In case you didn't guess. The title of yesterday's blog is a line from one of my favourite Cowboy Junkies songs:
This darn cold will not go away I still have a pretty beefy headache and a sore throat. However, I intend to soldier on. I have my tastebuds back and my nose is functioning adequately so I will continue with regular tastings. I did manage to get a bottle of Cheli's Barrel aged Pale Ale from Lake of Bays Brewery so look for that one, probably tomorrow night. Tonight I am dipping into a beer I have been dying to try. It comes from the Yukon!
Yukon is NORTH!
Next to the Icelandic beers, this will be one of the most Northerly Breweries I have tasted. And I think that only one of the Alaskan Breweries is more Northerly in North America. Other upcoming events here at Pint Jockey Headquarters: May 30th to June 6th is Ontario Craft Cider Week Which we will be celebrating by doing another week long spotlight on Craft Ciders (and maybe one or too not so craft ciders... we have to make fun of somebody...) And a week after that is the BIG EVENT in Toronto. OCB Week returns again launching on Father's Day weekend. I was hoping to get down to Session Toronto but my work schedule doesn't look promising. So I may be going down midweek again this year for the second Installment of my Live Blog OCB Week.
So stay tuned, lot's of good stuff coming down the pipe!
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Owned by Labatt Brewing Company a Subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev LTD Adjunct Cider 5.5 % ABV Aluminum Can 473 ml $3.05 (Canadian) At LCBO Twitter: @alexanderkeiths It's getting near the end of cider week and I am hurrying to get all of the ciders done because I have some big, BIG, beers waiting in the fridge of fame to be tasted. Tonight we are trying The Keith's version of "Original" cider. It is another adjunct cider. I am mystified as to why multinationals need to use so much chemicals. I can get over a little Malic Acid as it actually comes from apples. it's that green apple snappy taste you get when you bite into a Granny Smith, or a perfectly ripe MacIntosh. However, in this they use extra sugars, colour, and flavour. Let the apples speak. Onto the tasting. Very clear gold with a hint of green. White head that is short lived. Nose is candy and sugar some artificial apple. First sip is very sweet.Tart, candies, malic acid, green apple, light spice.Aeration is sour and tart, malic acid is strong, and artificial apple. Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional Cost: 5/6 PASS Colour: 5/6 PASS Cider Style: 3/6 SO-SO Re-Order: 3/6 SO-SO Experience: 3/6 SO-SO Final Thoughts:
Another just average cider. Too much artificial flavours going on in it. But, it is still drinkable, especially if you poured it over ice as they recommend (seriously don't ever do that!). Of the adjunct ciders I have done this week this is probably the best so far. Cheers CJT Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.
Crémant Cidrerie St. Nicholas St. Nicholas, Quebec. CanadaIndependent Sparkling Apple Cider 2.8 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml. Cork stoppered. $12.00 (Canadian) At LCBO Twitter: None found This Cidery has no website or twitter feed so I can't garner much information about them. Situated on the south side of the St. Lawrence just a little upriver from Quebec City, St. Nicholas one of the oldest parishes in Quebec, dating back to 1694. Tonight's cider is the lowest in alcohol this week (2.8%) and the most expensive ($12.00) Enough scrounging for facts... onto the tasting.
Very clear green and gold in colour. Head disperses immediately leaving no trace. plenty of bubbles breaking the surface though. Nose is fresh spy and russet apples with plenty of cinnamon. First sip is spicy, honey, tart, crisp, fresh pressed apple. A true, natural cider taste. Very fizzy. Bubbles like champagne in my mouth. Sweet but not cloying, very clean, sharp enough to wake up the palate. Could conceivably drink this on a patio all afternoon.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional Cost: 5/6 PASS Colour: 5/6 PASS Cider Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL Re-Order: 5/6 PASS Experience: 5/6 PASS Final Thoughts: An excellent cider. Too expensive for everyday drinking but a nice bottle to share with someone special. Cheers CJT Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.
Cider Week July 13th to 20th I am very pleased to announce that I am taking the week off from posting about beer! I have wanted to do a few cider blogs for sometime as the rise in number of varieties of hard ciders is increasing in my local LCBO. Cider is gaining popularity again. It used to be the go to drink of our founding fathers, as it was far easier to produce than beer. Most farmers kept an apple tree or two for making cider. It was tasty, and it kept well. So I have seven ciders lined up for this week. Some common some not. England, Ireland, USA, and Canada are all represented. The format for the tasting will be very similar to the beer. I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I do tasting and writing! Cheers CJT
