewed it twice, once the first time it hit LCBO shelves, and again last year, in a vertical tasting of the 2010/2011 vintages. This is a magnificent beer. Buy lots, for yourself and loved ones. The new favourite is Howe Sound Pothole Filler Imperial Stout. A huge smokey charred stout with a fistful of hops that punches it's way through the massive stout and leaves a big resinous bitterness that is just divine. It might cause a bit of sticker shock, as it's $11.35/1 litre, but by volume this means it's nearly the same price as Lava. Yes, they're both on the expensive side, but they are both jammed with lots of expensive malts and hops, and they are totally worth it.

Bog Water — Beau's All Natural Brewing

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:30:16 -0500

I'm actually very shocked I don't have a review of this one. Beau's has been making their winter-seasonal, Bog Water, for at least a few years. It's a beer I look forward to each year, and yet, no review. So let's start with the 411: Bog Water is a Gruit, which is a very old style of beer. Before the advent of hops in beer, many other herbs were used to add bitterness. Bog-Myrtle (Myrica Gale) was a common herb of choice in Europe, and actually continued to be used even after hops became widely accepted. Bog Myrtle also happens to grow in Ontario and Quebec, which is where Beau's sourced their wild-grown, hand-picked 250kg of Sweet Gale (as it's also known) for this year's batch of Bog Water. Because of the legal definition of beer in Ontario, there is a single hop pellet in each batch (otherwise it's not "beer" and can't be sold under their license), but this is a non-hopped beer. It's a refreshing difference when there are still many beers that ride to success on 90+IBUs. As with all of Beau's product, Bog Water comes in their distinctive 600ml bottles, with gorgeous branding courtesy their in-house graphic designer — and possessor of a majestic beard — Jordan Bamforth. The name is one part cheek, one part homage to the Alfred Bog, which is about 15 minutes from Beau's Brewery. It's an actual peat bog, which is home to many endangered species in Ontario.

[caption id="attachment_2827" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Bog Water — Beau's All Natural Brewing.
See? Dinosaurs.... Because it's a really old style of beer.....[/caption]

Monday, the Week(s) in Brief (long)

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:46:03 -0500

Oh dear. It's been a while, sorry for that. I'm not sure if this is a cold, or pneumonia, but whatever poxy my adorable son has inflicted upon me is kicking my ass all over the street. My coughing got bad enough over the weekend that I seemed to have done something to my ribs. I think next on the block, this condition will increase my balding by 73% and render me mute. My wife can only dream..... Anyway, what have we missed in the past two weeks? Gladly, not too much. Or a whole lot, depending on your point of view.

I try not to be too political

Unless you follow me on facebook. Then it's open season. But here, I try to keep my posts moderate, with the occasional political jab thrown in. But let's forget that for a paragraph. The Mega-Quarry was stopped! This is huge news. For one thing, it was very likely going to have a very serious impact on water in and around the GTA. As beer is over 90% water, and it's nearly always locally sourced, we should celebrate this. Furthermore, this was a truly grassroots movement, that snowballed, and included involvement from many people directly and indirectly involved in craft brewing. This can become a standard to draw people to other causes. It's rare to see a huge corporation pushed down by a community-driven protest. Congratulations to all involved. Score one for the good guys.

Pauwel Kwak — Brouwery Bosteels

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:01:00 -0500

".....And you'll just need you to leave a shoe at the bar". So you might hear at a bar in Belgium, after being handed a glass of Pauwel Kwak. This is because the beer is traditionally served in a specialty glass, similar in shape to a half-yard, that comes in a little wooden stand (the bottom of the glass is a sphere, so it won't stand on it's own). The glasses are so distinctive, they're known to walk off. So Belgian publicans are known to ask you to leave a shoe as a deposit. The story of the original glasses comes from carriage-drivers, who would stop to change horses, and pop into the local tap room, and have their glass filled. Their coach would have a special holder for the glass within arm's reach of the reigns. Obviously, the distinctive glass became popular, and were adopted as the standard glassware. But is there more to this beer than a hip looking glass?

[caption id="attachment_2790" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Pauwel Kwak — Brouwery Bosteels[/caption]

Community Clean-up a Gala Event

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:07:24 -0500

The Red Carpet is buzzing. Flashbulbs popping, interviewers shouting questions, fans waving signs and asking for autographs; it feels like early September at TIFF. Except this is late November, and the people walking into the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema aren't Hollywood Starlets and Studs, but ordinary people from the community. It's the Fall Clean-up in Harbord Village and the Annex, one of the most innovative community projects in Toronto. Drawing a group of people as mixed as the communities, all are here to pick up litter, enjoy some healthy competition and have a bit of fun at a Hollywood-esque gala.

Harbord vs Annex Clean-up Live Blog

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:39:59 -0500

It's 9:30, I've just walked up the red carpet at the Bloor St Hot Docs Cinema. While later we'll be swarmed in screaming fans and paparazzi, right now the crowd is more reserved. People from neighbouring communities, preparing to go head-to-head in a morning of clean-up, with local pride on the line. I'm hearing jesting of "it's the Nobs vs the S.O.B.'s (North-of-Bloor vs South-of-Bloor). As a Beacher, I guess that makes me an S.O.B. Go team Harbord! I'll be posting throughout the morning, and tweeting at @ChrisSchryer, follow along!

Friday Already? Better Get Ready!

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:21:20 -0500

Oh wow, sorry I dropped off the face of the bloggy world there. I basically spent Monday-Thursday horizontal on the couch. I hate being sick. Worst part, is the total inability to taste anything. Including beer. I made pumpkin pie last night, and was like "Hmmmm, this is, sweet. And possibly has pumpkin in it...." No fun. But hey hey, it's Friday; it's time to party, and I've got the inside scoop!

Pick Up Garbage, Walk The Red Carpet

Tomorrow (Saturday the 24th), the Harbord Village Resident's Association is hosting it's 7th edition of what is possibly the most glamorous community clean-ups. The concept is simple, get a group of hard working volunteers from the community to get together and pick up the detrius of a summer in the city. But rather than just saying thanks, and maybe throwing some hotdogs on the grill, the HVRA adds a lovely twist. This year, volunteers finishing their clean-up will be greeted at The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, where they will be walking up a red carpet and treated like celebrities, as community volunteers really are. There will be a crew of screaming fans and paparazzi on-hand (courtesy the NAGs Players), and then a gala inside, sponsored by — among others — Creemore Springs (which is why I'm involved). The celebrities will have their thirst quenched by beverages from Creemore and The Wine Rack, and their hunger quelled with food from eighteen of the city's finest restaurants.

In addition to all this, there is a competitive element this time around. Last August Neil Stephenson, Director of HVRA Clean-ups met David Harrison, the Chairman of the Annex Resident's Association. As neighbouring neighbourhoods, they debated who's hood was cleaner. So, of course, a bet was struck, and for this edition of the event, the two communities will be competing with each other. Marks will be given both for the number of volunteers, as well as the total amount of garbage collected.

Monday Wrap-up, November 19th 2012 — Gourmet Food and Wine and More

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:01:46 -0500

Wow, I'm stumbling through my facebook timeline trying to figure out what I did last week. It's all a haze, and for once, it has nothing to do with what I drank. I've been popping Buckley's capsules like tic-tacs and losing a battle with a cold fermented in my son's under-developed immune system. So looking back is a bit sketchy. That being said, I still managed a few beer-related things and now you get to hear all about them!

The Big Show

Yup, it's hard to top The Gourmet Food And Wine Expo for sheer numbers. I had decided to head down Thursday night, on the grounds that, being VIP night, it would be less crowded. Wrong. According to the security guard I chatted too, there were 1800 people there. It felt like it might have been more. Also, many/most of them seemed dressed for a VIP night. Suits, fancy blouses/skirts, gowns (?!). I was dressed as I generally am, in torn jeans and a t-shirt. I'm used to beer people; what can I say?

Friday: Having a great time, wish you were beer.

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:54:14 -0500

Ah Friday. Welcome back old friend. For me, Friday means hockey and beers with friends. Not a bad combo. Today, there's a bit more to be done (as you'll see), but for now, this is how I feel:

I wish I could get confetti and balloons to drop from the ceiling of my blog. I also wish I could get The Roots Crew, Stephen Colbert, and The Knick's dancers to do a guest spot. I wish Taylor Hicks would stop emailing me. Anyway, these are my problems, and, after all, it's Friday! Let's party!

Podcast, Thursday November 15th 2012 — Anthony Greene and Ken Simpson

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:32:48 -0500

Today I'm going to sit down with Anthony Greene (my boss at Castro's Lounge) and Ken Simpson, movie-maker and DJ extrodinaire. Anthony and Ken are both film-makers, and also spend a lot of time at Castro's Lounge. They've mixed these two things together in a way that no other bar has done (that I know of, anyways). It's going to be a fascinating conversation, and I hope you can either watch here live at 12pm EST, or check out the video once it's posted.

We're running a bit behind due to technical stuff, so we're starting at 12:30pm EST

Two Things I Love

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:13:11 -0500

Hey, it's wildcard Wednesday. So I thought I would tell you about two things I love in Toronto. One I've known about for years, the other I've just discovered. I would encourage you to check out both things, possibly this weekend. Perhaps one than the other? Could make for a heck of a day/night.

Sauce on Danforth

Seriously, this place just blew my mind. Last night, me and a crew of guys who meet every month and go to a different craft-friendly bar hit up Sauce. A bunch of us knew Johnny, the co-owner (with his girlfriend Michelle) who worked for years at Amsterdam. A larger-than-life guy, who's been around the scene for a long while, Johnny was bound to succeed in opening his own place. But there's succeeding and nailing it. Sauce is just incredible. Decorated as a 20s bordello, it's dark, with lots of red and black. Big chandeliers and chunky-framed artwork on the walls. Big mirrors. Candles. A piano in the corner. A lounge area featuring upholstered chairs and low tables. Both a killer beer selection, as well as well made cocktails (you could probably order a french 77, though you might get punched if you ask for a [cute-name]tini).

Paulaner Hefe-Weizen — Paulaner Brauerei GmbH

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 22:15:33 -0500

Know what goes down like magic on a hot summer's day? A solid wheat beer. Know what goes down like magic on a dreary fall day? A solid wheat beer. Don't believe me? That's crazy talk. While most people look to bright, refreshing citrusy wheat beers in the hot weather, there is no reason not to drink them any time of year, especially with the right food (I'll get to that). And Paulaner Hefe-Weizen is a great wheat beer, available year-round in Toronto. I talked about my love for Paulaner in my post on their Oktoberfestbeir, but in case you forgot, they're an awesome Munich-based brewery. I've actually referenced them a lot recently, as there's been a lot of talk around town, about what constitutes a "craft" brewery. Is Paulaner? I argue that they are, even though they produce a huge amount of beer (over 2 000 000 hectolires/year which is still within the Brewer's Associations definition of craft) and are fairly mainstream in Germany. They make excellent beers, using high-quality ingredients and traditional methods. If that's not craft I don't know what is. Craft beer doesn't just come from young hip brewers, it can come from breweries that are 400 hundred years old too!

[caption id="attachment_2710" align="aligncenter" width="405"] Paulaner Hefe-Weizen — Paulaner Brauerei GmbH[/caption]

BNL Strong Beer — Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:25:26 -0500

*** Update***

On release, this beer was called "BNL Imperial Stout". I've left the name in the title for continuity, but it's the same beer.

I grew up in Scarborough, which probably isn't as bad as you think if you're not from Scarborough too. But the reality is, growing up there, we didn't have a heap of people to look up too. I can't think of any sports figures that I knew of that were Scarboroughites. But we did have The Barenaked Ladies. I can remember while in grade six, we had times of singing as a class, and my teacher was a fan. She had The Yellow Tape, and played a song we all found quite funny, so we took to singing it. That was, of course, If I Had A Million Dollars. Gordon was the second record I ever bought with my own money (the first was, honestly, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. I told you I was from Scarbrough). I dug out my mum's old 3/4 classical guitar and started strumming, because I wanted to be able to play Crazy (I still can't...). We were blown away that, here were these guys, from Scarborough, who went to the same band camp we would go to, who hung out in the same neighbourhoods as us, who went on Speaker's Corner! And they were famous. As I've grown and my understanding of what a hero is — and how they act — has changed, I've continued to me a huge fan of the band, and Ed in particular. So when I saw the news from Barrie, that The Barenaked Ladies were up at Flying Monkeys, making a batch of beer, I seriously considered hopping in the car and heading up the 400. BNL Strong Beer is an Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout, weighing-in at 10% and with a whole lot of cocoa nibs in it. I'm so happy to have gotten this bottle for review!

[caption id="attachment_2695" align="aligncenter" width="540"] BNL Strong Beer — Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery[/caption]

Monday Wrap-up, November 12th 2012, Great Lakes and The Only Cafe

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 22:20:33 -0500

The silicone chip inside her head/ gets flipped to overload.

Hey, how was your weekend? Mine was great thanks. Pretty full, but we'll deal with that in a moment. I know it seems strange, given that November is normally a down month, but my golly, there was a lot going on last week.

Home-brewer of the Year?

Don't know if you heard about this or not, but a home-brewer was just re-elected President of the United States. I predict Obama will celebrate by brewing an APA called "Magic Underpants Pale". It will be 6%, feature Liberty hops, and have a picture of a newlywed gay couple lighting a joint on the label. You heard it first here.

On Boobs and Beer

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:31:24 -0500

No, this isn't a breast cancer awareness event or fundraiser. It's something completely different. I get emails from public relations companies all the time. Generally for medium to large breweries announcing a new product or event, but there are exceptions to that. Yesterday I got a message about a bar opening in Toronto. It doesn't really matter what bar it is, as it raises a concern that exists in a variety of bars. In fact, the problem isn't even black and white, there's definitely a variety of shades of grey. Of course, the company was looking for some coverage, which is a big part of what I do. Normally I would have just sent a quick "No thanks" email to be polite and left it at that, but for some reason, yesterday was different. I'm not sure if it was because it was my 9th wedding anniversary, and my wife continually impresses me and brings me joy, or possibly having a daughter now, I'm thinking about my actions as a man, particularly relating to how they relate to girls and young women who are growing up in a messed up world. Whatever it is, I started typing and the next thing I knew, I had a blog post. So here's what my problem is, and what I wish for in the world (among a lot of other stuff). I've redacted the name of the bar, as I really don't think this problem is specific to them:

Thanks for the note. While I appreciate you taking the time to write me, using women's bodies to sell alcohol is probably the thing I hate most about the broader beer culture in the western world. As this is foundational to [The Bar]'s business plan, I would hardly be able to avoid editorializing on my feelings about this, and I don't think this would be at all helpful to your marketing campaign.

Podcast, Thursday November 8th 2012 — Great Lakes Brewery

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:22:30 -0500

Here is my interview with Peter Bulut, Troy Burch and Mike Lackey from Great Lakes. We talk about Great Lakes history, their 25th anniversary, their 25th anniversary Imperial Black IPA, Project X tonight (November 8th 2012, 6:30 PM) at WVRST Beerhall, and a variety of other topics that just happened to come up. Sorry about the crying baby during Peter's talk about collaborations. I have a baby. She cries sometimes.

Lions Winter Ale — Granville Island Brewing

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:28:33 -0500

Bloody hell it's cold out there. I know we're still north of 0*C in Toronto, so it's only going to get colder, but the morning walk with the Beagle down to the beach was a frosty one. And while I'm the first person to defend drinking any style of beer, any time of the year, there is no doubt certain styles appeal more to people during certain seasons. Come winter, people are looking for warm roasted malt flavours, sometimes spices, dark jammy fruits and even spirit-like qualities. Granville Island has kept west-coasters satiated and happy through winter for years, serving up their Lions Winter Ale. With the distribution channels of Creemore Springs Brewing supporting them, it's no surprise to see this classic will be available in Ontario this winter.

[caption id="attachment_2659" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Lions Winter Ale — Granville Island Brewing[/caption]

Rickard's Oakhouse Winter Lager — Molson-Coors

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:38:47 -0500

Well, I'm getting closer to caught up on the review front (so so close!). This one is actually timely! Rickard's is obviously committed to doing a rotating seasonal beer; Cardigan was the fall seasonal, and now we have Oakhouse, their winter lager. Now, as you might know, oak-aged beers are becoming a kind of big deal. From sours that are barrel-aged for years, to home brewers using various forms of oak (from cut barrel staves to BBQ smoking chips to carpenter's off-cuts). To be honest, though, I was surprised that Rickard's decided to use oak in their winter seasonal. Innis & Gunn has proved to be successful, both in bottle and on tap, though, and I know these guys keep their ears close to the ground. Let's see how it goes.

[caption id="attachment_2653" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Rickard's Oakhouse Winter Lager — Molson-Coors[/caption]

Rickard's Cardigan Premium Spiced Lager — Molson-Coors

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:22:26 -0500

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 manner, I totally dropped the ball on this one. So I'm sorry; better late than never, as they say. Cardigan is Rickard's fall seasonal beer, and if the signs up around town told me anything, it was that they were serious about getting people to try new things. It's a spiced lager, which certainly could act as a great gateway for people who are very loyal to one beer brand. Obviously, spiced beers gain in popularity as the weather turns colder, but the recipe being a lager will (I assume) keep this accessible to most drinkers. Wrap yourself up in a warm cardigan, and let's give this a try!

[caption id="attachment_2647" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Cardigan Premium Lager — Rickard's[/caption]

Hops and Bolts IPL — Mad and Noisy Brewing (Creemore Springs)

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:23:31 -0500

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 two sides to this story (there's actually hundreds, but I've got to draw a line somewhere). On the one side, you have people who say that craft is about what's in the glass, and little else. On the other, it's about who is signing the cheques and selling the beer, regardless of what's in it. To lesser extent, some people also consider volume production part of the equation. The Brewer's Association in the USA set the definition of craft beer using all three elements: quality, ownership and volume. Sigh. It's complicated. Six Pints Brewing was started and is owned by Molson-Coors. Their beer is excellent, their volume well under 3 000 000 barrels (the measure set out by BA), but they are wholly owned by a non-craft brewery. Craft? Some say yes, others no. How about Creemore? Quality product, small volume production (relatively), but again, owned by M-C, though they were originally independent. Nothing has changed in the beer, since they were bought (unless you ask the "I used to like U2, before they sold-out" types). So do they lose their craft-card just because of who backs them? Even more sticky: Mad & Noisy. If you haven't heard of Mad & Noisy, let me briefly fill you in: despite how you might feel about their products, most of the people brewing your big-brand beer (and indeed, your "medium" like Creemore, Mill Street, etc) are excellent, passionate brewers. They are not simply assembly line workers. And while they take pride in producing a consistent product to spec, they do like to play around, when they can. Recognizing this, Creemore set up the Mad & Noisy label, which is essentially an experimental brewing program. If you've read me gushing about Iain McOustra or Mike Lackey brewing on their respective pilot systems, this is along the same idea, although the size of their pilot batches are proportionally larger than Amsterdam's or Great Lakes'. I would assume if you were in the against camp on Six Pints and Creemore, you will still be for Mad & Noisy, but we're moving even closer to what is often idealized as "Craft". Innovation, quality ingredients, traditional preparation, small volume, etc. Like I said, it's sticky. Regardless of what you think of the politics involved, I would strongly suggest you give Hops and Bolts a taste. Spoiler alert: It's really good!

Altbier — Creemore Springs Brewery

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:37:08 -0500

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 brewing in Ontario, 25 is a big deal. Rightly so, Creemore Springs celebrated in style. How, you might ask? They brewed an ale. For the first time. Crazy, right? Many people actually don't realize that all the styles of beer Creemore makes ("Premium" which is an amber lager, Pilsner, Ur Bock and Kellerbier) are all lagers, made with bottom-fermenting yeast, and then aged ("Lager" is literally the verb in German "to age"). Now, not wanting to go too crazy (I'm assuming), they stuck, not only with German styles, but also with actual lagering. I know, confusing. I'll try to clarify. They decided to make an Altbier. Altbier is a style not familiar to most folks here in Ontario (indeed, the only two other examples I can think of are Beau's Festivale and Sawdust City Ol' Woody Alt). These are beers made with top-fermenting (ale) yeasts. However, they are specialized yeasts, which optimally ferment at lower temperatures and for longer times than their "normal" cousins. The beers made with them are then aged in tanks, for 6-8 weeks on average (like any "regular" lager), which takes a beer that is already quite low on fermenting by-products, and gets rid of pretty much any that made it in. The result is a rich beer, similar in some ways to a brown ale, but with a very clean crisp taste, and very little lingering aftertaste. The capitol of Altbier is Dusseldorf, in the northern part of Germany. And in Dusseldorf, there are nine breweries (well, brewpubs, really) that make Altbier. Each one has it's own signature beer, and while the beers may appear to taste roughly the same, they are all quite different beasts. This is due mainly to each brewery using it's own, very specific, highly prized, yeast strain. To learn the in's and out's of Altbier brewing, Creemore sent their Brewmaster and Head-Brewer to work with the brewers at Zum Schlüssel, one of the original four makers of Altbier. Not only did they learn from some of the finest, but in an act of huge respect and camaraderie, Zum Schlüssel sent them home with samples of their own yeast to use in their brew. This might seem insignificant to the uninitiated, but if you're thinking "big deal", trust me, this is a HUGE deal. So let's see what intensive training, a highly protected yeast, and 25 years does in the effort to make your first ale.

[caption id="attachment_2634" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Altbier — Creemore Springs Brewery[/caption]

Mongozo Premium Pilsner — Gluten Free, Oraganic and Fair-trade

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:37:10 -0500

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 future, the old guard of Nickel Brook, New Grist and La Messnegere have been joined by Brewers Sans Gluten from Quebec, who notably won every gluten free prize this year at the Canadian Brewing Awards, and those of us who get press releases know that there are a few more in the hopper, coming to the Ontario market soon. Mongozo is an interesting one. Not made with alternate grains, it's brewed with malted barley, then processed to have the gluten removed. I don't really know how that works, but every bottle contains less than 10ppm (parts per million) of gluten. It's billed as being gluten free, organic and fair-trade. At first, two of those made sense, but the fair trade made me scratch my head. Lots of the world's brewing grain is actually grown in Canada, though it is grown in Europe, the USA and other places as well. And I suppose, it might be getting sourced from African or Asian communities, where being fair-trade makes good sense. I can't imagine spending the money to prove that Canadian farmers were adequately compensated for their efforts.....

[caption id="attachment_2625" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Mongozo Premium Pilsner — Gluten Free, Organic and Fair-Trade[/caption]

Oktoberfestbier — Hofbräuhaus

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:26:56 -0500

"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 have been the royal brewer, or the "Court's Brewery". But for most people, in Germany and abroad, Hofbräu means one thing: Hofbräuhaus, the Munich-based brewery that hosted the largest tent at Oktoberfest for many years (Hofbräuhaus Festzelt; now second only to Winzerer Fähndl by Paulaner, but you knew that, right?). Still technically a brewpub (or brauhaus/beer hall) it is one of Munich's oldest beer halls (1589 was when Wilhelm V of Bavaria decided to start his own brewery, and it's been a state asset since), and fittingly has a long (sometimes sketchy) story. It was the inspiration of a drinking song that roughly translates to "One, Two, Drink!" ("oans, zwoa, g'suffa"), and was also a haunt to such luminaries as Mozart, Vladimir Lenin, John F. Kennedy, Thomas Wolfe, Louis Armstrong, Mikhail Gorbachev, and many others. Hofbräuhaus also was (unfortunately) a Nazi hangout before WW2, and in 1923 was the location of the "Beer Hall Putsch", when Hitler tried (unsuccessfully) to lead an uprising and take authority of Munich/Bavaria (Funny enough, Hitler, who didn't drink, smoke or eat red meat, knew that to reach people, he had to take control via a pub. Not exactly a pleasant story, but interesting to note that even a teetotaler could identify the community value of a bar). Through all this, Hofbräuhauser beers have been in demand beyond just Munich, particularly after the end of WW2, when allied forces fell in love with the brews. While their recent growth has been large, the format of beer hall hasn't changed too much, and now you can find Hofbräuhaus halls throughout the USA, in other parts of Europe, Australia and even Asia. The LCBO brought in Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfestbier for the fall release, and to say I was happy would be an understatement.

[caption id="attachment_2601" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Oktoberfestbier — Hofbräuhaus[/caption]

Munich Gold — Hacker-Pschorr Brau GmbH

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:16:22 -0500

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 Bavaria, this could easily just mean a pils, but in Bavaria, it means a very specific style. A golden lager, that is bright and clear, less hoppy than a pils, lighter in colour and weight than a marzen, and less juicy than a weisse beer. Many Bavarians consider this the ultimate hot-weather beer for patios (gardens, as they call them). Regardless, I've got this in my heap o' fall beers to review, and I'm cool with that. It's a hell of a nice helles.

[caption id="attachment_2597" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Munich Gold — Hacker Pschorr Brau GmbH[/caption]

3 Minutes To Midnight (Hellwoods on Sour Cherries) — Bellwoods Brewery

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:44:03 -0500

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 instant, and go get some. Seriously. Consistently phenomenal beers, creative, exciting, stellar. While Bellwoods' main production is for service in the brewpub and for sale at their retail store, some kegs make it out, and the rare old cask (we've had two at Castro's Lounge, and that's a lot). We scored this beauty last week, as it was the twin of a cask they prepared for Cask Days. It's their amazing Hellwoods Imperial Stout, aged on sour cherries. And yes, that's as incredible as it sounds. They decided to Christen it "3 Minutes to Midnight", as we were commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. A perfect name for a perfect beer.

[caption id="attachment_2614" align="aligncenter" width="540"] 3 Minutes to Midnight (Hellwoods Imperial Stout on Sour Cherries) — Bellwoods Brewery[/caption]

DeuS (Brut des Flanders) — Bosteels Brewery

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:07:40 -0500

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 Microcarbonation^tm came along, those wacky Belgians already had a corner on the market. You see, whenever people talk about small bubbles in carbonation, they generally refer to "Champagne-like bubbles", and Champagne does indeed, have very fine bright bubbles that somehow manage to be both active and smooth. But if you know anything about Champagne, you know that, like "Trappist", "Cognac", etc, they are immensely protective of the name "Champagne". Ever had a Champagne from Canada? No you haven't, and if the label said it was, they were damn liars. It's not even good enough that a sparkling wine come from France, or even specifically from the region Champagne. No, to be called Champagne, it must be made with grapes grown on specific plots within the appellation in the Champagne region, then produced using a secondary bottle-fermentation as per rules set out by the appellation, again, all while in the region of Champagne.

So why the mini history lesson? Well, nobody for a moment, would suggest something made with grains like malted barley was even wine, let alone Champagne. However, DeuS (Latin for "God") is known as a Bière de Champagne. It undergoes it's secondary fermentation in Épernay in Champagne, France, and is then cellared for 9 months, just like it's vinous older cousin. The process is good enough to use the name Champagne. Pretend you can hear the distinctive "POP" of the proper Champagne cork exiting the neck of the bottle, and let's get on this.

[caption id="attachment_2603" align="aligncenter" width="540"] DeuS (Brut des Flanders) — Bosteels Brewery[/caption]

Oktoberfest Bier — Paulaner Brauerei

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:58:51 -0500

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 getting caught back up now. That being said, many of these beers are still available, and are excellent brews for cooler fall days. This one is a favourite of mine, and I was a bit surprised to realize I haven't reviewed it before. One of the Munich breweries that has a tent at Oktoberfest, Paulaner is called a "sister brewery" to Hacker-Pschorr. If I recall from meeting Martin Zuber, brewmaster at Hacker-Pschorr, I believe they share facilities. Two of my favourite German brewers; I think a visit should be on my 5-year plan list.

[caption id="attachment_2591" align="aligncenter" width="540"] According to the information on the back of the can (and there's plenty of space for it), this contains 4.8 standard drinks. That means it's nearly "binge drinking" in one can, as defined by Health Canada.....[/caption]

A Brief Update

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:21:07 -0500

Hello everybody. Between Cask Days and Hurricane Apocalyptico, I do hope everybody is okay. I just wanted to take a moment to address a few house-keeping things:

1. Hey, thanks for reading. Of late, I've been amazed by the engagement of people here. I'm getting lots of positive feedback, and it really means a lot to me. I do enjoy just the act of writing here, but it is extra nice knowing there are people enjoying reading it all.

The Obligatory Cask Days Guide Post

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:45:13 -0500

Well, the largest cask beer festival in North America starts tomorrow, and I'm hoping you're planning on attending. Whether you're a first-timer or a veteran, a good bit of fore-thought and planning is necessary. Now, there are currently three excellent guides available, by Mike Warner, Chris Grimley and Cask Days itself. This guide has already supplanted all three as the standard repository of all Cask Days knowledge and wisdom, for though it has many omissions and contains much that is apocryphal, or at least wildly inaccurate, it scores over the older, more pedestrian works in two important respects. First, it is slightly cheaper; and second, it has the words "DON'T PANIC" inscribed in large friendly letters on its cover.

The Case For Cask

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:30:29 -0500

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] A young woman serves a pint of cask ale[/caption]

*** This post lead to a re-connection with The Bell, and their story has taken an interesting turn: they have just successfully funded a community buy-out! Exciting times, and you can read more about it here: http://www.bellcommunity.org.uk/ ***

In June of 2000, my girlfriend (now wife) and I staggered through the streets of Bath, making our way from the bus terminal to the YMCA hostel. It was dark, and nobody seemed to be around. Erika had mis-stepped off a curb leaving London, and had sustained a fairly moderately sprained ankle. To try and help out, I was carrying my own pack and the day pack, as well as heavier items from hers. As new backpackers, we had totally over-packed and were breaking under the excess weight. Upon arriving, we faced yet another roadblock: the elderly church woman volunteering at reception didn't want to let us share a room, as we weren't married. Seriously. In Britain, YMCA still very much stands for Young Men's CHRISTIAN Association. We were rescued by a young chaplain who stepped in, checked us in, then lead us to our room (making apologies along the way). Exhausted and starving hungry, likely with pathetically pleading eyes, I asked the young vicar if there was anywhere nearby to get a sandwich, and (in tentative tones), a pint? He smiled and instructed me to turn left as we headed out the front door, rather than right, which would have lead towards the centre of town. He said two blocks away was a bar called The Bell, and the best takeaway in town was across the street from it. They would have beer, munchies and a live jazz band. We could get food across the street and bring it in if we liked. He said tourists rarely went there, as it was just a plain old pub. We thanked him, dragged ourselves the two blocks and walked into a fairly modest pub. Nothing flashy, just a friendly inviting place. I was confronted by six tall black handles mounted to the bar¹. Tall swan-neck spouts. A chalk board listing "Draught" from six breweries I had never heard of (I was still cutting my teeth on Steam Whistle and Mill St back then). The most expensive pint was £2.85; less than $5 Canadian. Based on my experiences of the past 8 hours, I decided to start with the cheapest and work my way up, until I had tried all six. I watched with interest as the barmaid worked what I realized was a hand-pump. I had some vague notions about these being used in Britain, but I had no idea what cask ale was, or that it was any different than draft. I knew the old stories about Brits liking their beer flat and warm, and I was curious what I was about to get.

What I wasn't expecting was a legitimate paradigm shift.

Oktoberfest at Beau's All Natural Brewing, Vankleek Hill

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 18:27:50 -0500

In writing 101 or whatever school-related cliche you prefer, you learn to hook your reader in the first sentence, by introducing your topic and piquing their curiosity. I'm not going to do that (obviously, at this point). I could put together something about "the best Oktoberfest outside Munich" etc, but I think, instead, I'll let the master hook you. Ladies and Gentlemen, Walter Ostenak:

Amsterdam's New Brewery(ies)

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:56:01 -0500

Even from a brewer (some of whom rise really really early), a 9am phone call from Iain McOustra raised my eyebrows. "I'm going to the space where the brewpub will be. You can come check it out, if you want, but no pictures; it's not ready yet." I had been planning on heading up to Leaside after breakfast on Wednesday, to meet with Jamie Mistry, Brewmaster at Amsterdam, for a tour of the new brewery. But Iain, head brewer and maestro of their pilot system, made me an offer I couldn't refuse. The news that Amsterdam would be opening a brewpub again was huge news around the brewing culture in Toronto. That it was going to be in Harbourfront was even better news. But, to be honest, I had no visualization of where they were going. "Next to the Radisson" was all I had to go on. I rarely get further west on the waterfront than the ferry docks; the Radisson could be in Etobicoke for all I knew.

So I kissed the wife and kids goodbye, told them not to hold lunch, and hopped in the car.

Tempest Imperial Stout — Whiskey Barrel Aged — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 21:16:43 -0500

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 experimenting with barrels of various types, and the impact they have on beer. Amsterdam is leading that charge, with a barrel program like no other in the province. With whiskey, as well as both red and white wine barrels, they currently have hundreds of litres of beer aging slowly, including the massive collaboration, Niabic, which they brewed with Great Lakes, Sawdust City and Indie Ale House (fair enough, that beer is actually aging at Great Lakes, who aren't too shabby with the barrels either). You might have read about that one in the Toronto Star. Anyways, big boozy beers stand up really well to spending months in oak barrels. And Imperial Stouts, with their charred smokey goodness take on the charred malty qualities of oak barrels like an NBA rookie to a Mercedes-Benz. See where I'm going? It was pretty obvious that Iain was going to take some of his beloved Tempest, and age it in whiskey barrels. In this case, some old Jack Daniels barrels. Here we go!

[caption id="attachment_2528" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Tempest Imperial Stout — Whiskey Barrel Aged — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Tempest Imperial Stout 2011/2012 — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:58:43 -0500

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 (with pictures of the new brewery, and words about the new brewpub; basically no work has been done there, so there's not much too see). I had already been planning on doing a vertical tasting of two year's worth of Tempest Imperial Stout, knowing a little something that I wasn't able to talk about, but then, low and behold, as I was working on the photos for the post, in came the press release from Blake at Amsterdam, so I'm able to say: Starting next week (!) and for a limited time, Tempest will be available at the LCBO. In hand-waxed bottles to boot!

So Tempest, then. An amazing American-style Imperial Stout, initially brewed by Iain on Amsterdam's pilot system, it's popularity was immediate and well deserved. Now in it's third year, there are barrel-aged versions as well as the standard. Huge sweet malts balanced with huge juicy hops make this one of the most complex beers that will be available at the LCBO. It is also proof that having a brewer committed to experimenting is a wise investment. Boneshaker and Tempest are both beers that have become hugely popular brews, and both of which were born just playing around. I am lucky enough to currently be holding a bottle of this year's version, as well as last year's (in all it's hand-waxed glory; I'm fairly certain the retail version won't have the incredible drippings, but they all have a hand-spun swirl on the top, warning you of the hurricane under the cap).

[caption id="attachment_2517" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Tempest Imperial Stout — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Calm Before The Storm — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:48:07 -0500

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 pause for a second, and think back over some really incredible times I had in that space, from brewing my first beer, to Katy Brown's movember party, to various product launches and just popping by (like today) to hang out, borrow stuff, drink beer and visit with friends. That being said, tomorrow I'll be heading up to Leaside to continue the tradition in the new digs; so here's to the future!

Today I'm reviewing their Calm Before The Storm Mild. Two quick theory lessons for you then: Mild is a style not as many here in Ontario are as familiar with as they ought to be. Milds are generally very dark beers, that are quite low in alcohol (below 4% abv, Calm Before The Storm is only 3.2%). When people tell tales of British men going to the pub after work, and downing three or four pints of beer before going home for dinner, the reason they were able to do this without being completely inebriated, was they were drinking milds or bitters. Lesson one complete, here comes number two: When British brewers got into making big boozy imperial stouts to send abroad (particularly Russia) they had a problem: When you mash your grains (basically steeping them in hot water to convert the starches to sugars, and extract the sugar into the wort), there was such a huge volume of grain and they needed to have such a high proportion of sugar, that they couldn't actually extract all the sugars without using too much water. So after their first runnings of wort, they would be left with grain that still had some sugars left in it. Thrifty folks as brewers are, they wouldn't let that go to waste, so they would do a second running of water through the grains, to extract the rest of the sugars, and would get a wort that was about the right gravity (sweetness) to make a mild.

That is exactly what Calm Before The Storm is, a mild made with the second runnings of Tempest, the big badass Imperial Stout Amsterdam started making two years ago. So not only is it a wonderful beer, but it is also one of those very cool, highly sustainable practices from brewing, that existed long before sustainability became a cool thing.

[caption id="attachment_2511" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Calm Before The Storm Mild — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Sleeping Giant — Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:43:24 -0500

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 until that space would become a condo (blah), and indeed, that is what is finally happening. While I'm sad to see them go, and extra sad they didn't end up in the East Portlands, which would have put them about a 10 minute bike ride from my front door, Leaside has gained a most excellent business partner, and Amsterdam has found themselves a good stable home in a growing neighbourhood. To make things even better, Amsterdam is returning to their roots and opening a brewpub on Queen's Quay. To say I'm a little excited is an understatement.

So, to kick things off, I've got a lovely bottle of barrel-aged barley wine made as a collaboration between Eric Ecclestone of Biergotter and Iain at Amsterdam on their pilot system, and aged in their barrel-aging program. It's a perfect example of the direction Amsterdam is heading in. In the past few years, they've invested in a really beautiful pilot brewhouse, and in dozens of barrels, ranging from bourbon and whiskey, to red and white wine. They have been pursuing various collaborations, and are fast becoming one of the most innovative breweries in the city.

[caption id="attachment_2506" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Sleeping Giant Barley Wine — Amsterdam Brewing Co.[/caption]

Chris and Fred's Beer Pageant — Wrap-up

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:26:46 -0500

Well, the first annual Beer Pageant is in the books. After what seems like months of preparations and drinking, it all came down to last Friday night. With a last minute change of venue, and scrambling for judges, we managed to pull it all off. Before we get to the bottom line, allow me to re-cap and fill in some details:

"Fearless" Fred Kennedy and decided to run a home-brew contest via our beer break on the Edge. All non-professional brewers were welcome to submit a beer for our highly untrained criticism, and the shot to be in the final (aka, judged by legit people). The winner would get to talk about their beer and home-brewing on our break. We had an immensely good time judging the beers head to head, even involving some celebrity judges in the form of The Pack A.D. In every case, the beers we had were at least decent, and some were really great. Our gold standard was that if we had paid for any of the beers, we wouldn't have been disappointed. But, like life and the playground, some people have to be winners, and we chose our five to make the final.

Iron Brewer 2012

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:15:56 -0500

Quick, you have a bag, and in it there are 3 types of base malts, 8 specialty malts, 6 types of hops, 5 types of yeast, and 4 "specialty" items. What kind of beer are you going to make? Utilize the smoked wheat flakes and make a creamy rauchbeir? Use the ginger and lemon peel for a saison? Oh and just one more thing: there are 14 other professional brewers with the exact same ingredients, all trying their best to win a yearly brewing competition, The Iron Brewer.

A competition like no other in Ontario, The Iron Brewer is organized by the Master Brewers Association of Canada. Coordinated by brewer-about-town Paul Dickey, Iron Brewer brings together some of the best brewers in the province, and pits them against each other. The format is simple, a group of 15 brewers (which are winners of a lottery system, as there are always a heap more who want to participate) are all given an identical package of potential ingredients. They have to make a batch of beer using only ingredients from the package. They don't have to use them all, but they cannot add to them. What this means is, you see a hot ingredient pop up a lot, this year it seemed like a sexy idea to use the Oak-smoked wheat malt. Which I was happy with.

Brewer's Video Round Table — Toronto Beer Week

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:53:15 -0500

So I must say, I really had a wonderful time doing this. Mike, Iain and Sam were excellent guests, and I was so happy to have them hang out and talk beer. If you missed the webcast, or just want to watch it again, the full video is posted below. Thanks to everybody who tuned in and asked questions. Not to show my hand too much, but watch for an announcement soon, about a weekly webcast. It's going to happen....

If this is giving you problems, watch right at YouTube.com here: http://youtu.be/0JONT8XoXTk

The Original Announcement

Well, for the first time, I'm organizing my own Toronto Beer Week event. I've helped organize others, mostly at Castro's, but this is a straight-up Toronto Beer Blog event, and it's thusly: I'm going to be sitting down with three of Toronto's best brewers, via Google Hangouts, and talking beer.

[caption id="attachment_1976" align="alignleft" width="156"] That's Mike Lackey, and that's his beard.[/caption]

Joining me world wide, via the web, will be Mike Lackey from Great Lakes Brewery, Iain McOustra from Amsterdam Brewing Co., and Sam Corbeil from Sawdust City Brewing. We will be discussing anything and everything, from brewing stories, to trends they're following, to home brewing, to whatever. You can watch us live via Google hangouts, anywhere you have access to YouTube.com. At home, at work, or while driving (Rob Ford, I know you're reading this, possibly while driving). Alternatively, you can watch the discussion later, as it will be archived on YouTube.com for the ages.

I was inspired to give this a go, after watching Wil Wheaton host the same idea with Sam From Dogfish Head and Greg from Stone Brewing. While I'm not as cool as Wil, I would say that Mike, Iain and Sam will be equally interesting and humorous guests. You can check out the original here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjObDDenXbY

Toronto Beer Blog Podcasts

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:39:44 -0500

Well, it's official. I'm actually trying to start out my weekly podcasts! If you remember from my January 5th resolutions, I resolved to start a podcast. I do a weekly bit on the Edge with Fearless Fred, which I love and is great, but has some structural limitations. I can't really rant on and on, and basically people have to come into the studio to talk. Using Google Hangouts, I am able to reach out to anybody, anywhere, as long as they have a webcam and an internet connection. I'm also able to talk about anything and let the conversation go where ever it may. So if you're interested in beer, watch here, or better, subscribe to the podcast once it is live (apparently it takes iTunes a while to archive it). There will be both a video feed, and an audio file. And thanks for following along!

Toronto Beer Week — A Survival Guide

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 22:02:02 -0500

While most people look at Toronto Beer Week as a pleasant way to indulge in some of the best beer this city has to offer, this is, perhaps, a somewhat naive view. You see, with 10 days filled with more events than you can shake a yard-glass at, it takes tough mettle to endure the best of Toronto's beer culture. The best way to raise your odds of coming out the other side of this in one piece, is preparedness. Like the British SAS say: Prepare for the worst; expect the best. Here is your survival guide.

Strategy

Knowing where you're going and when is of the utmost importance. Thankfully, Toronto Beer Week has a Google map of the participants. You can find it here: http://torontobeerweek.com/2012-barbrewpub-map/. Grab your old mobile device, check that out, and import it into your own map app. Now you've got all the participants in your hand. Add to that your calendar, and you're set. I know this sounds like overkill, but if you're doing a 3-event night, you might just find yourself in need of a reminder where you're heading next..... Check the full listing of events at http://torontobeerweek.com/calendar/ to decide where you're going. Also, Mike Warner has put together a post on his picks for Toronto Beer Week, which is well worth checking out: http://ayearofbeer.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/toronto-beer-week-2012-preview/. I'll be sporadically mentioning events too.

Stuff You Need To Know Today, September 12, 2012

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 20:32:44 -0500

Oh my golly, it's been a busy few weeks, and there's more than a few coming down the pipe. I've been doing heaps of non-beer-related stuff, which is wonderful, but not necessarily great writing on the old blog (though, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the 28 litres of tomato sauce I finished canning this morning at 5:30 after a beer and Star Trek laced all-nighter). But let's leave all that for now, and sharpen our focus. Beer.

Kind Of Obvious

The Epic Toronto Beer Week starts this Friday, and it's, well, epic. There are a whole heap of events, and you will need a day-timer and something cold to satiate you while you make your plans. You can check them all at http://www.TorontoBeerWeek.com. I will put together a TBW2012 survival guide tomorrow, but for now, there are two things going down you absolutely must know about:

LCBO Fall Release/Shipyard Feature/Halloween Specialty Line-up

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:59:27 -0500

It's one of the harder parts of running a beer blog: heading down to sensory evaluation room B at the LCBO offices, to sample the specialty beer releases. All those beers, in pristine glassware, with sinks for rinsing and natural light on white walls. While a couch or two would make it perfect, it's still not a bad way to spend a Wednesday lunch-time. Today was a big day, as there were three beer program releases on sample, the Fall Seasonal, the Shipyard Brewing Brewery Feature, and the Halloween Seasonal. Read this as about 26 different beers. I decided to not actually sample them all, but only check out ones I hadn't had in past releases. And rather than giving you reams of brief tasting notes, I'll just give you some good advice for each group. As and aside, the fall release will roll out September 17th, as will the Shipyard Feature. The Halloween beers normally turn up around the end of September, early October. Be quick, some of these brands will move fast!

Fall Seasonal Release

If you haven't had Pauwek Kwak or Tripel Karmeliet from Bosteels Brewery, now is your chance. Easily worth the $3.50/bottle, though the Kwak won't be quite right if you don't happen to have one of their unique glasses (complete with stand). The Weihenstephaner Dunkel Weisse, while not super rare, is an incredible beer, and one we should buy lots of to encourage getting it a regular listing. Box Steam Funnel Blower is back, and if you didn't get some last time it was here, don't make the same mistake twice. We have access to another St. Peter's beer, this time their The Saints Whisky Beer, which shows a heap of peat smoke, yet is still quite drinkable. If you're a fan of whisky as well as beer, do get some. Koningshoeven have their La Trappe St. Isid'Or Belgian Pale Ale which was quite an interesting ale, with big yeasty spices and nice fragrant hops. Top picks for me were Rennaissance Craftsman Oatmeal Chocolate Stout from New Zealand, Southern Tier Mokah (coffee chocolate stout) and Ayinger Celebrator (killer doppelbock). Just buy these, trust me. Meantime porter will be in too, but it wasn't ready for the tasting today. I've had it in the past, and it's something you'll want to get more than a few bottles of. Oh and Garrison Imperial Ale is back. You probably shouldn't buy any (until I've picked up a few cases....)

Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It — Church-Key Brewing

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 21:30:28 -0500

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 cottage. Sure, you could take the 401 to Napanee, then head north to the cottage, but then you would miss the Tyrone Mill (locally produced milled products from flour to cider to cedar tongue and groove, as well as preserves and honey, and best of all, fresh fried apple fritters), The Madoc Dairy (Southern-style fried chicken, battered wedge fries, and rich milkshakes; also dairy products like butter, butter milk, etc), the variety of fruit/vegetable stands (everything from wild blueberries to maple syrup to corn to tomatoes to potatoes and more), and best of all, Church-Key Brewing. It is a rare event (usually caused by making the trip late in the day) that I don't stop at Church-Key on our way up. This was the first brewery we took Ben to, when he was about 2 months old. We served 3 cases of their Holy Smoke scotch ale at our wedding rehearsal party. Their cranberry-maple-wheat beer nearly brings tears to my eyes. It goes without saying, I'm a fan. In addition to a respectable line-up of regular beers, they also produce a series of one-off beers that are experimental, or just Jon the owner/brewer having fun. These range from sours, to imperial IPAs, to a Biere de Garde, and beyond. When we were heading up to the cottage a few weekends ago, I (as usual) stopped by, and grabbed this bottle in my batch of weekend brews (a 6 of Holy Smoke and a growler of West Coast Pale Ale). I love smoked beers, and I love Church-Key. I can hardly wait!

[caption id="attachment_2443" align="aligncenter" width="472"] Church-Key Brewing Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It — Smoked Ale[/caption]

No Pants With Miranda — Great Lakes Brewery

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:24:40 -0500

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 waiting review, and finally put some thoughts down about Miranda's older sister, No Pants With Miranda. So first off, to recap somewhat: Great Lakes makes No Chance With Miranda, which is a lovely saison. I'm fairly certain their Anniversary Belgian Saison is a variant of, or "based on" No Chance. Mike Lackey, one of their brewers is known for trying unusual things, and so some time ago, he decided to make an "imperial" saison. Which of course, is a non-existant style. At any rate, this is the outcome. A 10.6% abv saison. If you read the No Chance With Miranda post, you'll know the story on it's name. I'll let you work out this one on your own......

[caption id="attachment_2430" align="aligncenter" width="540"] No Pants With Miranda — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Friday Beer Break on Edge 102.1 — August 17, 2012

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 22:48:48 -0500

So Fred was back from holiday, but off next Friday at Fan Expo, so we decided to not do the Beer Pageant today. Instead, we hung up, drank Great Lakes 25th Anniversary Belgian Saison, and cured my grumpy pants. Watch below kids.

25th Anniversary Belgian Saison — Great Lakes Brewery

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:14:37 -0500

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 mind, they have decided to release a few specialty beers to bars and the LCBO throughout the year. Their first release was the 25th Anniversary Porter, now I have the pleasure of reporting on the next in line, their 25th Anniversary Belgian Saison. If you're interested in just what, exactly, a Saison is, I discuss it more in depth in my review of Great Lakes' No Chance With Miranda Saison. It is a style I really love, and one that doesn't really get much representation at the LCBO, so it's great that a wide variety of people will be exposed to it. If you bought the porter, or saw some of the press for the Belgian Saison, you might be surprised to note the bottles are not, in fact wax-dipped. Wax dipping the caps certainly adds a touch of class and —theoretically— protects the seal for ageing (though with the quality of modern crown-caps it's redundant). Great Lakes says they made the call to omit waxing as they wanted people to be able to get right into them (and to be sure, cutting through the wax when it's right out of the ice box can range from tricky to dangerous), however I suspect they also faced a potential mutiny in the brewery, as wax dipping that many bottles is hot, repetitive annoying work, and it can only be done by hand. Wax or no wax, here we go!

[caption id="attachment_2412" align="aligncenter" width="540"] 25th Anniversary Belgian Saison — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

White House Beer

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:50:14 -0500

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="296"] President Obama with a bottle of Goose Island 312 Wheat, which he gave to British PM David Cameron.[/caption]

If you haven't heard already, it's time you know: President Barack Obama has a home-brew set-up at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, aka, The White House. Details are a little unclear at the moment, as to who actually does the brewing, but the home brewery produces a light and dark ale, made with honey collected from hives near the First Lady's garden on the White House grounds.

The beer came to light yesterday when President Obama gave a bottle to a coffee shop patron on a campaign stop; apparently he travels with it on the tour bus. White House Spokesman Jay Carney confirmed the beer's existence and said he had drank one of the light varieties and enjoyed it, though he admits he is not a beer "aficionado".

Deviator Doppelbock Bourbon Barrel Aged — Cameron's Brewing Co.

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:47:30 -0500

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 their beers in them. I've heard more than a few brewers sound like they were trying to score an O, ducked quietly in a corner, hand over their cellphone, hoping nobody realizes they have a line on wood. And if you follow along here, you will remember that Cameron's in Oakville, has been doing some oak-aging as well. Their American Whiskey Barrel was a heck of a first commercial offering. And now they've released their popular Deviator Doppelbock, aged in bourbon barrels. Feel free to peruse the Deviator post if you would like more info on doppelbocks, and why I think more breweries should be producing them. Go ahead and right-click (or ctrl-click if you're wealthier than me) that link and choose "open in a new tab", so this one will still be there when you're done. Just learn a new trick? This article is now a two-for-one! Lesson first, review now!

[caption id="attachment_2389" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Deviator Doppelbock Bourbon Barrel Aged — Cameron's Brewing Co.[/caption]

Stuff You Need To Know Today — August 2nd 2012

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:36:16 -0500

It's been a while since I did one of these, but as is always the case when I do, I've got a back-log of stuff to tell you all about. Special days, festivals, contests; this post has got it all.

#IPAday

Today is IPA day, which I think is actually supposed to be spelled with the hashtag and jammed together. I'm not fully sure why, and the website (ipaday.org) doesn't mention it, but August 2nd was picked and here we are. Get yourself out to a good beer bar, or crack open a beer at home, and get some quality craft IPA in you. Then Tweet about it and hashtag it #IPAday. Or come up with your own way to commemorate. Jordan St John and I just had a witty conversation via twitter using hop varietal puns. Laughs ensued.

Augusta Ale — Kensington Brewing Co.

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:52:23 -0500

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 reviewed. Indeed, I interviewed Brock Shepherd a year and a half ago about Burger Bar, and his intentions to start brewing beer. In the ensuing 18 months or so, Brock has grown Kensington Brewing Co., started contract brewing at Wellington Brewery, and seen his product listed at the LCBO. As I picked up yet another couple of Augusta Ale's in their lovely can, I realized, I hadn't reviewed it on draught, because Brock told me he would be bottling in the not-too-distant future. When I got bottles from him, there were already murmurings of the LCBO, so I decided to wait, thinking it would be better to give some support once it arrived. Then I forgot about it, and when I could buy it for myself, just started doing so, taking for granted the stunning rise it had made, outpacing many of it's contemporaries. So now I'm remedying that oversight. At this point, I assume many (if not most) beer lovers in Toronto have found Augusta Ale on tap or cask (in it's AAXH "Xtra Hopped" format) at a quality craft beer bar. It might even have become a standard in your repetoire, like me. But perhaps you haven't sought it out at the LCBO. And while I don't want to give away the ending, if you have to stop reading right this instant, because your pants are on fire and the water in your office is off, hop out to the fountain outside, douse yourself and once the blisters have set in, get yourself to your local LCBO and pick up a few cans.

[caption id="attachment_2333" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Sometimes InstaGram pics work awesome, then other times.....[/caption]

Smashed Blueberry — Shipyard Brewing Co.

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:54:56 -0500

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 pie. So if you put Blueberries in beer, I'm pretty much yours. Now, some of you will remember from last fall, I reviewed Ship Yard's Smashed Pumpkin. Shipyard is not a brewery lots of people in Ontario are familiar with (due, mainly, to our wonderfully thought-out liquor laws) which is a shame. Shipyard has been making excellent brews since 1994, and are highly respected south of the border. Incidentally, Ron Keefe—of The Granite Brewery—trained with Alan Pugsley, Shipyard's brewmaster. So while you can only get Shipyard bottles on occasion seasonally, you can taste Alan's impact on the Toronto brewing scene any time you like, at Mount Pleasant and Eglington. Interestingly, I've just read on the back label that Smashed Blueberry is a hybrid of a porter and a Scotch ale, flavoured with Blueberries. What an interesting combination, I'm stoked! Oh, and one more thing before we're off, Smashed Blueberry is the last of my "stuff in beer" reviews. I have a monster of an oak-aged beer from Cameron's coming up. Be excited!

[caption id="attachment_2328" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Smashed Pumpkin Ale — Shipyard Brewing Co.[/caption]

Widemouth Bottles from Molson-Coors

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:15:28 -0500

Remember that band Wide Mouth Mason? Yeah, me too. Remember when you realised that they were named after something your granny kept cases of in her root cellar? Yeah, me too. What does all this have to do with anything? Well, as ads I've seen around the city have told me, Molson-Coors has introduced Widemouth beer bottles. And I just do happen to have six of them in my hands as I type this. Obviously, I'm speaking figuratively, as I am unable to hold all six at once, and even if I was able to do this magnificent feat, I would hardly be able to type while doing it.

[caption id="attachment_2377" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Molson-Coors Widemouth Bottles[/caption]

Toronto Festival of Beer — Thursday Pass Give-Away

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:57:11 -0500

Well how about that. We only had two entrants, and therefore they are the Grand Winners! Cheers to @aplusadvantage! Nice seats!

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="aligncenter" width="596"] You probably needed more than a few beers after the result last night![/caption]

Also congrats to @GuillaumeCL! Not only do you get passes, but you had a hell of a nice beer too!

Toronto Festival of Beer — Wednesday Pass Give-Away

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:18:54 -0500

Okay, I realize it's still Tuesday night, but just in case you need some time to work on this, I thought I'd post it as soon as the Tuesday give-away was done. You're going to need to be a Twitter user for this one. If you're not, it's pretty straight-forward to sign-up at http://www.Twitter.com then you'll be ready to go. So how can you win a pair of passes for Toronto Festival of Beer? Simple.

Take a picture, post it to Twitter, and tag me in it, @ChrisSchryer.

[caption id="attachment_2355" align="aligncenter" width="460"] Will you be my Anton Corbijn?[/caption]

Toronto Festival of Beer — Tuesday Pass Give-Away

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:47:49 -0500

Hey there campers! Did you know Toronto Festival of Beer (http://www.beerfestival.ca/) is fast approaching? Like, Queer Beer Fest is in two short days! And I've got some passes to give away! And I know you want passes. Today, I've got a fun little contest. I will randomly draw three winners for all successful entrants for a pair of passes to either Thursday night (Queer Beer Fest, featuring Uh Huh Her, Men, The Cliks, and Hill & The Sky Heroes) or Sunday (Featuring, among others, Hollerado and Big Wreck).

So what does one have to do to win these coveted passes? It's quite simple. Answer the questions below (including the ultra-challenging reCaptcha) and send them on in! Deadline is 9pm tonight.

Wellington Brewing Russian Imperial Stout Sorbet

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 20:09:46 -0500

When you think summer, a few tasty treats pop to mind. For me, the hot weather definitely increases my desire for ice cream and beer, among other things. So why not combine these wonderful fancies? Well, no shortage of people will bang on about the virtues of the Guinness Float (or really, any stout). I won't lie, rich vanilla ice cream pairs remarkably well with smokey dry English/Irish stout. It also does very well with boozy charred imperial stouts that have hints of rum and toffee in them. I've never been a huge fan, myself, especially as the ice cream melts, but if that's your tipple, go right ahead. You know how I've been doing "stuff in beer", like fruits and junk? Well, this is sort of the inverse of that. Beer in stuff. Today we're going to combine beer and ice cream in a different way. We're making Russian Imperial Stout Sorbet, by making a sorbet with Wellington's lovely Russian Imperial Stout, which has just become widely available at the LCBO again. It's in Welly's newly branded cans to boot (see what I did there?).

[caption id="attachment_2315" align="aligncenter" width="505"] We're concerned with the one on the right[/caption]

Okay, I know what you're thinking: "What, me make sorbet? But how?" Fair enough, making sorbets/gelatos/ice creams isn't something a lot of people do, and it's a shame.

Chris and Fred's Beer Pageant — Round Three

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 13:11:17 -0500

For round three, we were joined by J.Love, who does interactive media for Corus (these videos are part of interactive, you see). He is a newly minted GTA resident, via Chicago, and is stoked to see such a vibrant brewing culture here in Southern Ontario. Being a frequent drinker in his native USA of the likes of Stone, Lagunitas, Founders, etc, he is at least as qualified as Fred and I to judge. This week we had a Dry Stout from Jeremy Coghill, and "Muddy Porter" from Jeff Manol (Hoptomology). Two very well respected home brewers from the GTA, it's going to be a good one!

Chris and Fred’s Beer Pageant — Round Two

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 22:05:06 -0500

Round two, and we were super happy to be joined by Maya and Becky from The Pack A.D., who were our first real guests on the beer break. Today was an Imperial Stout by Jeremy Sokorchid vs an Imperial IPA by the Brew Brothers (Josh Wagler, Steve Neal, Dave Kent, and Tim & Ben Pinder). Watch below to see who made it through!

St Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale — McAuslan Brewing Inc.

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:57:01 -0500

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 specific occasions or times, but I would never consider turning down a delicious stout in July or a gorgeous weisse in February. I probably wouldn't crack a Russian Imperial Stout to cool down after mowing the lawn, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have one with some chocolate after dinner that night. That being said, most people do identify beers as being seasonally appropriate, and this is one generally accepted as being a summer beverage. And there is no doubt a filtered wheat beer with apricot juice is likely to be one heck of a refreshing drink. So drink it now when it's hot, but don't rule it out when you're cutting into your Christmas cake or steamed pudding in December.

[caption id="attachment_2297" align="aligncenter" width="540"] St Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale — McAuslan Brewing Inc[/caption]

St Ambroise Framboise — McAuslan Brewing Inc.

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:08:36 -0500

Another day another beer review. If you recall from my review of Great Lakes Green Tea Ale, I'm focusing for a while on those "summer-time" brews (though I prefer to not pigeon-hole beers seasonally, most people do) that have things added to them, from fruit juices, to spices, and beyond. Next up is this bottle from McAuslan, their St Ambroise Framboise. Now, aside from the obvious cuteness with the name, if you follow along, you know I'm a big fan of McAuslan. I actually say regularly that beyond not making a bad beer, McAuslan actually only makes excellent beers, or better. There is no doubt their Oatmeal Stout and Pale Ale are exceptional. So I'm always happy when Barry Pletch messages me to say he's got some beers for me to review. In addition to supplying me with awesome beers to write about, Barry always adds lovely touches, like throwing in a jar or two of McAuslan's amazing beer-based mustard, or matching glassware, as pictured below. He also happens to be (as always, it seems in this business) a super friendly dude. So, a little about Framboise, then. Framboise beers were traditionally lambics, from Belgium. The super tart spontaneously-fermented beers were often sweetened and softened by adding fruit juices. Ones made with raspberry juice were called Framboise, cherry ones were Krieks, etc. While most North American-made Framboise beers aren't the tart lambic style in the original form, the brewers here have carefully balanced fresh raspberries and the characteristics of their beers, sometimes wheat-based, sometimes not. With McAuslan's track-record, I'm stoked to get this in me. Time to drink up!

[caption id="attachment_2292" align="aligncenter" width="540"] St Ambroise Framboise — McAuslan Brewing Inc.[/caption]

Chris and Fred's Beer Pageant — Round One

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:08:32 -0500

We did our first round of the beer pageant today on the Edge, and we did it on video! Check it out:

Green Tea Ale — Great Lakes Brewery

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:15:34 -0500

Sometimes you have to revisit things; you don't always "get it" on the first time around, you know? And sometimes, things change, and deserve another go. I'm not sure which of those factors might play into today's review (or if it's both), but whatever, it was time for me to give Great Lakes Brewery Green Tea Ale another whirl. It seems to me, this beer came out around the time I was finishing my stint at Starbucks, and everybody was going a little green tea-crazy. Starbucks had a matcha frozen thing (I don't know how to spell those things and can't be bothered to Google it; it's a frozen thing), every health food shop had matcha powder and darned if it wasn't going to fix just about anything you might have wrong with you. When I first saw this brew, I assumed Great Lakes was just another rube on the bandwagon, and perhaps that prejudice affected my tastes, but I wasn't impressed. My main memory was that it just sorted of tasted like fizzy iced green tea. Mind you, I also wasn't nearly as experienced in thoughtful beer tasting. Either way, I never really spent much time with this beer since. I probably had it a few times, but definitely it was a "later in the night" choice, and so my critical abilities would be lessened, to say the least. So when Mike Lackey asked me if I had tried this year's batch, saying it was pretty good, I kind of mumbled some words that may or may not have had any coherent connection. But Mike is a solid brewer, and not a fellow to pull any punches about his beers. He has given me no less than three beers he described as horribly undrinkable. And he was right every time. He is also the man behind Lake Effect IPA, and so treads brewing pathways many have spent a life time searching for. So who was I to decline? Sneak preview: Mike is still batting 1.000 for honest assessment of his products. Green Tea Ale also leads off a couple of reviews I'm doing of beers with "stuff" in them. Today, it's green tea, next time, raspberries. We'll continue from there.

[caption id="attachment_2282" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Green Tea Ale — Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

Pan-Ontario Whiskey Barrel Aged — Beau's, Flying Monkeys, Grand River, Great Lakes and Wellington

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 19:33:04 -0500

Phew, long enough title? So Pan-Ontario is actually a bottle from OCB Week, and I beer I drank at Session, but I got a bottle of it last time I was by Great Lakes. A blended beer organized and aged by Beau's, to celebrate some of the finest brews in the province. So to be clear, this is not a collaborative brew, wherein a few brewers got together and made a recipe, this is five beers, made normally, then blended into a cocktail, and aged in a whiskey barrel. With me? Good. So what beers, you might ask? Good question. Beau's provided Beaver River IPeh; Flying Monkeys their Smashbomb Atomic IPA; Grand River did their Curmudgeon IPA, Great Lakes hooked up their 25th Anniversary Porter, and Wellington their Imperial Russian Stout. Zowie. I like all those beers on their own, but can they be blended together well? Yes, yes they can.

[caption id="attachment_2277" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Pan-Ontario Whiskey Barrel Aged — Beau's, Flying Monkeys, Grand River, Great Lakes and Wellington.[/caption]

Farmhouse Ale - Amsterdam Brewing Co & Great Lakes Brewery

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:59:09 -0500

As anybody involved knows, the spirit within any city's craft beer scene is at least friendly, if not downright sexual. In addition to the stories of one brewer giving another a leg-up, the brewery staff have a tendency to hang out. To one-up each other. To form grand schemes at the bottom of big bottles. So it's unsurprising when a few breweries decide to do a collaborative brew, particularly when presented with an event, like OCB week. This is exactly what happened with Amsterdam Brewing, Great Lakes Brewery, and Erica Graholm (of Steamwhistle) , with their creation of Farmhouse Ale. A Farmhouse Ale is another name for a saison, which is a Belgian style of beer. Great in the summer, these beers are generally bubbly, fruity/floral and a bit spicy. Both Amsterdam and Great Lakes have produced excellent saisons on their own, so I have high hope for a collaboration.

[caption id="attachment_2263" align="aligncenter" width="540"] This beer does not contain pineapple. Repeat, I just happened to have a pineapple on the table when I took this picture. No Pineapple.[/caption]

OCB Week — Friday June 22nd, 2012

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:08:27 -0500

Oh man oh man oh man, I feel like James Brown doing the cape bit in Please Please Please.

We're still going right? Everybody taking good care of each other out there? We're coming down the stretch now, tuck your chin, get those hands up and enjoy every minute that remains in OCB Week.

Milestone

Today our friends at Grand River Brewing are celebrating their fifth anniversary. So obviously they're going to throw a heck of a party. From 3-9pm today there will be one-offs, food-music and many many well-wishers to party with at the brewery in Cambridge. If you're in the area, stop by, raise a glass (of the Mild, if you're me), and toast one of Ontario's finest.

OCB Week — Thursday June 21, 2012

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:46:35 -0500

Zowie, what a night! Last night was my first (and only) pretty-busy night for OCB Week. 5pm at the Monk's Kettle (which is about an hour and fifteen minute's commute from my house) to enjoy some beers food and company, then down to Black Oak for 10 Bitter Years, more food and more company, quick now, cab over to Six Pints Beer Academy for, you guessed it, beer food and company, then randomly dropped in to the Avro. No food for that last one. Phew, it was a great time. I'm going to talk about it more in another post, but watch out for Six Pints. I had 5 of their brews last night, and they ranged from "a good start, maybe a little more tweaking" to "Excellent". The space looks amazing, they have great staff and all the polish you would expect. Time will tell, but this looks like the kind of place you hope a really big brewery with a ton of money would open, but never believe that they will.

So today. Full disclosure: I'm not going anywhere tonight. Tomorrow too. Just got too much on the go, and I need some time around the house. But that doesn't mean there isn't a heap of cool things happening. You know the drill by now. Check here to find stuff near you: http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com/craftbeerweek/events2012.php

Like when your geeky older cousin thrashed you at risk

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] I always liked taking Australia. I also lost a lot.[/caption]

I'm too busy to look back, but I think this might be the first tap-takeover I've mentioned, but it's a good one! Burger Bar had a bad run of rolling 1's and 2's and quickly was dominated by Great Lakes' red army. The good news is, it means there will be hella Great Lakes beers available there. According to twitter just now, 13 Sack XPA (collaboration with Beirgotter), Farmhouse Saison (Collaboration with Amsterdam) and Karma Citra are already on.

OCB Week — Wednesday June 20th 2012

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:26:02 -0500

Hump day, as they say, even though it makes me giggle like a 10 year old every time. Hump Day...... Everyone good? Giggles done? Let's get on this. Last night was good. I didn't crawl so much as show up late, but still, I got a chance to try a couple of beers I hadn't yet tried, which is always nice. Gearing up for today, and here is why:

It's been awhile, man. Life's so rad!

[caption id="attachment_2044" align="alignright" width="150"] Ten Bitter Years XI - Black Oak Brewing Co.[/caption]

Unless you're Ken Woods, owner of Black Oak. Ken is bitter. Very bitter. Imperial IPA bitter. Oh let's just say it, Ten Bitter Years Bitter. In case you have been living in Iran or were just born, Ten Bitter Years is kind of a big deal. Like, it sells out within a day or two of being released. At the brewery. People go out of their way to drive to the brewery. See? Big deal. Told you so. So it's a huge deal that another batch is ready, and as such, they are throwing a hell of a party. Tonight, from 5-9 at the brewery, you can come out, get a pint of 10BY, purchase a case of bottles to take home, and enjoy some of Black Oak's other special release beers for OCB Week. I also happen to know that a crew is meeting at the Monk's Kettle at 5 for some nibbles and beers then heading down en masse at 6:30. It's a ticketed thing, but there might be a few spots left. Call (647)348-4848 to find out if they have a spot for you.

OCB Week — Tuesday June 19th 2012

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:30:59 -0500

Good morning friends! Everybody feeling refreshed after a lovely night's sleep? I hope so, you'll need to be for tonight. It's the night of the crawl. If you're in the GTA, whether you're in the east or west end, there is a pub crawl for you. Does that not describe you? Well, let me help out for a moment. As usual, feel free to check out http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com/craftbeerweek/events2012.php for full event listings for your area, and to plan ahead.

Far East and Wild West.

Okay, you know the thing about GTA dwellers like me? We're egocentric. The Rose Line? The Prime Meridian? The International Date Line? They ain't got nothing on us. Yonge St baby! Ignore the fact that the vast majority of it lies outside of Toronto, we're famous (fun trivia for tonight at the bar, what's the longest street in Toronto. Hint, it's not Yonge). So with that in mind, it's obvious I tend to be fairly GTA-centric.

OCB Week - Monday June 18th 2012

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:15:01 -0500

Good morning beer fans. It is indeed OCB Week, and we've already had more than a few excellent events over the weekend. I couldn't walk the dogs without having them go haywire because of the smell coming from the Beach BBQ and Brew Festival. We took the family by on Saturday and had a blast. Hanging out with a bunch of friends from breweries, it was great to see so many people who wouldn't have usually drank a craft beer trying out some great OCB options. Sunday saw The Brewer's Backyard at Evergreen Brickworks, which I couldn't make it to, but I hear it was a great success. In addition to that , there has been no shortage of events at specific locations around the city. Check out http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com/craftbeerweek/events2012.php to see what's going on in your neighbourhood. Every day, I'm going to mention a few events that interest me. Not that all the events aren't going to be awesome, but if I were single with no kids and lots of money, this is where you would find me.

So today, then.

Captivator Doppel Bock — Tree Brewing Co.

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 21:43:47 -0500

Okay kids, I hope you've all had fun this week. BC Beer Week has one more kick at the can; at the end of this post, it's officially OCB Week and we'll be all Ontario for the next 10 days or so. But before that, I'm stoked to review another bottle from the Tree Brewery feature currently at the LCBO, their Captivator Doppel Bock. If you remember from my post on Cameron's Deviator Doppel Bock, in homage to the "original" Doppel Bock, Salvator, Doppel Bocks often have names that end in "ator" (I'm still waiting on Gator Doppel Bock; it bites back!). Obviously, Tree has followed in that tradition, with Captivator. Not really a classic beer in the summer, which is a shame, the big malts in these beers make them very well suited to big red meats, the kind you might be searing on a grill for the Old Boy come Sunday. Hint hint. Let's do it!

[caption id="attachment_2236" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Captivator Doppel Bock - Tree Brewing Co."][/caption]

Burley Barley Wine 2008 — Phillips Brewing Co.

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:51:48 -0500

Okay, many apologies. You're not finding this one at the LCBO. I'm not even sure how available it is in BC, to be honest. But it's still BC Beer Week here, and I'm pretty stoked about this review. It's a bottle of Burley Barley Wine from 2008, and I must say, I'm really excited to even have a bottle. It was brought to me by Claude Lefebvre, owner of Double Trouble Brewing and North American Craft (and the guy I work for). Thanks Claude! As I've mentioned before here, Barley Wines are beers that not only can age for a while, but often benefit from it. So a bottle from 2008 stands to have gotten better from it's production. Time to find out!

[caption id="attachment_2232" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Burley Barley Wine — Phillips Brewing Co."][/caption]

Stuff You Need To Know Today — June 14th 2012

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:56:05 -0500

So, I know it's BC Beer Week here on the blog and all, but I'm neck deep in press releases, and need to dig out before I drown or get a paper cut. Hopefully you've noticed that ad on the right side of the page. The one for OCB Week. Maybe you've even clicked it. Maybe, if you're really geeky, you know that OCB Week starts on Father's Day weekend. Hopefully you remembered this weekend is Father's Day. See where I'm going? Also, if you've been following along, you'll know that the Canadian Brewing Awards happened about a week ago. These things are a big deal. So let's get on it:

You should probably just book off work

Indeed, Ontario Craft Brewer's Week is upon us. Or at least, nearly. The "First Pour" Launch is Friday at Noon, and from there, the events seemingly just don't stop. Seriously, it's kind of crazy. When I started this blog two years ago, OCB Week sort of floated under my radar. I'm not going to say it was a bust, but the only event that I seemed to attend was Troy and Cass' pub crawl. Which was a warm-up for Toronto Beer Week. So last year, I was pleasantly surprised when OCB Week was really well done. Great events that were well publicised. Obviously, this year I have great expectations. I can't tell you about all the events that I think are worth while, because I would have carpel tunnel syndrome, and besides, they are all listed on the OCB Week website (it's http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com/craftbeerweek/). That being said, I would be remiss not to mention a couple near and dear to my heart:

Hop Head Black IPA - Tree Brewing Co.

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:59:08 -0500

And BC beer week just keeps on going. Back to a Tree product (not the last), their highly regarded Hop Head Black IPA. This stuff sold like crazy in Kelowna where it's made, and was talked about all over BarTowel.com among other places. Black IPA - or Cascadian Dark Ale - is a fairly newly recognized style. In fact, there is no shortage of people who still won't recognize it. I tend to defer to others on what actually constitutes a "style", but I would agree that this type of beer needs to be classed as "something", even if it's simply a sub-class of another style (IPA, for instance). If you've never had one and you like Russian Imperial Stouts and big hoppy IPAs, definitely grab one. Tree Brewing Hop Head Black IPA would be a great start.

[caption id="attachment_2219" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Hop Head Black IPA - Tree Brewing Co."][/caption]

Ginger Beer - Phillips Brewing Co.

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:59:54 -0500

BC beer week continues here on the blog (it's BC beer week, if you missed it). Next up in line is another one of the better known micros from BC, Phillips Brewing Co. Keep6 Imports has brought a few Phillips products into Ontario through private orders, so you might have come across, say, their Hop Circle IPA (wonderful stuff). Their Ginger Beer was brought in, in very limited quantities, for summer. It won't be at every LCBO, but if you've got a local that gets the specialty beer releases (think things like Unearthly, Thornbridge, the Tree Brewery feature, etc), it's likely they'll have a couple of cases of Phillips Ginger Beer. And I wouldn't be surprised to see more Phillips products on LCBO shelves sooner than later.

[caption id="attachment_2210" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Ginger Beer - Phillips Brewing Co."][/caption]

Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale - Tree Brewing Co.

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:59:06 -0500

Well, here it is, BC beer week on Toronto Beer Blog. I had decided last week, given the large amount of BC beer currently available at the LCBO, and also the sexiness of said beer, to do a whole week just on BC brews. The players we currently have access to here in Ontario are Tree who, in addition to the regularly available Hop Head IPA, also has a five bottle brewery feature on; Central City who just landed a general list for their magnificent Red Racer IPA; and Phillips who has a limited release of their Ginger Beer for the summer. We are seeing these companies increasing their availability because drinkers want them and are buying their products. So from those of us who sell beers from BC (I'm one of them) and the folks who make them, thanks. Feel free to buy more! So we're starting out the week with a beer that isn't available yet (patience). Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale is a bit of a gateway craft beer, well-made and interesting enough to not be passed by, yet accessible to people who might not be used to drinking 70IBU IPAs. Let's do it!

[caption id="attachment_2205" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale - Tree Brewing Co."][/caption]

American Whiskey Barrel, Oak Aged Series - Cameron's Brewing Company

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:44:55 -0500

If you hadn't heard yet, oak-ageing beers is kind of a big deal. If you don't believe me, you should see the wall of barrels Amsterdam Brewing now has in the brewery. So it's always awesome to see a brewer give oaked beers a try. It's a risky proposition; a full barrel is 117 litres, which is a lot of beer to lose if something goes awry. Which can happen fairly easily. Barrels, being made of wood, impart character (both from the wood, and whatever was in it beforehand) but also can harbour bacteria and other icky stuff. Which can spoil the whole batch. Also, some beers age better in oak than others, and the only way to find out is to try. All this is to reinforce how awesome it is when breweries do it. All the more when it works well enough they are willing to sell the product. In the case of this beer, Cameron's has aged a strong dark brown ale in American Whiskey barrels. Time to see how it went!

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="American Whiskey Barrel, Oak Aged Series - Cameron's Brewing Company"][/caption]

No Chance With Miranda Saison - Great Lakes Brewing

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:17:12 -0500

So this is one of those beers. You can't really buy it. Except when you can. But not just anywhere. In fact, almost nowhere. Let me clarify: When you can buy it, generally it's available in bottles at the brewery (Royal York and The Gardiner). And sometimes in limited quantities at bars. Sometimes. Particularly in summer (when Saisons were traditionally made for, and when they go down one thousand times better than anything light with citrus additions). After that preamble, let me briefly discuss the style saison, and this one in particular. So, saison: A Belgian inspired beer, it was traditionally made by farmers and their workers before the real heat of summer set in. They would make enough to cellar through the summer (when it was too hot to brew) and keep themselves satiated until they could brew again in the fall. As such, while saisons share some general characteristics, they actually vary fairly widely. And would have even more so way back when. Likely the one you've heard of (if you've heard of any) would be the famous Saison Dupont, a well earned benchmark for the style. Saisons, probably at least partially because of the generous room for interpretation, have become quite popular with North American brewers lately, and vary from fairly traditional Belgian-style incarnations that are flowery and a little spicy, to totally modern ones that are more akin to what we would call a Belgian IPA. But that's the freedom that the style allows. Now this one specifically: Obviously I'll discuss the profile of the beer in a moment, but you might be wondering about that name.... Well, Mike Lackey (one of Great Lakes brewers) has a friend named Miranda who tends bar at a well-respected craft beer place in the city. By all accounts, she's a lovely woman, both in looks and spirit. And not a few patrons have fancied their luck. But apparently, they don't have a chance.....

[caption id="attachment_2184" align="aligncenter" width="630" caption="No Chance With Miranda Saison - Great Lakes Brewing"][/caption]

Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale - Rogue Ales

Thu, 31 May 2012 02:58:21 -0500

So if you follow Toronto beer-hype, you already have heard about this one. Probably from a few news sources, and also a fleet of water-cooler cicerones. It's an attention-grab; it's going to taste synthetic; it's probably going to be more delicious than unicorn tears strained through a virgin mermaid's hair; etc etc etc. And for sure, a brown ale made with maple syrup (not really uncommon) and bacon (probably not the first, but certainly the first on this scale) is going to cause some reaction. I'm not going to enter into the debate about pushing beer boundaries for the sake of publicity (at least not here, catch me at a bar, and I'll get all puppy-eyed about James and Martin at BrewDog...). I don't think anybody at Rogue really thinks they are creating a style here, or trying to "revolutionize" brewing by getting a part of a pig in there. They decided to pay homage to a cool doughnut maker by making a beer based on one of their more popular dainties. The question will be, does it work? And I'm sure all of us arm-chair brewers will have our own opinions....

[caption id="attachment_2187" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale - Rogue Ales"][/caption]

Chris and Fred's Beer Pageant

Sat, 26 May 2012 02:51:57 -0500

[caption id="attachment_2177" align="alignright" width="194"] This is how Fred will dress[/caption]

*** UPDATE ***

It's tomorrow!!!! We'll all be heading up to 3030 in the Junction (Indie Ale House is still slogging through the eyebrow-deep sludge that is Toronto bureaucracy) 8pm, Friday, September the 28th! Come on down, enjoy some of 3030's amazing craft-beer on tap, and find out who the big winners are!

Here's 3030's page on the full night of activities, including the pageant, whiskey tasting and the epic Fishook, Funk/Soul/Reggae band. Stay the whole night!

Here's the original info

So, if you've been listening to the radio interviews I do with Fearless Fred on Edge 102.1, you will likely have heard something about our Beer Pageant. Basically, we want to host a home-brew competition for Toronto (and area) home-brewers, to give them a chance to get to come on the radio, and talk about their beer. Plus we're going to throw a mean party where the five finalists will be judged and the winner announced. All sound good? So if you're a home-brewer get out your no-rinse sanitizer and give that mash tun a scrub. If you want to be a home-brewer, might I suggest picking up a copy of the wonderful Brooklyn Brewshop book on the topic, and consider grabbing one of their kits; there are a few retailers around Toronto who carry them.

London Style Porter - Propeller Brewing Co.

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:12:34 -0500

So, as I've said I would, full disclosure: Many of you will know that I work for North American Craft, and some of you will know that we represent Propeller Brewing Co. at the LCBO in Ontario. I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I would love to see Propeller in every liquor store across the province. Even if I didn't rep them, I would want to see that, because Propeller makes some incredible beers, and let's face it, regularly available beers in Ontario from the East Coast are very limited, and in terms of craft, there is one. Propeller ESB (an excellent beer, in of itself). We are lucky enough to get Garrison stuff seasonally sometimes, but that's it. And that is a shame, because there is a heap of beer from the Maritimes that should be pleasing Ontario drinkers. So (sales pitch), feel free to ask your local LCBO why there are so very few East Coast beers on the shelf. Okay, now let me show you why:

[caption id="attachment_2172" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="London Style Porter - Propeller Brewing Co."][/caption]

On Beer and Theology

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:42:01 -0500

[caption id="attachment_2150" align="alignright" width="193" caption="CS "Jack" Lewis"][/caption]

Okay, some of you will know I'm a fellow of faith. And I happen to read a lot of stuff from a similar guy, a Belfast-born writer known as Jack to his friends, Clive Staples Lewis. Most people identify him as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia (which is accurate), though it's worth mentioning he is also one of the most cherished Christian writers of the 20th century. I quoted him in yesterday's blog post, and it got me to thinking, then writing, and suddenly what was meant to be a quick reference at the end of the post, became a post. So I cut it back to a quick reference, and give you this, today:

As a professor at Oxford, and later Cambridge, Lewis was not unfamiliar with the inside of the pubs near his residence. At Oxford he was part of a group of writers called The Inklings (including JRR Tolkien) who met regularly, not just in College rooms, but also in a local pub, The Eagle and Child (or colloquially, the Bird and Baby, or just the Bird).

Rye Pale Ale - Cameron's Brewing Company

Tue, 08 May 2012 20:00:31 -0500

So, if you're following along, you might already know this, but indulge me. Rye Pale Ales are kind of a big deal. Like, maybe not quite the Merlot of the 2012 beer world, but maybe. Time will tell. The good news is, I've had 3 so far this year (I think, possibly more) and they've all been pretty good. Wellington has one (review coming) that is quite nice, and Sierra Nevada put one out that is making some waves down south. But why? Well, we all know that beer geeks like big hoppy beers. I think it's fair to say we've maxed-out the high-hop potential (I hope), so now it's time to expand the PA/IPA boundaries, rather then try to one-up them. And the Rye Pale Ale is the first serious contender for expansion. Rye in beer is nothing new (it's actually quite old, predating the Bavarian Purity Laws). Rye, like wheat, has no husk, so making beer with only it is nearly impossible. It creates stuck-mashes, and while some homebrewers claim to have done it, we all know they're probably lying and are using rice husks to keep things loose. Anyway, when added to a grain-bill, rye adds a nice spicy note, and also a super smooth creamy body. Adding weight to hugely hoppy beers, rye, and the Rye Pale Ale style really could be the correct step in craft-beer evolution. Survival of the fittest will surely let us know if that is the case.

[caption id="attachment_2146" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Rye Pale Ale - Cameron's Brewing Company"][/caption]

Manuel Labour - Support could get you beer

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:31:48 -0500

So an old friend of mine from public school, Ryan Noel, has grown up (unlike me) and become an indie film maker. For his most recent project, Manuel Labour - Trash Collecting Garbage, he decided to tap into the crowdfunding trend right now. You can check out his kickstarter page here: http://www.manuellabour.com/

Robson Street Hefeweizen - Granville Island Brewing

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:30:08 -0500

So, you can be forgiven if you're a Torontonian but you have never heard of Granville Island Brewing. Granville is actually known as Canada's first micro-brewery (and of course, we're talking one started after prohibition and EP Taylor conspired to homogenize all beer in the Country). From Vancouver BC, Granville Island has been making great beers since 1984. In 2004 the company was sold to Andrew Peller wines, and they opened a second, larger brewing space in Kelowna, BC. In 2009, Granville was purchased by Creemore Springs (who were, in turn, owned by Molson-Coors), and their distribution grew nationally. For those of you who don't read here often, you won't hear the tired old song from me, about big bad brewery buying the honest innocent little guy; quite the contrary, I'm happy for both Granville Island and Molson-Coors. For their part, Molson-Coors had demonstrated through their handling of Creemore, that they were actually interested in supporting a medium sized brewery. Not changing them; providing them with the capital and infrastructure to take their products to a wider market.

My first experience with Granville Island actually came in violation of ridiculous inter-provincial laws, when I shipped 24 Steam Whistle Pilsners to a friend in BC via the courier service of a popular bus line. In return, Shawn sent me a mixed box of 24 beers from BC. It was amazing. Stuff I'd never heard of before (this was a few years ago, before I had really geeked-out). Included in the box were a few bottles from Granville Island, and they were all excellent. So in addition to feeling good for Granville, seeing them getting their product further afield, I also get to enjoy a bit of nostalgia. Okay, okay, enough typing, more drinking.

[caption id="attachment_2142" align="aligncenter" width="560" caption="Robson Street Hefeweizen - Granville Island Brewery"][/caption]

Cider Week Wrap-Up

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:52:51 -0500

And like that, Cider Week is over. First off, thanks to everybody who took some time to read my posts. I know this is a beer blog, so I was stoked to see so many people willing to read about something different. It appears a lot of people in Toronto are interested in Cider! I also wanted to take some time and put some thoughts and reflections down that I had through the course of the week. If you're just tuning-in you can get caught-up on Cider Week here: /tag/cider-week/

[caption id="attachment_2133" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Thousands of Apples were crushed in the making of this week."][/caption]

Spirit Tree Wassail

Sat, 05 May 2012 13:53:00 -0500

I know, right? Another cider from Spirit Tree? These guys are honestly doing so much for the craft cider market in Ontario. I was able to sit down with Thomas, co-founder of Spirit Tree, to get to sample some of their harder-to-find products. Included with their Reserve and Ice-Cider, was Wassail, a new cider for them.

Here we come a-wassailing....

In English cider-making tradition, every year in January, people would go and wassail to the apple trees. Literally, they were singing to the trees to wake them, and ward off evil spirits, to promote a bountiful harvest. So Spirit Tree named a cider after the tradition. Wassail is a light cider, only 2%abv, but don't be fooled, it is still a lovely rich cider.

[caption id="attachment_2126" align="aligncenter" width="476" caption="Spirit Tree Wassail"][/caption]

Spirit Tree Perry

Fri, 04 May 2012 22:06:58 -0500

Okay, I'm not going to lie, Spirit Tree Perry might well be my awesome discovery from Cider Week. I had enjoyed their Pub Style Cider before, and knew it was lovely, but this Perry came out of nowhere on me. Anyways, I'll tell you more in a minute, but for now: The actual perry. Made from 100% Harrowgold pears grown in Caledon and cold-fermented in their cellar over weeks to maintain a wonderful delicacy. Get ready to be rocked.

[caption id="attachment_2120" align="aligncenter" width="476" caption="Spirit Tree Perry"][/caption]

Thornbury Premium Apple Cider

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:16:45 -0500

If you've been buying cider on draught around Toronto, it's likely you've come across Thornbury Premium Apple Cider. Made in Ontario, Beer Barons has done an excellent job growing Thornbury's presence in the GTA and beyond. From Thornbury Ontario, it is made with 100% fresh (not concentrated) Ontario apples. Let's do this.

[caption id="attachment_2116" align="aligncenter" width="595" caption="Thornbury Premium Apple Cider"][/caption]

Somersby Cider at the LCBO

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:02:11 -0500

Well, this is cider week, and so news should be cider-related, right? I'll cut right to the chase: Somersby Cider, the highly popular draught cider introduced in Toronto last year by Carlsberg, is now available in the LCBO. The product code is #279307 and there is plenty of product around. You can check the stock counts at www.lcbo.ca. Thanks to Sarah for commenting on my post about the Somersby Launch last year, with this info.

Pub Style Cider - Spirit Tree Estate Cidery

Wed, 02 May 2012 01:50:01 -0500

So one of the common complaints by Brits drinking cider in North America, is that it lacks the pop of their beloved cider from the West Country in England. "Scrumpy" cider is a traditional style of cider from Somerset, and certainly has a lot of "pop". Generally cloudy, these ciders are normally made exclusively with cider apples (no "eating" apples, which have more simple sugars), which make for a tart pint. Because they are generally made using centuries-old techniques (and often equipment), they can pick up minor bacteria infections, like Brettanomyces, which adds a drying feeling, and an aroma and taste of saddle blankets/barns. It's better than it sounds, trust me. Real Somerset Scrumpy's are to Strongbow what Chateau Margaux is to Fuzion. Our palates (for the most part), just aren't there yet. But we're working on it, and possibly nobody more so than the good folks at Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in Caledon. Trained in Somerset, their Pub Style Cider is much more "English" in style than a lot of others. Using a traditional 6-8 week fermentation, the cider picks up some Brettanomyces characteristics, but remains complex and delicate. It's always a treat to find it on tap in Toronto, though I know I can generally get it from Brock at Burger Bar. Okay, less talk, more drink.

[caption id="attachment_2100" align="aligncenter" width="527" caption="Pub Style Cider - Spirit Tree Cidery"][/caption]

Duke's Cider - Tree Brewing Co.

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:03:58 -0500

One of the new-comers to the LCBO this year, Duke's Cider is produced by Tree Brewing. From Kelowna BC, Duke's Cider uses a blend of Okanagan apples in its juice. Last year Duke's was the number one craft cider in BC. It is on LCBO shelves as of this week, and it won't surprise anyone if it does really well here, too.

[caption id="attachment_2080" align="aligncenter" width="361" caption="Duke's Cider - Tree Brewing Co."][/caption]

Original Cider - Alexander Keith's (Anheuser-Busch/InBev)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:45:06 -0500

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" wooden crate. Included was a glass, an insulated ice bowl with a partition to separate chilling ice and serving ice, a scoop and a spiral-bound booklet on the cider with pairing recipes. Zowie. This totally tops the locked wooden box I got a while back (and broke into). Now what you need to know: Made under the Keith's name, this cider is actually brewed and packaged in New York state at an Anheuser-Busch brewery. I'll be honest with you: I'm not down with that. At least they print it (in very small, low-contrast letters) on the side of the can, so it's not "hidden". Still. Part of the romance of Keith's is the east-coast of Canada. If it's made by Anheuser-Busch, why not brand it that way? Anyway, let's give it a go.

[caption id="attachment_2067" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Original Cider - Alexander Keith's"][/caption]

Toronto Beer Blog, Cider Week

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:39:39 -0500

Oh yes, it is Cider Week. It's like Shark Week, but with less blood and more alcohol! And less production value. And apples.

"....well I got her number. How do you like them apples?"

Okay, seriously, why the heck am I doing cider week? Well, I like cider. I lost my taste for it a long time ago, but in the past few years have really gotten a passion for it again. While it's obviously different than beer, it is often in roughly the same alcohol range, and is generally served in the same sized containers. It is also something that some homebrewers make, and the BJCP has guidelines for ciders and perrys, so I think it fits. In a more cultural sense, hard ciders (ones with alcohol) are becoming more popular in Ontario. Strongbow, Growers and Magners are seeing all sorts of new challengers. Sir Perry (pear cider, we'll discuss that in a moment) from England, and Thornbury from Ontario have both been around for a while. Last year Carlsberg launched Somersby Cider in Ontario, and it has proven to be very popular. There will be even more gaining traction, and the market will continue to grow, so it seemed fitting to explore it a bit

[caption id="attachment_2083" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="This is an apple, and I took it's picture"][/caption]

Brewer's Plate 2012 - I was totally there

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:02:33 -0500

So I'm a tad bit embarrassed that I'm only getting to this now. If you've been following along, you will remember I posted a while back about Brewer's Plate. The awesome food and beer event at Roy Thompson Hall for charity. Well, I went, and it was awesome.

This year I spent less time note- and picture-taking, and rather acted like a beer enthusiast. Cruising from booth to booth, chatting to the ultra-friendly folks serving some of the best beers in the province, and delicious food from all over the city.

If you're interested in pictures, Toronto Life has some wonderful images from the night here: http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/bottoms/2012/04/20/brewers-plate/attachment/apr12brewersplate1/

So, let's cut to the chase: the homerun pairing, in my books, was the purple carrot cake from The Gladstone Hotel, paired with Denison's Dunkel. While many of the pairings at the event were nice - and I didn't taste a single miss - the sweet savoury cake and rich heady beer were both elevated to a whole other level when taken together. It was mind blowingly amazing. It made me convert verbs into adverbs. Just stellar.

Stuff You Need To Know Today - April 26th 2012

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:58:44 -0500

Yup, the beer world just keeps on turning, and waits for no blogger. There's a few things coming down the pipe worth mentioning, so let's get to it!

Open Season

Indeed, the weather has warmed up (most days) and we all know what that means: Beer festivals. Volo held their Cask Days IPA challenge last weekend, thankfully the weather wasn't too warm, so the casks could happily sit on the patio. Cheers to Volo for both hosting the event, and also winning it with their House Ales Westside 213 IPA. Next up is The Only Cafe's Spring Craft Beer Festival, starting tomorrow at 5pm. Plan on coming early, as the line-up can get daunting later in the night. Admission is free and sample tickets are $1.

10 Bitter Years XI - Black Oak Brewing Co.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:46:27 -0500

Every year, in Munster Indiana, there is a migration of sorts. While it doesn't have the drama of David Attenborough narrating the migrations of the Serengeti, it may well be the largest migration of beer geeks in the western hemisphere. I am, of course, talking about Dark Lord Day. The one day a year you can purchase Three Floyd's Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout. This huge RIS is widely considered one of the best beers in the world, and 6000 geeks, all holding pre-bought tickets, turn up for a festival including beer, food, music, and the star attraction, Dark Lord RIS. Now, Dark Lord Day doesn't happen until the last Sunday in April (though I think it's now sold-out), but there is a similar, if not smaller, migration that has been happening here in Toronto. You see, once again, we are blessed with the production of Black Oak's mighty 10 Bitter Years. Arguably one of the best beers in the country. In anticipation of Black Oak's 10th anniversary last year, the brewing crew dreamt up a double IPA (let's leave the taxonomical arguments for the moment) to represent the 10 years of hard work, and success. Every brewer who creates a recipe hopes it will become a giant, of course, but in the case of 10 Bitter Years, it did. In a big way for a giant. It was immediately adored by the beer geek masses in the city. So much so that it sold out in a ridiculously short period of time. It has won brewing awards, and led to further bitterness on the part of Black Oak's owner, Ken Woods, as he frequently is greeted at events or harassed on the phone for details on when he is making it again. This is literally, a legendary beer in Toronto's beer culture. So, for their anniversary this year, it was obvious that we would see a return of the bitterness, and here it is, Black Oak Brewing's 10 Bitter Years XI.

[caption id="attachment_2044" align="aligncenter" width="476" caption="10 Bitter Years XI - Black Oak Brewing Co."][/caption]

Conductors Craft Ale - Junction Craft Brewing

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:58:15 -0500

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 contract breweries (including Double Trouble, who I work for). Junction is one of the latter, and has already gained a great following for their Conductor's Craft Ale, a hoppy spicy pale ale. Currently, their beer is only available on draught or cask, but they have great coverage, so it isn't hard to find. I got hooked up with a sample to review a while back, when we got our first cask of Super Conductor (Conductor's dry-hopped alter-ego) at Castro's and have been waiting (too long) to review it. Let's do this thing!

[caption id="attachment_2036" align="aligncenter" width="595" caption="Conductors Craft Ale - Junction Craft Brewing"][/caption]

Bolshevik Bastard - Nickel Brook

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:33:17 -0500

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 spoiled, infected etc), but the lager and green apple pilsner just never really set my world on fire either. So I had never gone out of my way to do a review, but Ryan is a great guy, and has been brewing up some new and exciting things. So when he handed me a few of the more recent brews, I was stoked to get to try them. Then life kind of happened, and, like I said, too long later I'm actually posting reviews. I've had the Headstock IPA around town, and it's quite good, so that bodes well. Up first, the Bolshevik Bastard Russian Imperial Stout. Admittedly, a big bold beer to be making, so let's see how it stands up.

[caption id="attachment_2021" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Bolshevik Bastard Russian Imperial Stout - Nickel Brook"][/caption]

Brewer's Plate 2012

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:44:34 -0500

If that title doesn't have you immediately looking up this year's Brewer's Plate (it's here, by the way), perhaps my review of the night from last year is in order. Okay, back with me? Have you headed over to the Brewer's Plate website and bought your ticket yet? Just in case the answer is no, or you are lazy and didn't check either of the links I just gave you, let me help out.

Lake Effect IPA - Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:25:18 -0500

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 Great Lakes Brewery. Each month they brew up a couple of interesting/one-off/sometimes-disturbing beers, and serve them up to legions of fans. Pretty simple really. It's generally hosted at the brewery, though of late they have been taking them afield. The event is nearly always the second Thursday of the month, and the next one (following that pattern) is April 12th, and it will be at the Victory Cafe. As that's about 20 minutes closer to my house than the brewery is, I can only imagine they were sick of me missing them too. When I popped by the brewery to pick up the beer for last Friday's beer break on the Edge, Mike passed me a bottle of Lake Effect IPA too, and I thought reviewing it would be a good way to promote the next Project X. Watch out for more Lake Effect coming up in the months to come.

[caption id="attachment_2015" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Lake Effect IPA - Great Lakes Brewery"][/caption]

Coors Light Iced T - Molson Coors Canada

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:06:00 -0500

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 off, this is not a "craft" or "micro" beer by most people's standards. It's a light beer made by one of the big guys. That being said, Molson Coors have done really well working with Creemore, and Granville Island, and news coming out of the Six Pints camp is sounding promising. So I like to support them when I can. To be fair, I'm not really a consumer of light beers flavoured with whatever. My response to the ones I've had has ranged from unoffended to grossed-out. Indeed, I don't even like drinking light lagers. If I fancy a "light" beer, I'll normally choose a mild or best bitter. But I do like iced tea, and had a nice invite to the tasting, so thought I would go along and see what's up. So the beer: It's Coors Light, which is a flagship brand for Molson Coors, blended in the brewing process with tea and lemons. The brewmasters did a heap of research and trials, working with different types of tea and lemons, and in different combinations. They had a taste profile they were looking for. Once they got where they were aiming, they started consumer testing, and continued tweaking. As you'll read below, where the ended up is not a bad place. The beer will be launched only in Canada to start, and of course will be here in time for summer (though, based on the weather today, it's already late....).

[caption id="attachment_2003" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Not sure if this one is Rocky Mountain cold...."][/caption]

Stuff You Need to Know Today - March 10, 2012

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:43:47 -0500

Phew, it's been a long few weeks. Sorry for the scant updates! Let's get all caught up to speed, so I can fall behind again!

Conflict of Interest

Many of you who follow me on Facebook will already know this, but I got a new job. At the end of January, I officially started working with North American Craft, promoting our own brand, Double Trouble Brewing Co's Hops and Robbers IPA. This is the main reason why posts here have nearly dried up. Between starting in the new position, and the fact that we were preparing for our launch, it's been a very hectic time. Now obviously, this puts me in an interesting position. Many people asked me if I had plans to stop posting here. The easy answer is "no".

Lava – Ölvisholt Brugghús - 2010 and 2011 Vertical Tasting

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:21:31 -0500

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....) these guys are making at least two really incredible beers. Lava, their smoked Imperial Stout, and Skjálfti, their pale ale have both been available at the LCBO. Lava was available in both this past year's Winter Warmer's, as well as the year previous. I had review it as well as Skjálfti in the past. A very friendly fellow from their importing agency, Kevin, got in touch with me this year to let me know Lava was coming back, and asked, if I would like to review the 2011. I told him I would be more than happy, and I would also do a radio beer break with Fred on the Edge about it. You can hear that here: http://www.edge.ca/Blogs/FearlessFred/Home.aspx?BlogID=1001092&Date=12/16/11, we were joined by The Pack AD, who both were very surprised by the beer, and quite enjoyed it. As it turned out, Kevin had a few bottles of the 2010 still, and offered me one, so that I could do a vertical tasting (which is to say, comparing two or more of the same beer, from different vintages). At 9.4%, Lava is a beer that ages well (upright, not sideways like wine, and in a dark cool place). Generally, big beers "round-out" as they age, loosing some of their more brash flavours, and finding more depth and often dry/bitter notes. Needless to say, I'm stoked to be doing this. I've actually been trying to find the time to sit down and do this properly since mid-December, and it's finally happened. So here we go!

[caption id="attachment_1989" align="aligncenter" width="455"] Lava – Ölvisholt Brugghús Vertical Tasting 2010 and 2011[/caption]

Irish Red - Cheshire Valley Brewing

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:26:05 -0500

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 be my desert-island beer now. It's that good. His Robust Porter (which will be arriving at your local bar this week, if your local bar doesn't suck) is just amazing. I could go on. So when I started planning the beer selection for my mother's 64th birthday (which she had decided would be her "big" birthday, as opposed to 60 or 65, "Will you still need me? Will you still feed me? When I'm 64".) an immediate thought was "I wonder if I can get a cask of Cheshire Valley?" So after an email conversation with Paul, it was all settled. One 20 litre cask (a Pin, in our vernacular) of Robust Porter. Until Paul emailed me to say he felt like doing a pilot batch (a small batch) and was wondering if there was a style my Mum was fond of. And there was. She loves red ales. Paul said he would see what he could do, and duly emailed a few days later to say it was in the fermenter. So with excitement akin to Christmas morning, I headed out to Black Oak on Saturday to pick up the beer and transport it to the party location. I must admit to having a lot of pints of this last night, and while I certainly took some quality time with it then, I thought I ought to do a review proper today. And here it is!

[caption id="attachment_1981" align="aligncenter" width="521" caption="Cheshire Valley Irish Red"][/caption]

Project X - Great Lakes Brewery - January 12 2012

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:14:06 -0500

So Project X is not really a new thing. Indeed, I've talked about it various times on this very blog. If you don't know, every month, Great Lakes Brewing Co. hosts an amazing party called Project X. The idea is, people head down to the brewery to drink awesome great lakes beer, usually including a few one-off or specialty brews, often on cask. It's a really great time, and it breaks my heart how often I miss it. But none more than tonight.

[caption id="attachment_1976" align="alignright" width="195" caption="That's Mike Lackey, and that's his beard."][/caption]

You see, tonight, it seems they're taking this overly warm spring-like weather as an opportunity to do a little spring cleaning. This list of beers on offer tonight is just off the hook. Doubt me? Here you go:

Karma Stoutra - curry-spiced stout

Karma Citra - IPA

I saaz her standing There - IPA

No Chance With Miranda - saison

The Ginga Ninja - saison

Same Ol' Citrasaison

Saison du Pump - pumpkin saison

Rye did the Chicken? - saison

Currently Incarcerated - porter

Harry Porter

Vanilla Imperial Stout

Apocalypse Later - Barley Wine

A Waste of Men.....

Sour Mash - sour ale

Belgian Rouge - Belgian red ale

Black Wit - not sure, a dark wit bier?

Ernie Wit - Toronto wit bier

Jalapeno Ale - pepper beer

Here comes the sun (do do doo dooo).

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:50:00 -0500

If you missed it or don't remember, Beau's All-Natural Brewing Co. started a really cool idea last year, of a subscription beer service, where they send you crazy cool special beers, and use the money raised to add solar panels to their brewery. So easy. If you were lucky (and smart) enough to take part, then this is great news for you. If not, this will make you jelous, but mindful the next time they offer up the program, because, let's be honest, it's a killer idea. Here is the press release just in from Beau's this morning.

Local Brewery’s “Beer for Solar Power” Program Continues with New Beer Release

Beau’s fall beer Dunkelbuck, now aged in bourbon barrels, available tomorrow in limited quantities

OTTAWA — (Jan. 11, 2011) Members in Beau’s All Natural’s Greener Futures Program will be issued the newest beer in the series Thursday January 12, a dunkelweizen bock brewed last fall and aged since then in bourbon barrels. Only 400L of this beer has been produced, and is available first and foremost to members of Beau’s Greener Futures Program, which began in 2011.

Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:06:25 -0500

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 what we got. Nøgne Ø has been producing excellent bottle-conditioned ales in Norway since 2002. These beers are quite sought-after here in Ontario, so when the list of beers for winter was released, this was one of the most talked-about bottles on the list. While I've had other products of theirs, this is the first time I will have had the Imperial Stout. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited. As a side note, Nøgne Ø also makes saki. I know, crazy. If you're ever in Norway do try some. Here we go!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout - Sorry about the iPhone picture, long story[/caption]

January 5th Resolutions

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:40:11 -0500

So, I never really do the whole "resolution" thing. I lack resolve, what can I say? Erika always gets annoyed during Lent, because I give up stupid things. Like the year I gave up swimming (success), or the year I gave up fasting (also success). So I find New Year's resolutions kind of silly. Often fueled by a dangerous combination of alcohol and low self-esteem, it's no wonder most don't see the light of Valentine's day. Another significant problem with them is the type of goal. I have had my own experience with corporate leadership training, seven habits, fish principles etc, so I'm no stranger to S.M.A.R.T. goals, and at risk of destroying my hard-won type-B personality, allow me to encourage you to use this format for goal setting, as I am about to. Here are my beer-related January 5th goals for 2012. An added bonus to doing goals this way, especially as a serial-procrastinator, is I can really put my back into them come January 1st 2013, and finish in time.

S.M.A.R.T.

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Time-sensitive

(By the way, I've always felt Covey or whoever copped-out on A/R, as attainable and realistic in this context seem to mean the same thing, but I digress)

A New Blog For the New Year

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:36:01 -0500

Nearly two years ago to the day, I started Toronto Beer Blog, not so much as a resolution, but as a New Year project. Because you're reading this, I would have to say it's enjoyed some success. And so I'm super excited to see another blogger enter the fray as a New Year's resolution. A beer-minded fellow named Greg in New Brunswick has started up the Atlantic Canada Beer Blog, and certainly has a great market to cover. The beers coming out of the East Coast are exciting and continually growing. It will be great to follow along!

Old Rasputin - North Coast Brewing Co.

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:37:02 -0500

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 on beer forums, was North Coast Brewing's Old Rasputin. Aside from the awesomeness of the name, it was regularly referred to in reverential terms that enticed me, to say the least. This is not a beer you can get at the LCBO, even seasonally. However, Gatineau isn't that far away, and while I would never ever endorse transporting alcohol across a provincial border (even if the law against it is being contested as against the charter), I will mention in passing that it is a beer available in Quebec, which geographically is curious. It would have to go over or around Ontario to get there. No matter, let's assume you find yourself presented with an opportunity to drink Old Rasputin. Here is why you should:

[caption id="attachment_1904" align="aligncenter" width="301" caption="Old Rasputin - North Coast Brewing Co."][/caption]

Christmas Shopping 2011

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:56:54 -0500

Well, it's about that time of year again. Head down to the local shop, and prove how much you love your friends and family by spending money on them. Don't send the wrong message; spend up!

Seriously, I would encourage you to have thought about this about 6 weeks ago, and have considered either making a gift (we made a handsome set of building blocks for Ben this year), or have sought out some interesting hand-made items, either at a local artisinal shop or market. This would be a good way to "occupy" against corporate grossness. But it's probably too late for that. You could (and should, if possible), still check out local possibilities, but if you're like me, you're looking for a one-stop solution, with guaranteed results. Well have I got the answer for you: The LCBO. Yup, who doesn't like booze for the holidays? The terrorists, that's who. Here's some awesome quick solutions.

St Ambroise Scotch Ale - McAuslan Brewing Inc

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:56:55 -0500

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 your heart, etc, on cold blustry days like today. But it fits for another reason. Today is Opa's funeral, my wife's grandfather who was 91 when he passed away earlier this week. With a 8 children, a herd of grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, it's fair to say Opa lived "to a ripe old age". Today we will get to celebrate his life, which was incredible and, at times, unbelievable. But as you've probably guessed, Opa was Dutch. So why the Scotch ale? Well, because Opa and Oma lived in Holland during the Nazi occupation in WWII. And the first sound of their liberation from the Nazis, was the sound of bagpipes, as Canadian forces were piped into the city in parade, having broken the German front, and re-taken Amsterdam. So it is entirely appropriate to toast our wonderful, mischievous Dutch Opa, with a glass of Canadian-made Scotch ale.

[caption id="attachment_1919" align="aligncenter" width="538" caption="St Ambroise Scotch Ale - McAuslan Brewing Inc"][/caption]

Winter Ale - Great Lakes Brewery

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:16:35 -0500

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 got there first, walked east along College, and saw a dark little place that looked closed. Then somebody outside it stubbed their cigarette and walked in, which I took to be a good sign. I crossed over and wandered in, and found a dark narrow bar, with a whole heap of taps. Still not being a fully infected beer geek, I was a bit out of my depth. There were familiar European offerings, Steam Whistle, and an assortment of taps, some that I recognized and some I didn't. One of the unfamiliar ones, was a big Christmas tree. It looked so cool, I didn't care what it was, I ordered a pint, and had my first taste of Great Lakes Winter Ale. It was spicy and rich and not like any other beer I had tasted. As well, it was (I think) the first winter seasonal beer I had ever had, so there was a lot wrapped up in that moment; first time at Cloak and Dagger, first Great Lakes seasonal, first winter beer. A year later, I had my beer geek license, and was a bit apprehensive to re-visit the Winter Ale. Would it live up to my memories? How could it? The good news was, while it wasn't a heady romance-filled glass, the beer was still quite pleasing and lovely. It remains one of my favourite Great Lakes seasonals, and a beer I seek out each year, both in bottle and draught.

[caption id="attachment_1911" align="aligncenter" width="301"] Winter Ale - Great Lakes Brewery[/caption]

St Ambroise Special Reserve Russian Imperial Stout - McAuslan Brewing Inc.

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:40:14 -0500

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 excited. That it included their new barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout nearly put me over the edge. This is a style that could go badly wrong; both Russian Imperial Stouts and anything barrel-aged have the potential for disaster. But McAuslan is so damn good at what they do, fear wasn't even on the radar. Just pure excitement. I've actually had to wait quite a while to do this review, but today is the day, and here it is! Now, to clear up a few things. McAuslan is noted for their excellent English-style beers. So why the Russian Imperial Stout, you ask? Well, without delving too deeply (there's a Balrog down there somewhere), Russian Imperial Stouts were stouts, made in England, to be shipped via the Baltic Sea to St. Petersburgh and the courts of Catherine the Great. Not Russian-made stouts. The style has become quite popular in the USA and Canada recently, and is often one of the more sought-after brews from a brewery. This particular iteration is aged in bourbon barrels, which is (sort of) true to form. The originals would have been shipped in oak casks to Russia. I'm no spirit-historian, but I imagine they wouldn't have been Bourbon casks in the days of Catherine. That being said, in today's world, Bourbon barrels are easy to come by. This stems from the fact that *all* Bourbon must be aged in a new barrel. This law means that while finding a cooper (barrel-maker) in, say, Orilla Ontario is probably next to impossible, in Kentucky you are hard pressed not to physically bump into one at your local BBQ joint. It also means that there is a ready source for Bourbon barrels, and brewers are taking advantage of their lovely vanilla-scented staves, and aging beers in them. Phew, let's do this!

[caption id="attachment_1892" align="aligncenter" width="546"] St Ambroise Russian Imperial Stout - McAuslan Brewing Inc[/caption]

Brown Ale - Snowman Brewing - 2011

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:29:04 -0500

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 counter-parts. Having had a celiac grandfather and a wife who generally stays away from gluten, I was interested in the concept of gluten-free beer (despite the fact that I eat gluten like it's going out of style). Of course, what I had found ranged from highly disappointing to just drinkable. If the gluten-free beers available at the LCBO were the only choice, I would drink wine or gin. I had strong opinions that people were being ridiculous, trying to replicate a product where barley was a key ingredient, without using barley. I ranted at whoever would listen, that perhaps a better pursuit would be the development of a good tasting millet product. Not that it would taste like a barley-based beer, in much the same way a wheat beer tastes different, as does a rye beer. Nobody says they're bad because they don't taste like barley. They're different and pleasant on their own. I felt this was truly the future of gluten-free beer. I was wrong. I was lucky enough to meet Kevin and Hirsch, the guys behind snowman brewing, at Volo last year. They politely explained that I was wrong, and their gluten-free brown ale tasted like brown ale, and they gave me a bottle to prove it. I accepted politely, knowing that people always think their home-brew is awesome, and often they are wrong. It turned out that Kevin and Hirsch were much closer to the mark than me. It was actually quite good. It transpires that they weren't 100% happy with that batch, but they were already so far on the way to making a beer-tasting gluten-free beer, I couldn't help but get stoked for them. Since then, we've hung out, drank beers together, and all along, they've been progressing. They've been winning awards, some in the "specialty" category, which is where most gluten-free beers get entered, but more often recently, in the category of the beer style. Against beers that are made with barley. And they've been placing high or winning. For instance, recently at the Canadian Amature Brewing Association "About Ales" competition, both their Brown Ale and Rambam Quad won gold in their categories (brown ales and Belgian-style strong). This is no small achievement.

So now you want some, right? Well, if you've read these in the past, this part has probably been infuriating. Because it's the part when I tell you the beers aren't available commercially. These guys are home-brewers, and don't have a license for production, so they can't sell their beer. Unless you happened to get handed one from them, or judge a competition they had entered, you were pretty much out of luck. But have I got good news for you. A little while ago, they partnered with Black Oak Brewing Co., took their set-up to Black Oak's brewery, and made a licensed batch of a new recipe, their "Pail Ale" pale ale. This will be released in an ultra-limited amount, at Burger Bar in Kensington Market, on December ~~21st~~ 22nd (booking problem sorted, now it's on the 22nd), starting at 7pm. So while you still can't just pop into your local LCBO and grab a case, we're moving in the right direction. So, now it's time to revisit that first recipe of theirs I had, the Brown Ale. Kevin and Hirsch have grown as brewers, has the beer?

[caption id="attachment_1881" align="aligncenter" width="538" caption="Brown Ale - Snowman Brewing"][/caption]

Deviator Doppelbock - Cameron's Brewing Co.

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:49:03 -0500

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 Stouts, Doppelbocks, spiced ales, Belgian-style ales, and barleywines. So when Cameron's dropped me a few of their new Deviator Doppelbocks, it was another drop in the Christmas-is-coming bucket. Cameron's makes a solid line-up of year-round beers in their 30 Hec brewhouse, and about a year ago, installed a pilot system for the brewing crew to get to play a bit. There have been many notable beers to come out of that spirit of innovation, though many have been limited to brewery or one-off events. Deviator Doppelbock is one of the first to be widely publicized, even if it is very limited in quantity. Doppelbocks are a style many people in Ontario aren't all that familiar with. There's the famous (and textbook) Paulaner Salvator, which is one of the original versions, but even that is not a beer you see on the aisle end shelves at the LCBO. Which is a shame: in a micro-beer-world high on hops and the word "imperial", doppelbocks are big complex beers that can stand alongside any Russian Imperial Stout. Malty, sweet and boozy, with enough hops to be noticed, but never to be in the centre ring, doppelbocks have a storied past. It is said that Frater Barnabus would serve a glass to the Duke of Bavaria, and had audience with him for the duration of the drink. Given the weight and alcohol, it meant he had plenty of time to hit the Duke up for goats or whatever German monks needed in the 1700s. "Salvator" has long been the name associated with the style, so many other versions from the original used terms ending in "-ator" In Cameron's version, they pay homage to Krampus, the demonic friend of St Nicholas who went along with him to warn and punish evil doers and deviants. He was the Deviator. Prost!

[caption id="attachment_1871" align="aligncenter" width="538" caption="Deviator Doppelbock - Cameron's Brewing Co."][/caption]

Canadian Beer News Dinner Series - Beau's and Doug McNish - December 6th 2011

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:09:54 -0500

I got a note from Greg Clow, of Canadian Beer News a few days back, about an exciting series he will be presenting coming up. Below is the official press release, but allow me a moment to editorialize: Greg is a well known and respected beer writer in Toronto. He knows his stuff, and is passionate in sharing about it. Beau's, as you know if you read here often, is one of my favourite brewers and just does amazing things all the time. While I don't know Doug McNish, I know of him, and his work in vegan cooking is unparalleled. That this event will be an amazing time goes without saying. At just $95 for the whole she-bang, the value is incredible. Also, tickets are going fast, so don't wait, get yours now at www.organicbeerandvegandinner.eventbrite.com.

CANADIAN BEER NEWS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF A NEW BEER DINNER SERIES

First Dinner To Feature An Organic Brewery & Gourmet Vegan Chef In One Of Toronto's Landmark Venues

TORONTO, ON (November 21, 2011) – Canadian Beer News, one of Canada's leading sources of beer industry news and information, is pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Beer News Dinner Series. This ongoing series of dinners will bring together some of Canada’s top craft breweries and beer importers with outstanding chefs and restaurants to create unique and exciting beer and food pairing experiences.

For the debut dinner on Tuesday, December 6th, the organic beers of Beau’s All-Natural Brewing will be served alongside a gourmet vegan meal prepared by Chef Doug McNish, all presented in the luxurious surroundings of The Windsor Arms Hotel. Each course will be paired with a different beer presented by Beau’s co-founder Steve Beauchesne – including rarities from the brewery’s “Wild Oats Series” and “Greener Futures Bourbon Barrel Aged Series” – and Chef McNish’s healthy, hearty and beer-friendly creations will prove that there is much more to vegan food than tofu and sprouts.

On Home Delivery and Bureaucracy

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:08:16 -0500

Unless they alter their course, and there's no reason why they should, they'll reach your plantation in two days at the latest.

A little while ago, I heard news of a neat service in Ottawa. Beau's Brewing had organized a cool delivery program for their products. As Beau's seems always to do, it was a savvy plan, benefitting everybody: the brewery, the customer and the community. Don't believe me? Here you go: Beau's partnered with Operation Come Home, a group that works with at risk youth in the Ottawa area, providing them with training and options for work, to help them make a future for themselves. They have worked together in the past, so it was a natural pairing. The plan was, OCH would train a few drivers to deliver products, including beer, from the Beau's brewery, to a fair distribution area in Ottawa. OCH did the leg-work of getting a delivery license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (the folks who issue all alcohol permits in the province). Note this point, please. They had applied and been approved by the AGCO. As in, the AGCO had reviewed their application, considered it in light of their own policies and the law of the province, and issued them a license. I know this sounds redundant, but it will be important later. So, starting yesterday, a customer in a certain area around Ottawa, was able to go online, purchase things from Beau's online store (both merchandise and beer) and have it delivered to their home. There was a $15 surcharge for the service, part of which is required by the province, but all of which went back to OCH, to continue their work in the community (they could only issue tax receipts for $8.25 of the amount, the rest was considered a cost of delivery).

Sounds good right? I mean, what could you have against this? It's a wonderful charitable plan, where everyone wins.

[caption id="attachment_1855" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="Steve and Tim Beauchesne - Father & Son owners of Beau's Brewing Co."][/caption]

Grande Reserve 17 2011 - Unibroue

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:27:34 -0500

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 brewing, even after being bought out Sleeman, and subsequently Sapporo. Makers of the renowned Fin du Monde, Maudite, Trois Pistoles, Blanche du Chambly and many others, Unibroue deserves its reputation. But what happens to a brewery like this when you get a new head brewer? In some cases, destruction. For Unibroue, though, in 2007 when Jerry Vietz took over, more success followed. The first beer Jerry created was 17, to celebrate their 17 anniversary. Three years later, when they entered bottled versions of that vintage to the World Beer Awards in England, it won the highly coveted Best Dark Ale, and was widely proclaimed "The Best Beer in the World". This bottle is a new batch off the same recipe. It has been released to the LCBO, and it's moving quick. While it should be quite a nice beer now in 2011, come 2014 (apocalypse notwithstanding) it will be massive. Let's do this!

[caption id="attachment_1845" align="aligncenter" width="470" caption="Unibroue Grande Reserve 17 2011"][/caption]

St Ambroise India Pale Ale - McAuslan Brewing Inc

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:15:11 -0500

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, their Citrouille is probably my favourite pumpkin beer; the list goes on. Needless to say, I was more than happy to receive a selection of their current line-up, including this, their India Pale Ale, as well as their Scotch Ale and new Russian Imperial Stout. Now, I know that McAuslan makes some very authentic English-style ales, despite being located in Montreal (okay, in a suburb, whatever). Despite the explosive (dare I say "unlikley") rise of IPAs in the United States, I suspect that this will be a much more British IPA, and I'm well excited.

[caption id="attachment_1837" align="aligncenter" width="538" caption="For the geeks: something went real wrong with the WB on this pic, but I didn't realize till too late. Artistic interpretation was the best I could do. For the non-geeks: Oh look, beer!"][/caption]

Mocha Porter - Lake of Bays Brewing Co.

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:39:53 -0500

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 production of exciting beers. I would consider a Mocha Porter like this, exciting. But their flag-ship Pale Ale was anything but plain and simple. So what's in store for the Mocha Porter? Well, here's what I know about it: It was a cooperative project between a few different companies in cottage-country; Savour Muskoka, a group dedicated to promoting food and drink in the Muskoka region; Diesel House coffee roasters, a coffee roaster in Bracebridge; and The Griffin Gastropub, the mighty pub of Curt Dunlop and Jed Corbeil. Using inspiration from The Griffin and Savour Muskoka, and coffee from Diesel House, they brewed up a beer for those cold winter months in Muskoka. Sounds good to me!

[caption id="attachment_1824" align="aligncenter" width="301"] Mocha Porter - Lake of Bays Brewing Co.[/caption]

Stuff You Need To Know - November 12, 2011

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:45:43 -0500

Oh boy. It's been a while since I've done one of these. Usually I do it, because I'm totally swamped in announcements and stuff, and today is no different. So get your day-timers and maybe a sandwich and let's do this.

Baby-daddy

Yeah, a lot of you probably already know this, but my wife, Erika, is due imminently (like, the due date is today) with our second child. This means I'll either post a lot less for a bit, or more, or maybe about the same. Got it?

You already knew it was Movember

I'm guessing you've seen more facial hair above men's lips recently, and not just on hipsters. Yes indeed, it's Movember, the month when every dude's partner has to let him grow a moustache, because it's for charity. I've got one. So do a bunch of guys I know. We're all doing it, and for many of these guys, it will look silly and dumb for the whole month, but that's cool, because it's for charity. So we might as well party, right? Good news, there's plenty of mo-friendly options:

Pale Ale - Lake of Bays Brewing Co.

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:49:50 -0500

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 cottage outside Bala, and I started going to Muskoka Woods Sports Resort in Rosseau. I am no stranger to Ontario's cottage playground. I remember being really excited the first time I had a bottle of Muskoka Brewing's Cream Ale while at my cottage, thinking it was so cool to be drinking a beer made about a 30 minute drive from my dock. So I was very interested when I heard Lake of Bays was getting their own brewery. I say interested, because I know a lot of the technical difficulties around running a brewery north of the city. It's generally a boom/bust economy, where you have to make the lion's share of your income in a the few warm months when you're inundated with tourists, so you can weather the financial drought of the winter. In an effort to off-set that, you might think about making a product that appeals to the rubber-booted folks wearing the so-called "Kenora Dinner Jacket". Namely, a simple lager that is virtually indistinguishable from beers named for colours or nationality. I actually wouldn't even mind, as long as the brewer in question still was interested in making other brews as well. So when I was finally able to try Lake of Bays Pale Ale, I was hopeful, but not overly expectant. I didn't think it would be bad, but as the flag-ship I assumed it would be more than a little easy to approach. Let's say, I was pleasantly wrong.....

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Lake of Bays Pale Ale"][/caption]

Gluten Free Maple Stout - Snowman Brewing

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:17:43 -0500

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 awful. But they were. I then met the good dudes at Snowman Brewing, and tried their brown ale. I was very happy that it was a lot better than the other stuff, but it still wasn't a home-run. Another gluten-free beer hit the market, and I gave it a go. It was in the first group of beers. I began to speculate, that perhaps the attempts of these beers was misguided. They were trying to use grains other than barley, to make a barley-like beverage. It seemed like a losing concept. Further, there were already beers made with grains (albeit gluteny ones) that weren't barley. Nobody ever complained that a wheat beer didn't taste like a pilsner, because it's not supposed to. It's supposed to taste like it's made with wheat. Which is to say: Different. I felt that perhaps everybody would be better suited to trying to produce a beer with a gluten-free grain, that just tasted good. Like barley-based ale? No, but tasty in it's own right. This was my thinking. Then Kevin and Hirsch from Snowman changed my mind. These guys are making totally gluten-free beers, that taste like regular beer. Sometimes the body or head retention might not be "just so", but they taste a lot better than even some micro-brewed versions of the same style, made with the advantage of barley. That they are doing this in a garage, not a production facility, gives me great hope. And it has changed my mind. I would have no problem if, in the future, people made Quinoa beers that had a notably different taste compared to barley beers. But there is no reason gluten-free beers that try to taste like established styles have to suck so badly. Here's further proof:

[caption id="attachment_1807" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Gluten Free Maple Stout - Snowman Brewing"][/caption]

"Mmmmm, it actually tastes like beer" - Erika Schryer, gluten-free for over a year

Oxford Companion to Beer - Is it a reference or a drama?

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:37:58 -0500

Oh boy. While I'm not really surprised that there is some level of controversy around the Oxford Companion to Beer, just how much, and how polemic it's become is a bit shocking.

[caption id="attachment_1689" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The Oxford Companion to Beer - Tome or Tomb? Okay, that makes no sense. Sorry."][/caption]

If you haven't been following along, let me set the scene for you. Garrett Oliver, as the Editor in Chief, released the long-awaited Oxford Companion to Beer. Immediately, beer geeks started reporting errors/inaccuracies in the text. With our handy friend the internet, this is not remotely unexpected (Worst.Article.On.Isovaleric.Acid.Ever) Notably, for instance, the exclusion of Centennial hops, when pretty well every other variety is listed. Alan McLeod, of A Good Beer Blog (and Canadian to boot!), set-up a wiki, to address errors in the book, with an eye to the second edition. Martyn Cornell, blogger at http://zythophile.wordpress.com/, writer and noted beer historian came out with a post really tearing into the Companion, which lead to an equally impassioned response by Garrett on Alan's blog, and a subsequent follow-up by Martyn on that post (this is getting confusing...). Now, just about everybody in the beer scene seems to have an opinion, and in many cases, it looks like battle lines are being drawn.

Job Posting - Brewery Operations Manager - Near Paradise

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:56:27 -0500

That is not just a clever title. This, indeed is a job posting for a Brewery Operations Manager, and the company is in the Bahamas. Those geography nuts reading will know that Paradise is an island in the Bahamas.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="They have real palm trees and everything"][/caption]

Look at that picture. Now picture Toronto in February. Back to the picture; back to TO in Feb. See? This is your chance to take all your great Canadian brewing experience, and head to the sunny south. Bikinis and rum and coconuts and summer 365. While we're pushing our cars out of snowbanks to fight through horrible traffic where you're seconds away from sliding into parked vehicles, you will be walking to the brewery in flip-flops with sand in your toes.

Brooklyn Brew Shop's Beer Making Book

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:28:31 -0500

[caption id="attachment_1788" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Brooklyn Brew Shop's Beer Making Book"][/caption]

Some of you will know that I'm a chef by training. As in, I trained in French cuisine and did my 5000 hour apprenticeship in a French Bistro. Among other things, what this means is, I own a lot of cookbooks. I get a lot given to me, and I have bought a fair few myself. Despite not really using recipes, per se, I use cookbooks all the time, for general direction, inspiration and guidance. So when I got an email about a beer "cookbook" for homebrewers, and read some of the opening pages, this quote stuck out for me:

When you first learn how to cook, you follow every instruction in a recipe. You buy full jars of spices, prep all the ingredients, preheat the oven, and then run back to the store to pick up that one item you forgot. And you worry, maybe, that you didn't add enough salt. What is a "pinch" anyway? But when you take the roasted pork-chops out of the oven or taste your butternut-squash soup and realize that you've made a meal that's not only edible but also delicious, it's magic. So you do it again. You discover that oil works instead of butter. Or that roasting pine nuts really does make a difference in flavour and that you don't need to check the thermometre to know when to take a chicken out of the oven. You stop reading the recipes and, instead, make up your own

The Brooklyn Brew Shop's Beer Making Book is a guide, written for people to learn how to brew in their own kitchen. There are directions to get set up, tips for small-batch brewing, as well as a recipe for every week for a year. But the beauty is, the thrust of the book is to get people to start thinking for themselves when they brew. And I like that.

Carlsberg - Still the most savvy brewer around

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:56:21 -0500

Okay, I know, Carlsberg isn't exactly a"craft" brewery. But as I've said before, I don't mind their product, especially places where more "carfty" options aren't on the table. Plus, I really genuinely love their marketing campaigns. I have no idea if this is real, if the people in the ads were really movie goers, but it's hard not to love, either way. A great ad, all in all!

Cask Days 2011 - Start Planning

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:07:19 -0500

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="290" caption="Oh yes....."][/caption]

Cask Days is coming. Specifically, it's Sunday October 30th. That should be enough. If you've been to Cask Days before hit up http://www.caskdays.com/ and get your tickets. I'll see you there.

Okay, I realize that a lot of you might not be familiar with Cask Days, so let me elaborate, though seriously consider just buying your tickets now: they're going fast. You can read my pitch once you're done.

So, many of you will know that I am not alone in my reverential view of Bar Volo, on Yonge St, north of Wellesly. To say that Ralph Morana and his bar are one of the most influential entities in the Ontario beer scene is an understatement indeed. From importing stellar beers through their own agency, Keep6 Imports, including getting some of those beers on the shelves at the LCBO, to starting their own brewery in the kitchen of the bar, Volo is right on the pulse of the beer heart-beat in Toronto. Additionally, since 2005, they have played host to one of the most anticipated festivals in the province, namely, Cask Days.

The Rambam - Gluten-free Belgian Quad - Snowman Brewing

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:14:42 -0500

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 non-related) I also love bread and pasta. See where I'm going? I'm a bit of a gluten freak. My wife somewhat recently went gluten-free. This means I make two pizzas, two pastas, and toast out of two breads. I suppose I could just bite the bullet and eat the gluten-free stuff, but I don't. I just really love gluten. I wonder, what would happen if I couldn't have gluten. My grandfather was a pretty severe celiac, so I've got a long history with gluten-free diets. I also already have a pretty "alternative" diet anyways, and to be fair, for more money you can get some pretty reasonable substitutes. Except beer. If you live in Ontario, like me, you're limited to three gluten-free beers (One from New York, one from Quebec and one from Ontario). I'm not going to name them individually and grade them, but I will say, I don't really like any of them. It's not that they're not wet and cold, which is what many beer drinkers look for; they are. But they really don't live up to my expectations of "beer". So, a year ago, when a young man told me he made the best gluten free beer in Ontario, I assumed that he was just a passionate salesman, and nothing else. When the brown ale that Kevin Snow gave me turned out to actually be pretty good, I was surprised. Kevin and Hirsch (the minds and hands behind Snowman Brewing) and I have been in regular contact since, and from what they tell me, they keep getting better and better. They've built a larger-scale malting unit, and also a temperature-controlled fermenting area (to make lagers). They've been playing with different styles and recipes, and have been showing very well in competitions. And note, they are showing well, not in "specialty" categories (which is where gluten-free beers are generally entered), but in the normal category, against beers that have malted barley in them. This, in of itself, is high praise indeed.

[caption id="attachment_1765" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The Rambam - Gluten-free Quad - Snowman Brewing"][/caption]

Equity For Punks - Canadians can buy BrewDog stock too

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:34:00 -0500

So, great-auntie what's-her-name died, and left you a whack of money? The wise and concerned friend would say something like, "Don't just blow it on beer". I, however, am not your wise and concerned friend. I think you should blow it on beer. But not just on beer that you drink (though, I expect that you'll do that too, and ideally share to your local, witty, beer-blogging, unwise and unconcerned friend). No dear friend, I think you should blow it on a brewery. And not just any brewery, but BrewDog, those wacky Scots who have now become the biggest independent brewer in Scotland. Shall I offer you more to convince you? I'll let James and Martin do what they do best; make a great looking video to explain.

Equity for Punks 2011 from BrewDog on Vimeo.

pumking - Southern Tier Brewing Co - 2011

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:45:50 -0500

So, if you've been reading this blog for a while (like, a year, at least), you will know I actually reviewed this beer last year. I don't expect that they have changed the recipe or anything, but it's a good idea to re-review beers from time to time, and as well, I really like this one, so I needed an excuse to buy it. Southern Tier is a renowned brewer in Lakewood, New York, known for making some pretty big hoppy brews. pumking is also considered by many to be the best pumpkin ale in the USA. This is quite a pedigree, so let's see how it translates in the glass!

[caption id="attachment_1739" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="pumking - Southern Tier Brewing Co."][/caption]

St Ambroise Citrouille - McAuslan Brewing Inc

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:30:34 -0500

It's pumpkin weekend at my place, at least in terms of beer. Friday Fred and I drank pumpkin beer on the Edge, yesterday I reviewed Shipyard's ferocious Imperial Pumpkin Ale, "Smashed Pumpkin". Today, I'm going to do a review of one of the pumpkin beers that helped convert me to a fan of pumpkin beers, St Ambroise Citrouille by McAuslan Brewing, or "The Great Pumpkin", as they call it in English markets. It should come as no surprise that it was a McAuslan beer that helped hold my hand over the threshold into the glorious mansion of pumpkin beers. I'm a huge fan of both McAuslan's Oatmeal Stout, and their incredible Pale Ale. Their Apricot Wheat beer, while not my favourite, is a really well-respected fruit beer, and Citrouille is a standard in the LCBO every fall, and a regular in my beer fridge this time of year.

[caption id="attachment_1733" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="St Ambroise Citrouille - McAuslan Brewing Inc"][/caption]

Smashed Pumpkin - Shipyard Brewing Co

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:40:19 -0500

Ah, is there anything better than the smell of baking pumpkin pie to say "It's fall"? The sweet earthy aromas of the squash we love to carve, the warm aromatic spices, like clove, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, and the sweet biscuity crust make for what is (clearly) one of my favourite parts of the season. So it is surprising that it wasn't until recently that I really started to appreciate good pumpkin beers. For a long time, these rich complex beers only got, at best, a "meh" from my palate. But whether due to better availability, or a more refined palate, I now regularly indulge in pumpkin beers through the fall months. If you haven't, and perhaps didn't even know about pumpkin beers, allow me a moment to explain: These are not some new trend in brewing, using a perceived "extreme" ingredient. Rather, pumpkin brewing dates back to the original brewers in Colonial North America. Remembering that our forebears didn't move west to the plains for some time, there wasn't exactly an abundance of barley on the eastern seaboard when they arrived (incidentally, Plymouth Rock wasn't so much a target, as an escape route; the pilgrims were wary of the sea, and worse, were running dangerously low on beer. Serious, look it up). As many of you fine readers will know, you need fermentable sugar to make beer. This is normally found in the form of barley, wheat, and sometimes other grains such as rye, millet, and God forbid, corn and rice. But, as I said, the original brewers of the west weren't exactly drowning in grain. In fact, most of the initial crops of grain they harvested were from seeds they had brought from Europe, and were not exactly suited to our climate. Crops were tenuous at best. Enter the pumpkin. Related to zucchini and other squashes, the pumpkin is native to North America, and was (literally) foreign to the early settlers. They quickly learned it was fairly drought-hardy, and had both flesh and seeds which were not only edible, but tasty. The sweet flesh obviously presented itself to some enterprising brewer (probably a woman) and became part of the mash, as it was cheap accessible fermentable sugar. And so pumpkin ale was born. In fact, one of the earliest recipes for pumpkin "beer" would actually be better classified as wine; there was no grains in it at all. So it was, that many an early American and (I'm guessing perhaps) Canadian enjoyed pumpkin beer. These days, due to the main source of pumpkin in our diet being pie-related, brewers generally spice the brew with the usual suspects of pie: cloves, cinnamon, ginger and allspice. Regardless, when you sip a hardy, rich pumpkin beer, you are partaking in a piece of North American brewing history; something we did first, and still do best. I can raise a glass to that; heck, I'll raise this one.

[caption id="attachment_1729" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Smashed Pumpkin - Shipyard Brewing Co."][/caption]

Barrel Bragging Rights - The Spectacles

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:26:09 -0500

Okay, if you're a beer fan and live in and around Toronto, one would hope you've heard of Toronto Beer Week. It's starting this Friday, with a host of excellent events, and you should definitely plan on attending a fair few. Details on the week and events, etc are here: http://www.TorontoBeerWeek.com. The first day, Friday September 18th, features the ceremonial cask-tapping at Amsterdam Brewery, and later on, the Barrel Bragging Rights event at the Monk's Table.

Barrel Bragging Rights is an event planned initially by Mike Werner, from A Year of Beer, who later found that Adam Grant from The Monk's Table had a similar idea. It was a natural fit to have Adam host the event, as aside from being a stellar beer-bar, The Monk's Table also has plenty of space. The concept of the event is simple in approach: pair a beer writer with a brewer, and get them to make beer. Serve these beers in a blind tasting event, and let the public decide who gets the bragging rights. Adam added an interesting element; he had a bunch of small (5 and 7 litre) oak barrels to serve the beer out of. Some pairs used these to age their beers on oak, while others are just serving out of them. Aside from a bit (or a lot) of taste, these barrels also help with the blind serving.

Escondidian Imperial Black IPA - Stone Brewing Co.

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:14:00 -0500

Okay, if you're not familiar with Stone Brewing Co. of California, I will assume you're from Ontario, and give you some grace for our common geographical lacking. If everyone else will give me a moment to chat to my Ontario cohorts. Stone is one of the top brewers in the states, producing some amazing beers, including Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Ruination IPA, Stone Levitation Ale and many others. It's just (go figure), you can hardly get them here in Ontario. I was lucky enough to share this bottle with Stephen Beaumont yesterday (among others) and just had to take notes for a review. Stone created this beer for their 15th anniversary, and it's a big one. Befitting a brewer of their calibre. Let's see how my notes held up....

[caption id="attachment_1705" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Escondidian Imperial Black IPA - Stone Brewing Co."][/caption]

The Oxford Companion to Beer - A Brief Review

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:17:18 -0500

Quick, think: You are about to be dropped on a desert island where the only thing preventing you from being consumed by the cannibalistic natives is beer knowledge; what one book would you take with you? Well, there are many excellent books on the history of beer, numerous fine tomes on the production of beer, multiple lovely diatribes on specific styles or regions, and at least two quirky reads that would easily fit in the "humour" section. Until now, however, there hasn't been a complete, encyclopedic compendium of beer information. So it's been with no small amount of excitement that the beer community has been awaiting the release of the Oxford Companion to Beer, edited by Garrett Oliver.

[caption id="attachment_1689" align="aligncenter" width="400"] The Oxford Companion to Beer[/caption]

Hop Head IPA - Tree Brewing Co.

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:11:49 -0500

I know we've talked about this before, but it's just a fact: There are a lot of awesome IPAs from the west coast. Now I'll add the usual caveat: I consider anything west of Regina "West Coast", which makes calling a beer from Tree Brewing out of Kelowna BC, "West Coast". I have done this ever since a BC-born friend of mine referred to me, with no joking in his voice, as an "East Coaster". I found this interesting, as there is about 1000km between where I live and where the ocean is. According to Google I can actually be in salt water quicker by heading north (if I'm flying, and seriously, who wold drive?) and going to James Bay, which is only about 800km away. So, mini-geography lesson aside, Tree brewing is in Kelowna, which is the west coast, if you ask me. And the west coast is known for hella hoppy IPAs. As you can see from the picture below, I can assure you before I do this review, that Tree's Hop Head IPA fits into this stereotype perfectly. The quick-witted among you might question, "well say now, Chris, that sounds great. But where did you get this beer? Surely not from Kelowna?" Nay, fellow-beer-enthusiasts. The good folks at the LCBO decided to bring this one in, and it's available a lot of LCBO locations. Check for #256586 or look here to see if it's near you. Enough talk, let's taste this beer (again). A word of warning, the review gets a little weird. Apparently I'm in a funny mood. Hope you enjoy, I did....

[caption id="attachment_1684" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Hop Head IPA - Tree Brewing Co."][/caption]

Miami Weiss - Great Lakes Brewery

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:50:16 -0500

Ah Great Lakes, you and your crazy names. Robohop, Does the Muumuu make me look hefe?, and the classic, Miami Weiss (say it. Remember, that "W" is pronounced like a "V" in German). Miami Weiss, up until now, has only been available on draught at bars in southern Ontario and at festivals, where it is often served in a dry-hopped cask version. The funny thing about it, is it's not a weisse beer. It would more accurately be called a pale ale, with a lot of wheat in the grain bill. But you've got to love the name. It's available for a limited time at the LCBO, and often found at bars around Toronto.

[caption id="attachment_1678" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Miami Weiss - Great Lakes Brewery"][/caption]

Dunkel Buck - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co.

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:04:11 -0500

Okay, I know, I kind of go on and on about Beau's. But seriously, this is one of the coolest friendliest breweries out there. And they just keep on making awesome beers. Many of you will be familiar with their "Wild Oats" series, which are special batches of beers they make seasonally. Vrienden, Bog Father, and Winterbrewed all pop to mind. So of course, when I heard about their new Wild Oats, No. 10 "Dunkel Buck", I was excited. Beer from one of my favourite breweries named after one of my favourite films from my youth. It's hard to imagine it could go wrong. The style of beer is a Dunkel Weisse beer, the dark strong Bavarian-style wheat beer. For comparison, you might have had Schneider-Weisse Aventinus, which is an excellent benchmark. Let's see how this goes!

[caption id="attachment_1673" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Dunkel Buck - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co."][/caption]

Hop Yard Pale - Garrison Brewing

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:27:58 -0500

Sorry, it's been a while. Turns out Toronto Beer Week can really take up the free time! The good news is, TBW is going to be even better this year (hard to imagine, I know). But while I'm trying to reclaim my computer from so yet-to-be-determined problem, I decided it was high time I get back on the bloggy review wagon. I had this bottle tempting me in my beer fridge for a while. The last of a six that I was trying hard to keep for review. Some of you will remember the spectacular Garrison Imperial Pale from last year. Hop Yard Pale is it's kid-brother. A bit less aggressive than the Imperial, it is still a heavy-hitter. I have actually probably bought eight or so sixes of this. And this is my last bottle (though I believe it's still available at a bunch of LCBOs). This alone should be review enough: I would rather drink it than write about it. But a man with a blog must endure much hardship, so here we go.

Toronto Festival of Beer - Get your photos in!

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:03:05 -0500

Hey friends. If you participated in my photo scavenger hunt, now is the time to pick the winners, and get them to me somehow. Friend me on Facebook and tag me in the album, or send me the link to your flickr feed or tumblr address and I'll get the judging going. I've got some sweet prizes from TAPS, Black Oak, Beau's and Carlsberg. Get those submissions in by midnight tomorrow!

FastLane Annual August Patio Party - Molson Coors

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:25:21 -0500

In the business of the past weekend with Toronto's Festival of Beer as well as Ben's birthday, I got an email inviting me to Molson Coors hosted party. It's an opportunity for young professionals to get together, do some networking, eat some food and drink beers paired with the food under the direction of a cicerone. Sure, I'm betting I'll get some Molson M or Sublime or something, but I'm also hopeful they will take the chance to introduce people to Creemore and Graville Island; even that new Rickard's Blonde is tasty enough. I'm excited to go, and will report back fully on Wednesday. Here's the official information, why not come out too? Tickets are still available:

FastLane presents:
Annual August Patio Party
brought to you by Molson Coors

Nothing says summer like a good party, good food, great beer and even better company. This summer, we are cranking up the heat, turning the party out and bringing it to a hot new patio.

Expect all the fun, chic and exciting you've come to associate with FastLane, but on August 9th, swirl in an extra twist to your drink and hors d'oeuvres combo because we'll be providing four additional beer samples with thoughtfully selected food pairings as guided by our Molson Coors cicerone.

Toronto's Festival of Beer - Digging through the details

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:46:16 -0500

Monday morning. Sky is blue, there's a lovely breeze off the lake as I walk the dogs after breakfast. To be honest, I'm actually feeling in pretty good form. A little rough around the edges, a few cobwebs, sore legs and the linger in my mouth of a *really* big cigar; nothing too bad. I took in the colour and pageantry of Toronto Festival of Beer yesterday, and worked really hard to be in working condition today. Mission accomplished. I also headed down to bandshell park Thursday night, for Queer Beer Fest; it's time to share some of my highlights and battle stories.

[caption id="attachment_1651" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="It probably would have been less elaborate if I was in worse shape."][/caption]

BBbarfly teams up with Sunnybrook Hospital

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:22:22 -0500

The coolest bottle opener just got a little more cool. I got this note a little while back from Brian Becker, co-owner of BBbarfly. I love seeing companies team up with charitable organizations; well done BBbarfly!

Thinking about beer? Think about your brain and donating to Sunnybrook Hospital stroke research, says BBbarfly.

Red Racer IPA - Central City Brewing

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:18:38 -0500

A lot of people bang on about BC here in Toronto. The trees are bigger, the people cooler, the air fresher, the sushi better. You've probably heard it. Lord knows I have. Not having been west since I was three, I'm really in no place to rebut any of those claims, however, I can certainly support one: There are some killer beers. We've been blessed to have Tree Brewing's Hop Head IPA, and now our friends and heroes at Keep6 Imports have gotten in Red Racer IPA, the pride of Surrey BC. Central City won "Brewery of the Year" at last year's CBA's, and Red Racer IPA was voted best beer in BC 2008-2009 by CAMRA Vancouver. A nice pedigree to be sure. I've already worked my way through a fair few of these cans, and I would encourage you to do so as well. As a side note, I decided to use this picture, not just because it shows the beer in front of a bike, but because it shows the beer in front of the really awesome bike we just got Ben for his 3rd birthday, demonstrating what cool parents Erika and I are.

[caption id="attachment_1642" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Red Racer IPA - Central City Brewing"][/caption]

Wednesday Toronto Festival of Beer Contest

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:06:20 -0500

Yup, it's Wednesday, and I've got a 4-pack of tickets to The Queer Beer Festival, Tomorrow night (Thursday, August 4th). Want them? Three questions. All correct responses will be pooled and I'll let PHP randomly select a winner. Entries must be recieved by 10pm tonight (August 4th). Oh, and you will need to come to the east end (I live in the Beach) to pick up the passes. We'll coordinate, but I won't have time to drop them off.

Monday Toronto Festival of Beer Contest

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:01:42 -0500

- Just a note to everyone: Thanks for entering, this contest is now closed, but watch out for another give-away later today (Wednesday August 3) -

So, hopefully you all know I'm running a little contest suring TFOB, a photo scavenger hunt. And perhaps you really want to participate, but you haven't gotten passes yet, and you're worried how. Well, you can buy passes at beerfestival.ca, but if you're like me, you prefer to win stuff. Who doesn't? The terrorists, that's who. Anyways, you want to win a pair of passes to Sunday's leg of the fest? It's easy. It will take you all of about 30 seconds. Use the form below and the power of the internet, and win! First correct response wins a pair.

Toronto Festival of Beer Photo Scavenger Hunt

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:59:39 -0500

So, you might remember from my earlier post on TFOB, that I'm running a photographic scavenger hunt during the festival. The deal is, take pictures of the stuff on the list below, upload them to Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr or whatever, and share them with me. I'm looking for pictures that will make me smile; both humour and artistry are appreciated. You do not need to submit a picture for every item on the list; quality over quantity. Please make sure you title each picture you submit with what number it corresponds to, and add a creative title, if you would like. Images can be taken anywhere inside bandshell park during the three days of Toronto's Festival of Beer or The Queer Beer Fest. Please don't break any laws, either legal or ethical, in the capturing of these images.

There will be three top prizes, as well as some honourable mentions for specific "stuff".

Deadline for submissions is Friday, August 12th at 11:59pm EST.

One Million Sorries

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:15:36 -0500

I cannot say enough how sorry I am. I supported a server company, and they pretty much took advantage of my love. I was burned. They left me out to dry, and you all have been without my witty insightful posts for nearly a week. For many of you, perhaps, you didn't notice, and that's great. Stop reading, and ignore me. Just tune back in when I post more. For those of you who missed me, I am so sorry.

Toronto Festival of Beer - Contest

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:39:44 -0500

So, what are some of the flagship beer events in Toronto? Certainly, Toronto Beer Week made some serious waves last year, in it's inaugural session. Speaking of which, Session99 followed up on the successes of that festival last year, with another excellent celebration of craft beer. Ontario Craft Brewers week, while not limited to just Toronto, certainly gets a lot of attention around the city. And of course, there is the ever popular and influential Cask Days, hosted by the Moranna's at Volo. But before all of that, Torontonians gathered every year to celebrate beer, at Toronto's Festival of Beer. For 17 years, Greg Cosway and his crew have been putting on TFB, recently playing host to over 30 000 guests, all who come together to have a few beers, check out related vendors, and enjoy the live entertainment.

2XIPA - Southern Tier Brewing Co.

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:36:00 -0500

So I mentioned this one in my run-down of the LCBO's summer beer release. It is a double or imperial IPA (sorry Stephen), from Southern Tier, a highly respected brewery in Lakewood, New York. Okay, it's currently 32C at Billy Bishop, according to Environment Canada. This is not traditionally thought of as high hop/high alcohol beer time. People are swigging pilsners, and wheat beers, and cider (sometimes over ice). But an 8.2% monster? Not the norm, I know. But I've had 2XIPA waiting for review, and if I didn't get to it soon, I was likely to just drink it. So I did, but I reviewed it too.

[caption id="attachment_1582" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="2XIPA - Southern Tier Brewing Co."][/caption]

Best Business Bars in the USA

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:45:05 -0500

So, while it's probably no surprise I spend a lot of time in bars for the sake of this little bloggy, you might not realize it, but I also do a lot of business in bars for my day job, as a web developer. This is mainly because I don't have an office, and I really like bars. So I thought it was interesting to see this list, from entrepreneur.com, listing the best bars to do business in, in a variety of contexts. Check it out.

Beer Talk on Edge 102

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:19:52 -0500

So, I didn't want to mention it, as it was one of those things I was a little afraid wouldn't happen, but last Friday I was lucky enough to sit down with "Fearless" Fred Kennedy, the afternoon drive guy on Edge 102.1. Not really knowing much about how interviews on radios and such go, I was a tad afraid I would get cut. I showed up with a case of beer, which I hoped would help my cause. It turned out I was the only person there, aside from Fred, and he brought me into the studio, and we got to it. We chatted for about 8 minutes, drank some lovely Amsterdam Oranje Weisse, and generally had a nice time. From what I hear (and what Fred told me), there was a minute long clip on the air, and Fred posted the full interview on his blog. If you missed it, you can hear it at the link below. Sounds like we're going to do it again, so I'll make sure I give some warning this time.

Rickard's Blonde

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:52:00 -0500

So in a little package from my friends at Molson, I received this alongside Sublime 67, for me to see if I wanted to review. Rickard's has obviously been on my radar for some time. Red was one of the early "craft" beers I drank, though I now have red ales that I prefer. Their white is okay, and not a bad option in bars where the other choices are things you see bikini-clad women hawking during sporting events on TV. So I was interested when I received this brand to review. It's listed as German-style Pils on the label. I'll be honest, it's a gold lager made by a macro brewery. My history with Rickard's makes me think it will only be okay, but I'll try to remain objective. Who knows? It could be killer.

[caption id="attachment_1569" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Rickard's Blonde"][/caption]

Summer Festival of Craftbeer - The Only Cafe

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:50:46 -0500

For those of you following along, you will know I work with Castro's Lounge, in the Beach. If you're familiar with the beer scene in Toronto, you will know that there is another bar, not too far away, that has a very similar "feel" as Castro's; The Only Cafe. Dark, bohemian, lots of pictures on the walls, excellent beer selection. The reason for this is, if you go far enough back in our histories, both bars were owned by the same people, quite a while back. So we have a long history together. It's not uncommon to find staff from The Only at Castro's, and vice versa. So when Fabian, manager now from The Only, formerly from Castro's, called me to ask if we wanted to take part in their Summer Festival of craftbeer, I was all for it. Fabian had a few ideas for our participation, but the one that really grabbed me, was to have us come in and cook some BBQ for the beer tasters.

I love BBQ. Let me clarify: I love to BBQ. I'm a vegetarian (okay, a peskatarian, I eat seafood. Or as Ashok says, I'm a picky eater). I don't eat mammals. Or birds. The jury is out on bugs. The point is, I might be one of the only "Picky Eater" BBQ guys in the city. Because I don't really like eating meat, I don't get many chances to BBQ stuff. I make a mean smoked jackfruit, which is lovely, but it only takes about two hours, which doesn't really pluck my BBQ heart-strings. Needless to say, I jump at any opportunity to slow-cook some quadruped over smokey hardwood.

[caption id="attachment_1558" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="13 LBS of cow, waiting for the fire"][/caption]

Golden Rule - Short's Brewing Co.

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:33:30 -0500

Another bottle my dear Mum brought me from Michigan (thanks again, Mum!), so yeah, you won't find this at the LCBO, sorry. Short's is a very well-respected brewery in Michigan. I thought Golden Rule was a good choice today, as it's pride weekend in Toronto. While I won't pin all the blame on one person, there certainly has been a disturbing amount of homophobia in the mainstream this year in Toronto. As upsetting as it it, it is also a good reminder of just how far we have come as a community, and how fragile that progress is. And regardless of sexuality or creed, the Golden Rule is a good starting point. Let's do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Aside from my message of tolerance, the beer is labelled as being an organic Golden Ale with earthy hoppiness. Sounds lovely!

[caption id="attachment_1551" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Golden Rule - Short's Brewing Co."][/caption]

Canadian 67 Sublime - Molson Coors Canada

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:19:44 -0500

Okay, I know what a lot of you are saying. I definitely focus on craftbeer on my blog, but here's the thing: I'm completely able to review anything, and remain fairly objective. I appreciate that there is a variety of recognized styles of beers, and just because I might not like one particular style, doesn't devalue it. So when a friendly fellow from Molson offered to send me some beers for review, including 67 Sublime, I said sure. I'm not a light beer drinker, and I'm generally not fond of fruit beers, or fruit in my beers, but again, that's my subjective preference. As I posted in my review of plain 67, I didn't really like the beer, but I also said that it didn't taste bad, it just didn't taste like much. I think a bit of lemon and lime in there could help out a lot.

[caption id="attachment_1544" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Canadian 67 Sublime - Molson Coors Canada"][/caption]

Open July First

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:21:14 -0500

[caption id="attachment_1529" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Ka-Pow!"][/caption]

Alack and alas, too often do I find myself on a National or Provincial holiday in want of beer. Why? Well, because I don't plan well. And thinking of things like buying beer the day before the holiday is just totally beyond me, most times. But do I have good news for you! Just because the LCBO and Beer Store see it fit to not sell beer on the few days a year when they really should, doesn't mean all purveyors of beers are that close-minded.

For sure, we all know, most bars will be open. And no doubt, those blessed with a patio will be jumping. Those with a roof top patio with sight lines to fireworks (I'm looking at you, Murphey's Law) will have patrons camping at tables from noon onwards. But to me (and call me romantic here), I prefer beer at home on holidays. I'm a lover of the pub, and certainly am not discouraging any of your from visiting my publican friends. But I just love the feeling of kicking back, either at home or at a cottage, with some nice cold beer and food, ideally prepared outside, on a BBQ, in a smoker or over a fire. Cliched, I know.

So enters the problem. Where to buy beer, when you've run out on the big day?

Rescousse Altbeir - Dieu du Ciel!

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:21:50 -0500

Ah, the joys of friends who both travel and like beer. A while back, Matt Caldwell (onebeeratatime.wordpress.com) was in La Belle Province, and brought me back a lovely little stash of beers. One of them was Rescousse Altbeir, by the legendary Dieu du Ciel! brewery in Montreal (okay, their main brewery is in St Jerome, but the brewpub is in the Plateau). Basically, if you haven't heard of Dieu du Ceil!, you're probably new to this blog. Far and away, one of the leading breweries in Canada right now. I write about them frequently, a good starting place is here: /tag/dieu-du-ciel/. While you can't get this beer at the LCBO, if you like the sound of the style, you might consider Beau's Festivale, which is also an excellent Altbeir.

[caption id="attachment_1519" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Rescousse Altbeir - Dieu du Ciel!"][/caption]

The USA drawn by breweries

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:54:59 -0500

I must admit, I do like good infographics. And, of course, I like beer. So this seems to be a natural fit. Of course, it's the USA, but it's a good starting point if you're traveling to a state where you don't know a good brewery to check out. I'm tossing around doing one of Canada, but seriously, just think of Ontario. Who gets Quebec? And don't even start on BC..... Cheers to the folks at http://www.good.is/ for this.

Beau’s Celebrates 5th Birthday with Beer-to-Energy Project

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:33:29 -0500

Just in from Beau's; as if they were sickeningly awesome already. Yeah, let's go solar. By the way, the Festivale Plus Sticke Alt that is part of this series is insanely good.

“Green Futures” Program will help beer drinkers contribute to a greener future

OTTAWA — (June 27, 2011) Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. will be celebrating five years in the beer business on July 2 with a launch of a new project that converts sips of organic beer into units of energy. The program, which Beau’s calls Green Futures, is a unique initiative that will allow members to purchase shares in a beer “co-operative” of sorts.

Garrett Oliver - Brooklyn Brewery

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:32:06 -0500

So, many of you will know that last week was Ontario Craft Brewer's Week (OCB Week). A variety of publicans and brewers across Ontario hosted events celebrating our brewing culture, and introducing people to new and exciting beers. This year, we were lucky enough to have Garrett Oliver come north. Garrett is the brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, and author of the epic "Brewmaster's Table", and the soon to be published "The Oxford Companion to Beer". I saw Garrett at a few events towards the end of the week, but was able to spend a good 30 minutes chatting to him while he promoted Brooklyn Brewery at the Summerhill LCBO.

[caption id="attachment_1499" align="aligncenter" width="560" caption="Why didn't I dress better?"][/caption]

Hawaiian Style Pale Ale - Spearhead Brewing Co.

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:57:37 -0500

As you've probably heard if you follow these types of blogs in Toronto, Spearhead Brewing has launched their first beer, their Hawaiian Style Pale Ale, just in time for OCB week. It was this time last year (actually, during an OCB week event, Cass and Troy's Pub Crawl), that I first met Dimitri van Kampen, and heard his plans to start a brewery. In the ensuing year, he's grown his company, secured a great brewmaster, coordinated brewing facilities, and launched a new beer. The beer, called "Hawaiian Style Pale Ale" features a touch of pineapple in the brew, which adds a sweet depth to the beer. It's currently available at a variety of bars throughout Toronto on draught. There are no immediate plans for distribution through the LCBO or Beer Store, but with the passion and intensity these guys are bringing to party, I don't think it will be a long wait. I had a taste of this beer in one of it's earlier versions, so I'm interested to see how the final product came out.

[caption id="attachment_1493" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Hawaiian Style Pale Ale - Spearhead Brewing Co. (Sorry about the bad iPhone pic)."][/caption]

IPA Impériale - Microbrasserie du Lièvre

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:42:29 -0500

My wife goes out for a bachelorette (or a hen party, if you prefer), and what do I do with my solo evening in? Watch Ronin? Play guitar for 5 hours straight? Sit on the balcony smoking a cigar and reading a book? Ogle a Victoria's Secret catalogue? Sear's catalogue? No. I do a beer review. But I needed to get a monkey off my back. If you've been following this blog or my life in general, you'll know I took a day trip last August, to Montreal with a dear friend, and came down with pneumonia on my way home. Well, this is the last bottle that I bought on that trip. To be fair, I generally wouldn't review a beer that I had possessed for nearly a year (and is, according to the date stamp, actually over a year old). But this 8.5% high IBU beer held up fine in the ensuing 10 months. Perhaps it doesn't taste the same as new, but it is quite nice and very interesting. So let's do this and leave that spot of pneumonia behind us for good.

[caption id="attachment_1488" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="IPA Impériale - Microbrasserie du Lièvre"][/caption]

Detroit Special Export - Detroit Brewing Co.

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:41:57 -0500

As annoying as it is when family goes someplace nice and doesn't take you with them (I haven't been taken on a family vacation since I was 15, or about half my life), it is nice when your Mum stops on her way back from Florida and picks you up a mixed case of beer from a bottle-shop in the states (thanks Mum!). While you will likely never find this beer for sale in Ontario, the Detroit Brewing Co is a micro brewer in Michigan (that being said, I couldn't find any reference to this beer on their website, or beeradvocate. Ratebeer had one entry, so at least I know I'm not dreaming). Incidentally, Detroit Special Export is a fitting beer for my Mum to bring me, as her mother lived in Detroit for a while as a child, after her family immigrated from Oxford. So, aside from my Mum, this one's for you Grandma! I'm sure you're one part happy that I write so much, two parts annoyed that it's about beer.

[caption id="attachment_1478" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Detroit Special Export - Detroit Brewing Co."][/caption]

Johnny Simcoe A.P.A. - Great Lakes Brewery

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:09:42 -0500

I almost feel like it's silly mentioning, but I guess you can't say it enough. I love Great Lakes Brewery. Mike Lackey at Great Lakes is producing some amazing wonderful beers. Now with Adrian (formerly of Black Oak) taking over as Brewmaster and Plant Manager, things are going to get crazy! Many of the best beers are one-offs or adaptations for their monthly event, Project X, a night of fun, food and beer at the Brewery in Etobicoke. If you haven't been to one and you like beer, get to one as soon as you can (check http://www.greatlakesbeer.com/ for details). While it hardly replaces being there and drinking casks of amazing beer, they often have bottles in their retail store of brews from the events, so even if you miss the night, you can still try the beer. This is one of those bottles. I'm not certain which event it was from, but I know I've had Johnny Simcoe at Volo, and possibly some other craftbeer bars around Toronto. This one might have had some special magical properties, but the neck label didn't mention them, and neither did Mike.

[caption id="attachment_1465" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Johnny Simcoe APA - Great Lakes Brewery"][/caption]

Things you need to know today - Beer News - June 15th 2011

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:46:21 -0500

Not surprisingly, there is a lot of beer news in and around Toronto. It's summer, go figure. I'm likely going to miss some things here, so I'll edit and revise and generally make things right, but feel free to remind me in the comments, on facebook, at the bar, where ever. Okay?

Beer Boutique

So the Beer Store just opened a new location, called The Beer Boutique. I skipped the launch in favour of the Somersby Cider event at the Monk's Table, but I know a bunch of people who went and have read a few accounts of it. Stephen Beaumont and Jordan St. John both have good first-hand examples. The good news is, if you want to look hip buying beer in a hip looking store in a hip neighbourhood, they've got your back. There is also evidence that there will be events hosted there, promoting beer and educating people and that sort of thing. Which, as noted by others, makes this the Beer Store equivalent of the LCBO in Bayview Village. This isn't bad, and is certainly a huge step-up in terms of the usual Beer Store decor.

Somersby Cider Launch - The Monk's Table

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:02:53 -0500

It's really worth mentioning upfront, that by day, I am under the employ of The Monk's Table. As a web/social media guy, I sorted out their website and keep up their social media channels. I only mention this, as I have a tendency to kind of go on and on about The Monk's Table, and I would hate to be accused of some sort of under-handed favouritism. So, with that said and done, let's move on. Also, obviously I know this is a post about cider, not beer, but I didn't feel like starting up TorontoCiderBlog.com, so deal with it.

If you find yourself invited to an event at The Monk's Table, you really want to accept. Adam throws great events, and gets excellent products and guests for these fetes. This past Monday, Adam was hosting the launch of Somersby Cider, which is a brand under Carlsberg (they're popping up a bunch around here...). Don't let the name throw you, Somersby is the cider pride and joy of Sweden (not England, as the name sounds). Ciders are kind of a big deal, for draught market-share in Europe, as well as here in North America. I had a sheet with some interesting numbers, but seem to have mis-placed it after a very temperate consumption of cider. It seemed like cider sales were on the upswing though. I mean, even AB-InBev have put out the unusually spelled Stella Cidre, to try to capture some of the good apple juju. It seems like you can't swing a stein in Toronto without hitting a pub with a clip-on Sir Perry tap.

Molson M - Molson Coors Brewing Co.

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:37:07 -0500

MMMMMMMmolson M. If I had a TV, I think I would have gotten really sick of seeing the Molson M ads. As it was, I only saw a lot of them, while in bars, etc, and generally without audio. Here's what I know about Molson M: It's apparently "Micro-carbonated". This means the bubbles are smaller. To me, this is not necessarily a big achievement. San Pellegrino sparkling water from Italy has noticeably smaller bubbles than Perrier sparkling water from France. And I doubt this is a geographical side-effect. So I'm guessing people somewhere know a way to control (somewhat) the way carbon dioxide (or whatever non-oxygen gas they use) to come out of saturation in the liquid. That being said, M is being marketed as a higher-end beer, something to order instead of Canadian if you have on a dinner jacket. Or perhaps, it's their Stella-killer. I don't know. The branding kinda makes me think of the old John Player Specials my friends used to smoke in high school. Here we go!

[caption id="attachment_1429" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Yeah, that's a little-guy glass. And no, Dad, and guys his age, it didn't cost $0.05"][/caption]

You Deserve a Carlsberg

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:33:22 -0500

[caption id="attachment_1425" align="alignleft" width="342" caption="Fancy new "European" bottle"][/caption]

Ah Carlsberg; creators of some of my favourite beer ads. Aside from being the primary sponsor of the UEFA Euro football tournament, think of "Welcome to your Carlsberg Years; we've been waiting" (recently roughly sampled/homaged/stolen by a spirit producer I won't mention). The cheeky "Possibly the Best Beer in the World". Sure, some of their advertising does what all big-beer marketing does: try to make dudes and bros feel like they're someone or something they're not, but still, a lot of their campaigns are refreshingly sharp and savvy.

And they're doing it again, leveraging Facebook in a clever way that I haven't seen any other beer producers do yet (and, incidentally, this makes the day-job-me very happy). Make sure you're logged-in to Facebook (in another tab or window), then check out http://ideserveone.ca. I did it, and have not been spammed and can still touch and feel and love, so I think we'll all be okay.

Summer Orange Honey Ale - Rogue Ales

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:32:06 -0500

Another one of the Rogue featured beers the LCBO brought in is Rogue's Summer Orange Honey Ale (I reviewed their Chipotle Ale a few days ago). I felt a nice "summer" ale was just the thing for this lovely hot summer day in Toronto. That being said, I don't really know what a "summer" beer is. A light cold beer that you can drink a lot of? A beer with floral additives (like DDC Rosee du Hibiscus)? A wheat beer? In this case, Rogue gives a listing of ingredients. Aside from some noteworthy Rogue brand malts and hops, there is also wheat and oats, honey, chamomile, orange peel and coriander. Sounds summery to me!

Beau's Screamin' Beaver IPA available today

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:35:21 -0500

Just in for our friends at Beau's, good news if you're a fan of big bad ass double IPAs.

“Screamin’ Beaver” biggest beer yet from Beau’s

Oak-aged Double IPA with 9.9% abv. and 99 IBUs is big, bold and delicious

OTTAWA — (May 31, 2011) Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company is challenging palates of local drinkers yet again this Thursday June 2, with the release of an oak-aged, big hoppy beer called Screamin’ Beaver. Part of the limited-edition Wild Oats series, this specialty brew from Beau’s All Natural will once again be limited to 1000 bottles, available for sale beginning Thursday. Beau’s will celebrate the release with an open house at the brewery this Saturday June 4, with free brewery tours, food and of course, beer.

Chipotle Ale - Rogue Ales

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:16:34 -0500

So it turns out the LCBO at ~~Queen~~ King and Spadina has a passionate beer guy on staff, who works hard to bring in an extra cool beer selection, in addition to the regular beers. He has just recently brought cases of a few of the amazing brews from Rogue, including this Chipotle Ale. There's not much of them left, so get there asap, unless you're headed to Oregon sometime soon. Pepper ales are a style that has a small but dedicated following of both producers and consumers, particularly in the USA. They range from fairly tame, to hot-sauce level hot. I'm interested to see how the bottle from Rogue goes.

[caption id="attachment_1906" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Chipotle Ale - Rogue Ales"][/caption]

Spearhead Brewing Company Pours Its First Pint

Mon, 30 May 2011 10:21:10 -0500

This just in from the crew at Spearhead Brewing. You've probably heard of them, at this point. It was about this time last year that I met Dimitri and heard about his plans. A few weeks ago I got to try the Hawaiian Pale Ale, and you will be able to soon, as well!

TORONTO – May 30, 2011 – Something new is brewing in Toronto: Beer Without Boundaries™. Unique, all-natural, unfiltered beer brought to you by Spearhead Brewing Company. On June 17, 2011, this local, family-run, craft brewery begins pouring its first pints at more than 30 establishments in Toronto, Guelph, London and Muskoka.

LCBO Summer Release

Fri, 27 May 2011 13:50:43 -0500

Fell behind on this one, but a lot of the LCBO stores are still sorting out inventory anyways, so this is probably just in time. The full listing of beers is available in a fair few places (Bartowel, for one), so I won't rehash it here. I'm just going to recommend the bottles I like and think you should be getting. Notes are a bit abbreviated this time, as we were in a bit of a hurry.

Must Try:

Lindeman's Kriek and Cuvee Rene (Gueuze) - Lindeman's is a great Belgian brewer, know for it's sour beers. Both the kriek and the geueze are tart, but not inaccessible. The kriek is bursting with cherries and hints of honey and black tea. The gueuze is slightly vegetal and sharp, reminiscent of horseradish. Very cool.

Barley's Angels Toronto - May 25th 2011

Tue, 24 May 2011 13:50:51 -0500

Just got a note from Mirella Amato, of the Toronto Chapter of Barley's Angels regarding an event tomorrow night. BA is a group committed to involving women in the enjoyment of craft beer by creating environments where women can learn more about beer in a friendly, educational and supportive atmosphere, thus creating more women beer enthusiasts, and, ultimately, involving more women in beer- and brewery-related careers.

Quoting their director, Lisa Morrison

“Obviously, women don’t need a club or group to enjoy a good beer, but the power of women together can transcend beyond the usual into a force that borders on the magical. When we combine our strengths and our imaginations and encourage each other to explore new and exciting beers with us in a supportive environment, we learn more, we create more — and we have more fun. That’s what Barley’s Angels is all about!”

India Pale Ale - Black Creek Historic Brewery

Mon, 23 May 2011 10:34:42 -0500

This past Friday, I was invited up to Black Creek Pioneer Village, in Toronto's north-end of the city, next to the main York University campus, to visit their historic brewery. Despite an insane long-weekend induced drive, I was happy and excited to be going up. I really like Pioneer Village, and have actually been a few times since the usual person stops going in public school. I'm also a big fan of their two brands available at the LCBO, a Porter and a Pale Ale. And, of course, I love visiting breweries of all stripes, and going to one that is in an historic style, is even better. I'll be writing a post shortly about the tour itself, but I bought a growler of their India Pale Ale while there, and wanted to drink it, which meant doing a review, as it's awesome. Now, you need to understand: The two brands that are available at the LCBO, are brewed on contract at Trafalgar Brewing. The Historic brewery in the Village is actually only licensed to sample beer, and sell it at the brewery. They can't even distribute it to the restaurant that is in the same building (on the other side of a wall). So, to enjoy this, you need to actually go to Pioneer Village (you can check hours of operation etc, at www.blackcreek.ca/). On the tour, Ed, the Brewmaster, told us that the casks they ferment in and mature the beers in were recently sent to the cooper to be maintained, and he toasted the insides again, which pops all sorts of extra oak flavour. After a few batches, they will calm down, but for now the beers that they produce are hugely oaked. The Brown Ale we tried was like oak tea, with very little maltiness cutting through. So while I think this is quite a nice beer, it isn't exactly how it is supposed to be. All of their beers are made in oak, and have some of that in their flavour, but not this much. So all that being said, here's how it goes down:

[caption id="attachment_1380" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="India Pale Ale - Black Creek Historic Brewery"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1381" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Great label, hand-signed freshness date."][/caption]

Dernière Volonté - Dieu du Ciel!

Sat, 21 May 2011 15:55:54 -0500

So the rapture is happening anytime now. Apparently. So, just in case, I thought it appropriate to review a relevant beer. Two obvious choices would the either La Fin du Monde or Maudite by Unibroue, but that's sort of been done. Instead, I'd like to offer a blessing, or a last rite. Which is what Dernière Volonté translates into in English. Last rite. Seems fitting. As a side note, I've actually had this beer since last August from my pneumonia-fated epic Montreal trip with my bro, Rob. I had actually lost track of this bottle; it was hiding behind my last Garrison Imperial Ale. Hoping it's held up okay.

[caption id="attachment_1374" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Dernière Volonté - Dieu du Ciel!"][/caption]

Interview with Bill Coleman - Cameron's Brewing Company

Sat, 21 May 2011 06:39:19 -0500

Things seem to be in a constant state of change in the brewing scene here in Ontario. More and more breweries are trying new and exciting brews, they're growing, not just in portfolio, but in physical size too. New faces are turning up, as demand increases. All this is excellent for beer drinkers here, who will see more excellent products available, both seasonally, and in regular distribution.

I recently was able to sit down with Bill Coleman, the new president of Cameron's Brewing Company, in Oakville. Cameron's hosts a monthly cask event, and I was invited with a few other beer writers to come out, meet Bill, discuss where they're at and where they're headed, and, of course, drink some beer. It was a fun night, with great beer and food. I got to hang out with Jason and some of the other Cameron's brewers, and met some people from the Niagara College Brewing program. As well, I got a tour of the facility with Bill, and spent a bit of time chatting in his office.

Stuff you need to know today - May 20th 2011

Fri, 20 May 2011 07:59:39 -0500

So it's a long weekend here in Canada, for many of you, you're hours away from three solid days of bliss. Some of you are working this weekend. Either way, here's some good beer juju for you to start out your Friday.

Birthday Greetings

A little twittering bird told me today somebody is celebrating an important birthday. So please join my in raising a pint of hoppy cask ale to The Rightly Honourable Mr Nicholas Pashley, author of Notes on a Beermat, and Cheers A History of Beer in Canada. Incidentally, both make excellent gifts if you know somebody else celebrating a birthday (Nick probably already has copies of both, but perhaps you know Stan Mikita, Joe Cocker, Cher, Dave Thomas, David Wells, Busta Rhymes, Vesa Toskala, or Lady Cosima Windsor, and think they would like an insightful humorous read?). Cheers Nick, here's to many more!

Oranje Weisse - Amsterdam Brewery

Thu, 19 May 2011 14:06:07 -0500

Okay, we all know I've got a huge crush on Amsterdam. Disclaimer stated. That being said, I've got a bit of a "thing" about this beer. Ummmm, it's not a weisse. That's a German style of beer, and the sausage-munchers are a tad bit obsessed about the ingredients, and specifically what is *not* in there. Namely, anything other than water, malted barley/wheat, hops and yeast. Therefore, orange peel, dry spices, whatever, have no place in weisse beers. Amsterdam calls this Oranje Weisse, as a nod to the Dutch part of their history (Oranje being a nickname for the Netherlands National Football Team). But even on the label, it's referred to as an unfiltered Flemish-style wheat beer, which is better known as a witbeir in Dutch. Not a weisse. But I have a theory: Wits, whites, blanches, etc, are sort of three years ago. Everybody was crazy about them 3-5 years ago. So much so, that we saw Labbatt introduce the mediocre (at best) Keith's White. So I can understand their hesitancy to hitch their wagon to that train. And to take it a step further, weisse beers are sexy. Denison's, made right here in Toronto, is widely considered one of the best in the world. When you order a weisse at a bar you get it in big curvy sexy flamboyant glassware. Who wouldn't want to make a weisse? Even if your recipe is actually a wit.... Let's see how things go.

[caption id="attachment_1347" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Oranje Weisse - Amsterdam Brewery"][/caption]

Announcing Oranje Weisse - Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Fri, 13 May 2011 07:01:25 -0500

Just in from the crew at Amsterdam, the official skinny on the new summer beer, Oranje Weisse. I've had it, and (strange naming aside), think it's quite nice. I've got a bottle in the cooler waiting for review, maybe later today or tomorrow.

Amsterdam Brewing Company Summer Seasonal - Oranje Weisse Premium White Beer Available Now in All Major Distribution Chains

(Toronto, ON, May 12, 2011) – Following on the hot heels of its Spring Seasonal brew – Spring Bock, The Amsterdam Brewing Company, Toronto’s independently owned and operated craft brewer, released their Summer Seasonal – Oranje Weisse earlier this month. Being featured in both the LCBO and The Beer Store as well as on premise and at the Amsterdam Brewery Retail Store, Oranje Weisse will be Amsterdam’s most widely available seasonal beer in the history of the Brewery.

Periodic Table of Beer

Thu, 12 May 2011 06:20:23 -0500

I was just emailed this by a friend (Thanks Chad!) and thought I would share it. Fun and useful chart to help define beer styles.

Originally posted here: http://beergeno.me/2010/10/periodic-table-of-beers/ a worthy blog indeed.

Ontario Brewing Awards - and the winner is

Wed, 11 May 2011 06:48:58 -0500

Yes indeed, last night the silverware, or in this case glassware, was handed out at the Ontario Brewing Awards. Hosted at The Dominion on Queen, the Ontario Brewing Awards are a satellite event for the Toronto Festival of Beer, in partnership with Libation Nation and bet.365.net.

I was not really sure what to expect when I arrived at 5 yesterday: tickets were available to the public, but I already knew from some brewery folks that there would be good industry representation too. As it turned out, it was a mainly industry event, which meant that the non-industry attendees were treated to an excellent opportunity to hang out with some of their favourite brewers. To cut right to the chase, there were a variety of categories judged, and you can see all the winners on Troy Burtch's blog: http://greatcanadianpubs.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-ontario-brewing-awards-winners.html.

Ontario Brewing Awards

Fri, 06 May 2011 17:36:27 -0500

Oh my, spring is, well, springing. One day the future king is getting married, the next we're electing government, the next I'm pretending to be a brewer. Dear me. I must confess to negligence and say I nearly let a great event coming up slip by un-announced. This Tuesday (May 10th), Libation Nation will be hosting the Ontario Brewing Awards at the Dominion on Queen, in partnership with Toronto's Festival of Beer and Bet.365.net.

A variety of Ontario brewers entered beer's into this year's contest, and they were judged mid-April. Tuesday the winners will be announced, and you're invited.

An open challenge

Sun, 01 May 2011 13:30:13 -0500

[caption id="attachment_1300" align="alignleft" width="191" caption="Me, in July"][/caption]

In the midst of Federal Election challenges and with Provincial Election ones looming in Ontario (and BC? I've lost track), this might sound like I'm getting political on my blog. I'm not.

Jerry Lee Lewis famously said "What made Milwaukee famous, made a loser out of me." Good for you Jerry. You also married your 12 year old cousin, so you're not exactly batting a thousand.

Sadly, what made Milwaukee famous (I'm assuming he meant beer), has made a gainer out of me. As in, I'm gaining weight, getting fatter. Now, there are a few variables involved here. I'm now 30, and I'm told your body stops just accepting whatever crap you shove down your throat around now. Also, I've been working in a very sedentary job for over a year now, which also doesn't help. But there's just no avoiding it: I could comfortably drop 15-20 lbs. At least 10. 5 wouldn't be bad.

A Royal Affair, A Royal Beer

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:32:49 -0500

Most people probably know that Prince William and Kate Middleton are being married today. And I'll admit, I've been up since 4am watching online. And of course, I'm drinking a beer. What beer, you ask? Duchy Originals by Waitrose, Old Ruby Ale. So why this beer? Well, it's lovely for one thing, and it's made in England. But beyond that, Duchy Originals is a company Prince Charles started to promote sustainable organic farming in England. They produce a variety of products by license, from biscuits to beer. Many small organic producers are able to have their products sold on a national or even international level, because of Duchy Originals. So, I'm toasting the future king with his Father's beer.

Stuff You Need to Know Today - April 27, 2011

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:46:03 -0500

Wow, just wow. Things really got busy there, but I'm still here, still drinking beer. So to news then:

Babydaddy

Yup, that's me. Ben will be a big brother come November, my wife and I are expecting. Pretty happy, obviously. The usual updates and pics to follow.

Cask Night at Cameron's

Tomorrow evening is Cameron's monthly drink the cask night, and I'm heading out to hang out, drink some beer, and be generally social. You should come too!
http://www.cameronsbrewing.com/blog/

La Granja Stout - Nørrebro Bryghus

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:06:21 -0500

So this past winter, the LCBO brought in a grouping of beers from a brewery in Copenhagen, Denmark, called Nørrebro Bryghus. (Earlier I reported there was three available, there was actually five). The beers were immediately attractive, being in well designed 600ml bottles. If, like me, you just rushed in, you might also have found out the hard way, that they were less attractively priced. Ranging from about $7 up to $23 for the Little Korkny Barleywine. I bought all of them (I think). After hearing from a few people that the Barleywine was nice, but very young, I've decided to age it at least a year, maybe two, before opening it up. So this is my last bottle (this year), and I'm a bit surprised I left it this long. An imperial stout that lists Canadian maple syrup as an ingredient on the label; I'm shocked I didn't drink it right away. Untappd has this listed as an espresso stout, but I'm thinking they're wrong. There's no mention of espresso in the ingredients, though they do mention "coffee aromas" in the description. But come on, maple syrup, how can this miss? As a side note/confession, I buy 1 litre jugs of maple syrup at the market, and as soon as I've purchased it, I open it up and take a swig. Because I like it that much. Think about that the next time you have pancakes at my house.....

[caption id="attachment_1285" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="La Granja Stout - Nørrebro Bryghus"][/caption]

The Lonely Walker

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:57:33 -0500

Last month, it was announced that Wells & Young's, English brewers of Bombardier, had partnered with Oxford Brookes University to sponsor a beer-writing competition. The goal was to have writers, both in the UK and abroad, submit pieces on "The Joys and Jolliness of Beer". In the words of food critic and judge, Charles Champion, "We’re not looking for technical writing, campaigning tracts or extracts from guidebooks. Beer is the most sociable drink in the world and doesn’t get fair recognition. This prize is an attempt to help change that.” The winner was announced this past Friday during the Oxford Literary Festival. The winning entry was "The Stonemason's Table" by Milton Crawford, pseudonymic author of "The Hungover Cookbook". When it is finally published, I will post a link to it. In the meantime, please enjoy my entry, "The Lonely Walker". Having left myself about 7 hours to write the piece before deadline, I was grasping for a thread to follow. I had just finished reading the excellent book "Beyond Belfast", by Will Ferguson, a travelogue of his epic walk of the Ulster Way, so I had Northern Ireland on my mind. It reminded me of a favourite coffee table book I had read, "The Spirit of Rural Ireland", by Christopher Sommerville, another book about a walker in Ireland, recounting tales of Irish hospitality and culture. My best friend Andrew, who is from Belfast, was staying with us at the time too; my direction seemed clear. So I more or less stole the idea of a solo-walk through Ireland, drew on some of my own experiences and stories from time spent there, and wrote this:

Dealing with Customers; Dealing with Bartenders

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:59:06 -0500

I just came across this article by British beer legend, Pete Brown (incidentally, if you don't already, you should probably follow Pete's blog). Feel free to take a few moments to read it, but let me summarize: Pete, who knows enough about beer to make the call, returned a pint as it was laced with diacetyl. The bartender served him another pint, but charged him for both, and continued serving the questionable beer. Pete then talks about the suitability of this outcome. I went to comment on his blog, but it's an older post, and I realized quickly I was basically writing a blog post anyways, one that was wandering into wider fields. So here it is:

Brewer's Plate Toronto 2011 - Attended!

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:56:58 -0500

Oh goodness gracious. What a massive event. This Year's Brewer's Plate in Toronto took place in the Wychwood Barns, a really cool City of Toronto event space. It's an old TTC building, that appears to have housed streetcars, but it's been hipped up with cleaned up brickwork and old beams. BP had set up in the main hall, a long high-ceilinged space, with vendor tables running down both sides and a combination of high-top and seated tables down the middle. Glassware and a napkin were given at the door, and attendees were welcome to wander through the space, sampling the many beer and food pairings, from a who's who of Toronto beer and food. As noted by Jordan St John, trying to talk about all the pairings would be an exercise in futility. Especially as I didn't end up trying them all. I was far too happy standing around chatting to people; friends I already know, brewers and chefs I have immense admiration for, and random people who were as happy about getting to eat and drink and socialise as I was.

Black Creek Historic Brewery releases their Pale Ale at the LCBO

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:39:01 -0500

I've gotta say: I love going to Pioneer Village; I always have. So when they started an historic brewery as part of the village I was stoked. When the beers they produced were excellent, I was very excited. When their Porter became available at the LCBO, I was giddy. Now I'm running out of adjectives, and they're still going. Just in from them this morning:

Toronto: April 7, 2011… Black Creek Historic Brewery, today announced the launch of Black Creek Pale Ale in select LCBO stores. The Pale Ale brew is the second entry in LCBO stores for the brewery, following the success of its Porter, launched in Fall 2010. Black Creek Pale Ale (product # 238766) retails for $3.55 per 500 mL (pint) bottle. LCBO customers can search the LCBO website, www.lcbo.com to locate stores offering the product, or simply ask for it at their local outlet.

Chocolate Oatmeal Stout - Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:40:23 -0500

Another excellent brewery who will be representing at this year's Brewer's Plate, is Great Lakes. Great Lakes makes some basic beers, Red Leaf and Golden Horseshoe, as well as some excellent American-style brews, like Devil's Pale Ale, Canuck Pale Ale, Miami Weisse, and a variety of other wonderful beers. Mike Lackey, their brewer, has also been making one-off batches on his own and with people for the monthly Project X events. These beers are often available in bottles at the event, and sometimes, Mike might pass you a bottle or two... This is one of those. I know Mike told me which event and with whom he made this, but I've totally forgotten. Chocolate Oatmeal stouts are beers that are being produced by a lot of Yank brewers, I will be interested to see what Mike made of this.

[caption id="attachment_1243" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Chocolate Oatmeal Stout - Great Lakes Brewing Co."][/caption]

Summer Weisse - Muskoka Cottage Brewery

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:25:15 -0500

Despite what homebrew fanatics might try to tell you, brewing beer is a tricky business. Not just because it requires some fairly specialised equipment, but also because there is a lot of knowledge, training and less tangible skill that is required of the brewer. For instance, lots of people make English style ales, so why do the ones that Ron Keefe and Paul Dickey make taste so much better than most? This brings us to the topic of conversation tonight: Weisse beers. Michael Hancock's Denison's Weisse is killer, and is *still* the top rated German-style Hefeweisen on ratebeer.com. Mike Lackey is producing some brews, like Miami Weisse, that are amazing marraiges of wheat characteristics and massive American hops. There are brewers that make some very drinkable weisses, but they are sort of becoming the Merlot's of the beer world; everybody wants to make one, because they are beers for people who don't like beer (which I heartily disagree with), but not a lot of brewers have "the touch" to balance the wheat and barley in a way that makes you say "Wow". Muskoka has been putting out some immensely wonderful seasonal beers, so what will this latest seasonal bring?

[caption id="attachment_1237" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Summer Weisse - Muskoka Cottage Brewery"][/caption]

Tartan Day Celebrations - The Monk's Table

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:07:47 -0500

Ah, nothing beats a good tartan. I own a kilt and look for just about any opportunity to don it. So as if I wasn't excited enough about another series of events at The Monk's Table, one that includes tartans puts me over the edge. If you're not familiar with The Monk's Table, you should be. One of my favourite bars in Toronto, at Yonge and Summerhill, The Monk's Table serves a huge list of European brews, both on tap and in bottle. It seems to be the only bar in the city with a wholly European selection, they also have an incredible food menu, and excellent service. One of their mainstays, is their frequent parties and celebrations, always featuring great beer and food. Their Robbie Burns week events were a massive success, and now we can look forward to another week of events, in commemoration of Tartan Day.

If you haven't heard of Tartan Day, don't worry, it's a fairly recent addition to our celebratory calendar. On October 22, 2010 the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage declared April 6th and every April 6th there after as a Tartan Day in Canada. A celebration of all things Celtic, The Monk's Table willl be celebrating Celtic culture, and highlighting how people of Celtic traditions have impacted our growth as a Nation. Needless to say, there will be much fun and celebration.

Canadian - Molson Brewing Co.

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:11:49 -0500

Very few brands in Canada are as iconic as the beer that bears our name. The Hudson's Bay Company and Peterborough Canoe Company would be in the mix, but would still pale in comparison to our National Beverage. From the oldest brewery in Canada, Canadian has become synonymous with all things Canada, from killing beavers with a well shot arrow, paddling our canoes to the nearest glacier for a friendly BBQ of moose steaks, or watching the local hero Roughriders take on the dastardly out-of-province rivals the Roughriders in a well fought game of Lacrosse. Simply drinking it immediately converts you to a professional snowboarder, totally shredding up the pipe, brah. Girls wearing strange combinations of bikinis and down-filled full-length coats with sexy ski goggles will flock to you, as you crack a cold one with your bros, perhaps standing around a glacier BBQ'ing up some freshly arrowed wood bison. As Canadian spring is upon us, I can hardly think of a better beer to review.

[caption id="attachment_1228" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Molson Canadian"][/caption]

Pale Ale - Black Oak Brewing Co.

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:42:06 -0500

So, hopefully you all read my post on The Brewer's Plate, happening next Wednesday, April 6th, in support of Not Far From the Tree. Over the next few days I'm going to post reviews about beers by some of the brewers who will be taking part in this year's event. It's going to be an awesome time, with a massive list of beers, and a veritable who's-who of food in Toronto. It would be worth the cost of the ticket just to take part in the evening, but as it benefits an excellent charity, Not Far From the Tree, it is basically your responsibility to be there. If the cost is just out of your range, do make sure you take a moment to check out Not Far From the Tree to learn a bit more about their remarkable charity, and see how you might like to get involved. Hint: If you like gardening, but don't have much soil of your own, they can help.

Now just a little more preamble before we get to the actual beer. Black Oak Brewing is one of the top Breweries in Toronto. Known for their incredible Saison, and their hugely popular Ten Bitter Years (they also make an amazing porter, stout and nut brown ale), Pale Ale would be their "flagship" brand. I drink it regularly, and for good reason. It is probably the best Pale Ale in Canada, with only St Ambroise Blonde to contend with. I'm told that at events, the St Ambroise folks always swing by for a drink of Black Oak. So they keep good company. Both beers are Pale Ales in the English style, not US hop fests, but beers that have a notable hop presence, balanced with a solid malt base. They are hugely drinkable, and go well with many styles of food, after hard work in the garden, or pulled from a snow-bank where they've been chilling while you were on the slopes. Not naturally designed with dessert in mind, these beers are drinkable pretty well any other time of the day (I'm counting breakfast). Despite my adoration of this beer, I'm going to go ahead and actually give it a once-over. I regularly suggest people get this beer, now I'm going to prove why.

[caption id="attachment_1218" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Pale Ale - Black Oak Brewing Co."][/caption]

Gemini - Southern Tier Brewing Co.

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:14:18 -0500

So, if you've been buying beers at the LCBO in the past two years or so, you might have noticed a brewer from Lakewood, New York, called Southern Tier. For a while, they had their IPA regularly available on shelves. A bit more costly than the average 6-pack, it was one of the few true American IPAs available in Ontario. It appears it is no longer listed, but the LCBO continues to bring in a lot of Southern Tier's products as seasonal releases. Their Creme Brulee Stout is a winter favourite of many, and their Yellow Snow IPA was just incredible. Often overlooked, because the bottles are generally around $10/bottle, they are one of the American breweries a lot of Canadian brewers are looking at. They brew a lot of big beers, in the "American Style", which is to say, lots of hops, or really high alcohol or both (it seems the yanks have never gotten over the "Canadian beer is stronger" stigma, despite the fact that much of it can be attributed to them using alcohol-by-weight, vs our alcohol-by-volume in days of yore. The beers were, in fact, in roughly the same alcohol range, it just didn't look that way. With everybody using the alcohol by weight, the playing field is levelled, and now they're just making higher-proof beers to make up for lost time. I think. Maybe.)

Gemini is Southern Tier's offering in the spring release. Now for those of you who don't remember, I was greviously assulted at the media event for the spring release, when Stephen Beaumont tied me to a chair and broke both my legs with a tire-iron, then systematically burned my body with a lit Cohiba Especiale. Or threw a pen at me. I seem to have blocked the memories out. Regardless, it was for the offence of identifying a beer as "Imperial". Stephen, quite rightly, is wearying of the massive (shall we say "Imperial"?) over-use of the words Imperial and Double in terms of brewing big, high-alcohol beers. Everybody does it. It's getting a bit silly. So, with all that in mind, and with respect to Stephen, Gemini is an ~~Imperial~~ IPA from Southern Tier.

Gemini is the constellation of twins, and was the name given to early NASA space-missions, which were undertaken by two astronauts. Gemini by Southern Tier is a mix of two different ~~Imperial~~ ales, one filtered, the other not. It's an exciting brew, and one that I really enjoyed after being assaulted at the LCBO tasting.

[caption id="attachment_1209" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Gemini - Southern Tier Brewing Co."][/caption]

BBbarfly Launch Party - Attended!

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 07:37:23 -0500

[caption id="attachment_1195" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Black, matches my tattoo."][/caption]

Oh man, where did that week just go? It seems like a day ago I was heading down to the Amsterdam Brewery for the launch party for BBbarfly, makers of one of the nicest bottle openers around. After Troy and Nick's TBW 6 Month Pub Crawl last Saturday, a contingent of us headed down to Amsterdam for some launch party fun, with the crew from BBbarfly.

If you've missed earlier posts, BBbarfly is a Toronto company that makes beautiful bottle openers based on butterfly knives, where the blade is replaced with an opener. Cool idea, and a very well-executed one. The openers, which are made in Canada, are well designed and built. With powder-coated handles, they are easily brandable, for anything from breweries to bars to events. We were pretty excited to get to go meet the people invovled in the company, hang out and drink great beer, and play with our very own BBbarfly openers.

Brewer's Plate Toronto 2011

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:18:30 -0500

Get ready, this is going to be crazy. Want to drink excellent beers, eat amazing food and support a good cause all at once? It's easier than you think. The Brewer's Plate has got you covered.

On April 6th, Brewer's Plate Toronto is bringing together an elite list of brewers, chefs and artisanal food producers in a night of eating and drinking, all in support of Not Far From The Tree, a charity I really dig (there's a funny joke there, get it? No? You will in a minute).

BBbarfly Launch Party

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:12:10 -0500

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="384" caption="A BBbarfly butterfly-opener"][/caption]

So, as some of you will remember from an earlier post, this Saturday is the launch party of BBbarfly, at the Amsterdam brewery. I can begin to say how excited I am for this party. Aside from being at one of my favourite brewer's, it is launching a pretty cool product. BBbarfly is a company that produces some of the coolest bottle openers I've seen in a while. They are basically butterfly knives, with openers instead of blades. Pretty slick. Fully brandable, the potential for them is amazing. Branded merch for bars or breweries, giveaways for corporate events, cool wedding-party presents, the list goes on. Check out their facebook event page for details on how you can attend too. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162959713754370

Beau's All Natural Wild Oat Series - Matt's Sleepy Time Stout

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:32:24 -0500

Just in from the good folks at Beau's:

“Matt’s Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout” back (for a limited time only!)

OTTAWA — (Mar. 15, 2011) Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. will mark the Irish holiday this year with the release of a strong, dark beer just perfect for spring. Called Matt’s Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout, this beer was first brought out more than a year ago, and is back by popular demand for a 2011 edition. Again, only 1,000 bottles of this delicious brew will be available for sale from the brewery.

Happy Birthday, CAMRA!

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:38:37 -0500

A very happy birthday from TorontoBeerBlog to all the good folks at CAMRA (http://www.camra.org.uk/). If you're unfamiliar with CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) it's time to get to know them. Initially a movement in the UK, promoting cask-conditioned, or "real ale", they have grown and have branches in many countries, including Canada. They have awards for brewers and pubs that promote cask ale, and are an excellent resource for finding places to get a pint while abroad. I'll be raising a pint of cask ale tonight in celebration, and suggest you should too.

Congratulations on the last forty years CAMRA! Here's to many many more.

Okanagan Springs Pale Ale - Now at the LCBO

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:34:29 -0500

Just in this morning from the good folks at Okanagan Springs Brewery

Love the Beer? Bring it Home
Okanagan Spring Brewery Pale Ale Now Available at LCBO

Vancouver, B.C. (March 14, 2011) ‐ Ontario craft beer lovers can now bring home what B.C. beer drinkers have been enjoying for more than 20 years. LCBO stores around the province are now stocking six‐pack bottles of Okanagan Spring Brewery’s flagship brew, the Pale Ale.

Solstice d'hiver 2009 - Dieu du Ciel!

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:45:36 -0500

Okay, I'm actually glad to get this review done. You see, I bought this beer on my fated one-day trip to Montreal last August. Shortly after buying it, I came down with pneumonia. For real. Then, the LCBO brought the 2010 vintage in for their winter release. So I thought, "ah ha, taste both vintages in one go, on the actual winter solstice (solstice d'hiver)." Except I got the flu. See a trend here? I'm surprised I'm drinking this, and not lying in bed fighting yellow-fever and scabies. But that is the case. It's not the romantic vertical tasting I had dreamed, but still. It's time to get this monkey off my back.

[caption id="attachment_1159" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Solstice d'hiver - Dieu du Ciel!"][/caption]

Ol' Fog Burner - Garrison Brewing Co.

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:17:52 -0500

Here's a question for you: Does Garrison own a filter? I know this sounds silly, but I've only had two Garrison brews, and they were both unfiltered. The Imperial Pale Ale was magnificent, in all it's unfiltered glory. What does the Ol' Fog Burner have in store? Incidentally, unless you're on the east coast, you likely won't find this beer. Possibly at a specialty beer bar like Volo, but certainly not at the LCBO (yet). My bottle came from friend and blogging cohort, Troy Burtch. Troy gets around, when it comes to beer. Thanks bro! Incidentally, this bottle is from their February 2010 batch. It's about a year old. This might seem strange, to the unitiated, but barleywines are one of the few beers that are not just able to rest in a bottle for a while, but actually benefit from a bit of time laying down. The day Bentley was born (August 2008), I drank a bottle of Mill St's 2003 barleywine, and it was a totally different beast than it had been. If you have the time, money and patience, I would suggest never buying a single bottle of barley wine. Two at least, five would be better. Drink a pair immediately, then one a year till you're out. Make notes and compare. You won't be sorry you did.

[caption id="attachment_1153" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Ol' Fog Burner - Garrison Brewing Co."][/caption]

CASK Social - This Saturday

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:26:46 -0500

I nearly missed this one. Thanks to Ken for mentioning it when he dropped out kegs at Castro's!

For this month, our Cask! Social will be teaming up with the Toronto Beer Lovers Meetup Group

Admission is $15 per person which includes cask ale and simple snacks. To respect the brewery's capacity, a maximum of 70 CASK! members will be admitted. Sign up for "save me a spot" if you'd like us to hold a spot for you at the social or, if you'd rather decide last-minute, feel free to drop by and we'll do our best to squeeze you in!

Currently Incarcerated Black Currant Porter - Great Lakes Brewery

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:14:03 -0500

Ah, Mike Lackey and his Project X beers. They've run the gamut from stupendous to Polish Sandwich Lager. So when Mike hooked me up with a pair of PX bottles in lieu of the actual event last month, which I couldn't attend, I was well excited. I know he told me the deal with this beer (aside from it's name), but I've totally forgotten. Sorry Mike, thanks though!

[caption id="attachment_1142" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Currently Incarcerated Black Currant Porter - Great Lakes Brewery"][/caption]

Tartan Ale - Alexander Keith's

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:25:00 -0500

Time to kick the hornet's nest: The last time I got a bottle of special-release Keith's beer (their Harvest Ale), I got my wrists slapped and stired some controversy, in my support of it. You see, I'm not a huge fan of Labatt and what they've done to themselves (compare the number of Stella cases to Blue cases you see in the grab-n-go at the Beer Store. Stand up for yourselves!). And I don't generally drink Keith's, and have a significant problem with them identifying their flagship brand as an IPA. But as I mentioned in the Harvest Ale post, I know a lot of people for whom Keith's was a stepping stone out of the macro lager world and into the craftbeer universe. Now, AB-InBev, and by proxy Labatt, and therefore Keith's as well, are really starting to get concerned about craftbeer. So the obvious thing to do, is buy or start a brand (in this case, Keith's, which already has the benfit of being viewed as "High-end" by most of the macro-drinking population) and produce beers that are simultaneously better than the flagship brews, and yet not so compicated it's undrinkable to folks who are used to beers made mainly out of corn or rice. In this end, Keith's has started their "Brewmaster's Limited Release" series. The good news is, the beer (so far), has actually been pretty good quality. Still pretty simple forms of their style, but much more interesting than, say, a Canadian. The really good news, is they are giving unintentional (I assume) support to craftbrewers. If a Bud drinker is curious enough to try a Keith's Harvest, it isn't out of the question to think they might, having not been disapointed or gone blind, then be willing to try another beer labelled "Harvest Ale", say Muskoka's excellent offering. Or they might find their Bud just doen't taste as nice, compared to the new style, so they continue seeking out other more flavourful beers. So I'm all for these developments.

All this condered, I was very happy and excited when I was notified that I would be getting another bottle from the Keith's line. This one arrived in a bubble-wrap filled manilla envelope, which was actually more difficult to get into than the wooden box and lock in the last Keith's review. It's a Scotch ale, a style I don't drink a lot of, but generally enjoy when I do. A heavy sweet malty beer with next to no hops and higher alcohol, these beers are great for the winter.

[caption id="attachment_1137" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Tartan Ale - Alexander Keith's"][/caption]

Stuff you need to know today - March 1st 2011

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:17:28 -0500

Wow, blink and suddenly there's like a billion cool beer events and news items to address. Okay, maybe not quite a billion, but a lot. Get your calendar and bank statement out, and get planning! March promises to be a pretty exciting month for beer lovers in Toronto.

Lava - Ölvisholt Brugghús

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:06:58 -0500

So, I know I have a tendency to bang on about stuff a lot, if I get stoked on something. So forgive me if this sounds like old news, but man, how about that Ölvisholt Brugghús, pride of Iceland? I covered this in my post on Skjálfti, but I'll give you a little refresher, if you aren't in the know. Iceland had prohibition, just like us. Their total prohibition of alcohol lasted a bit over ten years. Not too bad, really. PEI was dry for over forty. Except, when they lifted prohibition on wine and spirits, they kept it on "Strong Beer", or any beer over 2.25% abv. This led to many solutions, including mixing spirits into "weak" beer. While this sounds like fun, it doesn't really lead to a culture of quality brewing. So you can imagine, when in 1989 after 74 years of no beer, there was some pretty big celebrations when prohibition was fully lifted. So much so, that March 1st is now "Beer Day", honouring the day that Icelanders were finally able to drink and brew beer. Pubs are allowed to stay open until 4am to accommodate celebrants on their beer-soaked pub crawls. This makes me think that perhaps it would be better if the holiday was March 2nd, but I'll leave that. All of this means that any brewer operating in Iceland is, at most, just over twenty years old. In the case of Ölvisholt (the only Icelandic brewery we've seen sold in Ontario), they are only four. So when a four year old brewery, operating in a country that only has a twenty year old brewing tradition is able to brew beers of such quality that geeks drool and the LCBO lists them in the seasonal releases, it's a pretty big deal. And a perfect brewery to honour on this Beer Day.

[caption id="attachment_1120" align="aligncenter" width="427" caption="Lava - Ölvisholt Brugghús"][/caption]

LCBO Spring Release

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:35:55 -0500

So, by now, most of the beers brought in for this year's spring release at the LCBO should be on the shelves. And I must say, they just keep upping the ante. Only one "Okay" beer, and everything else was at least "Good". Notes from the media tasting follow, in the order I drank them.

Maple Bock - Trafalgar Ales and Meads - #45880

A bit of chocolate and maple syrup on the nose. Taste is lightly sweet, with a notable graininess and a hint of maple. Finish is a bit of cocoa bitterness. The body is fairly thin for a bock, but all in all, it's okay.

Orange Peel Ale - Great Lakes Brewery - #615633

Aroma is oranges and a bit of something metallic and sweet. The taste is very akin to orange soda. Citrusy and sweet, with maybe a bit of sweet malt. Not at all my thing, but I can see why people would like it.

Hitachino Nest White Ale - Kiuchi Brewery - #210054

(no link, LCBO seems to not have this in their system yet)

Minty and spicy aroma, with a touch of sweet malts. Taste is very similar, though a bit of ginger comes through on the mid-palate. Quite a refreshing and easy-drinking beer. Would be interesting with a salmon teryaki.

Stone Hammer Oatmeal Coffee Stout - F&M Brewery

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:51:52 -0500

As I often boast, one of the benefits of writing a blog like this, is that other beer-blog friends often find themselves with bottles to share. A few weeks back, Troy Burtch (http://greatcanadianpubs.blogspot.com/)and I met to discuss some TBW stuff, and during the meeting, he also gave me a pair of bottles. Stone Hammer was one of them. This is a beer I know well, having had it on tap/cask at Volo in the past. I've never had it in bottle before, and have never really made notes about it, so I'm pretty excited.

[caption id="attachment_1109" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Stone Hammer - F&M Brewery"][/caption]

Nørrebros Julebryg - Nørrebro Brughus

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:31:30 -0500

This winter the LCBO brought in a trio of beers from Denmark's well-reputed Nørrebro Brughus. A noted brewer in a country not known for much in the beer world aside from producing what is clearly the self-proclaimed best beer in the world, there currently is available at the LCBO their Bombay Pale Ale, Nørrebros Julebryg (Spiced Ale), and Little Korkny Ale (Barleywine). The bottles are quite attractively labelled, and while forty thousand brothers' love might not make your sum, seven hundred and fifty pennies will a bottle of the Julebryg or Bombay buy; the Korkny will not be had for less than two thousand one hundred and ninety five. Ay, there's the rub. I parted myself company with three thousand-odd pennies and brought home all three. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks. Let's see if Nørrebro can win my praise.

[caption id="attachment_1105" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Nørrebros Julebryg - Nørrebro Brughus"][/caption]

Toronto Beer Week 2011 Six Month Count-down Pub Crawl

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:08:18 -0500

There's been murmurings and rumours flying around, so it's nice to be able to finally let loose the official news: The Toronto Beer Week crew is going pub crawling! Gotta warm up for Toronto Beer Week, and the six month mark is a good time to start. Don't want to pull a hammy and have to withdraw on Spetember 23rd, with the finish line in sight. Find the details below. I'm probably going to hit up The Burtch/Pashley wander, but haven't made it official yet.

February 23, 2011 (Toronto, ON) - While St. Patrick’s Day may be on March 17th, craft beer drinkers will be awaiting the 19th with anticipation, as Toronto Beer Week (TBW) marks the start of its six-month countdown by inviting beer lovers on a drinking tour of some of the city’s finest establishments. The 2011 edition of TBW will take place over ten days in September from the 16^th to the 24^th, but drinkers can get a preview of the fun on March 19th.

Half Priced Food and Beer @ Caplansky's Deli - Today Only!

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:58:08 -0500

So, a lot of you will know about Groupon and Living Social, the online crazy-deal sites. But just in case you're in the dark, today's (February 23rd, 2011) Living Social deal is $40 worth of food/drinks at Caplansky's Deli, for $20.

http://livingsocial.com/deals/24775-40-to-spend-on-food-and-drink takes you to the deal, and while you're there, you might as well subscribe to their emails; non-spammy and totally good deals.

Tree Brewing in Ontario

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 07:31:29 -0500

I'll touch on this again (hopefully later today), in my LCBO spring release post, but I got the press release in my inbox this morning, and I'm trying to be a little more on the ball. The release is pretty clear but doesn't say this: Tree makes a mighty fine ale, and we're lucky to have finally gotten one of their products at the LCBO. Go buy some and show the LCBO we want more exciting beers. Think of it like voting, except you have to pay, but you do get a tasty drink out of it.

February 22, 2011 (Kelowna, BC) – Craft Brewers in British Columbia are quickly becoming recognized as some of the best in the world, and Tree Brewing is no exception. The award-winning Kelowna-based brewer has crafted some of the top beers in the country for 15 years, and is now heading to Ontario to give beer lovers in that province a taste of what they’ve been missing.

Infinium - Sam Adams & Weihenstephaner

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:39:46 -0500

Hey did you hear about the lottery that the LCBO did for the 70 bottles of Sam Adams Utopias? Winning meant you were allowed to buy a $115 bottle of beer (thanks for that price, Josh!). Anyways, I didn't win, and neither did most of you. The good news is, for all us sad saps, the LCBO also brought in a large quantity (relatively speaking) of another big Sam Adams beer, Infinium. It's marginally cheaper, at just $14.95/750ml (compared to $115/710ml), and comes in a bottle at least 2/5 as cool as the Utopias.

And it's got a very cool story too! Not ageing since before Napoleon was exiled, but still, exciting. It was a collaboration brew with Weihenstephaner, the epic German brewer. If your geekery is up to date, you'll know Weihenstephaner is the oldest continuously operated brewery in the world, in operation since 1052. Kinda makes any of your accomplishments pale. So they got together about 3 years ago to bang off a "Completely new style" of beer. A Champagne Beer. Made with beer ingredients, and Champagne yeast. Ignore, for a moment, the numerous brews, both homebrew and commercially available, that are also made in roughly the same manner, with roughly the same ingredients. This is an exciting prospect indeed. So out comes this completely(ish) new style, just in time for new year's (this is in the states, mind you, we just got it). Perfect, as it comes in a proper Champagne bottle, which you could pop at 12:00:01 instead of your Moet or Baby Duck. Well, you can imagine what happened: Bud drinkers generally ignored it, as it was *way* too expensive and likely would taste gross, and beer geeks generally dismissed it as some weird combination of sell-outism marketing and self-importance (hard to reconcile, I know). Yes, it did garner some good reviews, but a check of the two main repositories of public beer geekery opinion clearly shows that this beer is not well loved by the craftbeer army.

Lucky for you, I'm a totally unbiased and even-keeled reveiwer, so what follows is a totally objective analysis based on tens of months of experience and a general air of self-importance (I figure everybody else got a high-horse, why not me too?)

[caption id="attachment_1084" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Infinium - Sam Adams & Weihenstephaner"][/caption]

Imperial Element - Great Lakes Brewing & Saint John's Wort

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:56:53 -0500

Okay, this post combines a few things that regular readers will be somewhat familiar with: Great Lakes Project X (the epic monthly beer drinking event featuring experimental brews by Mike Lackey and often in collaboration with others on Great Lakes pilot system), and the partnership of Jordan St. John and Mike Lackey for said events. Project X brews are often available in very limited numbers of 650ml bombers at the brewery during and after the event in question. So while I had to take a pass on this month's PX, I was able, through the kindness of Mike, to procure a bottle of Imperial Element, the Double IPA Jordan and Mike brewed. I also did have it on cask at Volo the next night, so I've actually already been through this, but was in a crowded bar, with only standing room, and on my way to play hockey. I certianly gave it a good once over, but made no notes, etc. So with only further photographic ado, Imperial Element:

[caption id="attachment_1077" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Imperial Element - Great Lakes Brewing & Saint John's Wort"][/caption]

Toronto Beer Week 2011 - Official Dates

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:19:28 -0500

I realize this came out last week, but I figure better late than never. It's official, the dates for this year's TBW are set. Book your vacation time now, for September 16-24. Below is the official press release:

February 7, 2011 - TORONTO – We are pleased to announce that the 2nd annual Toronto Beer Week (TBW) will once again be taking over the streets of Canada’s largest city. Working off a tremendously successful week in 2010, TBW promises to be bigger and better this year, and due to popular demand will be expanding to add an additional weekend. 2011 will now see 10 days of beer-related events celebrating quality craft brews, and the amazing places you can enjoy them.

Ola Dubh 40 - Harviestoun Brewery

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:27:56 -0500

If you are unfamiliar with Harviestoun and their Ola Dubh beers, I'm not going to rehash it. Check here, and read up, then come back. Okay, we're all back? So, I've actually had this bottle since last year's release. I had planned on storing it and doing a comparative year over year tasting. Except it turned out that this year's batch was actually the same vintage as last year. So I was foiled. So I kept this one for a special occasion. Today I picked up my best friend from the airport, as he made his return to Toronto from Belfast. I thought it was a good celebratory beer for the evening, and I decided to snap a picture and do a quick review of it too. Incidentally, the bottle surged a bit when I opened it, which indicates some funky stuff grew a bit. Could be unusual.

[caption id="attachment_1067" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Ola Dubh 40 - Harviestoun Brewery"][/caption]

Boneshaker - Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:04:42 -0500

I seem to be dwelling on Amsterdam a lot recently, and with good reason; Amsterdam is producing some really awesome brews. This batch of Boneshaker was actually being produced during the SOB brew day (if I understand correctly), and so I was definitely looking to lay my hands on some. It's their take on an unfiltered American style IPA, that they brewed adding hops throughout the boil (not "continuously", like DFH, but more hops than is, strictly speaking, sensible). I got a glass of some pre-bottling down at the brewery, but was in a bit of a hurry, so didn't get to spend some quality time with it. The short time I got was excellent, but I wanted to reflect a bit more. So I was more than happy when Brock gave me a bottle after our interview at Burger Bar. I've been waiting on it for a while, and a Thursday after spending a few hours tearing out 80+ year old plaster with my father-in-law, I thought it was time. Let's do it!

[caption id="attachment_1061" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Boneshaker - Amsterdam Brewing Co."][/caption]

CJM Brown Royale - Amsterdam Brewing Co.

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:33:34 -0500

I grew up in Scarborough. While this effects me in a variety of different ways, a big one was in my beer upbringing. I have no idea what the beer in my house was growing up. It was in bottles and at a young age I would drink the little bit of backwash and settled-out head the day after people were over and there were bottles waiting to be returned.    I know, later in my childhood, that my Father anticipated driving trips to Buffalo so he could drink and bring back Michelob. In high school, the only two beers I remember seeing at parties were Black Velvet and Canadian (spirits seemed to be more the thing, Absolut and CC mainly). So when I was at beer drinking age, I got made fun of for buying Moosehead and Keith's. I just romanticised the east coast and Scottish/Irish connections; that the beer was better was inconsequential. But that led to me wanting to drink other things that were different. I got into Sleeman and Upper Canada pretty quickly. So when I learned that there was a brewery right in downtown Toronto, I was stoked. It was called Amsterdam, which was interesting and European. I got down there quickly (probably stopping by MEC on my way). It was incredible sitting in the pub, my first brewpub (yes, I know it was independently owned, but let's not get pedantic here), looking on to the brewing floor and drinking the freshest beer I had ever had. I became a consumer of Amsterdam that day and have regularly had them in my selection since. Now, in the past few years, my tastes have broadened, my understanding of brewing and brewing culture has grown, and the amount of attention I pay to both has increased massively. And while Amsterdam has moved into a bigger production facility, I think it's fair to say that through most of the 00's, they plateaued. Production probably grew, but, for the most part, innovation stalled. But that is all changing, and quickly. Big Wheel was introduced, replacing their Dutch Amber. While it wasn't a life-changing beer, it was a solid lager, and, from what I can tell, ushered in a new dynasty at Amsterdam. All of a sudden, they are putting out crazy seasonals and one-offs. The Two-Fisted stout used both fists to pummel the life out of their old Irish Stout. They opened their doors to the Southern Ontario Brewers to host an event to promote homebrewing (yeah, as in making your own beer so that you don't have to buy other people's). They partnered with Toronto Beer Week to produce the TBW homebrewer's winning beer. And they started making beers that were in line with what is happening in brewing in North America. Big hops and higher alcohol. And, in my opinion, they're killing at it. Boneshaker IPA is epic (there's a bottle waiting for review in my fridge). While at the SOB brewday, we were given a sneaky taste of what was being called "Double Brown" from a bright tank. It was nice and pretty hoppy. I didn't adore it, but thought it was tasty and an interesting. It was basically their Nut Brown jacked up a bit, higher alcohol and a lot more hops. Turns out there is a style called Double or Imperial Brown Ale, which is what this is. So when I saw bottles of it while at Amsterdam two weeks ago, I picked up a few. I wish I picked up more. It's just amazing.

[caption id="attachment_1056" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="CJM Brown Royale - Amsterdam Brewing Co."][/caption]

The Micro Scape-goat

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:20:06 -0500

So I just came across this article on the Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/allergy-sufferers-fear-beer-lobby-could-kill-new-food-labelling-rules/article1884269/

Feel free to read it in its entirety, but to summarize for you: A variety of groups want better labelling on food products, to clarify potentially dangerous ingredients for allergy sufferers. For example, potentially fatal sesame seeds can be grouped under the word "seasonings". Another example is clarifying that a beer contains barley/wheat/rye (depending on the brew), which contains gluten. Big brewers are fighting it, on the grounds that some small brewers use screened-on labels on their bottles, and a re-label would require the purchase of all new bottles.

Bog Father - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co.

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:33:55 -0500

The mighty Beau's of Vankleek Hill certainly are having fun while storming the Ontario craft-brewing scene. While their Lug-Tread lagered ale is now widely accepted and consumed, it's worth remembering, for most people, it was their first exposure to the Kolsch style of beer. It's easy to take for granted now, but it was remarkable when it made it's appearance (especially when it's very first appearance was actually an Eis-Kolsch, or Kolsch-Bock as they called it). If you've been following their story for a while now, though, you know that this is just how they roll. "Hey our Kolsch is doing okay, what other styles should we try out?" Altbeir, another new one for most people (and the close cousin of Kolsch); Gose, a beer style I had never heard of before consuming it for the first time; Sticke, a German brewing tradition worth repeating; and Gruit, a traditional ale made with no hops (Bog Myrtle was the bitter leaf of choice in Bog Water, harvested locally in Eastern Ontario). Now they're just getting crazy. IPAs are cool, but imperial IPAs are really sexy. Just turn them up to 11, right? So why not sexy up the Gruit, and turn the Bog Water into the Bog Father? Where it gets really silly, is that guits don't have hops. But this one does. And in the words of Rob, friendly Beau's rep and gentleman "We don't care". So what you get is a double-mashed brew made with Bog Myrtle and hops, and fermented with Belgian yeast. Incidentally, this was one of the beers that was served at the Burger Bar CASK Social this past weekend. Sadly I missed it, but am getting a make-up taste now. Let's do it!

[caption id="attachment_1035" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Bog Father - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co."][/caption]

Ola Dub 12 - Harviestoun

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:36:18 -0500

I know I briefly reviewed the whole line-up of Ola Dubh beers a while back. If you didn't read that and want a brief 411, Harviestoun brews an Old Ale called Old Engine Oil, which is magic. They decided to play around a bit, and age this beer in a variety of whisky barrels from Highland Park Distillery. They used a variety of different barrels, but it's important to note here, the beer is exactly the same, what changes is the amount of time the whisky spent in each barrel (with me?). So the Ola Dubh 12 was aged in a barrel that had whisky in it for 12 years. The 40 was in a barrel that had whisky in it for 40 years. Got it? Same beer, but the longer the whisky was in the barrel, the more flavour it imparted to the oak. Incidentally, "Ola Dubh" means "Black Oil", and if you want to sound like a true Scot, it's pronounced "Oh-la Doo".

But why did I decide to review this today? It's been sitting in my stack for quite a while. Well, if you follow along the blog, you'll know that Burn's Night is fast approaching. Tomorrow, as part of their multi-day Burn's festival, The Monk's Table is hosting a tasting of Ola Dubh, hosted by none other then Jordan St John, from http://www.saintjohnswort.ca/. No better way to pique your interest in these interesting beers then review one. Check out my post about stuff coming up for contact details etc.

[caption id="attachment_1029" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Ola Dubh 12 - Harviestoun"][/caption]

Burly Wine - Half Pints Brewing Co.

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:31:52 -0500

Nothing beats a good boozy barleywine on a cold winter's day. And while barleywines were traditionally British in descent, many North American brewers are making these big beers, and adding their own flair. If you're looking for a beer built for a Canadian winter, it follows that you should probably look for one made by a brewer in an area that really knows Canadian winters. Enter Half Pints Brewing Co, the pride of Winterpeg Manitoba. Burly Wine is their hoppy boozy brew of choice for the long cold winter. Yes, this is one of those beers you can't swing down to the LCBO and buy; I got this on a trade. Andrew over at highhops.wordpress.com had an extra bottle and fancied a DDC bottle I'd brought back from Montreal. The trade ensued, and now, here I am, kneeling in the snow to make a representative picture of a very Canadian beer.

[caption id="attachment_1025" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Half Pints Burly Wine"][/caption]

Things you need to know today - January 19th, 2011

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:01:55 -0500

Hey hey, it's Wednesday! Got any plans? Got any Hopes? Dreams? Me too.

Here's some things that could help fill some of those desires.

CASK Social - The Burger Bar

New year, and a new set of socials. The good folks at CASK have partnered with Brock and the Burger Bar to serve up some lovely cask ale and delicious food this Saturday, the 22nd, from 3-6pm. Three brews will be available: Great Lakes/Burger Bar Augusta IPA (excellent single hop IPA), Beau's Bogfather and Cheshire Valley Robust Porter. As always, the beers will be great, and the company will be better. I have to take a pass, but encourage any and everybody to head down.

Drinking With Brock Shepherd - The Burger Bar

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:46:14 -0500

This Thursday is Project X, at Great Lakes Brewery. This month, we'll have the pleasure of drinking a new offering, Augusta IPA, a collaboration between Brock Shepherd, owner of the Burger Bar in Kensington Market, and Great Lakes. Brock's crew is also putting on a Burger Bar spread for the celebrants to enjoy with their pints. In preparation for the event, I met up with Brock at the Burger Bar for an interview, and to drink a fancy beer together. Here follows the interview:

Twenty Eleven

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:17:37 -0500

Hello and happy new year! I trust that all and sundry had a pleasant holiday, and enjoyed some lovely brews to ring in the new year. This is a looking-forward post. I plan on doing a looking back one in the days to come, re-living some of the highlights of the year that was.

The Year of Beer

I know of at least two people who have committed (one successfully, and one who will be shortly) to blogging their drinking of beer for a year. This is not what I'm doing.

10 Bitter Years - Black Oak Brewing Co.

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:23:20 -0500

So in the process of cleaning up a fairly messy beer storage area in readiness for Christmas entertaining, I realized I still had a bottle of 10 Bitter Years, imaginably waiting for review. If you're not familiar with 10 Bitter Years, it is a double IPA, which generally means higher alcohol and higher hops. It was first brewed to celebrate Black Oak's ten year anniversary. This one only comes out occasionally, and when it does, the beer geekery in the GTA buy whatever the bars don't, in fairly quick order. While I have nowhere near the level of training or experience to make this kind of judgement, I have heard people with that level of credential describe this beer as "Flawless". When you consider how picky beer geeks are, that is high praise indeed. One side note on my review: I'm still rocking a bit of a stuffy nose from a pre-Christmas cold, so I'm certainly not on my A-game. Still, I couldn't wait to crack into this bottle.

[caption id="attachment_994" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="10 Bitter Years - Black Oak Brewing Co."][/caption]

Christmas Eve

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:14:11 -0500

Hello BeerBlog readers! Not too much beery to discuss today, just a little note on Christmas eve to wish everyone celebrating tomorrow, whether the purchase of presents the gathering of family or the birth of a savour, a very merry Christmas. I just picked up my delivery of St John's Wort Christmas Ale, and will put together a review sometime after the big day.

Stuff you need to know about Volo today - Tuesday, December 21st

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:55:52 -0500

So, I'm going to go ahead and assume we all know about Bar Volo, and just dive in (if you don't, http://www.barvolo.com is a great place to start). Some updates are in from Tom, and well worth passing along:

Holiday Hours

December 20th-23rd: 12PM - 2AM

December 24th: 12PM - 5PM

December 25th-26th: CLOSED

January 1st - 2nd: CLOSED

Fuller's Bengal Lancer IPA - The Monk's Table

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:34:41 -0500

Oh my. I don't even know where to start with this one. Shall I praise one of the most storied and excellent brewers in England? Or this magical seasonal IPA in the classic style? Or perhaps I ought to speak to the magnificent Monk's Table, or the amazing hospitality of it's landlord, Adam Grant. As I'm quickly running out of adjectives, though, I think I'll start out with a little history, and get to the gooey love-in towards the end of the post.

[caption id="attachment_979" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Fuller's Bengal Lancer IPA"][/caption]

Hop Nouveau 2010 - Trafalgar Ales and Meads

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:21:38 -0500

Oh boy. Two people actually asked me why I was bothering to review this. While my track record with Trafalgar hasn't been horrible, and indeed, I've had a few brews I liked, I've also had some mediocre to bad brews as well. You, dear reader, might not have realized the bad, because I've generally decided not to write about them. Trafalgar is part of the OCB, and is "trying" to make a quality product, right? Why tear them down? But at some point, something's gotta give. Jordan St. John wrote a really well thought post on this very subject. Not abusing or bashing Trafalgar, but simply calling into question some of their problems. It got me to thinking, what if they really didn't realize there was a problem? What if they dismiss the frequent forum-posters (as many do) and just moved on. They still get listed in the LCBO, afterall, they must be doing something right. So I'll give this a go, with an open mind and palate, and see what happens. And just in case I do need to be honest rather than nice, I've included my dog, Barley, in the picture. James Watt of BrewDog told me, you can say and do anything you want if you include a picture or video of a cute dog.

[caption id="attachment_974" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Hop Nouveau - Trafalgar Ales and Meads"][/caption]

Espresso Stout - Dark Star Brewing Co.

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 08:56:26 -0500

Dark Star is an English brewery, and according to their label, they've won some nice awards. I first had this beer at the LCBO fall release tasting, and really enjoyed it. I picked up a bottle to review properly, and it's been sitting waiting for me since. I was really taken by the label, which has this chunky design to it. And the beer was pretty good too. Let's see if I still like it.

[caption id="attachment_969" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Espresso Stout - Dark Star Brewing Co."][/caption]

Winter Warmers - LCBO Winter Release

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:49:09 -0500

So I posted a few days ago, and mentioned the new beers in the LC, but thought I'd give you the full break-down of what they've got to keep you warm through our long nights. Can I just take a moment and say how awesome this release looks? They just keep on upping their game, to all of our benefit. Thanks to the beer crew at the LCBO!

The order is the order I drank them (and thus, the order of my notes).

Trafalgar Bock, Trafalgar Ales and Meads, #684852 - Aroma is malty and some burnt/charred wood. Taste is more of the same, with a pretty thin body, especially for a bock. At least it wasn't infected.

Meantime Coffee Porter, Meantime Brewing, #194167 - Dark lovely coffee/espresso aromas, with sweet malts and hints of vanilla. Taste is a bit maltier, sweet and grainy, with caramel and burnt sugar dancing with lovely coffee. Excellent.

Peche Mortel - Dieu du Ciel!

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:42:26 -0500

So, I don't know if you've noticed, but I have a tendency to gush on and on about Dieu du Ciel!, as well as their Ontario importer, HMH Negotiants. If you haven't been reading for long, you might not know this. But trust me, I do. It gets a little embarrassing for everybody, kind of like that couple everybody knows who get a little too cuddly in public. So I'll spare you that. Suffice to say, DDC makes some truly amazing beers. And we owe a debt of gratitude to Ralph and Tom Moranna for busting their asses to bring us these beers. Okay? As far as this particular bottle goes, "Peche Mortel" means "Mortal Sin", and for many people this beers includes two of their preferred sins: Coffee and booze. At 9.5% and with a generous dose of black coffee, what could go wrong?

[caption id="attachment_964" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Peche Mortel - Dieu du Ciel!"][/caption]

Stuff you need to know today - Tuesday, December 7th

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:44:46 -0500

Doing it again, stuff I think you can't live without...

A Night with Fred - Hopfenstark - Bar Volo

So, immediately below this post is my post for this event. I won't repeat myself, I just thought I'd point out that it's happening, and it's going to be great.

A Night with Fred - Bar Volo

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:27:26 -0500

Just got a reminder from Tom at Volo and thought I would pass it along.

HMH Negotiants and barVolo Presents
A Night With Fred...
Microbrasserie Hopfenstark Feature

Join barVolo on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 at 8:00pm and discover the beers of Microbrasserie Hopfenstark from L'Assomption, Québec. Brew master and founder Frederick Cormier will be present while his beers are being served on draught in limited availability. To commence the occasion, we will only be serving beers from Microbrasserie Hopfenstark in 300mL glasses until supplies last. The following beers will be available;

INEDIT - Estrella Damm

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:22:36 -0500

Here's what I know about this beer: It's made by Estrella Damm, therefore it's Spanish. The bottle is lovely looking. That is all. While I don't dislike Estrella Damm, the two beers of theirs I've consumed failed to wow me. I'm going to try to be objective.

[caption id="attachment_953" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="INEDIT - Estrella Damm"][/caption]

CASK Social - This Saturday!

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:22:18 -0500

Okay, I'm totally falling behind here. My review bottles are gathering dust (or disappearing with no review), and I've been to way more events then I've mentioned here. So, in an effort to try to get back on the horse, here's a great event to start out your December:

Vintage Lager - Hogsback Brewing Co.

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:40:32 -0500

Here's something the average person probably doesn't encounter in their day-to-day life. Getting handed beer in unlabelled bottles, from upcoming breweries. Happily, this is a part of my life. A few weeks back (yeah, I've been pretty busy), Greg Clow passed me a bottle of Hogsback Brewing Co Vintage Lager (not to be confused with the Hogsback Brewery in England, makers of the epic T.E.A.) while at an LCBO tasting. A bit of description and his point of view, and we went on with the tasting. The bottle has been patiently waiting for me since. I decided today to finally open it up. In advance, I went to check out their website, but couldn't, as it's a flash-based design (head's-up: web geek hat just went on), and there was no browser/os detect script to feed me (at least) a mobile version, if not (better) an non-flash version, Steve Jobs still keeping iPhones adobe-free zones (except for the other industry standards, youtube and .pdf reading). I've since checked the site on my desktop, and seen that it's quite a sharp design that pays homage to a "days of yore" type feel, and has talk sort of in the same vein as Beau's or early Steamwhistle. Dudes making beer, quality stuff, yada-yada. Quite nice, and accented by the usual flash-y interface. In mild protest, I didn't spend much time on the site, but it looked like you could spend a good bit of time there. So, with all that said and done, picture taken, and we're ready to get to the real deal, actually drinking the beer:

[caption id="attachment_938" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Vintage Lager - Hogsback Brewing Co."][/caption]

Hop Circle IPA - Phillip's Brewing Co.

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:34:21 -0500

So, unless you've been under a rock, you will probably know that some of the best American-style India Pale Ales are being produced on the west coast, not just in the USA, but also in Canada. Phillips is one of these brewers. Located in Victoria BC, they make a very wide selection of beers, including the Double IPA, Amnesiac, and it's younger brother, Hop Circle IPA. If you live in Ontario, then you just might as well be living under a rock, so you might never have heard of Phillips, unless you had travelled west. Thankfully, because of the efforts of Ralph and Tom Moranna, through their importing company, HMH Negotiants, more and more Ontarians are being introduced to excellent breweries, like Phillips, that the LCBO don't carry. Watch HMH closely, get in on their private orders (this beer came in to Ontario through one such order), and take part in the spread of great beer in our province. Oops, I normally don't get on my soapbox until the end of the post. Let's get to the good part, the beer:

[caption id="attachment_931" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Hop Circle IPA - Phillips Brewing Co."][/caption]

Gourmet Food and Wine Expo - Now that my head is clear

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 09:38:31 -0500

So if you have been reading my "stuff you need to know" (and you should, otherwise, how will you know?) you will remember I was heading off to the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo this past Thursday. And you might be wondering why you haven't heard anything more about it? Well that's simple, I'm a busy guy, okay? Back off. Seriously, though. After a busy weekend (Santa Claus Parade, among other stuff), I'm going to finally put thoughts to keyboard.

Stuff you need to know today - Thursday, November 18th

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:21:45 -0500

Okay, two in the series, I might be done. We'll see....

Gourmet Food and Wine Show

Starts tonight, with the VIP event. I'll be connecting with some VIPs (haha) and would love to hook up. Leave a comment if you're going down tonight, and I'll keep my eyes peeled. Full information here (http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca/sitepages/)

Post Road Pumpkin Ale - Brooklyn Brewery

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:04:04 -0500

Okay, if you don't know Brooklyn Brewery, don't feel bad. They have one regular beer available at the LCBO, the awesome Brooklyn Lager. This year, in the fall release they brought in their Post Road Pumpkin Ale, and demonstrated that Brooklyn is no one trick pony. Of course, if you follow the craft beer scene in the states, you already knew this. Garrett Oliver, brewer at Brooklyn, not only makes stellar beers, but penned The Brewmaster's Table, one of the most highly regarded books dealing with beer, beer culture and food & beer. Feel free to buy it via Amazon using the links on the right (you get a book, I get money, we all win!). So let's drink some Pumpkin Ale:

[caption id="attachment_915" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Post Road Pumpkin Ale - Brooklyn Brewery"][/caption]

Learn 2 Brew - The wrap-up

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:32:00 -0500

So, if you've been following along, you'll remember I was planning to attend an event this past weekend at the Amsterdam Brewery, a brew-day hosted by the Southern Ontario Brewers. The day was an opportunity for a bunch of the SOBs to come into the brewery, set-up their brewing systems, and brew a batch or two, allowing public to come wander through, watch, ask questions, and get bitten by the brewing bug. My attendance was part of an idea dreamed up, to get some bloggers, who regularly critique beer, to brew a batch of their own. This served two purposes, in that we had to put our money where our mouths were, and also demonstrated that pretty well anybody can brew. No matter how hopeless they might seem.

Gourmet Food and Wine Expo (There's Beer Too) - November 18-21

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:00:27 -0500

Next weekend in Toronto features a yearly event well worth going to, even if you have no interest in beer (what the heck are you doing here, though?). The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo (not to be confused with the Wine and Cheese show, and Sante), opens its doors again this year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, starting next Thursday, the 18th for the VIP night, and Friday at 2pm for general admission. While I could write at leangth about the great wines and spirits you get the opportunity to sample, that's not why I'm going this year. Nor am I writing about the selection of excellent foods, from restaurants, hotels and food service providers. Indeed, this year I'm going with my usual obsession in mind: this year, it's all about beer. Among other brewers, you'll find me rubbing shoulders and sipping beers with: Big Rock, McAuslan, Beau's, Creemore and Mill St. So come on down, Tickets are available online at: http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca/sitepages/ where you can also find out more about the special guests (no, they haven't listed me), tutored tastings, and workshops.

Dieu du Ciel! details at the LCBO

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:55:12 -0500

Just in my inbox from Tom at HMH Negotiants:

Hi Everyone,

Below you will find inventory links for all remaining Dieu Du Ciel! beers currently listed at select LCBO's. They are selling very quickly and we don't expect all of these beers to be available again - with the exception of a few seasonal's. The Peche Mortel and Rigor Mortis ABT have just been released, Soltice D'hiver Barley Wine is on its way.

[caption id="attachment_897" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Dieu du Ciel!"][/caption]

Pumking - Southern Tier Brewing Company

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:39:52 -0500

Okay, so I drank this beer at the LCBO media tasting for the Fall/Halloween release, but here's the thing: you drink a lot of beers at that type of event. It's important to revisit the ones you really liked. In fact, it's important to revisit beers you really liked in general. I used to love nothing better then a night in alone, a Pizzaville large pie, and a six pack of Moosehead. Like I said, it's important to revisit things, just to see. So that's what I'm doing. Southern Tier is a highly regarded brewer in the states, and Pumking is a highly regarded pumpkin beer. I also really liked this at the tasting, so I think this is going to be a cake walk. Or maybe a pie walk.

[caption id="attachment_888" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Pumking - Southern Tier Brewing Company"][/caption]

Stuff you need to know today - Friday November 5th

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:30:47 -0500

Okay, I'm not going to say I'll do this regularly, because that's blogger-cide. Nobody does anything they promise to do regularly. That being said, I kind of like the vibe on this one. I get to post some stuff that I think you want to know. If you don't, the joke's on you; you already read it. So here you go:

Rigor Mortis Abt - Dieu du Ciel!

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:56:07 -0500

Ever have one of those days that just isn't going well? That's today, for me. Not expressley bad, but just lots of bad news. So I'm taking it back. I'm reviewing a beer that I already know kicks ass. So I'll be the first to admit this is a totally unobjective review. Let's get it on.

[caption id="attachment_875" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Rigor Mortis Abt - Dieu du Ciel!"][/caption]

Ola Dubh - Harviestoun

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:10:00 -0500

This week marks the launch of a pretty exciting line of beers at the LCBO. As of today, you can purchase all 5 varieties of Harviestoun Ola Dubh, which is very good news indeed. You might remember Ola Dubh from last year's winter release, but if you're unfamiliar, let me take you through it a bit.

Harviestoun is a Scottish brewer, who make, among other beers, Old Engine Oil. An "Old Ale" which is boozy (8%), with nice malty chocolatey notes. Ola Dubh (Scots Gaelic for "Black Oil"), was an idea born out of the trend recently in whisky barrel aged beers. The good folks at Harviestoun made a special batch of their Old Engine Oil and aged it in a variety of whisky barrels, all from Highland Park Distillery. So there is a beer aged in a barrel that held a 12 year old, a 16 year old, an 18 year old, a 30 year old and a massive 40 year old. The older the barrel, it seems, the greater the impact on the flavour of the beer. Note, it's all the same beer, just aged differently.

Cask Days Report - Bar Volo

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:16:08 -0500

Oh boy oh boy. Where to start? Cask days is the epic cask-only beer festival hosted at the Mighty Bar Volo. Every year in October, as the outside air hits cask temperatures, brewers from all over Ontario and Quebec fill casks with their finest brews, many which are one-off creations, and send them to Ralph and Co at Volo. This year, to fulfil the growing demand, Cask Days became a month long event, with activities at a variety of different locations. The main event, though, is the three day festival at Volo. And that is where I found myself Saturday afternoon, having a ticket for the 4-8pm bracket.

This year I was greeted by the usual crowd, and a beer list featuring 56 casks. 56 casks. I was also pleased to find that my commemorative glass (which you need to buy for $5 to get samples in, though you can use the same glass throughout the weekend) was a pint glass, not a snifter. Nice one. Julian was pouring at the Ontario East table, dressed as either Flavour Flav or the Whiz. Even he wasn't sure. Having given no thought or attention to much of anything, I took a glance at the casks and ordered a Durham Blackeye. It was so nice, I decided that this would be my MO for the rest of the day. No big plans, no particular order. Just picking what I saw and accepting recommendations. Andrew Bartle said I should get the Great Lakes Tenish Anyone? Triple IPA, so I did. Another epic beer.

The Griffin Gastropub - Bracebridge

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:34:51 -0500

Growing up, we used to have a cottage about half an hour from Bracebridge. While we would pop into Bala or Port Carling for quick shops, when we needed to buy big items or lots of anything, it seemed like we always went to Bracebridge. While I was aware there was a quaint area in the older part of town, I always envisioned it was a cafe/crafty-shop type area. So I was pleasantly surprised when I heard some time ago that a pub had opened with good food and a killer beer list. When it transpired that they were organizing a craft beer festival, I felt even better, and made a serious note to get up there as soon as possible. Still, despite a few Muskoka trips this summer and last, it wasn't until last week that we finally got to the Griffin. Visiting friends in Huntsville, we said we absolutely had to go, and I'm really glad we did.

[caption id="attachment_855" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The Griffin Gastropub"][/caption]

Imperial IPA - Garrison Brewing

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:28:35 -0500

If you find yourself in Halifax Nova Scotia, and you fancy a beer, you will likely be mainly presented with two options: Alpine and Keith's. Also the usual selection of macro-junk. However, you will be in the presence of two hugely important micros: Garrison and Propeller. These guys are the real pride of Halifax. Brewing some of the best beers you'll find on the east coast. But try to find them in the LCBO. Okay, the good news is, Propeller Bitter was available in the spring, and now Garrison Imperial IPA is available in the fall release. So how is it that we humble Ontarians are now able to enjoy this east-coast wonder in the comfort of our own home? Cass Enright. Cass is the founder of BarTowel.com and FreeOurBeer.com has decided to try his hand at importing. The first offering that Cass has at the LCBO is Garrison's renowned IIPA, though he also currently has a private order open for beers from Picaroon's of Fredrickton. Check out http://www.bartowelimports.com/news/ for more info. Anyways, I'm getting off track here, I'm about to drink a beer I already know is stellar. Let's make sure I haven't changed my mind.

[caption id="attachment_846" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Garrison Brewing Imperial IPA"][/caption]

Coffee Porter - Meantime

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:55:46 -0500

Oh coffee porter, what are we going to do with you. You're the merlot of the beer world; flavours that should be palatable and familiar to many, and yet most people who make you do an ass job of it. I tend to stay away from coffee porters, as they often are really just mediocre porters with a heap of coffee dumped in them. Okay, to be fair, I've actually had two noteworthy beers that include coffee recently, Dark Star Espresso Stout (available at the LCBO in the fall release) and BrewDog AB04 (might still be available via http://www.BrewDog.com). But aside from these, the samples I've had have, at best, been "okay". So why would I have saved this particular bottle as a special review, and kept it till the end of my birthday four-beer review? Well, for one, it was given to me by Adam Grant, landlord at the Monk's Table. And Adam doesn't really serve "okay" beer. Secondly, Meantime wins awards like Ussain Bolt wins medals. So I have high hopes.

[caption id="attachment_841" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Coffee Porter - Meantime"][/caption]

Black IPA - Church-Key Brewing

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:45:49 -0500

If you've been following along with this blog for a while, you'll know that I'm a big fan of Church-Key Brewing. While they're small, and have a fairly limited distribution, I so get to stop in the brewery outside of Campbellford whenever we pass by. They also are available on tap at a fair number of bars around Toronto. A while back, John (the owner/brewer) started to do a series of special brews that were available only in 650ml dinner bottles from the brewery (and in very limited tap-release). The Lactese Falcon (a Flanders sour that tastes like blue cheese), Raiders of the Purple Loostrife (flavoured mead), and Scarlet Pilsner are all part of the series, as is the Black IPA. While hard to find, these beers are all well worth seeking out (even if it means a bit of extra driving on an east-bound road trip). This particular bottle was grabbed for me by Kevin, our cousin (sort of...), thaks bro!

[caption id="attachment_835" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Church-Key Brewing Black IPA"][/caption]

Harvest Ale - Muskoka Cottage Brewery

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:11:45 -0500

In my last post, I talked a bit about my past with Muskoka Cottage Brewery, mainly in Muskoka. But here's to the future! Muskoka, while making a variety of solid brews (cream ale, lager, light pilsner) is branching out, their weissebier is delicious but would likely be challenging to somebody who might regularly drink their light. And now they are doing seasonals that could well jump them to the front of the line, for quality innovative brews in Ontario. Their first, Harvest Ale, was available in limited draught last fall, but is now for sale in some LCBOs, and on tap at 60 bars in Ontario. I hate to admit to writing these intros *after* I do the review, but let me just say, it's epic. Stop reading this instant, go buy some, then come back and follow along, okay? And get yourself ready, mid-November will see their next seasonal, Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout! And watch these guys, their starting to charge.

[caption id="attachment_829" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Muskoka Cottage Brewery Harvest Ale"][/caption]

Hefe-Weissbier Muskoka Cottage Brewery

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 06:49:13 -0500

I can remember being 19 (so, in 1999) and seeing beer from a company called Muskoka, in the LCBO in Port Carling while up at the family cottage. If I recall, I mainly got the Cream Ale from them. I have no recollection, and wasn't equiped at the time, to gauge it's qaulity on a beer-geekery scale, but I certainly remember enjoying it quite a bit, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.    I seemed to loose track of the brewery for a while, so was happy to note a few years ago, that they were still open and also a well-respected brewer. Then our friend and beer rep at Castro's, Jon, moved from Cameron's to Muskoka, and the Cream Ale was soon running through our lines. And I still enjoy it, though my tastes have certianly grown away from more simple ales and lagers. I had been told by Bill George (LCBO beer avatar) that Muskoka's Hefe-Weisse was one of the better and most under-appreciated wheat beers in Ontario. So when I got handed an OCB sample pack at the Toronto Beer Week launch, I was stoked to see the Weisse in it. And in case you didn't realize it, wheat beers are the perfect breakfast beer!

[caption id="attachment_824" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Muskoka Cottage Brewery Hefe-Weissebier"][/caption]

Harvest Ale - Alexander Keith's - Review

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:48:42 -0500

So, if you've been following along, last night I broke into a fancy-schmancy wooden box that was sent to me by Keith's. There was a sexy combination lock with a note that said I would get the combination later, and in the meantime I should refridgerate the box. I'm impatient, and in possesion of numerous tools including a screwdriver, so I simply took the locking hinge off. Being questionable sober last night, I decided to wait till today to let it cool and have a clear(ish) mind to give it a go.

I'll be honest, Keith's underwhelms me, generally speaking. That being said, their White is a decent option at many pubs that are essentially beer wastelands. And I'm aware that I'm a bit more than a bit of a beer snob. Keith's has been the gateway for many people I know, jumping from macro to micro drinkers, so they still have my respect. If we could get them to re-brand their India Pale Ale to just Ale, I would even call myself a fan. So let's see where we stand after this new seasonal.

[caption id="attachment_812" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Alexander Keith's Harvest Ale"][/caption]

Cask Days - Bar Volo

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:35:06 -0500

Just in from Ralph at Volo!!!!

ABOUT CASK DAYS

October has become Toronto’s annual month to celebrate cask-condition ale – a term for unfiltered, unpasteurized, naturally carbonated beer that undergoes secondary fermentation. Once tapped, cask-ale - also referred to as real ale, has only a few days to be consumed at it's peak; we call these days 'Cask Days'.

Harvest Ale - Alexander Keith's

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:19:47 -0500

Okay, here's the deal: Send me beer, I'll happily accept. Send me beer in a really really cool wooden box, with a combination lock that you haven't given me the code for (with a note saying somebody will give me the code in the near-distant future) and I will use a common screw-driver to open said box. Seriously guys, you're owned by Labatt's, you could have at least made me break the box to get in. I can still "restore" the box to it's original form.

Brown Ale - Snowman Brewing

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:29:54 -0500

So at the Black Oak night at Volo during Toronto Beer Week, I was lucky enough to meet a young home-brewer called Kevin Snow. With his partner, Hirsch Goodman, they make up the brewing team called "Snowman Brewing", specializing in trying to perfect a gluten-free beer. My wife, Erika, has recently gone (mostly) gluten-free, so we've been experimenting in the world of gluten-free cooking, including using a gluten free beer in a batch of Fish and Chips. If you're in Ontario, the two gluten-free options at the LCBO are Lakefront Brewing's New Grist (in the cellar for review) made with sorghum, and La Messengere from Quebec made with buckwheat. If you go to Quebec, La Messengere comes in a variety of styles (I have a rousse in the cellar too). But here in Ontario, it's one of the two, or homebrew. Kevin, a passionate brewer (okay, to be honest, I've never met a half-assed lazy brewer), was happy to share what they were doing with gluten-free brewing, both in talk and in bottle. They are making a brew using millet and buckwheat, and have been tweaking the recipe for some time. Let's be fair and honest for a moment: Beer is nearly always made with at least some barley or wheat. It is one of the defining tastes. Trying to replicate that taste without barley or wheat is difficult at best. My hope as I'm about to open this bottle, is not that it will taste exactly like a beer I'm familiar with, but that it will be interesting, with a good balance of grain to hops, and some nice depth. Fingers crossed, let's do this

[caption id="attachment_797" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Snowman Brewing Brown Ale"][/caption]

Wrap-up and thanks - Toronto Beer Week

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:39:32 -0500

Without a doubt, as I sat in Volo this past spring and first met John Bowden, I thought this idea he was on about, a whole week of beer-events around Toronto, was a great idea. There is no doubt, we are living in a city with a bursting craft-beer scene. There are brewers and publicans who are passionate about their craft, and committed to widen it's reach. There are importers who have been struggling for years to improve the beer selection for beer drinkers in Ontario. There are supporters who are ready to throw their weight and influence (small or large as it may be) behind a well-executed event that could help change the beer landscape in our fair province. In short, there is plenty of support.

So if you had asked me on September 19th, what my predictions were about Toronto Beer Week, I would have said something along the lines of "It should be great, lots of good events at good venues. I can't wait!". In retrospect, my sentiments would have missed the mark by a decent margin.

The first ever Toronto Beer Week was nothing short of incredible.

Black Oak at Volo and beyond - Toronto Beer Week

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:03:17 -0500

After making my farewells at The Monk's Table, I hopped the subway down to Wellesley and the short walk to Volo. Upon approaching, I was hailed from the patio by Ken Woods, Ralph and a crew of happy beer drinkers. After a chat, abbreviated only by my desire for more beer, I headed into the bar, where I bumped into yet more beer-minded friends. After discovering that pretty much everything I really wanted (hopbomb, Oktoberfest, saison) was gone, I opted for a Cheshire Valley ESB (which Paul Dickey brews at Black Oak). I then settled in for some of the usual Volo chat, traded a bottle of DDC Rigor Mortis for a Half-Pints Burley Wine with Andrew Bartle, met Kevin Snow, who gave me (what he tells me is) the best gluten-free beer ever, and had a generally great time. I next got a nutcracker porter (as good as ever) and kept up the social good vibes. After a few hours, I decided to make my way to Ceili Cottage, as it was Arthur Guinness day, and I did want to try to pay my respects. After saying goodbye to everyone, and running into TBW revelers on both the subway and streetcar, I got to Ceili just as they were closing up. Oh well, thought I, on to Castro's, my own personal Bull and Finch.

Weisse Beer Pairing with Michael Hancock at The Monk's Table - Toronto Beer Week

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 09:27:27 -0500

My last day of Toronto Beer Week was looking promising: a dinner with Michael Hancock, Black Oak beers at Volo, possibly Guinness and oysters at Ceili, and who knows what else?

Due to poor time-management on my part, I was totally late getting to the Monk's Table. No worries though, Michael was still talking through the history of German wheat beers, while Doug, who is a Volo regular and was assisting, was pouring glasses of Michael's Denison's Weisse Beir from an honest to goodness oak cask. I took my seat and glass and happily listened to some beer history I was totally unfamiliar with.

One-off Stand-off at The Victory Cafe - Toronto Beer Week

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:34:45 -0500

Another night in Toronto Beer Week, and more events to entice and entertain. So much so, that my friend Josh drove down from Kenora Uxbridge, to come along. So off we headed to The Victory Cafe to drink some one-offs from Beau's and Nicklebrook. Upstairs, and a batch of tickets bought for $20 that would get us one of each one-off, some food (it was a lot) and a draw ticket. We greeted Rob from Beau's, and got glasses of Festivale, Festivale Plus Sticke, and Gose. Josh is a beer lover, but doesn't get to too many places to drink a wide variety of styles, so all three from Beau's were new styles for him. We sat on couches and sipped and discussed and generally had a great time. I had drank the Festivale and Sticke before, but the Gose was a new one for me, and it was excellent. Great wheat aroma and flavour, but with this really nice bit of malt towards the end. I would love to drink a lot more of it.

BrewDog Dinner with James Watt - Toronto Beer Week

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:36:06 -0500

Indeed, one of the most anticipated events of the inaugural Toronto Beer Week was a tasting dinner lead by James Watt, co-owner of BrewDog, one of the most progressive breweries around. So off I went to beerbistro, as excited as a kid on Christmas. While there was some of the usual suspects in attendance, the vast majority of the crowd were unfamiliar to me, and I was glad to see how much public appeal the event had. I took a seat across from Jordan St. John, and gave the menu a once over. As per usual, the menu looked creative, exciting and heavy on the animals. James (who was sitting right behind me) got up and introduced the event, and we were off.

[caption id="attachment_765" align="aligncenter" width="194" caption="James, probably telling a story about offending feminists or animal-rights people"][/caption]

$4 Pints at Volo - Toronto Beer Week

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:55:39 -0500

After eating more seafood then a Nova Scotia Fisherman at Starfish, I hopped up to Volo to vote on the IPA cask challenge final and enjoy some $4 pints. At this point I must say: I go to Volo somewhat frequently. I've been to numerous events, including the epic cask days. With that in mind, let me say, Volo was RAMMED last night. So busy I didn't bother taking out my camera, as it would have been hard to find a place to open the case. I also discovered that they had blown though the casks a long time before I arrived. The good news was, I was able to get a lovely glass of 10 Bitter Years, which made me happy indeed. I then bumped into two gentlemen who had also been at Starfish, Mike and Ben. We chatted about what events they ought to consider for the rest of the week, and just generally enjoying talking beer. We then started talking to a beer-scene regular I'd seen but never met before, called Sean (or Shawn or Shaun, I didn't ask, sorry). After a while Mike and Ben made their exit, and I headed out to the patio to spend some time with Mike and Chris, who are popping up in my drinking more and more frequently, and judging by their Beer Week intentions, will continue to do so. Oh yeah, after the 10 bitter years, I moved to Sgt-Mjr IPA. Excellent as always. Cheers to Ralph, Tom, Julien and the rest of the Volo crew. Despite the mob and the constantly blowing kegs, they maintained their ever-present hospitality and genuine care and interest in their guests.

Malts and Molluscs - Toronto Beer Week

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:25:25 -0500

I'm a fan of the band, U2. I used to say "big fan", but then I met some big fans of U2, and realized I wasn't one. I've got a pretty large selection of their music, and have attended concerts. The first concert I attended though, was insanely special. While waiting in line for GA, Bono's truck stopped next to us, and I got to shake his hand and mumble a few words of gratitude. Then we cheated our way into the centre of the oval b-stage, where we were frequently about 6 feet from the band members. Friends kept texting us as they could see us on the video screens. Then towards the end of the show, we realized the Band manager, Paul McGuinness was standing right by us, so we actually got to have a little shouted conversation. Epic.

So why do I mention this? Well, every time I go to a U2 concert now, I'm like "yeah, that's good, but it can't beat that first one". It's entirely possible I'll be saying the same thing for the rest of Toronto Beer Week, "yeah, that was good, but it can't beat Paddy and Stephen at Starfish".

[caption id="attachment_741" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Stephen and Paddy, our hosts with the mosts"][/caption]

Toronto Beer Week Launch - Mill St Brew Pub

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:54:25 -0500

So after a good bit of planning and anticipation, Monday September 20th finally dawned (though I was still asleep) and with it, brought Toronto Beer Week! The opening event was the ceremonial cask-tapping at the Mill St Brew Pub, a fitting choice, as Mill St has not only been pivotal in the revitalization of the Gooderham & Wort distillery district, but also in the growth of the craft brew scene in Toronto. The cask was tapped by the Honourable Steve Peters, Speaker of the House at Queen's Park, who is himself a big supporter of the craft beer industry in Ontario. Mill St had made up a lovely batch of Oktoberfest beer, quite malty, but a bit more hoppy then I was expected. As I joked with Greg Clow, I've never said "hoppier then I expected" and not been very happy with the results. Mind you, I've never said it about a pinot noir...... Needless to say, I wasn't the only person to refill my glass a fair few times.

Pre Toronto Beer Week - Saturday Night

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 13:23:33 -0500

So, yesterday was a busy beer day, despite the fact that Toronto Beer Week still doesn't actually start until tomorrow. Volo was having a Dieu du Ciel! party, and I celebrated my 30th birthday a few weeks early, to take advantage of my best friend actually being in the country.

So, unless this is the first post you're reading on my blog, you probably know I'm pretty fond of Dieu du Ciel! brewery, from Montreal. I'm also pretty fond of Bar Volo and HMH Negotiants (Ralph Moranna owns them both) who do a steady trade of Cieu du Ciel! beers in Toronto, God bless them. So an invitation to the media/trade element of the party last night was more like a command. I got there and found an absolutely killer selection of draught and cask, and most of the usual beer scene suspects.

My Schedule for Toronto Beer Week

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:58:50 -0500

[caption id="attachment_719" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Toronto Beer Week"][/caption]

So I posted my planned schedule in my calendar, but I'm just so damned excited about Toronto Beer Week, I wanted to type some stuff about it too.   Plus this will be a bit more visible. So here we go:

St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout - McAuslan Brewing Inc.

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:57:50 -0500

So the McAuslan brewery, in Montreal, makes a variety of beers, most of which are difficult, at best, to find in Ontario. St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout is available at a few locations around Toronto, but most people will have never had it. Loads of people are familiar with their Apricot Wheat beer, which is a popular drink through the summer. Their Pale Ale is incredible, but is rarely around. But we're talking about their Oatmeal Stout. This particular bottle was brought to me from Montreal from my friend and La Belle Crawl cohort, Rob. I've never had it in a bottle, so let's see what's up:

[caption id="attachment_708" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout - McAuslan Brewing Inc"][/caption]

LCBO - Fall Release - Today, Tuesday September 14th

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:09:15 -0500

So I had meant to get this written sooner, but with a best-friend house-guest, my time is less available then normal. Anways, last Thursday I was able to pop by the LCBO offices to get a sneak-taste of the Fall and Halloween beers, and I have got to say: I'm well impressed. If you haven't noticed, the LCBO has really been bringing in more and more cool beers that you likely haven't had before. There was a time, not that long ago, that the seasonal releases would have one or two really exciting beers, and a variety of so-so to kind of unispired brews. Not so any more. Walking into the tasting room with Mike from A Year of Beer (http://ayearofbeer.wordpress.com/) we were greeted by a selection of beers that made me feel like it was Christmas. The fall release, which should be available in stores today (stop on your way home from work), is (in no particular order): Samuel Smith's Organic Cider, Hofbrau Munchen Oktoberfest, Wychwood Wychcraft Blonde, Garrison Imperial IPA, Innis and Gunn Highland Cask, Orval, Cannery Brewing Blackberry Porter, Trafalgar Ales Smoked Oatmeal Stout, Southern Teir Choklat Imperial Stout, Bellhaven Scottish Stout, Dieu du Ciel! Peche Mortel, and Dark Star Brewing Co. Espresso Stout. The Halloween release (due around the begining of October) is also pretty good, despite four pumpkin beers (which are not usually my preference): St Ambroise Citrouille, Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale, Southern Teir Pumking, Post Road (Brooklyn) Pumpkin Ale, Mt. Begbie Nasty Habit IPA, and Dieu du Ciel Rigor Mortis ABT.

St. Arnold's Dinner - The Monk's Table

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 07:46:21 -0500

So, as a way to help build some hype around Toronto Beer Week (September 20-26th), and also just because they're so damn cool, Adam and the Monk's table hosted a dinner for media folks to celebrate St. Arnold, patron saint of brewers and hop-pickers. We were granted the upstairs dinning room, where we mingled and schmoozed and drank nice beer. Most of the talk was around Toronto Beer Week, and the passports were just in, so we all got the first look at them. Needless to say, they look great; with a crazy exciting list of participants. The dinner was a three-course meal, paired with Belgian Ales. I did my usual routine, which is to find a table by myself, and see who sits down. In this case, as the meal started it looked like I was going to fly solo. After his introduction, Bill "The White Knight" White came over and asked if the seat opposite me was available. Turns out my system still works. So not only did I get to eat a fantastic meal paired with killer beers, but I got to sit with one of the leading experts on beer in Toronto, and share thoughts and notes, and generally enjoy some great beer talk.

La Belle Crawl - Super Marche Rahman

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 06:46:06 -0500

So, after a mighty big sandwich, the only thing left to do was make a pick-up of beers that we would be difficult (at best) to get back in Ontario. The weird thing for most Ontarians, is not just that you can buy beer at the local corner store, but that you can buy very good beer there. Both Quebecois beers you've likely never heard of, as well as Europeans that simply are not in Ontario. You can also pick up a pack of smokes, a stick of jerky and a slushy. Don't forget, you're at a corner store. One of the biggest selections can be found just west of Dieu du Ciel!, at a little place called Super Marche Rahman. You'll be able to identify it, because it looks like a corner store, but the front window is blocked by a variety of high-end beer posters.

Beau's Festivale Plus Sticke

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:04:29 -0500

[caption id="attachment_692" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Beau's Festivale Plus Sticke"][/caption]

Well, I said it, and I meant it. It's official, Beau's Festivale Plus is available tomorrow, one day only, at a few bars across Toronto. The participants are:

barVolo • 587 Yonge St., Toronto • www.barvolo.com

Bryden’s • 2455 Bloor Street West, Toronto • www.brydens.ca

C’est What • 67 Front Street East, Toronto • www.cestwhat.com

Highway 61 • 1620 Bayview Ave, Toronto • www.highway61.ca

The Rhino • 1249 Queen St. West, Toronto • www.therhino.ca

If you didn't read my antics day-tripping to Montreal, I had this beer a few weeks ago, and it's going to be stellar, I promise. Get yourself to one of these locals, and drink up! More info can be found on face book at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=142755629099362 or on Beau's website http://www.beaus.ca/beer/wild_oats/festivale_plus. I'll be at Volo (I think....), hope to see you there!

ESB - La Vache Folle - Microbrasserie Charlevoix

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:51:26 -0500

Charlevoix is another one of those awesome micros from Quebec we're just begining to see here in Ontario, mostly due to the efforts of Ralph and family at Volo and HMH Negotiants. I actually got this bottle from Matt (http://onebeeratatime.wordpress.com) when we hooked up to drink some mad beers a while ago, and I've been waiting on drinking it since. Charlevoix (from what I understand) has two main different lines, Dominus Vobiscum and La Vache Folle. While their website es ne pas en englais, it seems Dominus Vobiscum brews are in the Belgian style, and La Vache Folle are other brews (English? I've had ESB and Milk Stout). I cannot wait to give this ESB a try.

Wind & Sale Dark Ale - Barley Days Brewery

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:55:20 -0500

Barley days, despite sharing names with my bigger dog (Barley), is a brewery I know little about, and have little experience with. I've had their Harvest Gold Pale Ale at a tasting, and while it was tame, it was pleasant. They are located in Prince Edward County, and that's about the extent of my knowledge. Let's get to know them better.

La Belle Crawl - Schwartz's Deli

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:00:57 -0500

Okay, so you may or may not know this, but I'm a vegetarian (strictly speaking, I'm a peskaterian, I eat seafood). But I'm also a trained chef, and a big food geek. As well, I spent a lot of my time in highschool in the pages of fiction by Mordecai Richler; pages laced with references to a variety of Montreal-ness, including frequent mentions of Schwartz's medium-fat on rye sandwiches. So when I found myself in Montreal, a stop for a sandwich at Schwartz's wasn't just a possibility, it was required, despite any existing dietary preferences.

These are the classic Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, but if your picutre of Montreal smoked meat is some type of deli meat that can be thinly sliced on a slicer, you've never had it done right. Schwartz's meat is smoked in a crazy old smoke-house, which is imbued with decades of smoke; it is literally irreplaceable. The meat is brined and then smoked. It is sent to the deli where it is reheated, and served, hand-cut and falling apart, on basic rye bread with "ballpark" mustard. Nothing fancy. You can get a variety of sides, Rob and I opted for coleslaw and a pickle.

La Belle Crawl - Dieu du Ciel!

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:37:10 -0500

Ummm, okay, here's the thing: Dieu du Ciel!, it's like a beer Mecca. If you don't know, they make a huge variety of incredible beers, lots of Belgian styles, but also heaps of new-school brews, from badass AIPAs to BIPAs to RISs. Haha, jargon abbreviations kick ass. Suffice to say, these guys are just a few inches ahead of the cutting edge. They have two locations, the brewpub in Montreal at St. Laurent and Laurier west, and their brewery in St. Jermaine. After a bit of a walk up St Laurent, in which I constantly pointed out a variety of signs to Rob that were in English, just to annoy (including common English words like "baguette", "brioche", and "poutine"), we hit up the pub in Montreal, and it looks like this (from the outside):

[caption id="attachment_654" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Dieu du Ciel! Brewpub"][/caption]

Pilsner - Mill St Brewery

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:47:44 -0500

Another of the brews that Mill St released this summer (or at least pushed), to try to expand the brand back into the "craft" market. Looking at the label is interesting. They've created a "vintage" style label, green and gold with a wheat sheaf and red accents. The typeface is even a "days of yore" kind of choice. They're trying to hit that country/old Toronto vibe. Which, of course, is very "Craft"y and local feeling. And it occurs to me, that the label on the Betelguese Tripel had a sort of "Quebec" kind of vibe to it. I can't remember the Roggenbeir label, and didn't buy one as I really didn't dig it at the C'est What spring beerfest. There is no doubt Mill St is really turning on the marketing machine for their new brews. And while this does make me a little bit more skeptical of their size/corporateness, there is also no doubt, they still make a variety of products that vary from "okay" to "accessible" to "tasty". Let's see what's what.

La Belle Crawl - Beau's All Natural Brewing

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:28:56 -0500

[caption id="attachment_635" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Bad picture snapped from my dash while driving"][/caption]

After a quick stop in Cornwall or somewhere to buy some Doritos and soda to quell rumbling tummies, we headed north towards Vankleek Hill, and what can only be defined as "The Country". Fields, grass, sheep, cows, the usual. Country. Even those fun country-esque sign posts.

La Belle Crawl - Introduction

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:41:32 -0500

Okay, first off, sorry this took so damn long to get to. The evening of this crawl (okay, it was a drive, but whatever), I came down with a crazy fever, caused, it turned out, by an antibiotic-resistant chest infection, which had set me up with a pretty decent case of pneumonia by the time the second course of antibiotics took effect. I was literally on the couch for two weeks, and pretty slow and delicate for another week. Then, of course, I had a heap of paying work to catch up on, so blogging this totally got back-burnered. But here it is now.

Cheshire Valley Brewing Co.

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:58:10 -0500

In the kind of good news that is just very good, Paul Dickey has announced that The Stinking Rose, the restaurant owned by Church-Key Brewing in Campbellford Ontario, will be pouring the first Keg of Unfiltered ESB from his brand-new brewery. Cheshire Valley has had beers represented at both the Volo PA/IPA challenge, and the Golden Taps (and was my vote for Best in Show), as Paul has been hard at work on his own system located at the Black Oak Brewery, getting production up and ready for distribution. What I've had so far has been nothing short of excellent, though with Paul at the helm, that is hardly a surprise. Word is, Volo, C'est What, and the Victory will have the ESB in the near-distant future, and I must say, I cannot wait. I contemplated making the drive to Campbellford for it tomorrow. I haven't ruled it out yet, either.

Sick sick sick

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:55:41 -0500

Hey there all,

Just a quick note to say sorry for the silence, I've had one of those infections that have learned how to avoid common passe antibiotics like Amoxicilin, and require those big gnarly ones taht make you feel like puking, but which cost $8 a peice, so you focus with Zen-like concentration on absolutely not throwing up. You know the ones?

The Ontario Beer Revolution

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:57:28 -0500

Chances are, if you're reading this, you are already part of the Ontario Beer Revolution. Steve Beauchesne, of Beau's All Natural Brewing Co, in Vankleek Hill, posted this article on the Beau's site, after Toronto's Festival of Beer.

http://beausbeer.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-if-ontario-held-beer-revolution.html

Please, read this, share it on your facebook, twitter, etc, get it out there. This type of revolution starts with individuals. So join up, and if we're lucky, this revolution will be televised.

A beer for quitting time

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:24:14 -0500

Steven Slater is my kind of guy. A career flight attendant, who had just nursed his mother through her last days, something he had done for his father before, he knew when to call it quits. After landing at JFK airport from Pittsburgh yesterday, he asked a passenger to return to his seat, as the passenger was trying to retrieve his carry-on baggage. The passenger defied him, called him a m-ther f-cker, and dropped his bag on Steven's head. Steven did what any normal person would do. He took to the plane's intercom, cursed the idiot out over the PA for all to here, deployed an emergency exit slide, grabbed a beer off the drink trolley, and slid into retirement. After leaving in his car, he was arrested at home for mischief and endangerment (apparently ground-crew could have been injured or killed by the inflatable slide).

Look out Sapporo and InBev! Here comes..... Duvel?

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:37:27 -0500

I just read on Stephen Beaumont's blog, that De Koninck has been sold, which is good news indeed. The company was feeling the heat of the economy, and was in need of some help. And so they have sold their assets to another brewing company, namely, Duvel Moortgat. This is a great victory in the world of ever decreasing brewing companies. Duvel has been a good steward of their recent purchases (including Brasserie d’Achouffe and the northern Liefmans), and having a brewery not getting bought by InBev or Sapporo is great. Now if we can just get Duvel to buy Tusker and the Guinness holdings from Diageo, we'll be all set.

Route des Epices - Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:39:57 -0500

So this is another of the bottles my friend Rob brought back from his last visit to Montreal. While he brought back a variety of bottles which I hadn't had before, I had at least heard of all of them, except this one. He told me it was very peppery, and he thought it would make a great marinade for a steak. I like pepper, so that's a good thing. It is also a rye beer, which I generally am not so fond of, so it will be interesting to see what wins out.

Betelgeuse - Mill St Brewery

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:34:47 -0500

So Mill St has really grown since it's inception, and is now one of the biggest of the "micros" in Ontario. I don't have the numbers, but I imagine most of the beer they sell is Organic and Tankhouse, a lot of which is served on draught in bars around Toronto. Which is good. Those are both well made beers which are helping more people realize that beer doesn't have to come from one of the big three, and that beers can taste interesting and come from close to home. But with so many other brewers doing all sorts of really wonderful creative things with their breweries, I think Mill St realized they were getting left behind by the small (growing) demographic who would identify themselves as "Beer Geeks". Some will hate on Mill St, based solely on their size or the fact that Organic is basically high-class Corona. But Mill St has done so much for the craft brewing scene in Ontario, so I'm glad to see them introducing beers that will not reach the same crowd who religously drink Organic, Stock or Tankhouse. They are working at staying creative and I respect that. Betelguese is one of the beers they have on shelves in the LCBO this summer, with the Lemon Tea Ale, Roggenbeir and Pilsner. A Belgian style tripel, which is a bit concerning; a lot of people aspire to a tripel, but I've tasted some turly awful ones. Here's hoping Mill St hit closer to the mark.

The better-late-then-never trifecta

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:21:38 -0500

Phew, life has been crazy. Work, bar stuff, family life, and great weather has filled in all my time in the past few days and weeks. So I'm a little behind on the blog posts. Okay, a lot behind. Two weekends ago, I was lucky enough to hook up with Matt, from http://onebeeratatime.wordpress.com, to drink some beers he had brought back from Quebec, and a pair of beers I had that were aching to be shared. It was a splendid time, killer weather to sit out and sip beer and chat, great, ummmmmm, Asian (Vietnamese? I can't remember) food, and a bit more great beer. We started out with a light warm up, I had a Brooklyn Lager, and I think Matt had a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. After a bit of stretching we got well into it.

60% and counting

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:01:36 -0500

Nearly days after James from BrewDog confirmed the sale of 12 bottles of 55% beer, called "The End of History", packaged in stuffed dead animals, there's a new biggest beer: "Start the Future", from Holland's 't Koelschip (The Refrigerated Ship) brewery. A little more accessable to the average drinker (The End of History cost 500 pounds sterling), "Start the Future" is $35 Euro for a 330ml bottle. Interestingly enough, the article doesn't mention taste.....

Commemorating an event the right way

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:36:44 -0500

So, those of you who follow this type of thing, will likely already have heard that the Okanagan Springs Brewery had a fermenter blow-up. No injuries, but a lot of something that is a bit more then wort, and not quite beer spread around. While this type of news is not uncommon in the beer world, it does beg the question: What to do to ensure this disaster is properly cemented in the minds of Canadians and the World? The answer is easy: Gordon Lightfoot gave us "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" to capture the force of the Great Lakes, The Tragically Hip gave us "Wheat Kings" to remind us of legal injustice and our part in it, Peggy Seeger gave us "The Ballad of Spring Hill" as a chilling reminder of the cost of greed, Eric Bogle penned the epic "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" to question the validity of war, Robbie Robertson created the masterpeice that is "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" to relate the pain and suffering, yet immense pride of defending your values, and now Jordan St. John has continued in the old tradition, and recorded "The Wreck of the Okanagan Springs Brewery". I can only imagine it will be days, weeks at most, until Eddie Vedder becomes the first man to cover it, though I'm not sure he can quite live up to Jordan's deep voice.

No 8 - Maredsous

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:06:55 -0500

Ahhhhh, the benefits of having a friend who makes regular trips to Montreal. My friend Rob brought this for me along with a bottle of St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout from his last trip. I'm already planning on how to get him to come to Mondial with me next summer. So Maredsous, here's the deal: Made by the some folks who bring us Duvel, these are beers made in the same style as the Trappist Abbey ales, dubbel, trippel, quad, etc. Despite not having the same pedigree as, say, Rochforte, these beers rate incredibly high. Here we go!

Holy Smoke - Church-Key Brewing

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:00:07 -0500

So this is another one of those reveiws of a beer I already know and love. Church-Key Brewing is on the way to Erika's family cottage, and also not far from her cousin's cottage, which we visit often. Just outside the town of Campbellford, Chuch-Key occupies an old church building, and they brew a great line of beers. A few offerings to help the uninitiated ease into the waters of craft brewing, and a variety of really cool innovative brews. A west coast IPA that bites back, a seasonally available cranberry maple wheat beer, a mead, a flander's sour that tastes like blue cheese, and a scotch ale; Holy Smoke. I would have to check, but I think Holy Smoke is one of their oldest brews. Similar in approach to Innis and Gunn, this is malty Scotch ale that gets to hang out in whiskey barrels for a while, and soaks up some of that goodness (Always fact-check with your local brewer before going on word-of-mouth! Thanks to Jon for stopping by and correcting me) Holy Smoke is made with smoked malts in the grain-bill, giving it a distinctive smokey character. It is a rare day I find myself near Campbellford, and don't find myself with a growler of Holy Smoke, unless I opt for the West Coast IPA.......

Boris Bio - Brasserie Licorne SAS

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:39:22 -0500

So I have walked past this brew at a variety of LCBOs for a few months now. I finally decided to pick one up and give it a try. Why was I reluctant? Well, to be honest, I don't really like Boris (regular style). It's not bad, it just doesn't taste like much. I might not be able to pick it out of a line-up, along with Heineken and Stella. But, I'm all for trying new things, and I like to support organic efforts, so with that in mind:

Cheers to Germany and Podolski!

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:27:25 -0500

I just came across this article, after reading a post over at Saint John's Wort. If you don't know BrewDog, look into them. I posted a note about them producing "Sink The Bismark" a while back, but they have upped the ante. The promised to make a stronger beer, if England lost to Germany in the round of 16 at the World Cup, and name it after the winning Goal scorer. Hence, look for a new World's Strongest Beer, carrying the name Podolski, after the man who scored the second goal in the game.

2nd Annual Ontario Cask IPA Challenge Round 2 - Results IN!!!

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:46:12 -0500

So the public has spoken, Price Waterhouse Cooper confirm the counts, and Ralph is pleased to announce that Great Lakes My Bitter Wife IPA, Flying Monkey's Smashbomb IPA, Cheshire Valley English IPA, and Beau's Beaver River IPA will be advancing to round 3. COngrats to the brewers, and thanks to everyone who participated. Here's to pushing the IPAs in Ontario forward!

Cass' & Troy's 1st Annual Pubcrawl

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:26:48 -0500

So I realize this is late, but I guess "better late then never". OCB week was June 20-26th. There was a heap of OCB events all over Ontario. Like, a real big stack. I only got to two, Castro's Smokes (which I hosted), where we served Castro's first Cask of Ale. Rob Morra from Beau's brought in a pin of Festivale, and drove the tap home. Quite exciting. We also served a heap of BBQ Pork. A good time had by all. The other event I attended, and the one the will be the meat of this post (for the sake of modesty), was:

Weizen Imperiale Grand Cuvee 2009 - Les Trois Mousquetaires

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:50:08 -0500

This is another one of those "If you've never heard of them, it's probably because you're from Ontario" beers. Les Trois Mousquetaires is an insanely cool micro in Quebec. If you find yourself in Quebec, find yourself somewhere pouring their beers, and plan on staying a good long while.

Ontario Cask IPA Challenge - Bar Volo

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:29:33 -0500

So, as I missed round one of this great series of events, I made sure I got to round two, and not only that, but got there about an hour after it started. The format is simple, pit a variety of Ontario Cask IPAs and Pale Ales against each other in a head-to-head knock-out style tournament, where the winners are as voted by the patrons. Today nine beers were being served blind (okay, one group was head-to-head-to-head). I settled in at the bar, with Jordan (of St. John's Wort fame) and a group of regulars. As I had to leave by 6:30, to be home for dinner, I was game to get down to some serious IPA tasting. I discovered they were only serving halfs and full pints (no quarters), and I not only needed to be home for dinner, but be home *sober* for dinner, so I knew at that point I wasn't getting through all nine. I decided there was nothing to it, but to start from 1 and see where I got to (just to relieve any suspense, I got to 5). I won't go into tasting notes (because I didn't take any), but I'll give you my scores:

Exciting Events coming up!

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:46:32 -0500

So, summer time equals good beer events, and this one is no different.

Tomorrow I'll be sipping cask IPAs and Pale ales, trying to decide which one is the best. I have high hopes for number 7. It was at this event last year, that I first tasted Mike Duggan's No 9 IPA. Hmmmm, it would probably do to tell you what the event is: Only the Mighty Bar Volo's 2nd Annual Ontario Cask IPA Challenge 2010: Round Two (okay, it was round one when I tasted No 9, but whatever). We're down to nine competitors, and I'm ready to drink them all! Things start at 4pm tomorrow, and I'll be there, happy to drink with all.

Prima Pils - Victory Brewing Co.

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:11:29 -0500

So yesterday I drank a Chirstoffel Bier to support the Dutch in their efforts to make the World Cup final. I can only imagine it was my alcoholic support that inspired them to such great heights in their match. To ensure a Netherlands v Germany final, today I am drinking the closest thing in my cellar to a German beer: Victory Prima Pils. Pils is the German style pilsner, so I think this will do the trick, despite being brewed in the USA. I actually drink this beer fairly regularly, ever since I first had it at an American Craft Brewer's pairing dinner at Beer Bistro, so it will be interesting to drink it "under the microscope", as it were.

Summer Ale - Samuel Adams

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:13:05 -0500

Here's what I know about this beer: The label looks good and says it's a wheat beer made with lemon zest and grains of paradise. I also know Jim Koch makes damn good beer. If you're wondering what grains of paradise are, they are a brewing spice used by Renaissance brewers. It's actually the seeds of a type of ginger, which has a characteristic peppery taste. They are commonly used in West African cuisine. Let's see how they do in Jim Koch's brew tun:

Dead Elephant Ale - Railway City Brewing

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:03:15 -0500

So a lot of people are familiar with the name "Jumbo" the Elephant, but a lot of people (myself included), couldn't have told you where the name comes from. Jumbo was one of PT Barnum's circus elephants, and he was made famous when he died at a rail-yard in St. Thomas Ontario. The story PT Barnum propagated, was that he died saving a baby elephant, Tom Thumb, from being hit by a train. Pretty well all eye-witnesses agree Jumbo was simply killed in an accident involving a freight-train that wasn't properly flagged on entering the yard. Railway City has this page with some facts on Jumbo. Incidentally, the word Jumbo (meaning "Big") entered the English language because of Jumbo the elephant, who was given the name by his original London keepers. The name is a mix of the Swahili words "Jambo" (meaning "Hello") and "Jumbe" (meaning "Chief"). Railway City Brewing, located in St. Thomas, named Dead Elephant after Jumbo, giving a big beer a big name.

Rosee d'Hibiscus - Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:01:33 -0500

If you haven't come across Dieu du Ciel!, don't feel bad. They're only one of the coolest breweries in Quebec at the moment, so it's no surprise it's almost impossible to find them in Ontario. I've had bottles at a few bars (Volo in Toronto, St Veronus in Peterborough), and HMH Negotiants have been bringing bottles in for private orders through the LCBO, but thankfully they've finally cracked the LCBO, and gotten a bottle on the LCBO shelves. For the summer release, the LCBO has brought in Rosee d'Hibiscus, a Belgian style white beer, made with Hibiscus flowers in the brew. Let's do this!

Lemon Tea Beer - Mill St. Brewery

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:01:12 -0500

So, as big and corporate as Mill St has gotten, they still do make some pretty unique beers. They seem to be pushing these beers this summer, releasing them as singles and in a mixed pack available at the LCBO. Lemon Tea beer sounds like a perfect summer cool-down, so let's do this.

Canada Hat-trick

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:32:38 -0500

What is more Canadian then scoring a hat-trick? Well, blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. And canoes. And a variety of other things, but you get the point. So to celebrate Canada last week, I took it upon myself to review three beers. Yes, life has been crazy, so I'm only publishing them now, but still, better late then never. Hope you enjoy.

Sigh of relief

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:49:50 -0500

Just updated from WordPress 2.9.2 to 3.0. Scary, I hate messing with stuff, but it was as easy as any wordpress install. Dead simple easy. If you have a website, and it's not built on WordPress, consider migrating it. Best CMS ever.

Iron Spike Blonde Ale - Railway City Brewing Company

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:19:16 -0500

So, this is another one of those semi-cheat reviews. I've consumed a fair few bottles of Railway City Dead Elephant Ale, I've even had it on tap at C'est What?. So I'm familiar with the brewer. Iron Spike, though, I've never had. I know Dead Elephant is a pretty generously hopped ale, I have no idea what to expect from Iron Spike.

Toronto Beer Week

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:46:47 -0500

A few months ago, while at the cask social at Volo (or maybe it was a Beau's event, I can't recall), I had been in a discussion about Toronto Beer Week. I had happily confirmed that Castro's would do an event, and looked forward to hearing more. So I was stoked when this arrived in my inbox yesterday, from Troy Burtch:

Organic Raspberry - Samuel Smith

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:19:51 -0500

Here's the thing: I don't generally really like fruit beers. Too often they taste of fake fruit flavouring, other times, the just don't taste particularly good. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, like the classic strawberry beer from Belgium, Fruli. Samual Smith's has yet to let me down, though so let's give this a go!

Happy Birthday Ceili!

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:28:40 -0500

A very warm Happy Birthday to Ceili Cottage who turned one yesterday. Here's to years of happiness, success, and more Oyster-related world-records.

Hopfen Weisse - Schneider Weisse

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:05:04 -0500

So this is an exciting brew, to say the least! The brewers from Brooklyn Brewery and Schneider Weisse decided to hook-up, and produce a love child. And here it is: A dry-hopped, boozy wheat beer. Considering I have good feelings towards both brewers, I can only imagine I'll like their offspring.

Cherry Ale - Trafalgar Ales and Meads

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:09:25 -0500

So, despite a few less then ideal experiences on my own account, and a bad-hat-trick over at http://www.onebeeratatime.wordpress.com by Matt, I went ahead and bought this seasonal offering from Trafalgar (they do make Irish Paddy Red, which I'm quite enamoured with). So let's see what happens!

London Porter - Fuller's

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:52:01 -0500

If you aren't familiar with the Fuller's brand, you owe it to yourself to get to know them a bit better. I've had three Fuller's beers on my Cellar List for over a month now, not because I was taking my time reviewing them, but because I kept drinking them and not doing a review of them. So this is only my first after a good number of Fuller's brews. And I'm excited. ESB and Pride are coming, I promise.

Estrella Damm

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:48:52 -0500

So I just randomly grabbed one of these tallboys because the tin was so darn good-looking. I assumed it would be in line with the Heinekens and Becks' and Boris' of the world. Eurolager. Not bad, but not awesome. How close was I?

[caption id="attachment_472" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Estrella Damm"][/caption]

Coors Light

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:20:18 -0500

Why oh why oh why do I do this? All for you, friends, all for you. I know a lot of people who drink Coors Light. Most of them wouldn't touch most of the beers I've reviewed on this blog. But statistics, right? Can millions of people be wrong? I suspect the easy answer is "Yes". The good news is, I can guarantee one thing about this beer: it is cold. Normally, I could make this statement because I took the beer out of a fridge I had put it in at an earlier time. But just in case I'm drunk or forgetful, Molson/Coors has done beer drinkers the country over a tremendous favour: they have provided an element on the label (Mountians in the background) which turns from white to blue when it is "Cold". I don't know exactly what "Cold" means, and I really can't be bothered to refill it with water and experiment with a thermometre. I know my fridge is sitting just a bit above 3*C, so I'm guessing 3*C is cold enough to be "Blue Mountain" cold.

Galt Knife Old Style Lager - Grand River Brewing

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:50:01 -0500

Hmmmm, it seems to me that I need to read labels better. I pulled this brew out of the fridge on the grounds that it is a cold grey rainy day, and a nice Scottish Old Ale would do the trick nicely. Hmmmmm, except it's an old style lager. Like, it says right on the label "Pre-Prohibition Style Lager". LAGER. Oops. Oh well, I like Grand River, so here's hoping.

Dragon Stout - Desnoes & Geddes

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:47:38 -0500

I'm actually at a bit of a loss on this one. It seems that Dragon might be what was known as a "milk-stout", which is to say, a stout that has lactose in it (which yeast cannot consume), which adds a rich smooth taste, and also some extra nutritional goodness. But I can't verify that it is, indeed, a milk stout. The internet is letting me down. It's definitely not an Irish/Dry Stout, or a Russian Imperial Stout, but it seems a tad heavy on the booze to be a milk stout. Oh well, how does it taste?

Skjálfti - Ölvisholt Brugghús

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:21:19 -0500

So we had prohibition, remember? No probably not. It was pretty awful, especially for all the hard working soldiers who actually lived through WWI and made it home. Watching most of your friends die in the European muck should, in theory, exempt you from such foolishness as income tax, work, social expectations, and prohibition. But our brave soldiers found themselves held to just such rules (okay, I don't know about the other three, but if they wanted a beer, it was either home-made or illict). Thankfully, even ultra-dry PEI only had prohibition for about 40 years. Try Iceland. Prohibition was in effect for 74 years (1915-1989). Okay, I'll slightly edit that, they actually binned prohibition in 1935, so only twenty years. Errrr, okay, sorry, one more edit, they binned prohibition on everything except "Strong Beer". And just to clarify (because I'm sure you'll apreciate knowing), the good folks in Icelandic Parliment (or whatever) felt that "Strong Beer" should be defined as any beer with an alcohol content of 2.25%. Look out. So that means that for 74 years you couldn't get beer in Iceland. By proxy, that means that anybody currently brewing beer in Iceland:

Kellerbier - Creemore Springs

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:21:49 -0500

So here's the thing. Creemore, what to say? The venerable Nick Pashely admits in "Notes on a Beermat" that he often drinks Creemore Springs Lager as a safe alternative to the Buds and Lites of the world. And I must say, I agree. Many's the time I've found myself out for drinks with a group and been faced by a totally lack-lustre tap selection, and there, shining in the darkness, was Creemore Springs Lager. The non-glove wearing Michael Jackson (if you're still confused, Google "Michael Jackson Beer". He was the King of Beer. Now Bud has usurped that title), declared that Creemore could well be the best North American Lager. Mind you this was some time ago; while their quality hasn't changed much, there are many micros making truly killer lagers (see my recent review of Bikini Blonde Lager). Still, you cannot refute that kind of support (I think myself, Nick and MJ are a sort of trifecta in the beer world.....). But here's the thing: you can only do something really really well for so long before a big boy comes knocking. And sometimes, the big boy makes an offer you can't refuse. So what happened with Creemore? Well, I don't know exactly, but I imagine Molson threw a *lot* of money at them, and thankfully kept the beer basically the same (I doubt it's still made over a fire-heated kettle, but I'm pretty sure there aren't any of the usual big 3 ingredients; rice, corn, etc). But at the end of that chapter in Creemore's story, they were now a Molson Product. The good news was that Creemore's distribution got better, which meant that more bars that normally served garbage now served a pretty decent lager. The bad news was, now I had to be a little bit more kind to Molson.

Lug-Tread Ale - Beau's All-Natural Brewing Co.

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:29:05 -0500

First off, some background reading: if you haven't been following this blog long, you might not know it, but I have what is approaching an unhealthy adoration for Beau's. Need proof? "Why I love" Beau's #1 and Beau's #2.

So today we're drinking Beau's Lug-Tread Ale, which is a Kölsch. Don't know what a Kölsch is? Check out my post on Gaffel, which is a German Kölsch, from Köln, Germany.

Hop Head - County Durham Brewing

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:27:23 -0500

So my bro Andrew is has seen the inside of a fair few Irish pubs in his day; he was born and raised in Belfast. So I was keen to get him over to Ceili Cottage, as I knew he would appreciate the place as much as me, and better then many. We were foiled last weekend when we went to watch the Champions League final, as they were going to be showing the Chicago v Philly game (as Irish as they are, the bar is still in Canada, I guess), but this past weekend we had an early dinner on Saturday and took the whole family over for some craic. Aside from the usual, killer ambiance and great beer, we got a full-on pub experience when it started to rain a bit, and people migrated in from the patio. We invited a group of four to join us (as we were at the big table in the cottage). We spent the rest of our time chatting and sharing some bar info and stories. It was a great time. They were totally cool with Bentley, and in fact, one of them (Tim, if I recall), spent a good amount of time happily chasing Bentley around the bar. Andrew got a Harp, and Erika and I were into the cask of Hop Head.

Twitter Updates for 2010-06-07

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:55:00 -0500

New bloggy posty on a killer brew from Hawaii. Bikini Blonde Lager. Oh Helles yes. #craftbeer #tellhoptopia http://bit.ly/d0Lg1Q #

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Bikini Blonde Lager - Maui Brewing Co.

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:53:22 -0500

So my bro Andrew stopped off in Hawaii for a week on his way to Toronto from New Zealand. Jealous as I was at his good fortune, he did have the decency to bring me a pair of beers called Bikini Blonde Lager, from the Maui Brewing Co. I know nothing about the beer or the brewer, but what I glean from the can I like. For one, they explain the environmental benefits of cans over bottles. If you're not familiar, I will let you look into yourself, but suffice to say, cans are *way* better then bottles in an environmental context. Heaps of US micros are moving to cans, and a few Canucks are too. Next tidbit of info from the can: The beer won Silver in 2008 at the World Beer Cup in the Cellar or Unfiltered category. Oh hell yes. Speaking of which, it's a Helles style lager. I don't know if it could get any better. Time to find out.

Twitter Updates for 2010-06-06

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 13:55:00 -0500

Green garlic soup and biscuits for dinner, now off to Ceili for a drop of cask ale and some craic. #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-06-05

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:55:00 -0500

New #beer review and a quick(ish) lesson in #Kolsch and glassware. Gaffel Kolsch. http://bit.ly/d0Lg1Q #

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Gaffel

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:58:08 -0500

Today is a 3 for 1. Not only are you getting a review of a great beer, but two little (related) lessons. So what is up with this beer? It's a Kölsch, which is the beer of choice in Köln, Germany. Kölsch is an ale (which is to say, top fermenting yeast, warm fermentation), which gets aged ("to age", the verb, is "lager" in German). This means you get a complex ale, that has a quick clean finish. Smooth, but with upfront malts and hops. Very cool.

Twitter Updates for 2010-06-03

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:55:00 -0500

Listening to the new Jack Johnson record "To The Sea" http://bit.ly/DMpI Perfect for a hot sunny day in Toronto #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-05-29

Sat, 29 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

#craftbeer at c'est what fest king pilsbock. Nice, 7/10. #

#craftbeer at c'est what fest, homegrown hemp ale. #

#craftbeer at c'est what fest, mill st roggenbeir, okay 5/10. Not my thing. #

#craftbeer at c'est what fest, sgt mjr IPA, woot! #

Sorry. Good company and good #craftbeer made me forget to tweet. Now sitting at Castro's listening to Bidini band. Nice one. #

First time I've ever seen a lead singer open one of his own cd's to read the liners so he could sing a request. Bidini band is awesome. #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-05-28

Fri, 28 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

Drinking #craftbeer to fight the heat. Black Oak PA now, probably reviewing Beau's Lug-Tread and Some German Kolsch after. #

BBQ all fired-up. Dogs (veggie and pork) and corn on the cob with black oak PA. #BBQ #craftbeer #

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Why I love Beau's - Part 2

Thu, 27 May 2010 15:11:20 -0500

Yup, it's that time again. I haven't stepped up on the old Beau's Soap Box. So what's the deal? Well, for one, a while back Beau's hosted a great event at Volo, with a variety of their brews on cask, and the whole team was out and cool to hang out and chat. I tried not to be too school-girl-esque while talking to Steve. It was (unsurprisingly) a great time. The Beaver River IPA was stellar (it was the first time I'd had it).

Twitter Updates for 2010-05-25

Tue, 25 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

No #U2 concert till next year. I guess that's the cost of doing business when your heroes get 10% off a IHOP. #

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Classic - Baltika Breweries

Mon, 24 May 2010 16:52:53 -0500

I've spent time traveling in Russia (St. Petersburgh specifically), and drank a lot, but I don't have any real memory what I was drinking. Chances were, a lot of it was Baltika.

[caption id="attachment_385" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Baltika Classic"][/caption]

Poured from a 500ml bottle with freshness dates on the back label. The head was foamy and dissipated to a thin ring quickly. Aroma is grainy, maybe with a bit of corn. There is a touch of hops, slightly floral. Taste is pretty thin, still much better then a Canadian or Blue. A touch of grain, thankfully the corn is gone. Hops are a touch bitter on the finish, not much taste. The aftertaste is actually a bit wet cardboard and grains. Mouthfeel is predictable, nicely carbonated, not too light, pretty good considering the flavour. This beer tastes like St. Petersburgh, not the core, but the perimiter, where everything is cracked soviet concrete and grey. I wonder if there is a beer that tastes like the hermitage and Petrograd and drunken late night cab rides with cabbies packing huge guns. Actually, I know there is, it's called vodka. Good vodka, smooth and bitter with a hint of sweetness peaking through. Ice cold and served in shot glasses that hold 3oz. But Baltika tastes like a 1960s soviet 15 storey concrete apartment block. It gets the job done and that's it. No joy, no love, just done. So about 136% better then a molson or labatt product.

Lancaster Bomber - Thwaites

Sun, 23 May 2010 18:37:37 -0500

In preparation for the May beer tasting at Castro's featuring beers from England, I did a little pre-tasting of my own. This brew is from Lancashire, home of numerous things, including Morris Dancing.

[caption id="attachment_383" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Lancashire Bomber"][/caption]

(Sorry for the iPhone pic again. Left DSLR at my mum's.....)

Twitter Updates for 2010-05-23

Sun, 23 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

Watching bayern v inter and drinking #beaus lug-tread ale. #

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Organic Weisen Edel-Weisse - G. Schneider & Sohn

Sat, 22 May 2010 07:56:14 -0500

The first organic weisse beer I've ever had, I was excited to give it a try.

[caption id="attachment_379" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Organic Edel-Weisse"][/caption]

Poured from a 500ml bottle with some un-descipherable dating stamp on the back. Beer is a straw to honey yellow, lightly cloudy, with a big old weisse head that slowly dissipates but doesn't leave much lace. Very active carbonation. Aroma is spicy, with lots of cloves and hits of cinnamon, and banana with hints of tropical fruits. Taste is very spicy, almost peppery, cloves and warm spices. Fruit is estery and and sweet, more pineapple than banana. Aftertaste is nicely fruity, but doesn't linger too much. Very drinkable, with a nice clean mouthfeel and good carbonation. This is a very cool beer. Not like regular Schneider-Weisse, but very good.

Twitter Updates for 2010-05-20

Thu, 20 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

RIP Fritz Sennheiser, microphone pioneer. A mighty 98 years. #

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No contact

Thu, 13 May 2010 04:04:57 -0500

Sorry for any inconvenience, but for at least a day or so, my contact form is going to be gone. Something broke overnight and I woke up to over 20 spam messages, so I've got to fix it, but have no time. If you want to get in touch, leave a comment and I'll get back to you. Thanks,
Chris

Twitter Updates for 2010-05-09

Sun, 09 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

May Beer Tasting at Castro's - http://eepurl.com/wnwf #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-05-08

Sat, 08 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

Love British commentary: RT @neil_mccormick: In a queue at the NHS. Didn't every party promise shorter queues? I demand a recount. #

Getting political-> Lib Dems just say "no" to Cameron. Canada has a Cameron too, James. Yeah, we thought ours was a yank as well. #ge2010 #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-05-07

Fri, 07 May 2010 13:55:00 -0500

Lesson I learned at the zoo: save a polar bear, drink local #beer http://tweetphoto.com/21292128 #

@NotesOnABeermat Nick, you're a writer; frittering away days is what you do. Hope to see you on the cask trail. in reply to NotesOnABeermat #

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Abbot Ale - Greene King Brewery

Thu, 06 May 2010 15:41:33 -0500

I must say, I'm a big fan of Greene King and their mighty IPA, so I'm surprised this can sat in my fridge as long as it did!

Poured from a 500ml can with a best before date on the bottom, the brew is brown with slightly reddish tones to it. An initial 1" foamy head dissipates into a thin film that leaves some lacing. The aroma is malty tending towards caramel, with some nice hops to it, earthy with hints of resin. Hops jump forward in the taste, very resinous and clean, the malt slides in after the hoppy onslaught, smooth and caramelly, but doesn't linger. The finish is a nice reminder of the hops that were. Mouthfeel is actually a bit thin, without much carbonation. I'm going to give it a few minutes to warm-up, and see, but I have a feeling it will be cask-y when it's a little warmer. Indeed, still not a nice fresh pint of cask, but a not-too-distant cousin, perhaps. I bet this beer kicks ass in England, on tap or cask.

Beer for your Mum

Wed, 05 May 2010 08:24:15 -0500

The Granite Brewery & Restaurant once again proves to be one of the coolest places in Toronto.

Cheers to Ron and the crew at the Granite. We'll have to see if the Schryer's get time to take Bentley's mum in for a brew.

Rainbow trout for dinner. With...

Tue, 04 May 2010 16:36:16 -0500

Rainbow trout for dinner. With potato galette Brussels sprouts and warm salad. Drinking dead elephant ale. http://tweetphoto.com/21096611

Buy the Globe this Monday: RT ...

Tue, 04 May 2010 13:21:04 -0500

Buy the Globe this Monday: RT @atu2: Posted: "Bono, Geldof to edit Globe and Mail" http://bit.ly/bLetg6

CASK! Social Pub Crawl. This Weekend

Tue, 04 May 2010 11:11:22 -0500

From the good folks at CASK! Social:

Cask Ale Crawl 2010
Building on the success of last year’s cask ale crawl, which won a Golden Tap Award, this year’s event will take place during the weekend of May 7th – 9th 2010.  At least six participating pubs across downtown Toronto have confirmed so far:

Such a gorgeous day. Maybe I'...

Tue, 04 May 2010 10:31:45 -0500

Such a gorgeous day. Maybe I'll have a pic of the sun on the lake when I take Ben for a walk later. Get out if you can.

@AlanCross See the Arts and Cr...

Tue, 04 May 2010 10:12:45 -0500

@AlanCross See the Arts and Crafts 15 song sampler on iTunes? Got the FB notification today, downloading now.

Just testing twitter posts bei...

Tue, 04 May 2010 07:04:59 -0500

Just testing twitter posts being sent to my blog......

Long Silence

Tue, 04 May 2010 06:54:25 -0500

I wish I could say that I have been absent and quiet for nearly three weeks because I have been somewhere quiet and secluded, where I have enjoyed the company of my lovely wife and son and beers. Sadly, this is not the case. I have been running flat-out with little time to enjoy beer, and less to write about it. And I can't say whether or not that is going to change this week. My hope is to review a couple of the beers in my fridge this weekend, and get some fresh posts. I also owe you all my write-ups of both the Beau's event at Volo (by the way, they put on a great party, Steve was an absolute gentleman and great to chat to, and of course, the beer was stellar), as well as the CASK Social, also at Volo (once again, stellar people and conversation and amazing beer).

Biscuits. Good for the body? N...

Sat, 01 May 2010 05:15:45 -0500

Biscuits. Good for the body? No. But oh so good for the soul.

Loves when you're bbq'ing and ...

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:38:45 -0500

Loves when you're bbq'ing and a passing motorcyclist sniffs, looks up and waves. Yeah, I'm that good. Cod in a sesame mustard chili marinade

At CASK social at volo. It's o...

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:35:57 -0500

At CASK social at volo. It's off the hook! Heaps of people and they're nearly out of cask!

Turns out the hop city party i...

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:55:16 -0500

Turns out the hop city party is a total sausage fest. I think I brought one of about six ovary-possesing people here.

At the mighty volo. Drink cask...

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:04:36 -0500

At the mighty volo. Drink cask beaver river ipa from the also mighty beau's. Blog to come.

Nobel - Christoffel

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:13:55 -0500

Christoffel is a cool Dutch brewery, producing a couple of very interesting regular and seasonal brews. I saw Nobel and bought it on principle, I hadn't had it, and trusted the brewer's reputation. The description is interesting, if not confusing. High alcohol, high hops, lager. Hmmmmmm, we'll see. Also, it's garnering some very good reviews. I'm excited.

Marston's Pedigree

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:09:17 -0500

Ahhhhh, English bitter. How do I love thee? For me, drinking English beers normally comes in waves, but this was a rogue one. Still, I have never had Marstons, and the bottle beckoned me when I opened the fridge.

[caption id="attachment_317" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Marston's Pedigree"][/caption]

Busy busy busy

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:59:01 -0500

Wow,

I'm not complaining, as I would rather be busy, then looking for work, but my gosh. I've been busy. I've got three beer reviews just waiting to be published! No time to edit the copy and the image.

Anyways, there's a couple of things I wanted to mention:

April Beer Tasting at Castro's...

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:21:52 -0500

April Beer Tasting at Castro's - http://eepurl.com/rDh5

#Mickelson deserves that lead,...

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:40:58 -0500

#Mickelson deserves that lead, nearly 3 eagles in a row. Great #Masters

Big Phil!!! Eagles 13 ,14 !!! ...

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:32:44 -0500

Big Phil!!! Eagles 13 ,14 !!! Why didn't I pick you?

Cuddled with Bentley, about to...

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 09:35:50 -0500

Cuddled with Bentley, about to nap, coverage from amen corner at the #masters coming online any minute. Life is good.

Westwood is -10 on day two. T...

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:40:54 -0500

Westwood is -10 on day two. This is insane!!!

@kyledizzy try tsn.ca to watc...

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:32:29 -0500

@kyledizzy try tsn.ca to watch the #masters live-feed in Canada

Don't mess with brewery worker...

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:55:44 -0500

Don't mess with brewery workers and their beer: http://bit.ly/aEXprt

Best. Strike. Ever.

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:54:44 -0500

Today in Copenhagen, 250 workers walked off the job at the Carlsberg Brewery, not over pay issues, not because they lost their dental plan, not even for health and safety issues. No, they walked off the job, because the brass at Carlsberg decided to limit their beer consumption to lunch-time only. Before the start of this month, workers were welcome to help themselves to beer located in coolers throughout the brewery. Yes, that's right: people working at the brewery could have a beer any time they wanted. It's like working for me.

Working with #masters streamin...

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:42:48 -0500

Working with #masters streaming on my iphone. Watching the Amen Corner feed. Thanks TSN.

Free Beer! (if you turn 19)

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:58:39 -0500

I just came across this at Greg Clow's blog, Beer Beats and Bites.

Apparently the Granite brewery, in celebration of their 19th anniversary in Toronto, is offering a present for anybody else turning 19 this year. Come in to the brewery (Eglington and Mount Pleasant) on your birthday (with some form of proof), and you will get your first pint, a granite-branded glass, and a growler of beer, free. Yes, you read that correctly. Think of all the soon-to-be 19 year-olds in your life, and do them a favour: start them off (legally) on the right foot, with some locally produced craft beer.

Ptown crawl part IV - The Olde Stone Brewery

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 10:37:58 -0500

Last stop, though I really should have already left. The Olde Stone is a brew pub right in downtown ptown.

With a brewery in the basement, this place serves both their own brews on draught, as well as five Ontario guest taps. Today they were serving their stout, red fife ale, bitter, old ale and Belgian ale. Guests were Amsterdam Spring Bock, KLB framboise, Mill St Organic, Creemore, and Welly Trailhead. I opted for a pint of the old ale. It was dark and malty with lots of nice dark fruit and sweetness. A nice alcohol finish and linger that just kept going and saw me all the way down to the 401.

Anniversary Pilsner - Old Credit Brewing Co. Ltd.

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:55:49 -0500

So this past week I found myself in Port Credit, meeting a new potential client, and also connecting with an old friend before the work-meeting. The work stuff went well, and the coffee with a friend (Rob), was also great, especially because when we were done, we wandered over to the Old Credit Brewing Co. It's funny, because they are just up the street from where he works. So we poked our noses in, and I succumbed to temptation and bought a bottle of their Anniversary Pilsner (it was all for you, dear reader). I won't speak about the brewery, as we were in and out, but I would like to go back, and get the 411. I promise I'll try.

Ptown crawl part III - St Veronus Cafe and Tap Room

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:53:35 -0500

On the advice of Marty at Publican, I left The Only and wandered along Hunter St. to St. Veronus which is a classic Belgian style bar. Elegant and clean layout, with a few different rooms, including a small bar room where I sat.

Two super friendly servers (Andrea and Devon) chatted amicably and, after some deliberation on my part, served me a Dieu du Ceil Peche Mortel.

Ptown crawl part II - The Only Cafe

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:25:30 -0500

So my second stop took me to The Only Cafe. Which is strange to me, as The Only is on Danforth in Toronto, right? Well, about 20 years ago, the dude who opened the Danforth location, Jerome, sold it, moved to Peterborough, and opened what is basically the same bar. Eclectic furniture, walls covered in pictures, pinball machine in the corner and respectable beer list. I accidentally typed "lust" instead of "list". I think I should have left it.

Ptown crawl part I - Publican House Brewery

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 07:14:45 -0500

After dropping my mum at her desired location in Peterborough, I headed to Charlotte St and the pleasant Publican House Brewery.

Bought myself a growler of Square Nail Pale Ale and had a great chat about their intentions to open up the restaurant part of their facility. It sounds like they're headed in the right direction. Easy-going, varying local menu built around the beer. Simple, but should work. I like people who appreciate that quality trumps artistry every time, when it comes to food.

Ptown crawl - intro

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 07:09:16 -0500

So, this past Saturday, my mum needed a lift to Peterborough. I, being a good son, happily obliged. Certainly, because I love my mother, but also because a trip to ptown means a stop at Publican House, and also, possibly, a visit to the Only Cafe (the other one). My good intentions turned into a pub crawl, and served to break some of my Peterborough prejudices.

@NotesOnABeermat and I did a f...

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:28:34 -0500

@NotesOnABeermat and I did a four stop crawl of Peterborough to drown my recent Leeds woes. It didn't work.

Some Technical Notes

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:35:37 -0500

I don't know if any of you readers manage any websites, and if so, if you use Google Analytics, but let me tell you: It's scary. Between the info I get from GA and the reports Wordpress generates, if you've posted a comment on this site, I think I can sell your house and we've probably had sex.

Beer and Cheese at Castro's

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:17:25 -0500

So, if you haven't been following along, not only am I a quick witted beer blogger, but also the host of monthly beer tasting at Castro's Lounge, in the Beach. These events are not so much structured flights where we all talk about the nuances the Wiliamet hop adds when used in a brew that is 10% crystal malt (though we welcome all people, so if that's you come out anyways). Really, we're generally a group of people who like to drink beer, and try new things. It's a rare chance to sit down with others who like beer and sample 8 different examples. Whether your regular tipple is a macrobrew from the big three, or an obscure Quebecois imperial stout, we welcome all takers.

New Bottled Beers at Volo

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:17:46 -0500

Just saw on Facebook, Volo has got some new bottles in, and coming in.

Bottles from The Meantime Brewery in London England are now in and being served, and bottles from The Garrison Brewing Co. in Halifax Nova Scotia will be arriving shortly!

Don't forget Mondays are $5/pint nights, as well. And the olive bowl is still one of the most sublimely wonderful late night snacks in Toronto.

Brooklyn Lager - The Brooklyn Brewery

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:00:37 -0500

The Brooklyn Brewery is trying to re-introduce our New York neighbours to beers the way they were pre-prohibition. Brooklyn Lager is their flag-ship brand, and is a wonderful amber lager (think Creemore, Big Wheel, etc).

Russian Gun Imperial Stout - Grand River Brewing

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:58:20 -0500

So this little wonder is gaining quite a bit of notoriety in the circles I drink in. I must admit, that I have thrice not had it when the opportunity presented itself to me, so when I was in the Queen's Quay LCBO last week I thought, "Ah ha, it is time".

Monday Maple Madness @ the Stinking Rose, Campbellford!

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:20:52 -0500

Just got this in from Jon at Church-Key, via Facebook:

Slow Food Northumberland presents an Ark of Taste event at the Stinking Rose Pub, Monday April 5th from 6:30 to 8 pm.

26 Bridge Street
Campbellford, ON
K0L 1L0

Come out and taste the mouth watering flavour of "Tamworth" pork slow cooked with Holy Smoke BBQ sauce, on our own glorious heritage "Red Fife Wheat " bun, accompanied by Maple baked Great Northern beans and braised red Cabbage with wild berries.

60 Minute IPA - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:14:07 -0500

I nearly forgot to review this beer. It has become a regular in my life, but I find that many people have not yet tried it. This is the last of a six I bought two weeks ago when we had friends over. The first thing you should know, is that Dogfish Head is a very experimental company. They not only brew unique beers, but also spirits (rum, gin, and whiskey, if I recall). They started out as a brewpub, founded by Sam Calagione. This was basically a dude with a few big pots and carboys in a restaurant. The brews were always interesting, and designed with food in mind, but they gained in popularity, and Sam quickly found himself unable to keep up with demand. A brewing facility was secured near-by, where he also set up stills for distilation (why not, right?). The next thing you should know, is the "timed" IPAs (60 minute, 90 minute, and *gasp* 120 minute) are all products of two parts innovation, one part insanity. You see, Sam knew that in brewing you can add hops at different times of the process. The earlier in the boil you add them, the more bitter feel you get, the less aroma/taste. "Dry-hopping" beers (adding hops after the boil) adds quite a bit of hops aromas. So Sam said "Why can't I add hops *throughout* the boil? So he divised a way to gently shake hops from a hopper (haha, that's funny) into the brew for the duration. I'm told it initally involved an off-balance washing machine. I can't verify that, though. Anyways, adding hops continually to the wort for 60 minutes creates a very unique hoppy beer. You don't have to be a mathmetician to realize what adding 30 minutes to that process will do. You might need to be a philosopher to ponder the depths of the mighty 120 minute IPA.

Cellar Additions - March 19th

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:44:02 -0500

Just in from the LCBO:

ESB - Fullers
London Porter - Fullers
London Pride - Fullers
Pale Ale - Headstrong
Abbot Ale - Greene King
Black Sheep Ale - Black Sheep Brewery
Punk IPA - Brew Dog
Pedigree - Marstons
La Fin du Monde - Unibroue

St. Patrick's Day Report

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:44:08 -0500

Okay, first off, I must warn you: I think you might feel a little let down.

So what does Chris Schryer, torontobeerblog.com founder, offical non-irish irishman, and general man-about-town do for St Pat's? He makes a great dinner, then tells his wife to go out and enjoy herself with friends. Stays in. Probably writes a review of Russian Gun Imperial Stout. Considers a bath.

Stonewall Stout - Publican House Brewery

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:30:31 -0500

The pride of Peterborough (aside from those world-famous canoes), Publican House is a great little brewery, operated by the usual passionate, friendly, welcoming folks. I had no idea they made a stout when I walked through the doors of the brewery, but was very happy to accept a sample, then buy a growler. Let's be honest, though. I've never not been happy to buy a growler.... I might have regretted drinking it all the next day, but that's a different type of regret.

Paddy's Irish Red - Trafalgar Ales and Meads

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:42:38 -0500

"We only sell what we can't drink ourselves" claims the packaging, and I must say, I can identify with that spirit. Incidentally, this is the beer I finished the night with at Cloak and Dagger last St Paddy's. So we have history (most of which I remember).

Luck of the Irish to you!

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:26:48 -0500

So here's the thing: I've been to Ireland. A bunch of times. I've even visited St Patrick (Padraig)'s grave (it's in a little town called Downpatrick, where a friend of mine owns a used book shop). I've drank Guinness from the brewery, sat and listened to a traditional session in a pub called Oliver St John Gogarty's in Temple Bar, eaten oysters with Guinness at the Crown Liquor Saloon, stood on the Giant's Causeway and crossed the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. This means I'm more Irish then most people who celebrate St Paddy's, even though I'm not at all Irish.

Square Nail Pale Ale - Publican House Brewery

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:11:13 -0500

Ahhhh Square Nail I don't know what you are, but I know how I feel. J'adore.

Publican House and I began our courtship over a glass of Square Nail at Volo's Cask Days (I think). At the time, I thought I was drinking an India Pale Ale. Quite hoppy and dry, with a good bit of malt to the profile. Colour and body and mouthfeel all fit. I've spoken loving words about this IPA, to others and occasionally, when I've felt particularly alone, to myself. So when I went to the Publican House Brewery this past Friday, my first surprise was that (despite my own thoughts), this was not a brewpub (though they apparently do serve light food on the patio during the summer). My second was discovering their very nice Stout (review coming). My third was reading the back of the growler and finding out that Square Nail is listed as a Pale Ale. No sign of Elephants or Rajahs or Chai anywhere. I forgot to ask John, the brewer/owner two things. The first was "where should I go for lunch" (note to self and others: The King's Crossing, while not bad, did not have a beer geek's choice of beers on tap. Food was bar-okay, staff was nice, but beer, meh), the second was "What's the deal, is this an IPA or a Pale Ale?" He gave me his card though, maybe I should e-mail. I'll update if I remember to do this....

March Beer Tasting at Castro's...

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:28:30 -0500

March Beer Tasting at Castro's - http://eepurl.com/j5lS

Cellar

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:58:58 -0500

Okay, I'll be the first to admit it: I'm totally stealing this idea from my fellow beer-blogger, Matt, over at One Beer At A Time. This is what's waiting for me in my fridge/cupboard. I'm going to include the beers I've already reviewed, but won't list things that I've bought just to drink (like, if I'm going to a party, and I get a 12 of Steamwhistle). Beers that have links have been reviewed, and you can check them out by clicking the link. Un-linked ones are still waiting.

T.E.A. - Hogs Back Brewery

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:48:09 -0500

Don't know if this is a new high or a new low, as it's only 9:50 am, but there it is. To be fair, I've been awake since 7, so my body thinks it's at least 11. Plus I've waited about as long as I could to drink this so I guess it's time. Also I had a very healthy breakfast, so I think it all balances out.

Tsingtao

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:27:01 -0500

Tsingtao is the most popular beer in China. When you consider the population of China, this is saying something. Big. Sales. So how does it drink?

Poured from a green bottle with no freshness date. Beer is golden, with good carbonation, and a bit of head that disappeared faster then an election promise. Aroma is a sharp hop, with a bit of a grainy sweetness. Almost reminds me of Mill St Organic. Some folks might accuse it of being "skunky", but it's not. Taste is a bit thin, but more of the same. Sweetly malty, though the hops are a bit less present. The one thing I've always found interesting about this beer, is it has a bit of a mineral feel/taste to it. It is assumed that this is likley a side-effect of a fairly hard-water source for the brewing. Some bottles have more, some less; this one is on the heavier side. The mineral taste also leaves your tongue a bit clean/dry. It's an interesting effect. The body is pretty thin, but then again, this is China's equivalent to Bud, so what are we to expect? With that in mind, Tsingtao is a great beer. Macro for sure, but tasty. I enjoy this beer more then most of the big ones. Plus it's fun to say: "JING-dao"

All quiet on the western front

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:47:09 -0500

So I realized that all I've been posting of late has been beer reviews. I guess that's better then nothing but still, I feel bad for the lack of exciting fresh content. The good news is that this Friday I'll be headed to Peterborough which means FINALLY getting to the publican house. Also I bought a fair little pile of bottles yesterday, so there will be no shortage of review fodder, including, *gasp* Harviestoun Ola Dubh 40. Here's to a good week coming up.

Tusker - Kenya Breweries Ltd

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:09:31 -0500

Tusker is an African classic. Like that song by Toto. Epic, comforting, and makes you want to roll the windows down and sing at the top of your voice.

Poured from that classic 500ml bottle with "Beer Only" embossed on it. Manufactured/Best Before dates marked on the bottle. The beer is golden yellow, with a big fluffy head that shrinks but remains because of it's hyper-active carbonation. Nice lacing left on the glass.

Scotch-Irish Sgt Major IPA

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:08:29 -0500

Scotch-Irish makes some mighty impressive brews. An Imperial Stout that assults your taste buds, a Porter that is much bigger then it's stubby bottle, and an IPA that sort of kicks your teeth out in a way that you might just pay money to have done. It feels so good, it can't be too deviant, right?

Anchor Brewing Co. Liberty Ale

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:14:38 -0500

The "Other" Anchor Brewing Co. beer easily available via our friend and champion the LCBO. An American-style IPA that I am desperately in love with. Like, this review could get indecent. I should have an "I certify that I am over 18 years old". Oh well, next time I guess.

Here we go again: Sleeman Clear

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:30:30 -0500

Indeed, here we go again. Once more, I put my credibility, health and sanity on the line, to benefit you, dear reader. I believe that this was the first "ultra light" beer (at least in Ontario). It's been around for years now. I know I drank it when it came out, in my days before really caring much about beer. I wasn't impressed then. I fear things won't have improved with time.

Moosehead and Sam tie the knot

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:04:49 -0500

Forgive my spelling, I'm posting this live. Listening to Jim Koch confirming the agreement between Moosehead and the Boston Beer company, just announced by Andrew Oland.

Moosehead will now be distributing Sam Adams and the full Boston Beer line-up in all provinces and territories. Woot! I'll add more text and pics in moments.

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:58:48 -0500

Ah Rogue, is there a cooler brewery in the USA? Probably, but we sad Ontarians will never know unless we go there, or someplace with better access to beer (like Volo). Still, Yellow Snow IPA is a great example of what our Yankee friends are doing to IPAs in their near relentless pursuit of hoppy perfection. Look out, this beer is not for the uninitiated.

CASK! Social

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:16:53 -0500

I just read on Troy Burtch's blog (http://greatcanadianpubs.blogspot.com/) that the next CASK! Social is booked for this Saturday, at The Granite Brewery. 3-6pm, admission is free, as always, just come out to spend some time with other beer enthusiasts drinking cask ale. From the good folks at CASK! Social:

Anchor Steam Beer

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:15:29 -0500

Anchor Brewing is an old and iconic brewery in San Francisco. "Steam Beer" seems to be a name given to early beers brewed on the West Coast of the USA, and Anchor's version is textbook.

Poured from a 355ml bottle with a freshness date on the back label. Anchor has some of my favourite labels, not overly artistic, but very traditional mariner imagery, piratey if you like.

@NotesOnABeermat that's funny,...

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:38:35 -0500

@NotesOnABeermat that's funny, I just picked up two growlers of peculiar for the tasting I'm doing today about an hour ago.

@NotesOnABeermat cheap? We had...

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:24:07 -0500

@NotesOnABeermat cheap? We had to pay him CC championship level bribes..... The cost of promotion I guess.

Oh those crazy Scots

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:24:05 -0500

The world has a new strongest beer. In an on-going battle with a German brewer, Schorschbrau, Scotland's BrewDog has unleashed the cleverly named "Sink the Bismark", the world's strongest beer (for now), weighing-in at 41%.

Yes, 41%

At £40/330ml, and out of fear for your vision, this is the ultimate sipping beer.

@NotesOnABeermat I'm very nerv...

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:53:12 -0500

@NotesOnABeermat I'm very nervous about the outcome of today's game. You might have bragging rights by this afternoon...

Neustadt 10W30

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:06:03 -0500

This wonderful English style brown ale, from Neustadt Ontario, has it's pedigree to be sure. Winning silver in both the CBAs and World Beer Cup in 2004, the brewery's business profile was also selected to represent Ontario in a global Invest Ontario promotion.

Biere et Compagnie - Volo

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:25:58 -0500

Sorry, but I guess like they say, "Better late then never". To be honest, if you knew this event was happening and you missed it, you could have guessed it would have been awesome, if you were there, you will hardly need me to reinforce it's awesomeness.

Church-Key Brewing

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:58:06 -0500

Ahhhhh, long weekends. Is there anything that warms a Canadian's heart more then piling into a car and driving to a cottage? In my case, yes. Knowing that I can stop in at Church-Key Brewing ups my temp by at least one degree.

[caption id="attachment_100" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Church-Key Brewing"][/caption]

Great Lakes Brewery - Canuck Pale Ale

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:58:36 -0500

Read about this in Great Lakes email newsletter (email them to sign-up info@greatlakesbeer.com), and saw some bottles on the shelf at Queen & Coxwell LCBO.

Pours a honey-yellow, with a nice foamy head, and active carbonataion. Light lacing, a bit patchy. Lots of hops in the nose, pretty earthy, but a bit of a sharp note too, not quite citrus. Hints of cereal grains. Taste is interesting, more feel then taste to the hops initially, with a bit of grainy sweetness. There is a nice earthy hop, and a bit of a mineral taste too. There's a bit more sweetness in the mid to late taste, sort of bready. Pretty resinous dry hoppy finish and aftertaste. Mouthfeel is a bit thinner then I would like or expect, though the lacing gave that away a bit. Still, pretty good beer, overall. Decent take on the Left coast IPA. If you can find it, drink up. It's quite nice. I feel like saying something patriotic like "eh oh Canada go!". Or not. I still have some shame (believe it or not).

February Beer Tasting at Castr...

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:55:59 -0500

February Beer Tasting at Castro's - http://eepurl.com/h3Gq

Catching Up

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:05:33 -0500

Hey there,

Okay, so first off, I'm still alive after the 67 experience. Tough, you know? I just reviewed the empties that I really need to return, and it occurs to me that I need to be more mentally aware of which LCBOs I go to; I've been drinking a lot of Creemore. This isn't too bad (okay, aside from buying big 3), but really, I need to branch out a bit. The good news is, we started pouring Beau's Lug-Tread at Castro's, so I've been able to enjoy a fair few pints of that.

Molson 67 - Yeah, that's right.

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:45:42 -0500

Hello and welcome. As nearly everyone who has viewed this article recently arrived via Google using the search "how many calories in Molson 67" (or something along those lines), here's the answer. 67. As in, there are 67 calories per bottle. Please feel free to continue reading this post, or one of my many others, but I won't be offended if you take that news and leave. Enjoy.

Thanks, Louis

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:54:39 -0500

Today, January 28, in 1873, Louis Pasteur patented a lesser known type of pasturization (milk, being the big one). Being a chap not unaccustomed to the bottom of a pint glass, he knew the possibilities his heat-process could offer the brewing world. You see, it was still common practice back then to chill the wort (unfermented beer) in an open vessel, outdoors. This, of course, leads to the possibility of bacterial contamination. Which leads to funky beer, or thrown-away beer. This lead Louis to some thinking. And what he came up with was a closed system. The hot wort was to be chilled in the brew tun, by having cold water hosed down the outside. The yeast was then added, knowing that it was the only microorganism present. While the system has changed slightly, he laid the foundation for brewing still in use today. Of course, now macro brewers pasturize individual bottles of beer in high heat, helping to kill any flavour left by a fairly inadequate brewing method. But that's not what Louis had in mind. He knew good quality beer could take care of itself, if it was well made in the first place.

@NotesOnABeermat hey Nick, did...

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:55:36 -0500

@NotesOnABeermat hey Nick, did you see Leeds drew spurs 2-2? Go div 1!

Ceili Cottage

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:58:01 -0500

So, this is not my review of Ceili Cottage. This is a post about attending a CASK! social (http://casktoronto.wordpress.com/) at Ceili Cottage, which is entirely different. Though it will contain some very positive commentary on the bar in question. Like this:

I love this bar. Here is the skinny: Irish-style bar in Leslieville (Queen St East around Leslie). Run by a world-champion/world-record osyter-schucker, Paddy, who also owns the venerable Starfish, also in Toronto. Ceili Cottage is one of the most "authentic" Irish bars I've been to (outside of Ireland). Did I mention I love this bar?

Contact

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:44:06 -0500

Yeah, I was beginning to feel like this conversation was a bit one-sided. Fill out these handy boxes, and we can talk. You name it: beer, beer tastings, events, my famous walking beer tour of Toronto, or the FedEx cup.

[ninja_form id=1]

So yeah, just click the old "send" button and I'll get right back to you, okay? I've got one of those fancy phones that has my e-mail and all sorts of other things on it. It might take me a while to get back to you if I'm in a Starbucks though, okay? I just feel like too much of a cliche using it in there. No, okay, that's a lie. Using it in a Starbucks massages my ego like a blind shiatsu master.

Volo, late friday nights

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:21:56 -0500

I drink at Volo a fair amount (so should you). So trying to objectively review them is impossible, because I have years of history there. That history is a long testimony to what is an excellently run bar that is leading the charge when it comes to beer in Toronto. I can honestly say I have not had a single bad experience at Volo.

Calendar is up now

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:52:11 -0500

So, I've got a gCal for beer events that are going on around Toronto. You can view it by clicking the tab above. It's disguised, to keep the riff-raff out. Look for the tab cleverly labeled, "Calendar" (tricky, I know).
If you know of an event that should be on there, let me know, and I'll put it up.

Calendar

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:33:32 -0500

Check out what's going on in and around Toronto.

Good news regarding Hop City Brewing Co.

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:17:19 -0500

So, I do swear that I will post at least three longer blogs about my exploits this past weekend, but not now. For now, a quick update about Hop City Brewing Co. In my 2009 year in review, I talked about how I didn't really know anything about them. I alluded to the fact that they had a heap of money to throw a party. The subtext there was fear that they could, in fact, be owned by a big brewer. The likes of InBev et al, are not above branding a pseudo-micro to try to re-monopolise (okay, triopolise) their hold on this country of ours.

A good weekend for beer

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:46:43 -0500

Wow, what happened? Somehow the past two days became big beer days. I'll detail some of the finer points in posts to come, but briefly:

Last night I closed Volo with a dear friend who is about to leave on a four month trip to Mexico. We drank great beer, ate olives, and generally had a good night. Bentley and I were back at Volo just past noon today to book me into the beer and cheese tasting they're hosting next weekend, chat to Ralph and Julien a bit, and have sone fuller's cask (okay, that was just me). We got home and learned that Cask Social was having an event at Ceili Cottage in Leslieville. This was three birds with one stone: my first (of many) visits to Ceili Cottage, my first (of many) Cask Socials, and a good way to get the whole family out of the house for a nice afternoon.

Victory - a possible correction

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:40:48 -0500

Just a note on my Victory Cafe review. I had totally forgot hand-pumped cask ales can have a significant head on them. So it's possible my accusation that I recieved a draft ale was unfounded. It definitely was also fairly carbonated, but that's entirely possible too.

Bottles and cans, so just clap your hands

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:48:08 -0500

Seventy-five years ago this month, something big happened. The noble beer can made it's first appearance on shelves in Richmond, Virginia. It had taken a while; beer had a funny habit of reacting badly with the aluminium cans. After some tweaking, a plastic coating solved the problem, and beer packaging changed forever.

Why I love Beau's - Part One

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:44:26 -0500

Because they are an awesome brewery, doing awesome awesomeness.

End of blog.

Okay, I'm told I need to say more.

So on Monday, a kindly gentleman wandered into Castro's and took a seat at table 101. I always like people who choose 101, as it was my preferred table, back when I was just a regular. Also, he asked to see the beer menu. And he looked like a beer rep. And he ordered a Schneider-Weisse, and used the glass.

The Victory Cafe

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:16:15 -0500

So this past Friday night, after hockey, I decided it was about time to get down to the Victory. I had met Neil and Maz at a few Volo events, and had promised up and down I would stop by sometime. Before I go on, I will offer a pre-defence for the Victory: it was about midnight on a Friday, and the place was packed. Good timing alone secured us a table by the window. So I'll continue. We sat down, and a young hipster server handed us food menus and pointed us to the beer selection. After two hours of hockey food and beer is just what we needed. The three guys I was with decided to share some meat-stuff and I picked a vegetarian option. The server returned and looked puzzled when we ordered food, "the kitchen is closed" he explained. I guess the menus were to entice us back at an earlier hour. So we ordered our beers, knowing Sarah's shawarma and falafel was a short walk away. I had ordered the cask ale, which was Durham Signature Ale. I must say, I have never had a cask ale that had that much head (nearly two fingers) or that much carbonation. I have never had Durham's Signature Ale, so I have no point of reference, but I suspect somebody in the bar was drinking my cask ale; like I said, it was a very busy night (****see my correction, I may well have been drinking cask. I forgot the marvel that is the hand-pump****). Regardless, whatever I was drinking was very good, and my friends enjoyed their Neustadt 10W30. For round two I thought Hop Addict was in order and it didn't disappoint. There is no doubt, the Victory has a great selection of beers, and the three I tasted were fresh and lovely.

It being fairly dark outside, I guess I failed to appreciate the Victory's premises; it's huge! I went looking for the bathrooms and bank machine and got a better appreciation. It's huge! I was also charmed by the requisite abm fee, $1.99. It really does seem so much better than $2.00 even.

2009 - a year of beer

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:00:13 -0500

2009 was a big year for me in terms of beer and beer culture. I think I hosted a tasting every month (might have missed one, I can't quite recall). I attended a variety of events, but most importantly, I found myself feeling "connected" to the Toronto beer scene. I met many of the key players: writers, publicans, and brewers. I found myself at events, chatting to people who I had met at other events. It was an exciting year, to be sure.

By way of explanation

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:26:45 -0500

New year's resolution? No not even close. When I tuned into the live feed of Times Square at 11:59:38 and watched 22 seconds of ball dropping, starting a beer blog was the last thing on my mind. So why are we all here?
Well, from time to time, I like to post on facebook what beer I'm drinking, or what event I'm attending. But I find their status update limitations, well, limiting. So the logical step was to start a blog. How very 2002 of me...... Also I found out there is an app for my iPhone (I'm using it right now) that allows me to manage the blog away from my home, so that pretty much sealed the deal.

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