The Pint Jockey Online: My Toronto Day Trip

Toronto Day Trip, A Play, and Ontario Craft Beer.

So, on the 9th of November, I managed to sneak down to Toronto with The Queen of Pint Jockey Headquarters, and we actually got to take in a play. Something neither of us has really done recently. We went to the Randolph Theatre in Mirvish Villiage and took in "EVIL DEAD, the Musical." No, we did not sit in the "Splatter Zone." A fact which we were kind of glad for because we had to drive back to Muskoka, and didn't necessarily need to mess up the seats in the car. For the uninitiated, EVIL DEAD's "Splatter Zone" is the very front section of the orchestra seats. If you sit there you are guaranteed to get COVERED in stage blood (And I mean COVERED). They hand out oversized T-shirts to minimised the clothing destruction, but stage blood is quite good at washing out. It's a combination of corn syrup and water-soluble dyes. Nevertheless, you leave a sticky mess. They don't even let you leave the theatre through the front, you have to go out the back across a walkway that has been carefully taped off with plastic. The play was incredible. Wonderfully funny and capped a great day. It runs in Toronto until November 19th, 2017, and there are a few tickets left. If you like the Evil Dead movies you will love the play.

Yes. That Says Blood Case 1 of 3 (Giant Steamer Trunk)

Before the play, we got to walk around a bit and hit a few places to taste some beer.

Harbord House

150 Harbord Street.

harbordhouse.ca

We started at the Harbord House for lunch it is a nice little Gastropub serving a good selection of Ontario Craft Beers and Ciders. I had the Burger and The Queen had the Vegetarian Sandwich, Both were quite good, but most sincerely, they had the best fries I had ever tasted. They were Yukon gold potato fries and were just delicious. A definite highlight of the meal.

Onto my beers.

Fresh Hop EPA

Beer # 379

County Durham Brewing Company

Fresh Hop EPA Cask Ale

4.5 abv

Clear to brilliant gold with a solid white head made of small bubbles. Aroma is bright and green with some medicinal hints and caramel malt. First sip is light and airy with fresh green hops, very English style light ale with the hops adding a nice fruity funk. aeration gives us some black tea and pear with hints of light citrus.

Henderson's Best

Beer # 380

Henderson Brewing Company

Henderson's Best Bitter Ale

5.5% ABV

Pours a light clear mahogany with a thin off-site head. aroma is slightly smoky and rich caramel. First sip is light chocolaty and fruity. a light effervescent. hints of caramel and malt with hints of coffee. aeration gives us some woodsy notes and mild hints of molasses.

Kensington Brewing Company

299 Augusta Avenue

www.kensingtonbrewingcompany.com

Ever since they opened in the heart of my favourite community in Toronto, I have been keen to get down to the Kensington Brewing Company. Their new location is shiny and clean, mildly claustrophobic, and filled with good beer. Sitting at the tasting bar you almost have the fermentation tanks at your back.

Paired up with some impressive hand-blown glass light fixtures that look like over-inflated beer bottles. the place is very unique and a cosy spot to slip in for a flight.

Here is what I tried.

Gamelle Grisette

Beer # 381

Gamelle Grissete

4.6% ABV 15 IBU

Pale straw in colour with a thin white head slightly cloudy. Aroma is citrus and pepper with good wheat notes. First sip gives us banana and clove some medicinal hops with a hint of bitterness to clear the palate. Aeration gives us a zippy dingy tongue biting citrus with hints of green apple on the finish.

Beer # 382

Low Boy NE Pale Ale with Apricots

4.3% ABV 20 IBU

Cloudy off gold with no head. aroma is very fruity with strong hints of pine. First sip is TONS of grapefruit hints of pink pepper sweet and tart apricot fading into a green pine finish. aeration gives us some mild citrus pith with hints of zest and some woodsy notes.

Final Thought: I believe this was my favourite beer of the day.

Fall Saison w Pepper

Beer # 383

Fall Saison with Black Pepper

6.5% ABV 24 IBU

Slightly cloudy medium gold in colour with a thin skiff of an off-white head. aroma is wheat and banana. Hints of pepper and a touch of clove. First sip is warming and wheaty, with background notes of black pepper. aeration gives us the classic Belgian combo of banana and clove with a slightly toasty, baking spice finish.

Beer #384

Neu Rodes Dark Sour Cherry Flander's Red.

5.7% ABV 14 IBU

Red-brown in colour with barely a skiff of head. aroma is malty and sweet. First sip is very sour. fruity sweet and tart. tastes like unripe fruit. coffee and chocolate follow with hints of old smoke.

Final Thought: This one didn't sit well with me. I could not put my finger on why exactly, however, something in this beer did not appeal to me. Which is very odd as I am a huge sour cherry fan. Perhaps I have just not had enough Flander's Reds.

Beer # 385

Bonne Faim

Bonne Faim Strong Belgian with Hibiscus

8.0% ABV

Darker gold with a light off-white head aroma is wheat and some floral sweetness. First sip is quite sweet with hints of hibiscus and banana aeration brings out more sweetness almost syrupy.

Final Thought: This beer did not hit the mark with me either. A little too sweet and the hibiscus was too subtle. Not a bad beer by any means... just not for me.

A Crafty Lineup

Crafty Coyote

511 Bloor Street West

craftycoyote.ca

Last Stop before the show and some Fajitas to fill our bellies, oh.. And they had 30 taps to choose from. 20 Craft Beers and 10 Ciders. (should have taken a picture, bad Pint Jockey...)

These are my picks.

Blood Brothers
Shumei IPA

Beer # 386

Blood Brothers Brewing Shumei IPA

7.0 ABV 70 IBU

Pours a cloudy gold with a short off-white head made up of tiny bubbles. Aroma is citrus pineapple and light hints of pine. First sip is warming and tart with a slight sourness. Notes of pineapple cilantro

and parsley. Lips are left slightly sticky. Aeration gives us a very herbal finish.

Final Thought: Definite runner-up for the day, a great IPA.

St. Mary Axe
Canadian Best Bitter

Beer # 387

St Mary Axe Canadian Best Bitter

4.6 ABV 32 IBU

Pours a golden copper with an off-white head made up of tiny bubbles. aroma is caramel and fruit. First sip is malty, hoppy, smooth and creamy with lots of bubbly body.

Final Thought: I was excited this was a new brewery for me, I had not even heard of it yet. I really liked this beer and I can't wait to try more from these new brewers.

Beer # 388

High Park Brewing Company
Across the Pond

High Park Brewing Company Across the Pond ESB

5.5% ABV

Pours copper gold with a thin white head made up of tiny bubbles aroma is malty with hints of toast First sip is warm and creamy with fruit and nuts hints of bright green hops and mild bitterness.

and nuts.

Cowbell
McNall's Mission

Beer # 389

Cowbell Brewing McNall's Mission Brown Ale

4.8% ABV 20 IBU

Colour is light mahogany with an off-tan head. aroma is sweet with some light spice and lots of malt. First sip is quite sweet but not cloying hints of molasses and brown sugar touches of leather and old wood.

Final Thought: This is another brewery I am looking forward to go to, perhaps next summer.

Well, that was my road trip I hope you enjoyed my notes as much as I enjoyed tasting the beers. I hope to get down to Toronto again soon, there were so many more places I wanted to get to, but just didn't have time. Until then.

Cheers

CJT

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