Beer # 58 Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale

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  PASS

Colour:  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

Beer # 57 Maple Bock

Maple Bock Lager

Trafalgar Ales and Meads, Oakville, Ontario, Canada (Independent)

Bock 6.5% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650ml

 $4.55 (Canadian) At LCBO.


Last of my old notes... consider the inbox cleared. One more trip down the QEW to Oakville for an unfortunately less than stellar offering from a great brewery.

Very dark brown with a hint of red. Thin off-brown head that disperses quickly. Sweet, caramel maple nose, fudge like. First sip is smoky, watery, more maple sap than syrup. Strong almond extract flavour and the maple sugar taste is overpowering, tastes artificial. Light molasses in the finish. Syrupy mouthfeel. Aeration intensifies the almond extract.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional

                                                                                                               

Cost:  5/6  PASS

Colour:  5/6  PASS        

Beer Style:  3/6 SO-SO  

Re-Order:  1/6 FAIL   

Experience:   2/6  FAIL

Final Thoughts:

A rare miss for normally excellent Trafalgar. Too watery, sweet and full of unwanted flavours. 


Stay tuned for a week of new beer notes


Cheers
CJT

Beer # 56 Trafalgar Bock

Bock Lager

Trafalgar Ales and Meads, Oakville, Ontario, Canada (Independent)

Bock 6.5% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650ml

 $4.50 (Canadian) At LCBO.

Back again to Trafalgar an excellent little brew house down south of Toronto. 


A dark walnut-brown red, with a fluffy light tan head made up of small to medium bubbles, that die down quickly to a light skim across the top of the beer. The nose is apples, oak and vanilla. A hint of smoke, and earthy, fallen leaves. First sip gives us a malty mellow fruity lager, tartaric acid is prevalent leaving a granny smith taste near the finish. Surprisingly light, effervescent, cider like feel. Molasses and malt  on the finish. Two months of Lagering and one month of aging give this beer it's well balanced and complex character. Creamy mouthfeel similar to a cremant or another sparkling wine. Aeration gives us toasted malt bread.

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 very good all around beer. 


Cheers
CJT

Beer # 55 Old Empire India Pale Ale

Old Empire India Pale Ale

Marston's Brewery, Burton-on-Trent, England (Owned by Marston's plc)

India Pale Ale 5.7% ABV Clear Glass Bottle 500ml

 $3.55 (Canadian) At LCBO.


Clearing out some old notes before I get started on our newest posts for the summer I have this delightful offering from Marston's in England.


Light copper in colour with an off grey head that disperses quickly. Floral hops on the nose and a slight chemical note. The first sip gives us a malty sweetness, very light flavour, touch of molasses. Oily mouthfeel, effervescent on the tongue. Finish is bitter hops. The astringency lingers on the tongue like tea. Fading off into the sunset the beer brings out a sweet floral note not unlike candied violets. Aeration brings out warm malt sugars and medicinal hops.

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 highly drinkable beer that is a good characterisation of the IPA style. This is a beer that will definitely find it's way back into The Pint Jockey's fridge.


Cheers
CJT

Apologies

Well I noticed now that it has been over a month since I put a post up. Unfortunately as I have said before life gets in the way of art. Pint Jockey Headquarters has seen a few changes in the last month, there is a new resident, some new responsibilities, and a whole heap of new work the Jockey has been getting used to. Not to mention all of the yard work that taunts me every time I come home from the job that pays the bar tab. So schedules are being fine tuned tasks are being delegated... or outright ignored, and we shall return to regular posting this week. I have a number of great beers to post about and I will be doing a spotlight on summer sippers and flavoured beers.

So thank you for your patience sportsfans, I look forward to bringing you lot's of good reading over the summer. It's a tough job... drinking beer in the summer... but I believe with your help... I'll be up to the task.

Cheers
CJT