Brasseurs du temps: L'Allumante

You gotta love the explosion of craft breweries and brewpubs in Canada's capital region and Brassuers du temps was one of the first (and in my mind one of the best) in the area. They usually have a dozen or so beers on tap at the brewpub in old Hull, a rotating selection of the 25+ beers they make (their website lists 27) so you will always get the chance to try something new.  With so many different beers available I had to choose something to review (a difficult task) so I decided to go with the allumante, a really interesting and complex nut brown ale. 

For a nut brown ale, it is quite fruity, I instantly noted a banana and hazelnut flavour when I took my first sip.  Maybe that was because the person sitting next to me was drinking their banana flavoured beer and the smell wafted over, but it caught me off guard.  In terms of texture it is pretty malty, but it is really smooth and the hazelnut and fruit notes really come out during the course of the sip.   It does have a bit of a watery middle to it, but that is not enough to negatively impact the overall impression of the beer, but it finishes with a nice hoppy/bitter kick to it, a reminder that it is not a traditional brown.  I was a bit worried that they would fall into the trap of making the beer too sweet, as a lot of commercial brown ales are, but they really kept the sweetness to a minimum.   It is more of a hybrid between an English brown ale and a Belgian brune, and they really pull it off nicely.  Creativity is something BDT do really well and this is a great creation of theirs.

It's available on draught and in bottles at their brewpub and retail store in the old Hull part of Gatineau.  For those who like hockey it is a 10 minute walk from the Robert-Guertin Arena, the home of the Gatineau Olympiques so you can go to BDT for your pre-game beers. 

Rating: 4.5 Steins

What you need to know

Brewpub and retail store
170 rue Montcalm,
Gatineau, QC
J8X 2M2

Website
http://www.brasseursdutemps.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/LesBrasseursDuTemps

Twitter
@BrasseursDT
@BrasseursDT_eng

Turtle Island Brewing: Wild Harvest ESB

These are exciting times for beer fans.  There seem to be new breweries popping up all of the time, some of them successful, some of them less so, but all of them enthusiastic about the sudsy arts and because the general consensus is that most mass produced lagers are shit, we get some wonderfully creative brews and new interpretations on old styles.  Turtle Island are a new brewery from here in Ottawa that have tried a few different styles so when this Wild Harvest ESB turned up at my local pub I had to give it a try.

I love a good bitter, it is my favourite beer style and an ESB is the bitterest and strongest version of the bitter style.  Wild Harvest pours quite cloudy and muddy coloured, I was a bit taken aback at how cloudy brown it looks.  Someone not used to this type of beer may be turned off by the cloudiness (it looks like there is a lot of sediment in it, but there isn't) but colour is only a small aspect of beer, so if you are worried by the colour then close your eyes and drink!  It starts off quite a bit smoother than I was expecting, closer to a regular bitter as opposed to an ESB, before progressing to a disapointing watery phase, but then seemingly out of nowhere you get sideswiped by a bitter finish.  This bitter finish has some fruity notes that really improve the overall impression of the beer but the entry leaves you wanting for more.  It has great potential but I got the feeling that this wasn't quite finished yet.  I can definitely see the potential but it just isn't quite there yet in my opinion.

It's available on draught at a handful of different places throughout Ottawa, but as Wild Harvest is a seasonal you never know where it will turn up.   There is a list of pubs and restaurants on their website. 

Rating: 3 Steins

What you need to know
At last I heard they were brewing out of Broadhead's facilities in south Ottawa.
Mailing address:
294 Badgeley Avenue
Kanata, ON K2T 0A7

Website:
http://www.turtleislandbrewing.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/turtleislandbeer

Twitter:
@TurtleBrewCo

Golden Lion Brewery: Lion's Pride

Ahh Lion's Pride.  This beer has been a mainstay at the Golden Lion pub since the 80's, and subsequently is one of Quebec's oldest microbrews.  It's a delightful English style brown ale that essentially fuels the bachelors degrees of parts of the student body at neighbouring Bishop's University and is a source of pride (no pun intended) for Lennoxville residents. 

Pride is quite malty, much maltier than a lot of other English style brown ale.   A lot of commercial ales of this type (think Newcastle) tend to be quite sweet and smooth, but Pride doesn't go down that road.  A sip starts out malty and quite bitter while it progresses through a slight watery phase before finishing with another bitter kick.  It's a surprisingly complicated brew, but quite drinkable at the same time (as evidenced by the amount of business they do on Friday and Saturday nights).  I personally have extensive experience with this beer (as an alumni of Bishop's) and so I always relish the chance to have some.   It's a very good beer and one of my favourite English style brown ales.  It isn't perfect (with that slight watery phase in the middle) but it is still a very good beer.

It's available on draught at their pub in downtown Lennoxville, Quebec as well as in bottles at stores in the Sherbrooke area.

Rating: 4 steins

What you need to know
Golden Lion Pub & Brewery
2902 College St
Sherbrooke (Lennoxville), Quebec
J1M 1T4

Website:
www.lionlennoxville.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenLionPubBrewery

Black Oak Pale Ale

When you go to most regular pubs, (ones that don't specialize in craft beer), you will usually a row of taps that are 75% lagers and pale ales so it can sometimes be tough to find something unique and interesting, but if faced in a situation such as this try to look for the Black Oak Pale Ale tap, because it will be a winner for your palate.  It's also a good call if you aren't feeling like something less hoppy, or thick, as it is both interesting and drinkable at the same time.

When you get your pint of Black Oak Pale Ale it will look have the same golden colour as any other pale ale you have had.   When you take a sip it starts out very smooth, but not so smooth that it is boring.  As the sip progresses you get a nice foll bodied flavour with slight woody undertones before it finishes with a slightly bitter kick.  It is surprisingly complicated for a pale ale, and something that makes it a nice treat when you want a lighter beer while watching the game at a pub, or just when you want a lighter beer in general.  It's a proper pale ale, one that is interesting, but smooth and drinkable at the same time.  A reminder that craft beer doesn't have to be scary. 

It's available at some LCBO and Beer store locations as well as on draught at a variety of pubs in the GTA.  Personally I had it at the Wallace Gastropub on Yonge st (near Yonge & Davisville) but it is available elsewhere.  You can also go to their brewery in Etobicoke.

Rating: 4.5 Steins

What you need to know

Brewery
75 Horner Ave Unit #1
Etobicoke, ON M8Z 4X5

Website:
http://blackoakbeer.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/blackoakbrewery

Twitter:
@BlackOakBrewing

Brasserie Belgh: Mons Blonde d'abbaye

Quebec microbreweries love Belgian style beers, certainly more than in other parts of Canada so it comes as no surprise to see a whole lot of different Belgian style beers in Quebec supermarkets.   Mons Abbey Blonde is a traditional Belgian style beer that is a very intriguing brew. 

As someone who lives in Ontario, I don't get a chance to try as many Belgian beers as I would like.  As opposed to the relative simplicity of English style beers, Belgian styles are remarkably complex and diverse, a good one can be a real joy to drink.   Mons is a Belgian style blonde, unlike what we think of blonde beers in North America, the only thing blonde about this is the colour.  It is a very thick and strong beer, almost a meal in a glass.   When you take a sip, you start by getting an overwhelming sweet flavour, with banana and honey notes, this fruity flavor is accented by a little bit of smokiness.   The finish is decently bitter compared to most beers, but not particularly bitter compared to other Belgian style blondes.  This beer has a very good balance and the sweet and fruitiness makes it much more drinkable than a commercial Belgian blonde like Leffe, so if you are unsure of Belgian style beers then I would suggest giving this a try. 

This is a very new brewery, based in Amos, Quebec but their beer is available throughout Quebec in supermarkets and higher end beer stores. 

Rating: 4 Steins

What you need to know

Brewery
8, rue de la Brasserie
Amos, QC J9T 3A2

Website:
http://www.belghbrasse.com/

Twitter:
@BelghBrasse

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BelghBrasse

Helm Microbrasserie: Mile End Best Bitter

Helm is one of a growing number of microbreweries in Montreal, and particularly in the very popular Mile End neighbourhood. Helm is unique as it is a microbrewery that specializes in English style ales as opposed to Belgian style beer, which tends to be very popular in Quebec.  Whenever I see a bitter on any beer menu I have to give it a try, it's my favourite style of beer so I was naturally very interested and optimistic about Mile End best bitter.

Bitter as a beer style can be a bit misleading to North American beer drinkers.  A bitter or best bitter are traditionally not all that bitter, especially when compared to the hop filled IPA's and APA's popular with many Craft Breweries.  It's once you get into the Special Bitter or Extra Special Bitter that you start to see the real bitterness come through, so at 4% and styled as a best bitter I was anticipating a smooth and flavourful beer that had a twinge of bitterness.  Unfortunately Helm don't seem to have grasped the proper subtleties of the different versions of proper English bitter as Mile End really caught me off guard with it's bitterness.  Unfortunately it is doesn't have the full body of a proper ESB so it finds itself in a bit of limbo, a beer looking for a style.   Style confusion aside, this beer still needs some work.  It starts off being quite watery, with a hint of maltiness, before adding an uppercut of bitterness.   This frustrating imbalance doesn't make it all that appealing to me as a fan of bitter beers, but I can see the potential here. If they manage to improve the balance of it and smooth it out so it doesn't punch you in the face with bitterness it could become a very solid session beer, but as it stands now I would suggest trying their other selections.  

It is only available on draught or bottle at their brewpub on rue Bernard in Montreal, which has a good vibe, and my companions enjoyed the beers they had so I am definitely willing to give them another shot.

Rating 1.5 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery/Brewpub
273 rue Bernard Ouest
Montréal, QC H2V 1T5

Website:
http://helmmicrobrasserie.ca/

Twitter:
@BrasseurHelm

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Helmmicrobrasseriesurbernard

Waterloo Dark

Waterloo Brewing Company are to Ontario what St. Ambroise are to Quebec, originally a small brewery that built themselves up into something bigger, a province wide brewery through acquisition and merger.  As one of Ontario's original craft breweries they have a good reputation province wide and my personal favourite is Waterloo Dark, a black lager.  

Black Lager is really an under appreciated beer form and Waterloo dark is a fine example of the art.  This type of beer originates in Germany (where it is known as schwarzbier), the original Black lager being Kostritzer.  A good schwartzbier should be smooth but malty at the same time, similar to traditional lagers but with a more distinct flavour to it.  Waterloo dark fits that mold nicely, It is a very drinkable beer, it has a good balance, with a distinct malty and caramel flavour.  It goes down very smooth, but it has a bit of a bitter kick at the end of it, just enough to remind you that it is not a regular lager (if one was drinking it from a can).  I like this beer, it is one of my go to session beers but there isn't anything overly complicated about it either so hardcore craft beer aficionados might find it a bit lacking, however drinkers of lagers and pale ales would really enjoy it.  

It's available throughout Ontario at the beer store and LCBO as well as in Nova Scotia, PEI and Alberta.  You can also purchase it at their brewery.

Rating: 3 steins

What you need to know

Brewery
181 King Street South
Waterloo, ON N2J 1P7

website:
http://waterloobrewing.com/

Twitter
@waterloobrewing

facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Waterloo-Brewing-Co/157802271063635

St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout

It's always hard to objectively review a beer that you have had many times before and love, but I am going to try anyways with St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, probably my favourite stout of all time.  It's a product of Montreal's Macauslan brewery which has really become a standard bearer for the small brewery come good and one of their flagship brews. 

St. Ambroise Oatmeal stout is one of the finest examples of what a stout should be.  It pours pitch black with an excellent off white coloured foamy head that, if poured correctly, looks like a perfect beer.   When you take a sip you instantly get the creamy taste that typifies a proper stout, this creamy taste is followed by a strong coffee taste as it flows over your tongue.  Some beers will advertise notes of this and that which are only noticeable to the most trained beer palate, but any beer drinker will be able to taste the coffee flavour.  This coffee taste results in a decently bitter finish, certainly more bitter than a lot of stouts, but this creamy intro, coffee middle, and bitter finish are what makes St. Ambroise Oatmeal stout so unique and so tasty.  It's thick texture makes it a perfect beer for those cold winter evenings, preferably in a cozy pub or next to a fire, however if I see it on tap at any time of year I am probably ordering one.  

It's available year round across Canada in bottles as well as on draught at a variety of pubs and restaurants.  It is definitely easiest to find on draught in it's native Quebec but I have seen it at the occasional pub in Ontario as well.


Rating: 5 steins

What you need to know

Website:
http://mcauslan.com/

Brewery address:
5080 St-Ambroise
Montréal, Québec
H4C 2G1

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/bierestambroise

Twitter:
@bierestambroise

Flying Monkey: Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale

Flying Monkey love them some hops.  Their beer selections include such hoppy brews like Hoptical Illusion and Antigravity and so I was expecting a significant amount of hops from this and they did not disappoint on that front.  Many readers will know that I am not a fan of the craft brew trend of engaging in an arms race of hops so I always am a bit skeptical of IPA's or APA's but fortunately Flying Monkey resisted that temptation.

It pours black, but it does not taste like a dark ale whatsoever, which was a bit of a shock.  Most dark beers are very malty tasting, but this one does not taste like malt at all.   Once you get past the fact that it tastes like a regular IPA, but darker, it is actually a pretty tasty beer.   It's well balanced and not overwhelmingly hoppy, however the hops that it does have make an appearance at the end of the sip, a decently hoppy finish.  It also has a bit of citrus undertones that catch you a bit off guard, but that goes back to the fact that you are drinking a black beer that tastes like a light coloured IPA.  Flying Monkey are known for their adventurousness, and this really fits their mold and I applaud them for trying new stuff, especially as their beer usually involves a ton of hops. It is a solid beer, just don't let the colour confuse you.

It's available at the beers store and LCBO as well as at bars and restaurants throughout Ontario.  They also have a store at their brewery in Barrie.

Rating: 4 Steins

What you need to know

Brewery
107 Dunlop St. East
Barrie ON
L4M1A6

website:
http://www.theflyingmonkeys.ca/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flying-Monkeys-Craft-Brewery/108949405799023

Twitter
@Flyingmonkeys

Muskoka Harvest Ale

The concept of a harvest ale is often misunderstood by beer drinkers.  Many people equate harvest ale to pumpkin flavoured beers, or other autumnal flavoured beers, but in fact harvest ale refers to beer made with freshly harvested hops, as opposed to most beers being made with dried hops.  The result is often a cleaner and crisper tasting beer, but it can take on many forms.  

Muskoka's Harvest Ale is of the American Pale Ale style, meaning it is actually darker in colour and quite strong.   I had it on cask at the Rochester Pub, it has a very rich and thick malty flavour with a significant amount of hops.  When you take a sip it is quite clean and malty at first but the hops really kick in giving you a very bitter finish.  It is a tasty but a bit overwhelming so I am still unsure of what to make of it.  I like the maltiness of it but found that the extreme difference between the tame beginning of the sip to the really hoppy finish a bit difficult to appreciate.  Fans of APA's in general would probably appreciate this harvest ale more than I did but it is still a pretty tasty brew, although I am not sure I would go out of my way to find it.  At 7% alcohol it is quite strong, but I would not consider it to be too dangerous as I would be hard pressed to have more than 1 or 2 pints in a sitting. 

It's available on draught throughout Ontario as well as at the Beer Store and LCBO, you can also get it at their brewery but it is only sold from September to November each year. 

Rating: 3 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery
1964 Muskoka Beach Road
Bracebridge, ON
P1L1V4

Website
http://www.muskokabrewery.com

Twitter
@MuskokaBrewery

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/muskokabrewery?fref=ts

Ashton Brewery: Vanilla Stout

I love stouts.  It is my second favourite beer type after bitter and I always relish a chance to try a new one, as no 2 stouts are the same so when I saw that Ashton had a tent at the latest installment of Ottawa's Brewery Market and were pouring a stout I made a beeline for their tent to get a glass of Vanilla Stout for a glass of nice thick beer to warm me up on a windy October afternoon.

The first thing I noticed when I got my glass was the colour, it is a actually more brown than black with a thick foamy head, so far so good.  When I took my first sip I was surprised how bitter it was at the start, most stouts tend to be creamier and smoother than this one.  Once the bitterness subsides it does have a good creamy vanilla finish.  Unfortunately it is more watery than I was expecting, but still quite tasty.  Fans of Guinness might be put off by the initial bitterness, but they would appreciate the fact that it is quite watery.  Personally I prefer oatmeal stouts that are thicker and creamier, so I was a bit disappointed, but it is still a good stout. 

It's available at their brewpub in Ashton, Ontario as well as at selected events in the Ottawa area.   Unfortunately they don't sell it at the LCBO or beer store, but you can buy it in bottles at the brewpub. 

Rating 3 steins. 

What you need to know

113 Old Mill Road
Ottawa, ON (Ashton)
K0A 1B0

Website:
 www.ashtonbrewpub.ca/ 

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/ashtonbrew 

Twitter: @AshtonBrew

Mill Street: Tankhouse

As winter approaches, it comes a time when the lagers and summer weiss beers get retired and it's time to hunker down and drink something hearty and filling, something to properly warm you up during our cold Canadian winters, something dark and heavy and flavourful and tankhouse is a very good choice when you come in from the cold.

Tankhouse is a traditional English style pale ale, which can be a bit confusing as there isn't a whole lot pale about it, it actually pours a dark amber colour.  I guess the definition of pale is different in England than it is over here.  When you have a sip it is quite bitter and malty, Mill St. really do a good job at bringing out the flavour of the roasted malt.  It is quite thick so people who are used to blonde beer might be in for a bit of a surprise, however once you get past the initial thickness it settles in to being a really well balanced and something that warms the insides.   It is really best served on draught, by the fire, in a small local pub, but if you can't find one of those it is also great out of a bottle and at any other establishment.  I find that it is a great choice as it gets colder and the fact that it is only 5.2% means that it won't make you all wobbly after one pint the way other thick beers tend to.

It's available at bars and restaurants throughout Ontario as well as in bottles at the LCBO and Beer store.  They also have 4 brew pubs, 3 in the GTA and one up here in Ottawa so you really don't have any excused not to give it a try!  The fact that their Toronto brew pub is on Tank House lane give you a good indication of how well they rate this beer!

Rating: 4 steins

What you need to know

Brewery & Brew Pub

21 Tank House Lane
Toronto ON
M5A3C4

Other Brew Pubs
Ottawa
555 Wellington St
Ottawa, ON
K1R 1C5

Toronto Pearson Airport Terminal 1
Mississauga, ON
L4W 1S9

Website: http://www.millstreetbrewery.com
twitter: @MillStreetBrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MillStreetBrewery?fref=ts

Anchor Brewing Company: Liberty Ale

I may be reaching a bit when I count this as being microbrew, as Anchor Brewing Company produce 180,000 barrels per year, but they are not owned by Anheuser-Busch, Coors, Miller, or any other mega brewery so in my mind they count.  Either way it is a damn tasty beer and, most improtantly, it's a beer that does not taste like most of the bland generic swill made by the big guys.

Liberty Ale is a very interesting brew.  It's not really an IPA, but it is quite hoppy like an IPA, and it isn't a wheat beer, despite having some characteristics of a wheat beer, to say it is difficult to describe is an understatement, but I love a challenge so here goes.   When you take a sip you get the immediate hoppiness, it is not like some of the overwhelming IPA's you get from other breweries but you notice it right away.   However once the hops get out of the way it trails off into a really nice fruity/wheaty taste that is very tasty.  It has a really good balance and it is surprisingly carbonated, their website describes it as "champagne like" bubbles and I have to agree with them, I wasn't expecting it to be that bubbly.   Regardless it makes for a very interesting and very tasty brew, I have only recently seen Anchor beers available here in Ontario and I will be interested in getting it again.

Anchor brewing company is based in San Francisco, it is available throughout the United States.   In Canada it is sold at the Beer Store in Ontario as well as at some specialty beer stores in Quebec and Alberta.  It may be available in other provinces (their website isn't that specific) so check your local beer store if you are not in one of those three aforementioned provinces, as you may get lucky.

Rating: 4 Steins

What you need to know

Brewery
1705 Mariposa Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Website:
www.anchorbrewing.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/anchorbrewing

Twitter:
@AnchorBrewing

Kichesippi 1855

Kichesippi is one of Ottawa's most successful microbreweries and they have made their name with beers that are more for the masses as opposed to a brewery like Beyond the Pale who make great and adventurous beers but will struggle to win over those who are longtime commercial beer drinkers.  1855 is one of regulars on Kichesippi's roster and a pretty good dark beer at that.

1855 is a dark malty beer, brown in colour and reminiscent of an English style Brown Ale.  It is very malty, moreso than the colour would suggest (it is a little more red than brown).  The beginning of the sip is quite caramelly with an almost surprising bitter kick at the end, its almost as if that bitter kick is a reward for having chosen this beer.   I found it worked very well with a good burger, but I found that it was a little bit too watery for my tastes, however it is definitely a step up from the red or brown beers made by the big guys.  Faced with a row of taps at a pub, I would definitely consider 1855

It's available at their brewery in Ottawa as well as on draught at pubs and restaurants throughout Eastern Ontario.  Their natural blonde is also available in six packs at some LCBO locations but I have yet to see 1855. 

Rating: 3.5 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery address
866 Campbell Avenue,
Ottawa ON K2A 4C5

Website
www.kbeer.ca

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/KichesippiBeer?fref=ts

Twitter
@kichesippibeer

Beyond the Pale: Breaking Bitter

Beyond the pale are one of the most adventurous microbreweries in Eastern Ontario, every week they have great new brews.  This is awesome because we always get to try new beer, but the drawback is that sometimes you will have an amazing beer but then they don't make it again.  Sitting here on my balcony having a glass of Breaking Bitter on a sunny Sunday afternoon is delightful, with a twinge of sadness as I don't know if and when they will make another batch.  I guess I should have bought 2 growlers of it.

Breaking Bitter is a Special Bitter (as opposed to an extra special bitter like propeller or Fuller's ESB).  As a result it is not exactly all that bitter, especially not compared to a lot of styles like IPA or APA.   Most ESB's pour a dark amber or red colour, but a special bitter will be closer to an Austrian lager or darker pale ale in colour, a dark yellow or honey colour and Breaking Bitter is no exception to that rule.  At 37 IBU's it has a good smoothness about it, but with a nice bitter finish to it, something that serves as a reminder that it is indeed something more robust than a golden lager.   As befitting BTP, it is also full bodied, none of the wateriness that some microbrews fall in to, this is a near perfect beer that is brilliantly refreshing as well as flavourful and a bit bitter.  There is something for everyone here.  At 5.3% you can also have a pint or two of it knowing that you will still be able to drive afterwards, which is an added bonus.

Unfortunately this batch of breaking bitter has sold out at their retail store, but apparantly Brothers Beer Bistro in the Byward Market got their hands on a keg of it, so if you are lucky you might get a hold of a pint there.  If you see it on tap elsewhere in the Ottawa area I would strongly suggest you give it a try, it is a great beer that anyone who likes any style of beer will enjoy.  If you ar reading this BTP, please please make more Breaking Bitter!

Rating: 4.5 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery Address:
5 Hamilton Ave N
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 1B4

Website: www.beyondthepale.ca 

Twitter: @BTPBrewing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondThePaleBrewingCompany?fref=ts

Church Key Northumberland Ale

I don't normally buy things when I don't know what they are, but with beer I can make exceptions so when I bought Northumberland Ale not knowing what I was getting (apart from beer of some sorts) I was not overly worried, and the gamble did end up paying off.

Northumberland is an amber coloured ale that drinks more like a pale ale than an amber.  When I first tasted it I thought that it was a wheat beer, but on further research (as in drinking more of it) that wheaty flavour is a result of a sweeter malt than a lot of beers.   The result is a nice, light and refreshing beer, one that goes good with a Barbecue.   I would definitely consider Northumberland to be a summer beer, not complicated, refreshing, but wiith enough malty flavour to separate it from the bland mass produced stuff.  The only drawback is that it has a bit of a skunky taste if it gets warm, so if you are drinking it you will need to drink it more quickly, which is such a tough task......

It's available at their brewery as well as at the LCBO and at the Stinking Rose Pub in their hometown of Campbellford, Ontario.  My one suggestion to Church Key is that they should really improve their labeling.  None of the beer cases say what style of beer each is, so if you aren't familiar with their products you could find yourself with a beer style that you don't like. 

Rating: 3.5 Steins

What you need to know

Brewery
1678 County Rd # 38
Campbellford, On K0L 1L0

Website:
www.churchkeybrewing.com

Twitter:
@churchkeybeer

Beau's: The Spruce Moose

Beau's is one of Eastern Ontario's most successful microbreweries.  Their lug tread lager is available at pubs and restaurants throughout Ontario and has been a huge success.  I haven't reviewed lug tread yet for two reasons 1) I prefer to review newer beers and ones fewer people have tried and 2) I don't find the lug tread to be particularly interesting.  Luckily Beau's are also quite adventurous and so I jumped on the chance to try the Spruce Moose APA. 

Spruce Moose is considered an APA or American Pale Ale.  This is a style that is considered to be decently hoppy but not as strong as an IPA but hoppier than a regular Pale Ale and in terms of hoppiness it definitely falls into that category.  Beau's describe this beer as being a spruce flavoured (hence the name) but when I was drinking it on tap I didn't really notice that, I only discovered that it was made with spruce tips when I checked their website afterwards.  Despite the lack of spruciness (which is probably not a real word) it is supposed to have, this is a very tasty beer.  It is not overly complicated but it is refreshing and it has enough hops to make you notice they are there.   At 33 IBU it is a good, mid range hoppy beer and I found it very refreshing on a cold and dreary day.  It is 6.2% but it doesn't taste that strong, so I would be careful as it could creep up on you, especially if you on the small side like me. 

It's available at their brewery as well as for home delivery.  It is also available at select pubs across Eastern Ontario.

Rating: 3.5 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery
10 Terry Fox Drive
Vankleek Hill, ON
K0B1R0

Website:
www.beau's.ca

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BeausAllNaturalBrewingCo

Twitter
@beausallnatural

Golden Lion Brewing: Bishop's Best Bitter

Reviewing beer from the Golden Lion (or just the Lion for my fellow Bishop's alumni) will be difficult to do without being biased.  For the majority of Bishop's Grads, the Lion has a special place in our hearts, when we referred to "The Bar" we were talking about the Lion, an amazing brewpub that is populated by an interesting mix of local regulars and university students.  The Lion is a Lennoxville institution, and one that was selected as the best student pub by Rick Mercer and so a glass of Lion beer brings back a flood of (sometimes foggy) memories of my university days.  The Lion's most famous beer is their pride, a delicious English style Brown Ale, but my personal favourite is their Best Bitter. 

Bishop's Best Bitter is a copper coloured Extra Special Bitter that really lives up to it's Bitter description.  The first thing you notice is the smell, unlike a lot of other beers it smells a bit floral and earthy, something you don't expect from beer.  When you take a sip these floral notes really come to the forefront, you can really taste the hops, but unlike a lot of IPA's, that hoppiness is combined with a delightful maltiness that really rounds out the flavour so you aren't just being punched in the face with hops.  When you take a sip, the bitterness is right there to greet your palate, you will immediately know what beer you are drinking!  Once the initial bitterness gets out of the way it settles into a caramel flavour that properly rounds out the flavour.   In addition to the bitterness it is also quite thick , it packs a lot of flavour into one glass, it is a slow drinking beer.  Despite the malty/hoppy combo, be warned, this beer is still very bitter, so it wouldn't be something for everyone, and the over the top bitterness is the only thing that is keeping this from getting the full 5 Stein rating.  

It's available on draught at the Golden Lion Pub in Lennoxville as well as in 500 ml bottles at the Brewery and at the occasional grocery or convenience store in Sherbrooke.  I also have heard unconfirmed reports of it making an appearance at "Bieres du monde" in Gatineau, so if anyone sees it there please let me know (and pick me up some!).

Rating: 4.5 Steins

What you need to know
Golden Lion Pub & Brewery
2902 College St
Sherbrooke (Lennoxville), Quebec
J1M 1T4

Website:
www.lionlennoxville.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenLionPubBrewery

Propeller Bitter

I have been waiting a long time to get my hands on some Propeller Bitter (officially called their Extra Special Bitter), partially for the chance to review it for this blog, and partially because I have had it in the past (mostly in Nova Scotia) and have loved every drop of it.  My trip to Nova Scotia in 2009 was pretty much fuelled by Propeller Bitter as I fell in love with this delicious beer.  I have had it occasionally since (when the LCBO used to sell it) and was not disappointed so when my friend Chad brought me back a 6 pack from Nova Scotia I was a very happy bunny!  It has been a long time so I was concerned that it isn't as good as I remembered it, but fortunately I was not disappointed

Propeller Bitter is an amazing beer, it's so amazing that it is tricky to describe.  A sip is almost like a wave, it starts off quite bitter, and then really flows into this wonderful malty and caramelly taste, finishing up with another little jolt of bitterness. It's much more caramelly that a lot of other bitters and at 30 IBU's it is noticeably bitter, but not overwhelming like a Fuller's ESB or a lot of IPA's, Propeller have definitely struck a great balance here.   It is also delightfully full bodied, meaning that unlike some other beers the taste doesn't drop off into a watery abyss, so one sip of propeller is worth many sips of many other beers.   This is honestly one of my two or three favourite beers of all time, and I urge anyone who is in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick to give it a try, it is a true marvel in a glass.

Propeller Bitter is available throughout Nova Scotia in NSLC stores as well as on draught all across the province.  Their website also indicates that it is available at liquor stores in New Brunswick and some propeller beers are sold in Alberta and BC.  Sadly for us dwellers of Ontario it is no longer available at the LCBO, but if you ever do find it at a bar or restaurant you need to a) have one and b) tell me where you got it!!!

Rating: 5 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery/Prop Shop
2011 Gottingen Street
Halifax, NS B3K3B1

Website
http://www.drinkpropeller.ca/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/propellerbeer

Twitter
@PropellerBeer

Big Rig: Stud Stout

Big Rig Brewery opened here in Ottawa last year to much fanfare, largely because one of the owners is Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips (whose nickname is the Big Rig).  In all honesty I wasn't all that impressed with their first few brews, mostly generic lagers and bland red ales, but this afternoon I had a taste of their stout at the Brewery Market (an event that takes place a few times each summer at Parkdale Park here in the capital) and boy was I impressed.

I love stouts,they are my second favourite type of beer (bitter being numero uno) so I am always game to try a new version.  Big Rig advertise their stout as a double chocolate milk stout, which is a whole lot of description, but an apt description in many ways.  Stud Stout is very creamy and smooth, I can't recall many other stouts being this creamy, I guess they really wanted to highlight the milk in the milk stout.  The chocolate also comes to the forefront, I could taste the chocolate in the creaminess, it tasted a little like dark chocolate milk, except for grownups.  For me the only drawback is that it is a bit watery, doesn't have enough consistency for my tastes, but it is a great summer stout.  Smooth, creamy, and refreshing without being overly complicated.

Big Rig Beers are available at their bewery/restaurant in Ottawa's west end.   They are also available at LCBO's and the occasional beer store in the Ottawa Valley.  If you go to the brew pub there is a (very) outside chance of meeting Chris Phillips if you are an Ottawa Senators fan.

Rating: 3.5 Steins

What you need to know.
Brewpub
2750A Iris Street
Ottawa, ON
K2C 3C9 ‎ 

Website:
http://www.bigrigbrew.com/ 

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BigRigBrew 

Twitter
@Bigrigbrew

Sawdust City Brewery: Red Rocket Coffee Stout

Now, I always support breweries trying new things, and Sawdust City love experimenting.  Red Rocket Coffee Stout is certainly a new idea but unfortunately new experiments don't always pan out, and sadly the Red Rocket I had at the National Capital Craft Beer festival was not very good.  

I like a good stout, I also like a good cup of coffee, and spices are great too, so I was genuinely intrigued by Sawdust City's red rocket when I went to their stand.  Unfortunately from my initial enthusiasm it all went downhill, maybe it was the batch they had but it was not a pleasant beer to drink.  It was really acrid and bitter, but not bitter in a good beer way, bitter in an unpleasant "cold cup of coffee" way.  In terms of spices, I was expecting something more Cinnamon and cayenne pepper but it tasted like they had dumped a bunch of Tabasco sauce in the batch.   I was also expecting some coffee flavour but I didn't get the coffee notes I was expecting, the acrid taste seemed to come from their being too much coffee, making it bitter and unpalatable.  This beer was almost painful to drink, and it was a real struggle to get through the 8 ounce portion I had.   I appreciate Sawdust City's experimentation but this one needs to go back to the drawing board. 

Red Rocket is a seasonal beer, so it will be available sporadically.  Despite my dislike of Red Rocket I am really intrigued by some of their other beers, I have it on good authority that some of their others like "The Princess wears girl pants" is a great beer, sadly they didn't have it on the day I was at the Beer fest.  Their website/blog has a whole list of places to get Sawdust City beers as well as descriptions of their wide varitety of brews.  Most of the places are in the GTA but there are a few others in Ontario.

Rating: 1 Stein (for effort)
What you need to know

They don't list an address for their brewery, but it is in Gravenhurst, Ontario.

Website
http://sawdustcitybeer.blogspot.ca/p/about-us.html

Hogsback: Alohog Coconut Pale Ale

As many of you may know, I tend to pop by Ottawa's Rochester Pub (on Rochester street) for lunch and sometimes to acquire new material for this blog.  They have a dozen or so taps of microbrew as well as one rotating tap that often provides some surprises, either good or bad.  Recently the feature was Hogsback's Alohog Coconut Pale Ale. 

Before going into the review, I will have to put my hand up and say that I am in the anti-coconut camp.  Coconut is one of those things that you either love or hate and I find that it tends to ruin perfectly good desserts with it's overpowering flavour and macaroons are better off as hockey pucks than cookies, so I was more than a little skeptical about the concept of a coconut pale ale.  Despite my trepidations, after a few sips I realized that my fears were groundless.   Alohog is a traditional pale ale in a lot of ways, it goes down smooth with a hoppy taste to it.  The coconut flavour is very slight, it adds a little bit of sweetness to it but doesn't overwhelm the palate.  It took a few sips for me to even notice it was there but it adds an interesting dynamic that you don't normally get in a beer.  The result is a really tasty and refreshing brew that I enjoyed a lot.   It's a seasonal beer so I don't know how long it will be around (it still isn't listed on their website yet) but I will definitely be trying to find it again, as it is no longer available at the Rochester.

The website still doesn't have much information, but there was a press release floating around the internet saying that it will be available at select pubs in Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto so if you do happen to see it you should give it a try, also please let me know where you found it as for the moment the only place I know of you can get it is the Rochester, and even then it is only available sporadically.   

Rating: 4 steins

What you need to know
 Unfortunately they don't list their address on their website so I don't think they have a brewery tour our outlet. 

Website
http://hogsback.ca/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HogsBackBrewingCompany

Twitter
@Hogsbackbrewing

L'Alchimiste Ecossaise (Scotch Ale)

The microbrewing revolution has come to Coaticook, a town in the Eastern Townships about 20 minutes south of Sherbrooke and about 2 hours East of Montreal.  Coaticook is a town that has been a part of my life since I was a child, as it is the closest town to Baldwin's Mills, an ancestral homeland/summer hideaway of mine, so I was excited to try some Coaticook brewed beers. Alas they are extremely new, having only opened about 2 months ago so the beers they are serving at their are beers from Alchimiste until their first homegrown beers are ready.  No matter, Alchimiste still are a great microbrewery so I have no qualms about reviewing one of theirs, however I will need to make a return trip. 

Alchimiste Ecossaise is an interesting but very tasty brew.   It's quite malty and caramelly, with a very strong caramel taste when you first take a sip.  It's not as sweet as a lot of English style brown ales like Newcastle, but it's not all that hoppy compared to other beer styles, giving it a good balance, it is actually hoppier than the 5 IBU rating would suggest.  The one drawback is that the finish is a tad watery, but it doesn't detract from the overall taste of the beer.   It is a bit thick, so I wouldn't want to drink a lot of it, but it is a good beer to have with some fish & chips.

Alchimiste Ecossaise is available throughout Quebec at Depanneurs (convenience stores) and on draught at a variety of pubs.  Their website has a map with the locations.  As for Microbrasserie Coaticook, their Facebook page indicates that their first batches of beers (an IPA and a blonde) should be available soon on draught and for purchase in keg form. 

Rating: 3.5 Steins. 

What you need to know
About Alchimiste: 
 Brewery
681 Rue Marion
Joliette, QC
J6E8S3

Website:
http://lalchimiste.ca/

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/mblalchimiste

About Microbrasserie Coaticook
Address:
1007 Rue Child (across from Coaticook dairy)
Coaticook, QC
J1A2S5

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MicrobrasserieCoaticook

Broadhead: Long shot white

Broadhead brewery are an Ottawa brewery that I have never been all that sure about.  Don't get me wrong, I love microbreweries of all types but many of the Broadhead beers I had tried in the past were not all that great.  Admittedly it has been a while since I had previously had any of their beer but when I recently tried their Long Shot White I was impressed! 

As advertised, Long Shot is a wheat ale.   At first glance it looks like any other wheat ale you have tried, pale, hazy, yellow, however the taste is different, more mellow than many wheat ales.  It has a very slight citrusy/orange taste but not as strong as prevalent as most other beers and it tastes less hoppy than a lot of other wheat beers.   I guess mellow is the best way to describe it, mellow and refreshing.   The traditional wheat flavour that most white beers have is also less pronounced in Long Shot than in most others, so those who don't like the wheaty flavour will appreciate it.  My overall impression is that this would be a great introduction to wheat beers for people unaccustomed to the style, but those who are aficionados of wheat beer might find it a little bit lacking in flavour.  As someone who is neither a newbie to the style nor a connoisseur I found Long Shot to be a nice, refreshing, summer beer but not something that I would go out of my way to find.

It's available at the brewery as well as at a variety of pubs and restaurants in Eastern Ontario as well as a couple in Kingston and Toronto, a full listing is available on their website. 

Rating: 3 Steins
If I was an expert on wheat beers: 2.5 steins.

What you need to know

Brewery
81 Auriga Drive, Unit 13
Ottawa, ON, K2E 7X7

Website
http://broadheadbeer.com/

twitter: @broadheadbeer

Facebook
Facebook page

Kichesippi Heller High water

Kichesippi are one of Ottawa's most prominent Craft Brewers and it surprised me when I noticed that I had yet to review any of their beers, so when one of their brews was the keg of the week at my local watering hole, the Rochester Pub, I jumped on the chance to 1) have a pint and 2) take notes to be able to review it. 

Heller High Water is a Bavarian style lager.  A beer for those 365 special days a year when many Bavarians like to go to the beer hall to have a maß (1 liter beer) or 4.  What first struck me is how pale and yellow it is, looks more like a wheat beer than a traditional barley lager.  It is a very smooth and drinkable beer, it goes down very easy but it felt as if though something is lacking in it.  I could see how it would be a good beer if you were planning on drinking 4 litres of it, but for a simple pint I found it to be underwhelming.  It does have a slight hop finish to it, which helps, but it still is a bit watery and lacking in flavour for my liking.  It is certainly not a bad beer, but there isn't anything special about it either.   I have had Bavarian style lagers that were better, but I have also had worse also.

It's available at their brewery in growlers and 6 packs as well as at some LCBO outlets in the National Capital Region (NCR for those fellow government employees).  It's also available on tap at some pubs throughout the city, their website has a more comprehensive list.  

Rating: In normal circumstances 2.5 Steins
           If I was wearing lederhosen: 3.5 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery address
866 Campbell Avenue,
Ottawa ON K2A 4C5

Website
www.kbeer.ca

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/KichesippiBeer?fref=ts

Twitter
@kichesippibeer

Beyond the Pale: Pink Fuzz

One great feature of the rise in popularity of microbrews is the fact that brewers are trying more and more weird and wonderful flavour combinations and beer styles and my neighbours Beyond the Pale are a great example of a brewery who try all sorts of new ideas. Some of these ideas turn out excellent but some of them turn out not so excellent, fortunately Pink fuzz grapefruit wheat ale falls into the former category, an excellent refreshing brew.

I will start out by saying that I am not a fan of fruit beers in the traditional sense, however Pink Fuzz is not a traditional fruit beer.  I find Belgian Kriekbier to taste like cough medicine and St. Ambroise apricot wheat to be way too sweet.  Despite my general dislike for fruit beers, BTP have really come up with something special here.   Firstly, the grapefruit flavour is not overpowering, it has notes of grapefruit but doesn't really taste like the fruit, this results in a beer that is really refreshing but still tastes like something.   The bitterness of the grapefruit is mellowed by a delightful sweet aftertaste (from the wheat) which results in a really neat balance.  A sip of this is a bit of a journey, you can taste the peaks and valleys of the bitterness and sweetness, a sort of sweet and sour beer.   A word of warning is that it stronger than it tastes, it is 6% but really tastes like something less strong, so it is easy to drink a lot of it.

It is available at their brewery and they have extended their opening hours to be Thursday-Sunday which makes it easier to acquire.  Some of their beers are available at pubs in Ottawa but their website doesn't have a listing of which ones have which beers so I am not sure if Pink Fuzz is available on tap anywhere. 

Rating: 4.5 Steins

What you need to know
Brewery Address:
5 Hamilton Ave N
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 1B4

Website: www.beyondthepale.ca 

Twitter: @BTPBrewing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondThePaleBrewingCompany?fref=ts

Amsterdam 416 Local Lager

Apologies for the lack of posting, haven't had a chance to try a lot of new beers of late but last weekend I was in Toronto and tried Amsterdam's 416 local lager.   For the uninitiated 416 is the local area code of Toronto and it is 4.16% Alcohol, very clever Amsterdam brewery! 

I'll have to admit, that I was a bit skeptical of 416 because I was worried that it would just be another "Light" beer.  Fortunately, despite the low alcohol content, it does not have a light flavour.  It is actually a wheat beer that has a good refreshing flavour with some citrusy notes.   If I am honest, I had it in a tall can at the Indy Toronto race and wasn't paying all that much attention to the details, so I only found out that it is actually a wheat beer when I looked on their website, it doesn't really taste like a wheat beer.  Despite not tasting like a wheat beer it is extremely refreshing on a hot day.  I was walking around watching race cars in the hot sun and needed a cold, refreshing beer and this really fit the bill.  If you like beer, but want something that is a lower in alcohol, avoid the traditional light beers and get this, it is a great alternative, however I don't think I would drink it when I wasn't out in the sun on a hot day as there are other beers I prefer when looking for a wheat beer or a lager.

It's available throughout Toronto in cans, bottles, and in pubs on draught, sadly those who don't live in the GTA are out of luck.

Rating: : 2 steins
When out in the sun on a hot day or if I have to drive: 4 steins

What you need to know:
Brewery and retail store:
45 Esandar Dr. Toronto, ON
M4G 4C5

Website: www.amsterdambeer.com
 Twitter: @amsterdambeer
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amsterdambeer?fref=ts

Hogsback Vintage Lager

I am returning home (sort of) with this review of Hogback's Vintage Lager, I say home because they are from Ottawa, which is where I live.  Geography aside I tried this beer sort of by accident, and I am glad that I did. 

Microbrew fans are often skeptical about lagers, and I am no exception.  Most of this skepticism is because the most of the large commercial beers are lagers and the mostly taste the same.  This makes it particularly difficult to distinguish a good one from a bad one but Hog's Back has managed to come up with a good one.  Personally I like Vienna lager's like this one especially when it is hot and I am either watching a sporting event or eating a large amount of meat, or both. Fortunately Hogsback have made something that doesn't taste like Budweiser or Canadian, so it ended up being the perfect companion to the large portion of ribs that I was about to chow down on.   As a Vienna lager It's much more of a golden colour than most commercial lagers and it tastes very crisp without being too sweet, so it reminds me of Austrian beers like Gosser or Stiegl but because they kept the sweetness under control I found it more refreshing than those Austrian ones.  I found that it has a really consistent flavour to it, nothing very complicated but just the right balance for those hot summer barbecues.  There is a good reason for why it wins awards and why it is now on my list of great summer beers, however I don't know if I would drink it when not at a barbecue

It's available at a large number of locations throughout the Ottawa area (they have a nifty map on their website) as well as at the Beer Store and LCBO in other parts of Ontario.   

Rating:
When eating a fangorious amount of meat on a summer day: 4 steins
Every other day: 3 steins

What you need to know
 Unfortunately they don't list their address on their website so I don't think they have a brewery tour our outlet.  

Website
http://hogsback.ca/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HogsBackBrewingCompany

Twitter
@Hogsbackbrewing

Hop City Big Mouth Pale Ale (also called Happy Hour).

 Question, do you like hoppy and bitter IPA's?  Do you need to be able to drive, or do anything productive after having a pint?   If you answered yes to all of these then Hop City's Big Mouth Pale Ale is the beer for you!   I ask these questions because it drinks more like a strong IPA without being 7 or 8% alcohol so you can have one without making you more than a bit tipsy.

Big Mouth is quite bitter, but it is not overwhelming the way some IPA's tend to be, tipping the bitterness scales at 48 IBU's.  One reason for this is that the bitterness is nice and spread out, it's a surprisingly well balanced beer.  It opens with a kick of citrusey bitterness but then the bitterness fades out slightly, not like some beers that tend to have a bitter opening and then a flavour that just falls off a cliff.  This balance makes it surprisingly refreshing for a beer this hoppy, but you would probably struggle to have more than one or two of them as the bitterness can really catch up to you. 

Overall, I really like this beer, and even those who are apprehensive about hoppy beers could enjoy it in small doses.  The fact that it is flavourful throughout and it's standard 5% strength makes it good pale ale for any occasion. It's available throughout Ontario at the LCBO as well as in Nova Scotia & New Brunswick.  Hop City has been expanding their distribution of their Barking Squirrel across Canada and into the United States so you may soon be able to find Big Mouth in more provinces or states.  

Final Rating
4 steins

What you need to know
Brewery
54 Bramsteele Rd
Brampton, Ontario
L6W 3M6


Website
http://www.hopcity.com/



Twitter: @hopcitybrewing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopCityBrewingCo

Amsterdam Nut Brown Ale

I have always been fond of English Style Brown Ales, I find that the roasty and maltiness really brings out the flavour so I was really looking forward to Amsterdam's nut brown ale but although very tasty, it didn't live up to expectations.

 Amsterdam's nut brown is very smooth, smoother than most brown ales, however it isn't as sweet and sugary as a mass manufactured brown ale like Newcastle Brown Ale.  It has a bit of a bitter taste at first that is followed by a velvety smooth texture, which is nice.  At that point you are expecting it to have a nice flavourful finish, but it just sort of falls off, which was disappointing as I was expecting a fuller flavour, but the smoothness does make it a good session beer if you are very very thirsty.   My enthusiasm for the beer has since been tempered by visiting Amsterdam Brewery's website and the beer was described as having a "distinct drink-ability".  When I see a beer that is not a lager being described as "drink-able" I always get a bit apprehensive because it often means that the flavour has been compromised in favour of smoothness, and sadly this is no exception as it just seems to be missing that flavourful aspect that other English style brown ales have but as an introduction to the style it is a good choice.  

Overall, I don't know as if I would try it again, but if you are unfamiliar with brown ales then I would suggest giving it a try over something mass produced like Newcastle as it is less sugary sweet but still smooth.   It's a bit of a shame in my mind because Amsterdam make some really nice brews but sadly this is not one of my favourites.  It's available all across Ontario in the LCBO and Beer Store as well as in pubs and restaurants throughout the GTA (according to their website), and at their brewery.  

Final Rating:
On most occasions: 2 steins out of 5
If I didn't know much about brown ales (or was very thirsty): 3 steins out of 5

What you need to know:
Brewery and retail store:
45 Esandar Dr. Toronto, ON
M4G 4C5

Website: www.amsterdambeer.com
 Twitter: @amsterdambeer
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amsterdambeer?fref=ts

Barley Days Harvest Gold Pale Ale

My latest entry ushers in a new feature to the microbrew times, a rating system of sorts and to accompany my latest feature is a brew from Prince Edward County's Barley Days Brewery, one of a growing group of independent Ontario breweries that are slowly expanding province wide.  

Harvest Gold Pale Ale is, as the name suggests, a pale ale and a proper ale as opposed to a mislabeled lager as some "pale ales" can be.  It's actually one of the sweeter pale ales I have had, with a good hoppy finish.  It is not as bitter as my personal benchmark for pale ales which is Montreal's St. Ambroise Pale Ale, but the sweetness does make it very refreshing on a hot day.  Between the sweet beginning and the hoppy finish, however, there is a bit of a disappointing watery phase which detracts from the overall taste, however I was drinking it when it was a million degrees out so the lighter nature of it was a nice change.  On a colder day the slight watery bit would probably be more irritating but as it was I was nice and refreshed and happy to order another one. 

Overall I think that on a hot day I would highly recommend this beer, however on a colder day I would probably go for a slightly more rounded beer like St. Ambroise Pale Ale or a Kichesippi Natural Blonde (if you are in the Ottawa area), but it is still a very good beer. It's available at a lot of pubs and restaurants throughout Ontario (full list on their website) as well as at the brewery and at the LCBO. 

Final rating:  
On a normal day: 3 steins out of 5
On a stinking hot day: 4 steins out of 5.

What you need to know
Brewery:
13703 Loyalist Parkway
Picton, ON
K0K2T0

www.barleydaysbrewery.com

twitter
@barleydaysbrews

https://www.facebook.com/barleydaysbrewery

Microbrew times on the road: Sun King Osiris Pale Ale

So I finally made it to Indianapolis and this town has some great brews, with some great brewpubs throughout the town.  Sun King Brewery is one of the best known Indianapolis microbreweries, which is amazing considering they have only been around since 2009. 

Osiris Pale Ale is their flagship brew.  It's decently hoppy for a pale ale, which their website describes as being a west coast style pale ale.   The beer actually has a very complicated taste, it's hoppy for a pale ale but they didn't fall into the trap of punching their drinkers in the face with hops so it is a remarkably drinkable session beer. There are some notes of citrus and spices when drinking it, which really complement the level of hops they went with. I have had it in both a can (while in the grandstands watching the Indianapolis 500) and on draught in a few different places in Indianapolis and it really hits the spot on any occasion.  Some beers are good in certain situations or weather conditions but Osiris Pale Ale is good whenever you want a beer (which for me is often) and because the hops are not over the top it would be a good introduction to microbrew for the uninitiated. 

Overall it has quickly become one of my go to beers when in Indianapolis.   A great beer for a great (but underrated) town.   Sun King beers are available pretty much anywhere in Indianapolis and their website says their beers are sold in over 450 locations in central Indiana, plus you can get it ant pretty much any liquor store or bottle shop in the city.

What you need to know
Brewery:
135 North College Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Website: www.sunkingbrewing.com

Twitter: @sunkingbrewing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunkingbrewing

Microbrew times on the road. Heartland Brewery: Farmer John's Oatmeal Stout

I wasn't expecting to be in New York City at all, however due to weather and United Airlines I ended up having to spend an evening in this area to catch a flight out of Newark airport the following morning.  When close to New York you should never pass up an opportunity to go into the big apple proper so that's what my friends Chad, Emily (who we met at the airport, also stranded), and I did.  We ended up wandering around Manhattan until we stumbled across Heartland Brewery (my beer spidey sense tingles when I see a sign for a brewery) and went there.  The beer I had was their Oatmeal Stout which was a very good choice.

Farmer John's Oatmeal Stout was surprisingly creamy.   I was honestly a bit skeptical (as I usually am) about it because in my mind the best Oatmeal Stout is from St. Ambroise and anything else is like comparing pie to the one made by your grandmother, there are some inherent biases that happen.  Anyways, Heartland Brewery's version is a very good one (but not as good as grandma's, I mean St. Ambroise's).  It is very smooth although the head is not as creamy as most stouts, and it is really clean tasting but still not too watery like Guinness.   It also has hints of espresso and dark chocolate to round out the flavour, which are nice touches.   If you are in New York City I would highly recommend it as you probably won't find a better stout in that area. 

Heartland Brewery has a few locations throughout Manhattan (7 as per their website) and the beer is brewed in Brooklyn.  I don't know of where else to get it but one of their pubs, and each of their pubs/restaurants has a different food theme.  They also do food-beer pairings which is cool.  

What you need to know
Website
http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/

Twitter:
@heartlandbrew

Muksoka Summer Weiss

I have always been a bit nervous about white beers.  It's not that there aren't a lot of great ones out there, it's that there are a lot of terrible ones as well (I'm looking at you Rickards) and there isn't much of a middle ground.   Also I don't like the idea of needing a piece of fruit to improve your beer, if the beer was any good in the first place then fruit wouldn't be necessary.   Despite my trepidation about wheat beers I decided to have a pint of Muskoka's Summer Weiss beer.  This was partly due to Muskoka's awesome track record and partly because it is the Friday before a long weekend and it is sunny out.  Whatever the reason it turned out to be a very good decision.

Muskoka Weiss is a German style white beer, that has a bit of a cloudy and darker in colour than most wheat beers.  At first I was a bit skeptical but as I had a few sips I quickly realized that this was indeed a very good beer.  It goes down nice and smooth with a good balance and slightly fruity flavours, hints of banana come through.  The flavour is almost sweet with the barley/wheat combo really rounding it out nicely. Some white beers have a bit of a sour flavour or try to add a bit too much hops to bitter the beer up, but Muskoka have resisted these urges in the name of creating a great summer beer.   Although this won't fully cure my skepticism about white beers, Muskoka Weiss is a great pint on a hot day sitting on a patio, although I am not sure it would be as good out of a bottle.  If you do buy a six pack then I suggest pouring it into a glass. 

You can get it at most beer stores and LCBO's throughout Ontario as well as on draught at various places.  If you are in that part of Ontario you could also drop by their brewery.

What you need to know
Brewery
1964 Muskoka Beach Road
Bracebridge, ON
P1L1V4

Website
http://www.muskokabrewery.com

Twitter
@MuskokaBrewery

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/muskokabrewery?fref=ts

King Brewery: King Pilsner

The trouble with pilsners and lagers is it is very hard to stand out from the crowd and very hard to make something truly original.  I will admit that my taste for this kind of beer is not as refined as it is for darker or hoppier beers but I was underwhelmed by King Pilsner. 

In my experience, a Pilsner will be like a lager but with a bit more complexity to it, sort of like lager 2.0.  King Pilsner starts off right with a nice golden colour a bit of a nutty flavour to it, however it ends up tasting quite watery and not as refreshing as I was expecting it to be.  Maybe it was a situation of the keg needing to be changed, or maybe it is a case of me missing the point of a proper pilsner but to me it was nothing special.  I much prefer fellow Ontario pilsner Steam Whistle or the Czech original Pilsner Urquell.  Both of those beers are much less watery and are much more refreshing, and regular readers will be familiar with my disdain for watery beers.  In saying that I could see it being tasty on a really hot summer day as a first beer on a patio.   Despite my disappointment in King Pilsner I am curious to give some of their other beers a try as they seem to know what they are doing given some of the awards they have won for some of their other creations.

King Brewery beers are available at the brewery or across Ontario at the LCBO or Beer Store as well as in some parts of Alberta, however in my opinion you are better off getting Steam Whistle if you are looking for a good Ontario pilsner. 

What you need to know
King Brewery:
5645 King Road
Nobleton, Ontario
L0G 1N0

Website
www.kingbrewery.ca

Twitter: @kingbrewery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingbrewery

Beyond the Pale: Rye Guy

Although I am trying to diversify which breweries get reviews, here is my second review of a Beyond the Pale beer.  The main reason for this is Geography, as their brewery is close to my house.

In the microbrew scene there is one type of beer that seems to dominate, and that is the IPA, or India Pale Ale for the uninitiated.  In the microbrew world, the idea of what constitutes and IPA is open to interpretation so we get a large range of beers called IPA's that are not all that similar.  In Canada there also seems to be a backlash against beers that are called IPA's but have been weakened for the mass market (I'm looking at you Keith's) so the microbrewers seem to go to an extra effort to make a IPA that is nothing like Keith's.  This results in a wonderful variety of beers that have nothing in common with Keith's or other mass produced beers called IPA's (I can't think of any others off the top of my head) and Beyond the Pale's Rye Guy is a good example of this.

In the beer world, a proper IPA will be strong and very hoppy, and Rye Guy is no exception to this rule, however they have managed to stay away from the apparant arms war between some brewers to make the hoppiest IPA possible as the Rye Guy is not over the top in the bitterness department but at 6.7% it still packs a good punch.  One major thing that separates Rye Guy from other IPA's is that the critical grain is Rye (as the name suggests) as opposed to barley or wheat found in most beers, this gives it some interesting pine and citrus flavours resulting in a very distinctive flavour.  This gives it a very nice balance that allows it to be very enjoyable for a larger number of people than most hoppy IPA's are.  Because it doesn't punch you in the face with hoppiness, Rye Guy does end up being remarkably drinkable for a 6.7% beer, almost as drinkable as a 5 % beer, which could make it a little bit dangerous if you are not paying attention to how much you are drinking.

Strong Hoppy IPA's are still a bit intimidating for many casual beer drinkers, but Rye guy does bridge that gap a little bit, however it is probably limited in it's market potential compared to their Pink Fuzz or The Darkness, however if you are a fan of hoppy IPA's then I strongly suggest you give Rye Guy a try.  It's available at their Brewery on Hamilton Ave in Ottawa and on tap at a few pubs around the city. 

What you need to know
Brewery Address:
5 Hamilton Ave N
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 1B4

Website: www.beyondthepale.ca 

Twitter: @BTPBrewing

Cassel brewery: Lil' Red Steamer

You have to applaud a Microbrewery for trying to go head to head with the big boys in terms of beer styles.  Many microbreweries prefer to make hoppy IPA's, and stouts, which have very little competition from the major breweries. In Canada the Red Ale market is well catered for with Molson (Rickards) Keith's and Sleeman all making decent Red beers but Cassel brewery from Casselman, ON are going head to head with the big boys with their Lil' Red Steamer Red ale and are doing a fine job of it!

Cassel brewery call Lil' Red Steamer a Red/Amber ale, which is a pretty accurate description of the colour as it looks more brown than red.   It is a surprisingly smooth and refreshing ale without being too watery.  It has a bit of a caramel flavour to it with a slightly malty and bitter finish to it.  I had it on tap and it was a  tasty pint to go along with my lunch and I think that due to the complexity it is one of the better red ales I have had.  They managed to avoid making it too watery or too sweet, which is a trap other microbrews fall into while they perfect their recipe but Lil' Red Steamer seems to have found a proper balance making it a very good red ale for the summer months.  On their website they say it goes well with a juicy burger and it definitely tastes like a good barbecue beer. 

You can get it at their brewery as well as on tap at a few locations in Ottawa, according to their website it is not yet in the LCBO or Beer Store.  

What you need to know
Brewery
715-C rue Principale
Casselman ON K0A 1M0

Website
www.casselbrewery.ca/

Twitter
@CasselBrewery
Facebook
 

Lake of Bays: Spark House Red Ale

One great thing about the micobrew scene is that you get to find beers from places you had never heard of.  Until a few minutes ago I had never heard of Baysville, Ontario but google maps tells me it is in the Muskoka area, somewhere near Huntsville (ish) and they have a brewery!

Spark House Red Ale bills itself as an Irish style red, but it its more of a copper colour as opposed to red.  Colour semantics aside it does indeed drink like a classic Irish red, although it is a very interesting version of an Irish red.  The taste is an interesting mix of spice and barley with a bitter finish a very good example of a red ale.   It is quite drinkable, but that is because it is watery, full bodied would not be a word that I would use to describe it.  It's a good red beer, but personally I prefer something a little less watery, however people who like beers like Keith's Red or Sleeman Red would really like Spark House  I sincerely wish these guys well as the beer has a lot of potential due to a large market for Red Beer here in Canada, but people who like beer with a fuller body will find Spark House to be a bit lacking.

Lake of Bays Spark House is available at some LCBO's (I found it at the Richmond Road branch in Ottawa).  Hopefully they will be able to expand their distribution as this beer has potential to be very popular.

What you need to know
Brewery
 2681 Muskoka Road 117
Baysville, ON
P0B 1A0

Website: lakeofbaysbrewing.ca
 Twitter: @LB_Brewing

Mill Street: Stock Ale

Ah Summer!  Although technically it is April (which according to my sources is Spring, not Summer), and technically it was rainy and miserable here in Ottawa today, it is never too early to start thinking about summer and summer beer and one of my favourites is from a top Ontario microbrewer: Mill Street.  

Stock Ale is a crisp, clean, and refreshing ale that really hits the spot while sitting by the lake on a summer's day.  Unlike most lagers, this old-style blonde ale is a little bit sweet with a hint of maltiness and a subtle touch of hops, all of which adds to the enjoyment.  In my mind it's one of Mill Street's most underrated beers.  Mill St's Organic Lager tends to get much of the publicity, however the Stock Ale has a lot more flavour and, in my mind, is much more refreshing than the organic.  I can't think of many better ways to quench your thirst in the summer, especially after a busy day in the sun. 

Stock Ale is available throughout Ontario at the LCBO and the Beer Store as well as on tap the occasional pub if you are lucky.  If that pub has a patio then you are extra lucky, if it overlooks some water then you are extra extra lucky.  I say the occasional pub as most pubs who carry Mill St. will have either the Organic or the Tankhouse (which is also excellent).  You can definitely get it on tap at their brew pubs in Toronto and Ottawa.  

What you need to know
Brewery & Brew Pub

21 Tank House Lane
Toronto ON
M5A3C4

Other Brew Pubs
Ottawa
555 Wellington St
Ottawa, ON
K1R 1C5

Toronto Pearson Airport Terminal 1
Mississauga, ON
L4W 1S9

Website: http://www.millstreetbrewery.com
twitter: @MillStreetBrew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MillStreetBrewery?fref=ts

Beyond the Pale: The Darkness

The first beer I will be reviewing is a beer from my local brewery (literally within walking distance of my house) called "The Darkness" by the Beyond the Pale Brewing Company. Many people think they know a lot about stout because they have had Guinness, a glass of The Darkness will really open your eyes to a proper stout. While Guinness draught has the right colour it is very watery for a stout while The Darkness is thick and creamy with coffee and chocolate flavours. This 5.6 % beer is a proper stout, a meal in a glass. When trying to make a stout, some microbrewers fall into a trap of making it overly bitter, but despite the thickness, the guys at Beyond the Pale have not gone down that road. It is absolutely lovely to drink, going down nice and smooth, although that can vary a little bit due to inconsistencies between the batches. It's honestly one of the best stouts I have ever had and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes stout or dark beer in general.

The Brewery is quite new so the consistency between the batches is not perfect, but I have yet to have a bad glass of the darkness. It's available in Growlers, Bombers, and 32 Ounce bottles (that look like medicine jars) at their brewery as well as on tap at a few pubs around Ottawa. Their website doesn't have a list of pubs but I know for a fact it is available at the Rochester Pub in Ottawa's Little Italy. Beyond the Pale also brews 3 other beers (to be reviewed later) called Pink Fuzz, Rye Guy, and Imperial Super Guy. I have tried all 3 and they are also great!  

What you need to know
Brewery Address:
5 Hamilton Ave N
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 1B4

Website: www.beyondthepale.ca 

Twitter: @BTPBrewing

Welcome to the Microbrew Times!

Beer, one of life's great pleasures. Whether it is having a cold bottle of lager on a hot summer or hunkering down on a pint of stout in a pub to keep you warm in the winter there is a brew for every occasion and every taste. Nowadays we are spoiled for choice as new microbreweries pop up seemingly every week, very slowly eroding the market share of the generic swill producing big boys. At the end of 2012 there were 2,347 craft breweries in the United States, the highest number since they started recording this number in 1887 according to this article: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-delicious-winners-of-the-american-beer-war-2013-3?utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer%3A%2B%40BeerBrewin%2Bon%2Btwitter&buffer_share=a0069. Despite the record number of breweries, these 2347 breweries accounted for 6.5% of the market share, up from 5.7% in 2011, which is a very encouraging sign. Up here in Canada the market share is closer to 2% for the microbreweries, but this number is growing all the time. It shows that people are more and more willing to try new beers and give the little guys a chance, bringing many new types of beer to the market that the big boys don't make and elevating beer from being a working class or college kid beverage to something more of an art form. I have started this blog to discuss the beers I try, I don't pretend to know all the official beer lingo, but I do know what is good and in what situations so I hope people enjoy what I have to say and give the beers a try.