The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition Day 12: Great Lakes 30th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout

Beer # 471 Great Lake 30th Anniversary Beer 

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewery


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  1987 

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout with Coffee, Vanilla and Cocoa

ABV: 11.9%      IBU: 70

Format: Brown Glass Bottle with Gold Leaf Label  Size: 650 ml

Cost: $15.50 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

 greatlakesbeer

    @greatlakesbeer

Another bottle I have had lurking in the back of the #FridgeofFame for about a year, I was confident that this one would be fine, and I was quite excited to try it, especially after the Boulevard Stout I just tried was in great shape. The bottle is quite nice. The label is real gold leaf giving the bottle a nice rich feeling. Very suitable for a thirtieth anniversary.

Onto our beer...

Pours a very dark brown with a deep tan head made of small bubbles. Nose is chocolate and marshmallows, with hints of campfire coffee. Some notes of biscuit and malt in the very back. First sip is whisky and vanilla with backgrounds of chocolate. Super warming, the whisky warmth flows through the entire body. The taste finishes up with long notes of biscuit and burnt sugar. Aeration amps the vanilla and whisky almost heading over into rum territory.

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:

A very good beer, even after a year in the #FridgeofFame. The beer even tastes like it could survive a few more years of ageing. Very festive, and worthy of a nice place by the fire to while away the winter months.

Cheers

CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas Day 14: Hanlan's Point Coconut Coffee Porter Great Lakes Brewery

Beer # 312 Hanlan's Point Coconut Coffee Porter 

Tank Ten Series, Collaboration with Bar Hop Bar

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Company

Type: Independent Microbrewery     Est.: 1987

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Flavoured Porter

ABV: 6.5%      IBU: 19

Format: Crown Capped Brown Glass Bottle  Size: 650 ml

Cost: $7.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

Twitter: @GreatLakesBeer

Another Hard working brewery Toronto's Great Lakes Brewing company has been with us since 1987. Still the reigning champ of the best Brewery Tour I have ever had (and I met Jim Koch at Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston...). They are busy, busy bees down at Great Lakes. The list of beers they produce in a year is staggering, and most of them only the die hard beer nerds hear about as they made incredible one offs that only show up at festivals, and select beer bars in and around Toronto.

Always good for a punny label or funky artwork, especially in their Tank Ten series, tonight's beer is no exception.  For those of you who are not in the know, Hanlan's Point is a beach on the Toronto Islands. They are a small collection of sand bars that are home to some old homes and cottages, a Yacht Club, an amusement park called "Centreville" (On Centre Island... no less) Owned by the Beasley Family for umpteen years. The Beasley's are actually old family acquaintances of my Father's. And of course Hanlan's Point. Hanlan's Point is named after famous Toronto world champion rower Ned Hanlan, and was officially dedicated in 1882. However the beach became notorious for another reason. It was isolated on the island and did not face the mainland so there were no clear sight lines. So for many years, Hanlan's point was Toronto's only "unnofficial" Clothing optional beach. That all changed in in 1999 when Toronto decided to start a pilot project to evaluate the merit of making Halan's point official. 0n March 17 2002, (St. Patrick's day no less...) Hanalan's Point was giving official Status as Canada's second public clothing optional Beach (Wreck Beach in Vancouver is number one). Yes... This does explain our rather frigid looking sunbather on the bottle. Other than that... why they chose Hanlan's Point for the name of this beer... I am at a loss. I just drink the beer I can't always understand it.

Tonight's beer is a coconut and coffee flavour porter, and was designed in collaboration with Bar Hop Bar of Toronto.

Let's dive in...

Pours a very dark Chestnut with a tan head made up small bubbles.Aroma is fresh roasted coffee, slightly smoky, hints of wood shavings, some hay and a slight nuttiness.First sip gives us all the coffee the nose promised and the coconut is limited to a subtle sweetness in the background. Reminds me of Vietnamese coffee with a little bit of condensed milk stirred into it. Mouth feel is creamy and full, slightly fatty and  rich like I've just tasted some cream. Finish is where the toasted coconut pops up at the end of the coffee's long bitter finish. Lips are sticky like they are covered in roasted marshmallows. Aeration froths the beer like whipped cream and gives us a nutty roasted finish.

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 Cheer: 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:

A pretty good beer despite the fact that I am not a coconut fan. The coconut was quite subtle, coming in at the end more as a feeling rather than a taste. Definitely if you can find this one try it out. I'm sure it will pop up again. (I actually had this bottle on hand for a while so it is currently de-listed). But if you can't find this, you won't go wrong trying any of Great Lake's Tank Ten series.

Cheers

CJT

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Beer # 150 Karma Citra Great Lakes Brewery

Karma Citra

Great Lakes Brewery

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Independent
India Pale Ale 6.6 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml.
$5.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO
Twitter: @GreatLakesBeer

Down to Great Lakes Brewery again. They certainly do love their IPAs at this brewery and they like to show their love a lot. I have had quite a few different variations of the IPA from them, all with very different personalities. And I have yet to be disappointed. So I was excited to bring this one home and try it.

Onto The Tasting...

Light gold in colour and slightly cloudy. Head is large white and fluffy with good staying power. Bubbles are very small.Aroma is green and fruity, pineapple mostly with some bitter herbs. Herbaceousness continues on the first sip with lots of guava and pineapple, light caramel in the background. A good strong hit of pepper in the foreground. Very green with a good hit of bitterness to finish it off. Aeration brings out a toasty bready note and enhances the caramel. there is pithy bitter orange peel on the finish.


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:

Another great example of an IPA from the people down by the lake. I could certainly see myself enjoying one of these on a hot summer day in the backyard.


Cheers

CJT


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Beer # 115 Great Lakes Brewery My Bitter Wife

My Bitter Wife

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Independent
India Pale Ale 7.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml
$5.95 (Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: @GreatLakesBeer


Down to Great Lakes again, Toronto's first Craft Brewery and winner of the 2013 Brewery of the year award. This brewery never fails to impress, and sadly their hard work is not always evident to the average Joe. Great Lakes specializes in experimentation. They play with their beer and do incredible things with it. Often you will only catch some of their beers by chance, at a festival, or a tap takeover. Or they may brew off a limited run of a regular beer with a strange ingredient, like raspberry or rhubarb, or Jagermeister (So not kidding I have tasting notes). 

Tonight's beer celebrates a very infamous person in the history of alcohol. As you can see by the picture on the front of the bottle there is an old crone of a woman clutching an axe. This beer is dedicated (facetiously, obviously) to the memory of Carrie Nation. Mrs. Nation was a staunch prohibitionist and was noted for taking an axe to barrels of beer and liquor and threatening government trying to coerce them into signing prohibition into law in the US. Eventually the prohibitionists won and the US signed the 18th amendment to the constitution and the country went "dry" for a number of years. Fortunately for Canada who was still producing alcohol at the time, it allowed us to "ahem" "export" our wares via legitimate businessmen such as Alphonse Gabriel Capone.

Enough with the history... onto the tasting...

Honey coloured, with the slightest hint of green to it. Thick fluffy white head mostly made up of very small bubbles. Aroma is pine tree and fruit with a back ground of roses and Turkish delight. First sip is bursting with ruby red grapefruit. Mouthfeel is creamy and silky with a touch of effervescence. The 7.0% alcohol is barely noticeable in this well balanced beer. Transition from attack to finish is very short and after taste is all green herbal hops. Aeration gives us an orange citrus candy taste.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

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

Final Thoughts:
It was an absolute delight to drink this beer. Great Lakes is certainly setting the standard for what craft beer should taste like. The thing that surprised me the most was, that despite this being a "Hop Bomb," at 88 IBU, the beer was incredibly smooth, well rounded and very drinkable. The only downside is the fact that the 7.0 % alcohol sneaks up on you and knocks you out.... So this is a share with your friend or only have one per night beer. Please... don't ever drink and drive... Craft beer tastes best at home...

Cheers

CJT


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Beer # 58 Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale

Orange Peel Ale

Great Lakes Brewery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Independent)

Flavoured Ale 5.3% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650ml

 $4.95 (Canadian) At LCBO.

Great Lakes Brewery still stands out in my mind to this day as the best beer tour I have ever had. I was escorted around the brewery by a fellow who I wish I could remember the name of. We climbed up onto all of the equipment. Tasted beer out of the finishing tanks. The gentleman was very knowledgeable, impassioned, and caring about his job and his product. It is something that has remained with me, a benchmark in my mind. People who care about their beer, make the best beer. Tonight's offering is one of the beers from Great Lakes seasonal staples. The others being Green Tea Ale, Pumpkin Ale and the previously tasted Winter Ale.  On to the tasting.


Very light copper in colour with the scarcest hint of orange. White head with small bubbles fairly long lasting. Aroma is orange peel and essential oils, some spice, cloves and cinnamon. First sip gives us a very light ale. Orange is in the background, some medicinal hops, slightly tangy or bitter finish not unlike the zip of fresh orange zest. The style of beer is pale ale. The website claims that there is five malts and five hops in the mix as well as honey and orange peel. The body of the beer is very thin, but refreshing.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional

                                                                                                               

Cost:  5/6  PASS

Colour:  5/6  PASS        

Beer Style:  4/6 SO-SO  

Re-Order:  5/6 PASS   

Experience:   5/6  PASS

Final Thoughts:
A very good tasting beer, however, very thin. The body is lacking and thus brings the beer style score down. Suitable for our hot summer patios with perhaps a nice BBQ, mind you... not many beers don't go well with BBQ! Tomorrow we will travel down to the States to try another orange flavoured beer that I was very excited to find here in Ontario!
Cheers
CJT

Beer # 11 Great Lakes Winter Ale

Welcome back Beer Fans. I seemed to slip off into some holiday hibernation, but just as the Grizzly or Kodiak must rise from it's slumber so did I. First off I must apologise as I promised the 18 yo Ola Dubh up next... However, The Jockey got a nice little present in his Christmas stocking from a lovely lady so in honour of her largesse the next three posts are dedicated to her and her very intoxicating gifts.

Great Lakes Brewery is found in Toronto just north of the shore of the Great Lake of Ontario hence the name. www.greatlakesbeer.com Over twenty years ago Great Lakes became the original Toronto Craft brewery by purchasing a copper brewing vessel built in the early 1900's in Germany and moving it to their new home on the edge of the Gardiner expressway near the 427. There first beer was Golden Horshoe Premium Lager which was only available on draught in select locations around Toronto. Golden Horshoe of course referring to the nickname of the shore of Lake Ontario that forms a horseshoe shape from St. Catharines through Hamilton and Burlington and eventually up to Toronto. The Great Lakes portfolio has grown considerably to include two more regular beers Red Leaf Smooth Lager, and Devil's Pale Ale 666 (one of the Jockey's favourite pale ales in Ontario!) plus a number of regular rotating session beers, Orange Peel ale, Pumpkin Ale, Green Tea ale and today's tasting Winter Ale. They are very experimental at Great Lakes and do try a number of different concoctions. Most notably is at the Toronto Festival of Beer every August, Great Lakes hosts "Caskapaloosa" a celebration of "one off' beers made mainly for fun. I am still haunted by the memory of the last Caskapaloosa I went to... The Rhubarb ale was not a hit in my mind....burning rubber anyone?


Anyway on to today's sample:

The first smell is spice of which this beer has a lot. Cinnamon is prevalent with some honey and ginger. The colour is a slightly cloudy chestnut with a lightly tan head made of small bubbles. As for alcohol, this beer brings a winter warming 6.2% abv to the table.

The attack is all ginger and cinnamon reminiscent of a Jamaican ginger beer. hints of honey malt and bitter orange in the back ground. Short finish with a high alcohol feel similar to a brandy finish. The beer is heady and has a substantial mouthfeel. Perfect for a winter's ale; good substance and warming.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (Well it should... I got it free! but for a 750 ml bottle I believe it's $5.95)
Colour: Exceptional (I really like seeing cloudy beers they have an non-homogenized feel about them that shows somebody cares more about their beer than conventional thought)
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Pass ( I couldn't do another one today, but maybe tomorrow, and if the temperature hits the plus side again...no thanks)
Experience: Pass

I'll give this beer a high pass because I like the people down at great lakes they DO care about the industry and the people that drink their beer. I once went on a tour of their facility... it wasn't a scheduled, scripted tour. I popped in unannounced and the clerk in the store called one of the workers up, who toke me on one of the MOST detailed, most informative, most in depth tour of any brewery I have ever been on (I play dumb when I go to these things to see how different the tours are... I could GIVE these tours now). Obviously beer passion is something that unites the people at Great Lakes and it shows up in their products, they have their occasional flop (Trust me NOT forgetting rhubarb ale EVER!) But overall the love they have for they work shines through in the quality products they produce.

Up next Lake of Bays Mocha Porter.... still on deck is the 18 yo Ola Dubh stay tuned!!

Cheers

CJT