La Trappe Tripel

Before even taking the top off of this tall Dutch beauty I'm struck by what this bottle involves. The contents were brewed by men of silence in the Netherlands before being sent across an ocean and delivered to a shop in my small town in rural Ontario. And it's still remarkably fresh. The only judgment I'm willing to pass on these glorious circumstances is that this arrangement cannot go on indefinitely. We have to break some serious new ground in how we operate as a global society for this level of luxury to persist. Meanwhile, there is beer of remarkable taste to be had so indulge!

La Trappe is a sample of what is becoming my favorite style. Trappist ales are powerfully alcoholic, but more than that they present some of the most nuanced palates and exquisite crafting available in the beer world. There must be something of value in being able to focus on a task in silence.

Cloudy, voluptuous, yeasty. Try it. If you don't love it send me your leftovers.

97/100

County Durham Signature Ale

"British Style" the label confidently proclaims. I've been hurt before. The full bottle shrink-wrap label is a mite tacky. One of the many things I loved about the UK during a trip several years ago was the local ale. Not overly gaseous, full flavored without being brash. Let's see what Durham County Brewing Company means when they say "British Style".

Tart to the point of nearly sour, but softly effervescent and refreshing. The head and the color have an air of high breeding about them. In the end I'd have to agree, British Style is what this is, not quite the genuine article but not Coors Light either.

77/100

Unibroue Grand Réserve 17

Let's make something clear. Adorning a bottle with things like "Belgian", "Trappist Monks", "French Oak", and "Platinum Medal Winner" doesn't tend to leave much to the imagination. Nonetheless my imaginations while toting my new purchase home were full of sugar plums. Lees cloudy. Deep auburn. Molasses scented. A full tenth of mind altering alcohol. This beer might normally and properly be labelled "barley wine" but then the imagination would be as idle as the Canadian Senate. Quebeckers it seems brew beer with the same passion as they apply to college football. Google Laval Rouge et Or. Twelve years in existence. Eight national championships. Beer enthusiasts get in the game, this one is lovely. Ab initio enthusiasts exercise caution and prepare to have your expectations reset. 99/100

Rogue Dead Guy Ale

So after much wringing of hands and what can only be described as a long and agonizing absence for you all, the big beer poobah is back. My apologies. 

The claim that sold me on this bottle (visible in the label shot) of course being "It Glows". Moments after spilling beer all over myself in the dark, it occurred to me that perhaps it was referring to not the beer but the bottle. Slowly but surely I do sometimes get somewhere. (to borrow from the eloquently confident style of Rob Ford)

So yeah the label glows. Kinda, sorta. Big whoop. How's the beer? Good dose of alcohol. Six and a half percent. Cloudy. Ruddy brown. Bitter for the Coors Light confederate. A sniff of yeast. Bit of a wallflower in the micro-brew aisle, one quickly gets a good idea why Mom put this little number in a glow in the dark dress before sending her to the school social. Not a life changing beer by any measure. Six and half points for the C2H6O. Half a point for the "glowing label". Carry the one, multiply by a hundred, seventy. 70/100

Samuel Adams Little White Rye

So it's beer blog time again! And this edition features a Little White Rye from my good friend Samuel Adams. With orange peel, coriander and sage this white is hitting all the notes for today's beer enthusiast. Crafted with gastronomic verve, this beer is tasty without being too edgy. I can't recall a rye beer ever passing my lips before but this is quite nice. 

The alcohol content comes as no surprise, 5.3% yeast effluent explains the lovely warm sensation. 

Little White Rye is a tad darker than most "white" beers and the orange peel is really prominent. It isn't unfair in my opinion to think of this one as a terrific twist to a patio pleasure. Summertime Sam's got you covered!

83/100

Old North Mocha Porter

Brewed by: Lake of Bays Brewing Company
Brewed at: Baysville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Porter
5.2 A/V

First Impression
A nice fashionable label design. A big, thrill inducing bottle. Water, Malted Hops, Barley and Coffee. What else do you want. Makes me wonder what the caffeine content might be?

First Sip
Yep. Water, Malted Hops, Barley and Coffee. Emphasis on the coffee. Excuse me! Barkeep! May I get some cream and sugar over here?

Halfway
It settles down quite nicely, the coffee now playing well with the malted barley et al.

Bottoms Up
Good not great. I enjoy coffee but too much upsets my belly. There is definitely caffeine in this one, so probably drink it early in the afternoon.

68/100

Cobblestone Stout

Brewed by: Mill Street Brewery
Brewed at: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type: Stout
4.2% A/V

First Impression
Mill Street is the home of some of Canada's finest craft beers. The can virtually cries "Stout!" from the chilly depths of the fridge. Okay an uncommon moment of honesty here for me... Opening the can, the nitrogen load scared the hell out of me. When pouring this, treat it as a you might a Boddington's - or dare I say a Guinness?

First Sip
Lovely. Simply stoutish loveliness. A little roasty and nicely malty and soundly bitter.

Halfway
Regretting deeply that there was only one of these treasures in my fridge.

Bottoms Up
If Guinness is the standard bearer for stout this upstart "Cobblestone" is doing the old man proud. The head is very much like that of the revered "Black Stuff". As the next generation at times builds properly and productively on the advances of the last, "Cobblestone" pays an honest and loving tribute to great stout. Well done. Indeed, very well done.

99/100

Lions Winter Ale

Brewed by: Granville Island Brewing Co.
Brewed at: Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada
Type: Specialty Ale
A/V 5.5%

First Impression
There's a helicopter hidden in the deep green paint job, see if you can find it! Looks appealing enough. Granville Island is a west coast Canadian brew house which has been making some headway across the country over the past few years. Good stuff so far. So let's see how the winter offering fares.

First Sip
Chocolate syrup!?! WTF? The label makes mention of a "vanilla finish" but there has never been a beer made to taste so alike chocolate syrup!

Halfway
Yep definitely tastes of chocolate syrup. Weird. Not bad per se.

Bottoms Up
Medium-dark amber with a golden head and an almost overpowering chocolate syrup flavor, this might be a beer that finds a loyal following, myself not included. I do respect the brewer's adventurous nature at work, no doubt, but the final product is just not for me. Too chocolatey.

60/100

Hockley Canadian Amber

Brewed by: Hockley Valley Brewing Company
Brewed at: Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Amber beer
A/V 4.2%

First Impression
Another beer from the three fellas in the commercial unit in the heart of that cosmopolitan sleeper of a town, Orangeville. I know the place all too well... Pinch nose and tilt head...

First Sip
All bias aside, someone got the malts right in this one. Poured into a bespoke brewers glass chilled to the second most recent ice age, my lip nearly stuck to the glass.

Halfway
A little haziness peeking out from the clarifying glass. A typical small batch craft quality speaks to the origins of this shed brewed drink.

Bottoms Up
For a bit of a lower alcohol beer you'd be hard pressed to find a more flavorful sample at 4.2% spirit. Good job boys. Enjoy the blues and jazz.

76/100

Bavaria

Brewed by: Bavaria N.V.
Brewed at: Holland
Type: Lager
5.0

First impression
A perfectly lovely can clad in silver and blue. Brewed in Holland this should be refreshing.

First Sip
Somehow bitter up front with malt and grain late to the palate. Golden and white, prototypically European.

Halfway
Refreshing, the sort of thing to be drunk on a sunny patio in the late spring. No surprises.

Bottoms up
Solidly reliable refreshment. Brewed with mineral water! So it's good for you! Next warm spring day head for a sunny table outdoors, and enjoy this crowd pleasing Bavarian!

77/100

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

Brewed by: The Boston Beer Company
Brewed at: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Type: flavored wheat beer
A/V 5.3%

First Impression
Sam Adams makes some of the finest beers I've had, and their labels look as one might expect of a big successful "micro" brewery hailing from the you-ess-of-eh. Which is to say with respect to the aforementioned, favorable in both instances.

First Sip
The cherry aspect of this beer reminds me of cherry Kool-Aid. Not exactly "real". But the beer is somehow not awful.

Halfway
Even though the "cherries" are too sweet and one-dimensional Sam has prepared a beer that is quite drinkable. Cold and refreshing, this probably has a time and a place where it might even be enjoyable.

Bottoms Up
I've got it! Summertime barbecues, picnics, that sort of thing. Save Cherry Wheat for seasonal out of doors type occasions. It might even find favor with the non-beer drinkers from whose company you have yet to permanently extricate yourself.
Not my wheelhouse. But not godawful.

66/100

Cameron's Auburn Ale

Brewed by: Cameron's Brewing Company
Brewed at: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Ale
A/V 5%

First Impression
Even though the design looks just like every other Cameron's beer bottle I find this one to be very attractive. Metallic copper, gold, and pale yellow it seems to work really well as a whole. It really looks delicious! Nice deep brown liquid, just a hint of red and very little head.

First Sip
It smells fantastic! A bouquet of nice and toasty malts. But crisp, clean, citrusy hops on the tongue!

Halfway
It's a sandwich beer! With all the malts and toastiness on the nose followed by fresh bold hops and just a little bitter, the back palate malty character is just as good as the rest of it!

Bottoms up
A vigorous start has sort of fizzled. Sadly. It's a decent beer but it doesn't have a heck of a lot going on from start to finish.
Uniquely this beer gets less interesting as it warms up. Where a rising temperature tends to unlock different flavors in beer, this one doesn't let any secrets out, it just gets warmer... and tastes the same.

64/100

Ellies Brown Ale

Brewed by: Avery Brewing Company
Brewed at: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Type: Brown Ale
A/V 5.5%

First Impression
A really picturesque chocolate Lab dominates this handsome sticker. Gives me a feeling of confidence.

First Sip
A typical nice nutty, malty brown ale. It looks darker than it tastes. Not horrible at all.

Halfway
Ellie must've been a great dog, this is a lovely, friendly, tail-wagging ale.

Bottoms Up
Good. It won't drool on your hand and it won't collect you slippers for you. But it's good drinking. And it won't pee in your rug, but you might, so apply moderation.

79/100

Heavy Seas Märzen

Brewed by: Clipper City Brewing Company
Brewed at: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Type: Märzen
A/V anyone's guess

First Impression
A little hokey. I haven't wanted to be a pirate since I was six. However I've never heard of Märzen and we both know I'm a sucker for something new.

First Sip
Not bad! Mild, malty, easily drinker. Not even remotely making me think of pirates.

Halfway
This should be good with sandwiches or barbecued ribs or all on its own.

Bottoms Up
Despite the overly cheezy label this is a nice honest middle of the road sort of thing. Most will drink it with little distain.

75/100

Blueberry Ale

Brewed by: Blue Point Brewing Company
Brewed at: Patchogue, NY & Rochester, NY, USA
Type: Novelty Ale
A/V 4.6%

First Impression
Could it look more micro? Old Westy lettering, "Barkeep, whiskey for my men, water for my horses and a Blueberry Ale for me!" Somehow I think not...

First Sip
Very blueberry to smell! Clear, light amber, bond white head. Refreshing!

Halfway
Even though it's the dead of winter (-17 Celsius outside) this beer makes me think of sitting on a dock at a cottage catching bass.

Bottoms Up
Subtle, but definitely a good summertime grass cutter or cottage beer. Not heavy and a friend to many.

77/100

Wellington Special Pale Ale

Brewed by: Wellington County Brewery Inc.
Brewed at: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Type: Pale Ale
A/V 4.5%

First impression
I like Wellys current can motif. Simple, a little cartoony but really gives an impression of quality. The beer looks like a gold standard pale ale; medium deep amber. Disappointingly watery head though.

First Sip
Ugh. There is something of a local quality that I've noticed in several beers from this little corner of Ontario, it's a sort of grainy almost breadlike connotation. I don't know if it's an over enthusiasm with malts or what but I'm not a fan. Not a good Pale Ale in my estimation.

Halfway
Nearly entirely flat. Each sip is just like the last. There is definitely something going on with the malts in this beer that I am not happy about. Don't get me wrong, I love malt. I love beers made with abundant malt. Check out my posts on some of the English ales. Malt is the brewers friend. But there are a smattering of beers brewed in the Guelph - Waterloo area that share this peculiar flavor which for me is not enjoyable. Maybe it's a local grain or something that creates the specific quality I'm speaking of.

Bottoms Up
To be fair this odd taste must appeal to or go unnoticed by legions of beer drinkers as I've encountered it with some of the most popular micros local to this area. So maybe it's me. In any case this is my blog. If you don't like my opinion write your own blog. It's free. And if you do let me know. I read other people's beer blogs. And find myself disappointed with those too. Maybe I should write a blog about beer blogs...

48/100

Doppel Pils

Brewed by: Mill Street Brewery
Brewed at: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type: Czech-style Lager
A/V 7%

First Impression
A new-school/old-school label, Mill Street has had some fun with labeling lately and they tend not to disappoint with the vessel interior either. Looks like lotsa hops to be had with the Doppel Pils, so this should be good!

First Sip
Lovely golden colour. A subtly citrusy nose and a really nice, soft, curvy sort of hop on the tongue.

Halfway
Surprising drinkability for a big ole pile of steeped hop buds! For fans of hops this is an interesting beer. It is hoppy for sure but it is hoppy without the typical clout of a heavy hopped beer.

Bottoms Up
This is once again a well crafted beer from the brewers of Mill Street in Toronto. They've managed; to as great an extent as I've experienced, to load up the hops without getting crazy. Either through careful selection of some pretty special hops or by artfully and precisely folding the hops into the brew or both carefully selecting and masterfully brewing the whole orchestra they've accomplished a beer of distinction. The finer qualities of the brewers bud have been revealed in as polite a fashion as is likely possible. As a fan of atomic hopping of beer to the point that the bitterness is nearly painful I must admit this could easily make a daily refreshment in my home. My recommendation: buy some, chill it and drink it. It's pretty darned good.

89/100

Cameron's Dark 266

Brewed by: Cameron's Brewing Company
Brewed at: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Seems like a stout.
A/V 4.5%

First Impression
"Hand Brewed by Beer Artisans" Fancy! A couple of gold medals to boot! Still and dark; deep brown with tragically little head.

First Sip
Stoutish. Passably strong malts with more hop contribution than I'd like to see in a stout. So maybe it's not stout.

Halfway
Certainly enjoyable enough. Trying to warm it up a couple of degrees to see what else awakens - but I am thirsty.

Bottoms Up
Okay, so it's more like a stout than a lager but it's also more like a lager than any other stout that I've had. If there was a point midway between stout and lager take twenty-six paces toward stout and that is about where you'd find "266". Twenty-seven paces. Or thirty. Somewhere there. Not bad. I've had better but this is by no means a "bad" beer. But then again, what is? Aside from Michelob Ultra, but is that really beer? Really? No, it's not.

77/100

Wellington Arkell Best Bitter

Brewed by: Wellington County Brewery Inc.
Brewed at: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Type: Session Ale
A/V 4%

First Impression
Session ale! Sounds like fun! Looks the part. Dressed in powder blue with a cartoony theme it manages to embody the serious intent of craft brewing with the light-hearted spirit of proper beer drinking. Fantastic colour for a light beer with a good head on its shoulders.

First Sip
A nice, light, yet impressively complex mouthful. So this is what is meant by session ale! You can enjoy drinking it and make a session of the exercise. I could get used to this sort of thing.

Halfway
Whereas I tend to appreciate brute force and ignorance in a beer I get the impression that this took a lighter touch to produce and yet I am enjoying this more than I could have expected. The trinity of brewing are adequately represented in this beer without the sledgehammer effect of more potent brews.

Bottoms Up
For the newbie Arkell Best Bitter offers a gentle introduction into full-flavoured beer as hops, malt and yeast share the spotlight. For the seasoned beer drinking enthusiast, this is a fine beer to to drink outdoors as less discerning individuals guzzle Mexican or American macrobrews while conducting the adult version of an Easter egg hunt for Titleists in the rough...

82/100

Cameron's Cream Ale

Brewed by: Cameron's Brewing Company
Brewed at: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Cream Ale
A/V 5%

First Impression
I had a beer from Cameron's once. Lager if I'm not mistaken. It was of a fine quality as I recall. This one looks very similar. The money at Cameron's clearly being spent on more than the graphic design. Lovely rich colour. Small, speedy bubbles. Slightly sweet smelling.

First Sip
Not bad. Refreshing. Light fruit accentuating a firm but fair hop quality.

Halfway
Fair to above average. Not my cup of tea - or ale in this instance. Easy to drink, satisfying if not terribly interesting.

Bottoms Up
Overall, hard to say that it's disappointing, because it isn't. Not really. Being as unbiased as possible; this is a truly solid Cream Ale. Not much to pick on at all. Hard to wax poetic about something that I find as exciting as doing laundry. If you find Cream Ale attractive give it a go. Why not?

68/100

Schneider Weisse Tap 7 Original

Brewed by: Weisses Brauhaus G. Schneider & Sohn
Brewed at: Kelheim/Bavaria, Germany
Type: Bavarian Weisse
5.4% A/V

First Impression
I thought that I'd had this before, such is the typically Bavarian styling of the package. Quite dark for a weisse beer, with a beige head. Bottle fermented. Smells fantastically of sweet fruit.

First Sip
A nice, friendly softness of a beer. Bavarian wheat beers tend toward smooth, well rounded edges and Tap 7 is a fine example. Nearly a vanilla bean sweetness.

Half way
The 5.4% and the slightly dark liquid is all bluff. This beer looks like it would steal your lunch money but it is truly as friendly as my neighbors ten year old Golden Retriever. The beer smells markedly better than Riley however.

Bottoms Up
A bottle of Tap 7 should properly be considered a sample. This beer is to be drunk in a licensed premise, out of a chilled, bulletproof-thick, glass; filled from a tap and delivered to your table by a smiling professional. The disappointment I now feel at having only purchased a single bottle for the purpose if this review would be thereby averted. The only thing that could improve this beer would be the knowledge that there was a gloriously frigid keg full of the stuff readily available to produce pint after pint as required.

97/100

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Brewed by: Oregon Brewing Co.
Brewed at: Newport, Oregon, USA
Type: India Pale Ale
A/V 6.5%

First Impression
Schizophrenia. dictionary.com offers this definition:

2.
a state characterized by the coexistence of contradictory or incompatible elements.

Let's consider the above definition shall we? "Yellow Snow"?!? For realsies? Then a pseudo-communist era graphic sporting a red star above a stylized snowboarder cuddling a black lab. Perfect! That just about covers everyone, including those with a fondness for urine slushies...

First Sip
And the irony is complete. A confusion of visual and conceptual elements on the label, a symphony of IPA grandeur within the jug. Citrusy. Bitter. Cloudy. This IPA has all the elements. Now somebody get it a brown paper bag.

Halfway
Perhaps not as devil-may-care as some other pedal-to-the-metal IPAs but robust enough to hold its own.

Bottoms Up
Forgive the name. Lovers of the hop-happy brew known today as IPA take heart; the brewers in Oregon are still allowed to dump absurd quantities of excellent hops into steaming worts in pursuit of lip-smacking, craft Pale Ales. Perhaps the consumption of such ales should be limited while designing the marketing effort for such a fine refreshment as this, no? Yellow Snow. Honestly.

76/100 (86 if otherwise named)

Lupulus Dominus Vobiscum

Brewed by: Microbrasserie Charlevoix
Brewed at: Quebec, Canada
Type: Extra Strong Beer
10% A/V

First Impression
Most will pass this beer over for wine, such is its visual likeness to the common packaging of the libation of the vine. A big three quarter liter, green, champagne bottle with a dignified, painted-on label. A plethora of pious references and heavenly nods really do little to restrain ones expectations.

First Sip
An unduly careless pour necessitated a panicked gulp of gloriously expanding head. Gobsmackingly delicious. Allow me to collect myself.

Halfway
Bright amber, golden hued, with the slight cloudiness of bottle finishing. A round, full, balanced palate of peaceful hops and thoughtful malts woven with one full tenth of pure spirit make for what some might safely consider one of the worlds finest beers.

Bottoms Up
Those who have occasion to drink alone are oft regarded with a raised eye-brow, however in the case of this Québécois masterpiece, perhaps being alone allows the quiet solitude with which to best accompany the brew. Spotlessly well accomplished. Bien joué.

100/100

Saison

Brewed by: Niagara Oast House Brewers
Brewed at: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
Type: Strong Beer
A/V 8.4%

First impression
Classic! Golden slightly hazy, packed with energetic bubbles and a fluffy, airy head.

First Sip
Hold the phone! Rich with the palate of fresh brewery type activities! Malted grains, hops, fermentation. Just a smidge tart. "Farmhouse Ale Collection" does it get any better?

Halfway
Lovely stuff! Really enjoying the Saison! A first rate microbrew beer.

Bottoms Up
Loved it. This is craft brewing. Wonderful ingredients, well combined, makes for good beer. Others hoping to do well at beer making pay attention to the people at Oast House. They've got a few things figured out.

95/100

2012 Mill Street Barley Wine

Brewed by: Mill Street Brewery
Brewed at: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type: Barley Wine
A/V 11.5%

First Impression
Barley wines in general represent something of a special effort on the part of the breweries and brewers who produce them. It follows then that the vessel employed to carry the beloved elixir to market is often a reflection of the excitement that simmers alongside the wort. Bottles with caged corks and terra cotta jugs being the order of the day. Mill Street elects to go with a clay jug with a resealable swing top. Handsome.

First Sip
An inviting ruby tint glows from the coppery amber. A cheeky haziness hints at the special nature of this strong beer. Sweet spices reminiscent of Peking Duck and Hoisin Sauce tantalize the nostrils.

Half Way
The deep, malt extract type sweetness warms the palate. This is a beer to be thoughtfully enjoyed as you might a glass of fine Australian Shiraz.

Bottoms Up
For the Barley Wine novice, 2012 Mill Street Barley Wine is a great place to start. It is a strong example of exactly how diverse the world of beer can be to those with a sense of adventure. Sweet and deep with spice layers this is a beer of note.

92/100