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 # 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 # 129 Cameron's Deviator Doppelbock Oak Aged Series

Deviator Doppelbock Oak Aged Series

Cameron's Brewing Company

Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Oak Aged Doppelbock 8.6 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 341 ml
$2.50 (Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: @CameronsBrewing

Ashamedly this is my first trip down to Cameron's Brewing. I am not a stranger to their beer, yet I haven't yet posted about them yet. Opened in 1997, Cameron's is certainly one of the pioneering craft breweries in the GTA and are well known in the craft beer circuit. Their Rye P.A. is spectacular (hopefully I will get to one soon). They are always big at OCBWeek, so I hope to see some there.  Tonight's beer is a German style doppelbock, that has been aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels for 6 months.


Enough with the set up... onto the beer:

Very dark chestnut in colour with a caramel coloured head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is very earthy, wood, portobello mushroom, malt candy, vanilla, and licorice. taste is black licorice, vanilla, turbinado sugar. As the taste progresses coffee, oak, cream, and a twinge of bitterness come out. It is not unlike horehound candy, malty, licorice, and a touch of medicinal qualities.The oak ageing has done wonders for the complexity of the beer, giving it a whisky feel. The alcohol is evident and warming but does not detract from the beer. The finish is dark caramel almost butterscotch. Aeration shows off the high alcohol, and brings out the oak in a big way, especially the bourbon.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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


Final Thoughts: 

a deep dark brooding beer perfect for contemplation. Complex, earthy and Delicious. One of these is enough. The alcohol is hot and sets in quickly.  Enjoy one by yourself or share one or two with a friend.


Cheers

CJT


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Beer # 110 Nøgne Ø Sunturnbrew Ale

Sunturnbrew Ale


Nøgne Ø

Grimstad, Norway
Independent
Strong Ale 11.0% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 500 ml
$7.70 (Canadian) At LCBO
Twitter: @NogneO

Back again to the land of Henrick Ibsen who's poems gave us the term Nøgne Ø, "Naked Island." and the name of tonight's brewery. We have been to Nøgne Ø, before when I did their Imperial Stout HERE. Sunturn refers to the ancient Norwegian belief that on the shortest day of the year (December 21) the sun "turns" and reverses direction in the sky. Here is where I got confused. The website says the beer is brewed on the sunturn, the aforementioned December 21. However, the brew date on my bottle says June 20, 2013. best before June 20 2018. Well I guess the summer solstice counts, as well. I am honestly very impressed with this beer tonight so instead of trying to do the thinking, I will let the beer do the talking.

Onto the Naked Island:

Very dark chestnut in colour with an enormous, long lasting light tan head, very frothy but made of small bubbles, with some larger ones on top. Aroma is very smoky, with some wood and coffee. First sip is an explosion of flavour which could probably be summed up as molasses, candy, and leather. Super rich and deep dark tones, lingering tastes of high alcohol. Balance is surprisingly clean for the amount of flavours going on. There is anise, molasses, turbinado sugar, vanilla, smoke, wood, leather, coffee, chocolate, and a little bitterness from deeply roasted malt. Bitterness is countered by a sweetness that creeps up on the backside of the taste. Aeration give bursts of alcohol, sandalwood, smoke and incense.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional

Cost: 4/6 PASS

Colour: 5/6 PASS

Beer Style: 5/6 PASS

Re-Order:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL

Experience:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL 

Final Thoughts

Wow. Wow. Wow. There is nothing small about this beer. It grabs you and says hello, and doesn't let you go until it's done with you. Every time I sip it I get another facet of it's personality. It is like a fine old wine freshly decanted and slowly giving up it's secrets to you. This is hands down the best beer I have had from Nøgne Ø. I look forward to when the sun turns again next year (whenever that is...).

Cheers

CJT

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Beer # 106 Sawdust City Lone Pine IPA

Lone Pine IPA

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Strong IPA 6.5% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml.
$5.25 (Canadian) At LCBO 
Twitter: @Sawdustcitybeer

Sawdust City is a relatively new brewery that is still working on having a home. They are currently building their new brewhouse in Gravenhurst Ontario while still brewing out of another brewery's facilities. I am rather fond of this brewery as they do not take themselves too seriously and it is reflected in the names of their beers. "Long Dark Voyage to Uranus," and "The Princess Wears Girl Pants" are among their creatively named beers. Sam Corbiel is the hardworking brewmaster who runs the blog and designs the beers and is generally found all over Ontario running tap takeovers and going to festivals... No wonder it has taken them over 2 years to build the brewhouse, the guy doesn't sit down. I first tasted this beer at the Only Cafe (One of Ontario's BEST beer destinations) in Toronto during one of their $5 pint nights and was suitably impressed. I am glad I have finally found time to include this beer in my blog.

Enough already... onto the beer:

Dark gold in colour with a medium sized head made up of small off-white bubbles. Aroma is pine trees and tropical fruit mainly passionfruit. The pine continues on the first sip with resinous hops and some lingering fruit. Citrus begins to take over. Very deep and flavourful, with some light caramel malt on the finish. Aeration gives us some mineral, herbal hops and a touch of wood.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 6/5 PASS
Colour: 6/5 PASS
Beer Style: 6/5 PASS
Re-Order:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Experience:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL

Final Thoughts:

For a time this was my number one pick for best APA in Ontario, only recently would I say this has dropped into more of a three way tie with a couple of other beers. Very good use of hops and a great flagship brand for the burgeoning style of the American India Pale Ale in Ontario. Very drinkable and a definite reorder. One of the problems I had in trying to add this beer to the blog was... every time I bought one, it didn't last long enough for me to take pictures or write notes. Glad I finally found the restraint.

Cheers

CJT


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