Beer # 145 Lake of Bays Jake The Snake Imperial Pilsner

Jake The Snake Imperial Pilsner
NHL Alumni Signature Series








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Lake of Bays Brewing Company

Baysville, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Imperial Pilsner 7.5% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml
$11.95 (Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: @LB_brewing @NHLAlumni

And back with the third installment of the "Masked Men" series from Lake of Bays. This series would certainly not be complete without the original masked man. Jacques Plante.

Canadian Heritage Moment: Jacques Plante First Goalie Mask

Jacques was the first born child of Xavier and Palma Plante of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, in Mauricie, Quebec in 1929. He began to play hockey when he was 5 years old, with no skates and a goalie stick his father had carved from a tree root. His first "professional" hockey games were when he was 14 and playing for his Father's factory's team. The coach paid him $0.50 a game because all of the other players were workers in the factory drawing wages. Plante, however, refused the plentiful offers that came his way, some from the US and England, until he finished high school. A few weeks after he graduated he signed with the Quebec Citadeles for $85.00  a week and he never looked back. In 1953 Plante was called up to the Montreal Canadiens, and that year he finished with his first Stanley cup. He went on to win 5 more, each with the Canadiens. But the 1959-1960 season is what Plante is to be remembered most for. After being struck in the face by a slapshot from Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers three minutes into the game, Plante was in the infirmary receiving stitches. He told his coach Toe Blake that he would not return to the ice unless he could wear the fibreglass mask he used during practises. Despite Blake's fury, Plante returned to the ice with stitches, a broken nose and the first goalie mask used in the NHL. (Clint Benedict of the Montreal Maroons wore a leather nose protector in a few games in 1929 to protect his broken nose, but this was the first use of a "modern' goalie mask ). IIncidentally the Canadien's won that game 3 to 1. and went on an 18 game winning streak after that, aided by Plante and his goalie mask. That year Plante won his final Stanley cup. Plante went on to play for Toronto, Boston, St. Louis, New York and he ended his career in Edmonton in 1975. After his playing career Plante became a top notch goal coach and an analyst. But sadly, after moving to Switzerland with his second wife, Plante passed away in 1986 at the all too young age of 57. Hockey felt his loss.

Onto our tasting.

Deep golden to copper in colour. Good sized head, white bubbles of medium size. Nose is sweet, hoppy and lightly malted. First sip is citrus and malty. Alcohol is quite evident. Very full bodied. Some caramel and turnbinado sugar. a touch of creaminess. Aeration is smoky, sweet, and caramel. Finish is medicinal hops.

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:

This is a pilsner on steroids. While it has all the usual characteristics of a good pilsner, it also has more of everything else. Massive flavour, good sturdy malt profile, light citrusy hops. Forward, innovative, and demanding like it's namesake, this beer demands your attention. I suggest you heed it's call while it is still available.

Cheers

CJT


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