Strong Patrick, Beau's All Natural

# 214 Strong Patrick Irish Style Red Ale
Wild Oats Series # 18

Beau's All Natural Brewing Company

Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Imperial Irish Red Ale
6.7 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 600 ml
$7.95 (Canadian) At LCBO 

Strong Patrick?

Twitter: @Beausallnatural

Strong Bad Glares at Strong Patrick

Getting to this one a little early, I wanted to save it for St. Patrick's day, but I could not wait. # 18 in their Wild Oats series Strong Patrick (no.. Not That strong Patrick --->) is a lovely copper red coloured Irish red ale. What exactly it has to do with a cartoon character wearing a Luchadores Mask... I'm not exactly certain. But I must comment that it bears a striking resemblance to another cartoon character. The infamous Strong Bad of the long running Internet Cartoon "Homestar Runner." And when I say long running I mean 15 years, that means it was on air on the Internet only about 4 years after the first of us got a hotmail account. 

Any which way, It's Beau's so we know we are in for a good beer, Let's check it out.

And in this corner....

Pours a dark copper red with an off white head made up of small bubbles.aroma is heady and malt with some light molasses and hints of spice. First sip is a rich red ale lots of caramel and toasty malt. hint of licorice and vanilla. Slightly woody, and earthy with subtle hints of chocolate. Lightly effervescent at the back of the tongue.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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


Final Thoughts:


Another great outing from Beau's I am always happy when I get a new bottle from them. Give this one a shot, you will not be disappointed. Although it is an Imperial, it is only 6.7 % so it can easily be enjoyed by one person, as long as you drink responsibly.

P.S. I have just been trying out www.julyu.com It's a new social media platform for those who enjoy fine alcoholic beverages, like you dear reader. Come and hang out with some like minded individuals. Sign up now and be sure to friend me!


CJT


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7 Hop IPA Rogue Farms

#213 7 Hop IPA Rogue Farms

Rogue Ales

Newport, Oregon, USA
Independent
Double India Pale Ale 
8.02 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml.
$6.60 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @RogueAles

Down again to Newport Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. Rogue Ales is certainly one of the defining forces behind the USA's craft beer movement. Not only do they have a commitment to innovation, they have a commitment to organics, and have gone so far as to open a farm when they can grow the raw ingredients for their beer. That is where this beer comes in. The four types of barley that went into this brew were grown on the Rogue Farm; and not only that, The SEVEN types of hops that went into it were grown there too! This double IPA contains Liberty, Newport, Revolution, Rebel, Independent, Freedom, and Alluvial hop varieties (sounds like someone is waving the American flag... Or are trying to remember the names of the shuttles from the movie Armageddon... )

Freedom and Independence Shuttles

Whichever, Rogue is always good for a well balanced flavourful beer... let's see how they do this time.

Begin the Hop revolution!


Pours a dark honey colour with a short off tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is bright tropical fruit, grilled pineapple, honey, some florals, and brown sugar. First sip is deliciously malty  like a softer West Coast ale, but is bursting with bright green botanicals, plenty more fruit, and a light brown sugar taffy. Notes of pine, chamomile, tansy, as well as guava and passion fruit. Plenty of grass notes and some hay. Aeration brings out toasty malt and caramel and intensifies the herbal quality. Alcohol is evident but not overpowering, Lips are left slightly sticky.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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


Final Thoughts:

This is almost all you could ask for from a IIPA. A good strong malty character that complements a flavourful and complex set of hoppy aromas. The fruit and the pine balances well and no one aspect of the flavour tries to outshine the others... everybody just plays nice. If it were not for the 8.02 % ABV I could certainly drink this bad boy all day without complaint. However, Share this with a friend or pair it with some food: burgers, steak, ribs, pizza... this beer has you covered.


CJT


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Otter Water Sawdust City Brewing Company

# 212 Otter Water

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Flavoured Kolsch 
5.0 % ABV 20 oz Draft 592 ml.
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter: @SawdustCityBeer

It was a fun day here at Sawdust City as I sat in the Saloon I watched the Brewmaster brew their 100th brew from the brewhouse in Gravenhurst. It was, as they tweeted, The Princess Wears Girlpants, Their summer seasonal which I am excited to get into again. Sawdust seems to be the hardest working brewery in Ontario right now, In addition to the Twin pines double IPA I know they have coming soon, I also know that there are collaborations coming up with Stack Brewing of Sudbury, Forked River in London, Beyond the Pale in Ottawa, and the PI Day collab, a Cherry saison with Block Three Brewing. So I guarantee you my tastebuds will be busy for the next month or two

Tonight's offering is the second beer in the theme of the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival. This is the unofficial brother beer of the Official Beer Chandail de Skokie which I tasted in January. Based off of their mainstay beer, Gateway Kolsch, this beer has been flavoured with fresh oranges and ginger.

Onto the Tasting.

Pours a dark copper with an off-white head made of small bubbles. Aroma is triple sec with light hints of ginger and marmalade. First sip is fresh orange juice with hints of orange soda. Very grain forward with plenty of orange zest and warming ginger. Aeration brings more marmalade into the taste and a hint of grainy bitterness.

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:

The Kolsch, I must admit, is my least favourite of the Sawdust beers. It is called Gateway for a reason. It is a good jumping off point for people who have only drank macro beers before. Something that they can get their feet wet with, before moving on to more complex and flavourful beers. But the addition of Orange and ginger really makes this beer (I had a couple... while we are being honest...). It elevates the beer from being good to being delicious. I wish I had this for the 2-4 beers of Christmas because it would have been very fitting.

CJT


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Crazy Beard Wild Apple Ale by Sage Mixology

#211 Crazy Beard Wild Apple Ale

Sage Mixology Crazy Beard Ale

Trafalgar Club

Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery, Distillery
Flavoured and Fortified Malt Beverage 
5.2 % ABV Aluminium Can 473 ml.
$2.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @crazybeardale

I picked this beer (so to speak) up because it looked really cool. Sad proof that even I can get drawn in by flashy marketing (OOOH Shiny!) It wasn't until I was back at headquarters that I realised this was a "malt beverage" not a beer. And it wasn't even until I sat down to taste it that I realised that the drink was fortified with neutral spirits (ie unrefined alcohol). So I contemplated not including this offering in the blog. I have done ciders and fringe drinks before though, so I let this one slide. The terminology on the can is actually what is most disappointing. It is positioned as a "Wild Apple Ale." It becomes quite apparent this is merely a marketing tactic to lure in unsuspecting hipsters who have heard craft beer is in... Plus the ample beard on the cartoon character might get them a little flustered too.

When perusing the can I noticed that "Sage Mixology" held the same address as Trafalgar Ales and Meads. Well, they now call themselves "Trafalgar Club," as they have of late expanded into the distilling business and have started into RTD beverages. (That's Ready To Drink to the layman) A short amount of research later I discovered that they were indeed both branches of the same company. (apple branches so to speak). So tonight's offering is a Malt beverage produced with sugar, barley malt, apple juice, natural and artificial flavours, malic acid, citric acid, neutral spirit caramel colour, and carbonated water. A far cry from beer's four main ingredients of water, malt, hops, and yeast.

With a sense of foreboding... Onto the tasting.

Pours an off-gold, apple juice colour with and INTENSE apple scent the moment the can is cracked. Carbonated like a soda pop the head disperses immediately leaving no trace except some light bubbles trickling up the sides. Nose is a mixture of real and artificial flavours, some apple cider mixed with a strong hit of malic acid. Very sweet but not unpleasant at all. The first sip is like highly sweetened apple juice, followed by some hints of bruised apples. Citric acid, and sour candy notes fall into the background. The finish is a vodka or rum feeling from the fortifying spirits that have been added. Malt is barely present, a light breadiness to remind you that this is supposed to be a beer (or beer-like beverage). Aeration intensifies the citric acid, and gives a light black tea taste.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 1/6 FAIL
Re-Order:  0/6 FAIL
Experience:  2/6 SO-SO


Final Thoughts:

Bin this one into the avoid pile. It is not a beer, it is barely a RTD cocktail. It is merely a sugar and alcohol delivery device for less than with it, wannabe hipsters that think beards are cool. Plus the drink gave me an intense headache probably from the amount of sugar.

Cheers

CJT


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Hops and Bolts India Pale Lager by Mad and Noisy Brewing

# 210 Hops and Bolts India Pale Lager


Mad and Noisy Brewing

Cremore Springs Brewing Company

Creemore, Ontario, Canada
Craft Division of Creemore Springs Brewing Company
A division of MolsonCoors
India Pale Lager 5.3% ABV Aluminium Can 473 ml
$2.90 (Canadian) LCBO

Twitter:  @CreemoreSprings 

It has been awhile since we have been down to Creemore Springs. We have already discuss their main core brands, so it was about time that I got around to their off-shoot brewing project Mad and Noisy. Named for the two rivers that merge at Creemore, Mad and Noisy is their experimental label, not unlike B-Side at Beau's All Natural. Currently they only have the two labels running... This one and a saison called Sunny and Share (No not Sonny and Cher...) Tonight's offering is a take on a West Coast IPA merged with a Pale Ale, merged with a Lager... too ambitious? Well let's see.

Onto the Noise...

Pours a clear dark honey colour with a generous off-white head made up of  small to medium bubbles.Very light grain nose with very light hints of citrus and caramel. The first sip is malt forward like a West coast IPA but even then it is still very light flavoured. Bitter herbs and grass follow the attack with a lingering tinny taste. Aeration brings forward the west coast style of malt, and the hops are present. However the taste profile is slightly discombobulated and lacks a continuity or flow.


Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 3/6 SO-SO
Re-Order:  2/6 SO-SO
Experience:  3/6 SO-SO


Final Thoughts:

Not a great offering. Seems rather unfinished for a finished product. I see what they were trying to do, but I find it just doesn't come together for them. So not all the way into the "Avoid Pile" because there is some merit to the beer, and I am sure there are plenty of people that will like it. I however, do not. That being said, do not let it stop you from trying it yourself. I would love to hear some other thoughts on it.

Cheers

CJT


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Breakfast in Bed Valentine's Beer Sawdust City Brewing Company

# 209 Breakfast in Bed

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Flavoured American Pale Ale 
4.3 % ABV 20 oz Draft 592 ml.
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter: @SawdustCityBeer

Another Pint Jockey on location this week at Sawdust City. The Lads and Ladies there have been working overtime it seems cranking out so many new beers it's almost like Christmas walking into the saloon. (They have another one coming out this weekend!) I meant to get to this beer earlier (as it was put out for Valentine's Day...) BUT... well, stuff always gets in the way of my best laid plans. Tonight's beer, they started with their Golden Beach Pale Ale, an American Pale Ale, and infused it with cranberries and hibiscus.

With hearts afire....

Pours a hazy orange cranberry colour with a light skiff of an off-white head. Nose is very floral, with hints of sweet roses, candies, red berries. The first sip is fruity, sweet and sour. Light tropical fruit flavours run throughout and it is slightly tart with big notes of Maynard's Wine Gums candies. Effervescent on the back of the tongue like a fizzy candy. Hints of lemony cranberry sauce. Aeration accentuates the cranberry and lemon with a hint of bitterness from the hops.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS

Re-Order:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Experience:  5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

It is a lovely floral scented fruity beer, that makes me think of flowers and candy. Easy drinking, lower in alcohol. One would not mind sipping one or two of these. Share one with your sweetie, before they come up with something new at Sawdust!

CJT


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Triple Bogey Premium Lager

# 208 Triple Bogey Premium Lager


Triple Bogey Brewing & Golf Co.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Independent Contract Brewery
Lager 5.0% ABV Aluminum Can 473 ml
$2.50 (Canadian) LCBO

Twitter: @Triplebogey

Triple Bogey is a contract brewery (that is it's product is brewed under an agreement with another brewery)., and it's Headquartered in the Beach in Toronto. Literally right around the corner from where I used to live. We will skirt quickly around the issue of the term "Beach" as it means so much to many different people. But it is generally accepted to be bounded on the south by Lake Ontario and the north by Kingston Road, and runs basically along Queen Street East from Coxwell to Victoria Park. It encompasses Ashbridges Bay, Woodbine and Kew Beach (although some include the famous Leslie Spit as well). It is one of the Oldest settled sections of Toronto and was the location of the first Horse Racing track. If you are a movie buff you would know that the famous movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was filmed in part there. And it is one of my favourite places in Toronto. Triple bogey is an interesting blend of businesses as it not only produces beer, but it sells a line of golfing apparel. (Well beer and swag DO go well together as we all know). Their aim was to produce a light, crisp lager, for consumption by the golfing enthusiast.

Let's see how well they did...


Pours a clear light gold with a small but sturdy off-white head made up of small bubbles. The nose is grassy with light citrus and clean malt smell. Very light in body, the first sip is mineral, citrus, hints of white bread and a slight tartness. Aeration brings out the grassy hops.

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:  4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

I see what you did there!

Lagers have fallen out of favour with me as I find them often too lacking in flavour. That being said, This one is designed with golfers in mind, so I must put myself in the mind of one. Only having golfed about 2, maybe 3 times in my life I quickly discovered there were two thing wrong with my golf game: my drive and my putt... so as you can see I stuck to beer. But as I remembered, golfing is hot sweaty business and a crisp clean refreshing beer is what you look forward to. I would certainly say this would not be amiss on the golf course or the 19th hole for that matter. Not particularly the beer I would choose to relax to but if you enjoy Steamwhistle, Creemore, or any other the other craft lagers this beer is for you. Grab a can and try it. By the way, the logo on the can was my most favourite part (sorry, it's hard to see in the picture) but the T and the B of Triple Bogey forms an icon in the shape of a +3 (or a triple bogey in golf). Nice touch guys!

CJT


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Double Dunk Forked River Brewing Company

# 207 Double Dunk Weizenbock

Forked River Brewing Company

London, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Imperial Weizenbock 8.2% 10 oz Draft Tulip Glass
$7.25 (Canadian) At the Sawdust City Brewery guest Tap

Twitter: @forkedriverbrew

Down to Forked River of London Ontario today. I have had one of their beers before, but it didn't make it into the blog. Forked River starts their own Bio out like a classic Joke "Two Biologists and an Engineer walk into a bar..." But instead of a punchline we get some amazing beer. Dave Reed, Andrew Peters, and Steve Nazarian all met through a regional homebrewing association. As their friendship grew, the job market for their professions started to dwindle in London, and not wanting to move their families they decided to work for themselves. So Forked River was born in 2012.  The other beer that I have had by them, was the Riptide Rye Pale Ale, and I must confess it was delicious. I only wish I had taken notes for the blog. If I can get my hands on some again I will... stay tuned. Until then we shall sample this beer right here...

Already a mouthful in a name... The Double Dunk Weizenbock. Onto the tasting.

Pours a cloudy chocolate brown with an off-tan head made up of small bubbles. Nose is vegetative like tomatoes, and smells of hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce, like a really strong Caesar (drink... not salad my American friends!). First sip is intense, woody, spicy, umami laden, rich and creamy. Clove and cinnamon intensify through the middle and then the beer softens out to a tart tangy breadiness with a hint of sourness. As the beer warms up, chocolate appears with some oak, caramel, and vanilla in the background.  Aeration whips the beer up like fresh cream and  brings out the alcohol. intensifies the baking spices, light hints of banana, and enhances the chocolate.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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


Final Thoughts:

Another massive beer. You feel all of it's 8.2% ABV. But such complexity! Layers upon layers of flavour. It is a real "thinking beer." One you definitely want to sit down and ponder. What struck me the most is the "Umami" in this beer. Umami is a borrowed Japanese word that means "pleasant savoury." In essence umami is the meatiness, the roundness, the completeness of a satisfying flavour. It's that deep mushroomy flavour, or the flavour of a seared steak. And it was all through this beer. The would certainly be an excellent food beer, and I would love to cook a nice beef stew with it. I suggest you grab one and taste it for yourself. 

CJT


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Long Dark Voyage to Uranus Sawdust City Brewing Company

# 206 Long Dark Voyage to Uranus

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent
(Uranal) Imperial Stout 10.2% Aluminium Can 473 ml.
$5.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter: @SawdustCityBeer

Okay, Let's see if I can make it through this post without sophomoric jokes about your anus. (Damn!). Now, I know some of you out there are saying "It's pronounced YOU-ran-IS." Sadly, you would be wrong. It is a pet peeve of mine, because I actually remember the news story where US teachers were petitioning to have the name changed because they could not stand the jokes and giggling when they were trying to teach astronomy. It is, for the record, pronounced "U-ray-nus" and has been since it's discovery in 1781 by Sir William Herschel the German born, British Astronomer... (well, okay he actually named it George's Star, after King George III, but other astronomers convinced him to name it Uranus). Uranus is named for the Greek God Ouranos god of the skies, who became Uranus when the Romans assimilated the Greek Gods into their mythology.

Okay, rant over, back to our beer. Tonight's offering is Sawdust City's most anticipated seasonal of the year. Long Dark Voyage is a (HUGE) 10.2% Imperial Stout, which I guess is why it is out of this world. 

Well, we have waited long enough... let the voyage commence...

Pours a cosmically dark brown/black with a good sized tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is rich coffee and dark chocolate with toasted bread, a slight nuttiness, some wood, and a touch of vanilla. First sip is deep and dark malt, some lightly burnt sugar and a good strong hit of dark cocoa powder. Very earthy with a good backbone of bitterness from the magnum and centennial hops. One feels all of the 10.2% alcohol in every sip (not for the faint of heart... or liver).  Mouthfeel is slightly viscous and tongue coating, making the lips slightly tacky  like one has just eaten ribs and has not removed all of the BBQ sauce yet. Aeration was dangerous... it was like snorting a martini, pure alcohol (I actually coughed a little!). After trying a second time, the aeration whipped the beer like heavy cream and deepened the chocolate flavour, softened the bitterness, but accentuated the tartness of the hops.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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


Final Thoughts:

Wow. If I was ever on a long dark voyage to... well... y'know, I would want this beer and plenty of it. Full bodied, rich, thick, delicious. This has been number one on my "must try" list for some time, as it was the first beer from Sawdust City that I had heard of. It did not disappoint. It is just hitting shelves and I believe it is going to the LCBO. So get out there and try a voyage of your own. Just remember, 10.2 % ABV, share with a friend.

CJT


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8th Sin Black Lager Hop City Brewing Company

#205 8th Sin Black Lager

Hop City Brewing Company

Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Saint John, New Brunswick
Wholly Owned Craft Beer Subsidiary of Moosehead Breweries
Black Lager
5.0 % ABV 473 ml Aluminium Can 
$2.85 (Canadian) At LCBO 

Twitter: @HopCityBrewing

Another trip down to Hop City... (Sounds like a song). I was quite enamoured with this can and it's "Dias de Muertos" (Day of the Dead) decorated skull. The skull motif is very popular in Mexico where it is a remembrance of family and friends that have passed. Families travel to cemeteries to clean and maintain graves and then enjoy a feast and party to celebrate their lost loved ones. A special treat is often given to the children on this day a "Calavera" a decorated sugar skull. (I've had one, it's like eating a giant sugar cube, but very fun!)

Examples of Calavera

The 8 in 8th sin refers to the eight different malt used to produce is very dark colour.

Onto our tasting...

Pours and inky brown/black with fluffy off-tan head made up of small bubbles, that disperse quickly. Aroma is sweet malt, burnt sugar, licorice and vanilla. First sip is caramel, coffee, and nuts. Body is very light, almost watery. Finish is funky marijuana scented hops. Aeration accentuates the vanilla caramel, and slight mocha hints.

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:  4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

Very refreshing and a surprising amount of flavour. Like a lager and a very light stout had a baby. However the body is very weak, a problem I noted with another Hop City beer, Hopbot IPA. Which is surprising because I am a fan of their other beer Barking Squirrel, which is not shy in the flavour or body department. Is it a good beer? Yes, very much so. Tasty? Indeed. Should you try it? Of course. Would I buy it again? Probably not... I do like my beers to have a little oomph.

CJT


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