Beer # 47 La Granja Stout Nørrebro Bryghus

Third of five of our ultra-premium beers and Third of four by this unique brewhouse in the Nørrebro district of Coppenhagen. Now what exactly do I mean by ultra-premium? Well in Ontario it has to do with price, standard beers are in the range of $1.50 to $2.50 a bottle, premiums and imports range upwards from this point to about $6.00 to $7.00 a bottle. Ultra premiums start here and can go sky high. One such beer just sold for around $177 dollars. As I am not that flush, we will concentrate on the lower end of that scale. The next five beers are all over $7.50 a bottle and have an average price of $12.50. The most expensive being over $21.00 (and yes... so far that is the most I have ever paid for a bottle of beer, and yes it hurt a little...)

Beer # 3 From the Danish brewhouse is a 7.5% ABV stout flavoured with "Canadian Maple Syrup." Packaged in a specially designed award winning bottle and label, containing "60 cl" or for us non-Europeans 600 ml. Very dark chestnut in colour to almost black. Head is a reddish tan made of small bubbles that disappear quickly. The nose is espresso and chocolate, malt notes are very light. First taste is a well balanced bitter and sweet, light tasting stout. The maple is very subtle almost non existent, the only thing you notice is the smokiness of the syrup mingling with the caramelisation of the malts. Finish is instant coffee and maple sugar. Aeration gives a little whiskey, more smoke, and some heavy caramelised malts. Excellent stout character.


Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $10.20 a beer)

Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Exceptional
Experience: Exceptional

Kortright Centre for Conservation Maple Syrup Festival 2011

Final Thoughts: A few weeks ago I went  to my childhood home and visited the Kortright Centre for Conservation's Maple syrup festival something I haven't done in years. And this beer reminds me of that time. Standing in front of the fire while the maple sap boils down. sweet and smoky crisp and clear. It is a real treat and in this beer I think I have found the same experience. So far this is definitely my favourite of the Nørrebro beers, certainly worth the price of admission, I think I will try to get another one or two of these before they disappear.

Cheers

CJT

Beer # 46 Black Chocolate Stout, Brooklyn Brewery

Ok this isn't an Ultra-premium. However, when doing research for the Nørrebro Bryghus, I realised the connection between Brooklyn Breweries brewmaster Garret Oliver and Nørrebro Bryghus founder Anders Kissmeyer, and considering I already had this beer in my fridge waiting to be tasted, I thought I would throw in a bonus. We have done a Brooklyn Brewery beer before: Post Road Pumpkin Ale here,

Brooklyn Brewery has it's origins in 1987. It was first opened by

Steve Hindy an Associated Press correspondent who gained experience making beer, as contraband, in Muslim nations while he was stationed there and banker Tom Potter. Originally the beer was all brewed offsite by Matt Brewing Company of Utica famous for the Saranac Line (I have to admit when Saranac Pale Ale is available in Ontario it is a regular visitor to my fridge!! I will post it as soon as I get another six pack). Steve and Tom contracted Milton Glaser to compose the brewery's iconic baseball-esque logo. Glaser was most notably the genius behind the "I Love New York" logo. In 1994 Garret Oliver signed on as brewmaster and the rest is an American microbrewing fairy-tale. The brewery has a vast stable of award-winning beers. Garret Oliver (while looking like the slightly more distinguished older brother of the Old spice guy) has a number of books, has been judge on the tasting panel of the "Great American Ber Festival" for 20 years and regular Judge for CAMRA's (Campaign for Real Ale) "Great British Beer Festival." He has won numerous awards both home and abroad, and is a vocal advocate for both the slow food movement and pairing beer and food.

Beer God Garret Oliver

Old Spice Guy Isiah Mustafah

PRETTY CLOSE I THINK YOU SHOULD DECIDE

Alright enough already... let's drink some beer:


Almost pure black with a small band of a dark tan head made of small bubbles. Looks like a doberman! Deep molasses on the nose with a leathery earthy sweetness. Slightly smoky and and hint of the high alcohol, 10.0% ABV. Comes in a brown glass bottle holding 355ml of Imperial Russian, or "Black Chocolate Stout." There is no actual chocolate in the beer. The name comes from the grades of malts used, six of them in total, two of which are black and chocolate. First sip is a strong smack of bitter chocolate, followed by espresso coffee and a green pea sweetness. Rich and complex like a whiskey, smoky, bitter, sweet and woody. Aeration brings out brandy notes



Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: So-so (In Ontario it is $3.00 a beer)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Exceptional
Re-order: Pass
Experience: Exceptional

Final Thoughts: Very nice stout, not mucked about with and didn't need the addition of chocolate or other adjuncts to get the point across. Very drinkable despite the 10.0% ABV. Not a beer I would have more than one at a sitting, but definitely one that can find it's way into my fridge more than once.

Cheers

CJT

Beer # 45 Norrebros Juebryg Nørrebro Bryghus

 Second of five of our ultra-premium beers and Second of four by this unique brewhouse in the Nørrebro district of Coppenhagen. Now what exactly do I mean by ultra-premium? Well in Ontario it has to do with price, standard beers are in the range of $1.50 to $2.50 a bottle, premiums and imports range upwards from this point to about $6.00 to $7.00 a bottle. Ultra premiums start here and can go sky high. One such beer just sold for around $177 dollars. As I am not that flush, we will concentrate on the lower end of that scale. The next five beers are all over $7.50 a bottle and have an average price of $12.50. The most expensive being over $21.00 (and yes... so far that is the most I have ever paid for a bottle of beer, and yes it hurt a little...)

So back again with Nørrebro Bryghus beer # 2. "Julebryg" means "Christmas Beer" in Danish so we are looking at a nice dark brown, spiced winter ale.

Chestnut brown in colour translucent but not cloudy with a thick tan head made up of tiny bubles. Packaged in a specially designed award winning bottle and label, containing "60 cl" or for us non-Europeans 600 ml. It is a very respectable 7.0% ABV beer made up of wheat, barley, and rye malts, and then spiced with cloves and ginger. Cloves on the nose, some malt and rye bread. First sip gives us all of the cloves, some smoky malt, and a taste of thick stone baked rye crust. The ginger is saved for the finish warming the palate. The minerals in the water make a delicate appearance re-inforcing the beer but not distracting from it. Aeration heats up the ginger and brings the malt to the forefront. The subtle rye is evident through the whole tasting experience, reminding us that beer is liquid bread.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: So-so (In Ontario it is $7.55 a beer)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: So-so
Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts: Despite the heavy sounding ingredients, and the 7.0% ABV, the beer was surprisingly light. The alcohol kicked in a little later, but I did finish the whole bottle myself... (hic!) So far Nørrebro beers lean to the subtle side. I'm looking for a good "Flavour Stomper"... Got one in you Anders?

Cheers

CJT

Beer # 44 Bombay Pale Ale, Nørrebro Bryghus, Denmark

First of five of our ultra-premium beers and first of four by this unique brewhouse in the Nørrebro district of Coppenhagen. Now what exactly do I mean by ultra-premium? Well in Ontario it has to do with price, standard beers are in the range of  $1.50 to $2.50 a bottle, premiums and imports range upwards from this point to about $6.00 to $7.00 a bottle. Ultra premiums start here and can go sky high. One such beer just sold for around $177 dollars. As I am not that flush, we will concentrate on the lower end of that scale. The next five beers are all over $7.50 a bottle and have an average price of $12.50. The most expensive being over $21.00 (and yes... so far that is the most I have ever paid for a bottle of beer, and yes it hurt a little...)

Tonight we start with Bombay Pale Ale from Nørrebro Bryghus.  Nørrebro is a microbrewery opened in 2003 by the former Carlsberg brewmaster Anders Kissmeyer. It started when Anders was flying around the world on Carlsberg's dime. He was head of quality control for the beer maker and on a trip to the USA he uncounted the Garret Oliver and the Brooklyn Brewery. Fascinated by the fact that a small brewery could be producing "world-class" beers, he studied Brooklyn Breweries and a number of other small operations in the US intently. He took all of this information back to his superiors in Denmark and reported on it. Unfortunately they did not believe that there was any kind of place for this "microbrewing" in Denmark. Undeterred, Anders left Carlsberg and in 2000 began earnestly working on his dream of a Danish Microbrewery. With the investment of 1 million Danish Kronar from a close personal friend, and then nine other sizable investors Nørrebro Bryghus became a reality in 2003. Accolades soon followed. The brewery, the beer, the bottle and the label and logo have all won awards. The beer was so popular in the first two weeks 4 out of the five initial offerings sold out. Fortunately, they have figured out their supply issues enough, so that they can send some over to Canada for the Pint Jockey to try.

Let's not disappoint them. Tonight's tasting:


Off gold to light copper in colour, translucent in clarity but not cloudy. Off-white head leaning towards a light gray. Packaged in a specially designed award winning bottle and label, containing "60 cl" or for us non-Europeans 600 ml. 6.5% ABV puts us right into IPA territory. Nose is light floral and fragrant, hints of apple, fresh herbs, and spice (cloves) Malty character develops as the beer warms. First sip is very herbal, hops dominate, as they should in an IPA. Notes of juniper and some citrus oil. Finish is mid length, with herbs and Darjeeling tea on the after taste. Aeration gives us the subtle oiliness of a Czech style hop... perhaps saaz?

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: So-so (In Ontario it is $7.55 a beer)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: So-so
Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts: This beer was very hard to read. Normally when you taste a beer something is not quite right or not in balance and you notice it right away. This beer is the complete opposite, everything "clicked" and worked together blending into a cascade of flavours that was difficult to see a beginning or an end. Very English in style, best drunk slightly off the chill to enhance the herbal fruity aromas. The only thing I find this beer lacking in is a distinct character. Certainly all of the element are there for a good beer, however, there isn't a "taste" that will leave me thinking of this beer in six months, and longing for it again.

Hopefully the next one will be more memorable.

Cheers
CJT

1000th Page View

Wow.

This is a big day. Honestly I never thought I would be here right now. I literally thought no-one was ever going to read my beer-fueled ramblings. But you did! and as the speech goes... "You like me! You really like me!"

Beer has been a great passion of mine. I think I had my first taste of beer when I was about 8 years old. I can't say I was hooked from the start, but I certainly didn't shy away. It wasn't until I entered the hospitality field that I realised that beer (and alcohol in general) was an amazing subject. One that I cared to learn a lot about. I used to keep coasters as a way of remembering the beers that I had tried. One day I sat down at the computer, for whatever bored reason I'm not sure, and tried to figure out how many beers I had actually tasted. I think I may have been reading some Michael Jackson at the time... The beer MJ, not the... well you know. So I stretched my memory and sorted through the box of coasters and I was pleasantly surprised that I had tasted well over 200 beers. I started a beer notes database, and started to keep track. When my laptop went to silicone heaven, taking with it the latest version of my database (the only copy unfortunately... ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR DATA!) I had close to 600 beers in it. I was trying to make it to 1000, a goal I have now transfered to this blog.

The biggest thing I have found with drinking beer, not to mention life in general is... always help out the little guy. Think global, but drink local. The beer brewed just down the street is the best beer in the world, because it is fresh, it tastes exactly the way it should taste and if you don't like it, chances are you can walk right up to the person who brewed it and offer a criticism. (try telling someone from Molson-Coors that "Canadian" tastes like "diabetic monkey-piss" Chances are no-one will likely respond to your concerns).

With that said... I would like to thank everybody who has taken the time to read my diatribes, and if you have read more than one.. thank you all the more. If you are willing to keep reading I am willing to keep putting my tongue and liver at your service. Thank you for staying with me in my quest for the trivial minutia, and the taste of a really good beer.

Cheers
CJT

Beer # 43 VB or Victoria Bitters, Australia

All of you who are like me, who grew up with the awful re-inforced stereotype that was "Crocodile Dundee" remember that "Mr. Australia," Paul Hogan (no relation to Hulk...) punted for Foster's for many years. He was central to the whole "How to speak Australian..." campaign, that tried to make us believe that Foster's WAS the be all and end all of Australian beer. Meanwhile back in the outback, two words were actually on the lips of Australian beer drinkers: Victoria Bitter.

Well VB now, as of a rebranding in 2011 with a sleek new all green can. VB is "really" Australian for beer. It has the largest market share and is the only beer in Australia at the number one spot or in the top three in all states. Originally the company was opened in 1854 as the "Victoria Parade Brewery" in Melbourne; the company that is only younger than the European settlement of Australia by 80 years has come a long way. Forty years after first opening, The Victoria Parade brewery was purchased by a London, England company, and re-named The Melbourne Brewery and Distillery Co. This newly titled venture begins to brew a new "Bitter Ale" which is to become the inspiration for VB. The current recipe for VB was developed around 1900, and is actually a lager not an ale as the "bitter" in the name suggests. In 1907 The Melbourne Brewery entered into a joint merger with 5 other breweries (Foster's, Carlton, Castlemaine, Shamrock, and McCracken) to form Carlton and United Breweries or CUB. The main reason being the raising of prices and staying profitable. Over the years CUB prospered and acquired other brewing ventures in the process. Until they themselves were purchased outright by Elders IXL which became The Elders Brewing Group in 1983. Then  in 2004 Elders changed their name (once again!) to Foster's Group to identify itself with it's most internationally recognized brand. That's a lot of name dropping... whew!

Enough history... let's drink.

Medium Gold with an off-white head of small bubbles. 4.6% ABV in a 500ml "tallboy" can. Nose is bready with a hint of hops, bitter and medicinal, slightly herbaceous. first sip is tangy hint of sugar, light in body. Light citrus feel, mildly hoppy. Short clean aftertaste, VB uses a portion of liquid cane sugar to give a clean fresh taste. Aeration brings out the medicinal herbaceous hops. Central to VB is the native Australian hop variety "Pride of Ringwood" which gives it a distinct flavour.


Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $2.40 a beer)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Pass
Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts: Now I don't want to start an international beer war here... or do I? I've never liked Foster's...There... I said it. VB in my mind would have been a far better export, and I think that CUB, or Elders Group, or Foster's (whatever...) should have had Paul Hogan punting VB instead.  Now it isn't a perfect brew, but it is certainly worth more attention, internationally, than it was afforded. Trust those crafty Aussies to keep the good stuff to themselves.

Cheers

CJT

Beer # 42 Hite, South Korea

Growing up, my exposure to Asian culture was limited to watching re-runs of M*A*S*H on television. Screwball vaudevillian comedy set against a backdrop of roughly-sketched stereotypes of Asian culture, while quite funny, certainly does not do the culture any justice. That time was different, we were still shaking off the fears associated with three wars with the Asians. As always fear of the unknown leads to ignorance. I also remember when the tide began to shift, well at least for me. My family bought a Honda. Now I'm not saying this to be facetious, it's true. The Asian invasion began with the widespread arrival of the Honda car. It was a reliable inexpensive, well-built car. Asian awareness is all around us now, Sushi bars go up like donut shops, Pad Thai, and Bubble tea is part of our regular Ontario lexicon. Don't worry... this is a good thing. Exposure to other cultures makes us appreciate our own, and what we have to offer the global population. Best of all when new cultures arrive in our land, they bring their food, and as we see today, their drink.

Hite is a South Korean beer produced in Yeongdeungpo-gu, an administrative district of the capital city of Seoul. The company, now called "The Hite" or "Hite Holdings" ( Korean website here This site is in English  ) was originally opened in 1933 as "Chosun Brewery." In their 78 year history they have undergone numerous changes, updates, mergers, and acquisitions. They now produce, as well as beer, whiskey, Soju (a strong rice wine that has a similar effect on the body as vodka... I should know) Glass for bottles, steel pipes, and  golf clubs. Yes, golf clubs. Strange diversification, I know. They are also a top sponsor of Korean PGA golfers: Kim Dae-Hyun, and Seo Hee-Kyung. (Wonder if they have to redefine "don't drink and... drive!"

Enough of the funny stuff: let's try the beer.


Pale golden colour with a vibrant white head made up of medium-sized bubbles. 330ml brown glass bottle containing a lager of 4.5% ABV, and labeled with paper and foil labels (side note the foil label on the neck I haven't seen used in Canada since the early 1990's) The front paper label also has a temperature reactive spot in the shape of a bottle opener in the lower right corner, to tell you when your beer is cold enough, similar to a few other breweries, Coor's Light and Zywiec come to mind. Hite (pronounced "height") like Budwieser, and Tsing-Tao, contains a fair portion of rice as a fermentable material. This keeps the beer light and smooth and reduces the overall production cost. It's relative cheapness, an neutral flavour keeps Hite at the number one beer spot in South Korea. Light smooth citrus nose, some wet grain. First sip is clean, grainy, light on hops. Aeration gives us very little other than light grain. Beer is light and refreshing, neutral flavour (which is good for pairing with Korean food which can be spicy) and a dry almost non-existant aftertaste.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $11.70 for a six pack so $1.95 a beer)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Exceptional
Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts: While not an outstanding beer it is another beer with a purpose. It is meant to be drunk with Korean food, which as I said can get spicy, especially the kim-chee. I had a wonderful experience eating Korean BBQ in Toronto at a restaurant called Miga. A quick search of the interweb shows that the location I went to is no longer operating but the original location still is, and  the website is here. This is where I first learned about Hite, and unfortunately Soju as well. I asked for, and the restaurant very kindly gave my my beer glass and the Soju glass I used that evening to remember my hangover, I mean my evening by.

Cheers
CJT

Beer # 41 Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Part 3 of 3

 Third in the series of our Innis & Gunn. I'm looking forward to new samples throughout the year. Perhaps a new "Canada Day?"

You've read the history in part one and part two so I will skip the unpleasantries and take you right into the tasting of tonight's offering: Rum Cask.



Like the others in the series, this beer is aged in fresh American oak, then transfered to used Navy Rum Casks then to the "Marrying Tun." The label on the Bottle says "aged 57 days," however, on the website the time adds up to 107 days (30 American oak, 30 Navy Rum Cask, 47 Marrying Tun) so I'm not sure which is true. You be the judge I just drink it!

Here we go:

Reddish-brown  with an off-white head made of small bubbles. A 330ml clear glass bottle containing a highly respectable 7.4% ABV Scottish ale. Foil backed stickers comprise the front and neck label, the back label is clear plastic. Nose starts with olives, meaty herbaceous and slightly vinegared. Malty sweetness is underneath. First sips gives us a complex, sweet, malty and molasses mouthfeel. Clove and allspice, gives it a spicy character. Aeration gives us the woody, malted molasses in deeper contrast. Finish is cinnamon and cloves.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $3.25)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: N/A (There is nothing like it!)
Re-order: Exceptional
Experience: Exceptional


Final Thoughts: Despite the clear glass this is a pristine sample no foxiness on the aroma or the finish. This beer is very reminiscent of the German Dunkelweizen, unintentionally I'm sure, but a very satisfying brew.

Cheers

CJT

Beer # 40 Innis & Gunn Blonde Part 2 of 3

Round two with Innis & Gunn of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Tonight's offering is a blonde ale given the same treatment as our beer in the first segment. Once again subjected to 30 days in new American oak barrels and 47 days in a "Marrying Tun."  These beers are a perfect compliment to whisky. I've often thought of making a beer and whisky cocktail out of them, or just a high end "Boiler Maker."

Whatever you choose to do with them you should definately try them, as there really is nothing like them on the market. Sure there are Rauchbiers, and smoked grain beers that haver a woody character to them; but nothing is quite like a beer that has been aged in a similar manner to whisky.

People around the world have already cottoned on to it as well. Innis & Gunn is the most popular UK beer sold in bottle in Canada, and second most popular in Sweden.

Enough of the sales pitch, here's tonight's tasting.

Golden in colour with a creamy off-white head. 6.0% ABV in a clear glass, 330ml  bottle. Aldehyde smell when first opened, which dissipates after a minute of being poured. Sweet american oak, vanilla, caramel, smoke on the nose. Sweet, caramel and vanilla on the palate, warm, slight hint of  alcohol at the end, smooth and creamy. Oaky vanilla flavours dominate. Aeration gives off a whiskey aroma

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $3.25)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: N/A (There's nothing like it!)
Re-order: Pass
Experience: Exceptional

Final Thoughts: A very good beer. almost dessert-like feel with all the vanilla and caramel. Would be a nice pair with something like creme brulee... mmm I'm hungry.

Cheers
CJT

Beer # 39 Innis & Gunn Original... Part 1 of 3

 I love Innis & Gunn

There that being said let's move on.

Ok, ok... well I'll expand a little. The brewery strives to do more with the beer they have. The age it, they give it different barrel treatments. they can take essentially the same beer and turn it into many beers just by changing the circumstances of it making it to the bottle. I remember them having a "Canada Day Beer" that was aged in Canadian whiskey Barrels. Innis & Gunn is a brewery we will be visiting a number of times as they are always innovating, and experimenting.

Founded in 2002, and quite by accident, in Edinburgh, Scotland. William Grant and Sons the famous Whisky producers (Glenfiddich)  were trying to produce an "ale finished whisky." Soon to be founder of Innis & Gunn Dougal Sharp was commisioned to brew a beer that would complement and impart certain flavours to the whisky this beer was to "flavour" the casks for 30 days, before being (GASP!) thrown away so the barrels could be filled with whisky. The whisky was a hit... and so was the beer, with the workers who were supposed to be throwing it away (smart Scots!) Well it got back to Brewmaster Sharp that the beer was worth saving and Innis & Gunn was born. (Innis and Gunn are the middle names of Dougal and his brother Neil, who became the co-founders)

So the final process of the beer emerged after this noble experiment. The beer was aged in new american oak bourbon barrels for thirty days and then was transfered to a "marrying tun" so the flavour could equalise over forty-seven days, giving us the "aged 77 days" on the label of each bottle. The Scots are smart and patient.

I'm not... let's drink.

Light copper in colour with an off-white head showing a tan tinge. 330ml clear glass bottle containing a respectable 6.6% ABV Scottish ale. Foil backed stickers comprise the front and neck label, the back label is clear plastic. A foxy aldehyde greets you when the bottle is first opened, but as with the previous beer this dissipated very quickly. The nose is very woody with vanilla and toffee overtones. Characteristics of a golden ale are hidden carefully under a strong, oaky, woodiness. Caramel and toffee predominate. Hops and malt are present but play second fiddle (or bag pipe perhaps?) to the almost sticky toffee pudding feel of the beer. I am having trouble deciding whether I'm tasting a well aged barrel fermented chardonnay, a weak single malt scotch, or the beer the label tells me as our sample tonight provides characteristics of all three. Not in a bad way either. The one thing I am noticing is that the beer is starting to show some signs of light damage. A slight foxiness on the finish is indicating some of the photosensitive chemicals of the beer are being converted into less desirable aldehydes. Clear glass bottles are just not the way! Stick with the brown people!



Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $3.25)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: N/A (There is nothing like it!)
Re-order: Exceptional
Experience: Pass


Final Thoughts: The only thin short of making this an exceptional brew is the minor amount of light damage. Unfortunately, this can not be avoided as long as brewers choose to use clear glass. If this was prepared in a brown bottle to give it an edge over the long journey of export to Canada... this would have been an exceptional drink. Still very good,  and I will be back for sure.

Cheers
CJT

Happy St Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

Working hard to bring you some posts, but as often, life gets in the way of art.

The upcoming week is bringing a ton of posts! The Innis and Gunn two-fer is now a three-fer as I found the one I was looking for. We also are going to visit: Australia, England, Belgium, Iceland, The US, and South Korea. We have another gluten free product coming up, this one from Nickle Brook in Canada. Plus, a couple of Bocks for the spring season.

Maybe I will sneak in an Irish beer as a belated St Paddy's day treat... if there are any left.

So get out there and get your green on but PLEASE! don't put it in the beer!

Cheers
CJT

Beer # 38 Crest Super 10% Premium Lager

Second in a series of two High Octane beers. This one is from England. Unlike our previous beer Faxe which was made with barley sugar, this beer contains a large proportion of maize and maize sugar. This gives the beer a very distinct corn on the cob feeling, I can almost taste the butter. This offering is from Wells and Young's in Bedford England. I had to copy what they said on their website about Crest... here it is:

Crest Super was launched following in-depth consumer and trade research, which suggested that a clean tasting higher strength ABV lager could satisfy those consumers who prefer to drink in smaller volumes but still wish to experience the strong, smooth taste of a super-strength, premium quality lager. It is brewed using the best quality barley malt and finest German Aroma hops to deliver a high quality strong lager, brewed to combine the delicate taste of a lager with a full flavour, medium gold in colour sweet bitter taste.

Crest Super is one of Wells and Young’s most popular export brands with extensive international distribution.

What I gleaned out of this is that they found kids just wanted to get drunk faster and not taste anything. I also found it interesting that they don't mention the corn.


Here is the tasting notes:

Gold in colour with an off-white head made up of small bubbles. 10% ABV in a 500ml can. Nose is sugary, and hot with alcohol and a hint of bitter herbs. First sip gives us corn and sugar. Chewy mouthfeel,very little malt, more of a raw grain and raw corn taste. No hops to speak of. Aeration gives us more sugary corn. No character, no taste profile, just a beer flavoured liquor.


Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Fail
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $3.20)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: So-so
Re-order: Fail
Experience: Fail

Final Thoughts: Really not a good beer which is a shame because Wells and Young's makes some very impressive real ales (only available in England unfortunately.) However, if inebriation is your mission, it is a cheap vehicle towards your goal.

Beer # 37 Faxe Extra Strong Beer 10%

Tonight we are looking at a strong lager from Denmark. Faxe is a brewery that has been in existence since 1901. Started by a young couple Nikoline and Conrad Nielsen in the town of Fakse it operated independantly until 1989 when it merged with Bryggerigruppen which eventually changed it's name to "Royal Unibrew."
 Faxe has a number of products, only some of which make it over here to Canada. Most popular seems to be this 10% vodka shot of a beer. Cheap and strong, which seems to go over well with some of our less discerning beer drinkers.

Onto tonight's tasting

Clear gold colour with a bright white head made up of tight bubbles. 10% ABV in a 500ml can. Aroma is alcohol and toasty grain. First sip is a spirited vodka or rum feel residual sugar and a hot nose like taking a straight shot of rum. Flavour is muted, light malt barely perceptable hops. Very smooth, very sugary. Light mineral mettalic, Aeration brings out the alcohol and brandy notes.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $3.20)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: So-so
Experience: Pass


Final Thoughts: Well this is a "getting drunk beer." Meant to be drunk ice cold there is not a lot of flavour, but there is a good alcoholic "punch." Not to say this beer doesn't have merits; it is not a sip and savour type of drink. One is reminded of the college student on a budget, Friday night wanting to be totally hammered before he hits the bar... Not that I have any experience in that department....
If anyone tells you different... it wasn't me!

Cheers
CJT

Beer # 36 Patrick's Pick Extra Special Bitter

Well as I said it's St David's Day.

Flag of St. David

All around the world my ancestral countrymen are wearing leeks and daffodils singing and hoisting a pint to the Saint. Slightly outside the scope of this blog so I won't get into the history of Wales or the state of Christianity in the "The Time of Living Saints" in Wales from 400 to 800 CE which brought about the stories and legends of old Dewi Sant. If you would like to know more hit up Wikipedia here.  I'll leave the point on this: "Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd" Taken from the final words of St. David to his followers it means "Do the little things in life." I'm sure it wasn't exactly what St. David had in mind but today's little thing is drink some beer.

Tonight's beer is one of my all time favourite styles the: ESB. Extra Special or Extra Strong Bitter refers to a Pale Ale that the brewer has put his best or most expensive hops and or malts into. ESB lacks a true definition so the style is often up for discussion. However, there are several main features, a copper to amber colour, ABV in the 4.1 to 5.0% range, although well hopped and bitter, malt is the dominate flavour. Beers within these parameters can be called an ESB, or a Pale Ale, it is up to the brewer. And tonight's brewer is Trafalgar Ales and Meads. www.alesandmeads.com. Started in Oakville just outside of Toronto, Ontario in 1993 as the Trafalgar Brewing Company. Over the last 20 years it has grown into one of Ontario's most innovative craft beer companies. They launched a successful line of Meads (Honey Wines) which I think I can blur the lines of my blog enough to include them in a tasting. They also have a line of  beers that are the srongest brewed in Canada. 15% Black Bullet, 16% Korruptor, and 17% Critical Mass; which will be featured in upcoming blogs.

Onto tonight's tasting:

Light copper in colour with a slightly cloudy appearance, however there doesn't seem to be any sediment. Dense creamy off-tan head made up of small bubbles. 5.0% ABV in a brown glass "quart-sized" 650 ml bottle. The aroma is fruity with a leaning towards tropical: pineapple and papaya some caramel, hoppy, and toasty. First sip gives us a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, the fruit continues on the attack as the malt is brought forward Aeration intesifies the malt. Finish is long with a hint of sulfur on the end.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $3.95)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Exceptional

Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts: a very good, not great, but very good ESB. I would definitely drink this again especially since ESBs are hard to come by in my neck of the woods. And yes I know the bottle was all kitted out for St. Patrick's day I should have waited until the 17th to do this beer... but, there are't any Welsh beers in Canada to review and St. Patrick was born in Wales ('tis true faith and begorrah! Look it up here) Plus a lot of people believe he was born in the town in Wales that sprung up around the monastary of.. St. David. Nice tie in eh?

Well I've had my traditional Cawl (soup) and Toasted the Saint it's time to close another blog.

Cheers

CJT

Beer # 35 Żywiec

Howdy Sportsfans! Today is St. David's Day so I am celebrating by Catching up on a few reviews I have started and a new review later today I'm a little excited about. Who is St. David? Dewi Sant is the Patron Saint of Wales the small country in the United Kingdom from which my family hails from. So to start off we are taking another trip today into Polish beer territory. Żywiec www.zywiecusa.com (or Zyweic in Polish) was started in 1856 by the Hapsburg Family. The brewery operated under the same family until just after World War II when Poland was brought under communist rule. The new government wished to control all of the industries so under the guise of "Nationalisation" the Brewery's assets were seized and the government controlled the brewery until Communism collasped and the brewery privatised once more. Now Called Grupa Żywiec the Brewery operates five locations:  Żywiec, Elbrewery, Leżajsk, Warka, and Cieszyn Breweries. Heineken International Beheer B.V. owns a 61% controlling interest in Grupa Żywiec. 20 years ago the decendants of the original line of the Hapsburg Family that owned the brewery sued the government of Poland for $77 million USD for losses suffered under Nationalisation and the use of their family crest in Żywiec's marketing campaigns. The two parties settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Onto tonight's tasting

Clear gold with a vibrant white head made up of small bubbles. 5.5% ABV Nose is herbal and sweet with a little fruit in the background. First sip gives us light fruity notes backed up by a srong herbal flavour. Slightly astringent, giving over to a light crystal malt. Aeration brings out mild malt citrus. A long finish mildly bitter and herbal ending with sweet wine notes lingering on the palate.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $2.45
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Pass
Experience: Pass

A decent Euro-lager I think I would prefer to have it with food I can imagine this going very well with pirogies.... Hmm... I'm hungry now.

Cheers

Chris