The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2019 Day: 11 Chocolate Blossom Chocolate Cherry Stout Mill Street

Beer # 511 Chocolate Blossom Chocolate Cherry Stout

Brewery: Mil Street Brewery


Type: Wholly-owned Subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Inbev  Est.:  2002

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Flavoured Stout

ABV: 6.8%      IBU: 15

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $3.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

millstreetbrew

    @millstreetbrew

I remember when Mill street first opened and they were not much more than a set of fridges pouring samples in a near-empty building in the Distillery District in Toronto. It was at the beginning of the revitalisation of the old Gooderham and Worts Distillery and the project had two tenants at the time: Mill Street, and a coffee shop called Balzac's. Now the distillery area is a tourism destination with the Mill Street Beerhall as a centre point. I love going there still because they have my favourite chocolate shop SOMA the olive oil truffle is outrageous!

Mill Street was an early champion of the craft and organic scene in Ontario, so it was a particular gut-punch when it was purchased by Labatt Canada, which is in turn owned by multi-national conglomerate  AB InBev, in 2015. I think I have subconsciously avoided tasting Mill Street since then. I'm pretty sure I did their Tank house Ale and Organic Lager, years ago, before the purchase. But haven't done much since. However, I shall lift this unconscious ban for the holiday season and try one of their newer releases.

Onto our beer...

Pours a dark brown with hints of red. The head is a dark tan with hints of red made up of small bubbles. The aroma is strangely potato chips, chocolate, and cherries. The first sip is dark malty and full of cocoa powder. The beer is very sticky on the lips. The middle is a little sugary. As the beer warms, the cherry becomes more evident feeling like cherry brandy. I was expecting more of a chocolate-covered cherry feel, but it is more chocolate and then cherry. Aeration is a bit of dark chocolate

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 good but average offering. I couldn't ever have counted myself as a Mill Street Fan but I did appreciate what they were doing before the buyout. I hope I haven't let my disappointment tinge this tasting, but it is hard not to be sad when I think how far this brewery came just to sell out. I guess we only go into business to make money, so I can't blame them. It is a decent beer and worthy of a spot on the list. Grab one and try it.

Cheers

CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2019 Day: 10 Stout Beer by Woodhouse Brewing Company

Beer # 510 Stout Beer

Brewery: Woodhouse Brewing Company


Type: Contract Brewery/ Brewpub    Est.:  2014

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Dry Stout

ABV: 4.7%      IBU: 40

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $3.25 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

woodhousebeer

    @woodhousebeer

Tonight's brew is from a new brewery to the blog. Currently, they are contracting out the production of their first four core brews. They have just purchased their first bricks and mortar facility which is open now, but I am assuming this beer still came from the contract facility. 

Onto our beer...

Pours an inky dark brown almost black with a deep tan head made of small bubbles. The nose is dark chocolate with dark smoky malts, caramel and vanilla. The first sip is extremely light-bodied, almost watery. Malt and chocolate with hints of coffee and espresso. There is a hint of oiliness in the glass as I swirl it. Aeration gives us a light malt, molasses, coffee and deep caramel finish.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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


Final Thoughts:

It's a good beer, a little light through the body and mouthfeel. I would say it is a good "entry-level" stout for someone who has never had a darker beer before. The flavour profile is good representation of the style, it just lacks the body.  Bring a four or six-pack with you to share at the party with your non-craft beer-drinking friends.

Cheers

CJT

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Beer # 498 Zodiak IPA

Beer # 498 Zodiak by Omnipollo

Brewery: Brunswick Bierworks


Type: Partner Brewery    Est.:  2018

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.2 %      IBU: 65

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $3.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

brunswickbierworks         omnipollo

    @brunswickbier               @Omnipollo

 So this beer is a recipe from Swedish brewery Omnipollo brewed under a partnership with Toronto based contract brewer Brunswick Beirworks. It's listed as an IPA and is brightly hopped with a combo of simcoe, citra, and centennial hops. It's brewed with a combination of barley, wheat and oats which explains the range of flavours and sweetness. But other than that, there is not a lot of information on it. There isn't even much on Omnipollo which is a Stockholm Sweden Company founded in 2010 by Henok Fentie and Karl Grandin. So I guess they want the beer to speak for itself... Well, I found it does have a fair bit to say.


So onto our beer:

Pours a hazy yellow/green with an off white head made up of small bubbles. The nose starts off with tropical fruit and pineapple aromas which are backed up by a little resinous pine. The hop flavours switch spots in the first sip allowing the pine out first followed by a caramel sweetness and grilled pineapple. Some honey, passionfruit, hints of guava and kiwi. Hop flavours are very bright and green, the beer practically dances across your tongue. Very smooth, pleasantly hoppy and mildly sweet, the beer is very balanced and begs you to take another sip.

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: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL


Final Thoughts:

This beer is a lovely interpretation of the IPA style. It isn't "too hoppy" although there is a solid 65 IBUs in this beer. It isn't "too malty," or "too fruity" It has a little bit of everything. I'm not shy about my hops.. I can enjoy a face-melting over-hopped IPA any day, but it's hard to find fault with something that shows all the best aspects of a style in good moderation. This would be a fantastic day-to-day sipper, and a monster hit at your next patio party or sports-related function (such sporstsing, much points, very wow!). Try this out you will not be disappointed.


CJT

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The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition Day 20: Long Dark Voyage To Uranus Coffee & Vanilla by Sawdust City

Beer # 479 Long Dark Voyage to Uranus Coffee & Vanilla

Brewery: Sawdust City Brewing Company


Type: Independent Microbrewery    
Est.:  2015

Location: Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Flavoured Barrel Aged Uranal Stout

ABV: 9.5%      IBU: 60

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $6.25 CAD   
Purchased At: The Brewery

 sawdustcitybeer

    @sawdustcitybeer

Another offering from the brewer in my backyard. Sawdust seemed to go overboard this year with new beer releases, and they are doubling down for next year. Since it is their fifth anniversary in the Gravenhurst Location, they are doing their "52 Pickup" which is a beer release a week every week for the entire year. I will be trying them all and I will be posting a few of them but I doubt I will go shot for shot with them... I do have a day job...

So this beer tonight is a rework of their classic seasonal LDV or Long Dark Voyage to Uranus. It gets most of its kick from fresh Lot #7 Katia Duke coffee from Cut Coffee in Toronto and is rounded out with some vanilla. According to Cut... Lot#7 is open fermented for 36 hours then dried on special beds in the African sun. It has notes of peach honey and fresh fruit.

Onto our beer...


Pours a deep dark brown with a short dark tan head made up of tiny bubbles. The nose is fresh ground coffee with hints of dark malt and brown sugar. Coffee continues on the first sip like that first fresh aroma of coffee when the hot water hits the grounds for the first time. Toffee, caramel and vanilla fill out the middle. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, not unlike cold brew coffee.  Aeration gives chocolate brown sugar and whiskey. 

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:

The smell of this beer is amazing. It alone has the power to perk you up. Very smooth well rounded easy drinking and the 9.5% can quickly sneak up on you so imbibe carefully. 

CJT

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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 2018 Edition Day 10: Gold Star by Indie Alehouse

Beer # 469 Gold Star Farmhouse Ale

Brewery: Indie Alehouse


Type: Independent Brewpub/Microbrewery  Est.:  2012

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Belgian Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 5.0%      IBU: ?

Format: Draught  Size: 355 ml

Cost: $4.50 CAD     
Purchased At: Sawdust City Brewery Guest Tap

 indiealehouse

    @indiealehouse

Stopped into Sawdust to top up the #FridgeofFame for the last half of the #2-4BeersofChristmas as Sawdust seemed to be going into overkill with the new releases this season. While I was there, I noticed they had this little ditty on the guest tap list from Indie Alehouse and figured I had time for a half pint... as it was my day off.  So just a quick one for today, a nice sour Farmhouse Beer 

Onto our beer...

Pours a cloudy light gold with a fluffy white head made up of small to medium bubbles. Sweet light Brett nose with hints of citrus and wheat. First sip is very refreshing, with tart citrus and lemon zest. The middle is filled with malted wheat hints of baking spice, clove, a touch of banana and toast. Aeration brings out a light green hop and a hint of nuttiness.

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:

I am really enjoying the uptick in sour beers in Ontario. Soured beer when done properly is delicious and refreshing. The Brettanomyces can bring a lot of flavour to the brew when done judiciously. This is one of those beers, soft and balanced with just enough sour to clean up the palate and leave you wanting another sip. A very good beer get one if you can.

CJT

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