Smoked Oatmeal Stout

Smoked Oatmeal Stout

Trafalgar Ales & Meads, Oakville, Ontario, Canada - Stout

Sunday 18 March 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    77 / 100

Initial Thoughts

A “double sized” bottle with a simple, to the point label design from Trafalgar Ales & Meads. Typical black stoutiness with a tan edge in the glass. A decent head.

First Sip

As the label promises, the effect of the smoke is present. Not overwhelming though, nice, light smokiness which in a stout is a welcome element. Just a little tartness. Not bad.

Halfway Through

Called “Smoked Oatmeal Stout” this name might bring to mind thoughts of pot-bellied stoves, steaming breakfast at a hunting camp and that sort of thing. Surprisingly, though it is actually quite refreshing! I tackled this big, burly bottle on an unseasonably warm March afternoon on my south-facing deck where the thermometer was registering in the mid-30C range, and was surprised at how well this beer performed in the warm weather!

Bottoms Up

Overall this beer is as nicely surprising as the stuff from Trafalgar Ales & Meads tends to be... not a brand that is easily judged from the label... (check out the Maple Bock from these guys, you can read a review somewhere to the right..) Smoked Oatmeal Stout in my opinion is good, not great, but definitely worth a taste for the stout lovers out there... 

More information...

www.alesandmeads.com

Hobgoblin

Hobgoblin

Wychwood Brewery Co., Witney, Oxfordshire, England - Ruby Beer

Saturday 17 March 2012 – 5.2%Alc./Vol.    81 / 100

Initial Thoughts

The Wychwood Brewery Co. has got a great look! All of their products have a fun “wicked” sort of goblin and witches type of motif... good custom glass, great label, a quality presentation. Deep reddish, copper liquid under a big bubble head. Slightly fruity nose...

First Sip

A tangy sweet malt hand in hand with a moderate, steady bitterness. Very pleasing to drink!

Halfway Through

Truly enjoyable, this beer somehow manages a “warmth” that is characteristic of stronger beers in the 6.5 to 7% alcohol range... At 5.2% it’s a little stronger than most beers, but the effect is surprisingly nice to find in a less intoxicating brew for certain!

Bottoms Up

The Wychwood folks truly put together some wonderful beers and offer them for sale in a really entertaining and highly quality presentation. Hobgoblin is a great example of the brand. Only moderately wicked, but highly satisfying! 

More information...

www.wychwood.co.uk

Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin Ale

Great Lakes Brewery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Fruit Ale

Thursday 15 March 2012 – 5.5%Alc./Vol.    86 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Big brown bottle with a terrific painted on Jack-o-lantern theme label... Festive! A light copper colour, a tad foggy. Nice big bubbly head, smell of pumpkin and spice, great first impression. 

First Sip

Oh nice! Legitimately spiced, a touch of late bitterness. Really nice! 

Halfway Through

Brings to mind those great North American autumn traditions of pumpkin pie, touch football in the park, changing leaves and cooler, shorter days, and longer warmer, indoor evenings... Great stuff... And the beer smells fantastic too!

Bottoms Up

Even though this was sampled several months after it was brewed and bottled, it was really impressive! A really enthusiastic and well orchestrated autumnal ale! Great quality. I would classify this beer as a “novelty ale” but that wouldn’t give this one enough credit. What it is truly is a fantastic genuinely crafted pumpkin ale... easily good enough to stand eye-to-eye with the best of it’s kind.

More information...

www.greatlakesbeer.com

A post, not about beer, but about a blog about beer...

Wow!  I'm really amazed at how many of you have found this blog and how much apparent interest there has been in it!  Thanks! It's a real joy to write these... believe it or not I don't generally drink very much beer! I enjoy trying different beers (well different foods of any kind, to be honest) whenever I can and my wife, the generous soul, frequently buys me beer that she thinks "looks fun" or which she hasn't seen before.

An amazing lunch I once had at Vinoteca (London, UK)

Anyway, a little while ago she said that I should start a list and taking notes of the beers that I've had so that she (and I) could avoid buying the same beer twice if I didn't really enjoy it. Turns out I tend to like most of them.  So I started taking notes. Then I started jotting down some funny/cheeky/interesting stuff about the different beers that I had tried. Next thing I know, I share that list with a couple of buddies who tell me "you should start a blog..." et voila!

So I'm thrilled that you seem to enjoy it! I don't know if it's the beer, or the writing that keeps you stopping by, which kinda reminds me... I think that there is a comment feature which let's you leave... wait for it... your comments! 

So if there is something you'd like me to try to write about, a favourite, or a least favourite beer, I'll do what I can to get my hands on one and give it a go! Perhaps you think I suck, or that I don't know what I'm talking about (I like to call this the "low-hanging-fruit" as I honestly don't know what I'm talking about... but I never said I did...) or, on the other hand if you're my Mom (Hi Mom!) and you'd like to leave an encouraging note, feel free! And I promise I'll read them all...

Anyway guys and gals, thanks again, I now feel that I never truly drink alone (though I often do drink alone). So "Cheers!" "Na zdravi!" "Salut!" "Slainte!" and as always, as my personal favourite anti-drink driving slogan of all time reminds us "If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!" (Thanks to the TAC, Victoria, Australia) so enjoy yourselves responsibly! Ciao!

Oh, while you're here, coming shortly are "Pumpkin Ale" from Great Lakes Brewery (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Hobgoblin and Wychcraft from Wychwood Brewery Co. (Witney, Oxfordshire, UK), and Smoked Oatmeal Stout by Trafalgar Ales & Meads (Oakville, Ontario, Canada)... Cheers!

Bitburger

Bitburger

Bitburger Braugruppe, Bitburg, Germany - Pilsner

Friday 17 February 2012 – 4.8%Alc./Vol.    92/100

Initial Thoughts

The classy white and pale gold can gives a quality European feel. In the glass it’s sunshiny yellow with a slight haze. A great white mass of head.

First Sip

Pleasingly bitter. Mmm... German hops! A great start.

Halfway Through

The hops are great in this beer. More than a just a little hoppy, but not offensive to any true beer lover. The word “dependable” keeps coming to mind. The bubbles in this beer are perfect. Each one a carrying a precisely engineered quantity of carbon dioxide to the surface. German handiwork at its finest.

Bottoms Up

High quality, dependable, drinkable performance in a glass. The details in this beer are fantastic. The bright, slightly hazy colour, the gentle steady effervescence, the pleasant taste and aroma of the hops produce a reliably delicious beer. The brewing world’s equivalent of a BMW M3 perhaps?

More Information

www.bitburger.com

Smashbomb Atomic IPA

Smashbomb Atomic IPA

Flying Monkey Craft Brewery, Barrie, Ontario, Canada - India Pale Ale

Tuesday 13 March 2012 – 6%Alc./Vol.    84 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Wow! This is going to be fun, I can tell already. The packaging from Flying Monkey is refreshingly unlike the vast expanse of largely “safe” and “traditional” presentations in beer. Colourful, wild graphics. “Normal is weird”. I couldn’t agree more... Let’s get this party started! A nice reddish, medium to dark tint with just a hint of fogginess. Modest head. 

First Sip

Back the truck up! This has a fascinating fragrant quality. It’s sweet and familiar... finally it comes to me: Lychee! Amazing nose on this IPA! The tongue finds a confident hop punchiness right off the bat... the lychee is still there but seems to have been joined by grapefruit... Fun stuff!

Halfway Through

This is an adventure in 12 ounces! Loads of flavours wrestling in my mouth and I like it!

Bottoms Up

Toward the end the Smashbomb mellows a bit. Could be the effect of the ethanol content, but whatever the case it’s a really fun experience. The strong bitterness is unapologetic from start to finish. The fruit comes in fast and furious, but mellows to a nice vague enjoyable sweetness. An incredibly crafted beer make no mistake. This is no wallflower, but that was clear from the label... Definitely one of the best smelling (okay, and tasting) beers available!

More information...

www.theflyingmonkeys.ca/

Kronenbourg 1664

Kronenbourg 1664

Brasseries Kronenbourg, Strasbourg, France - Pale Lager

Sunday 11 March 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    74 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Oh yes! The French heavyweight! I think this is one of the handsomest package designs in the beer section. A medium to light amber colour, with an enthusiastically swelling head. Did I mention it’s French? 

First Sip

Nice friendly Gallic lager. Ironically inoffensive. A light palette for your palate... 

Halfway Through

The effervescence of Kronenbourg 1664 is just about right, but upon consumption I'm finding it a tad gaseous. The malt and hops are about as well balanced as a three legged stool; which is to say, very.

Bottoms Up

Everything about this lager is, well... appropriate. The package does the job, easily located among the other brewed offerings in the cooler. Pleasantly bubbly, if a tad gassy in the belly. With the right parts hop and malt to make for a great global player in lager. Known for their fermented grapes, Kronenbourg makes a fair case for the French brewing heritage.

More information...

http://kronenbourg1664.com

74 / 100

Berthold Keller Lager

Berthold Keller Lager

Brewery Martens, Bocholt, Belgium - Lager

Sunday 11 March 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    73 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Classy can. Unique, understated, tall with rounded edges. A lot like me really. European beer always catches my eye... Nice mid-amber lager with a stereotypical thick white head. 

First Sip

In spite of the generosity of the head, this beer looks really still in the glass. Upon tasting, it is really low on the bubbles-scale. I like this stillness, some might call it too flat. 

Halfway Through

This Belgian beauty presents a nice, consistent, proud bitterness. Great use of hops. As a lager should!

Bottoms Up

Good strength from the influential hops gives a slight, almost metallic bite from start to finish. A good durable head that stuck around for the duration. Overall a reliable example of euro-lager that represents the marque well on the world stage. Shouldn’t disappoint.

More information...

www.bertholdkeller.com

About this blog...

With 25 entries on this blog so far I thought perhaps I'd better explain myself. So, this blog is simple really. It is merely one man's impression of a single sampling of various beers from around the world. Nothing scientific about it. If you are looking for an environmentally controlled, light corrected, discussion of residual sugar, specific gravities and strains of yeast blah, blah, blah... this isn't it.

On the other hand, if you enjoy enjoying beer and enjoy mocking me for my ignorance, then welcome! Pull up a stool, a booth in the back, or a Muskoka chair and tell your friends! The really great features about this beer related activity is there is no cover charge, no bouncers, no line-ups, no restrictions on capacity, and no "Last Call"! Perhaps it would have been a better idea to focus on a region or a style but what the hell... How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time...

So to better explain the various entries and what the info pertains to:

(The name of the beer goes here)

The author (left) and his brother (right) outside of the Red Lion in Mawnan-Smith, Cornwall, UK.
Normally a picture of the beer goes here, but literary vanity being what it is...

(Where the beer comes from goes here) - (The type of beer goes here)

(The date the beer was sampled goes here) – (The alcohol content goes here)

Initial Thoughts

This is where I make comments on the packaging, the appearance (colour, head, et cetera), the smell of the beer, as well as my overall feel given the totality of the aforementioned. 

First Sip

The impression that the beer makes upon the first passing of the lips. Taste or lack thereof, as well as the changing perception of the beer.

Halfway Through

Beer has a frequent tendency to change in flavour and feel as it warms up a little and as the mouth becomes accustomed to the flavours. Again ideas about the quality and personality of the beer are documented here.

Bottoms Up

My closing arguments if you will. A summary, perhaps a recommendation might be found here.

70 / 100 

(Ah yes the score! Not a damned thing scientific about it! Simply me touching the side of my nose and pronouncing a score out of one-hundred that I feel is deserved based on all of the above considerations, and I'm not shy to give a perfect score. So there Mike...)

Maclays Pale Ale

Maclays Pale Ale

Sleeman Breweries Ltd., Guelph, Ontario, Canada - Pale Ale

Friday 9 March 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    52 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Fooled again. I quick dash through the beer section, I thought I’d picked up a genuine Scot. Not so. Brewed twenty minutes from my home in sunny, southern Ontario. Oh boy. The head was in a hurry. All like, “Hi I’m Maclays head! Okay, I got shit to do... seeya!”

First Sip

Pale? Check. Ale? Ahem, pardon? This looks like a cheap and easy lager more than any self respecting ale... Very mild. That’s as nice as I can be at this point. 

Halfway Through

Recycling a personal favorite simile...  I’m thinking Coors light with a “If it’s not Scottish it’s CRAAAAP!!!” tee-shirt on... with a stain on the front.

Bottoms Up

Okay, okay being nice now... It’s easy to drink. Like water. My recommendation: drink Maclays straight from the can after a game of ultimate frisbee. Oh, you don’t play ultimate frisbee? Then you can probably afford to drink something else. So do.

More Information...

www.sleeman.com 

Black Creek Porter

Hand Crafted Porter

Black Creek Historic Brewery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Porter

Saturday 10 March 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.     76 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Another great looking bottle from Black Creek. Brown glass filled with blackish liquid. A paper label with an old-fashioned feel, yet again... A welcoming burnt chestnut colored beer. Wow, this one smells chocolatey!

First Sip

None of the charred character of Black Creek’s Stout. This one has a nice, almost nutty quality. 

Halfway Through

I have to say that after the incinerated character of the Stout from this brewery, I wasn’t holding out much hope for this porter. But, I wouldn’t want people judging my siblings based on having known me, so fair is fair; and this is the fairer sibling.

Bottoms Up

Where his brother Stout greets you with a punch in the middle of your face, the more civilized Porter offers a courteous nod and raise of the glass. A bit of an aside, finding both a stout and a porter from the same brewer is interesting. In both my experience and research, the differences between the two are very much like the differences between fraternal twins; they come from the same stuff, they share a very similar history, one may have been around longer than the other, but in the end they are just “different”. In the case of the Black Creek twins, let the record show, I prefer the Porter.

More Information...

www.blackcreekbrewery.ca

Czechvar

Czechvar

B.B.N.P., Karoliny Světlé 4, 370 21 České Budějovice
Czech Republic

 Czech Beer

Friday 9 March 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    69 / 100

Initial Thoughts

A handsome enough can... looks an awful lot like eastern european lager, light amber, bright white head, big bubbles. 

First Sip

Oh dear... the taste of metal is startling. Too long in the can? Checked the bottom, it was only canned on January 12th 2012... A bad tin maybe? 

Halfway Through

The flavour of the can is still a mystery, but it’s dissipating pretty quickly. The beer itself is not bad! A real classic european lager. Really pilsner-like, if you like the standard fare from German and Czech brewers this ought to fit the bill.

Bottoms Up

Aside from reminding me of why glass is the preferred vessel for potable liquids, Czechvar proved to be a reasonable sample of Czech brewing. There are better examples out there, but this one is not bad. 

More Information...

www.czechvar.com

Hockley Stout

Hockley Stout

Hockley Valley Brewing Co., Orangeville, Ontario, Canada - Stout

Friday 9 March 2012 – 4.2%Alc./Vol.    72 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Another Hockley Valley product. Nice traditional looking can... But no awards... “Pours like liquid midnight” though... They aren’t kidding! A full pint yields no light. Black liquid...

First Sip

The darkness of this beer is incredible to witness. Around the edge of the glass it appears clear, brown, but a full pint doesn’t give a glint of light at all! Nice easy to enjoy “Traditional Irish Stout” taste. 

Halfway Through

A little bit of sweetness, a tad hoppy but nothing crazy at all. Just a little bite to it, almost a caffeinated type thing going on...

Bottoms Up

This is by no means a bad stout. It very well could be a popular example among stout enthusiasts. For me though, it left me perhaps a little uninspired... 

More Information

www.hockleybeer.ca

Trafalgar Maple Bock

Maple Bock

Trafalgar Ales & Meads, Oakville, Ontario, Canada - Bock

Thursday 8th March 2012 – 6.5%Alc./Vol.    89 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Ugh. I mean I’ve heard of this brewer, so I’m pretty sure this wasn’t brewed in a basement just off of Third Line, but the cartoonish label has me wondering otherwise. Hold the show! This is a pretty colour. The head is sort of weak though... It does have a genuine nose of maple syrup however.

First Sip

Shock. Total surprise. This is good! Maple for sure but not sweet at all! And true to the “bock” breed. Fun, fun!  

Halfway Through

The deeper into this double-sized bottle of “strong beer” we go, the more it impresses! Really good stuff! Almost threateningly dark, but truly delicious. Tasty, maple-y,  with little aftertaste and not heavy in the belly either! Impressive!

Bottoms Up

This is a really nice, novel “bock” style beer. A great late winter, early spring tribute to the grand Canadian tradition of the “sugar bush”. Not the prettiest thing in the beer section, and a miserable head, but with a body like this one, who cares? Perfect accompaniment to melting snow and steaming vats of maple sap under the bright March sunshine! Tragically goofy label notwithstanding. Hint: Fill the cooler with water and allow to chill (soak) and the embarrassing label should slide right off, hopefully before your friends arrive!

More Information

www.alesandmeads.com/

Fuller's London Porter

London Porter

Fuller Smith & Turner, Griffin Brewery, London, UK - Porter

Wednesday 7 March 2012 – 5.4%Alc./Vol.    90 / 100

Initial Thoughts

A very nice looking can. Deep brown, red and gold label. In the glass this porter is black with deep red glints of light. Nice plush foamy head on top. This is a real looker...

First Sip

Oh yeah! A traditional mouthful of porter flavours! Rich layers of bitterness and sweet malt with a hint of smokiness from the roasted hop character.  

Halfway Through

The big hit of wonderful bitterness gives way to the magnificent malt. Almost a molasses flavour, just enough deep sweetness to go toe-to-toe with the hops. Good stuff from sunny London! 

Bottoms Up

This beer is great if you’re seeking a vibrant, bodied, porter experience. Great colour, great flavour. Good solid quality product. A big, bold porter. Not for everyone to be sure, but not everyone wants to or has the tools to drive a V12 Aston Martin either... I like it. A lot.

More Information

www.fullers.co.uk

Steam Whistle

Steam Whistle Pilsner

Steam Whistle Brewing, The Roundhouse, Toronto, Ontario, Canada    Pilsner

Wednesday 29 February 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    78 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Simple graphics. Independently brewed by “3FG” (Three Fun Guys? Three Fired Guys?) Gold colour with just a hint of orange glow, big bubbly head on top... a great big grin in a glass!

First Sip

Fresh! This is good! Imprint on the can tell me exactly how fresh “Pkgd Dec 21 2011 08:22” so, let’s see here... carry the one... two months, eight days, five hours and fifty... one minutes. 

Halfway Through

Nice. Not great, but really good. Minimally sweet, but really quite gaseous. 

Bottoms Up

An unapologetic lager. Big and fun, like that friend of a friend who you never see outside of summertime backyard parties who is always grinning ear to ear, woo-hooing and drinking beer out of a vase, but when you talk to him he’s actually a pretty genuine guy who works his butt off monday to friday and just knows how to kick back.

More Information

www.steamwhistle.ca

Old Ruby Ale 1905

Old Ruby Ale 1905 

Duchy Originals from Waitrose, Oxfordshire, England -  Organic Ale

Saturday 3 March 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    81 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Unique package, “The Princes Charities” hmm... Bright amber and blood orange colour, slightly hazy, unfiltered. Looks interesting...

First Sip

One word pounces upon my mind; authentic. All four traditional beer ingredients present and accounted for up front. Barley, hops, water and yeast... yep, yeast.

Halfway Through

A pleasing tartness of the fermenting yeast is a nice characteristic not present in every beer. The sourness is a little like the sour of sourdough bread, and since they’ve both got grain, water and yeast it sort of makes sense.

Bottoms Up

I love this beer for it’s honesty. There is a definite genuineness to it. It has the feel of having been brewed by a brewer with half a century of experience in a stone-walled, thatch-roofed cottage in the English countryside. A hint of fruity sweetness evens out the tartness in this well put together organic ale.


More Information
www.duchyoriginals.com

Guinness

Guinness 

Sami Keinänen - http://www.flickr.com/photos/sami73

Diageo, Planet Earth -  Irish Stout

Friday 2 March 2012 – 4.1%Alc./Vol.    83/ 100

Initial Thoughts

Ah! Stout-de-la-stout! A long time favorite! Worldwide baby. Worldwide. Black liquid resting below the light tan, solid mass of shaving-foam-like head that always looks painted on...

First Sip

Delicious. Light bitterness, light tasting. Nothing to be frightened of here my friend.

Halfway Through

Wow, halfway already? Did someone knock my glass over? Yum. Index finger held aloft. A quick nod to the barkeep. That should resolve this sudden emergency.

Bottoms Up

Great stuff. A world-class long standing champion of global brewing. If you’ve previously been intimidated by Guinness, don’t be. It’s bark is a lot worse than it’s bite. The bold image of tar with a perfectly creamy head makes a bold statement, but the beer itself is a best-seller around the world for good reason! In a blind taste-test it could very well sneak up on you...

More Information

www.guinness.com

Rolling Rock

Rolling Rock

Anheuser-Busch Inbev, Planet Earth -  Lager

Friday 2 March 2012 – 4.5%Alc./Vol.    60 / 100

Initial Thoughts

I had heard good things... Green pint glass? What the what? St Paddy’s Day leftovers maybe... could be...

First Sip

Hard to judge the colour inside the emerald glass. A real apple-pie-cheerleader-easy-malt-American crowd pleaser of a beer. Safe. In lockstep with the great American tradition of getting the largest possible number of people to part with their money...

Halfway Through

Not terribly adventurous. Easy on the taste-buds, enough effervescent activity to let you know it’s not flat. Meh.

Bottoms Up

A great beer for people looking for something aside from the usual suspects. The label is appealing enough, the contents of the glass aren’t threatening in any way. On draft it came in a green glass glass which was helpful as it wasn’t terribly memorable otherwise. Pint of ice-cold capitalism anyone? 

More Information

www.rollingrock.com

Tetley's English Ale

Tetley’s English Ale

Carlsberg-Tetley Brewing, Planet Earth -  Ale

Friday 2 March 2012 – 4.5%Alc./Vol.    81 / 100

Initial Thoughts

I love true English Ale. So beware the inherent bias in the following phrases. Lovely dark amber fluid, atop which floats the most brilliantly creamy head. Lovely... Lovely.

First Sip

Smoother than merely smooth. The hops are late to arrive, just the slightest hint upfront, with a delightful back palate of gentle bitterness.

Halfway Through

A fine example of smooth english drinkability. One might happily make an afternoon of pouring one or two of these down ones throat with great enthusiasm, were one so inclined.

Bottoms Up

There exists a wonderful subset of English ales which regardless of whether they hail from the midlands, the southeast or the north country are amazingly smooth to drink, this is one such ale. Possibly an evolution in brewing due to a gentleman’s occasional desire to spend several hours at the tavern, pub, or inn. Easy drinkability suits this ale well to the aforementioned task.

More Information

www.carlsberg.co.uk

Tiger Lager

Tiger Lager

Par Asia Pacific Breweries, Singapore -  Lager

Saturday 25 February 2012 – 5%Alc./Vol.    86 / 100

Initial Thoughts

Great label. An otherwise slightly ridiculous name framed well with an astute image design. Looks the part for sure, crystal clear amber with medium fine white head.

First Sip

Hello Mr. Tiger Lager sir. Crisp, refreshing. A great opening statement of classic lager-ness.

Halfway Through

Lightly, deliberately hopped. Mildly malty. Very refreshing. Easy to imagine this as a nice summertime alternative to the big names like Corona and the others.

Bottoms Up

A really enjoyable drink! Nice and smoothly put together for a lager. Almost buttery, cold and tasty. A nice balanced beer that will exceed expectations for a simple, straightforward lager. This may be the breed standard for a lager... maybe.

More Information

www.tigerbeer.com