Beer # 17 Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18 yo Special Reserve

 Well a nice quiet Sunday night and I finally manage to get around to tasting the Ola Dubh 18 that has been sitting in my fridge taunting me. Just like the two bottles before the 12 and 16 This offering is from Harviestoun in Scotland www.harviestoun.com Here is what I wrote for the 12 way back in blog # 2:

"Enter Ola Dubh which the tag hanging from the bottle tells me means "Black Oil" It is a version of one of their standard dark beers "Old Engine Oil" that has been aged in casks. Not just any old casks though... Scotch whisky casks. Highland Park to be exact. The bottle I got today comes from the 12 year old series. Each bottle is brewed in small batches and then aged in 12 year old Highland park whisky barrels. The end result is numbered and dated. There is also a 16, 18, 30, and yes Virginia, a FORTY YEAR OLD series!"

The colour is black-brown and almost completely opaque. The tan head disperses very quickly. The beer is a hefty 8% ABV. 330 mls bottle bearing the number 01331 and a production date of September 2009 so 16 months in bottle. (Not so unusual for a high alcohol beer it can stand up to longer periods in bottle.)
First sniff gives off dark molasses and herbal hay and greenery notes (smells like the feed room from the horse farm I grew up on. Horse feed was usually mixed with molasses.) The taste is dark and grainy thick heavy molasses, and caremelised malt sugars the finish is woody and ashen. Wine port and brandy notes when aerated accentuating the alcohol.

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

Taste: Exceptional
Cost: Pass (despite the $8.95 entry fee for the 333ml bottle surprisingly worth it!)
Colour: Exceptional
Beer Style: Exceptional
Re-order: Pass (drink with caution! savour one a night and give your palate a rest!)
Experience: Exceptional

The 16 so far is proving to be my favourite.

Hopefully I will be able to get my hands on the 30 and 40 for future tastings.

Cheers
CJT

Twofer

 Well I'm enjoying my day off so I am going to do a Twofer. Yes that's two beers in one blog... not a whole case.

First up we have Beer # 15 Tyskie Gronie from Poland. Tyskie is part of the Kompania Piwowarska (literally Brewing Company) that controls 45% of all domestic Polish beers. It is a three way partnership between brewers Tyskie Gorny Slask, Dojlidy, and Lech which is in turn owned by SABMiller the second largest brewing conglomerate in the world www.kp.pl/en (after Anheuser-Busch InBev).


Tyskie Gronie is a 5.5% ABV pale lager in a 500 ml bottle. This particular lager has been produced since 1629. Pale gold with a frothy white head. First sniff gives us a little chemical, citrus and light grains First sip we are met with a light slightly sweet Euro-style lager. refreshing and effervescent mild bitterness with a hint of citrus followed by an earthy wet grain finish. Aeration gives off a minerality, sort of a high end sparkling mineral water and re-inforces the citrus. 


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

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (Well it should... I got it free! but for a 500 ml bottle I believe it's $4.95)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: so-so (Let me go to Poland and try it on tap)
Experience: Pass


Final Thoughts. I'm not a fan of Euro lagers I find that they seem to be lacking in something. They are either rainwatery, or chemical or tend to be too light to be of any consequence. Which is a shame seeing as the lager was born in this area. Lagers have the potential to be so much more.


Beer #16 Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale

Alexander Keith was a Scottish Politician and Brewer, born in 1795, who became the 4th mayor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Served in the Legislative Council for Nova Scotia for 30 years. He opened his now famous brewery in 1820 and it has been in operation ever since; making it one of North america's oldest continously run breweries www.keiths.ca. Their first product was the India Pale ale and it was their only beer up until recently. The company now has a stable of 5 beers the IPA a Light Ale, a Dark Ale, a White Beer, and and Amber Ale all sold under the Keith's flag. The brewery has undergone several expansions and also produces Oland products for sale in the maritime provinces for it's parent  company Anhueser -Busch InBev the largest beer conglomerate in the world.

On to the tasting

The colour is pale to clear gold with a white head of small bubbles. First sniff is rising bread with some citrus, grain, and fruit. first sip gives us a herbaceous hoppiness slightly medicinal with a good kick of bitter. Aeration gives off a woody, whisky, slight vanilla taste. From attack to finish is quick with lingering earthy and fruity notes

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

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Pass
Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts: Keith's is a love hate beer. People either love it or hate it. Personally, I hate to love it and love to hate it. A fresh pour out of a new keg of Keith's can be a wonderful thing but if the keg is slightly old or the lines are dirty or any of a million factors the result is a hellish thing. I'm not a bottle fan as most of the big boys heat pasteurize the bottles (and some are doing the kegs now too! cheaper to transport they don't have to be refrigerated) PASTEURIZATION IS WRONG what did that beer ever do to you? Beer is a living thing that needs to be handled gently and lovingly. I digress. Keith's is a "safe" beer one of the reserve beers I will find myself ordering if there is nothing else appealing. However, being "safe" rarely will a beer stand out in a crowd. Think global, drink at your local... and drink character.

Cheers
CJT

Beer # 14 Duchy Originals Organic Old Ruby Ale 1905

Welcome back beer fans. Tonight I continue in my series of holiday gifts this time a birthday gift (my friends sure know what I like). Duchy Originals is a line of products (food and beverage, not just beer) by Waitrose, a large British "Supermarket" chain. Waitrose has dedicate itself to a partnership in organic and traditional produce through the "Good Food Charter" Waitrose Good Food Charter The product line also serves as a major fundraiser for the "Prince's Charities" and the bottles are marked with the "Ich Dien" (above right)  The three feathers in a crown with the Latin phrase meaning "In God' which is a symbol of Wales and The Prince of Wales. Waitrose has paired up with a number of quality producers to improve the availability and image of organic products. One such producer is Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire www.wychwood.co.uk I have to admit Wychwood is a FANTASTIC beer marketing brewery they have some of the most unique advertising campaigns ever. They produce, among others Fiddler's Elbow, Hobgoblin Ale, Black Wych Stout, a cider called Green Goblin, and a number of seasonal beers including my favourite "wych" I had in Bath England on tap in a pub just down from the Roman ruins "Dog's Bollocks."

Tonight's Offering is a ruby ale brewed with a selection of English barley including one first grown in 1905 called "Plumage Archer." The hops and barley were all grown in England at select organic producers including The Duchy Home Farm where the product line takes it's name. It is a 500ml 5.0% ABV ale certified organic by English and European Union boards.

The colour is a dark amber-orange with a frothy white head. The aroma is earthy and grainy with hints of fruit. A very light tasting beer, effervescent, hints of the British bitter. Grains, bread, and fruit dominate. Aeration brings a sparkling citrus fruit. Finish lingers with more bitter cleansing grains.

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

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (Well it should... I got it free! but for a 500 ml bottle I believe it's $4.95)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Pass
Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts. Not an outstanding beer, but no slouch either. it would be a good summer sipper light and airy. Unfortunately it is just not memorable.

Cheers
CJT

Lucky 13

As a matter of fact "Lucky 13" is lucky for me. Not only is it the date of my sister's birthday "Lucky 13" is the name of a good friend of mine's band. www.lucky13band.com or Facebook them here Lucky 13 (Sorry for the shameless plug...) definitely worth checking out when they are in town. Just go up and ask for "Weeble."



And 13 is Lucky for you dear reader, as tonight we review beer # 13 Muskoka Cottage Brewery's Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. Yes as a matter of fact... it does sound like dessert in a glass. Muskoka Cottage Brewery is located in Bracebridge just over two hours north of Toronto.   www.muskokabrewery.com

 Bracebridge is one of those "pretty as a postcard" towns at the edge of Northern Ontario which has a big hockey tradition. Ace Bailey of the Toronto Maple Leafs (the benefactor of a fund raiser held by the Maple Leafs in the thirties that became the All Star Game) and Kris King: Maple Leaf, Phoenix Coyote, and last captain of the Winnipeg Jets being the most notable. Bracebridge, like its neighbouring town Gravenhurst takes its name from the episodic novel "Bracebridge Hall" by Washington Irving. In 1996 Muskoka Cottage Brewery opened it's doors promising fresh pure ingredients in all of their products and it is a credo that has served them well; winning numerous awards over their 15 year operation.

Onto the tasting: The bottle is a 750 ml champagne-style bottle closed with a swing-top cap normally found on Grolsch bottles. The Cap is sealed with a tamper-evident label that bears a "drink by" date of March 31 2011. Tonight's offering is an "stout" (pardon the pun) 8% ABV, that pours very dark chesnut to black with a redish tinged tan head. First sniff is all "Cherry Cordial" yes those chocolate covered ooey-gooey cherry candies you get from people you don't like at Christmas. The nose also gives off heaps of dark chocolate.

First sip is chocolate soda with a hint of cherry followed by deep roasted malt sugars, a hint of the high alcohol content, and a lingering hint of dutch process cocoa on the finish. Aeration gives off a winey note; short bursts of red fruit finishing quickly and returning to the chocolate.

A quick note about temperature. Often times we bring beer home and bung it in the refrigerator, which normally isn't a bad idea. However, this beer needs to be served at 9 C. Something I didn't notice until I started drinking it; so I let it warm up. It made all the difference. If your brewmaster has gone to the trouble of putting down a temperature to "enjoy" the beer at please heed it, after all he should know what he is talking about.

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

Taste: Pass (with caveat see below)
Cost: Pass (Well it should... I got it free! but for a 750 ml bottle I believe it's $8.95)
Colour: Exceptional (I love the red tinge in the otherwise tan head)
Beer Style: Exceptional
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

Final thoughts. I didn't taste cranberry! I wanted desperately to taste it, but warm or cold the most I got was a slight tartness and a red fruit that could have been cherry or raspberry. So... slightly let down but overall a very nice beer especially when it warmed up. This is the best beer from Muskoka Cottage Brewery that I have tasted thus far.

Cheers
CJT

Beer #12 Lake of Bays Brewing Company's Mocha Porter

 So onto present number two from a very special lady. Lake of Bays is one of Ontario's newest cottage breweries. Situated in Baysville in between Bracebridge and Huntsville (yes last year's G8 headquarters)
The Beer is a combined effort from the brewery www.lakeofbaysbrewing.com and a local coffee roaster in Bracebridge Diesel House www.dieselhousecoffeeroasters.ca

Coffee and porters are are natural match because the long dark roasted barley that goes into the dark ales will often give of notes of chocolate, smoke, and .... well coffee. Porters themselves have been around since the early 1700's in England where a special re-vitalising dark ale was brewed for the "stout" men on the dock and the rivers who loaded and unloaded the ships. This beer came to be synonymous with this job title of the men and hence was called porter. Later this beer would catch the attention of an ingenious young Irishman named Arthur who would base his ale on the porter. His stout would go on to define a nation and become the world's best selling dark beer. I think you have already guessed his last name was Guinness. Note the names porter and stout
are often used interchangably. The porter name was
kept mainly in England whereas in Dublin Guinness used the term stout.

First look at today's offering we notice that the beer is far from black. It is in fact a deep mocha brown it has a tan head with small bubble and no "cascade" of froth one would find in other porters and stouts. The head dies down quickly to a quarter inch and retains its rich colour. ABV is 5.2% which is low for a traditional porter as the original beer was often brewed up to 6.6%.

The first sniff is smoky and chocolate with a hint of fresh brewed espresso. Taking our first sip the smokiness is rein-forced as is the dark chocolate, breaking away into a nice dark-roasted coffee finish. Slight bitter coffee aftertaste but a clean mouthfeel, hint of smoke lingers in the throat. Aeration brings out a sweetness, rum and demerara sugar. after a few minutes a light honey develops in the background. The beer is light bodied and fruity a very good example of a well done British style ale.

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 $6.95)
Colour: Exceptional (Nice brown the mocha lives up to it's name)
Beer Style: Exceptional
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

High marks again today. For a young company, this is an excellent offering I enjoyed my taste and look forward to visiting the new brewery, and having a sample off the keg, just as a beer like this deserves to be tasted.

Cheers
CJT

Later this week Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout.... I'm getting tingles! And yes we will crack the 18 yo Ola Dubh before the week is out.

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

Retro Night!

Well Not too retro but more common to say the least. In a two for one blog I'm going to try two beers that are readily available just about anywhere, instead of my unusual picks from the LCBO . First up:

Beer # 9 Dos Equis Lager Especial

Fresh from the "Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma" www.cuamoc.com or www.dosequis.com it's the brewery that brings us such international stars as Carta Blanca, Sol (the original German-styled Lager brewed in Mexico predating Corona by 50 years!!), and Tecate. The brewery also produces Coors Light under licence for the Mexican market and the flagship beer of it's international Parent Company Heineken.

Presented in a (sunlight damaging... keep your Dos Equis in the dark!) green bottle standard 12 oz or 335 ml size. It is a refreshing 4.5% ABV German-styled lager well suited to its hot climate origins. Clear gold in colour with an almost non-existant head of medium sized bubbles that fade out to a skim of white across the top of the beer. Grain and citrus dominate the nose giving up almost nothing else in the way of aroma. First sip wet grain with a sugary finish mild citrus. Very low amount of hops no bitterness very dry aftertaste. Does not evoke the rain-watery Darjeeling tea flavours of a traditional Euro-lager. Very gentle and soft mildly cleansing, leaving me wanting a spicy burritto.

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

Taste: Pass (Euro-lagers tend to be bland but this one is decent)
Cost: Pass
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Exceptional (Give me the above mentioned spicy Burrito and a beach in the Mexican riviera I'd drink it til the cows come home)
Experience: Pass

Final Thought... I will make this a high pass. Note quite exceptional because it is a working man's beer nothing stands out above the crowd. It's a beer you come home to, dig out of the bottom of the fridge, and flop onto the couch with. Just like your favourite old pooch and a pair of slipperes a very reliable beer. Just don't expose it to too much light or it WILL go skunky!







Beer # 10 Molson Stock Ale

Never been a fan of the "Big Boys." Over-commercialisation of the brewing process has never been a good thing. Molson Coors is a giant among brewing circles, one of the largest right up there with SABMiller and AB InBev. The Pint Jockey's opinion is that brewing should be local and the best beers should always come from within walking distance.

I digress.

 
Molson was formed in Montreal in 1786 and is the oldest continuously operating brewery in Canada. It became the fifth largest Brewing company in the world when it merged with Coors of USA. www.molsoncoorscanada.com Incidently The Golden Colorado Brewery which is Molson Coor's Flagship Brewery is the largest brewing facility in the world.

Darker gold in colour and a heavy malted molasses and licorice nose. White head with tiny bubbles disapeers quickly. First sip gives us lots of grain and malt slightly chemical notes. Not a lot of character.


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

Taste: So-so
Cost: Pass
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: So-so
Experience:So-so

Final thought. Commercial beers just really are not worth it. Bland, tasteless,  brewed without character to appeal to a larger audience. Think Global... but drink local.

The 18 year old Ola Dubh is up next! Stay tuned

Cheers
CJT