Cameron's Lager

Brewed by: Cameron's Brewing Co.
Brewed at: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Lager
5% A/V

First Impression
Classically designed label. Pale yellow adorned with a man shouldering a sheaf of barley I presume... Could this label be elsewhere than affixed to a bottle of beer? Bottled in the proletarian 341ml, twist top, brown glass of the socialist brewers of Ontario. (That isn't a dig by the way, I am a big fan of the utility an economy embodied in this magnificent container) A very orange colour to this beverage, and just a slight haziness. Hold the phone! A gold medalist of the US Open Beer Championships! Hat's off!

First Sip
Well considered. The quality of inputs and execution here are unmistakable. Ticks all the right boxes for a North American lager.

Halfway
Very satisfying. Not unpleasant at all.

Bottoms Up
Just a solid example of lager according to the North American model. A balanced, highly satisfactory lager. The kind of thing that would be a very good idea to offer to friends, new and old.

87/100

Ciuc Pils Original

Brewed by: Heineken Romania S.A.
Brewed at: Bucuresti, Romania
Type: Pils Lager
5% A/V

First Impression
Modern graphics which honor the traditions of European beer making. Looks good so far. Classically pils style, bright gold with a stark white head.

First Sip
Interesting. A layered light bitterness which stays pretty close to traditional pilsner type beer.

Halfway
Cheeook? Key oosch? I wonder how to pronounce it... It's okay though. Not terribly unique. It's a beer so it is good but I wouldn't go so far as to call it an overly good beer...

Bottoms Up
Not much better than fair. Served cold it would go nicely with a ride on a lawnmower or while building a deck. Entertain your friends with attempts at pronouncing it! It's "chuke" by the way...
62/100

Grolsch Premium Lager

Brewed by: Grolsche Bierbrouwerij
Brewed at: Enschede, Holland
Type: Lager
5% A/V

First Impression
The truly classic green glass swing-top bottle! White lid of head atop a gorgeous golden Dutch masterpiece.

First Sip
Grolsch separates itself from others of it's European ilk by a great big friendly mouthful of malty goodness. Where it seems the rest of Europe is reveling in the magnificence of the hop bud, the wise brewers at Enschede have realized that some folks prefer the sweet stuff.

Halfway
Delicious. Steadfast reliability in bubbly brewed beverage. Geweldig.

Bottoms Up
Grolsch is a popular beer worldwide, and for good reason. It is a terrific representation of a beer. It isn't trying to be something it's not and as such it makes friends in the process of simply being itself. I think there's a little something in that for all of us. Don't you?
80/100

Warsteiner Premium Verum

Brewed by: Warsteiner Brauerei Haus Cramer KG
Brewed at: Warstein, Germany
Type: Pilsner
4.8% A/V

First impression
A truly classy presentation, black and gold label. Tall slim bottle. These lads have been at it since 1753! This is encouraging! For when someone is terrible at something they usually give up in the first two centuries generally speaking. Stunning golden clarity with a head the shade of white which reminds me of hospital sheets.

First Sip
Premium Verum is a fine beer indeed! A voluptuous hop bitterness takes centre stage in this German beverage.

Halfway
Nicely enjoyable. Not regretting this in the least. Very typically euro-styled pilsner sort of drink...

Bottoms Up
If pilsner is your thing this Premium Verum from Warsteiner should definitely float your boat. The predominant feature of most eastern European is a razor-like hop bitterness, this one is just a touch softer than that so might suitably appeal to greater numbers of beer drinkers.
77/100

Burly Wine

Brewed by: Half Pints Brewing Company
Brewed at: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Type: Barley Wine
10.5% A/V

First Impression
Sealed with golden wax and with a nice hybrid wine/beer label it certainly looks the part from this small Manitoban brewery. Cracking the seal, the aroma of this special brew floods the air... Amazing. Typically low effervescence and a luxurious ruby hue tantalize...

First Sip
I had forgotten how much I enjoy barley wines! Though technically beer, and generally served cold, barley wines in many aspects otherwise resemble wines more than they do beer. The smell is more prominent and the flavors lean more toward rich and complex like wine than crisp and fresh that we generally find in beers. Though properly chilled, the depth of flavor and strong alcohol content combined for a warmth that was just incredible.

Halfway
Just busted out some mozzarella and a little prosciutto. Leave me alone.

Bottoms Up
This particular bottle of Burly Wine was a gift. From what I understand it was released by Half Pints Brewery somewhere around 2005 so it's not terribly likely that you'll be fortunate enough to find one. However if I'm not mistaken the good people at Half Pints release an annual edition of Burly Wine so there is hope! This bottle was aged perhaps longer than might be called for but it was still brilliant nonetheless.
82/100

Mad Tom IPA

Brewed by: Muskoka Brewery
Brewed at: Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada
Type: India Pale Ale
6.4% A/V

First Impression
The label design on this one presents the classic overall look of the Ontario craft brewing industry, sort of cartoony with a bit of a mid-century Americana type feel.
A terrific looking beer is held inside the chilly tall can.
Great golden color with a beauty of a foam top on it. Slightly hazy, it has the appearance of being bottle conditioned.

First Sip
The hazy character is supported by a sweet, yeasty-hopped nose. Oh boy! There is a confident citrus aroma and flavor; think blood orange and grapefruit... A fantastic introductory sip which also included a really well executed hop complement late in the mouth.

Halfway
This beer has a visible carbon dioxide activity that makes the pint glass look much like a tiny hot tub full of beer. Yet it isn't terribly gassy to drink.

Bottoms up
From the fun label to the outstanding flavour profile to the really active nature of Mad Tom in the glass, this India Pale Ale from the talents at Muskoka Brewery packs an impressive amount of good into a can of beer. Very well done Mr.McMullen.
85/100

Harp Lager

Brewed by: Harp Brewery
Brewed at: Dundalk, Ireland
Type: Lager
5%A/V

First Impression
A very handsome can. Clad in the blue hue often seen on a chrome exhaust manifold. Brewed by the makers of Guinness... My already high expectations have been shunted skyward. Looks typically lageresque...

First Sip
Nicely chilled. Tastes reasonably like a lager might. It has the echo of a fresh quality which is more often seen in locally produced draught beers. Decent late hop bitterness.

Halfway
A nice blend of beer traits found in western lagers like Molson Canadian but with the metallic bitterness often found in eastern bloc lagers and various pilsners. Pretty good so far.

Bottoms Up
Not as good as it's prominent stablemate Guinness but not exactly pond water either. Harp Lager is genuinely quite good. It's a lager that anyone who likes beer will very likely be satisfied with.
79/100

VB

Brewed by: Carlton & United Breweries Ltd
Brewed at: Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Type: Bitter
4.6% A/V

First impression
A sleek, understated green label wraps the can of Victoria Bitter. Poured in a glass, it looks to be an Australian version of Budweiser or Coors Lighr. Help...

First Sip
I've got to adjust the temperature on my new fridge, this is too cold to be drinking any beer (with the exception perhaps of Bud or anything with a "Rocky Mountain Cold Certification label")

Halfway
I had thought that this beer had a peculiar apple essence to it before I recalled having just used the new apple soap in our bathroom to wash my hands only moments before undertaking this review... Don't try this at home, ahem... I'm a professional... Reminding me a little of Bitburger at this point. Perhaps a little less hard than that though... Nice easy effervescence.

Bottoms Up
I imagine most won't be shocked to hear that one of Australia's most popular domestic beers is an easy-going and thirst quenching potable blend of smooth subtle malt and a little back palate hop contribution. Be not surprised at VB's popularity coming out of an ice filled Esky at a summertime gathering...
75/100

Sinha Stout

Brewed by: Lion Brewery
Brewed at: Biyagama, Sri Lanka
8.8% A/V

First Impression
A rather understated packaging effort. The label looks somewhat like a promo poster for a new Hollywood movie featuring a lion. A deep, burnt chestnut beer with a quickly disappearing, big bubbly, brown head. Smells nice and stoutly.

First Sip
I'm afraid that perhaps this particular serving of Sinha is too cold... Rich and chocolatey nonetheless.

Halfway
Warmer now, and very pleasant. Typical chocolatey, coffee, toffee type stuff happening here.

Bottoms Up
Sinha is really a good quality stout that ought to be happily be enjoyed by most stout enthusiasts. Look out for the 8.8% wallop... Ethanol lies quietly in wait among the dark shadows of this Sri Lankan libation. Quite nice!
79/100

Liberty Ale

Brewed by: Anchor Brewing Co.
Brewed at: San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Type: Ale
5.9% A/V

First Impression
A really traditional looking package. Everything from the size and shape of the bottle to the graphics is in line with the label claims of respect for the "ancient art of brewing."
A little hazy as you might expect from a traditionally prepared beer. The color is just a touch toward the orange side of 24 karat gold.

First Sip
A nice hoppy, yeasty nose. More than a little bit of the sourdough character of genuine yeast conditioning before the dry-hopped bitterness kicks in.

Halfway
Undecided. The high quality marketing is not sitting well with the almost too primitive brewage.

Bottoms Up
There can be no doubt at this juncture, of the steadfast, traditional brewing methods employed by Anchor in crafting Liberty Ale. Surely this is how beer must have tasted in The White Horse Tavern in 1675! However if I'm honest, it tastes like there have been no advances in brewing during the past three hundred years or so, or more to the point, if there have been, they are being ignored on purpose.
66/100

Little Scrapper I.P.A.

Brewed by: Half Pints Brewing Co.
Brewed at: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Type: India Pale Ale
6% A/V

First Impression
There appears to be a theme with the Half Pints presentation... The whole team is in uniform. Looks like a reasonable pale ale, powerful hop fragrance once in the glass...

First sip
If you want to know what "hops" taste like, have a sip of Little Scrapper! Wow the brewmaster wasn't shy with the buds of the vine here!

Halfway
A bold example of unrestrained hoppiness.

Bottoms Up
All in all, the name Little Scrapper couldn't have been better chosen for this beer! It's feisty, determined, unapologetic and packs quite a punch! A true little scrapper!
82/100

Labatt Bleue or Blue

Brewed by: labatt brewing company
Brewed at: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Type: Lager
4.9% A/V

First Impression
From Quebec, this particular can of a long standing Canadian institution is adorned with the québécois label that is something if a novelty in my part of the world. Bleue is also known to the anglophone world as Blue. Nice tidy, to the point label design.

First Sip
Light bitterness, Bleue or Blue is a nice easy drinker. Like Canadian politics Blue occupies, or tries to occupy the hearts of the greatest number possible and as such doesn't take a lot of risks.

Halfway
Strikes me as just the sort of thing that if you were offered one without knowing what exactly what it was you wouldn't be disappointed.

Bottom
A nice mild mannered general purpose beer. Cold, refreshing. It fits the bill perfectly for the kind of thing my buddy Grabber is fond of describing as a good "grass-cutting" beer. An ideal accompaniment to any outdoor warm weather chore you might find yourself enjoying in spite of the fact that you'd never reveal such pleasure to your wife...
70/100

Mort Subite Kriek

Brewed by: Mort Subite
Brewed at: Belgium
Type: Flavored beer
4.5% A/V

First Impression
A nice single serving sized bottle. Green glass with a champagne type cork and cage situation keeping in the goodness. Overall a quality presentation. Quite red. Made with real cherry and elderberry juice the color makes complete sense. Smells nice enough.

First Sip
Wow, almost a desert beer! Fruity and sweet tasting, seems like this one might make a compelling beer substitute for ice wine.

Halfway
Oddly refreshing. Not so unusual that it's a chore to drink at all.

Bottoms up
In spite of being very sweet for a beer, it wouldn't be out of the question to pop a few corks in the course of an evening. Consider Mort Subite Kreik a kind of a crafted cooler. Brewed, then sweetened with sugar and real fruit juice it's a pretty cool alternative to things like Smirnoff Ice and Mike's Hard Lemonade with a beer lineage.
71/100

Michelob Ultra

Brewed by: Labatt Brewing Company
Brewed at: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Type: Disaster
4% A/V

First Impression
A handsome label. If you've been paying close attention, you may have gathered there are few things more mundane to me than many of the offerings of the world's larger brew houses. (listen... can you hear the sound of daggers being softly sharpened nearby?)

Had I not poured it myself I'd have sent it back, adamant that I had in fact ordered a beer. Looks less like beer than many sports drinks do... Paler than a goth in a blizzard.

First Sip
Tastes like diluted panther piss.

Halfway
I've gotta have a Coors Light left in this damn fridge somewhere... Sorry Michelob Ultra, it's umm... Low carb, oh and "exceptional" according to the text on the label... Nothing like an ice cold glass of refreshing hyperbole to take the sting off of a fresh disappointment.

Bottoms up
I thought it would never end... A low carb beer. What has the world come too? Carbs taste good. Beer, for the love of all things sacred should also taste good. I'd sooner have had a soda with lime. I'm not kidding. If you are genuinely concerned about your carb intake and need a delicious, cold and refreshing beverage, order a lime and soda. With extra ice. Hell, treat yourself make it a double wedge of lime...
Ultra pathetic. Ultra disappointing. I prefer the taste in my mouth the morning after a three cigar night. To be avoided under all but the most desperate of circumstances. Sorry Gord. Love ya man...
5/100

Bulldog Amber Ale

Brewed by: Half pints Brewing Co.
Brewed at: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
5.4% A/V

First Impression
Typically Canadian 341ml brown bottle, funky micro-brew label. Bulldog is a great copper color with only the subtlest haze.

First Sip
This bulldog is a big, bold, bitter beast.

Halfway
I was starting to wonder where the bulldog came in... But now it's staring to show. Just like a modern canine, this bulldog just takes a while to get off the couch. Starting to taste like more than simply an overbearingly bitter beer.

Bottoms Up
Once I warned up to it, or it to me as the case may have been here, the flavors of the malt and the hops were actually pretty decent!
72/100

Stir Stick Stout

Brewed by: Half Pints Brewing Co.
Brewed at: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
5.6% A/V

First Impression
Same distictive label as the rest of the Half Pints crew. A very dark almost syrupy stout. Promising for lovers of thick rich stout. Stir Stick when poured smells somewhat of candied coffee...

First Sip
Coffee toffee chocolatey goodness!

Halfway
Moderately bitter, rich stoutness holding strong. Heartily crafted with abundant dark malts...

Bottoms up
Not a bad stout by any measure. Unlike the mighty Guinness this is not a light stout. Stir Stick is thick with flavour, potent in terms of alcohol content. All of the features of this beer add up to a heavy, hearty belly filler of a stout. If my Nanna could tell you about it she'd tell you that Stir Stick Stout will Stick to your ribs.
75/100

St James Pale Ale

Brewed by: Half Pints Brewing Company Ltd.
Brewed at: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
4.8% A/V

First Impressions
Dressed out in the fun Half Pints company uniform but with an amber label. Poured into a glass, St James Pale Ale has a great golden amber color in a dazzlingly clear liquid.

First sip
A fantastic fresh flavor jumps across your tastebuds, malts and hops both pulling their weight...

Halfway
St James Pale Ale is well crafted, showing off all the features of a nicely executed ale.

Bottoms Up
Simply great stuff! Balanced, flavorful, highly drinkable, thoroughly enjoyable! Another winner from an unlikely hometown!
91/100

Golden Pheasant Lager

Golden Pheasant Lager
Brewed by: Hurbanovo Brewery Brewed at: Herbanovo, Slovakia
5% A/V

First Impression
Fancy fancy! A very posh presentation in the European tradition. A nice medium to deep gold color with small bubbles.

First Sip
A little metallic pang over a nicely malted palate. Very much a lager.

Halfway
Not too far removed from the usual fare of that area of the world. Great bitterness!

Bottoms Up
A pretty rudimentary eastern European lager. My apologies for my laziness, I just didn't find Golden Pheasant terribly inspiring. Good. Not great.
68/100

Current Rankings of the Whole Fridge So Far...

If you find you disagree with some of these scores and particularly with some of the relative positions, you're not alone. I disagree with some of them too. And I gave the scores...

It might be useful to think in broad strokes. Anything between 80 and 100 is really good, between 70 and 80 you should find are still quite good, 50 to 70 are okay, below 50 things are still technically "beer".

Without further ado, here they are...

100/100 Inniss&Gunn Original
99.9/100 Inniss&Gunn Highland Cask
99/100 Summer Break
99/100 Chimay Trappist Ale
93/100 Lug Tread
92/100 Bitburger
91/100 Half Pints St James Pale Ale
90/100 Fullers London Porter
89/100 Trafalgar Maple Bock
89/100 Pilsner Urquell
88/100 Headstrong Pale Ale
88/100 Newcastle Brown Ale
86/100 Barking Squirrel Lager
86/100 Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale
86/100 Tiger Lager
85/100 Lancaster Bomber
84/100 Smashbomb Atomic IPA
83/100 Hockley Black &Tan
83/100 Coopers Sparkling Ale
83/100 Guinness
82/100 Abbot Ale
81/100 Hobgoblin
81/100 Old Ruby Ale 1905
81/100 Tetley's English Ale
80/100 Lezajsk
79/100 Sleeman Honey Brown
79/100 Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale
78/100 Steam Whistle Pilsner
78/100 Gösser
77/100 Trafalgar Smoked Oatmeal Stout
77/100 Hockley Dark
76/100 Boris Organic
76/100 Black Creek Porter
76/100 Wellington Trailhead
75/100 Half Pints Stir Stick Stout
74/100 Kronenbourg 1664
73/100 Berthold Keller Lager
72/100 Denison's Weissbier
72/100 James Ready 5.5
72/100 Hockley Stout
72/100 Tyskie Lager
71/100 Warka Strong
70/100 Molson Canadian
70/100 Labatt Blue
69/100 Czechvar
69/100 Corona Extra
69/100 Żubr
68/100 Golden Pheasant Lager
67/100 Black Creek Stout
61/100 Früli Strawberry Beer
60/100 Rolling Rock
55/100 Tuborg Green
52/100 Budweiser
52/100 Rousse Red Ale
52/100 Maclays Pale Ale
33/100 Coors Light
5/100 Michelob Ultra

Barking Squirrel Lager

Barking Squirrel Lager
Hop City Brewing Co.
Brampton, Ontario
5%A/V

First Impression
Fun looking can featuring a cartoon squirrel glaring at a cartoon hop bud. Attractive, coppery beverage with a bubbly off-white head, nice fragrance of gentle hop aromas.

First Sip
Smoothly hoppy, really delicious with a malty balance. Very nice right off the bat.

Halfway
Shaping up well! A really nicely drinkable beer from the wild hinterland of Brampton. The name is still confusing...

Bottoms Up
Good beer from Brampton!?! Who knew? Pam did apparently... So thanks Pam! A really, really nice lager. Rich with satisfying flavors, Barking Squirrel is possibly the best crafted lager I've had so far! Perhaps the name is derived from the predominant wildlife species of the area in which it is brewed, the Eastern Grey Squirrel. Who cares really? They could have called it "Where's the Airport Lager" it would still be a terrific drinkable...
86/100

Coopers Sparkling Ale

Coopers Sparkling Ale

Brewed by: Coopers Brewery
Brewed at: Regency Park, South Australia
5.8% A/V
Type: Strong ale
www.coopers.com.au

First Impression
Sort of a retro type of bottle. The label could have been designed anywhere from 1800 to 2010... A choice is offered as to how to properly enjoy this beer. The two options for consumption are laid out in the fine print on the back label, but as no one tends to read the fine print, I've just poured it in a glass. It sure looks like a quality article. A touch cloudy, which, had I read the fine print would be due to the natural bottle conditioning...

First Sip
Only slightly tart in the nostrils, and surprisingly mild for a yeasty beasty strong ale!

Halfway
Entertainingly complex, the malt and hops-and in the case of this particular sort of beer, the yeast-are cooperating very nicely!

Bottoms Up
The average beer drinker (not you!) will probably not be overly impressed with Coopers Sparkling Ale as it is for grown-ups. It is not dull. It's certainly not shy. It makes no apologies, and coming from a fella who lived the best part of a decade in 'Stralya it doesn't get much more 'Strayne than that! Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!
83/100

Früli

Früli Strawberry Beer

Brewed by: Van Diest Beer Company, London UK
Brewed at: Belgium
4.1% A/V
Type: Belgian White Fruit Beer

First Impression
An intriguing package. A smaller than average bottle. A Belgian white beer made with strawberry juice... Buckle up this could be quite a ride! The effect of the strawberries is evident right off the hop, smells very much like strawberries, is bright red like strawberries...

First Sip
Not surprising at all by now, but it tastes like strawberries. A lot like strawberries. It certainly isn't beer flavored strawberry juice...

Halfway
Still berry, berry unbeerlike. A beer for people who love strawberries.

Bottoms Up
Wow! That was different. If you're looking for a beer that most people would never guess was a beer, and you like strawberries look no further!
61/100

New Format

Hello all! You may have noticed a bit of a delay in posts over the past week... Apologies, a thousand of them. I've changed the format of my posts in an attempt to expedite things... The material is the same more or less. Any comments about this lazy new look are welcome! Enjoy!

Summer Break

Summer Break
Brewed by: Niagara College Teaching Brewery
Brewed at: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
5%A/V
Type: I'd be guessing... Ale?

First Impression
That, ladies and gentlemen, in the picture below, is a "Growler". A 1.9 liter jug of brewing freshness. The label is the small paper sticker attached at the time of bottling to identify the beer and when it was bottled, as the contents of a Growler should be consumed within a few days. Pale amber color, little in the way of head, Summer Break looks like a warm weather choice...

First Sip
Okay! Well done class! The light hue and minimalist head fail to let the cat out of the bag regarding the delightful character of this beer! A truly incredible blend of mild but delicious hops with nicely sweet malt.

Halfway
Summer Break is fresh tasting, easy to drink without being dull, and even though it was unseasonably cool outside when i sampled this, it is quite clear that this is a patio champion!

Bottoms Up
This is the best summertime, barbecue season beer that I've had, bar none! Hey big brewers! Give these people some well paying jobs and let them do their thing! Packaged like it was brewed in a basement and marketed as well as a garage sale, the beer itself is perfectly executed. If you are within a ninety minute drive of this brewery, it is well worth the trip to see what the future of brewing looks like...
99/100

Boris Organic

Boris Organic
Brewed by: Brasserie Licorne Sas (?)
Brewed at: Saverne, France
Type: Lager I'm guessing
5% A/V

First Impression
A hip, cool, funky-fresh looking can with a sort of pre-apocalyptic-modern-urban-protest motif. Boris Organic from France... Lets have a go shall we? In a glass its a bit hazy, light gold with a charming, little white head on him. A very active effervescence.

First Sip
Slightly tart, slightly metallic and a really active effervescence gives it a nearly fizzy mouth feel.

Halfway
Holding up well as a lightly hopped beer with just the slightest nod to the influence of any malted grains which might have been involved in production. The tarty character of the yeast is loosening its grip at this stage.

Bottoms Up
Fairly light tasting. For a French environmentalist Boris is a very reasonable sort of chap. Any seasoned beer enthusiasts will find that this beer tastes much like it looks... Light, with the hazy quality of a proper organic brew accompanied by the almost active- yeast properties of tartness and the overall flavors of a light organic. Not unpleasant, just know what to expect from a beer of this nature...
75/100

James Ready 5.5

James Ready 5.5
Brewed by: James Ready Brewing Company
Brewed at: Niagara Falls, Ontario
5.5%
Type: American Blonde Ale
www.jamesready.com

First Impression
James Ready five and a half! A blue collar, union made beer in the working man's reusable brown beer bottle as evidenced by the very worn glass edges visible in the photo. Looks reasonably like beer... Military spec in its appearance (see my Budweiser review) White head? Check. Amber liquid... Check! Five and a half percent alcohol soldier? Sir Yes Sir!

1st sip
Okay enough of the monkey business, this has a nice malt overtone for an apparent ethanol delivery system. Mocking aside, not bad upon passing it across the old tastebuds...

Halfway
Nice and smooth for a beer of greater than five percent alcohol. Not offensive, can be happily consumed by most I'd imagine...

Bottoms up
Overall this beer is a pirate. It's all dressy with its dark green and gold label sticker. But it's rough-around-the-edges, everyman heart belies a fun-loving, unshaven, cutlass wielding pillager of a brewing and swilling fermented libation. You could easily do worse.
72/100

Chimay Trappist Ale

Chimay

Brewed by: S.A. Bières de Chimay
Brewed at: Scourmont Abbey, Baileux, Belgium
8% A/V
Trappist Ale

First Impression
A strong ale brewed with fresh hops and yeasts by Trappist monks at an abbey in Belgium! This could be the promised land of brewing... With that sort of heritage I just had to dust off a brandy snifter as is called for on the back label.

First Sip
Were I an observant Catholic the names of saints would surely flood to mind... The smell, the flavors... Hello you must be God. Nice job on this beer, your exaltedness...

Halfway
Chimay is simply not something that ought to be mentioned in the same breath as Budweiser or Heineken. This is beer royalty.

Bottoms Up
For the true beer enthusiast. (You there, in the Bud Light t-shirt! I'm NOT talking about you... I don't care how many you can put away in a weekend...) This is every bit as enjoyable as a hand-rolled Cuban cigar, a fine single malt Scotch whiskey, or a hand built Italian super car. For just as six hundred horsepower under one's right foot or a glowing ember three inches from one's lips require, this strong ale demands close attention. Peerless.
99/100