The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2019 Day: 19 Aurora Heart Chocolate Raspberry Stout

Beer # 519 Aurora Heart Chocolate Raspberry Stout

Brewery: Flying Monkeys Brewing Company


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2004

Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Flavoured Milk Stout

ABV: 7.1%      IBU: N/A

Forma: Brown Glass Bottle  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $4.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

theflyingmonkeys

    @flyingmonkeys

I haven't done too many Flying Monkey's beers, and honestly, I don't know why that is. Their beers are more often than not quite good, and checking out the incredible boxes and stories on their packaging is as much as a treat as the beer itself.

Tonight's beer is Aurora Heart a Flavoured milk stout loaded with chocolate and raspberries.

Onto our beer...

Pours a translucent dark chocolate brown with an off-tan head made of small bubbles. The aroma is deep and rich chocolate with hints of sweet milk. Raspberries smell fresh and ripe. The first sip is dessert in a glass. Framboise truffles filled with unctuous ganache. Chocolate syrup and whisky round out the major flavours. Aeration brings out the super-ripe raspberries and cream.

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:


Fantastic beer! It really makes me think of a raspberry chocolate truffle. So much so I had to make some raspberry truffles for Christmas. Perfect for the holidays or Tuesdays... you should pick one up.

Cheers

CJT

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Redline Brewhouse Visit

Redline Brewhouse

Independent Brewpub/Microbrewery

Barrie, Ontario

Twitter: @rlbrewhouse

So I have had a few Redline beers before but I had always wanted to get down to their brewpub. As it is just in Barrie and barely an hour away one would think this is an easy task. However, in reality it has taken me almost a year since I heard of them to actually walk through their doors. Tucked in the centre of a strip mall on Bayview Street in the South of Barrie. A stones throw from the Barrie Colt's hockey arena and the large Park Place "Mega Store" shopping area (That used to be Molson Park Ontario's former best outdoor music venue where I saw Kim Mitchell Alannah Myles, Vince Neil and Van Halen, among others). Large and boxy but open and still inviting The aviator themed brewhouse boasts a small seating area separated from the brewing floor by a short wall and some glass for brew gawking. The small swag shop offers the usual glassware and t-shits, hats, plus cans, bottles, and a growler fill.

The bar supports 12 taps divided up into core beers, seasonals, and guest taps. When I was there they were offering beers from Left Field Brewery, Muddy York Brewing Company, and Folly Brewing, all out of Toronto. The names of all the beers were dutifully marked on a large chalkboard just to the right of the large TV playing soccer. To the left of the bar is a semi open kitchen, still sparkling like new, and very quiet and orderly. The only real sound was a very polite "service please" every time one of the kitchen's creations moved into the window, Speaking of creations, I don't generally talk about food, but Redline had a lovely charcuterie  platter on offer that day (pictured below). For $18 CAD this quite large (almost too much for two people) consisted of blue cheese marinated in Hops across the Pond beer, pesto sun-dried tomatoes, maple horseradish cheese, Genoa Salami, prosciutto, olives, pickles artichokes, and the star of the platter, bacon jalapeno jam. The platter was delicious, and paired well with the beers.

The Beer

The beers that I have had, such as Clutch, Cruise Control, 396 (all IPAs) were guest taps up here at Sawdust City, and were quite good I must say. So I was quite excited to try some of the beers that haven't made it out of their taproom. Some of the beers are pictured below, I seemed to miss taking a picture of one of the racks (sorry)

L to R: 5:01, Double Clutch IIPA, Diving Horse, Grandstand 

L to R: Clutch, Air Ride IPA, Grandstand (again) Second Smile

Ok. Enough preliminaries, onto the tasters:

Main Beers

Kollision  

Kolsch 

ABV 5.3% IBU 37

Light gold in colour with a tropical fruit and hoppy nose. Sweet grapefruit and citrus with some fresh green hops fading out to a malty finish.

Holeshot  

English style mild brown ale 

ABV 3.7% IBU 19

Chestnut in colour with a light tan head. Smoky hazy nose with hints of charcoal
Lighter and fruition in taste some raisin and chocolate Aeration gives us a burst of malt and some bruleed sugar.

Hops Across the Pond 

Belgian style pale ale 

ABV 4.9%  IBU 21

Clear gold in colour with a thin skiff of a head and some glass lacing. Light tropical fruit nose some sweetness. First sip is lightly wheat and some banana like a light tropical drink. Guava and pineapple in the background

Apropriate Haze 

German Wheat 

ABV 4.8 IBU 21

Hazy translucent gold in colour with a light head made up of tiny off white bubbles. Bananas sugar and clove on the nose and in the first sip hints of cinnamon and fresh baked bread

5:01 

Golden ale 

ABV 4.2 IBU 17

Rich gold in colour toasted hops and singed paper on the nose. Heavy on the German hops (Hallertauer? Maybe? ) taste of rainwater and slightly woody.

Double Clutch IIPA

Imperial India Pale Ale

ABV 8.1 IBU 83

Hazy light gold with a creamy white head. Pineapple and grapefruit on the nose. First sip is hot with alcohol and heavy mouthfeel. .. Slightly  creamy in consistency.  Piney and aromatic with some bitter herbs.

Air ride IPA 

India Pale Ale

ABV 6.1 IBU  67

Cloudy white gold with a vibrant white head made up of small bubbles. Light  nose with hints of tropical fruit. First sip is quite hoppy with strong grapefruit notes fuller mouthfeel with a slight creamy texture. Very fine bubble structure  and gentle after taste.

Guest Taps

Grandstand 

Left Field Brewery, Toronto, Ontario

@LFBrewery
Hopped Wheat

ABV 5.5%

Golden in colour with a light off white head.
Bright green hops on the nose light bodied and fruity hints of pine and touches of incense.

Second Smile 

Folly Brewing/Brewpub, Toronto, Ontario
@FollyBrewing

Sour Summer Saison  

ABV 4.2 

Cloudy and very light gold in colour thin off white head. Juicy peppery and sour nose. Sour candy on the first sip light and fruity. Hints of wheat very very light. Quite drinkable.

Diving Horse APA  
Muddy York Brewing Company, Toronto, Ontario
@MYBrewingCo
American Pale Ale
ABV 5.6

Darker gold in colour with a thin skiff of an off white head. Smoky pine on the nose and rich caramel malt.

Final Thoughts:

Overall a very enjoyable experience, the beers were light fruity and quite refreshing. I would look forward to them doing great things in the future.


Cheers

CJT

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Beer #276 Pacific Jade Wide Body IIPA Barnstormer Brewing

#276 Pacific Jade Wide Body IIPA

Barnstormer  Brewing

Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Brewpub/Brewery
IIPA 9.3 % ABV 
14 oz Pint
$6.25 (Canadian) At the Sawdust City Brewery Saloon (Guest Tap)

Twitter: @BarnstormerBeer

A quick trip out to the pub revealed to me this little gem. A nice IIPA with a good kick of alcohol. Barnstormer really is the little Brewpub that could, some excellent beers come out of this Barrie Brewery... I wish we could get more up this way.

Onto the tasting.

Pours a dark amber with an off-white head made up of tiny bubbles. Nose is hot alcohol malt and caramel hints of tropical fruit and pine.  First sip confirms this is a 9.3 % beer. The alcohol is very present at the start. As is a sweet and smooth malt flavours. Very rich with lots of caramel. Some residual  sugar vanilla and a touch of licorice. Aeration brings out the heat of the alcohol and it bites the tongue a bit. However it is still very smooth for such a high alcohol content. Light hints of wood and cinnamon finish the beer off.

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:

Quite a bit going on in a little glass. Lots of complex flavours, but still quite smooth despite the high alcohol content.

Cheers

CJT

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The Matador Version 2.0 Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

# 203 The Matador Version 2.0: El Toro Bravo

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Imperial Rye Ale Cedar Aged 10.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml.
$10.40 (Canadian) At the Brewery

Twitter: @FlyingMonkeys

Down to the Monkeys again tonight. Just today I heard of a little controversy about The Monkeys and the Ontario Legislature. It seems as though while Anne Hogarth, the MPP for Barrie was trying to question a lobbyist for the Brewers Retail  (The Beer Store) she insulted the brewers, who are employers and revenue generators in her riding. See the text here. If you are from out of province or unaware of the debate The Craft Brewers of Ontario are trying to end the stifling monopoly in Ontario that is The Beer Store. I will be posting an expose on the whole affair shortly... and putting in my two cents as a beer blogger.

But enough about politics.

Tonight's beer is the second version of the beer a 2.0 if you will. The Monkeys wanted to age some beer on spanish cedar. This one is a rye imperial ale. (I love rye beers!!!).

Release the monkeys!

 Pours a very dark amber with a generous off-tan head made up of tiny bubbles. The aroma is spicy, with hints of cedar cigar box, tobacco, and fresh sawn basswood. First sip is deep and malty with burnt toast notes, more blanket box cedar, sweetgrass, and sage. Strong notes of thick dark German rye bread, some caraway. As the beer warms the flavours smooth out and deepen. the cedar/spice is pervasive like expensive incense. It drinks like a grilled reuben sandwich. toasty, malty, bready, charred, spicy, smooth, and creamy. Aeration gives us more cedar, pencil shavings, and earthy wood tones.

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:

My father was a master carpenter. He began building houses in South Wales, UK. when he was 14 years old. Ever since I could stand I remember being with him in his workshop. The smells of freshly cut or planed wood, the spicy, musky sweat of a hard day's work, the inevitable thermos of tea. This beer takes me there. Five years old, steadying a board that my Dad is planing, curls of wood piling at my feet. It's hard to describe this as it actually hit me on an emotional level.  To say the beer is transcendent is an understatement. Obviously, the brewers at Flying Monkeys were not trying to send an old farm boy turned blogger back in time. What they did do was, create a very deep, flavourful beer, with incredible aromatic wood notes. I can not guarantee you will be transported to another time and place if you drink this beer... you will however be amazed at its complexity and character, just as I was. The bottles left are in short supply, get them while you can.


CJT


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Beer # 194 The Chocolate Manifesto Flying Monkeys

The Chocolate Manifesto Triple Chocolate Milk Stout

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Flavoured Milk Stout 10.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml.
$10.40 (Canadian) At the Brewery

Twitter: @FlyingMonkeys

Ever entertaining, The Flying Monkeys are always good for some quirky humour especially when it comes to their packaging. Sadly it will be hard to read in the above pictures (Dammit Jim I'm a farm boy... not a photographer...) But suffice it to say there is some interesting reading on the box. Chock full of sage advice, off-beat humour, good tasting notes and a pretty intensive description of the making of this beer, the box has a lot to offer... And we haven't even made it into the beer yet! 

The chocolate for this beer was provided by Chocosol Traders Twitter here. They are a fascinating chocolate trader and purveyor who just made my list of places to visit on my next trip to Toronto. The chocolate that went into this brew was shade grown cocoa nibs, whole roasted cocoa powder, and chocolate malt. Hence the triple chocolate. What we are left with is an intense celebration of chocolate and beer.

Well I'm excited... Let's taste...

Pours very dark brown almost black with a good sized chocolate brown head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is chocolate liquor, sweetness, and a hint of cocoa powder. First sip makes me think I'm drinking an alcoholic chocolate bar. When they said triple chocolate they were not joking. Sweet and creamy gives way to dark chocolate, a roasty, toasty, boozy, chocolate sauce. Finish is very milky with that lingering sweetness of a cold glass of chocolate milk. Aeration gives us dark bitter chocolate and tobacco.

 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:

This is the best example of a chocolate milk stout I have tried. Period. The Chocolate flavour is well rounded and all encompassing. Strong but supple. The alcohol is very present... I was aware of the full 10 % but it seemed to be mitigated by the creamy chocolate deliciousness. At points in the beer I felt like it was a chocolate cocktail, reminiscent of creme de cocoa. There are a few of these left around... if you can find them grab them and drink them. I do believe they have stopped production of this beer. Hopefully not for long...


Cheers


CJT

P.S. I feel like I need to say chocolate a few more times... 


chocolate chocolate chocolate...

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Beer # 190 Undercover Brother White Stout with Chai

White Stout with Chai
Collaboration

Brother's Brewing Company

No Website... Facebook them HERE
Pelham, Ontario, Canada
Independent

with

Barnstormer  Brewing
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Brewpub/Brewery
Flavoured White Stout 7.3 % ABV 20oz Pint
$6.25 (Canadian) At the Sawdust City Brewery Saloon (Guest Tap)

Twitter: @BrothersBrewery  @BarnstormerBeer 

While down at Sawdust City yesterday I managed to try a few beers on the "Guest Tap," and this was one. I has another beer by Brother's Brewing Citra Pale Az Down a few weeks ago, also on the guest tap at Sawdust. I enjoyed that beer immensely , so I was very happy to see this collaboration show up.

Onto the tasting...

Pours a hazy amber colour with an off white head made up of small bubbles. Chai spices are the forefront on the nose. Cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and tea. first sip is chocolaty, spicy, cinnamon and clove. Finish is angelica, with some smoky sumac. Aeration accentuates the tea and spice. with a hint of tasted caramel, and breadiness on the finish.

 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:  5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

This was my first "White Stout," and I was not exactly sure what to expect. This was a light bodied but full flavoured beer, Seemingly as contradictory as it's name. The spice was well done I got the full impression of chai tea. While I enjoyed the beer it is a very different experience. I may have to try a few more to get a good understanding of them

Cheers


CJT



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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas: Day 20: Division by Zero Imperial Nut Brown IPA

Beer # 184 Division by Zero

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Imperial Nut Brown IPA 11.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml.
$8.83 (Canadian) At the Brewery

Twitter: @FlyingMonkeys

 Another offering from the Flying Monkeys down in Barrie. I was slightly apprehensive about this beer when I was about to start. When I got it I have only read that it was an Imperial Nut Brown Ale. What I had  missed was it that it was instead an Imperial Nut Brown IPA (yes words are important). So I was trying to wrap my head around what that would taste like, and I understood the reference to "Division by Zero." My brain puzzled itself into a black hole. So I figured the only way to tell for sure was to try it.

So before we rip a hole in the space time continuum and flip into an alternate reality; let's try the beer... Onto the tasting...

Pours a very dark chestnut brown with a light tan head made up of tiny bubbles. The aroma is very hoppy; if it were not for its colour, you would think you were about to drink an IPA. Fresh green hops, floral, slightly piney, but with a hint of caramel malt. There is a hint of  iodine in the background. First sip is very nutty, caramel, and hoppy. Slight menthol and herbal hoppiness. Some citrus and honey in the middle finishing up with some clover and the heat of the alcohol. Aeration bursts out bitter orange and a nice IPA finish of lingering fruity hops.

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
Christmas Spirit 4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

Very interesting and a different experience. I would never have expected this to work, but it does in a very odd way. The sweet caramel nuttiness of the brown ale plays well with the citrusy, green hoppiness of the IPA. Kind of like peanut butter and celery. The thought is weird, but you love the taste. I am not sure if these are still available, it was a limited release, so if you can still find a bottle pick it up and try dividing by zero yourself.


Cheers And Beery Christmas


CJT


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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas: Day 13 Cadillac Graveyard Oatmeal Stout

Beer # 177 Cadillac Graveyard

Flying Monkeys

Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Oatmeal Stout 6.4 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml.
$8.95 (Canadian) At the Brewery Only

Twitter: @Flying Monkeys


I was lucky enough to be in Barrie the day this was released (Saturday the 13th of December) and happier that it fit the theme of the 2-4 Beers of Christmas. We have been down to Flying Monkeys before... notably for the City and Colour Collaboration for the Treble Clef Series. This beer is called a "brewery edition" so I assume it will only be available at the brewery, and judging  by the crowd there yesterday, it won't be there for long. Weighing in at 6.4% I wouldn't quite call this an Imperial stout, but it is a higher alcohol beer, and in a 750 ml Bottle so I would suggest you finding a friend to share this with. 

Release the Flying Monkeys!


Chocolate brown in colour with a light tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma starts with dark chocolate and changes to strong coffee. First sip gives us bittersweet chocolate oats, bruleed sugar, and switches to dark roast coffee or espresso for the finish. Body is quite light and refreshing. The herbal notes at the end remind me of italian seasoning. basil, oregano, hint of rosemary (makes me crave pizza for some reason!). There is a lingering nuttiness about the finish, fresh toasted hazelnut or pine nuts, and a slight bitterness. Aeration shows us this beers "light and airy" side, despite the beer being big and full of flavour is is still very light in texture. It softens and gives us some caramel and  some nuts.


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:  5/6 PASS
Christmas Spirit 4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

The label suggests that this beer is inspired by the Bruce Springsteen song "Cadillac Ranch" and like its inspiration this beer is very smooth, long, and black. It is a nice easy sipper, one that doesn't require a lot of thought. I definitely would recommend it with pizza, lasagna or even by itself. 

Cheers And Beery Christmas


CJT


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