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

Sapporo

Brewed by: Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
Brewed at: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Type: locally brewed international recipe
5%A/V

First Impression
Sapporo comes in the Lexus of beer packaging. This can is crafted of an uncommonly high grade of foil for a beer vessel. Looks nice too.

First Sip
Nothing overwhelming about Sapporo. Cold, bubbly, malt and hop type thing happening. A Japanese Budweiser.

Halfway
The yellow liquid is as special as a four door Honda Civic. 2005. With 225000 kilometers on it, and coffee stains on the seats. Which is to say reliable but not really inspired.

Bottoms Up
It is an impressive can to witness. But the beer is more for the ab initio set. Part marks.

45/100

Red Stripe

Brewed by: Moosehead Breweries
Brewed at: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Type: Jamaican style lager
4.7% A/V

First Impression
Classic Jamaican red and white label. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Brewed in Saint John, New Brunswick! Back the truck up. This is supposed to be Jamaican. New Brunswick isn't even an island. This is heading downhill in a hurry.

First Sip
Ah the fresh disappointment of global capitalism in brewing! One sip and I'm feeling gassy already.

Halfway
Soulless, barren refreshment.

Bottoms up
It's as if the World Bank and the IMF stole the labels, stole the soul from Bob Marley, broke Usain Bolt's kneecaps and then sold me a can of North American maxi-brew draped in a polyester Jamaican flag. If you're going to drink Red Stripe be sure to have it on vacation in Jamaica. This Diageo copycat is brutal.

7/100

Mead Braggot

Brewed by: Trafalgar Ales & Meads
Brewed at: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Mead
8.5% A/V

First Impression
This little brown jug does a great deal to evoke sentiments of medieval charm. The shield design on the label and the rest of the concept really stay true to the theme. I get all excited when there is a wire cage holding a cork in place - champagne style.

First Sip
It's only fair I think, to disclose at this point that this is the first mead I've ever had. Here it is. This is very easy drinking. Mead is made with honey, and this one is flavored with malt and hops, so there is a mild beerlike character. But mostly it's close to what I expect mead to taste like.

Halfway
I can see now why the honeymoon has been such a mainstay through the centuries. Mead is easy to drink and highly intoxicating. It's the original wine cooler!

Bottoms Up
I'm not sure it justifies the price tag, but it is fun for a change of pace. Serve it with goose, venison or boar with wild mushrooms and heirloom vegetables while romancing your favorite wench or knave.

70/100

Nicklebrook Headstock

Brewed by: Better Bitters Brewing Company
Brewed at: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Type: India Pale Ale
7% A/V

First Impression
This can looks sadly like a low quality ripoff of another Ontario craft brewers packaging theme... Anyone familiar with the Flying Monkey brewers' funkadelic packaging? I digress... let's see. This was a gold medal winner at the 2011 US Open Beer Championship? Mmm hmm. Hazy reddish copper liquid beginning to stake a legitimate claim to some degree of quality...

First Sip
Okay I take it back. I take back all the nasty things I've said about Nickelbrook. In public. Behind closed doors. Muttered into my pillow whilst sleeping. My past experience from this brewer has been somewhat atrocious. But this is possibly the finest IPA I've had. And that is saying something as I like and frequently consume this malted motif.

Halfway
Gorgeous citrusy grapefruitiness and the belly warmth of 7% alcohol are making this a one man party. And the amount of sedimentary yeast is awesome. It's providing a kind of dirty, in your face, arrogance to this amazing beer. Like when a big name Hollywood rock star type goes on Letterman with ripped jeans and a t-shirt.

Bottoms Up
The only question that this has left me with is WTF is going on with the rest of the Nickelbrook line up? Clearly somebody over there knows something about brewing! Okay Nicklebrook well done you've finally made me understand how my high school teachers must've felt. "He's a nice boy. If only he'd apply himself..."
Get on it! And fix your packaging. Honestly.

And for those of you who are inspired to try it, remember to smell it. Stick your nose right in a snifter style glass of this stuff and breathe deeply. My friends, THAT is hops.
99/100