Brewery: Sleeping Giant Brewing Company
Type: Independent Microbrewery Est.: 2012
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Beer Style: American Red Ale
ABV: 5.1 % IBU: 45
Format: Aluminium Can Size: 473 ml
Ok so maybe this isn't a Christmas beer... however, picking it up at the local sure felt like Christmas to me. Before we get started we have to discuss something very important. Who is the Greatest Canadian Superhero? I'll give a list to choose from:
Captain Canuck, Captain Canada, Aurora, Betty Barrett, Box, Centrix, Commander Steel, Diamond Lil, Fleur de Lys, Flex, Guardian, Iron Man (No not that Iron Man... the OTHER Iron Man) Major Maple Leaf, Northguard, Northstar, Puck, Radius, Sasquatch, Shaman, Snowbird, Talisman, Vindicator, Deadpool, or Wolverine...
go on, think about it I'll wait...
Nope... It's:
Mr. Canoehead Canada's Greatest Aluminum Crimefighter.
For the younger sports fans in the audience, way back many years ago, when there were only 3 channels on TV and you had to put the TV on channel 3 to play your VCR or your NES. There was a comedy sketch variety show called "Four on the Floor" (That's a reference to a manual transmission in a car for all you Millenials (or its also the beat rhythm for disco and electronic music for you music nerds) ). I can't remember if it aired Friday or Sunday night on CBC and I think it was on right before Kids in the Hall. (edit... I did some more research and The Frantics started out on CBC Radio in the 1970's and this is where Mr. Canoehead was born. The TV show came later in 1986, 2 years before the Kids in the Hall and is cited as an influence for them.)
The First Episode of Mr. Canoehead... Sorry about the Quality.
Four on the Floor starred the comedy troupe "The Frantics." Paul Chato, Rick Green, Dan Redican, and Peter Wildman made up the group, with Chato playing the titular superhero. It was a series of about 8 sketches where Mr. Canoehead was able to solve goofy crimes that required the use of a canoe stuck to someone's head. My favourite was when he disguised himself as a buffet to catch a thief stealing bacon bits (yes... you read that right...) Sadly "Four on the Floor" only lasted 13 episodes, however, if we can't have more Mr. Canoehead... at least we can drink this beer.
Let's portage through this beer...
Translucent reddish amber in colour with an off-tan head. The aroma is grassy, fresh, straw, hoppy, green, and floral. There are hints of sweetness on the nose. The first sip is a sweet beautiful explosion of flavours, sweet malt and hoppy brightness. The flavour is reminiscent of bold, fruity British ales, with amazing florals and stone fruits. Definitely hints of cherry, plum, and a greenhouse full of flowers. This is a beer I could drink over and over and not get tired of. Aeration is a burst of fruit and malty sweetness.
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
Christmas Cheer 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Final Thoughts:
This is by far the best red ale I have ever tried. One sip and I am sitting in a pub in England. The dry hopping gives the beer a fruity floral quality that makes this beer perfect. You actually have to slow yourself down when you are drinking this beer otherwise you will burn through the can way too fast. This could easily be one of my new favourite Ontario beers. Get this one as soon as you can.
So Paul Chato has a Vlog now and I was thrilled when this video popped up when I searched for the Mr. Canoehead Episodes.
Here is Mr. Canoehead... drinking Mr. Canoehead. This was around the time of the launch of the beer and Sleeping Giant sent Mr. Chato a case of beer to try.
Cheers
CJT
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