The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2019 Day: 1 One Lion Imperial Stout

Beer # 501 One Lion Imperial Stout

Brewery: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery


Type: Independent Farm Brewery    Est.:  2013

Location: Goochland, Virginia, USA

Beer Style: Imperial Milk Stout

ABV: 7.0%      IBU: 38

Format: Brown Glass Bottle  Size: 750 ml

Cost: $9.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

lccb_farmbrews

    @lccb_farmbrews

Ok seriously... The only reason I wanted to do this beer is for the name of the brewery. Lickinghole Creek! I mean come on! Even better the town it comes from is Goochland? Really Virginia? I'm giving you the side-eye. Well, they do go into an explanation of the name on their website which I will post here:

"WTF IS A LICKINGHOLE? We get a lot of questions and giggle about our name and the brand. First of all, we can't make this stuff up. AND, yes, Goochland is a real place. It's often brought up in "The Cleveland Show." The name Lickinghole, is as old as the people who first discovered it. As a matter of fact, it's so old, it pre-dates proper English. It's the creek that runs through the farm. Technically it's, Little Licking Hole (you guessed it, there is a Big Lickinghole). You'll also notice that it's one word, and not two. Let's start with the definition of a 'lick'—not the verb, the noun. A lick (n) is a waterway somewhere between a 'rill' and a 'stream,' often changing in depth, path and size. Many of these 'lick' waterways had minerals and nutrients that animals would seek out, creating a 'licking hole' making it a great place for Native Americans and early Colonists to hunt animals." Website

Other than that, Lickinghole is a farm brewery that grows the majority of its grain and hops on the site of their 290-acre farm. They are water conscious and actually use part of the profits to support clean water projects in developing areas. The beer for tonight supports water development in Nine Mile Creek in Jamaica, hence the reason the bottle looks like a Bob Marley album cover. They don't explicitly say but I'm assuming the name One Lion is in honour of Bob Marley as well. So without any hesitation, I think we should jump right into the first of our #2-4BeersofChristmas with this American Imperial Stout.

Onto out beer...

Pours an intense chestnut brown with a thick creamy head tinted tan slightly. Aroma is deep, dark and complex with notes of fruit, chocolate, wood and whiskey. First sip is smoke and chocolate with notes of wood and ash. Molasses and caramel dominate through the middle with some lip sticking syrup. The body is quite light and fruity, with hints of raisin and apricot. Aeration gives us notes of cedar green hops and caramelised sugar. Long lingering warmth of alcohol after the finish.

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 4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:


This was a good solid, flavourful stout. The only thing I would say against this beer is that it is sunny and cheery and makes me think of Jamaica and beaches instead of snow and fires. Still, a very good stout and a worthy cause so pick up any Likinghole Creek beer and make sure you contribute to supplying clean water to people who really need it.

Cheers

CJT

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Happy December!

Welcome to the #2-4 Beers of Christmas 2019 Edition!

Well, we made it through another year together. I can't believe this blog is 9 years old, and this is the 5th year for the #2-4BeersofChristmas. I have enjoyed this part of the job the most because I get to explore some of the darker more interesting beers. Stuff that is barrel-aged, high alcohol, high gravity, rich and toasty. Great beers that you want to sip slowly in front of a roaring fire... or at least the fireplace channel on YouTube.



The big news I was going to share was that we were travelling to Peru over the Christmas Holidays. Sadly due to unforeseen circumstances, that had to be pushed back until next year. While we are sad about waiting the extra time we know we will get a chance to go. And I will take the blog along with me! Stay tuned for more details in the coming year.

Speaking of the coming year. This year makes the 10th anniversary of the blog and I am planning special posts and going further afield to find more interesting and unusual beers. I am also trying to make this year my most post heavy of all time... I'm shooting for around 120 just as a personal goal. That means about 2 to 3 posts a week, and hopefully,  about 200 new beers to talk about.

So thanks for hanging out with me and I hope you enjoy this year's #2-4BeersofChristmas. Happy Holidays and to all a new beer!


Cheers

CJT

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BEER NUMBER 500!

Beer # 500 Glory and Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Cuvée Ale


Brewery: Nickle Brook Brewing Company


Type: Independent Brewery    Est.:  2005

Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Fruited and spiced Cuvée Ale Bourbon Barrel-aged Sour Ale 

ABV: 9.5 %     IBU: 37

Format: Brown glass bottle waxed sealed crown cap  Size: 500 ml

Cost: $9.95 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

nickelbrookbrewing      

    @NickelBrookBeer              

So we just passed the ninth anniversary of the Blog on November 8th, and coincidently I just hit my 500th beer post. So many things have changed since I started writing. The blog was originally intended to help me improve my writing and get me used to writing more often. I thought originally that I wanted to try 1000 beers because that sounded like an impressive number. I also thought it would take two to five years. Well, as I enter the 10th year of the blog I'm only halfway, and the blog is still evolving.

So over the coming months (and years) I will be fine-tuning and updating to keep the blog fresh and relevant. My goal is no longer 1000 beers, just a quest for knowledge and the desire to share it with you. Here's to many more milestones in the future.

Tonight's beer is Glory and Gold which is a fruited and spiced sour ale, that has been aged for 2 years in bourbon barrels. I figured "Gold" was the way to go for my 500th beer. 

Onto #500...

Pours a translucent medium chestnut colour with a firm off-tan head made up of small to tiny bubbles. The aroma is similar to a foeder beer, rich tangy, woody and hints of vanilla and spice. The first sip is very tart and tangy, with some caramel and vanilla. hints of dried fruit and wood. slight whiskey burn at the back of the throat. Aeration gives us some sweet tarts some malt and medicinal liquorice and horehound candy.

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:

This is a very interesting beer, there are lots of flavours going on. However, my overall impression is that this beer is not ready yet. This beer really needs to be laid down for at least 2 more years. it needs more aged to smooth out the complex flavours and create a more harmonious beer. I would buy a couple of these and put them away, and maybe one to drink now for comparison. 

Cheers

CJT

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Beer # 499 Lone Star Lager (Canadian Version)

Beer # 499 Lone Star Lager

Brewery: Sleeman Brewing and Malting


Type: Wholly owned by Sapporo Breweries Company  Est.:  1988

Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Lager

ABV: 4.9%      IBU: 10

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $2.0 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

sleemanbeer

    @sleemanbeer

Ok... This beer is iconic and intrinsically linked with Texas, except, it is brewed by a Japanese company in... Guelph, Ontario, Canada? Well... yes, and yes... The original Lone Star Brewery was built in 1884 in San Antonio Texas. It was Texas' first large scale mechanised brewery; originally put together by Adolphus Busch of Anheuser-Busch fame and a group of local San Antonio businessmen. Busch had bought the Alamo brewing company in 1874 and used it to build the new Lone Star Brewery. Lone Star Beer itself, wasn't brewed until1940 by Peter Kreil of Munich (It is very much a Munich Lager). The Lone Star Beer Company has had many masters over the years. It has been moved to several locations in Texas, it was purchased in 1976 By Olympia Brewing from Washinton,

No.. Not that Lone Star.

and again in 1983 by G. Heileman Brewing. Stroh's bout Heileman in 1996, and then Stroh's was bought by Pabst in 1999. Pabst now contracts all the brewing of Lone Star out. So where does Japan and Canada fit in? Glad you asked. Stroh's Canada was purchased by the Sleeman Brewing and Malting company which was later bought out by Sapporo of Japan. Sleeman's brews the Stroh's line Including Lone Star, Old Milwaukee, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Still billed as the "National Beer of Texas, even though this one is brewed North of the border... Let's give this one a try. 

Let's use the Schwartz on this Lone Star...

Clear gold in colour with a thick, bright white head made up of small bubbles. The aroma is corn syrup and malt extracts. Rain watery German-style hops and hints of wet dog. The first sip is sweet and corny with a very light malt profile. Taste is very flat with a watery texture. There is a clean crispness to the beer, but it comes at the cost of very little flavour in the actual beer. Aeration makes it taste like sugar water.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 3/6 SO-SO
Re-Order:  1/6 FAIL
Experience: 3/6 SO-SO


Final Thoughts:

This is a very boring beer. There is really nothing to it but sugar and a hint of malt. I get the feeling that if you drank too much of this the gut-rot and headache the next day would make you wish you were dead. It tastes like an underage party... one where you cobbled together anything with alcohol in it. It's not so bad, that if someone offered me one I could drink it... but I would politely decline a second one.

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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Beer # 497 Dark Sky Reserve, Sawdust City

Beer # 497 Dark Sky Reserve

Collab with Taboo Resort in Support of Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve

Brewery: Sawdust City Brewing Company


Type: Independent Brewery    Est.:  2014

Location: Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Sour ale with Adjuncts

ABV: 4.0%      IBU: ?

Format: Black Glass Bottle  Size: 750 ml

Cost: $19.95 CAD     Purchased At: The Brewery

sawdustcitybeer

    @sawdustcitybeer

Ok, I've sat on these notes for a bit but this was a very interesting beer so I am glad I got around to posting this. This came out during the summer when I was busy with the truck. So I wrote down some tasting notes and took some pictures and hopes I would finish this post before I forgot all about this beer. There is a place near Pint Jockey Headquarters called Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve. it is an area set aside where there are minimal lights to facilitate sky watching at night. We have gone out for a few meteor showers and we have spent some time hiking there in the day. It is an amazing place full of wildlife, incredible geology, and foliage. If you are in the area please do try to visit. Just bring lots of water (it gets very hot in the summer) and do not leave any trash.

So the beer was conceived as a fundraiser and a way of bringing attention to the reserve, for I believe it was in danger of losing its Dark Sky reserve status. Local resort Taboo Muskoka and Sawdust City Brewery collaborated on this fruited sour. However, to make the beer stand out, they included two very unusual ingredients: activated charcoal, and gold flakes. Why? To simulate the gorgeous dark sky at night... more on that in the tasting notes. I didn't know this initially when I started to taste the beer, but you had to swirl the beer immediately after opening (gently) and before pouring. 

Onto our beer:

Pours a light cloudy yellow-green with a quite obvious particulate. Effervescent and active white head made up of tiny bubbles Aroma is bright lychee, pineapple, and grapefruit, very wine-like nose. First sip is tart and grapefruit. Very clean with a good hit of minerality. Halfway through I refilled my glass and noticed the beer turned a dark green-black. I swirled the bottle and poured again. The beer turned dark like a night sky with twinklings of gold flakes resembling stars. The taste changes to include a carbon hint.

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: The most exciting thing about this beer was the experience of it, the fun discovery of the beer changing colour was thrilling. It was truly an "A-ha!" moment as all the pieces clicked in together. I tried to get the effect in the picture. if you look closely in the last photo you can see the tiny specs of gold that make up the twinkling stars in the night sky. Even though you are supposed to swirl this first I like the way I enjoyed this beer, because in a way you go from a beautiful sunny day in your glass to dusk, to midnight with all the stars around you. It tells you a story of how you can enjoy Torrance, from morning to night. The charcoal adds a touch of carbon to the taste but it is far from distracting from the bright sour fruit flavours of the beer. The gold is, of course, inert and adds nothing to the taste, but everything to the experience. I believe these are all sold now unless there are a few in the vault for next year. I hope they do this beer again because I would buy it to watch that transformation one more time.


Cheers
CJT

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