Beer # 86 Nickel Brook Green Apple Pilsner

Nickel Brook Green Apple Pilsener


Better Bitters, The Nickel Brook Brewing Company
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Flavoured Pilsner 4.0 % ABV Aluminum Can 473 ml.
$2.75 (Canadian) At The LCBO


Twitter: @nickelbrookbeer


Well this is the last of my Shandy posts, after this I return to my regular beer soaked ramblings. I will however, continue in the fruit and spice genre as this year there seems to be a plethora of fruit based beers. Let's just say in the next week there is raspberry, blueberry, ginger, and spice on my horizon ( and by extension your horizon too Dear  Reader ).


Nickel Brook is a fabulous little brewery in the grand metropolis of Burlington south of Toronto. I had the distinct fortune to visit them a few years back and enjoyed their family oriented business approach. The brewery started out as a brew on premises wine and beer shop. Eventually they added a full time brewery for commercial purposes. Still young and still growing, we are expecting great things from Nickel Brook. Tonight we are trying one of their flagship brands, the very brand that brought them to my attention in the first place: The Green Apple Pilsener.


Onto the tasting:



Colour is medium gold with an frothy off-white head made up of small bubbles. Distinct "Granny Smith" apple aroma the moment the can is cracked. Nose is sugar and hard apple candies, and lots of fresh apple cider. First sip reminds us this is a shandy. The intermingling of cider and rich malty pilsener hits us straight off. Apple candy carries through into the taste, as well as tart unfiltered cider. The beer notes are subtle yet still distinct, rich malt and mild hops, slightly medicinal. Finish alternates between candy apple and earthy beer tones. The beer is bright and effervescent. The can recommends serving with pork, and I think it would work well if you cooked with it.

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:  5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:


A very solid offering from the folks in Burlington, however I find it to be a bit of a novelty beer. I would use it in a beer pairing dinner, make a dessert out of it, or just generally cook with it. However, I would find difficulty in justifying buying more than one can of this. I would recommend it to anyone making the leap from "Ready to Drink" bottled cocktails, or coolers to beer. I am even pondering trying a beer based Appletini with it. Fear not, Nickel Brook has some other very amazing beers out there, and once I get my hands on some samples up this way, you will be the first to know. They have a rather good Organic I need to add, and of course I have already done the Nickel Brook Gluten Free. Keep up the great work guys.


Cheers
CJT

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Beer # 85 Coors Light Iced Tea

Coors Light Iced Tea


Molson Coors Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado, USA
Montral, Quebec, Canada
Multinational
Flavoured Light Lager 4.0 % ABV Aluminum Can 355 ml.
Given as a sample can by Beer Rep. No Cost.


Twitter: @molsoncoors USA 
or @molsoncoorsCDA Canada


The dreaded Coors Light Iced Tea. or C.L.I.T. (#clit) as it has become known colloquially on Twitter. Never did I think the day would come that I would put electronic pen to electronic paper to string more than four words together about this beer. (is this a joke?) Actually I did tweet something similar, because the day I first saw anything for Coors Light Iced Tea was April Fool's Day. What has astounded me is the sheer amount of advertising that has gone into this product. As if to re-inforce the fact that Molson Coors invented a supply with no demand.

Sadly, onto the tasting:

Light gold in colour with a wispy white head that disappears quickly. Aroma is lemon, black tea, and slightly fruity. Lemon on the first taste, that dissolves into sour malt. distinct taste of lemon furniture polish, aftertaste is bitter, astringent, and stale black tea. Tastes like a poorly carbonated gingerale mixed with iced tea. Mouthfeel is sour, and flat.


Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional


Cost: N/A
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 0/6 FAIL
Re-Order:  0/6 FAIL
Experience:  0/6 FAIL


Final Thoughts:



This is the single most horrid beer I have put in my mouth, and I've had Steelback. I actually had to get a drink of water to wash the taste out of my mouth halfway through the tasting. This beer is a sad attempt at putting lipstick on a pig... Dress Coors Light up anyway you want, it will still be Coors Light. Perhaps if Molson Coors had spent the money they did on marketing this joke of a product into developing a beer that actually tasted good, the rest of us might be pleasantly surprised. Usually I say try a beer yourself even if I have said bad things about it, however, this time I shall warn you to avoid the product at all costs. In fact this beer is so bad I am going to do something I never do... pour the rest down the drain.

Cheers
CJT


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Beer # 84 Big Rock Lime Light Lager

Big Rock Lime Light Lager


Big Rock Brewing Company
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Independent
Flavoured Lager 4.0 % ABV Aluminum Can 355 ml.
$1.90 (Canadian) At The Beer Store (15 can pack for $28.55)


Twitter: @bigrockbrewery


Big Rock is a brewery that first came to my attention when I was living in Banff. I did a summer internship there and well, spent a lot of money on beer. It was the first time I drank Keith's (Not so IPA, but I swear it tasted better back then) and I came away with two new beer favourites, Bow Valley Lager of Canmore (sadly defunct), and Big Rock Traditional.

Not Exactly Ayer's Rock, It's Just Big Rock.

Big Rock Brewery was opened in 1984 by Lawyer turned Barley Farmer Ed McNally. His motivation was simple, he hated that there was no real choice in the beer market, and decided he wanted to brew something he would drink, even if no-one else would. Of the first three beers, that proved true for two of them, Big Rock Porter, and Bitters. The third however, is still quite popular and is the backbone that Big Rock has built their mini prairie empire on: the aforementioned Traditional Ale. As for the Name. Big Rock is named... after a big rock. An unusually large granite erratic outside of Okotoks, south of Calgary and on the way to Ed McNally's home town of Lethbridge.


Onto the beer:

Introduced a couple of years ago, in response to the "Bud Light Lime" craze, Lime Light Lager has soldiered on in the background, a little unsung. Colour is very clear gold with a thin white head that disappears very rapidly. The nose is all fresh lime with a hint of ginger, spicy and sweet. Maltiness takes over on the first sip, followed by the lime and spice. A fair amount of wet dog, and the beer is a little flaccid. The lime at least tastes fresh as apposed to some of the "other" lime lagers, that taste very chemical.


Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 4/6PASS
Re-Order:  5/6 PASS
Experience:  4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:



Ok, there is nothing wrong with this beer, but I just don't think it suits my style. As far as the "Lime" beers go it is probably the best I have tasted. But honestly folks... Beer and lime... really don't go together. Two acids don't always make something better. But what about Corona you say? Rubbish, I say. The lime stunt in the Corona was a marketing ploy. the lime wedge was stuck in the neck of the bottle to keep the flies out! Truth be told, there is nothing in this world that can make Corona taste good. I digress. Big Rock is a good brewery, if you have a chance pick up some of their beers, do so, and then do so again. Lime Light Lager is a solid beer, but not for me, try it yourself, it's definitely better than the alternatives. Me, I'm going to stick to my Traditional.


Cheers
CJT


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Beer # 83 Pugsley's Signature Series Smashed Blueberry

Pugsley's Signature Series Smashed Blueberry


Shipyard Brewing Company
Portland, Maine, USA
Independent
Flavoured Strong Ale 9.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 625 ml.
$7.60 (Canadian) At The LCBO


Twitter: @shipyardbrewing


I was going to say this was my first beer from Shipyard, but I remembered I had a bottle of the Smashed Pumpkin last year. It just so happened it was around the time of my epic cold/flu battle where I got very little work done on the blog. I remember trying to start it and tasting it, but I was too ill and I could not describe anything in it so I abandoned a fair number of postings last year. So I will say this is officially my first "taste" of a Shipyard Brew.


Shipyard stated in 1992, as Federal Jack's Restaurant and Brewpub in Kennebunk, Maine. However in two short years demand for their locally crafted brew outstripped their ability to produce, so in 1994 Investor Fred Forsley and Brewer Alan Pugsley set up Shipyard brewing company in Portland.  Shipyard has grown enormously over the last 18 years. The are currently the 3rd largest Microbrewery in New England (After Boston Beer Company, and Harpoon Brewing Company both of which I have visited.) Shipyard is also designated as the 15th Largest Microbrewery in all of the United States.

Onto the Tasting:

The label states that tonight's beer is a hybrid of the styles of porter and Scotch ale, I however could not determine if they use fresh blueberries as the label only states "flavour." The beer uses 5 grades of malted barley and torrified wheat, as well as three hop varieties: Summit, Tettnang, and Cascade.


Pervasive aroma of fresh blueberries filled the kitchen when I opened the bottle. It poured a very dark purplish brown. Not unlike the colour of prune juice. The head was short with the same colour of the head on a pint of Guinness, light tan to brown with small bubbles. The aroma is sweet and fruity, especially blueberries, with a dark roasted malt under tone. Slightly smoky, and chocolate with a touch of burnt sugar and licorice. The attack is sweet hard candy with dried blueberries. Then comes a different layer. After the fruit a dark ale smashes through with notes of chocolate, coffee, malt sugars, then the beer fades down to a more subtle sun-dried blueberry, currant, and a "Cherry brandy" type of alcohol. The alcohol content is quite noticeable. Aeration gives a burst of hot alcohol more berries, and a hint of hops. My lips are sticky after tasting, just like eating fresh berries.


When I first poured the beer it was a little too cold, and as I tasted it it seemed to be two distinct beers fighting for dominance. It felt like a lambic was competing with a stout. However as I sipped and typed the beer melded together at the proper serving temperature of 55 degrees, and became something wonderful. As I have said before, if the brewer has gone through the trouble of putting a temperature at which the beer should be consume on the label, chances are he knows what he is talking about.



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:  6/6 Exceptional


Final Thoughts:



This beer took a short time to open up but once it did it made quite the impression. Surprisingly well balanced and well suited to food. The bottle recommends BBQ, and glazed duck. I recommend you try the beer. I hope I can get Smashed Pumpkin again this year and post it because I would like to see more from this brewery.


Cheers
Happy Independence Day
CJT


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Independence Day

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July to all of my readers south of the border. Hope you are kicking back with some wonderful American craft brews. I have a quick tasting in honour of our American neighbours, then I will be back to my plan of the Shandy beers. Then I will have a number of new flavoured beers as well. The Fridge of Fame is full of blueberries, ginger, and spice. 

I had always thought we should get together with the US and have a four day weekend called North American Days. It could start on Canada Day and end with Independence Day. Four whole days to celebrate both our nations! Think about it... Hey Harper, Obama... c'mon whaddaya think? elections are coming up... everybody likes holidays!

Just remember it was MY idea. And make sure you are drinking locally, give your hard earned cash to your local brewers so they can keep your neighbours employed.

Cheers
CJT

Beer # 82 Hockley Valley Canadian Amber Ale

Canadian Amber Ale


Hockley Valley Brewing Company
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Amber Ale 4.2 % ABV Tall Boy Can 473 ml.
$2.65 (Canadian) At The LCBO


Twitter: n/a

Second Canada Day beer (A little late posting it, but I did taste it on Canada Day!). Back to a very underrated brewery that is just down the highway a bit from Pint Jockey Headquarters: Hockley Valley. Back in January and February of 2011 I sampled Hockley Valley's Taster's Pack over two posts found here: Part One and Part Two. The Pack comprised three beers The Black and Tan, English Ale, and Irish stout. Which at the time made up their entire stable of beers. Much to my delight I saw this beer in the LCBO, Just in time for Canada Day with a patriotic enough sounding name. I like the story of Hockley Valley. It actually started out as a pilot plant for a Whisky Distillery, fueled by horse manure instead of peat. Very glad beer was easier for them to make, as we shall see tonight, their efforts have paid off well.

Onto the tasting:


Pours a dark amber with a light brown hue. Creamy off white head made up of small bubbles. Dark roasted malt sweet malt sugars and licorice on the nose. First sip is molasses, cocoa, demerara sugar. Earthy and heady. Aeration brings out more vanilla and molasses. Sweetly complex yet fruity like a good English Ale.




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:  6/6 Exceptional


Final Thoughts:


Certainly a beer that is more than the sum of it's parts. It is hard to quantify this beer, it's just very good. There really isn't much like this beer on the Ontario Market. Quite lovely, and well worth a taste.


Cheers
Happy Canada Day
CJT


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Beer # 81 Maple Leaf Lager

Maple Leaf Lager (Elora Grand Lager)


Trafalgar Ales and Meads
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Lager 5.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml.
$3.95 (Canadian) At The LCBO


Twitter: n/a


Two beers for the price of one in a brew by two breweries for the price of one... No, I haven't been drinking... yet. Maple leaf Lager goes by the Name of Elora Grand lager, for most of the year, but around Canada Day, it gets a little patriotic and sheds it's traditional label for something a wee bit more festive. Now the two breweries part. The Old Mill Brewery in Elora was purchased by Trafalgar Ales and Meads in1997 and they continued to operate in on site until 2000 when budgetary constraints forced them to close the Old Mill. Since 2000 all Elora Beers have been brewed at Trafalgar's Oakville Brewery. 


Onto our first Canada Day Brew:


Pours a very light coppery gold, with a thin skiff of a white head. Nose is pure malt and hops. First sip is grainy and sugary, malt and slightly bitter medicine. Some earthiness, and a little woody. Aeration smooths out the beer, and enhances the herbal hoppiness. Finish is short warm notes of roasted grains.



Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional   


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 4/6 PASS
Re-Order:  4/6 PASS
Experience:  4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:



Not an entirely memorable beer, but not an entirely bad one for that matter. Certainly head and shoulders above the other "Barrel-wash" Lagers and Pilseners of the "Big Three." Deeper tones than the rain watery "Euro-lagers," But not a great contender for a recurring spot in the Fridge of Fame in Pint Jockey Headquarters.


Cheers
Happy Canada Day
CJT


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Canada Day

Happy Canada Day To all my readers!
I know I still have a couple of Shandy Beers to post about but I want to insert a few beers related to Canada Day. 
When you are making you beer selections for this week, make sure you honour our true patriotic brewers, and avoid "the big three" whose money goes to the US, Belguim, and Japan instead of staying here where we need it. Support your local craft brewer!