Matilda
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Owned by Anheuser-Busch Inbev
Belgian Style Pale Ale 7.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 765 ml
$9.95 (Canadian) At LCBO
Twitter: @gooseisland
I had heard of this brewery before and I was very excited when I discovered it at a local LCBO. Goose Island was started in 1988 as a brew pub named Clybourn. It became known as Goose Island brewing company in 1995 when it opened it's main brewery. It then opened a second brewpub called Wrigleyville in 1999. As of 2011 Fulton Street Brewing company, the legal name of Goose Island Brewing Company, was sold to Anheuser-Busch Inbev.
Onto the tasting:
Light orange to gold in colour with a fluffy white head made up of medium sized bubbles. Good lacing and long lasting head. Aroma is very fruity and yeasty with a slight cinnamon and clove scent hidden in the middle. First sip is citrus mainly orange, very light and refreshing followed by a warming of the body from the alcohol. Fruit gives way to roasty caramel, vanilla and a little bread. There is a good amount of residual sweetness, yet the beer drinks very clean. The lips are not sticky, nor does the sugar seem sickly. There is some similarity to an aged hard apple cider, some tartness, tartaric acid, green apple. Strong resemblance to a champagne as well, tart and bready. Aeration gives us a creamy feeling airy and effervescent mouthfeel citrus and apple.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 4/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
Like drinking a good wine. It is well crafted and full of flavours. I was eagerly anticipating this beer, however I was disappointed to find it was a Macro-craft. Wholly owned by one of the largest breweries in the world, I am worried that something will be sacrificed. Hopefully they will be able to maintain their high standards.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Signature Ale
Durham Brewing Company
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Independent
English Style Pale Ale 5.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 500 ml
$3.95 (Canadian) At LCBO
Twitter: N/A
Down to Durham County for a OCBWeek beer. Durham County is an unusual brewery, in that they don't do much social media. They have no website, and no twitter feed. They do have a page on the OCB website, which is here but otherwise they are pretty absent from the internet. I guess they prefer to let their beer do the talking... which is fine with me. It isn't often I find their beer in bottles or cans so I was delighted to find this one at an LCBO down in Etobicoke. Mostly on encounters they beers on tap at local bars, especially C'est What in Toronto, where they brew a line of beers just for them.
Enough already, onto the tasting...
Very dark gold in colour, almost light copper, with a fantastic beefy head made up of tiny off-white bubbles. Very long lasting with good lacing. Honey sweet nose with medicinal hops aroma light pine and camphor. Honey is there on the first sip as is caramel and tangy hops. Slightly piney, floral, herbaceous. The hops are very fresh and green. Aeration gives us an explosion of bright green and piney hops. finish is floral and caramel.
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:
Of all the beers that claim to be "British" or "English Style" this is the first one I have found that does indeed taste like a British beer. Light, floral and fresh, it is a delightful beer. Very thirst quenching, and a great beer to drink on it's own, or with some good BBQ.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Auburn Ale
Cameron's Brewing Company
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Independent
West Coast Ale 5.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 341 ml
$2.50 (Canadian) At LCBO
Twitter: @CameronsBrewing
And we are starting off OCB Week with a bang. Lot's to come so stay tuned. Until then here is another from Cameron's.
Auburn colour indeed, a very nice rusty brown with a very pale tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is dark sugary malts, slightly nutty, and a hint of hops, floral and medicinal. First sip gives us a complex roasted malt, very dry through the middle with a hint of sweetness at the end. Light in body and well rounded, Finish is green herbal hopes ending tart, and slightly bitter. Aeration brings out the green hops and some of the malt sugars.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order: 5/6 PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
Avery good well rounded beer, complex, yet still light.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
#PintJockeyLiveBlog at #OCBWeek!
One of the biggest beer events is upon us. In 4 days the Ontario Craft Brewer's OCB Week, launches on Father's day Now in it's fifth year, OCB week is a celebration of all things Craft Beer in Ontario. While events happen all over Ontario, Toronto is the main focus, and that is where yours truly will be heading on June 18th. I am going to be live blogging from some of my favourite bars in the city. The Only Cafe, Bar Volo, Thirsty and Miserable, to name a few. I am also going to try to get to Mill Street Brewery's Flight tasting, and Six Pints as well (Plus any other trouble I can get up too). So stay tuned to the blog, my twitter, and Untappd for all of the updates. Also look for the Hashtags #OCBWeek and #PintJockeyLiveBlog, The OCB Week Website is here check them out for events near you.
Here at the headquarters I am continuing the spring cleaning of the Fridge of Fame, there are a few more backlog beers that I wish to post about before I bring in more for the summer season.
As always thanks for sticking here with me. Last month I had a record number of viewers and I am hoping to best that again this month. It warms my heart that you all enjoy the ramblings of this old farm boy.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
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
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Blacksmith Smoked Porter
Highlander Brew Company
South River, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Smoked Porter .4 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml
$4.75 (Canadian) At LCBO
Twitter: @HighlanderBrew
Back again for the third of three from the Highlander Brew Co. Tonight we finish up with the Smoked porter. Highlander takes it's name from the Almaguin Highlands where the town of South River is located. It is a beautiful rugged country predominated by the Canadian Shield, ancient pink to red pre-cambrian granite that runs across the country in a large band. In fact the highway through South River used to be noted for it's pink hue, that was caused by utilising the pink granite blasted away for the roadbed in the asphalt as an aggregate.
Enough already... on to the Highlander... (There can only be ONE!)
Very dark brown with a small tan head made of small bubbles, that disperse quickly. Aroma is smoky, bacon, malt. First sip is smoky and fruity, creamy malt sugars and a slight bitterness serve to round out the taste aeration enhances creaminess, sweetness and roasted malt
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
A lovely smoked beer that doesn't taste like you are being choked out by a campfire. The smoke serves to enhance the sweetness, and fruit of the malt. A nice easy sipper, but would go great with some good BBQ as well.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Scottish Ale
Highlander Brew Company
South River, Ontario, Canada
Independent
Scotch Ale 5.4 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml
$4.75 (Canadian) At LCBO
Twitter: @HighlanderBrew
Back again for the second of three from the Highlander Brew Co. This beer tonight is the original beer brewed by Brewmaster Brian Wilson (still no connection to the Beach Boys, or the catchy Bare Naked Ladies song). Tonight's beer is actually Highlander Brew Co.'s first they brewed way back in 2009. It contains four different malts of grains and four different hops for a smooth complex flavour.
Enough already... on to the Highlander... (There can only be ONE!)
dark chestnut in colour with an off white head made up of small to medium bubbles. Aroma is dark malt, molasses, wood and licorice. First sip is nutty, and malty, dark sugars at work. Lightly smoky, yet still light and fruity. Leathery and tart on the finish. Aeration gives up smoky toasted wood, and toasted walnuts.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
An excellent beer and a solid flagship for the Highlander Brew Co. Very light and approachable for a Scotch Ale. Flavour is straightforward and light but still pleasing. Please go pick this one up and try it for yourself... you will not regret it.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Matilda
