The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition Day 1: The Ugly By Henderson and Brewdog

Beer # 458

The Ugly
Collaboration with Brewdog PLC

Brewery: Henderson Brewing Company


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2015

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Brewery: Brewdog PLC

Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2015

Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland United Kingdom

Beer Style: Dark Belgian Strong  Ale

ABV: 8.4%      IBU: ?

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $3.70 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

@HendersonBrewing

    @HendersonBeerCo

In the 1970's, In Toronto (as in other cities) there was a huge Punk movement that took over the clubs of the entertainment district. Strangely, Toronto was almost as influential as New York for churning out hard rocking, loud and entertaining bands. This beer pays homage to one of those bands, coincidentally named "The Ugly." This Belgian strong was done as a collab between Toronto's Henderson Brewing Company and Brewdog from Scotland, the latter of the two is most noted for their delicious "Punk IPA" which explains why they chose an iconic Toronto punk band to name their beer after.

The Ugly: Stranded in the Laneway of Love

I hadn't heard of The Ugly prior to this, but I read a bit about them and checked out their music on YouTube and I really like them... Give them a listen especially if you are an old Ramones fan like me. I've always wondered if I should incorporate more music into the blog. Maybe I should work up a list of my Top Ten Beer Drinking songs and pair them with beers... Hmmmm. Thoughts.

Onto our beer.


Pours a very dark chestnut almost black with tints of red. With a generous head made up of small reddish-brown bubbles. Aroma is very warming nutty and sweet. Very fruity with hints of brown sugar and smoke and charcoal. First sip is nutty and molasses. The body is light and fruity, hints of dried fruit and plums. There is a slight "bubbling" of effervescence on the tongue. Aeration brings out fruitiness, liquorice and spikes of alcohol. Has hints of chocolate and dried fruit.

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: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Christmas Cheer 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL


Final Thoughts:

Wonderful collab. Rich and flavourful, awesome aromas. I don't think it revs up the anarchist in me... But I could enjoy one or two of these by a fire, listening to some punk music (before I fall asleep in my chair...) If you can find it get it in you, and do yourself a favour... play The Ugly really loud while you sip it.

Cheers

CJT

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Beer # 278 Black Rock Dark Ale Boshkung Brewing Company

#278 Black Rock Dark ale

Boshkung Brewing Company

Carnarvon, Ontario, Canada
Brewery
Dark Ale 
5.5 % ABV IBU: 23
32 oz Brown Glass Half Growler
$7.00 (Canadian) At the Brewery Saloon

Twitter: @Boshkungbrewing


Back again to Boshkung and the second of the two half growlers I bought when I visited the bottle shop by the lake. I will have two more offerings from Boshkung coming up this week as I have to do a little housekeeping. The Fridge of Fame is bursting at the seams with craft beer (Not usually a bad problem...) and I really need to work my way through it.

Tonight's offering is a dark ale and a silver medalist in its category at The Ontario Brewing Awards 2016.

Let's see how it earned it's silver...

Pours a deep chestnut colour with a dark tan head made up of tiny bubbles. Aroma is deeply caramelized sugar, molasses, licorice, and barley biscuits. First sip is smoky rich caramel, coffee, and notes of cola and licorice. Aeration gives you more smoke and espresso, molasses, and vanilla.




Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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

Experience: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:

Nicely complex, lots of layering of flavours. A good beer to sit and ponder. Definitely worthy of award and praise. I would sit and sip this, long into a fall night in front of a campfire. You should too.

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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