Visit to Herald Haus Brewing Company Stratford, Ontario October 15th 2019

 The second brewery stop on our whirlwind visit to Stratford was the Herald Haus Brewing Company. It opened in 2018 on the Market Square in what was once the Stratford Herald Newspaper Building. The Herald Building as it was called was renovated and reopened as a brewery by Daniel J Graver. Their selection of beers are named to evoke the history of Stratford and area. We had a light meal before the show as you can see to the right, and below, charcuterie and some vegetable samosas. The cheese and meat were all produced locally as were the pickles. The charcuterie went well with the beer and the samosas were quite good. The dipping sauce for the samosas was terrible and did not compliment them at all.

Sadly I noticed a theme for the evening: lack of attention to detail. From confusion with their beers, to mismatched flavour in their food, to an unbalanced charcuterie board (pickle heavy, cheeses too similar in flavour profile and only one sauce, mustard, no chutney). Beer lines tasted like they needed cleaning (beers seemed flat with little to no head). Herald Haus was one of the breweries I was looking forward to trying and sadly they did not live up to my expectation.

Let's move on to my notes for the evening.

Onto our beer:

Beer # 492: SMS (Summer Music Saison)Saison 19
Style: Saison ABV: 5.5%  IBU: 35

Pours light gold with a short white head. Spicy on the nose with hints of wheat and citrus.slightly tart with hints of bitter green medicinal hops

Final Thoughts: Slightly confused here. At the brewery this was listed as SSM Saison 19 as you can see on the board, left, but on their website, it is The Summer Music Saison 19. Untappd just calls it the Saison 19. Whatever it is an underwhelming wheat-based saison with muted flavours.

Beer # 493: 21 Haze East Coast IPA

Style: NEIPA ABV: 6.8%  IBU: ?

Not very hazy clear gold short head. Aroma is tart fruit and pine. Very hoppy. With spice and bitterness. Sweet almost syrupy.

Final Thoughts: Ok this beer made me grumpy. Billed as an "East Coast IPA" which is just another term for NEIPA or New England IPA This beer is crystal clear despite the requirement of a NEIPA being "Hazy" it is an indication of the biotransformation that happens when the hops meet the various NEIPA strains of yeast. This is also responsible for the "juicy, "peachy," and "tropical" flavours of a true NEIPA. I first thought they had given me the wrong beer, but the flavour profile was close-ish so I just assume its a bad form of this beer. Pro-tip, if you are going to include "Haze" in the name of your beer... make sure it is hazy in the glass. Avoid.

Beer # 494: Perth County Conspiracy 
Style: American IPA ABV: 5.0%  IBU: 60

Amber gold in colour with a thin head. Malt forward with spicy hops.some caramel and biscuit.

Final Thoughts: This beer is named after a local Stratford area acid-folk band by the same name ( I've linked some music of theirs below). Seemingly based off of a West Coast IPA with spicy malt-forward notes. Really unimpressive.

Beer # 495: G.T.R. Rusty Rail Red 
Style: American Red Ale ABV: 4.3%  IBU: 26

Warm and malty with sweet hints of caramel and toast. Like a muscular Kilkenny. Nice Irish red style.

Final Thoughts: This beer was named after the Grand Trunk Railway which ran through Stratford. This is significant because Thomas Edison worked for the GTR as a telegraph operator as a teen. He ran away back to the States after he got called to the Head Office in Toronto to be fired for nearly causing a train wreck. This was hands down the best beer of the night but even here, confusion reigns. Listed as a 5.5% American Amber Ale on Untappd, The website lists it at a 4.3% English Style red. It drinks like a Kilkenny so I would call it an Irish Red and the alcohol feels closer to the 5.5% mark. Worth the visit at least.

Beer # 496: H2 Golden Ale
Style: Golden ale ABV: 4.7 %  IBU: 15

Gold in colour with very little head. Gateway beer... commercial golden style. Wet dog and mild hops, some malt, light rainwater. 

Final Thoughts: Very commercial. Tastes like Labatt 50 or Molson Golden. Worst beer of the evening.

Overall Thoughts: Wow, I think this brewery needs time to grow up a bit. There is a lot of confusion with their styles and flavour profiles. A lot of the beer is just meh, or average at best. I would like to see them do better I will have to revisit them sometime in the future.

Music of The Perth County Conspiracy

First Album: The Perth County Conspiracy,
 Does Not Exist (1970)

Rare Self Pressed Album: Rumour (1973)

Cheers
CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas Day 5:Maple and Thistle Rye Red Ale

Beer # 395 Maple and Thistle Rye Ale

Brewery: Innis and Gunn Brewing Company


Type: Independent Brewery    Est.:  2003

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Beer Style: Flavoured Rye Red Ale

ABV: 5.9%      IBU: ?

Format: Brown Glass Bottle  Size: 500 ml

Cost: $9.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

innisandgunnuk

    InnisandGunnUk

 For interesting beers, one can always look to Innis and Gunn. The Scottish brewers tend to play with their beers, specialising in ageing beers in barrels and attempting unusual combinations. Each year there brew a beer for Canada Day which usually includes Canadian ingredients or Canadian Whiskey Barrels. This year, as it was Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation they brewed the Maple and Thistle Rye ale to celebrate Scotland and Canada's long friendship. The beer was brewed with malted Canadian rye and then aged for 150 days in 150 Canadian Oak casks. When maturation was complete they added maple syrup and Scottish thistle before bottling.



The result is a very rich rye beer with deep herbal notes and a touch of sweetness. I was trying to get this one done for #Canadabeermonth but it got overlooked, so I wanted to make sure it got the attention it needed in this special year for Canada.

Onto our beer.


Pours a dark chestnut with a generous tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is rye bread, sweet malt, some chestnut and hints of bitter greens. First sip gives us sweet honey/ maple syrup with notes of smoke. Rich rye bread and distinct herbaceousness. whisky is evident on the finish as is a light woodiness.Aeration brings out the taste of new oak, woody, whisky, malty, light caramel and vanilla.

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:

Innis and Gunn always makes a solid beer, and this one is no exception. Well rounded very drinkable. (Possibly better in the summer when it was released...) These may be finally sold out or my still be in select LCBOs... You may have to hunt a bit, but it is worth the search.

CJT

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Beer # 292 Red Falcon Ale Stouffville Brewing Company

#292 Red Falcon Stouffville Brewing Company

Stouffville Brewing Company/Falcon Brewing Company

Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Contract Brewing Company  Established 2014
Brewed at Wellington Brewery in Guelph, Ontario Canada
Red Ale
5.0 % ABV IBU: 16
473 ml Aluminium Can
$2.85 (Canadian) At the Beer Store

Twitter: @falconbrewingco

Best as I can figure out this brewery is at a transition point right now. I remember hearing that a Stouffville  Brewing company was coming and I thought, "That's cool." My parents used to drive me up there as a kid... They had a really fun Antique and Flea Market. Interesting side note my Dad was a carpenter, and he made my sister an octagonal keepsake box that she used as a piggy bank. She doesn't remember losing it, but I think it disappeared when she was in college. She went with my parents to the Stouffville Flea Market one day and said "Hey Dad, this looks like the piggy bank you made me." She turned it over and it had her name written on the bottom. She still had to buy it back. She still has it along with a spooky story. 

Back to our brewery. I'm guessing that not unlike the lost piggy bank, this brewery slipped my mind. I hadn't thought of it until I saw the cans of Falcon Ale in the Beer Store.

Thanks Deadpool... But I mean the City of Ajax...
not the foppish British Antagonist

 However when I looked it up it started to get confusing. First off they are a contract brewery and they rent brew time from Wellington in Guelph. Second their address is listed as Ajax.  Third the beer comes up as being brewed by Falcon Brewing Company, and the picture on the Internet still says Stouffville Brewing company on the can.  Confused? Well I was a first but I am assuming this means plans have changed. It is not unusual for a new brewery to contract out the brewing when they first start, especially if your brewing skills are limited or you need to find a brewmaster. I guess a location could not be found in Stouffville or a property became available in Ajax that fit the bill better, or there could be any number of legal reasons that Stouffville Brewing Company could not be used, prompting a name change. Something similar happened to Flying Monkeys Brewery in Barrie Ontario. They were originally named Simcoe Steam Brewing Company, but that name was still owned by a family that had run a brewery in the past. They then changed it to Robert Simpson Brewing Company, and a few years later changed it again to it's final for "Flying Monkeys." So for whatever reason Our beer tonight is made by the former Stouffville Brewing Company now called Falcon Brewing Company, based in Ajax, brewed (for the time being) in Guelph, and currently in my hand right now.

Clear as mud?

Yeah, me too.

Onto the beer...

Pours a amber honey colour with a short white head made up of small bubbles. Head dissipates rapidly. Caramel nose with lots of malted barley and the barest hint of wet dog. First sip is sweet with touches of sourness a little smoke and leather. Body is medium to light with lots of light caramel. Some vanilla and hints of apple and pear. Aeration  brings out some tartness... some mineral qualities and the barest hint of molasses.

 Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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

Final Thoughts:

A nice fruity red ale. Good to see a great representation of a British/Irish staple over here in Canada. The malty sweetness was on point as was the bright fruity notes. Worthy of a redo. I hope they get their brewery opened up soon and they can maintain a high standard with this beer. I rather enjoyed it.

Cheers

CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas Day 2 Stack Brewing Smoke N' Oak

Beer # 250 Smoke N' Oak

Stack Brewing Company

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Barrel Aged Smoked Ale 5.5% ABV 
Aluminum Can 473ml
$3.50 (Canadian) At The Brewery

Twitter: @Stackbrewing

Back for day 2 of the 2-4 Beers of Christmas. I have been sitting on this beer for a little while, from my last trip to Sudbury, but I think it is a perfect time to break it out. It is a barrel aged smoked red ale.



Let's get into it.

Pours a caramel/dark chestnut with a fairly thin, off-tan  head made of tiny bubbles. The nose is loaded with bacon, hickory, and dark rye bread. Light in body but there is plenty of caramel and roasted malt to keep you interested. Certainly one of the lightest smoked beers I have tried. It just makes me crave bacon. Very fruity with hints of vanilla and bubblegum. Aeration gives us a slightly creamy feeling with lots of fruit and caramel, and a light campfire.

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:

Quite a good beer, light fruity and still smoky. I would love to eat this with a nice deli sandwich or I would love to marinate some meat with it with some nice smoked paprika.CJT


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Terrible Ted Red Lake of Bays Signature Series

Beer # 222

Terrible Ted Red Saison
NHL Alumni Signature Series

Lake of Bays Brewing Company

Baysville, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery
Belgian Rousse 6.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml
$11.95 (Canadian) At LCBO 

Twitter: @LB_brewing @NHLAlumni



The large red seven on the bottle says we are doing another Lake of Bays NHL Alumni collaboration Signature Series. Co-incidentally I just did a quick count and this happens to be the seventh edition in the collaboration. The highlighted player this time around is Renfrew Ontario native Ted Lindsay. 

Robert Blake "Terrible" Ted Lindsay was born on July 29th, 1925 to former NHA/ NHL goalie Leslie Bertrand Lindsay who had previously played for the Montreal Wanderers (Later Canadiens) and the Toronto Arenas (Later Maple Leafs). At the age of 19, Ted's junior hockey career had caught the eye of the scouts and he was invited to try out for the Detroit Red Wings. He soon found himself playing left wing with Sid Abel and Gordie Howe on the aptly named "Production Line." Six years into his NHL career, in 1950, Ted helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup, a feat they would repeat 3 more times: in 1952 and back to back in 1954-55. In the 1955 Stanley Cup Ted Lindsay was the first player to pick up the cup and skate around the ice with it. He did not loft it over his head and his only intention was to take it up to the boards so the fans could see it up close. The Victory Lap is now almost an institution where each player on the winning team skates a lap around the ice with the cup. Ted Earned his nickname by being a rough character, so rough in fact he was the reason the NHL instituted penalties for Elbowing and Kneeing. Not only tough on the ice, Ted Lindsay attracted unwanted attention from the team owners off the ice as well. In 1957 When Ted discovered that the amount of money in the players pension fund was being covered up and he realised that so many players were struggling to survive, often having to take summer jobs to make ends meet, he and fellow player Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens secretly contacted all of the players in the league and quietly formed the NHLPA The National Hockey League Player's Association. Needless to say the Owners were furious. Ted Lindsay was stripped of his captain's C and he and Doug Harvey were both traded. The Owners spread rumours and lies about him trying to discredit him. But the NHLPA eventually came out on top. Player's salaries improved, and they received better benefits. The NHLPA became a union in 1967 and still represents players to this day.

For his part in the founding of the NHLPA The Lester B. Pearson Award for the NHL's most outstanding player was renamed the Ted Lindsay Award in 2010.

After 3 years as a Chicago Black Hawk Ted Lindsay returned to Detroit for one last season, in 1960, under the coaching of his former linemate Sid Abel. In 1966 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. and in the 1960's and 70's he served as announcer and on air commentator for the New York Rangers. Ted's jersey number hangs alongside his "Production Line" teammate's numbers in the Joe Louis Arena where it was retired in 1998. Since then Ted has been active in philanthropy.

Onto our beer...

Pours a dark orange-red with an off-tan head with a strong reddish tint in it. Head is short but long-lived and made of small bubbles. Aroma is strong with malt lots of roasty caramel and some light hints of citrus and spice, especially clove. First sip is slightly tart, a tad sour, Good caramel, some banana, more allspice and clove extended flavours of wheat Aeration gives us a woody caramel with a light spicy finish.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 4/6 PASS
Colour: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order:  5/6 PASS 
Experience:  5/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

The most striking thing about this beer, and the aspect of it I loved the most was the colour. It was a gorgeous liquid that shimmered and shifted in hues as the light struck it. Truly living up to it's name, red shone through just about everywhere. So far this is the lowest alcohol of the signature series and I think it is the most sedate. While it is an great example of a Belgian Rousse... it's just a tad unassuming. Beyond the obvious there is not a lot going on. Is it a good beer? Yes, definitely. Should you try it? Of course. Is it in the same league as its predecessors? Well... not really. All the other signature series beers have been bold and larger than life. This one seems to be riding the pine while the others are out scoring hat tricks. But therein I am comparing apples and oranges and it's just my opinion... Bottom line, it's a very good beer and you should try it.
Cheers


CJT


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Beer # 135 Gulden Draak

Gulden Draak

Brouwerij Van Steenberg


Lindenlaan, Ertvelde, Belgium
Independent (Distributed by SAB Miller)
Belgian Red Ale  10.5 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 330 ml
$3.33(Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: Not found


Another quick one from the archives. This one has held up beautifully and probably could age much longer.  Flavours were bright and vibrant.

Onto the Tasting.


Dark hazy chestnut in colour. off tan head comprised of medium sized bubbles. Licorice, charred malt, turbinado sugar, whiskey, vanilla and oak. Sweet, sugary, malt, wood, oak, spice. Some maple, hints of citrus. Profile is similar to a rye whiskey, notes of chocolate, and smoky on the finish. Aeration is a burst of alcohol, smoky peaty, chocolate , and sweet turbinado sugar.

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: 

A big bold beer. The alcohol hits you late and does not detract from the flavours. A good food beer, But I would certainly drink this on it's own as well (just not too many...)

Cheers CJT



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Beer # 98 Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale

Believer Double Red Ale

Ninkasi Brewing Company

Eugene Oregon, United States of America

Independent
High Alcohol Red Ale 6.9 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml. (Labelled 1 Pint 6 fl oz)
$4.75 British Columbia Liquor Store

Twitter: @NinkasiBrewing

Taking a trip out to the Pacific Northwest today to a brewery that has just come across my radar. Ninkasi Brewing company has at it's origins, a story not unlike many other great craft breweries; a meeting of two determined and like-minded individuals who share a passion and a vision. Born in June of 2006 in the back of an old German restaurant Ninkasi Brewery has undergone rapid expansion in it's 7 year lifespan. The founders hoped to instill a sense of community and culture in their brewing company. A throwback to the times when beer was a valued part of everyday life, and help to build the written lauguge and shape the education system. Keeping this in mind, Nikos Ridge and Jamie Floyd chose to name their brewery after Ninkasi, the Summerian Goddess of fermentation hoping this would inspire the "...belief in an elevated human experience through the social enjoyment and sharing of beer."

Anyway... off to Eugene and today's beer...

Chestnut brown in colour with hints of auburn. Light tan head with small bubbles that is fairly long lasting. Distinct herbal hoppy head with background notes of toasty malt. Exceptionally grainy and bready on the first taste. The full flavour of the malt shines through. Good strong hit of sweetness indicative of a solid red ale. Hops reappear on the finish stronger and slightly more bitter to cleanse the palate and set you up for the next sip. Fairly complex, there is a lot going on in this beer... but it manages to pull it off. There are notes of grapefruit, citrus, buckwheat honey, turbinado sugar, grilled pineapple, woodiness, and earthiness all competing for tongue space.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL

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

Final Thoughts:

Wow. Just a great beer. Complex, easy drinking, sweet, bitter... well balanced all around. I will be returning to Eugene, very soon. Just as soon as I can get my hands on more Ninkasi Beers.

Thanks Ninkasi... I'm definitely a believer
Cheers

CJT


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Beer # 74 Lake of Bays Rousse

Lake of Bays Rousse

Lake of Bays Brewing Company
Baysville, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Red Ale 5.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 341 ml.
$2.08 (Canadian) At LCBO. (in a 6 pack $12.50)

Twitter: @LB_Brewing

Second one tonight from the good folk up in Baysville, Ontario. This is their red ale and another one of their "year round" staple beers.

Here we go... again:

Pours a dark copper to red, with an off white head made up of small bubbles. Caramel sweetness on the nose with a slight hint of hops. First sip is very tangy, smoky roasted malt, burnt sugar, with an overlying fruity sweetness, that is almost missed at first. Smooth and well balanced, almost creamy mouthfeel. Aeration gives a clean refreshing taste , and accentuates the heat from the alcohol. Finish is long and all about roasted malt and deep earthy tones.


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:

Of the two tonight, I preferred this over the Pale Ale. A stronger and more robust beer, it has a great character and a lot of flavour. Definitely more suited to fall, or early spring, (cooler nights anyway)  and certainly another good match for food. I envision a nice beef stew or pot roast acting as the perfect foil for this beer.

Cheers

CJT

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