Beer # 119 Lake of Bays Top Shelf

Top Shelf Classic Lager
Official Beer of the NHL Alumni Association 

Lake of Bays Brewing Company

Baysville, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Golden Lager 4.5% ABV Aluminum Can 473 ml
$2.45 (Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: @LB_brewing @NHLAlumni


While we wait for the third edition of the NHL Alumni Signature Series beer to drop in a month or two we have one more from the boys in Baysville. A craft Golden Lager this time that has been adopted as the official beer of the NHL Alumni Association. What goes better with hockey than beer? Hockey, beer, and helping others, that's what. A portion of the proceeds from every can of Top Shelf sold goes to support the activities of the NHL Alumni Association.  For those of you who do not know what the NHL Alumni Association does here is their Mission Statement from their website:

The NHL Alumni Association is a not for profit organization that brings together former NHL players with the following mission: 

- Assist in youth hockey initiatives, involve former NHL players in support and participate in raising funds for charitable causes that enhance the quality of life for our youth. 

- Assist former National Hockey League players in their transition to life after hockey. 

- Promote the great game of hockey and inspire today’s youth through positive images as guardians of the game.

Find out more about them and their events here: NHL Alumni Association. And please, buy their beer.

Onto the tasting:

Clear gold in colour with a slight off white head made of small bubbles. Aroma is fresh crystal malt, molasses, grainy, oaty, and hay. Very malt forward with the first sip. Roasted malt, caramel, turbinado sugar. Short finish, clean with a hint of molasses and licorice. Aeration brings out a warm, nutty, creamy taste.


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 beer by Lake of Bays, and a great example of a lager with actual flavour (almost shocking isn't it!). This is not your average Megabrew watered down, souless lagers. It can hold it's own on the flavour front with some great craft ales I have tasted. If you DO like those Megabrew watered down, souless lagers... This beer is not for you. But it's for a good cause... buy a case anyway, and give it to one of your friends who actually like beer... Like me.

Cheers

CJT


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