Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Okay, so this is clearly the hardest to pronounce beer that I have reviewed thus far! Also, wait till I tell you what it supposedly tastes like... bacon! Yeah, gross eh? I had one beer expert buddy tell me it tastes like bacon and another tell me it tastes like a ham sandwich. Although, to me a sandwich would have veggies, mayo and bread involved so I was a bit confused by that and I pray to God (or Santa (or Satan)) that this beer does not have a hint of mayo or else my toilet may have a hint of mayo as well if you catch my drift. So to be perfectly honest my curiosity is similar to a car accident on the side of the road. I just have to see what this tastes like even though I might regret it. So I already have pretty low expectations in terms of the enjoyment factor. However, I will say that so far I am impressed by the fact that there is a beer out there like this and my beer buddy who said it tastes like bacon was in the midst of recommending it on it being a great beer not just a fucking weird one!

Now, there is a lot to read on the website for Schlenkerla. This beer is the original, the Marzen, as they also offer an Urbock, a Wheat, a Lager, a Lentbeer and an Oak Smoke. Sounds legit! This brewery produces smokebeers. It achieves a smoky flavour by exposing the malts to the smoke burning beech-wood logs. This is explained in more detail on the site but it does sound interesting. It does also warn that if it tastes strange on first swallow to keep at it and it'll become better. I'm nervous.

I've just opened the bottle and took a whiff and it definitely smells smoky. It pours out pretty smooth and dark but not nearly as dark as most stouts and porters I've had. The smoky smell is quite strong and I can instantly see what my friend was saying about a bacon quality and I haven't even taken a sip yet.
First sip, the taste is basically what you'd expect from the smell but it has a light aftertaste which makes it easier to drink. The smoky flavour hits you at first and then the flavour descends into more a bitter lager flavour with an almost metallic quality that is not really all that great. It is getting better with each gulp, but really I almost feel like that is due to the smoky taste disappearing and more of a stout-like flavour evolving out of it.

I'm now trying the beer with some savoury crackers. Already the cracker tastes amazing after the beer, lets see if it goes both ways. Hmmm, it's not so much that the taste of the beer is altered all that much but I found that I enjoyed the beer a bit more. Maybe this beer works best with food? Although I could only recommend salty, savoury, kind of food.

I will say that it is true that the beer gets better with each sip. I'm definitely enjoying it more than I thought would. However, I'm still not sure if I would get this again or even recommend it unless you just want to try a beer that tastes smoky.

70% : Decent beer, interesting smoky bacon-like flavour and scent. The aftertaste is more of a bitter lager though which is not amazing. Goes well with salty and savoury food. Only recommend trying this if you are interested in a more bizarre type of beer drinking experience.

Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout

(Written this past Sunday)
This weekend has been really weird. Friday night I chipped my tooth somehow on a bottle of Great Lakes Winter Ale! Luckily the chip is so damn tiny, you can barely see it at all, but it's left my front tooth feeling jagged against my tongue and so annoying so dentist here I come! Then saturday I was harassed by some random homeless woman. She swore at me because I was actually in a rush and told her that as politely as I could saving me from hearing her entire (fictional) life story that brought her to Union Station broke and homeless. It's okay though. I went to the LCBO to get some Christmas presents and thought I deserved a treat to review later tonight. Luckily I stumbled upon this giant bottle. I've been really into stouts and porters lately (blame the winter) and I saw 'double' and 'chocolate' and my eyes lit up. I thought to myself: I deserve this.

I've had some Muskoka beers before. They make a really great lager actually, which I normally am not a huge fan of, but this one I could tell was probably one of the best lagers out there. I also had the Harvest Ale which was pretty decent. Their website shows all the different kinds of beers. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything about the Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout! Oh well, the title is long and specific enough to really encapsulate what you are going to experience. I am stoked!

Pours dark, thick and black like a stout should. Maybe it's just because it says it has Cranberry in it that I feel like the head has a tinge of pink amongst the dark brown. First few sips are delicious. It's kind of light in texture and the chocolate really kicks you in the aftertaste. The initial flavour is a subtle cranberry sweetness that mixes with the dark stout taste. I think making it 8% alcohol was a great idea because it's strong enough to add to the flavour but not too strong to make it overly bitter or sickly. I am really impressed by this. It's a truly chocolaty and sweet affair while still remaining bitter and dark. Some sips I almost feel like I'm drinking a dark cocoa gone cold. I know that may turn a lot of beer drinkers off, but you know what, it's the holidays and you need to embrace flavoured beers like this. Winter ales and Chocolate stouts are what Christmas is all about. This is a great beer to sip while sitting by a fireplace, an old man tapping away on the piano, an old woman baking you cookies in the next room, and an elf massaging your feet.

I know I said that Aphrodite was my favourite chocolate stout, but this may be it instead. I think it has a slightly better texture. Don't get me wrong though, Aphrodite is fucking amazing and you all need to try it!

90%: Fantastic beer! Delicious and has a great light texture to it. Initial flavours of cranberry are subtle and tasty then it finishes off with a lingering dark chocolate wash. All of this comes in the vehicle of a perfect stout. Perfect holiday beer! Sip this one with a loved one by the fireplace.

Meantime Coffee Porter

Okay, what really drew me into this beer was the bottle. I know the picture sucks, but you can still see that this bottle doesn't really look like it contains beer. However, it was in the beer section, and it wasn't really that expensive, so I was sold. Also, I tried a sip of the Mill Street Coffee Porter a week ago and thought it was amazing so now I really want to get more into coffee porters! The one thing that does worry me a bit though is the coffee factor because on occasion I can be a little sensitive to caffeine and coffee seems to have the greatest effect on me. I go through periods where I am drinking coffee 1-2 times a day but then I go through periods where I almost never drink it. These periods are a few months at a time and they are always due to me being overwhelmed by coffee and then curious of whether it really does effect me badly. Blah blah blah.

Now, Meantime Brewing has a website. Looks like they make a lot of interesting beers. It is in fact based out of London, so that will give me a bit of an idea of what to expect. Unfortunately they don't give a lot of information on the Coffee Porter itself but the site is kinda cool and they seem to have a pretty serious selection.

The smell is nice, just a hint of coffee, combined with the usual smell of a porter makes for almost a mocha-like scent. Initially it tastes great, the coffee is perfectly subtle against the smooth dark flavours of the porter. However the aftertaste is kind of metallic and unpleasant. I just tasted the foam of the porter on my mustache and it tasted like pure coffee. It's a bit fizzy tasting and it's expectedly bitter. What I really like is the balance of the coffee flavour, it really doesn't over-or-under-whelm you. The metallic aftertaste seemed to disappear after a few sips, so that is good, although that taste is really the only downside to the flavour of the beer.

Now I've just had a few bites of a tuna salad sandwich and then took a sip of the Coffee Porter. Hmmmm. The metallic aftertaste is back. I really don't know what that is but it's unpleasant. It's really a shame because the beer is almost amazing. It's a hard recommend.

70%: This beer almost rules but is turned down by the metallic aftertaste that arrives after the initial sips and any sip after food. Other than that, it has a perfect balance of coffee flavouring and a good scent. It's a shame about the aftertaste.

Dieu Du Ciel Solstice D'Hiver

That's Winter Solstice, for those of you who do not speak French, myself included. I did not even plan to do two Dieu Du Ciel reviews in a row but here we are. In that case, I will keep this one shorter and leave all the bits about the brewery and website out. However, if you are interested, here is the website. Click on St. Jerome for the brewery itself and that's how you can discover all their great beers that are usually available at the LCBO (including Corne Du Diable, which as I mentioned before, is a delicious hoppy IPA).

I will tell you a bit about this beer though. It is a Barley Wine. I have never tried a Barley Wine. I like wine, it's okay though, definitely not in love with it. Barley? Sure! Barley Wine? I don't know, but okay, let's try it. The website's description of this beer is actually amazing and I don't want to copy and paste but just mention that it's brown, bitter, hoppy, high alcohol (9% ABV!) and has flavours reminiscent of red fruit. There's way more described here and it makes me feel like I'm reading something by Lord Byron. Great! I am very impressed by this brewery. That Aphrodite beer I reviewed last week was the most chocolaty 'chocolate stout' ever. Now from reading the description, I don't think this is going to be like other winter ales that are out now. I love winter ales and I really should review one soon. If you're interested in trying one: the St. Peter's Winter Ale is my personal favourite and has the strongest/darkest flavour; the Great Lakes' Winter Ale is also fantastic, more of a balance in darkness and comes in a big bottle; and Samuel Adams' Winter Welcome is a good choice for value and is pleasant but a bit lighter for a winter ale.

Wow, this pours out really thick and really brown. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a beer like this before because it's not exactly thick and black like a stout or porter. It does smell a bit like a winter ale, so maybe I should expect something along those lines. Woah, very strong flavour. Very sweet and the alcohol has a huge presence. It says it's very bitter and hoppy but I'm finding the bitterness is that of a vodka or rum and not of a hoppy type of bitterness that I usually love. This is quite intense but I'm not sure if I'm in love with it. It's really thick and syrupy too which seems to bring out more of the sweetness and high alcohol content. I feel like I'm almost drinking cough syrup. Maybe this is what barley wine tastes like? The bitterness lingers on this too. At this point I am leading more towards disliking this beer. I do have to give it points for being unique and it doesn't taste like a "shitty cheap beer" by any means but I just don't really find these flavours or the texture of the beer very pleasant.

I'm going to try a sip after eating a cracker to see if the taste changes even though I feel like this might be a waste of time. Well, I think I tasted a bit more of the hops that time. Now that I'm getting more into the beer, it tastes a bit like a Trippel Belgian trappist style beer, like a Chimay or something. More bitter though, heavier, and more like cough syrup. I am pretty surprised by my reaction to this beer because the description made it sound like it was going to be a real treat and while it is definitely an interesting beer it's not a very pleasant one. It's hard to recommend this beer, I really could only do it if I knew someone who wanted a harsh cough-syrupy-like beer.

65 %: It's not a bad beer and I know Dieu Du Ciel is a strong brewery but this is really unpleasant. It really hits you like a swig of cough syrup with it's thick texture, high alcohol bitterness, and strange sweetness. Almost like a winter ale gone bad and mixed with rum. I can't really recommend this but I also can't slag it for poor quality - it doesn't taste like a 'shitty cheap beer' but it also doesn't taste good.

Dieu Du Ciel's Aphrodite

In august my girlfriend and I went to Montreal for a few days as a little affordable vacation. It was pretty cool. I've been there a few times but the last couple of times I went were for just playing a show and left no time to explore what the city had to offer. Also, it really wasn't until 2 or 3 years ago that I really started to take an active interest in beer so this time I was going to make it a priority to see what Montreal was brewing. The Unibrou brand is way popular, you can get their giant bottles anywhere/everywhere, and while the beer is good it's not really my cup of tea. One of my buddies at work (and fellow beer snob) Bart informed me of a few great pubs to check out. One in particular - Le Saint Bock - floored me. It was a few blocks away from the hotel we stayed at so we ended up going there every night. My first visit there I asked for a Corne Du Diablo, one of the beers produced by Dieu Du Ciel, and the waitress warned me: "It's very strong, do you like IPAs?" I grinned and said yes. She brought out a pint of one of the best IPAs I've ever had. It was beautiful, bitter, and full of flavour. I think I'll take that as a good sign if the bartender gives me a warning before trying a beer: "Are you certain that you want to corrode your mouth with so much flavour that your tongue will turn black and your eyes will roll back in your head?" (The answer will always be: yes, very much so.)

I noticed a few months back that Dieu Du Ciel beers started popping up in the LCBOs around here. Surely enough I picked up 3 bottles of Corne Du Diablo but I hadn't ventured into any other kinds of beer. I kept getting recommendations but it wasn't until tonight that I decided that I really need to try another one. I picked up this interesting looking bottle of Aphrodite. The little description card at LCBO described flavours such as vanilla and cocoa and it is a strong stout. Sounds pretty out there, but I am very much stoked to try it!

The website for Dieu De Ciel is a bit confusing because they have a couple locations and also brewpubs too. I do recommend navigating till you get a selection of the beers they carry because they all sound very complex. The Aphrodite is said to have won a bunch of awards in back in 2003. It also goes on to describe the flavours of vanilla, dark chocolate, bourbon and roasted malt being present. Despite its colouring, they claim it's accessible enough for most beer drinkers. Aw, I thought this was the beer for the elite? Well, either way it still sounds pretty interesting.

It pours out pretty thick and dark with dark foam as well. It smells like any stout, but maybe a bit weaker. First sip, very nice. Initially I taste the coffee-like bitterness but then my tongue is coated with dark chocolate. The vanilla bean flavouring is very subtle. Maybe I'd want just a bit more vanilla flavouring to come forward to make this beer stand out more but it still is very delicious. I'm guessing that what the vanilla bean does is strengthen the cocoa flavouring because for a beer that is not called a Chocolate Stout it may in fact be the most chocolaty tasting stout I've ever had. It's also not overly smoky tasting too. The only downside is that it's $3.50 for a 341 mL bottle. If this was a bit cheaper I'd probably pick this up more often.

I just ate a few crackers and now am taking a sip. It basically tasted the way I figured it would. I know crackers aren't considered a good pairing food, but essentially I just wanted something to cleanse the palette and make way for a bolder taste which is exactly what it did.

87% : A tasty chocolaty stout. The vanilla flavour really just boosts the chocolaty flavour. Coats your tongue in chocolate and coffee. Quite delicious and intense. I say try anything by Dieu Du Ciel and you'll be in for a treat - especially the Corne Du Diable!

Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout

Chocolate stouts. Ouch. These are dark demonic beers. I've only tried one or two in the past and may I say that the Chocolate factor is definitely misleading. Don't get me wrong, it's Chocolate, but it's DARK Chocolate, and the darkest at that. A dark flavour made even darker by the chocolate.

Now, according to the Brooklyn Brewery website this beer is best paired with a strong cheese, such as a Stilton. That is a harsh blue cheese, it's super delicious, but if you're not ready it will fuck you up. That just gives me an impression that this beer is going to be as equally unfuckwithable. Not to mention that it is 10% ABV! A few of these will leave you in the dirt. Dirt in your mouth, dirt in your soul, rock and roll. I am stoked!

Okay so this stuff practically oozes out of the bottle. The head looks like brown sugar. Super dark. I just put my nose in to take in a whiff and it smells awesome. Total coffee-chocolate-smoked goodness! Wow, what a great taste. The alcohol content is quite high, giving a slight impression of a liquer but it's not as thick and way more fizzy and easy to drink. The chocolate flavour is present but not prevalent, I feel like I can taste more of the alcohol. I'd say that my tongue can't figure out if it's enjoying it like a good beer or enjoying it like a delicious liquer that I only drink at Christmas in small doses. Also what I am loving is that even though it is a bitter hellacious stout it is actually not THAT bitter. I could see a lot of non-stout drinkers enjoying this slightly. It's not coating my tongue with absolute pitch black darkness either.

I cut a couple slices of some strong cheese to try with this. Now I have no idea what kind of cheese this is but I do know that it smells really strong like a mix of parmesan and blue and that it came from my girlfriend's parent's neighbour/close friend/"aunt" Irene who is Portugese. Ate a slice, took a sip, and you know what - it's pretty good! I'd say that the flavours have not changed - neither the cheese nor the beer tastes any different. However, they just compliment each other, one is more refreshing by the other. If that makes sense? So it's not that it tastes different, you just want it and enjoy it more. I think strong beer plus strong food will always go together well. One will overwhelm, then the other will take over and overwhelm with a new experience. It's a rush to the senses and to the palette. A wild ripping ride.

85%: Delicious! Such a kick of alcohol and flavours of chocolate, coffee, and smoky stout goodness that don't overwhelm as much as slide in. Great with strong cheese, and probably strong food! Great winter ale. Warms you up with its thick dark goo. It might sometimes seem a bit too much like a liqeur because of the chocolaty flavour and high alcohol content but take that at as an interesting angle of the beer and let it warm your belly and tongue on a cold wintry night!

Southern Tier IPA

Today was one of those "kill me now" stressful days where you go on your lunch break to buy a 6 pack and justify it with "Oh it's for my blog" and then the cashier IDs you for the first time since you've moved to Toronto and then since he is new because it is a new LCBO store you then have to instruct him on how to do his job because he doesn't understand that scanning the bar code of one beer bottle will give you the price of the entire 6 pack and almost charges $77 for his stupidity. Don't worry, I didn't take my stress out on the poor guy, I helped him out, because in the end he is giving me my beer and in the end he is only doing his job by IDing me. Life goes on.

So, this new LCBO that opened up at the Royal Bank Plaza (200 Bay Street, underground) is medium sized and really bright looking. Unfortunately their selection leaves much to be desired. However, I did come across a couple of 6 pack only beer that I have never tried before. Specifically this beer that I am about to try - Southern Tier IPA. I've had some Southern Tier beers in the past and I remember them being pretty interesting. I think I had a Creme Brulee Stout a year ago that they put out and while it was a bit too sweet and high in alcohol to make me feel safe after already having 5 beers I still will give props where it's due for it being such a fucking weird and well made beer.

According to the Southern Tier website they have a really nice selection of beers. I highly recommend perusing the descriptions of what looks like over 20 beers. All interesting and delicious sounding. There's at least 10 here that I need to track down and also try not to obsess over. (Iniquity Imperial Black Ale! 2xIPA!) So, I think that I am in for a treat with this IPA, even though by the looks of it it may be one of their more tamer beers. The brewery is based in Lakewood, NY, and it may be worth checking out if I do get to go to NY in the near future!

It pours light with a slightly brownish-reddish-yellowish colour. I can smell the hops even as I pour - good sign! Lots of super fluffy head too. First sip, very delicious. Great hoppiness that almost inches towards a sharp bitterness but steps back just before you are overwhelmed. A warm pleasant aftertaste too. The beer seems to have a very pleasant 'lightness' to it, even though it still has a caramelly hoppy taste. 4 varieties of hops and 4 types of malts makes for a vey delicious beer! It reminds me a bit of the Imperial IPA I tried awhile back with it's caramel hoppy flavour that really overwhelmed you except this is a lighter version.

After taking a bite of a grilled cheese and then a sip of the Southern Tier IPA, I am instantly rewarded by it's fluffy content and bite of hops. Works well with food, which is not a surprise.

80 % : Great hoppy and malty IPA! Sort of like a soft-core version of the Imperial IPA that I tried out a few weeks ago and was blown away by. So, this is a great beer, but it will not blow you away. Sweet, hoppy, and kinda fluffy.

Staropramen

Sometimes in life you have to just jump into something totally new and foreign for the fun of it. I was at the LCBO closest to my apartment this afternoon and their selection is pretty damn appalling. Currently they have a sign for Smoked Oatmeal Stout but none in stock - what a tease, eh? I would've been reviewing that beer instead of this one, but I already know that one rules, and I have never ever tried this beer - Staropramen! - but it has a cool name, don't you think? I basically walked though the limited selection and picked up a beer that looked very foreign and totally new to me but also didn't look super cheap - this runs you $2.20 a tall can. Not too bad.

I'm checking out the website for Staropramen and well... do you know how to speak Czech? I sure as hell don't. I figured out how to enter my date of birth to get me in here but I have no idea what any of this really means. From what I gather though this site is actually pretty cool and I'm assuming by Histoire and Portfolio means that you'll get a good explanation of the history and selection that Staropramen has to offer.

Good ol' wikipedia has a page on Staropramen Brewery though. So, this beer is a lager, which is what I assumed (and also what I am in the mood for after a weekend of drinking just Cascadian Dark Ale, 666 Devil's Pale Ale, Winter Ale, and Imperial Stout). The brewery also produces a dark lager, a red lager, and a pale lager. Maybe I will track those down if I like this? The wiki page also explains the History, which seems to be more about who bought out the company a bunch of times and no mention of recipe or anything like that. Weird.

The beer pours out light and yellow, like honey water. Lots of head! No real whiff as you dive in for a gulp. The taste itself is rather nice. Has that light almost fruity flavour, but I only taste that because I never drink lagers or light beers, so just forget I said that if you are a big lager fan. It starts smooth and light but ends on a more bitter note. Has an interesting effect. I'm not entirely floored by the flavour, but for a non-flooring beer it's actually rather pleasant and sophisticated.

After taking a bite of a tuna sandwich, the taste of the beer has not really changed for the better. It's almost not really a beer that compliments food well. Oh well.

75 % : Decent lager, better than I expected. Not great with food. If you're a lager fan, I think you'll find it fairly sophisticated as it demonstrates a good light taste that ends with a round bitter aftertaste. Staropramen!

Flying Monkeys' Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale

(This was originally written on November 25th - last thursday - but I only got around to editing it and posting it today - November 28th. Sorry.)

Okay, first off, let me just preface this review by saying that I have had a pretty shit night. My band practice that I just returned from was a complete failure. We went through three amps at the Rehearsal Factory because the first two failed and then I broke a string which reduced us to using the last thirty minutes to just jam some stoner/doom chords. I've also had shit sleep for the past two nights and so I feel a little out of it. I've also already had a beer at band practice - Creemore Springs Urbock - which I really need to remind myself to not buy anymore. It's not too pleasant, the alcohol content tastes way too strong for some reason and it doesn't feel like it works. Anyways. I'm in a bad mood.

However, there is my shining light, and that is Cascadian Dark Ale. Now, a few months ago my girlfriend and I were talking about how much I love beer. She asked me "If you could make your own kind of beer, what would it be?" This led me to explain a beer that I never thought existed at the time which was a combination of a dark and sweet Porter mixed with a hoppy IPA. I remembered this concoction as it was invented upon answering that question. I'm a big reader of Decibel Magazine, which is an extreme metal magazine, and they have a monthly column on beer. Back in October (November 2010 issue) there was an article on Cascadian Dark Ale (it also goes by a few other names - Indian Brown Ale, Iniquity Black Ale, Pitch Black IPA). It explained that this beer was in fact a Porter and an IPA mixed! HOLY SHIT! My dream come true! Tracking down this beer was really hard though seeing as Decibel is an American magazine and they usually talk about beers that are either American or only available in the States. I discovered that Flying Monkeys, a great brewery in Barrie, did in fact make the stuff but even after getting a good friend who resides in Barrie to go to the actual fucking brewery did not bring successful results! He was told that they were sold out but some had been shipped to a few LCBOs. So since early October I have been checking the LCBO website every few days to see if this beer could be procured from them. Finally it arrived in stock on the site and a few days later it appeared at the Yonge & Dundas LCBO (in the Atrium) so today I went on my lunch break and picked up a 6 pack. Epic. Golden fucking ticket.

Flying Monkeys is a really great brewery. They make a delicious Almost Pale Ale called Hoptical Illusions that comes in really groovy packaging and has some cool text on it too. The taste of the Hoptical Illusion is of a very classy IPA, but instead of it punching you in the face with hops, it's more of a friendly smack. This is the perfect beer to ease people into hoppy beers. This is not a Hoptical Illusion review though. I've also tried their Confederation Ale on tap at Korova Milk bar. It was okay! The packaging for this Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale is pretty cool. Spooky, colourful, glossy, and pretty damn kooky. Really makes you appreciate the artistry that goes into not just the beer itself but the whole enchilada.

This beer pours out very dark, much like a porter, even with the beige foam. As you go in for a gulp though, you are instantly greeted with a whiff of hops. First sip, delicious hoppy darkness. This reminds me quite a bit of the amazing 666 Devil's Pale that Great Lakes puts out. Instead of leaving a sticky bitter aftertaste though, it rounds off nicely like a pleasant porter. They have really found the perfect balance between the intensity of hoppy IPA and the pleasant dark sweet taste of the Porter. This is a truly great beer. The dark porter taste is almost smoky but never overwhelms you too much.

After eating a cracker (unsalted!), which also helps cleanse my palette a bit, I take a gulp. That first sip after the food is outstanding. This is maybe one of the best beers I've had with food. I can't recommend this more. Cleansing the palette with some food and then going back in only brings out more of the pleasant porter taste and intense hops. I am so impressed by this beer. This is kind of what I expected from reading about it, but I am totally happy with that. I was excited to try this and now I pray that it will stay in stock for the next little while. Christmas is coming and I know a few people that would need this as a stocking stuffer!

95 % : Incredible. I knew from researching this beer that it was going to blow my mind and it truly did. Perfect balance of a Porter with it's darkness and slight sweetness and an Indian Pale Ale that is just overflowing with bitter hoppy intensity. Beautiful. Also outstanding with food. Can't recommend this more!

Duchy Old Ruby Ale

I've had the Duchy Traditional Ale before and it is quite a treat. So when I passed this lovely grey bottle with a sale sign underneath I grabbed it right away. The Duchy Traditional Ale is a very tasty English Ale that has a nice hoppy/malty flavour that reminds me, for some reason, of mushrooms. Now I'm not a huge mushroom fan so for those of you that read that and nearly vomited from the thought of a mushroom-flavoured beer swallow that food back down! Trust me, it only reminds me of mushrooms, it doesn't taste exactly like it. It's more like this: "Hmmm, this is a delicious beer, it's got such a unique taste, maybe it reminds me of something, maybe mushrooms, I suppose that's the closest thing I can think of that it reminds me of."

The thing is that most people I know who have tried this beer will agree with me on the mushroom thing, and they will also agree with me that it is pretty damn amazing. So do yourself a favour and try the Duchy Traditional Ale, but I'm reviewing the Duchy Old Ruby Ale and have not tried it yet.

I'm scoping the website for Duchy Originals out and there really is no description whatsoever for any of their beers. Turns out that they make a lot of different kinds of food though. You know what? That is kinda cool. Maybe their food sucks, but I'm betting that at least some of it is probably pretty decent because what I have tried of their beers so far (see last paragraph) is great.

Somehow I've managed to come across the fact that this beer I am about to try is UK's number one organic bottled ale. That's pretty good...? I do remember a past review of Wells' IPA where they claimed to be the number one imported IPA and then it turned out to be kinda crap (well just more like an English Ale, but not a great English Ale). Oh, also, Duchy Originals is affiliated with the Prince of Wales. It's on the website.

It pours out fairly golden, slight reddishness, clean looking. The first sip is quite delicious. It's very much like an English Ale but a bit sweeter and lighter. I usually wouldn't be a fan of such a light beer but this is very pleasant and sweet. Kind of reminds me a bit of a good lager mixed with a tasty amber beer. I just let my girlfriend try it and she liked it, however she also said: "I'm surprised you like it - it's very weak."

I think that is a good indication of what kind of beer this is. It's tasty and clean, seems to be of good quality, but it's not very strong or bold.

After eating a Whole Wheat Ritz cracker and then taking a sip, I'm finding that this beer becomes more like your average Ale. I'd say maybe it's better without food? Don't get me wrong, it's refreshing after food, but if you want the full flavour I think it would be best to drink this one on it's own. Usually I recommend food for harsher and more flavourful beers, so again this is just an indication of how strong the flavour is.

I would say that this is a good beer, however, it's not as good as the Tradition Ale that I've had many times from Duchy. That beer has a bit more of an interesting and stronger flavour to it.

78 % : Tasty beer, kind of like a more sweeter English Ale, or a nice crisp lager mixed with an amber ale. Clean, sweet, and refreshing. However, it's not as good as the Duchy Tradition Ale, it's not as great with food, and it's certainly a very light and weak in flavour type of beer.

Black Creek Porter

This beer is not exactly new to me. I had planned to review this beer last sunday but I purchased it on the friday and after having a few other beers I decided that I needed just one more and the Black Creek was the only one left. I do not regret this one bit. At the time I was absolutely floored by it but keep in mind that I had already drank five beers. Now, most beer connoisseurs will agree with me on this: the first few beers all taste great but after four, five, and onwards the flavour does not have as much of an impact and you almost prefer something more bland or light. Most beer connoisseurs will also agree with me that a porter is a dark and heavy beer - so not the kind of beer you want to finish a session with, especially a long session that leaves you pretty inebriated. I persevered though and did not regret it. It's not that it was a light beer, it was still heavy and dark but it tasted so delicious that it felt like the first beer. I knew I would be going back to this beer again and again and again. Hello my new Go-To Porter (I'll still love you Fuller's London Porter, but you've been somewhat replaced.)

I would say my first experience with the Black Creek Porter is a little unfair to use as a review. I'm going completely off memory and I already had quite a few beers. I like to review beers for this blog by being completely sober when I start the process and write my initial thoughts as I take my first few sips then expand from there. However, this sort of situation will happen again I'm sure because I love beer and I really don't mind drinking a really great beer multiple times.

According to the Black Creek Brewery website, the Porter was developed in the 1750s, has a heavier flavour and aroma and slightly sweeter taste, and the name probably originates in the belief that this drink was ideal for hard-working porters and labourers. Probably. That is kind of presumptuous. Oh well. The website also recommends having it on its own or with salty snacks. I almost copied and pasted the entire summary of the beer so you can see that they don't have a lot to say and that is really fine because if my memory serves me right (which it may not I was pretty drunk at the time) it is a great beer and words are not needed to describe its briliance. Also, another note, Black Creek also produces a Dark Ale, a Pale Ale, and an Indian Pale Ale. Must track down!

This stuff pours out dark brown but surprisingly clean looking with lots of carbonation and not a lot of head. First sip and it is definitely a keeper. What I love about this Porter is how it has just the right amount of flavour. First it zaps your tongue with carbonation and bitterness but doesn't overload you with too much nor does it overload with too much sweetness in the aftertaste. It's almost, dare I say, refreshing? Believe it or not, this may be the most refreshing porter I've had. Porters are similar to Stouts, which I reviewed in my last post, but they are a bit smoother and lighter.

My only complaint about this beer would be that it definitely nails the crisp, clean and refreshing take on a porter but it fails to bring anything superbly innovative in terms of other flavours. It's a great flavour, mind you, but one gets the feeling that it's somewhat standard in the flavour of a porter.

However, I just took a sip with a bite of a meatball sub (my dinner... I know I know) and the flavour gets a bit more interesting as it reacts to the food. Overall, I am enjoying this but I do not feel like I am trying something that is entirely unique or innovative, just delicious.

80 % : A great porter! Highly enjoyable! Crisp, refreshing and great with food! Just maybe not the most unique porter out there? Either way, it's still a delicious beer!

Belhaven Scottish Stout

Stouts. The mother of all beers. These are tough-as-shit beers. This is the kind of beer you don't want to run into at 2am on your way home from the Rhino in one of Parkdale's many dank alleyways that seem to stretch longer and longer as you walk down them while becoming more narrow when other strangers enter them.
Stouts are the test of a true beer drinker. Whenever I am trying to recommend more exotic beers to a novice beer drinker, I wait for them to say "Well, I actually like Guinness" before unleashing a list of tantalizing yet bitter quaffs. If they enjoy Guinness then they can handle just about everything with an open mind. Now, Guinness being the most common stout, I actually am not a big fan of the stuff. I love just about every porter that comes my way, but stouts are a force to be reckoned with.

Tonight I am going to try out Belhaven's Scottish Stout and you know what - I am damn excited. Belhavens Scottish Stout is 7% alcohol which sounds perfect for the amount of bitterness that one has to endure with a stout. The website describes the stout as "the porter equivalent of the tall dark stranger". This could be taken both ways: like a horror/suspense film or a romance. I'm really hoping for a bit of both. I want to fall in love tonight and yet be truly terrified by its violent bitterness! The website also goes on to describe its "blend of triple malts, roasted chocolate flavour and hop character". Damn damn damn. I am totally intrigued now. Not to mention that it has won a Platinum Medal in the Strong Stout category at the 2008 World Beer Championship Awards. Here's to hoping that 2008 was a good year!

I have opened the bottle and taken a whiff of the pitch black juice within. It smells like a stout alright, definite hints of coffee, however it also smells a bit like an English Ale and a bit like an Innis & Gunn. How odd? It pours out thick and black with a dark brown head of foam that you know is going to reveal a bit of heaven. First sip, wow, very intense. Definitely sweet and bitter, however it's got a bit of a salty/almost-Olive like flavour. I kept this beer in the fridge (which I know is sort of against stout rules) but it tastes warm. It's very sparkling but not exactly refreshing. The flavour is overwhelming as it begins to leave a film on your tongue. That may not sound pleasant, but trust me, it's all a part of the wild ride that is the stout.

This is a great stout. This is like a go-to stout. The flavours are sharp and the carbonation mixed with the high alcohol content gives it such an awesome kick. Like I mentioned before, it's got the malty sweetness that makes the whole experience very pleasant but it's also bitter and slightly (emphasis on 'slightly') salty. It's really interesting how the flavour differs from licking a tiny sip off the opening of the bottle and taking a big gulp. Almost night and day. Really shows the complexity of this beer, how its main flavour is sweet and malty while the body of it is a wild and hairy dark beast.

After taking a big bite of rice and then following it with a gulp of the stout I am again very pleased by the results. The bitter/salty flavours have definitely weakened and let forth the sweet coffee taste that is the winning point of this beer. It almost reminds me of a good Winter Ale. What more can I say?

87 % : Well, I went in with high expectations and came out pleased. This is one classy stout, maybe the best stout I've ever had. Has a bit of slightly-salty/Olive-like aftertaste at first but it is mostly malty sweet and coffee bitter. Great kick of carbonation and high alcohol. This one I highly recommend! Great for stout fans and great for beer lovers. I can see why it won the Platinum Medal!

Highballer Pumpkin Ale

Okay, so I don't know about you, but I tend to associate pumpkins with Halloween and Thanksgiving. So why am I reviewing a Pumpkin ale after those two holidays have already passed? I really don't know. Maybe I'm wrong but I feel like I've been seeing more of these seasonal pumpkin ales popping up after October has passed. I mean, I'm only a few days into November, but I feel like a few brands have just shown up for the first time at the LCBO. Maybe it's an American thing? Seeing as their Thanskgiving does take place in November. Still though, we're in Canada, and the pumpkin ale that I just noticed pop up is this Highballer Pumpkin Ale and it's brewed by Grand River Brewing based out of Cambridge, Ontario. So this is strange but I'll let it pass because it's just beer.

This beer is 5.2% alcohol, which isn't too bad (about average really). Comes in a 500 mL bottle and for $3.60 it's not that bad of a deal - so long as it doesn't taste like vinegar and piss. Now, from reviewing the Grand River Brewing website there's not a whole lot of interesting facts about the Pumpkin Ale. It does say though that Grand River Brewery makes malts the main focus of their brewing process. Malts are pretty tasty. I know I say I'm a hops man, but I do enjoy a good malty beer. According to the Wiki Page on Malt, it's all about germinating grain. I don't want to get too technical cause that can be pretty boring but really it's a dark and sweet kinda deal. So, I'm going into this Highballer Pumpkin Ale thinking it'll be very sweet and dark tasting. Which I generally like. Also it will be highly ballin'?

It pours out pretty clear, not really too dark. The colour is kinda neat, a clear yet dark orange. Not a lot of head though and it smells strongly of nutmeg. It tastes quite nice though. Very pleasant first sip. I'd say that what this beer nails that most pumpkin beers fail at is subtlety. A pumpkin ale that is more subtle and smooth is more appealing to me. It has similar traits to a good winter ale too because it has a very nice sweet and spiced flavour to it. Its main difference, again, is the smoothness and subtlety of flavours. I know that this review may seem a bit contradictory to my past reviews because I tend to like something bold and here I am raving about the smoothness of this beer but maybe because I know from all the pumpkin ales that I've had in the past that they are pretty damn bold in flavour and this one stands out because it is not extremely bold. Being bold by lack of boldness? I don't know. Also, it is very 'nice'. This may very be my favourite pumpkin ale.

I just took a bite of some broccoli that I roasted in olive oil for dinner then a sip of the delicious Highballer Pumpkin Ale. Not much changed, although because it is a nice subtle yet sweet beer I'm sure it would go fine with a lot of food. This is really just a treat on its own though. So very pleasant and nice indeed.

85% : Wow, really surprised with this one. Expected a thick cloudy pumpkin journey and instead got a really pleasant pumpkin treat. This is probably my favourite pumpkin ale. Clean, smooth, and subtle - which works great with this type of beer seeing how sweet and thick a pumpkin ale usually is. Highly recommend this one, I'll be sure to look out for it every fall.

Wells IPA

(This post was originally written on October 31st 2010. However it's being posted now. Deal with it.)

Okay, so maybe I'm not in the best state to be reviewing this beer but I'm going to keep that in consideration today as I take my first and final sips. Today being Halloween, last night I was out partying as a priest (my lovely girlfriend Steph as a possessed Reagan from The Exorcist) and I definitely had a lot of interesting beers. However, once I hit the St. Peters Winter Ale , that I was so excited for since it had been a favourite of mine last winter, it was all downhill. Don't worry, I'm not hungover, maybe tired and thirsty. I just had too many good beers and that Winter Ale was too sweet and dark so it practically tarred up my mouth. Once I moved onto the Creemore Springs Urbock I was kinda sick of the taste. Yes, I know, sick of the taste of dark sweet beers. It's just too sticky sometimes and it makes you long for water like you wouldn't believe. This is after four beers though and I'd say that's fair. I'm not giving up on beer! Hence this post.

I think I may have had this IPA before, but it was cheap and I didn't drink it last night so I thought it would be fun to really analyze it tonight. Wells is a pretty good brewery. I've tried the Bombardier and it's quite tasty, but you gotta be into English Ale to really appreciate it. I do definitely like English Ales, but blame it on my father for making me just a wee bit sick of them sometimes.

According to the Wells IPA website it is the leading imported IPA into Canada. Which is strange because I don't know whether that is a good thing or bad thing? Like many things in life, the one that everyone likes is not necessarily the best thing. A lot of fucking people buy Molson shit beer. Do you see what I'm saying? Nickelback has sold billions of albums (not a real statistic). Nickelback. They suck. I also have no idea who these people are that are buying these albums. The only people I know that admit to listening to Nickelback sure as hell download that stuff illegally. However, I know people first hand that proudly buy the beers that are truly the most popular. This is just how it works. So reading that Wells IPA is the leading imported IPA into Canada is not necessarily making me intrigued. It's more or less setting me up for quite possibly a very bland experience. With that being said, I'll try it with an open mind.

It pours pretty heavy into the glass. Definitely a dark amber colour (even though website says light amber). Either way, it looks fairly dark for an amber beer, but not thick or anything. It also smells like an English Ale. So much so that I am instantly reminded of my girlfriends' work - an English Pub called Elephant & Castle. Go figure! Nice carbonation, very tingly. Not a whole lot of flavour, just a bitter aftertaste. I guess that is what they call "hoppy"? It's got such a subtle aftertaste of hops that I can't outright dislike it. However, the beer it kinda reminds me of is Stella Artois (The Most Overrated Beer Of All Time). It's really rocking that English Ale taste though. It's been awhile since I've had the Wells Bombardier (which I remember being better than this) but I'd wager that this IPA is the hoppy version of Bombardier. Just replace the malty taste of a Bombardier with a hoppy bitter after taste. Yeah, I'm disappointed.

It's very smooth and clear, which seems to be the rage these days. Another beer that says on the can "Brewed with Natural Mineral Water". It tastes like that, I suppose, but I fail to see why this is such a desirable quality for a beer. I like the idea of a beer being unfiltered, pure, hearty, full of chunks. Yeah, okay, maybe not chunks, but full of something - not lacking something.

Still, as I gulp more of this, I do see some of its redeeming qualities. If you approach it like an English Ale, it is kind of interesting and goes back smooth. I don't know if I'd recommend this to anyone except for the fact that it is cheap ($1.95) and it is decent as an English Ale with a subtle twist of IPA-ness. (Probably shouldn't say IPA-ness out loud, it sounds really weird.)

65% : It's not bad, it's not great either. For an IPA... okay, just don't even think of it is an IPA and more of just a slightly hoppy English Ale and you'll taste its redeeming qualities. It's also cheap.

Brakspear Triple

Totally took a chance on this one. I have never heard of Braskpear and I have always been a little unsure as to what a Triple is. Or is it Trippel? I'm sure any experienced beer enthusiast could scoff at my ignorance with such beers but I'd like to highlight that as my advantage for reviewing them. I really don't know a lot about them and each new one I try will further educate me without any immediate cynicism. My naivete and my open-mindedness forge to make me thirsty for more exotic beers! So here I am at the LCBO, mind wide open and the price ($3.35), the "Triple", and the alcohol level all catch my eye at once. So I do need to point out that, yes, this beer is 7.2% alcohol. So, yeah, you can get fairly drunk off the stuff but really I am just focusing on this aspect because it affects the taste of the beer. I swear.

The Triple tag, according to the Braskpear website , is because of a triple fermenting and triple hopping process. I could be wrong but I'm guessing from what I've read on the Wikipedia page about Tripel and the Westmalle Tripel website that Brakspear have produced their own version of a Tripel with this beer. I'm assuming since this is not a Trappist beer (i.e. made by monks in Belgium) so they probably can't call it a Trippel. Instead, calling it Triple. Or maybe I am just overanalyzing this and the simple answer is that Brakspear is an English brewery (Oxfordshire!!! It doesn't get more British than that!) and Triple is the English word. (Duh!)

Either way, from reading the blurbs here, I assume this beer will taste similar to Belgian Trappist beers I've had in the past (notably, the delicious-yet-slightly-overwhelming Chimay beers). I also think that if I enjoy this beer I will need to track down a bottle of Westmalle Trappist Tripel for comparison (and joy).

I pour the bottle into my Chimay glass (go figure) and notice that it's very dark and brown but reminds me more of a dark red beer than a stout or porter. Since it is an English Ale, I'm not entirely surprised by the flavour. It's definitely smooth and tasty but it reminds me of most English Ales that I've had in the past (St. Peters, Boddingtons, etc). The main difference is a tasty malty flavour like a subtle caramel finish. Even though it's 7% alcohol, I don't really find the alcohol that prominent amongst the flavours. Whereas with an Innis & Gunn at times the higher alcohol content can be far from subtle, this is much classier and not all about that.

I am definitely enjoying this beer even if it's not my usual fare of hoppy IPA. After eating some Triscuits and taking another sip, it definitely brings out more of the carbonation but the flavour doesn't change much. This is a fairly clean and smooth beer. The flavour is rich but subtle and balanced - as it is stated on the bottle. Man, these breweries really know what they are doing and talking about simultaneously. It's a beautiful thing. There are no rhetorical curtains here, this is basically what you'd expect from reading the description.

The only criticism I would have is that I went in expecting something more of a Belgian-style knock off but really it's just a malty English Ale. I still enjoy it though so I'm going to give it a thumbs up.

75% : Malty English Ale. Don't dive in expecting a Belgian Trappist-style rip-off. Instead sip back an English Ale that has a more rich caramel-like flavour while still being a very crisp and smooth Ale.

Mt. Begbie Nasty Habit IPA

Now, remember I said before how I love IPAs? Well here is another IPA that I picked up on friday that I just had to try. So, not only is it a giant 650 mL bottle of hoppy IPA beer, but it also has a cool label on it with multiple fonts used in the name and a illustration of the Devil (click for image). Which makes me think of another great IPA that I should really post about in the near future - Great Lakes Brewery's 666 Devil's Pale Ale!

Now at $5.90 for a bottle, it is quite steep, but I feel like since it's 650 mL that is a bit more justified. Most average beer bottles contain around 330 mL so really this is just under two bottles worth of beer. If you consider too that it's 6% beer, after two of these, you won't be as good at doing the math so whatever, it's the taste that matters! Right? Right? Right.

Now, this thing pours pretty damn smooth, clear, and brown. Doesn't have as much of an amber colour as I'm used to, but hey, it's still no dark ass stout so I guess it's pretty red. The aroma, as I take my first sip, is definitely hoppy, reminds me of all the delicious IPAs that I've been lucky enough to drink the past couple years. On first sip, it's really quite pleasant, not too strong and mildly bitter towards the end of the gulp. It's got a very clean taste to it, not too heavy and not too sweet. I'd say the key word here is 'pleasant'. It's inoffensively tasty. Compared to the 666 that I mentioned earlier, I'd say this is a little less bitter and easier to drink. It's still unmistakably hoppy and bitter, but this would be a good beer to start someone on hoppy IPAs. One of the reasons why I say this is because all the intense flavours really disappear from your mouth fast. Unlike most strong hoppy IPAs, the flavour will linger and at times you may need to eat something to tame the beast of bitterness. Really though, when you remove that lingering intensity, you also remove that rich flavour. To me this is very casual. It's a passive and clean experience.

Lets try it with some food. I just made some white rice which is strangely salty. After a bite of the salty rice and a sip of the beer... not much to report. The flavour is almost completely the same. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but I think that I have to come to the conclusion that while this is a pleasant IPA it's not entirely a unique or bold one.

Okay, so it's not fair of me to complain about this beer when it says right on the label that it's balanced by mountain spring water, or something. I think that this beer aims to be a clear and clean experience. Why knock a beer for succeeding at what it aims? Or maybe I'm assuming its aims? Or maybe I just tried Frank's Red Hot Sauce on a Triscuit and liked it? So much so that I had a second one with even more drops of the fiery stuff. That may be an indication of who you are dealing with - someone who likes flavour. I may like simple flavour or extreme flavour but I like flavour. The problem with this beer is that it does have okay flavour but the flavour is not unique and it comes in an all-too-nice package of clean and clear. It has nothing new to say and it's not screaming that nothing at me either. That is what I look for in everything from beer to movies to books to music to life. I want it to be something interesting and new but also I want it to be stated to me boldly. At least get one of those things right! Right?

Okay, after the big rant there, I have decided that this is a good beer. Good.

75% : Tasty, hoppy, IPA goodness. Very clear and clean. Very passive too. If you're a hophead like me you'll enjoy it, but you won't be blown away. This is the kind of beer that I'd buy for a session of beers to drink after the third or fourth beer when I'm starting to not care as much about flavour but don't exactly want to give in to drinking mediocre beer. I'd also buy this for a friend, so it's kind of a gateway. This and Innis & Gunn would be a good start for those wanting to get into better beers.

Imperial IPA

I found myself wandering the aisles of the St. Lawrence Market LCBO on my lunch break from work wondering if I will in fact find a truly mysterious beer. My plans to acquire Flying Monkey's Cascadian Dark Ale had fallen apart (another post, another day, get ready) but I still craved something new and interesting.
Lo and behold, I saw a little card boldly stating: "Quite possibly the hoppiest beer this side of the Atlantic."
My eyes zoomed into that key word: "hoppiest". I looked up and grabbed the bottle of Imperial IPA that the phrase was attached to and felt confident with (possibly) my new best friend.

Hops are an interesting part of the beer making process. I don't know a ton about them, but if you care to know more there is an awesome Wikipedia page on Hops that will explain the history and purpose of hops. All I know is that they are what makes beer so bitter, tangy, and flavourful. Most of my favourite beers are considered "hoppy" as I generally seek out strong IPAs (Indian Pale Ale). You could say I'm a "hophead", as defined in the menu of C'est What (a brewpub in downtown Toronto with a beer selection plucked from heaven): "A beer geek that seeks out only the bitterest brews."
This statement is an accurate description of me. I am a total beer geek (look where you are) and I love the most hoppiest bitter beers.

Now, just a tip for those who are already turned off by my description of hops. I understand that bitter is not a pleasant flavour - at first - and not something that most people desire from a beer. For those who are casual drinkers of ale and are more comfortable with the lighter lagers readily available at any bar or restaurant I can see why this is a dilemma. However, I know from experience that the best way for you guys to understand how delicious a bitter hoppy IPA is would be by drinking it alongside a delicious meal. The first time I tried the phenomenally incredible beer Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA was with a fresh pizza. Boy did those flavour soften and brighten after taking a bite of food. I don't mean in the same mouthful, but take a bite - swallow - then take a sip of the bitter beer and the harsh elements of the hops will fade as the intense flavour takes over. I guarantee you non-believers that this will have an affect that you will be unable to deny.

Now, back to the Imperial, because I have just opened the bottle and taken the first sip. Wow. This is majorly hoppy. It's definitely got that heavy punch to the tongue kind of intense flavour that I look for in a hoppy beer. That initial sip should be like a spike into your taste buds and only as you continue drinking the beer does the spike turn into tasty brush strokes against your palette. I'm now pouring it into a pint glass and noticing how thick and orange it is. This stuff is probably more unfiltered than it states on the bottle! I cannot see through the liquid at all, however it doesn't run thick like a stout. It's still got a smooth and light consistency, but it's cloudy like a thick fog. At 7.0% alcohol you also feel it pretty quickly, which I'm not complaining about it. Hehehe. There is a definite lingering citrus flavour, as the bottle states on the side of the label, much like a nice grapefruit. However what I'm finding to be most unique about this beer is the initial flavour of caramel. It's really smooth and coasts in then coasts out as the citrusy bitterness takes over. As smooth as this beer is, it's definitely not for amateurs. I'm starting to wonder if it's claim of being the "hoppiest beer this side of the Atlantic" is actually pretty damn accurate.
Lets see how she handles a bit of food. I've just stuffed two Triscuits in my mouth, which I figure with the saltiness will be a good contrast to bring out the right flavours in thee Imperial IPA... Okay, as I guessed it, much softer now. This is an incredible beer. However, much like a great death metal album or great tragic Danish drama, this is something you have to be in the mood for and is clearly not for everyone. At $4.50 a bottle it's not too bad of a price considering it's 500mL of high quality beer. It's actually quite a lot of beer as I am already starting to get full. This beer is an experience, it tells a story, as corny as it sounds, and I am fully going to recommend this to those who like IPAs and trying crazy beers.

90% : Not for everyone, but what an experience. Caramel-meets-harsh-bitter-citrus-explosion. This one is for the hopheads!

Innis & Gunn Original

My first blog post on a beer will be on the delicious whisky cask beer Innis & Gunn. Now what is interesting about Innes & Gunn is how fucking ubiquitous it is. It is the one good quality beer that majority of beer drinkers have tried. That's including your regular Labatt Blue 2-4 purchasers and your Craft Brewery supporting brethren. Everyone generally likes it. It's damn smooth and it tastes slightly dark but really is quite sweet and easy to handle.

It's what you would call a "gateway" beer, as it was for me when I first tried it a few years ago. It was what started my interest in trying more exotic and high quality beers. However, the main issue with all "gateway" products is that you eventually outgrow them upon finding stronger/more interesting things. Just like the first time you heard Green Day, you would one day balk at them and favour Black Flag (or at least one would hope). Priced at $2.95 for just a 330 mL bottle, it also is a good way to ease people into spending more on less beer. Time to stop buying 24 packs of crap and start buying a few beers that will change your life (and make you feel less hungover, less fat, less of a loser, etc). Not to mention that it's also 6.6% alcohol, which for some people I have just described to them a perfect beer.

According to the Innis & Gunn website, it's recommended to match the beer with: steaks, sausages, pork, lamb, stews, scallops, haddock, lemon sole, curry, and all sorts of puddings. Man, there's a lot on the site, and it's all in great detail, however I'm a firm believer that just a good pizza will do the trick. I'm also a firm believer that beer is usually better with food, but more so with the hoppier/bitter beers as it tends to highlight the good flavour and weaken the bitterness for all of you that can't handle it (i.e. Bud Light fans).

So, I open my bottle tonight and take a sip. I'm instantly hit with that so called Toffee and Vanilla that is advertised on the front of the bottle. The third flavour advertised, Oak, is way more subtle - which I personally prefer as I'm not a big fan of the flavour Oak (as I determined from trying a few different oakened wines). Not overly carbonated, very smooth and doesn't leave much of a residue in your mouth, which may sound gross but some beers is kinda preferred. Damn this beer is sweet. It smells sweet and tastes sweet. This is probably one of the most sweetest beers I've ever had and yet it doesn't overdo it and make you feel sick. I also can imagine pairing this with more sweet food would just be a complete disaster.
I'd really have to say that while this is a very good beer, I'd maybe change it from universally likeable to overly diplomatic. It's boldness is anything but unique, it's boldly sweet but it comes in such a smooth and almost weak texture that I feel like it's too passive to fall in love with. I'm more attracted to an obnoxiously interesting beer (the Punk IPA comes to mind).

Still, I must remain unbiased when it comes to evaluating a beer and I will still give this a semi positive rating.

70% : Gateway god of beer. Try it if you want to step into the light, but if you're already experienced then it'll be just that for you - light.

Welcome!

This is a new blog that I've just started due to my intense love for beers of all types. I'll try my best to update at least once a week - which shouldn't be hard considering my weekly trips to the LCBO for the finest of beers. Stay tuned for more!