Twin Pines IIPA Sawdust City

# 226 Twin Pines IIPA

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Independent Microbrewery
Double IPA 
8.8 % ABV 10 oz Draft (296 ml.)
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter: @sawdustcitybeer

When this Brew House hits 88 Brews you're going to see some serious shit...

I have been trying to get this post up for over a week. I always seem to be tasting this beer last and by the time I hit it my taste buds are in shock and don't want to co-operate (Bring on the light spring summer beers please!!) But finally I am getting around to finishing it. I have enjoyed it and I hope you do too.

So there is a story behind this beer, and it proves that the brewers at Sawdust city are my kinda people. (Beer brewin', beer swillin', movie nerds and I'm okay with that!) They named their original IPA Lone pine I assume to evoke some thoughts of the ruggedly handsome Muskoka region where they now have built their brewery. But it also happens to have a connection with one of the most beloved sci fi movies of all time, "Back to the Future."

As you can see (*Spoiler alert*) before Marty McFly goes back in time, the mall he meets Doc Brown at is called "Twin Pines" (picture right) and when he returns the mall is called "Lone Pine." Why? Because, when the time machine goes into the past, it runs over over one of the "Twin Pines" leaving just the one for the mall to be named after.

It was one of the first (in my memory) of little Easter eggs that directors started putting in movies to see if you were paying attention. There are others but this one was sort of a secret handshake for true movie buffs for a long time (then the Internet happened...). But the significance of that movie to the naming of our brew does not end there. Not only is the beer 8.8% ABV it is the 88th brew at the new brewery in Gravenhurst. And as all of us true movie nerds know... You need to be travelling 88 mph for the flux capacitor to work... and that's when the real shit happens.

Ok, so they know their movies... but do they know their beers, let's find out. Put on your headphones, set the time circuits for 1985, and turn on some Huey Lewis and the news:

Where we are going... we don't need roads... but maybe a pint glass...


Pours a dark peach colour with a fluffy white head made of small bubbles with massive lacing. Aroma is grainy with a deep background of tropical hops. Some grapefruit, some passionfruit. First sip is a light, bright, citrus and tropical fruit infused brew. Some effervescence on the tongue with some light malt and caramel towards the end. Incredibly smooth, alcohol is evident through the middle, slightly hot on the tongue. Plenty of green herbal hops some pine and a little resin. Aeration brings out a sweet caramel, with deep medicinal hops and some grilled pineapple.

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:

This beer has become a favourite here at Pint Jockey Headquarters. There may be great sadness if they decide to stop brewing this one. All around a fantastic beer, and a beautiful compliment to it's sister brew the Lone Pine. (also a favourite here) Get it while you can, but remember... it's 8.8% too many and you may want to go back in time to fix whatever mistakes you made...

Cheers


CJT



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Deforestation Collaboration Sawdust City and Forked River Brewing

Beer # 225 Deforestation
Collaboration

Sawdust City Brewing Company
Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Forked River Brewing Company
London, Ontario

Independent Microbreweries
Imperial Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale
9.1 % ABV 10 oz Draft (296 ml.)
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter @SawdustCityBeer @ForkedRiverBrew

'Tis, apparently, the season of collaboration. Last, (I think) in our string of collabs is this huge, barrel aged brown ale from Sawdust and Forked River in London. Forked River has graces our pages here before, and the beers I have had from them are always fantastic... this one was no exception.

Let's jump right in...

Pours a dark chocolate-black with hints of chestnut. Head is darker tan and short, made up of small bubbles. The nose is deeply complex with aromas ranging from oak to creosote, to pine tar, bourbon tobacco, chocolate, coal dust, molasses and deeply bruleed sugars. First sip is all whiskey.with hints of rye, oak and vanilla. Shades of rye and coke. Nice strong hits of alcohol mixed with malty sugars. Aeration brings out an earthy dusty woody cigar box, with notes of chocolate and cocoa.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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

Final Thoughts:

Wow. Big, bold, great flavour. It would take days to contemplate every nuance of this beer. (But at 9.1% not very feasible!) Alcohol is evident and trust me you will feel it. They served this in a 10 ounce tulip and it still packed more punch than a full pint of normal beer. Sip this one at either brewery in Gravenhurst or London, while you can. But this one is so good it should be a regular seasonal (in my opinion).



Cheers


CJT


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Hwy 69 Sawdust City Stack Brewing Collaboration

Beer # 224 Hwy 69
Collaboration

Sawdust City Brewing Company
Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Stack Brewing Company
Sudbury, Ontario

Independent Microbreweries
Flavoured Belgian Pale or Golden Ale
6.9 % ABV 20 oz Draft (591 ml.)
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter @SawdustCityBeer @StackBrewing

I was very excited to hear about this collaboration as Stack Brewing is one of my picks to be a major up and coming brewery. They had already won a gold medal at the Ontario Brewing Awards for their Belgian Farmhouse ale: Portes de l'Enfers. And a Bronze for the same beer at The Canadian Brewing Awards. They also gleaned headlines for their "All-too-Canadian" dispute with Moosehead over the naming rights to two of their beers. (Friendly Moose and Angry Moose) Essentially I imagine the phone call went like this:

Moosehead: Hello eh? This is Moosehead... you gots them beers named Angry and Friendly Moose. Well we have naming rights for any beer in Canada that has the handle "Moose"

Stack: Oh Geez boy, Didn't know... Sorry.

Moosehead: Sorry.

Stack: I guess we will rename them then... Sorry

Moosehead: Thanks, and sorry.

Okay... maybe a tad stereotypical, but Stack made it clear that the conversation was very friendly and they did agree to change the names. (sorry)

So onto our collaboration...

Pours a slightly hazy dark gold with a thin off-white head made of small bubbles. Bright citrus and mandarin on the nose. First sip gives us more citrus plenty of wheat and at the end a little hit of black pepper. Aeration gives us some tongue prickling heat from the pepper some orange pith a little funky herbal hops mild traces of marijuana. 

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 orange and citrus flavoured which worked well with the golden ale style. The pepper was a nice counterpoint and did not overwhelm the beer at any point. While quite good, I never felt the beer "wowed" me at any point. But nevertheless, it is a nice refreshing beer. Hopefully Stack and Sawdust will collaborate on more beers because I'm pretty sure they could brew up a stellar pint together.



Cheers


CJT



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Black Coal Stout Railway City

Beer # 223 Black Coal Stout

Railway City Brewery

St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Imperial IPA 
6.0 % ABV Aluminum Can 473 ml.
$3.15 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @railwaycity

Down to St. Thomas again and Railway City. After not liking their first few brews I kept hoping I would find some beers that I would like... and I finally did with their Double Dead Elephant IIPA that came out this past summer. Now I must add this beer to the list. I believe this was originally a Christmas seasonal (as it has this slogan on the back of the can...).

But I found one in the local LCBO, It had only been available in gift packs around here before so I was happy to find a few singles.

Onto the coals...


Pours a deep dark chocolate brown with a dark tan head made up of small to medium bubbles. The aroma is earthy, woody, leather, chocolate, and dark malt. First sip is refreshingly light yet deeply malty. Notes of coffee, chocolate, cocoa powder, English toffee and light aromas of herbal hops. Aeration brings out a slight fruitiness, with some toast and a dark chocolate finish.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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

Final Thoughts:

A very nice seasonal and a great take on a nice light bodied stout. Very flavourful, and not overpowering. Makes me hope for some coal in my stocking next year!



Cheers


CJT



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Batch: 1904 Brickworks Ciderhouse

Cider # 9 Batch: 1904

Brickworks Ciderhouse

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Independent Cidery

All Natural Hard Apple Cider 
5.0 % ABV Aluminium Can 500 ml.

$3.10 (Canadian) At LCBO 

Twitter: @BrickworksCider

I have only just begun to hear about Brickworks Ciderhouse and as soon as I saw their first product on the shelf at the local LCBO I knew I had to add it to the blog. I honestly wish I had been able to add this brew to cider week as true hard apple ciders were hard to come by. Everything else seems to have adjuncts. This cider is all natural and tasting it you can tell that a lot of care has been put into it. Longtime friends and first time cider brewers Chris Noll and Adam Gerrits have done their homework and made an excellent brew.

Enough already lets taste the cider...

Pours an almost clear gold, fully transparent with low carbonation. Head is clear-white and made of small bubbles that break almost instantly. Aroma is clear fresh crushed apple juice, with the barest hint of cinnamon. First sip is light and tart with crisp clean apple flavour. No off taste from bruised apples. Lots of cheek puckering natural malic acid, but thankfully free of cloying added sugars and other adjuncts. Aeration gives us apple skins and hints of an almost citrusy flavour. Touches of cinnamon and the long lingering feeling of a big bite from a freshly picked macintosh apple. 


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:

I am suitably impressed. This is a great first outing for The Brickworks. A very clean crisp dry cider that should do a bang up business on the patios this summer. I hope they do not rest on their laurels... While this is an excellent product, I think a nice barrel aged cider and perhaps a mulled cider for fall would compliment their line immensely. While this may be a great summer sipper, I could also see this being used for cooking quite easily, When I taste it I think of bacon cider mussels, apple jelly, and cider glazed pork tenderloin (just not all at the same time...).

Cheers

CJT


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Terrible Ted Red Lake of Bays Signature Series

Beer # 222

Terrible Ted Red Saison
NHL Alumni Signature Series

Lake of Bays Brewing Company

Baysville, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Belgian Rousse 6.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml
$11.95 (Canadian) At LCBO 

Twitter: @LB_brewing @NHLAlumni



The large red seven on the bottle says we are doing another Lake of Bays NHL Alumni collaboration Signature Series. Co-incidentally I just did a quick count and this happens to be the seventh edition in the collaboration. The highlighted player this time around is Renfrew Ontario native Ted Lindsay. 

Robert Blake "Terrible" Ted Lindsay was born on July 29th, 1925 to former NHA/ NHL goalie Leslie Bertrand Lindsay who had previously played for the Montreal Wanderers (Later Canadiens) and the Toronto Arenas (Later Maple Leafs). At the age of 19, Ted's junior hockey career had caught the eye of the scouts and he was invited to try out for the Detroit Red Wings. He soon found himself playing left wing with Sid Abel and Gordie Howe on the aptly named "Production Line." Six years into his NHL career, in 1950, Ted helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup, a feat they would repeat 3 more times: in 1952 and back to back in 1954-55. In the 1955 Stanley Cup Ted Lindsay was the first player to pick up the cup and skate around the ice with it. He did not loft it over his head and his only intention was to take it up to the boards so the fans could see it up close. The Victory Lap is now almost an institution where each player on the winning team skates a lap around the ice with the cup. Ted Earned his nickname by being a rough character, so rough in fact he was the reason the NHL instituted penalties for Elbowing and Kneeing. Not only tough on the ice, Ted Lindsay attracted unwanted attention from the team owners off the ice as well. In 1957 When Ted discovered that the amount of money in the players pension fund was being covered up and he realised that so many players were struggling to survive, often having to take summer jobs to make ends meet, he and fellow player Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens secretly contacted all of the players in the league and quietly formed the NHLPA The National Hockey League Player's Association. Needless to say the Owners were furious. Ted Lindsay was stripped of his captain's C and he and Doug Harvey were both traded. The Owners spread rumours and lies about him trying to discredit him. But the NHLPA eventually came out on top. Player's salaries improved, and they received better benefits. The NHLPA became a union in 1967 and still represents players to this day.

For his part in the founding of the NHLPA The Lester B. Pearson Award for the NHL's most outstanding player was renamed the Ted Lindsay Award in 2010.

After 3 years as a Chicago Black Hawk Ted Lindsay returned to Detroit for one last season, in 1960, under the coaching of his former linemate Sid Abel. In 1966 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. and in the 1960's and 70's he served as announcer and on air commentator for the New York Rangers. Ted's jersey number hangs alongside his "Production Line" teammate's numbers in the Joe Louis Arena where it was retired in 1998. Since then Ted has been active in philanthropy.

Onto our beer...

Pours a dark orange-red with an off-tan head with a strong reddish tint in it. Head is short but long-lived and made of small bubbles. Aroma is strong with malt lots of roasty caramel and some light hints of citrus and spice, especially clove. First sip is slightly tart, a tad sour, Good caramel, some banana, more allspice and clove extended flavours of wheat Aeration gives us a woody caramel with a light spicy finish.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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


Final Thoughts:

The most striking thing about this beer, and the aspect of it I loved the most was the colour. It was a gorgeous liquid that shimmered and shifted in hues as the light struck it. Truly living up to it's name, red shone through just about everywhere. So far this is the lowest alcohol of the signature series and I think it is the most sedate. While it is an great example of a Belgian Rousse... it's just a tad unassuming. Beyond the obvious there is not a lot going on. Is it a good beer? Yes, definitely. Should you try it? Of course. Is it in the same league as its predecessors? Well... not really. All the other signature series beers have been bold and larger than life. This one seems to be riding the pine while the others are out scoring hat tricks. But therein I am comparing apples and oranges and it's just my opinion... Bottom line, it's a very good beer and you should try it.
Cheers


CJT


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Pi day Cherry Pi Saison, Sawdust City

# 221 Cherry Pi Saison
Collaboration

Sawdust City Brewing Company
Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Block 3 Brewing Company
St. Jacob's, Ontario

Independent Microbreweries
Flavoured Saison/ Farmhouse
3.14 % ABV 20 oz Draft (591 ml.)
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter @SawdustCityBeer @Blockthree

Happy Pi Day Sports Fans!!!

Just a quick tasting tonight of the Sawdust City Brewery and Block 3 Brewery Collaboration. It's a belgian style Farmhouse saison flavoured with locally grown Niagara cherries.

Onto the Tasting...


Pours an orange tinted reddish brown with a thin white head made of small bubbles. Aroma is very wheaty with the barest hint of cherries. First sip gives us a very wheat forward  brew with some tart fruit and a touch of sourness. The cherries seem more like background noise and are very subtle. Body is very light. Aeration gives us a slight more fruit and the barest hint of banana.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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


Final Thoughts:

I did not enjoy this beer sadly. I was so excited to try it but the cherry was just not there. I was looking forward to it as well. I was hoping for a nice refreshing sessionable saison with big bursting cherries, and it just didn't happen. The colour was washed out, and the beer just felt rushed. Try it if you like farmhouse ales, but don't expect a lot of cherry.

Cheers

CJT


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The Princess and Girlpants Meet the O.D.B. Sawdust City

# 220 The Princess and Girlpants meet the O.D.B.

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Barrel Aged Wheat 
9.5 % ABV 10 oz Draft (296 ml.)
$6.50 (Canadian) At the brewery

Twitter: @SawdustCityBeer

This is a version of the Princess Wears Girlpants Wheat beer I have been waiting for. 10 months ago Sawdust brewed this beer up and socked it away in Chardonnay barrels. (Yes the O.D.B. means Old Dirty Barrel... what did you think it meant?). They added a touch of Brett and let the beer simmer. Then... To confound everybody they split the batch in two. The draught version, which I am doing today, they dry hopped and served fresh. The second half of the batch they added more yeast, canned it and left it to sit in the warm area of the brewery  (can conditioning). Phase 2 of this tasting will be the canned version in a week or two (of which I am looking forward to very much). I was enjoying the sights at the brewery today I actually saw Stack Brewery deliver the "69" collaboration A Belgian pale ale brewed with black pepper... so I am looking forward to that beer soon... and On Saturday I will be back at the brewery for Pi Day. Sawdust is Releasing their Pi Day Cherry Saison Collab with Block 3 Brewing Company on 3/14 at 1:59 pm (Pi is equal 3.14159 for all of you non-math people...)

Enough talk about the future... let's talk about the now... Introducing the Princess!

Pours a cloudy umber orange/ brown with a light off-white head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is passionfruit, grapefruit fresh grass and a hint of sour candies. First sip is grapey, tart, zesty and woody. Citrus and grapefruit peal with hints of guava and passionfruit. Strong hints of tart oak, some tannin, and a touch of leather. Aeration gives us a grapey citrus shine followed up by more intense bitter orange peel.

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 a great beer... probably one I would not end up drinking a lot of (mainly because of the 9.5% ABV) But one you can certainly sit back and enjoy a glass of. This is intensely fruity. I overheard that they dry hopped with 5 Kg of Amarillo hops per barrel (don't quote me I was eavesdropping...) which would explain the explosive tropical fruit aromas. But nonetheless, this is a big, fruity, drinkable version of the Princess, grab it while you can. And stay tuned for the can conditioned version.

Cheers

CJT


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Cuvee van de Kaiser - Blauw (2014) Het Anker

# 219 Gouden Carolus Cuvee van de Kaiser (2014) - Blauw

Het Anker

Mechelen Belguim 
Independent

Imperial Dark Ale 11.0% ABV 
Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml

$8.90 (Canadian) At LCBO.

Het Anker (or The Anchor) is a brewery we have visited before. We did the Hopsinjoor quite some time ago. This beer, The Grand Cuvee of the King is brewed to be released every February 24th in celebration of the birthday of Charles Quint. Charles was born in 1500 in Ghent Belgium and went on to become Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.  The beer is a variation of the Gouden Carolus Classic, with deeper and richer flavours.

All Hail the King...

Pours a rich chocolate brown with an off-tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is licorice, molasses, baking spices, and dark rye bread. First sip is rich dark malt with plenty of sugars. Caramel, bread, nutmeg. mouthfeel is creamy, very full bodied. There is a lingering of sugar syrup on the finish. Aeration accentuates the toasty bready notes, and intensifies the spice aromas, as well as a woody, oak barrel flavour. Finish is long lingering and sweet.

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:

Deep dark and rich, this is a lovely Belgian dark. Have this with some food or a friend as the 11% ABV can hit you like a hammer. 

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!

Cheers

CJT


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Warlock, Southern Tier Brewing Company

Beer # 218 Warlock
Blackwater Series

Southern Tier Brewing Company
Lakewood, New York, USA
Independent Microbrewery
Imperial  Flavoured Pumpkin Stout 
8.6% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml.
$7.50 (Canadian) At LCBO.

Twitter: @STBCBeer

This beer actually came out in September of last year as a Halloween seasonal. I have only just found one pop up in my local LCBO. So I thought I would give it a try, despite the fact that this will probably not be available again until this September. We have done a couple of Southern Tier Brewing Company Beers before, notably their Crème Brûlée Stout which is also in the Blackwater Series and their 2XIPA and Gemini. They are quite the good little New York Brewery and I am happy to try any new beer of theirs that I find. This one did not disappoint either!

Onto the tasting...

Pours a very dark chestnut brown with a darker tan head made up of small bubbles. The head is short and the beer is not overly carbonated. The aroma is dark malt, roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, ginger biscuits, molasses, frothed milk, a hint of custard. First sip gives us a sweet, roasted, nutty and spicy beer. Sweet malt comes out at the finish as does more gingersnap and gingerbread cookies. Deep velvety mouthfeel, and very rich and sweet. Lips are sticky from the beer. Aeration amps up the biscuit notes with lots of almonds and sweet roasted pumpkin. Finish is dark malt deep sugars and molasses and caramel.

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 OH so much a food beer. While being excellent on its own, my belly wanted some food to balance it. The alcohol is sneaky you can barely feel it, but halfway into your glass the cheeks get a little warm. Pair this up with something meaty, a burger some stew, or even a nice steak... and sip it with a friend. Southern Tier says pair this with some ice cream... I say... make it into ice cream!

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!

Cheers

CJT


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