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?
Once I got over the initial shock of the crowd and what they were wearing, though, I was giddy with what I now had access to. Wine merchants as far as the eye could see. Food vendors scattered throughout. Some spirit importers (though I saw less than I was expecting). And, of course, beer. Both local craft, as well as many European imports. I only had just under two hours to sample, by the time I got there, but I think I made good use of my time.
Non-beer
Man, I drank a lot of Kiwi Sauv Blancs. One of my go-to wines in the past year, Marlbrough is producing some truly sublime whites. Speaking of which, I took the chance to have a fair few samples of Chablis, as well as something white from the Loire Valley that was just divine. I realized as I was leaving, this was the first time I’d been at GFWE, and I hadn’t had a single red wine. My top pairing was a decent sized chunk of lobster tail with a buttery Chardonnay from California.
Beer and Food
Hands down, was a plate of lovely (clearly hand-made) samosas with a glass of Nickel Brook Headstock IPA. The spicy savoury pastries line-up perfectly with the astringent hoppy IPA. That their booths were close to each other was perfectly serendipitous.
Beer
I was glad to see lots of friends there, showing off what we’re accomplishing in Ontario, but I’ve got to give a special mention to three breweries in particular. Both Amsterdam and Nickel Brook impressed me, as they had brought out some awesome beers, not just flagship-type brews. Amsterdam was pouring Boneshaker, in addition to their more standard Blonde, Big Wheel and 416. Nickel Brook had Naughty Neighbour PA, Headstock IPA and Bolshevik Bastard RIS. I’m pretty sure they were also pouring their Gluten-free and that might have been it. At a show where the vast majority of people are not beer people, this is daring. And speaking of which, Beau’s stepped up even a little more. They had Lug-Tread and Nightmarzen on draught (and maybe Festivale? I feel like there was 3 taps), but they had bottles of “Dark Helmet” Imperial Schwartzbier, and “And Boom Gose The Dynamite” becoming likely the first brewer to serve Gose at GFWE. I spent a good bit of time hanging out with Rob, Jerry and Davey, and it seems like the bet was a good one. Both of the bottles were generally met with a positive reception from wine people. Not to be too stereotypical, but I saw a fair number of women who were self-professed not-beer people, digging the tart slightly salty gose. I also heard Mill Street brought out a bunch of seasonal/one-off type stuff, but as their booth was always rammed when I walked by, I never actually found out.
I definitely had an awesome time, but here are some notes for next time: Don’t be sick and laced on Buckley’s; plan ahead better, so I have more time to sample than 2 hours Thursday night; take a plus-one, to maximize on food tasting potential. If you made it, what did you think? Any awesome tastes? If you didn’t make it, do plan on going next year.
Stuff I Didn’t Do
Sadly, because of a combination of illness, scheduling and geography, I didn’t make it to the Lions Winter Ale launch (too sick), Imbibe Cask Night (not in Kitchener), Snowman Cask at Volo (too sick) and Movember Party at The Granite (Daughter’s Birthday Party). I heard very positive things about both Imbibe and Snowman, and know enough about The Beer Academy and The Granite to know that the events would be excellent. Do leave a comment if you made it to any of these, and let us know your thoughts.
Brew Day
In an effort to get a home-brew done in time for my January 5th Resolutions, I did an educational brew day with fellow blogger and home-brewer, Matt Caldwell. I had a bunch of pumpkin puree from our jack-o-lanterns, so we decided to make a pumpkin porter. Using the Brew-In-A-Bag method, we’re pretty stoked with our results. Dark and roasty, nicely hopped and with a good but not aggressive pumpkin profile, we’re hopeful it lives up to our plans and the taste of the wort. We also drank some of Matt’s home brew, as well as bottles of 3 Monts and Meantime’s London Porter. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Now we just need a name for the beer. Matt thinks Mr Saturday Night (as that’s when we were done), but I vote for Black-O-Lantern Porter. Thoughts?
Beer of the Week
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. Wow. We have a regular at Castro’s who will often get cool bottles in the States, and share them with me and Anthony. Friday night we got into a bottle of 120, and it is a monster. In the past, I had drank both the 60 Minute (a classic) as well as the 90 Minute (a challenging beer, to say the least). Friday I finally got to try the big boy. If you don’t know about 120, here’s the deal: A massively malty Imperial IPA, weighing-in at 18%abv (!). The brewers add hops continuously throughout the 120 boil, then add a dry hopping every day for a month. Surprisingly, it isn’t a classic hop-bomb, it’s “well balanced”, in much the same way a Porsche GT3 has great balance between it’s immense power and it’s sublime looks. Both are way over the top, but they keep each other in check. This beer is off the charts, and probably inaccessible to many beer drinkers, but if you approach it with an open mind and palate, as well as moderate sips, it certainly is a fascinating experience in “extreme brewing”.
I would also like to give an honourable mention to 3 Monts by Brasserie De Saint-Sylvestre. It’s a Flanders Golden Ale, or (more generally) a Bière de Garde. I actually tend to prefer Saisons to Bière de Gardes, but this is definitely an exception to that rule. Malty, with spices and fruits from the yeast, it’s also a little funky. But the funk is very subtle and well-executed. It also is corked, and secured with a 14-gauge wire, rather than a traditional cage, which looked hardcore and slightly S&M.
Don’t Forget
Tomorrow night (Tuesday the 20th) is Board Game Night at Black Oak. Check out the details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/419589804760804/ And Thursday is the 3 Brewery Take-Over at 417 with Great Lakes, Beau’s and Flying Monkeys. Deets here: https://www.facebook.com/events/386564128089144/
