Sawdust City Grand Opening Part 2: The Tour

Crazy Stilt Wearing Cowboy Thing Welcomes You

 The Tour

A few photos from a quick tour conducted by Adam one of the brewers. It feels weird as the space still seems so empty, and large. However, I imagine demand for the product will certainly make this space seem very small in just a couple of years.

CJT

The lovely ladies behind the cash need a raise... They were swamped. P.S. Check out the Hardware!

The Gift Shop and Bottle Store

The Grain Mill: Where greatness begins

A Shiny new Four Stage Brewhouse

Adam one of the Brewers conducts the tour... in front of one of the four fermenters

Bright Tank and Barrel aging

The Can Lift

Which feeds the can line

State of the art canning line.

So many cans waiting for greatness to be thrust upon them.

Sawdust City Grand Opening Part 1: The Beers

Grand Opening

I had the great fortune of attending Sawdust City Brewing Company's Grand Opening this morning. The Brewery was jammed with customers and craft beer lovers. The brewery had been in a soft open for the last month as they completed renovations and additions to their taproom, and bottle/gift shop. But today was a call out to all of Muskoka and Ontario that Sawdust City had come home and was open for business. In addition to their 5 core brands and their speciality beer The Princess Wears Girl Pants; There were pouring 6 one-off draughts and 2 Cask Conditioned ales that I was able to taste and report back you, dear reader. Stay tuned I also have pictures from the brewhouse which I will add in a separate post Here.

Without further ado here is the 8 one-offs I was able to taste.

Please note: Information about the beers is a tad spotty. While I always try to be very accurate in the information I bring you, the team at Sawdust was VERY BUSY today. And while I am sure they would have sat and discussed their beers at length with me (because everyone I have met there is dying to tell you about the beer they brew), they were run off of their feet keeping up with the demand for samples. (not a bad problem to have!) So I have estimated, and filled in information as best I could... If I am wrong I do apologise, and I will correct any information that is deemed to be incorrect. Please enjoy.

Beers

Flight # 1 Beers 1 through 4 left to right.

Beer # 1: It Takes Two to Mango

I believe this Is a version of the Princess Wears Girl Pants with added mango, so that should put the ABV at around  9.0 % Colour was light gold, cloudy and unfiltered. The aroma was fruity and tropical with some mango, some bananas and ccoriander  The taste was light and dry with a lingering fruitiness. Hints of Toasted wheat and very light caramel. This was a collaboration with Indie Alehouse.

Beer # 2: Salty Brine A.k.A Salty Alty.

Based off of Ol' Woody's Alt... this beer has added salt and butterscotch syrup. ABV about 5.0%. Quite the hit with everyone at the bar while I was there. It was very much like a salted caramel. Dark butterscotch in appearance, cloudy and unfiltered as well. The nose was sweet sugar, Salt and butterscotch are right out there in the attack followed by a mineral, dark malt, molasses and burnt sugar. Quite tasty.

Beer # 3: UTI (Until Tomorrow Irene)

Based on the Gateway Kolsch this beer had added Ginger and Cranberry (UTI... cranberry juice... make your own joke...) ABV is also about 5.0%. Made with local Bala cranberries this salmon coloured beer is translucent and slightly cloudy. Nose is fruity and tart. The first taste is crisp and clean sweet and zingy. Freshly squeeze cranberries make up the bulk of the flavour profile, with a little zip from the ginger.

Beer # 4: Pine Tar Black IPA

This is a Lone Pine IPA that has been hopped to the hilt. ABV about 6.5%. Chestnut brown in colour cloudy with particulate matter still floating in it. (I believe it was remnants of hop pellets). Nose was like a fresh cut pine board. Very piney and hoppy. Light in body with a green bitter pine middle. Toasted wood and caramel come out as the pine dies down and finish is tarry and chewy. Very satisfying for an old hop head like me!

Flight #2 Beers 5 through 8 left to right.

Beer # 5: 4 Barrels Barley Wine

This is a collaboration between Indie Alehouse, Great Lakes Brewery and Sawdust City, The same beer was aged in 4 different barrels, and then blended. The resulting Barleywine was 10.0% alcohol ABV. Dark amber in colour, and slightly cloudy The nose is whisky and caramel. Light body, quite fruity, with a hit of hot alcohol. Maple, oak, and deep wood note and an herbal finish.

Beer #6: Skinny Dipping with Friends.

Less of a one off, and more of a rotating seasonal; SDWF... is  the Skinny Dipping stout with added cinnamon and vanilla. ABV is about 5.5%. Nose is caramel and coffee, with a hint of cinnamon. Taste is light and fruity with some pipe tobacco, caramel, sweetness, and creme brulee. Cinamon and vanilla show up in the middle to the end, and mouthfeel is very creamy.

Beer # 7: Cask, Nun Rolling Down a Hill

This is a cask conditioned version of the Skinny Dipping Stout ABV about 5.5%, with added raspberries and coconut. The name eludes to the old bad joke of: "What is red, black, and white, red, black, and white? (A nun rolling down a hill...) I'm here all week folks... The thing that struck me the most when I tasted this was my mind was drawn to a very specific product. This tasted exactly like a Viva Puff. My mom used to buy these cookies all the time (personally... I was not a fan). For those outside of Canada a Vive Puff is a marshmallow filled chocolate coated cookie with a fruit or caramel filling. The beer was quite good thought, the coconut and raspbery worked with the chocolately, coffee flavouring of the stout, and made a nice dessert beer. ABV was once again about 5.5%. Colour was very dark brown translucent and slightly cloudy. The three main flavours in the coconut, chocolate, and raspberry.  Body was quite light.

Beer # 8: Cask, The Sand at the Beach is Too Hot to Walk on

Based on Golden Beach Pale Ale. This beer has roasted Habanero Peppers and crushed pineapple. When I ordered this the Gentleman behind the bar, one of the brewers at Sawdust said "Careful man The (expletive) beer will burn your (expletive) face off..." Now if that wasn't a challenge I didn't know what would be. With an ABV of about 4.5% this strangely coloured beer was also unfiltered and quite hazy. The colour was a golden, green. One would think of a pickle brine. Nose is piney and fruity leaning towards the tropical. On the taste the heat is slow building. Fruity, pithy, light sweetness from the pineapple. Heat is also tempered by the sweetness of the pineapple,. Roasting also mellows the peppers. Tingly lips and burny throat , but not overwhelming. Certainly not a gulping beer, but honestly one of my most favourites of the day.

Beer # 9 Bonus Beer: CLR Coconut Lime Refresher.

I wandered back later after I had accomplished my tasks for the day and Sawdust had added a new beer. Sadly I did not bring my note pad so I will wing this one from memory. I believe this one was the Kolsch  with added coconut and lime (I may be wrong). Very light and refreshing with a distinct fruity, coconut drink flavour. Lime is also evident and accents the fresh grated coconut and rum notes of the main flavours.

Final Thoughts.

I would have to say today was a resounding success for Sawdust City. There were so many people I actually felt bad for the poor workers trying to keep up with the demand for their delicious beer. The one offs were fabulous and quite memorable. I look forward to many more beers from this creative team. Also check out Part Two with pictures of the Brewhouse Here.

Cheers

CJT


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Beer # 150 Karma Citra Great Lakes Brewery

Karma Citra

Great Lakes Brewery

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Independent
India Pale Ale 6.6 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml.
$5.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO
Twitter: @GreatLakesBeer

Down to Great Lakes Brewery again. They certainly do love their IPAs at this brewery and they like to show their love a lot. I have had quite a few different variations of the IPA from them, all with very different personalities. And I have yet to be disappointed. So I was excited to bring this one home and try it.

Onto The Tasting...

Light gold in colour and slightly cloudy. Head is large white and fluffy with good staying power. Bubbles are very small.Aroma is green and fruity, pineapple mostly with some bitter herbs. Herbaceousness continues on the first sip with lots of guava and pineapple, light caramel in the background. A good strong hit of pepper in the foreground. Very green with a good hit of bitterness to finish it off. Aeration brings out a toasty bready note and enhances the caramel. there is pithy bitter orange peel on the finish.


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:

Another great example of an IPA from the people down by the lake. I could certainly see myself enjoying one of these on a hot summer day in the backyard.


Cheers

CJT


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Beer # 149 Uber Nickel Brook Brewing Company

Uber Berliner Style Weiss

Nickel Brook Brewing Company

Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Berliner Weisse 3.8 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml.
$7.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO
Twitter: @NickelBrookBeer

Down to Nickel Brook again for their take on a classic wheat beer.

Onto the tasting.

Luminescent gold with a hint of green. Very large white head made up of small bubbles that disperses quickly to almost nothing. Aroma is very wheaty, peppery, and spicy. First sip is apple and citrus. Tangy, zippy, slightly sour. Finish is roasted wheat malt, toasted bread, and grapes. Very light and fruity. Aeration, is lactic and malic acid and toasty wheat.


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:

This is quite a good beer. Very lively with a lot going on. Excellent for the patio even better for the BBQ. Serve in place of a sparkling wine.


Cheers

CJT


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The Day the Laughter Died...

With your permission I will step away from my beer swilling pontification for a post and talk about something that has affected me deeply.

I have always been a class clown. A total ham. I acted out, acted up, didn't fit in, and generally played the fool.  When I bartended I had to be the showman, flipping bottles, flaming shooters, magic tricks, and even a stint blowing fireballs. Now that I cook, I am often heard singing or seen dancing behind the line, or just offering up an endless string of one liners and movie quotes. In fact I said to a co-worker the other day that I was worried my entire life was boiling down to a garble of movie references. And a number of those references belonged to Robin Williams.  Needless to say I was shattered yesterday when I heard the news that he had taken his own life, but honestly not that surprised. Robin Williams fought his demons for so long. He was an alcoholic and a drug abuser. He struggled with depression. It is often said that artists hurt more than normal people because along with the beauty of the world they also see the cruelty. He has been a mainstay of the entertainment industry for all of my life. Playing bittersweet roles as well as the truly clownish ones. As I think back, almost all of his roles had a touch of sadness to them, just enough to highlight the joys of the movie. Mork reported to Orson not just the fun aspects of Earth, but the sad ones too, such as losing a friend (something we are all identifying with today).  Three of my favourite movies were his so called `Dark Trilogy,`One Hour Photo, Insomnia, and Death to Smoochy. Here Robin led us into the sadder reaches of his mind. Here we caught a glimpse of the things that were not quite right. He gave us so many laughs, with his stand up, and his cartoon voice-overs, Aladdin, Robots, Fern Gully, But he seemed to take less and less of those roles as the years went on. He was rarely without a smile, but one could begin to see the sadness mounting in his eyes. After years of being clean he started drinking again, and then went into a deep bout of depression. He sought help for drug abuse again, and seemed to be doing well. But somehow the demons he had fought all his life overwhelmed him, and he gave into them yesterday morning.

What drives a person to suicide? What is that final breaking point? It is hard for us to understand. Especially when the person is someone like Robin Williams, loved globally, a genuine kind person, with a loving wife and family. Why would he do that? It doesn't make sense to us. We have all been low, we have all been depressed. Yet we still can not comprehend how this can drive someone over the edge. Well in short, Depression, is a mental illness.It affects more people than you will ever know. Too many people are not seeking the help they need. Partially because mental illness is still seen as a taboo subject, and partially because there is not a lot of help available for those people in that situation. Granted, the mental health community is gaining ground with more funding and better recognition, but it is still not enough. The people working in this area are stretched thin. If anything good can come of this I hope that Robin William's death will serve as a wake up call and a rallying cry to help those in need of care most. We often focus on these issues when it is far to late, after the depressed loner has shot up a school, or the fired employee has returned to kill his boss, or that one person who just doesn't fit in builds a bomb in his garage, or a beloved celebrity takes his own life. These stories are in the news everyday, with alarming frequency. And the media deflects the responsibility, "It's the gun manufacturers, we need more gun laws." "It's rock music." "It's rap music."  Never once has it been stated that we need better mental health assessments and better care for the diagnosed. That we need community wide support to prevent these people from falling through the cracks. 

The loss of this comedic genius can never be truly measured. But we needed this kick in our complacency. Look to your friends today. Ask them how do they feel. Tell everyone you see today how much they mean to you. Learn and recognize the signs of depression. Ask yourself, how do I truly feel? Do I need to talk to someone? Is my mood affecting my life? I am losing interest in doing the things I once loved to do? Am I still motivated in life? There is help out there, you are not alone! Chances are someone you meet today is depressed. More than a few people you will meet this week will have contemplated suicide at one point or another in their life. If you need to call someone and talk to them. Call your local hospital and ask to be connected with a social worker.

or:

In Canada there is the Mental Health Helpline  1-866-531-2600
In the USA there is the Mental Health America
And the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 In The UK there is the Mental Health Foundation

Robin, I am so sorry that you had to seek the peace in death that you could not find in life. You were a hero to us, I hope your life can serve some good still by guiding those like you to seek the help they need. And by guiding the rest of us to offer the hand that has been withheld too long.

Thank you for the laughter.

CJT

Beer # 148 Ol' Woody Alt Sawdust City Brewing Company

Ol' Woody Alt

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst
Independent
Alt Beer 5.7 % ABV Aluminium Can 473 ml.
$3.00 (Canadian) At the brewery
Twitter: @SawdustCityBeer

A couple of days ago was the International Day of Beer. And I meant to post this blog on that day ... but it has been a busy weekend at work. So I submit it to you now.

Friday morning was a surprise announcement on Facebook from one of our local breweries. Finally after more than 2 years brewing at another location Sawdust City has come home and opened it's doors for a soft opening. If you want to know what it takes to get the Pint Jockey up early and out of the door before he has had his coffee... well... it's this. Pictured up and  to the right is the new home of Sawdust City on the Main Street of Gravenhurst. The tap room was still being set up when I got there and someone was still in Toronto waiting for the actual taproom license (he arrived a few hours later but I was at work). But the bottle and gift shop was open, still a flurry of activity stocking shelves and setting up debit machines and the cash register. Two products were being sold one was Lone Pine IPA which I have already posted about here. And Ol' woody Alt, which I had not had the pleasure of tasting yet. I was informed that Golden Beach Pale Ale was currently being canned and would be on the shelves later... but again... that work thing. (I think I may have to wander over and get one later this week! Stay tuned!).  Plus they are currently working on stocking growlers which I am excited about as well.

So, tonight's (or rather last Friday's) beer is Ol' Woody. It is a term that refers to Gravenhurst rich tradition of wooden boat manufacturing, and racing. Gravenhurst was home to two major powerhouses in boat building Ditchburn and Greavette. The Ol' Woody can celebrates them with a stylised illustration of a wooden runabout manufactured by these companies. Every year These boat builders and their many enthusiasts are feted with the annual "Antique and Classic Boat Show" usually held the first weekend in July. It is a "must-see": if you are in town.

Enough showboating... onto the beer.

Dark amber to chestnut in colour with a thick off tan head made up of very small bubble, long lasting and some good lacing. The aroma is caramelised, roasted malt with a good strong whiff of nuts especially chestnuts. First sip is a little grassy, with herbal hops, which is followed by deeply roasted malt, coffee, and earthiness. Finish is slightly bitter, with elements of burnt sugar. Aeration is warm smoky caramelised, and malty.

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:

So far Lone Pine IPA is still my favourite but this is a solid beer as well. Good flavour nice style, lots going on in the taste profile. I wouldn't turn one down at all, and neither should you.


Cheers

CJT


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