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

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