Tuesday 29 November 2016

Bonus! Accidentally Aged 10 Bitter Years Black Oak Brewing Company



Ten Bitter Years Imperial IPA Cellar Aged

Black Oak Brewing Company

Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery Established: 1999
Imperial India Pale Ale 8.0 % IBU: 83
ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml.
$6.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @BlackOakBrewing


Ok. Yes I found another lurker hiding in my basement, and the saddest thing is I do not know exactly how old it is. I remember as far back as last January but it could have been there longer. So I am going to say it has been aged somewhere between 9 months and 2 years. I was surprised myself when I was met with a still slightly fruity and complex nose as I opened the bottle and even more pleasantly surprised when I tasted the amazing beverage it has transformed into.

Black Oak released its Ten Bitter Years for its tenth anniversary in 2010, but it has been a regular beer ever since. I had bought it before to blog, but It was so good I just drank it without making any notes. So sheepishly I went out and picked up another bottle and it disappeared into the basement to not be seem for some months.

Let's see how it fared.


Pours a dun gold colour with a still fluffy head made up of small bubbles. Caramel, licorice, spices and turbinado sugar dominate the nose,
slightly smokey malt finishes it up. First sip is all whisky with some softer notes of caramelised apples and pears, hints of brandy, and toasted anise seeds. The middle is very hay-like rich clover and alfalfa hay almost heady. hints of wood and vanilla with some light smoke and tinges of burnt sugar. The finish gives us some singed orange peel. Aeration gives us notes of Irish whiskey with hints of ripe melon and mango. Ever so slightly piney on the finish and somewhat resinous.

Final Thoughts


Wow this beer has help up so well and taken on another dimension from it's original fruity, piney, bitter ale. I love the complexities that have come out in the malt as they aged, like each note of a chord being struck individually and amplified.The woody, whiskey notes in the beer are so savoury and phenomenal.  I may want to actually repeat this process... I may have to do a tasting of Ten Bitter Years, and then save another bottle for one year to compare notes properly.

Cheers

CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online

And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.

Monday 28 November 2016

Beer # 299 Pouch Envy Refined Fool Brewing Company



#299 Pouch Envy Australian Pale Ale
Refined Fool Brewing Company

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Independent Nanobrewery Established: 2014
Australian Pale Ale
5.0 % ABV IBU: 20
650 ml Brown Glass Bottle
$5.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @refinedfool

Onto another new brewery for me. I do have to admit (and I'm a little embarrassed) I often will just grab a bottle I have never seen before as I cruise through the craft beer section of my local LCBO. This was one of those bottles. The name was familiar but didn't really ring any bells. I looked at the label briefly and noted the name and the fact it was an "Australian Pale Ale." Ah, Australian beer. Haven't done one in forever that will be great. I get it home and slide it into the Fridge of Fame, and that is when I realise that it's from Sarnia Ontario, Canada. In Fact Refined Fool is the first brewery in Sarnia in over 100 years. Ok even better. Refined Fool began operations in 2014 and according to their press release:

Refined Fool is a group of group of teachers, creatives, blue collars, entrepreneurs, musicians and pastors who care about beer, business, Sarnia and each other. They started by brewing at the corner of College Ave S and Davis St in January of last year with propane burners and frozen hoses and have since grown into the nano­brewery a few blocks away. 
Now tonight's beer is called an Australian Pale Ale. I had not heard of this style but I looked it up and it seems to only be a classification in Australia. It is characterised by a softer fruity hopstyle.

Let's see how this one does.

Pours a dun gold colour with a massive white head made up of small and medium bubbles. Nose is a little  off. Some some flat chemical, and nutty notes. First sip gives us lots of nuts and some grassy clover. I keep getting a Labatt 50 or Molson Export feel about the beer. Mouthfeel is thin and watery. Flavours are muted and flat. There is nothing about this beer that says IPA. Aeration gives a herbal bitter green notes. like garden weeds or tansy.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 0/6  FAIL
Re-Order:  0/6  FAIL
Experience: 2/6 SO-SO


Final Thoughts:


This beer tastes nothing like an IPA or what an "Australian Pale Ale" is purportedly supposed to taste like. If this bottle was not fresh from the LCBO I would suspect light or age damage, but that is not the case. While there are no distinct off flavours I can't help wonder if this bottle left the brewery spoiled. I can not imagine a brew-master being happy calling this a pale ale of any sort. It however is the beer I received from the LCBO 4 days ago. It is the only product I can assess. It gets the no-so coveted #DrainAward. Avoid at all costs.

Cheers


CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online

And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.


Beer # 298 Fat Tug India Pale Ale Driftwood Brewery


#298 Fat Tug India Pale Ale

Driftwood Brewery


Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Independent Microbrewery Established: 2008
India Pale Ale
7.0 % ABV IBU: 80
650 ml Brown Glass Bottle
$6.00 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @Driftwoodbeer

It has been a while since I did a BC brewery and I feel bad about that. Not only are we doing amazing things with beer here in Ontario, The same is happening in BC. They have undergone the same rapid expansion of craft breweries, just like us. Maybe they started even sooner. Being as they are, close to Oregon where the feel for the West Coast Style of Beer seemingly originated. Driftwood Brewery is certainly one of the great breweries nestled in the middle of that rapid expansion. Founded in 2008 and delivering their first kegs in October of that year, owners Kevin and Jason have not looked back. They boast a stable of six core beers a few seasonals and over 20 speciality brews.

Tonight's beer is a flavourful India Pale ale rich in hoppy goodness, and tons of fruit.

Let's hop on the tug...

Pours a medium cloudy gold with an off white head, very fluffy made of small bubbles and a slight golden tinge.Aroma is very are with notes of rose water, lychee and other florals. First sip is warm and malty hints of caramel and spice touches of bitter greens spark through the middle while a mellow fruitiness takes over on the finish. Slightly sweet with deep malty profiles. Flashes of turbinado sugar and molasses entwined with a little licorice. Ripe melon and mango round out the flavours with some nutty hints and a touch of black tea. There is a definite roundness, and almost creaminess from being unfiltered that gives this beer a nice depth. Aeration warms up the nutty aromas with some vanilla, caramel, and macerated fruit.


Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 



Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6  PASS
Re-Order:  5/6  PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:


A warm, fruity, and malty West Coast IPA with a good backbone and a nice alcohol level. I can imagine sitting down to one of these after a rough day at sea. Let out your inner sea captain to run down to your local and pick yourself out one of these.

Cheers

CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online


And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.

Beer # 297 Rye Knot Rye Pale Ale Taps Brewing Company

#297 Rye Knot Rye Pale Ale

Taps on Queen/ Taps Brewing Company


Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Brewpub and Microbrewery Established: 2004
Rye Pale Ale
5.0 % ABV IBU: 30
473 ml Aluminium Can
$2.75 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @TapsOnQueen

Taps is one of those breweries that I knew about but had never really seen anything from them up this way. They have been around since 2004. Located on Queen Street in Niagara Falls Ontario, they are just down the river a bit from the falls. When they first opened Two families came together to use their knowledge of home brewing and hospitality tourism, and formed the small brewery in the nearby town of Virgil. In 2009 the brewery moved to it's current location and expanded operations, as well as opening a 140 seat restaurant. In 2010 they purchased the Niagara Best Beer company (of which I have had some beer) They merged the operations and opened a sister location Syndicate Restaurant and Brewery.


Tonight's beer is one of my favourite styles: a Rye Pale Ale.

Let's try it out.

Pours an amber honey colour with a short, off-tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is honey sweet with a strong fresh baked rye bread, caramel and mild molasses. Rye bread and some caraway carries through the first sip, some hay toned hops with notes of citrus and pine in the background. aeration is very bready with some herbal green bitterness. 


Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 



Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6  EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order:  5/6  PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:


A very solid Rye Pale Ale, with a good flavour profile. I have long professed my love of this style of beer and this is a very good example of it. Smooth balanced and flavourful there is no good reason some of these should not be in your fridge.


Cheers


CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online


And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.

Beer # 296 Why So Sirius? Sextant Craft Brewery

#296 Why So Sirius? Pale Ale

Sextant Craft Brewery


Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Contract Brewery Brews at: ?
Established: 2015
Pale Ale
4.8 % ABV IBU: 33
473 ml Aluminium Can
$2.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @SextantBeer



Another new brewery to me, Sextant is a currently a contract brewery in Toronto, Ontario. I was unable to find where they are brewing from but I did find that they are in the process of building their own brewery, so I am sure I will have more details at a later date when I get to try some more of their beers. 

Ok. I admit, I'm a pun junkie, and a pushover for a good label and this ticks both boxes when it piqued my interest in the LCBO. From a marketing standpoint I like this beer. It has an innocuous name but it immediately will give you another image... (Sex sells) The X in the name is emphasised and the gentle curve is supposed to remind you of a sextant, see below, but the careful layout of the X divides the name in two tickling the funny bone of every 12 year old boy inside us and making us giggle when we see the word sex. Like it or not beer is still predominately marketed towards men. Thankfully with so many women brewers entering the market and a huge growth in female craft beer drinkers, that fact may soon be out of date. Ok, subliminal marketing techniques aside, what is a sextant? It is an historic and invaluable nautical tool used by sailors prior to the invention of GPS. To this day most sailors are still required to take training in it's use in the event of systems failures and you would be hard pressed to find an ocean going vessel that does not still carry one. It's use is straight forward, but requires some complex calculations. One first takes a sighting of the Sun during the day or Polaris (The North Star) during the night and then by use of a mirror on the swing arm of the sextant, one lines up the sun with the horizon. This gives a reading in degrees on the arc at the base of the sextant with which, one can calculate the latitude and longitude of a ship at sea. The arc is actually where the sextant gets its name the arc contain sixty degrees or 1/6th of a circle, Latin for 1/6th is "sextans."




Back to the brewery, Dave Wingfelder and his wife Cindy Eveline loved to travel, and they loved beer. So as the symbol of this union they chose the sextant to guide them into the beer business. Their first beer brewed was Sextant Pale ale, This eventually became tonight's beer a light, lower alcohol, easy drinking pale ale.

Let's navigate over to the glass, and try one out.



Pours a pale gold with a short lived off-white head made of small bubbles. Aroma is predominately Lychee with some citrus light vanilla caramel, and a hint of wine grapes. Attack is very light and fruity not unlike a Vidal or a Gewurztraminer wine. Slightly sour with a medley of tropical fruit. Light breadiness and caramel on the finish. Aeration gives us some toasty, malty, nutty with a winey floral finish.

 Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order:  6/6  EXCEPTIONAL

Experience: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:


Sirusly good beer... Ok, punning aside I really enjoyed this beer the fruit and the wine notes make it exciting. it is bright and vibrant and a welcome edition to the pale ale scene in Canada. Pull out your sextant and navigate over to your local LCBO to give this beer a try. I look forward to more great beers from them.

Cheers


CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online


And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.


Beer # 295 Juicin' New England IPA Sawdust City Brewing Company


Beer # 295 Juicin' New England IPA 
Fever Dream Series

Sawdust City Brewing Company


Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Independent Microbrewery Established 2012
New England India Pale Ale
ABV 6.3 %  IBU: 45
Aluminium Can 500 ml.
$3.50 (Canadian) At the The Brewery

Twitter @SawdustCityBeer


Back Again with another Sawdust City beer. Certainly not a brewery to rest on their laurels they continue to push boundaries and try new things. Their stable of beers is filling up fast. First there was the five core beers, then the regular seasonals like Blood of Cthulhu, The Princess Wears Girlpants, Long Dark Voyage to Uranus, Twin Pines, 11/05, and Sägemehl Stadt Oktoberfest beer. Then Came the Winewood Series which was barrel aged beers, and now a new series has emerged, "Fever Dream." There isn't any word on what the theme of fever dream is but we can easily guess it is about bringing some fantasies to reality. The first beer in the series is Juicin' a "New England IPA." and the second is coming out on December 1st and it will be "Hygge", a sour Belgian Tripel with black plums. Wait a minute, what's a New England IPA you might ask. Well I'm glad you did... because I had to ask too. 


New England IPA has it's mythical roots at a Vermont Brewery called The Alchemist in Stowe Vermont. Perhaps you may have heard about one of their beers called "Heady Topper." Heady Topper was a style onto itself, cloudy, unfiltered, soft, balanced, fruity, and soft on bitterness. Heady Topper is one of the most consistently, highest rated beers on Ratebeer.com and as One person put it "... it would be easier to find "Champ" the Lake Champlain monster than a can of Heady Topper." Heady Topper strangely is not a limited release; although the hours long line up at retailers to buy a single can, would beg to differ. The Alchemist makes 10,000 barrels of it a year, and it does not make it any farther than 25 miles from the brewery. They plan to open a second facility to brew another 10,000 barrels, I doubt it would get much farther. It was originally only on tap, but a rash of Beer Pirating (yes you read that right...) forced them to start canning Heady Topper on their own. It was said that people were going into bars buying a pint of Heady, and taking it to the bathroom to bottle and cap. They would then download artwork from the website print a label and then sell the pirated beer on e-Bay (Um... bathroom beer? ugh...no thanks). Still to this day, retailers sell out their allotment of 80 to 100 cases  in less than an hour. Why? Simple. This was the first New England IPA. 

Now the term New England IPA is not really officially recognised yet, and it is not a term that was developed by the brewing industry. It is more of a "Fan Name." Often you will hear it called "Vermont IPA," and there was some discussion that it should be named that for the state of it's origin, but by this time it had grown beyond just Vermont and "New England IPA" kinda has a good ring to it. So New England IPA began to grow with other breweries trying to experiment with the style. Eventually it made its way here... to Ontario and into the minds of the brew-master at Sawdust City. This is their take on the new style.


Onward ho, to New England...


Pours a cloudy light gold with a good white head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is a rich tapestry of tropical fruit, with peaches hints of grass and some light breadiness. First sip is heaps of fruit and a light sweetness with  citrus pineapple and peach. Malt is light and airy, subtle grassiness, toasted oats and a light hoppy spice. Aeration gives us a creamy mouthfeel hints of grain some hay some malt a black pepper. 

 Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 



Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order:  5/6  PASS

Experience: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:


This beer is delicious. I certainly haven't had another New England IPA to compare it to, but if this is a good representation of the style, I want to correct that immediately. I may have to venture down to Stowe Vermont and try my luck in line for one of the Heady Toppers. But, if I can't, I will be satisfied with one or two more of these. And if you can find one of these, try it and see what all the fuss is about. Just don't buy any on e-Bay... (bathroom beer, remember?)
Cheers


CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online


And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.

Beer # 294 Harbinger American pale Ale Descendants Beer and Beverage Company



#294 Harbinger American pale Ale

Descendants Beer and Beverage Company


Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Microbrewery, Established 2014
American Pale Ale 
5.5 % ABV IBU: 38
473 ml Aluminium Can
$3.00 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @Descendantsbeer


Another new brewery for me, Descendants Brewery in Kitchener Ontario. Opened in 2014 by husband and wife team Robin Malloy and Lee Brooks (I actually had a minor panic, attack when I wrote that sentence that sent me to google to make sure that it was a husband and wife team... since the names were not gender specific I didn't want to offend anyone!). It's getting hard to say that any one specific location in Ontario is a hot spot for new craft breweries. At one time I would have classed the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph areas as a burgeoning hot spot for craft beer, but now with so much development in the craft beer scene it feels as though every town in Ontario with four corners and a population over 5 has a craft brewery on the way. Even around me there are three new breweries opening soon within a 45 min drive (Torrance, Orillia, Coldwater). If I drew a 2 hour circle around me I think it would contain at least 150 breweries that are open, or opening. Kitchener was like that it seemed a new brewery was opening in the area almost every year. and with new breweries in the greater Southwestern Ontario area opening up like Hanover, Seaforth (SEAFORTH!!!! it's a bend in the road I swear, I've driven through it!), Kincardine, Guelph, and London, it now just seems to be the norm. Craft beer has taken over Ontario. I couldn't be happier!

Neither could Robin and Lee it seems. Their brewery has been well received and is garnering accolades across the province. "Harbinger" means herald, or omen. it is generally used to foretell the coming of a person or event that will be significant. A bold choice for a name of a beer; will it live up to its name? Aside from nomenclature, Harbinger is one of their three core beers, they call them the "3 Amigos." The other two are "El Buscador Cerveza" Mexican style lager, and "Reynard The Fox Golden Wry Ale" that's a "Rye" ale for those who didn't get the pun... I look forward to checking these other two out and maybe some of the other seasonals they offer. Perhaps it's time to go back to Southwestern Ontario for a visit.

Onto our beer for tonight.

Pours a medium dark gold in colour with a large fluffy off-tan head made up of small bubbles. Nose is bright and fruity with lots of malt and caramel hints of mango and citrus. Earthy, floral and herbal notes round out the aroma. first sip is bitter greens, herbal, hop forward sliding down into some sweet caramel malt. Spice and hints of stone fruit some florals and a hint of marijuana right at the finish. Aeration brings out more green hops with some sweet malts and some bitter greens on the linger.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order:  5/6  PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:


I am a sucker for a good Pale Ale. Be it India, English, American or New England. They smell great they taste great and they are very refreshing. This one fits the bill nicely. Descendants managed to find a nice balance of fruit, hops, malt and florals to make this beer quite enjoyable any time of the year. I would recommend you run right out and try it. In this cause "Harbinger" means, a foretelling of good flavours.

CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online


And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Beer # 293 11/05 Can Conditioned Sour Belgian Tripel

Beer # 293 11/05 Can Conditioned Sour Belgian Tripel

Collaboration with Nickel Brook Brewing Company


Sawdust City Brewing Company


Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada


Nickel Brook Brewing Company

Burlington, Ontario, Canada



Independent Microbreweries Established: Sawdust 2012, Nickel Brook 2005
ABV 11.05 %  IBU: 30
Aluminium Can 500 ml.
$6.50 (Canadian) At the The Brewery

Twitter:@SawdustCityBeer  @NickelBrookBeer

Well at long last I get to sit down and try out this year's 11/05. (Well ok I went and had one at the brewery... but...) the 11/05 is the birthday collaboration between Brewers Sam Corbeil of Sawdust City and Rob Morrow of Nickel Brook.  Brewed for release on November 5th (the birthday our two heroes share) the beer's style changes each year, but the final alcohol content is always 11.05%  This year Sam and Rob decided to brew a Belgian Tripel, which is generally a higher alcohol beer to begin with. And this year they decided to finish it with some Brettanomyces Bruxellensis a bacteria strain that produces a pleasant sour taste in beers. Actually, the 11/05 was brewed in two separate batches this year. The first batch was brewed on August 31, and progressed nicely. however, the second batch brewed 2 weeks later took three weeks in the primary and ran behind schedule. So they decided to package up the second batch and finish the conditioning in the can (hence the reason why we had to wait to drink the cans until November 21). 

So the first batch was kegged and is available at the brewery and select beer bars around the province. The second batch rested in cans in the brewery sealed with their little plastic seal waiting for today to be drunk.


Sounds good... onto our beer. 

Pours a cloudy gold colour with a fluffy white head made up  of small bubbles. Aroma is a warm sweet and sour nose with lots of yeasty bread, nuts, honey and fruit, with hints of grapes and wine. Alcohol is up front and warming. First sip is tart, but still slightly closed in flavour. Very bready, and nutty with hints of brandy. Aeration gives us a full and creamy mouthfeel with notes of spice, hints of black pepper and apricot.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order:  6/6  EXCEPTIONAL
Experience: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:


Well at long Last I get to taste the 4th instalment of the 11/05 series, and it does not disappoint. While I am sure this would benefit from a nice long sleep in my personal beer cellar (a fate destined for it's brother) It is still a stunning beer. The other can I will open on May 21st 2017, the date recommended by the brewers, and do another tasting to see how this living beer has changed. Until then... sleep well my pretty.
Cheers


CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online


And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Beer # 292 Red Falcon Ale Stouffville Brewing Company


#292 Red Falcon Stouffville Brewing Company

Stouffville Brewing Company/Falcon Brewing Company


Ajax, Ontario, Canada

Contract Brewing Company  Established 2014
Brewed at Wellington Brewery in Guelph, Ontario Canada
Red Ale
5.0 % ABV IBU: 16
473 ml Aluminium Can
$2.85 (Canadian) At the Beer Store

Twitter: @falconbrewingco


Best as I can figure out this brewery is at a transition point right now. I remember hearing that a Stouffville  Brewing company was coming and I thought, "That's cool." My parents used to drive me up there as a kid... They had a really fun Antique and Flea Market. Interesting side note my Dad was a carpenter, and he made my sister an octagonal keepsake box that she used as a piggy bank. She doesn't remember losing it, but I think it disappeared when she was in college. She went with my parents to the Stouffville Flea Market one day and said "Hey Dad, this looks like the piggy bank you made me." She turned it over and it had her name written on the bottom. She still had to buy it back. She still has it along with a spooky story. 

Back to our brewery. I'm guessing that not unlike the lost piggy bank, this brewery slipped my mind. I hadn't thought of it until I saw the cans of Falcon Ale in the Beer Store.
Thanks Deadpool... But I mean the City of Ajax...
not the foppish British Antagonist
 However when I looked it up it started to get confusing. First off they are a contract brewery and they rent brew time from Wellington in Guelph. Second their address is listed as Ajax.  Third the beer comes up as being brewed by Falcon Brewing Company, and the picture on the Internet still says Stouffville Brewing company on the can.  Confused? Well I was a first but I am assuming this means plans have changed. It is not unusual for a new brewery to contract out the brewing when they first start, especially if your brewing skills are limited or you need to find a brewmaster. I guess a location could not be found in Stouffville or a property became available in Ajax that fit the bill better, or there could be any number of legal reasons that Stouffville Brewing Company could not be used, prompting a name change. Something similar happened to Flying Monkeys Brewery in Barrie Ontario. They were originally named Simcoe Steam Brewing Company, but that name was still owned by a family that had run a brewery in the past. They then changed it to Robert Simpson Brewing Company, and a few years later changed it again to it's final for "Flying Monkeys." So for whatever reason Our beer tonight is made by the former Stouffville Brewing Company now called Falcon Brewing Company, based in Ajax, brewed (for the time being) in Guelph, and currently in my hand right now.

Clear as mud?

Yeah, me too.

Onto the beer...


Pours a amber honey colour with a short white head made up of small bubbles. Head dissipates rapidly. Caramel nose with lots of malted barley and the barest hint of wet dog. First sip is sweet with touches of sourness a little smoke and leather. Body is medium to light with lots of light caramel. Some vanilla and hints of apple and pear. Aeration  brings out some tartness... some mineral qualities and the barest hint of molasses.

 Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order:  5/6  PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:


A nice fruity red ale. Good to see a great representation of a British/Irish staple over here in Canada. The malty sweetness was on point as was the bright fruity notes. Worthy of a redo. I hope they get their brewery opened up soon and they can maintain a high standard with this beer. I rather enjoyed it.

Cheers

CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey

Like me on FacebookPint Jockey Online

And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.