Sunday, 7 August 2011
Beer # 66 Celt Golden Ale
Dark copper in colour. Off white head with small bubble. Floral citrus hops with an underlying malt nose. Brown sugar and malt in the first sip vanilla and licorice.Bitter orange turning into a citrus and herbal finish. Very simple straightforward beer. Very drinkable.
Friday, 5 August 2011
Beer # 64 Hitachino Nest White Ale
Belgium Style Wheat 5.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 500 ml.
$3.85 (Canadian) At LCBO.
Today is International Beer day and to celebrate I have a couple of international beers to post. First trip out we are heading to Japan to a place that was ravaged by the earthquake earlier this year. The brewery in question had some roof damage, heaved roadways, a broken bottling line, and *Gulp* 500 smashed bottles of product and 800L of lost sake! But in true rebounding spirit, the brewery fixed it's bottling line and began bottling water to aid survivors and rescue crews during the clean-up of one of the worst earthquakes in Japanese history. The Brewery has since restarted and is back up to full capacity.
Kiuchi Brewery began life in 1823 when it's founder Kiuchi Gihei started a small sake operation. Over their 180 years they perfected the art of sakes and decided to expand. in 1996 They began the Hitachino Nest beer line and began using the iconic "white owl" as the logo for the beer. The brewery also makes Shochu a rice wine that is part rocket fuel. As of 2004 Kiuchi had started purchasing grapes with the intent of making wine.Onto tonight's tasting:
Washed out straw colour, translucent with copious amounts of sediment and particulate. Head is bright with small bubbles and short lived. Cinnamon and clove on nose with slight mustiness. Dry wheat sweet flavour of concentrated orange juice and bitter orange peel. Aeration brings out orange peel and sharply bitter hops.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order: 4/6 PASS
Experience: 4/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
I was excited to try this beer as I had only previously had the Japanese staples (Sapporo and Kirin) It does reflect the Belgium style for a wheat beer, but it is not spectacular.
Cheers
CJT
I was excited to try this beer as I had only previously had the Japanese staples (Sapporo and Kirin) It does reflect the Belgium style for a wheat beer, but it is not spectacular.
Cheers
CJT
Beer # 63 Radlermass
Radlermass or Alsterwasser 4.8% ABV Tall Can 473 ml.
$2.75 (Canadian) At LCBO.
Today's beer is more of a beer flavoured drink that a beer itself.
Radlermass or Alsterwasser as defined by the German Beer Institute, is a blend of Lager and a lemonade or lemon soda. In England this is know as a Shandy. The story is best told from the back of the Waterloo can below:
"After World War I, bicycle riding became popular in Germany. A local innkeeper opened his own watering hole and arranged for a bike trail through Munich to his alpine meadow, only to find some 13,000 cyclists had descended upon his establishment and almost depleted him of his fine beer. Quick thinking led him to mix a stock of lemon soda with his remaining beer and he called it Radlermass (Radler meaning cyclist and Mass means litre of beer in German), which became a wonderful refreshing summer drink."
Today's beer is more of a beer flavoured drink that a beer itself.
Radlermass or Alsterwasser as defined by the German Beer Institute, is a blend of Lager and a lemonade or lemon soda. In England this is know as a Shandy. The story is best told from the back of the Waterloo can below:
"After World War I, bicycle riding became popular in Germany. A local innkeeper opened his own watering hole and arranged for a bike trail through Munich to his alpine meadow, only to find some 13,000 cyclists had descended upon his establishment and almost depleted him of his fine beer. Quick thinking led him to mix a stock of lemon soda with his remaining beer and he called it Radlermass (Radler meaning cyclist and Mass means litre of beer in German), which became a wonderful refreshing summer drink."
Brick Brewing Company is Ontario's first craft brewery. Opened in 1984 by Jim Brickman, Brick has grown substantially, producing a number of award winning beers. Brick started the "Buck a Beer" war in 2004 with it's Laker series, and the annoying catchy jingle "...Make 'er a Laker, it's a buck a beer." They also purchased and revived the Formosa Brewing company From Molson Canada and in the process salvaged the Fromosa Springs beer label. They also played upon the Nostalgia of the Canadian Beer drinker by being one of a (very small) handful of brewers to bring back the Canadian icon the "stubby" beer bottle. (the only other breweries that spring to mind using stubbies are Heritage in Ottawa (now Kichesippi Brewing Co.) Full Sail, and Red Stripe. Brick Brought back the iconic 50's and 60's beer Red Cap in stubbies in 2002 (N.B. Brick has returned to using industry standard long necks for Red Cap)Onto Tonight's Tasting:
Light gold in colour, off-white head made of small bubbles, with a good duration. Aroma is ginger, lemon, some hops, and a slight breadiness. First sip is effervescent soda like, lemon and malt. Very clean, with a citrus tang finish. Aeration bring the lager taste to the front with some bitter hops.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order: 3/6 SO-SO
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
It is a delightful summer drink, but Shandy is what they give the kids in the UK, and I'm a big boy now! Ice cold on a patio, sure thing, just not my cup of tea today (or should I say glass of beer?) Very tasty though, glad I tried it.
Cheers
CJT
It is a delightful summer drink, but Shandy is what they give the kids in the UK, and I'm a big boy now! Ice cold on a patio, sure thing, just not my cup of tea today (or should I say glass of beer?) Very tasty though, glad I tried it.
Cheers
CJT
Beer # 62 Nickel Brook Gluten Free
Gluten Free Alcoholic Beverage 5.8% ABV Tall Can 473 ml.
$2.95 (Canadian) At LCBO.
I was quite surprised when I was going through the statistics of my blog. I had wanted to see what beers people were reading about so I could try similar beers for future blogs. My number one beer was Aguila, from Columbia, however the big surprise was that the second most read about beer was from Milwaukee Wisconson: New Grist, Gluten free. Now Celiac Disease, or gluten intolerance is getting a lot of press time. It is estimated that upwards of 1 in 1000 people have a sensitivity to the proteins in wheat. (if you suspect you have a gluten intolerance PLEASE GO to www.celiac.ca or www.celiac.com and seek professional help. A gluten free diet SHOULD ONLY be prescribed by a trained physician ) The beer industry, obviously, uses grains in the production of their product so people began to seek ways of making a beer tasting product without using barley or wheat. Tonight's tasting uses three fermentables in it's production: sorghum, pear juice and demerara Sugar. Sorghum is a grain used around the world in more tropical areas than Canada. Related to sugar cane, it can be used as a cereal, a grain, a starch or fermented into a beer-like substance. I say beer-like as most countries define beer as a beverage that must contain either barley wheat, or both.
Nickel Brook is the beer line of Better Bitters. It started life as a beer and wine making store and still carries that aspect to today. At some point the owner John Romano began to brew his own line of beers to be sold directly from the store. They have since expanded and now serve restaurants and are placing their products in the LCBO.
Onto tonight's tasting.
Light copper in colour, little to no head. Sugary fruity pear and grape like nose. First sips strikes me more as a wine, fruity, giving over to mild bitterness and herbal hops. Sweet but not cloying. Dry mildly bitter finish reminiscent of a pale. Aeration brings out the wine flavour, tastes like an unfinished merlot.
I was quite surprised when I was going through the statistics of my blog. I had wanted to see what beers people were reading about so I could try similar beers for future blogs. My number one beer was Aguila, from Columbia, however the big surprise was that the second most read about beer was from Milwaukee Wisconson: New Grist, Gluten free. Now Celiac Disease, or gluten intolerance is getting a lot of press time. It is estimated that upwards of 1 in 1000 people have a sensitivity to the proteins in wheat. (if you suspect you have a gluten intolerance PLEASE GO to www.celiac.ca or www.celiac.com and seek professional help. A gluten free diet SHOULD ONLY be prescribed by a trained physician ) The beer industry, obviously, uses grains in the production of their product so people began to seek ways of making a beer tasting product without using barley or wheat. Tonight's tasting uses three fermentables in it's production: sorghum, pear juice and demerara Sugar. Sorghum is a grain used around the world in more tropical areas than Canada. Related to sugar cane, it can be used as a cereal, a grain, a starch or fermented into a beer-like substance. I say beer-like as most countries define beer as a beverage that must contain either barley wheat, or both.
 |
| Sorghum |
Onto tonight's tasting.
Light copper in colour, little to no head. Sugary fruity pear and grape like nose. First sips strikes me more as a wine, fruity, giving over to mild bitterness and herbal hops. Sweet but not cloying. Dry mildly bitter finish reminiscent of a pale. Aeration brings out the wine flavour, tastes like an unfinished merlot.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: N/A
Re-Order: 1/6 FAIL
Experience: 3/6 SO-SO
Final Thoughts:
Well as I said in my earlier post about New Grist. The battle rages on whether a gluten free alcoholic drink, can be called a beer. I'm open to it as beers have been made from rye cake, millet, sorghum, and just about anything our ancestors could get their hands on. However, tonight's tasting, leans me the other way. This does NOT taste like a beer. It tastes like a wine made from pears. the hop character is incidental and of little consequence. That being said. This product tastes good, I won't knock it on flavour. However, It is not a beer.
Cheers
CJT
Well as I said in my earlier post about New Grist. The battle rages on whether a gluten free alcoholic drink, can be called a beer. I'm open to it as beers have been made from rye cake, millet, sorghum, and just about anything our ancestors could get their hands on. However, tonight's tasting, leans me the other way. This does NOT taste like a beer. It tastes like a wine made from pears. the hop character is incidental and of little consequence. That being said. This product tastes good, I won't knock it on flavour. However, It is not a beer. Cheers
CJT
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Beer # 60 Dominus Vobiscum Blanche
 |
| Baie St. Paul at sunset |
Spiced Wheat Beer 5.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 500 ml.
$4.60 (Canadian) At LCBO.
Twitter: @microbrasserie
 |
| The Village of Baie St. Paul |
Onto the tasting. Tonight's offering is the spiced Belgium style wheat beer: Dominus Vobiscum Blanche. Generally the term Blanche, or "white beer" is either unfiltered or bottle conditioned, as is this one tonight. Light gold in colour, translucent, bright white head made up of tiny tight bubbles. First smell is coriander, clove, allspice and orange peel. First sip bursts with clove and allspice. Nutty, wheat and herbal, chamomile. Very crisp and clean short herbal finish. Very refreshing. Sediment on the bottom of the bottle. Excellent summer beer.
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:
I am very pleased that these "tiny" "undiscovered" breweries are now getting the widespread attention they deserve. I had fun "discovering" the brewery, that all the locals were quite familiar with and I am very happy I can go grab a "Blanche" down at the LCBO and relive my wonderful trip.
Cheers
CJT
I am very pleased that these "tiny" "undiscovered" breweries are now getting the widespread attention they deserve. I had fun "discovering" the brewery, that all the locals were quite familiar with and I am very happy I can go grab a "Blanche" down at the LCBO and relive my wonderful trip.
Cheers
CJT
Beer # 61 2XIPA, Southern Tier
Double India Pale Ale 8.2% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 355 ml.
Well Happy IPA Day! As you may or may now know today was declared International IPA Day by a grassroots movement of Beer Bloggers and Craft Beer Producers and has become quite the sensation on Twitter. So @pintjockey is not one to be left out so I shall post an IPA today.
Heading south of the border again to what is quickly becoming one of my favourite producers: Southern Tier from Lakewood New York, today we sample 2XIPA as their website puts it: a "not quite imperial IPA" but a strong (8.2% ABV double IPA. Brewed with 4 hops and 3 types of Malt it has a very distinct flavour, and a beer I quite enjoyed tasting.
Onto the IPA
Golden in colour with a hint of green. Cream coloured head made up of tiny bubbles that disperse quickly. The nose is grapefruit and herbs. Dark malted flavours unusual for a lighter looking beer, more grapefruit some citrus sweetness, caramel and alcohol. Some wine or brandy/cognac notes near the end. The beer does not mask it's full 8.2% ABV the alcohol warms the beer and lingers on the tongue and in the throat. Bitterness seems mild however I would say it is balanced out by the other strong elements of the beer. Very drinkable and refreshing, but only one or two please... feeling the alcohol right away!
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASSColour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order: 5/6 PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
A very good turnout again from this great American Brewery. Time and again the USA is setting the standard for advancing the craft beer industry. What began in the kitchens of medieval homes has grown into the avante garde laboratories of modern craft breweries. With late night beer fueled ramblings turning into delicious experiments. Hop, malt, and flavour combinations never dreamt of before... it is a great time, to be a beer drinker.
Cheers
CJT
A very good turnout again from this great American Brewery. Time and again the USA is setting the standard for advancing the craft beer industry. What began in the kitchens of medieval homes has grown into the avante garde laboratories of modern craft breweries. With late night beer fueled ramblings turning into delicious experiments. Hop, malt, and flavour combinations never dreamt of before... it is a great time, to be a beer drinker.
Cheers
CJT
Friday, 29 July 2011
Beer # 59 English Bay Pale Ale
Granville Island Brewing Company
Headquartered on Granville Island Vancouver B.C. Main Brewery in Kelowna B.C. Canada (Owned by Six Pints Specialty Beer Co. a Separate Business Unit of MolsonCoors Canada )
Headquartered on Granville Island Vancouver B.C. Main Brewery in Kelowna B.C. Canada (Owned by Six Pints Specialty Beer Co. a Separate Business Unit of MolsonCoors Canada )
West Coast Pale Ale 5.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 341 ml.
$12.95 per six pack (Canadian) At LCBO.
Twitter: @itsgoodtobehere
Wow. Yet another month has passed between blog posts. I had a whole plan of doing a number of Canadian Beers all through the month of July for the Canada day celebration. Best laid plans I guess. So I have three days to fit them all in. I am starting on the west coast and I have a few entries from different provinces. I am going to culminate with a Scottish beer (yes Scots are Canadians too!) that was aged in Canadian Whiskey Barrels.
Tonight's offering is a blast from my past. Vancouver is quite possibly one of my most favourite Canadian cities, and in the heart of this beautiful harbour is a tiny place called Granville Island. Ganville Island is a 35 acre reclaimed pair of sand bars that had previously served the Vancouver area First Nations as a fishing corral. As the Europeans settled, the small town of "Granville" was renamed Vancouver, and industrialisation began. In 1915 in a desparate search began for land along the newly laid CPR Rail line with access to the harbour. As a solution, the town council of Vancouver approved the dredging of False Creek and the expansion of the sand bars that became "Industrial Island." With great fortune the name didn't stick and people began calling it Granville Island after the steel bridge that crossed False Creek right above it and that still casts a shadow on the island to this day.
After the war, industry on the island began to decline, pollution filled the creek, fires ravaged the gradually emptying buildings and constant battles were being waged between the young city and delinquent businesses. So a new reclamation project began and Vancouver began to develop the island to be a meeting place for the people. A fresh market was opened and is one of the most important markets in Canada to this day. The Emily Carr University of Art and design was opened. Numerous artists and craft shops have also taken up residence making Granville island one of Vancouver's "Must See" locations. It was also here in 1984 when Mitch Taylor opened Canada's very first microbrewery: Granville Island Brewing Company. Their first beer was Granville Island lager which was followed up with Lord Granville Pale Ale in 1987, Subsequently this beer was renamed after the body of water that False Creek drains into: English Bay.
I first visited the brwery in 1997 and had my first taste of English Bay back then. Since then Granville Island expanded and moved it's main production facilities to the town of Kelowna in the interior of B.C. The headquarters still has an operating brewery which is used mainly for test batches, and is the location of the "Taproom." In 2009 Granville was sold by it's majority shareholder Andre's Wines, to Creemore Springs Brewing Company of Ontario, operating under the direction of the then Molson Canada. This year MolsonCoors decided to refocus it's craft beer division into a new business: Six Pints Specialty Beer Co. which will direct Creemore and Granville and allow them the freedom they need to operate their craft breweries.
Enough already... to the beer!
Dark copper in colour, yeast and bread on the nose. Light hints of herbs and medicine. Off white head made up of small bubbles. First sip gives us caramel, oiliness, black tea. Roasted malt flavour throughout well balanced clean dry finish. There is an indescribable smell in almost every brewery. It's a warm, dry, inviting, sugary smell of malted barley cooking in the kettles. The finish of this beer captures the essence of that smell. That taste of the slowly simmering grains remains, keeping this beer very fresh and delightful.
Cheers
CJT
Twitter: @itsgoodtobehere
Wow. Yet another month has passed between blog posts. I had a whole plan of doing a number of Canadian Beers all through the month of July for the Canada day celebration. Best laid plans I guess. So I have three days to fit them all in. I am starting on the west coast and I have a few entries from different provinces. I am going to culminate with a Scottish beer (yes Scots are Canadians too!) that was aged in Canadian Whiskey Barrels.Tonight's offering is a blast from my past. Vancouver is quite possibly one of my most favourite Canadian cities, and in the heart of this beautiful harbour is a tiny place called Granville Island. Ganville Island is a 35 acre reclaimed pair of sand bars that had previously served the Vancouver area First Nations as a fishing corral. As the Europeans settled, the small town of "Granville" was renamed Vancouver, and industrialisation began. In 1915 in a desparate search began for land along the newly laid CPR Rail line with access to the harbour. As a solution, the town council of Vancouver approved the dredging of False Creek and the expansion of the sand bars that became "Industrial Island." With great fortune the name didn't stick and people began calling it Granville Island after the steel bridge that crossed False Creek right above it and that still casts a shadow on the island to this day.
After the war, industry on the island began to decline, pollution filled the creek, fires ravaged the gradually emptying buildings and constant battles were being waged between the young city and delinquent businesses. So a new reclamation project began and Vancouver began to develop the island to be a meeting place for the people. A fresh market was opened and is one of the most important markets in Canada to this day. The Emily Carr University of Art and design was opened. Numerous artists and craft shops have also taken up residence making Granville island one of Vancouver's "Must See" locations. It was also here in 1984 when Mitch Taylor opened Canada's very first microbrewery: Granville Island Brewing Company. Their first beer was Granville Island lager which was followed up with Lord Granville Pale Ale in 1987, Subsequently this beer was renamed after the body of water that False Creek drains into: English Bay.
I first visited the brwery in 1997 and had my first taste of English Bay back then. Since then Granville Island expanded and moved it's main production facilities to the town of Kelowna in the interior of B.C. The headquarters still has an operating brewery which is used mainly for test batches, and is the location of the "Taproom." In 2009 Granville was sold by it's majority shareholder Andre's Wines, to Creemore Springs Brewing Company of Ontario, operating under the direction of the then Molson Canada. This year MolsonCoors decided to refocus it's craft beer division into a new business: Six Pints Specialty Beer Co. which will direct Creemore and Granville and allow them the freedom they need to operate their craft breweries.
Enough already... to the beer!
Dark copper in colour, yeast and bread on the nose. Light hints of herbs and medicine. Off white head made up of small bubbles. First sip gives us caramel, oiliness, black tea. Roasted malt flavour throughout well balanced clean dry finish. There is an indescribable smell in almost every brewery. It's a warm, dry, inviting, sugary smell of malted barley cooking in the kettles. The finish of this beer captures the essence of that smell. That taste of the slowly simmering grains remains, keeping this beer very fresh and delightful. 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: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Final Thoughts:
A wonderful malty, easy drinking beer. Excellent with food (I had BBQ ribs... ) Just as good as the day I had it in the brewery. I hope that is one thing that never changes. This beer reminds me of my time out west and brings back great memories. In fact it has made my feet itchy, and begs to lure me back to Vancouver. Some day... some day soon.Cheers
CJT
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Beer # 58 Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale
Great Lakes Brewery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Independent)
Flavoured Ale 5.3% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650ml
$4.95 (Canadian) At LCBO.
Great Lakes Brewery still stands out in my mind to this day as the best beer tour I have ever had. I was escorted around the brewery by a fellow who I wish I could remember the name of. We climbed up onto all of the equipment. Tasted beer out of the finishing tanks. The gentleman was very knowledgeable, impassioned, and caring about his job and his product. It is something that has remained with me, a benchmark in my mind. People who care about their beer, make the best beer. Tonight's offering is one of the beers from Great Lakes seasonal staples. The others being Green Tea Ale, Pumpkin Ale and the previously tasted Winter Ale. On to the tasting.
Very light copper in colour with the scarcest hint of orange. White head with small bubbles fairly long lasting. Aroma is orange peel and essential oils, some spice, cloves and cinnamon. First sip gives us a very light ale. Orange is in the background, some medicinal hops, slightly tangy or bitter finish not unlike the zip of fresh orange zest. The style of beer is pale ale. The website claims that there is five malts and five hops in the mix as well as honey and orange peel. The body of the beer is very thin, but refreshing.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASSColour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 4/6 SO-SO
Re-Order: 5/6 PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
A very good tasting beer, however, very thin. The body is lacking and thus brings the beer style score down. Suitable for our hot summer patios with perhaps a nice BBQ, mind you... not many beers don't go well with BBQ! Tomorrow we will travel down to the States to try another orange flavoured beer that I was very excited to find here in Ontario!
Cheers
CJT
A very good tasting beer, however, very thin. The body is lacking and thus brings the beer style score down. Suitable for our hot summer patios with perhaps a nice BBQ, mind you... not many beers don't go well with BBQ! Tomorrow we will travel down to the States to try another orange flavoured beer that I was very excited to find here in Ontario!
Cheers
CJT
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