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.
Wow, why haven’t I gotten on to the beer in Question? Creemore seems to still be allowed to do “fun” stuff like a micro, and have launched a Kellerbier. Kellerbiers were historically beers that were offered by German brewers for patrons at the brewery/pub. These were unfiltered beers that the brewer would throw in casks and keep to serve to the locals. This is basically cask ale (okay, the Creemore version is in a can, but still). Stephen Beaumont said it was one of the best new launches in Ontario, and he knows a few things about beer too (perhaps Nick and I should invite him into the trifecta to replace MJ?). Creemore’s Kellerbier is a take on their lager, with bigger hops, more pronounced malt, and of course, is served unfiltered. So how does it taste?
Kellerbier - Creemore Springs
From a 473ml can with a brewed-on date stapmed on the bottom (right down to the time it was canned, 9:56). The beer is an orangey-brown hazy brew, with little bits floating in it, and a generous head. The head pretty quickly settled into a nice film that left some lacing. Aroma is a big dose of sweet grains and evergreen hops, with a hint of yeast. There is a lovely bready quality to the smell. Taste is immediately hops, dry tea, iron, and cedar. Lovely bready grains come through, like a sourdough loaf (likely because of the yeast), but are quickly cleaned-up by a bit more hop, leafy and a little floral, that lingers after everything else has faded away. The beer has a nice carbonation, and medium body, pretty big for a lager. Really drinks like ale that has a quick finish. Complex taste that doesn’t give you long to ponder it. I want more. If you knew that I had to hide this beer from myself to make sure I remembered to review it (by the way, hiding alcohol around the house is a sign of a drinking problem. My problem? I like it too much), you would know it’s intensely drinkable. I want to find some on tap (apparently the Victory Cafe was running it, as they did the launch party. I should call to see if they still have it on). If you can find this beer, buy as much of it as you can afford.
I hope that this marks another step in the big boys who own little(r) guys leaving them to do what they do best (see the relationship between Sapporo and Unibroue). Prost Creemore, and Molson too.
