Beer # 390 11/05 2017 Edition Imperial Fruit Sour

Beer # 390 11/05 2017 Edition 
Collaboration with: Sawdust City Brewing Company

Brewery: Nickel Brook Brewing Company

Type: Independent Microbrewery/Brewpub    Est.:  2012

Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Imperial Fruit Sour with Soursop

ABV: 11.05%      IBU: 

Format: Draught  Size: 14 oz

Cost: $6.80 CAD     Purchased At: The Brewery

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Type: Independent Microbrewery Est.: 2012
Location: Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

nickelbrookbrewing        sawdustcitybeer

    @NickelBrookBeer    @SawdustCityBeer

Soursop

One of the more anticipated beers of the brewing year up here in Muskoka is the fun collaboration between Sawdust City in Gravenhurst and Nickel Brook Brewing in Burlington Ontario. The two Brewmasters Sam Corbiel (Sawdust), and Ryan Morrow (Nickel Brook) share a birthday, November 5 (get it? 11 05?) So every year they plan and brew a beer that has an alcohol content of 11.05% (yikes!) Every year is a different style and the actually brewing swaps back and forth between the two breweries. Which sadly sucks this time around due to our antiquated laws in Ontario. Because this year was Nickel Brook's turn to brew, cans of 11/05 were not available for purchase in Gravenhurst. We did, however, get a few kegs to be served in the Sawdust City Saloon. So in I went.

This year's brew is an Imperial Fruit Sour. It was flavoured with a fruit that is not too commonly know of in this area: soursop. While the fruit is native to the Americas, it is from the tropical regions and is not generally seen up this way, fresh, anyway. The prickly green outside hides a soft creamy interior with many small brown seeds. The flavour is reminiscent of strawberries and pineapple.

Onto our beer.

Pours a hazy light gold with tinges of green and a short off-white head made up of small bubbles. The aroma has grapey notes of wine, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Plus a sweet and sour background with hints of green fruit and citrus. First sip is quite tart but smooth with lots of fruit and wine notes. Has a distinct champagne mouthfeel, slightly acidic with bready notes citrus and cheek pricking bubbles. sweet fruity background note of strawberry and banana come out as the beer warms. Lastly, hints of oak come completing the wine feel. Aeration gives us a touch of pineapple some creaminess and a little raisin.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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


Final Thoughts:

Wow. This is certainly the best 11/05 that I have had. It is very easy drinking and it masks the high alcohol very well. This is not a beer you would want to pound back 3 or 4 of, at least if you want to see the next morning. I had the one and moseyed. Very flavourful, I can't wait to try next year's!

Cheers

CJT

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My Toronto Day Trip

Toronto Day Trip, A Play, and Ontario Craft Beer.

So, on the 9th of November, I managed to sneak down to Toronto with The Queen of Pint Jockey Headquarters, and we actually got to take in a play. Something neither of us has really done recently. We went to the Randolph Theatre in Mirvish Villiage and took in "EVIL DEAD, the Musical." No, we did not sit in the "Splatter Zone." A fact which we were kind of glad for because we had to drive back to Muskoka, and didn't necessarily need to mess up the seats in the car. For the uninitiated, EVIL DEAD's "Splatter Zone" is the very front section of the orchestra seats. If you sit there you are guaranteed to get COVERED in stage blood (And I mean COVERED). They hand out oversized T-shirts to minimised the clothing destruction, but stage blood is quite good at washing out. It's a combination of corn syrup and water-soluble dyes. Nevertheless, you leave a sticky mess. They don't even let you leave the theatre through the front, you have to go out the back across a walkway that has been carefully taped off with plastic. The play was incredible. Wonderfully funny and capped a great day. It runs in Toronto until November 19th, 2017, and there are a few tickets left. If you like the Evil Dead movies you will love the play.

Yes. That Says Blood Case 1 of 3 (Giant Steamer Trunk)

Before the play, we got to walk around a bit and hit a few places to taste some beer.

Harbord House

150 Harbord Street. 

harbordhouse.ca

We started at the Harbord House for lunch it is a nice little Gastropub serving a good selection of Ontario Craft Beers and Ciders. I had the Burger and The Queen had the Vegetarian Sandwich, Both were quite good, but most sincerely, they had the best fries I had ever tasted. They were Yukon gold potato fries and were just delicious. A definite highlight of the meal.

Onto my beers.

Fresh Hop EPA

Beer # 379

County Durham Brewing Company

Fresh Hop EPA Cask Ale

4.5 abv

Clear to brilliant gold with a solid white head made of small bubbles. Aroma is bright and green with some medicinal hints and caramel malt. First sip is light and airy with fresh green hops, very English style light ale with the hops adding a nice fruity funk. aeration gives us some black tea and pear with hints of light citrus.

Henderson's Best

Beer # 380

Henderson Brewing Company

Henderson's Best Bitter Ale

5.5% ABV

Pours a light clear mahogany with a thin off-site head. aroma is slightly smoky and rich caramel. First sip is light chocolaty and fruity. a light effervescent. hints of caramel and malt with hints of coffee. aeration gives us some woodsy notes and mild hints of molasses.

Kensington Brewing Company

299 Augusta Avenue

www.kensingtonbrewingcompany.com

Ever since they opened in the heart of my favourite community in Toronto, I have been keen to get down to the Kensington Brewing Company. Their new location is shiny and clean, mildly claustrophobic, and filled with good beer. Sitting at the tasting bar you almost have the fermentation tanks at your back.

Paired up with some impressive hand-blown glass light fixtures that look like over-inflated beer bottles. the place is very unique and a cosy spot to slip in for a flight.

Here is what I tried.

Gamelle Grisette

Beer # 381

Gamelle Grissete

4.6% ABV 15 IBU

Pale straw in colour with a thin white head slightly cloudy. Aroma is citrus and pepper with good wheat notes. First sip gives us banana and clove some medicinal hops with a hint of bitterness to clear the palate. Aeration gives us a zippy dingy tongue biting citrus with hints of green apple on the finish.

Beer # 382

Low Boy NE Pale Ale with Apricots

4.3% ABV 20 IBU

Cloudy off gold with no head. aroma is very fruity with strong hints of pine. First sip is TONS of grapefruit hints of pink pepper sweet and tart apricot fading into a green pine finish. aeration gives us some mild citrus pith with hints of zest and some woodsy notes. 

Final Thought: I believe this was my favourite beer of the day.

Fall Saison w Pepper

Beer # 383

Fall Saison with Black Pepper

6.5% ABV 24 IBU

Slightly cloudy medium gold in colour with a thin skiff of an off-white head. aroma is wheat and banana. Hints of pepper and a touch of clove. First sip is warming and wheaty, with background notes of black pepper. aeration gives us the classic Belgian combo of banana and clove with a slightly toasty, baking spice finish.

Beer #384

Neu Rodes Dark Sour Cherry Flander's Red.

5.7% ABV 14 IBU

Red-brown in colour with barely a skiff of head. aroma is malty and sweet. First sip is very sour. fruity sweet and tart. tastes like unripe fruit. coffee and chocolate follow with hints of old smoke.

Final Thought: This one didn't sit well with me. I could not put my finger on why exactly, however, something in this beer did not appeal to me. Which is very odd as I am a huge sour cherry fan. Perhaps I have just not had enough Flander's Reds.

Beer # 385

Bonne Faim

Bonne Faim Strong Belgian with Hibiscus

8.0% ABV

Darker gold with a light off-white head aroma is wheat and some floral sweetness. First sip is quite sweet with hints of hibiscus and banana aeration brings out more sweetness almost syrupy.

Final Thought: This beer did not hit the mark with me either. A little too sweet and the hibiscus was too subtle. Not a bad beer by any means... just not for me.

A Crafty Lineup

Crafty Coyote

511 Bloor Street West

craftycoyote.ca

Last Stop before the show and some Fajitas to fill our bellies, oh.. And they had 30 taps to choose from. 20 Craft Beers and 10 Ciders. (should have taken a picture, bad Pint Jockey...)

These are my picks.

Blood Brothers
Shumei IPA

Beer # 386

Blood Brothers Brewing Shumei IPA

7.0 ABV 70 IBU

Pours a cloudy gold with a short off-white head made up of tiny bubbles. Aroma is citrus pineapple and light hints of pine. First sip is warming and tart with a slight sourness. Notes of pineapple cilantro

and parsley. Lips are left slightly sticky. Aeration gives us a very herbal finish.

Final Thought: Definite runner-up for the day, a great IPA.

St. Mary Axe
Canadian Best Bitter

Beer # 387

St Mary Axe Canadian Best Bitter

4.6 ABV 32 IBU

Pours a golden copper with an off-white head made up of tiny bubbles. aroma is caramel and fruit. First sip is malty, hoppy, smooth and creamy with lots of bubbly body.

Final Thought: I was excited this was a new brewery for me, I had not even heard of it yet. I really liked this beer and I can't wait to try more from these new brewers.

Beer # 388

High Park Brewing Company
Across the Pond

High Park Brewing Company Across the Pond ESB

5.5% ABV

Pours copper gold with a thin white head made up of tiny bubbles aroma is malty with hints of toast First sip is warm and creamy with fruit and nuts hints of bright green hops and mild bitterness.

and nuts.

Cowbell
McNall's Mission

Beer # 389

Cowbell Brewing McNall's Mission Brown Ale

4.8% ABV 20 IBU

Colour is light mahogany with an off-tan head. aroma is sweet with some light spice and lots of malt. First sip is quite sweet but not cloying hints of molasses and brown sugar touches of leather and old wood.

Final Thought: This is another brewery I am looking forward to go to, perhaps next summer.

Well, that was my road trip I hope you enjoyed my notes as much as I enjoyed tasting the beers. I hope to get down to Toronto again soon, there were so many more places I wanted to get to, but just didn't have time. Until then.

Cheers

CJT

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And I shall Hug him, and Squeeze him, and call him "George" Beer # 378

Beer # 378 George American Brown Ale 
Collaboration with: Sawdust City Brewing Company

Brewery: Big Rig Kitchen and Brewery

Type: Independent Microbrewery/Brewpub    Est.:  2012

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 4.7%      IBU: 

Format: Draught  Size: 20 oz

Cost: $7.00 CAD     Purchased At: The Brewery

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Type: Independent Microbrewery Est.: 2012
Location: Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

bigrigbrewery        sawdustcitybeer

    @BigRigBrewery    @SawdustCityBeer

Down at the brewery the other day, and they had this excellent collab with Big Rig Brewery out of Ottawa. I had to try it because of the name... "What do you want to call your beer?" "George." "Heh... Why not?" It made me think of that old Looney Tunes cartoon where the Abominable Snowman is looking for a pet bunny. Graciously provided by YouTube on the right here.

Let's try out "George."

Pours a rich mahogany, just slightly translucent that sparks ruby as the light shines through. Off-white head with hints of tan is made up of tiny bubbles and stands tall thick and creamy. Aroma is herbal and nutty with light hints of smoke and caramel. First sip caramel sweet with a nice hop bitterness to balance. Very fruity and nutty, light hints of smouldering malt with touches of bruleed sugar. Very open and airy, drinks on the lighter bodied side despite the intense flavours.
aeration gives us lots of nuts hints of green hop bitterness a touch of marijuana some molasses and dark roasted barley.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


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


Final Thoughts:

So tasty. A nice crushable brown ale. Well rounded flavours and a good balance. See if you can find this one... it is a limited run.

Cheers

CJT

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Lone Pine Tap Takeover at Sawdust

1000th Brew Celebration Lone Prime and Lone Pine One-offs

Sawdust City Brewing Company

Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
   

Independent Microbrewery Established 2012
Flavoured IPA &
Original IPA
ABV 6.5 %  
Draught Samples 4 and 14 oz
Various Prices (Canadian) At The Brewery

 @sawdustcitybeer


Recently, Sawdust brewed their 1000th batch of beer at their permanent location in Gravenhurst. Prior to this, they were first experimenting in a kitchen where the original recipe for their wildly popular beer Lone Pine was first created. When they first started brewing commercially they contracted space out of Black Oak Brewery in Etobicoke near Toronto. It was here where Lone pine morphed into its final form. To commemorate this thousandth brew. Sawdust went back to its kitchen roots, dusted off their original recipe and brewed it up for us to compare and contrast.

In addition to the main event, they brewed up some one-off kegs to celebrate IPA in a few unusual ways. The following 5 beers were started on a base of current recipe Lone Pine IPA and then were augmented with the flavours noted.


Onto the samples:

Beer # 372

Lone Shark

Lone Shark Peach and Nectarine milkshake IPA 

Flavoured With Peach and Nectarine Juices with Added Lactose for creaminess Lone Pine Base 6.5% ABV 4 oz

pours a cloudy gold with a very short head aroma is bright pine and tropical fruit. mild lactose creaminess. hints of strawberry citrus and nuts. hints of vanilla. Aeration brings out some wood and a touch of caramel.

Not bad, but I think this was a trial run for their upcoming beer which is a Strawberry Milkshake IPA.

Beer # 373

Keep Calm and Cherry On

Keep Calm and Cherry on Sour Cherry IPA  

Flavoured With Sour Cherries 
Lone Pine Base 6.5% ABV 4 oz

Pours a cloudy reddish off brown with a short head made up of tiny white bubbles. Aroma is a tropical hoppy mix with bright red fruit. First sip is fruity IPA followed by a spike of cherry pie filling... Some residual sweetness and stickiness like when I eat cherry pie filling straight from the can ( don't judge). Aeration gives us some sugar more fruit. 

Fruity and sweet and not much else.

Beer # 374

Nothing Comes to Mind

Nothing Comes to Mind... Blueberry Pink Guava IPA 

Flavoured With Blueberries and Guava 
Lone Pine Base 6.5% ABV 4 oz

Pours a muddy pink/purple with an off-white head made up of tiny bubbles. Nose is a little more muted than the other but still has hints of pine. First sip is a very sweet explosion of blueberry with hints of sweet Guava. Aeration gives us some creamy sweetness and some raw white sugar. lips are left sticky.

Also quite sweet.

Beer # 375

Electric IPA

Szechuan Jalapeno Electric IPA 

Flavoured With Jalapenos (and Szechuan sauce? Not sure.) 
Lone Pine Base 6.5% ABV 4 oz

pours a light clear gold with a thin head. Aroma is pine and hot peppers first sip is like a stir fry with mild spice and a little jalapeno burn. Aeration brings out some fruity pepper notes and hints of soy sauce.

Zingy and warm, this one was my favourite.

Chai-chai-chai-changes

Beer # 376

Chai-chai-chai-changes Chai IPA  

Flavoured With Chai Spice and Black Tea 
Lone Pine Base 6.5% ABV 4 oz

Pours the colour of milky chai the beer is viscous and has a texture like a Guinness frozen in time. Baking spices fill the nose cinnamon cardamom and heavy clove. First sip is milky and sweet then the spices hit. clove is a tad overpowering but the cinnamon is balanced. cardamom is just barely present. Finish is black tea with hints of pine and a mild fruitiness. Aeration is clove intensity and reminds me of air freshener a bit. 

This one was a close second. Were this to be balanced better I would like to see it as a regular seasonal.

The Main Event (Old vs New)

Lone Pine on left "Lone Prime" on right

Lone Prime vs Lone Pine

Beer # 377

Lone Prime

Original recipe of Lone Pine
6.5% ABV

Pours a rich mahogany with an off-tan head made up of small bubbles Nose is intense pine and malt with hints pineapple. First sip is dark toasty malt with a hint of molasses. hints of coffee and deep tones of barley, liquorice, and horse feed. Slightly woodsy and piney with sparks of roasted pineapple, hints of passion fruit and a touch of caramel vanilla. Aeration brings out more piney hops

Lone Pine

Lighter and more golden in colour with a brighter off-white head made up of small bubbles. Pine and tropical fruit are intense on the nose first sip is not quite as malt forward, but the malts are still there. Pine and fruit is far more intense but more emphasis on the lighter fruits passion fruit citrus hints of orange and less pineapple. Aeration gives us some light caramel and vanilla with a woodsy background and more pine

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


Final Thoughts:

As I sat sipping my pint, I tried hard to remember my first taste of Lone Pine. I do remember it was at "The Only Cafe" on the Danforth in Toronto. It was $5 dollar pint night so it was Sunday. And this, this wasn't quite right. This "Lone Prime" is maltier, headier, The one I remember was crisper with more pine and lots of tropical fruit, mainly pineapple. So I feel I have seen the beginning the middle and the end (so far) of Lone pine, It's nice to complete that journey. It is fun to sample a beer as it grows up. As for this limited edition version? it's very, very good. you should give it a shot. Try it out with a regular can of Lone pine beside it to get the full picture.


Cheers

CJT

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