Craftsman Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by: Renaissance Brewing Company
Brewed at: Blenheim, New Zealand
Type: Cocoa Stout
4.9% A/V

First Impression
I must admit I get a little excited, my heart races a few steps ahead; when I hear the words "cocoa" "oatmeal" and "stout" in close proximity to each other. A fantastic, classy glass vessel with a sophisticated label houses the elixir. A beverage as black as a coal mine on a moonless midnight.

First Sip
This stout is so good I feel like swearing! (Thanks Mr.Hewitt...)

Halfway
Having recovered somewhat from the palpitations caused by the marvelousness of the beer, the sexy bottle and the considerate label phrasing... I can now unequivocally state: Yum! This beer combines two of my palate's great temptations: oatmeal stout and dark chocolate. And the two couldn't be more happily wedded!

Bottoms Up
To die drinking beer had never crossed my mind before. But if ever I find myself in a position to select my final meal before a lethal injection, I now know what it will be.

Sorry, a tad hyperbolic there momentarily...

If you consider stout and bitter dark chocolate (and I mean north of 85% cocoa) passions; acquire one of these and celebrate something, or turn a bad day around for yourself by pouring it into a large goblet and immersing yourself in the cacophony of magnificence. As the beer warms layers of pungent dark chocolate an nuances of malt and vanilla emerge from the violent depths. If you are the hardy sort who delights in these dark pleasures you will rarely encounter a beer with the ability to capture your attention and toy with your expectations the way Craftsman Chocolate Oatmeal Stout can. Wonderful.
109/110

Paradise I.P.A.

Brewed by: Mill Street Brewery
Brewed at: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type: India Pale Ale
7.2% A/V

First Impression
A bit of silliness on the label... Why not! "Shocking amount of hops" things are promising in Paradise...

First Sip
The simply absurd quantity of hops used while brewing has made Paradise IPA a marvelous beer.
Deeply copper, warmly alcoholic, and fully hopped.

Halfway
Lovers of IPA take note! This will hardly disappoint. As far as craft brewed IPA goes Paradise is very refined, brilliantly clear.

Bottoms Up
If you've never known the exotic pleasures of a true IPA you could do worse than Paradise IPA from Mill Street. Thick with hoppy goodness, this beer packs a big friendly punch of flavour.
78/100

Augusta Ale

Brewed by: Kensington Brewing Company
Brewed at: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type: Craft Brewed Ale
5.5% A/V

First Impression
Brown and gold gives a nice luxurious effect to the paintwork on Augusta Ale. "Drink Good Beer" boldly announced on the back of the can. It would be nice to see something similar on the back of a Silver Bullet.

First Sip
Yep. This is good beer. A hopped up hopfest of an ale. Evergreen in its hoppiness.

Halfway
Well made. Good beer indeed.

Bottoms Up
It frequently shows when someone takes the time to go that extra yard in pursuit of quality. Carbon filtered water. Just one of the things I'm sure the brewing crew at Kensington do to make Augusta just so. This is a truly craft brewed ale. Try it. It's a representative beer experience.
91/100