Granville Island Lions Winter Ale

 

Matt's weekly choice: Granville Island Lions Winter Ale

Look -  3.75   Smell - 4  Taste - 4  Feel - 3.5  Overall - 3.75

Look - This winter ale was poured from a 355mL bottle. It is a dark red amber colour and had a thick two fingers of off white head. The head had a long retention time and it had moderate lacing.

Smell - This beer smells deeply of chocolate, vanilla and brown sugar. It definitely has a sweet smell to it with hints of caramel.

Taste - This beer tastes of vanilla, caramel and chocolate. The sweetness is balanced by the malt and nutty taste which creates a slightly bitter after taste.

Feel - It has a medium body and light carbonation. It is smooth drinking but could use a little bit more carbonation.

Overall - This beer pretty much tastes like Christmas and is quite enjoyable in a smaller serving. It is well balanced and a very good seasonal product produced by Granville Island Brewing. It just recently made its opening appearance in Ontario. I would recommend giving it a try on a cold winter night but is not a beer to drink on a regular basis.

-Matt

Mill Street Vanilla Porter

Matt's weekly choice: Mill Street Vanilla Porter

Look - 4   Smell - 4   Taste - 3.75  Feel - 3.75  Overall - 3.75

Look - This English style porter was poured from a 473mL can. It pours a dark brown colour with a slight hint of red. It had about one finger of thin beige head and had moderate lacing.

Smell - This beer smells of a deep vanilla flavour with strong hints of chocolate and coffee.

Taste - This porter has a medium vanilla flavour with a milk chocolate taste. Has some dark fruit tastes that I would say is close to raisins and a little roasted malts which provide bitterness. The vanilla starts as a hint but grows to a bit stronger flavour as you drink more of the beer.

Feel - This beer has a medium body and a creamy, silky feel to it.

Overall - I enjoyed this beer but it is definitely a once in a while type of seasonal brew. It has a surprisingly nice balance and the vanilla starts off quite light. It is quite drinkable but would limit your consumption to a single beer. For everyone interested I would recommend giving it a try!

-Matt

Kissmeyer Nordic Pale Ale

Matt's weekly choice: Kissmeyer Nordic Pale Ale

Last weekend I enjoyed one of these beers which is produced by Beau's Brewery.

Look -  4.25  Smell - 4.5   Taste - 4.5  Feel - 4  Overall - 4.5

Look - This pale ale was poured from a 600 ml bottle into a clear pint glass. This beer poured a hazy amber colour with one finger of white head. The foam lasted a couple minutes and produced minimal lacing.

Smell - This beer smells of fresh cut grass and herbs. It has strong citrus and ginger notes to it. It had a sweet scent too and was quite a pleasant smelling beer.

Taste - This pale ale is a dry beer with a lot of herbal taste. It has a slight sweet taste to it from the maple syrup and citrus. It isn't overpowering but has a large variety of very enjoyable herbal tastes. It finishes with a lasting bitter hop taste.

Feel - It has an average amount of carbonation and has a thinner body to it.

Overall - Mmm, one of the best pale ales that I have tried this year. It isn't so overpowering with the herbs they chose and has just the right amount of sweetness for a good balance. A delicious after taste that makes you want more. I'd highly recommend picking up one of these at your local LCBO and giving it a try!

-Matt

Breweries of the week: Kokanee and Granville Island Brewing

For this week I will be discussing a couple of breweries in Western Canada!

Kokanee

Kokanee beer is brewed in Creston, British Columbia and was founded in 1959. They named their beer this because it is the name of a Sockeye salmon found in British Columbia. Their official mascot is a Sasquatch and they brew a few types of beer. These beers are Kokanee, Kokanee Gold, Kokanee Light and Kokanee True Ale. Kokanee is harder to find in Ontario but if you find it in a local beer store or draught in a pub I'd recommend giving it a try!

Granville Island Brewing

Granville Island Brewing is located in Vancouver, British Columbia on Granville Island. It is the first microbrewery in western Canada and was founded in 1984. It is considered Canada's first microbrewery and they produce a wide variety of tasty beers. Their most popular beers are Island Lager, Brockton IPA, Cypress Honey Lager, Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale, English Bay Pale Ale, Robson St. Hefeweizen and the seasonal Lions Winter Ale. Each of these beers are named after a local place in British Columbia and offer a good variety of flavours. If you are ever in the Vancouver area I definitely recommend checking out Granville Island and this brewery! They offer guided tours three times daily (with samples) at noon, 2 pm and 4 pm for a small 10$ fee.

Steam Whistle Pilsner

Evan's weekly choice: Steam Whistle Pilsner


Look - 3.75  Smell - 3.5   Taste - 3  Feel - 3  Overall - 3.5

Look - This pilsner was poured from a 341 ml green bottle into a clear pint glass. This pilsner pours a golden straw colour with about a thumb width of bright white head. The retention of the head stayed around for a bit but not too long leaving some lacing. This pilsner had light to medium carbonation.

Smell - This beer had a grainy smell with some grassy and citrus notes. Not a very strong scent but smells a bit like a spring day.

Taste - This beer has a crisp sweet taste to it. It lacks the bitterness that the standard pilsner offers.

Feel - It has a light to medium carbonated feel that creates a comfortable mouth feel that is followed by a light body.

Overall - I found that this pilsner was a bit too watery and sweet for my liking. Since this is Steam Whistles only beer, I had high expectations for this beer but it kind of disappointed me. I find that this is another good beer to enjoy on a beautiful sunny day either on a deck or patio because of its light body and watery taste.

-E

Local Connections Halifax Craft Beer and Local Food Celebration

This event located in Halifax, Nova Scotia brings the best of everything for beer and food enthusiasts. So if you love delicious craft beer, fantastic local foods or just a good old time, be sure to come visit this craft beer and local good celebration in Halifax. This event will bring people together in a well put together event where it presents 7 different rooms that offers 7 different experiences.

The "Sweet Room" offers delicious beer cakes from Scanway and beer infused ice cream from Dee Dee's Ice Cream.

The "Orchard Room" celebrates Nova Scotian cider and Nova Scotian pork. Chef Geir Simensen from the Stubborn Goat Gastropub will be keeping your plates full all night with fantastic food while you are sipping down some of the best ciders from Stutz, Shipbuilders and Bulwark.

The "Cask Room" speaks for itself. Be ready to sample some of the best beer in Nova Scotia from casks while Chef Richard Sanford of Durty Nelly's displays some of his skills preparing some meals from Nova Scotian beef for your pleasure.

The "Halifax Club Room" will have Chef Francis Nelson putting on a show displaying some of Nova Scotia's best seafood while offering delicious craft beers from Sea Level Brewing.

The "Craft Brewers Room" will be offering an assortment of craft beers around the region. Some of the craft brewers include Granite Brewing, Bridge Brewing, Garrison Brewing, Hart & Thistle Gatropub, Propeller Brewing, Rockbottom Brewpub, and Rogues Roost. Agricola Street Brasserie will be on hand to fill your culinary needs while brew masters around the area will be making presentations.

The "Plan B Karaoke Experience Room" offers a chance to display your singing talents. Plan B will be offering karaoke while comedian Bill Wood will keep you laughing all night. Food will be served by Hell Bay and Boxing Rock.

The "Sausage Fest Junior Room" will be showcasing Nova Scotia sausage while craft brewing companies such as Big Spruce and Uncle will be helping you wash that food down.

Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia

When: Thursday January 16, 2014 from 6:30 pm to 10 pm

So if you are in the Halifax area, be sure to experience this well put together event.

-E

Brown, Clear or Green?

What type of beer bottle do you enjoy?

When deciding what beer to drink many beer drinkers think about the specific taste they would like. This usually comes down to deciding what type of beer to drink not necessarily the colour of the bottle. This post is to help explain the difference from the choice of bottle and what to expect when you choose a clear, green or brown beer bottle.

Beer bottles were first used in the 1850's when it was discovered that they keep the beer fresh for a longer period of time. Originally, all beer was bottled in green bottles until 1930's because many of the European beer producers only had the materials to create green bottles. After this time period it was discovered that the colour of the bottles makes a difference for the beer it holds. Some professionals at the University of North Carolina and Ghent University in Belgium proved that the amount of UV light that gets into the bottle will "break down alpha acids in hops that react with sulfur to make a chemical that is nearly identical to the smelly chemical that skunks spray." This is why many of the green and clear bottles get a skunky taste after exposed to light. It was found that brown bottles filter most of the UV light out and keep the beer tasting as it was first produced.

Today, we can see that many European companies still bottle in green bottles. For many of these companies, their beers bottled in a green bottle became a status symbol which was known for their quality. The decision to bottle in green or clear became more of a marketing decision than a practical one. Examples of this are Stella Artois and Heineken which are both known as high quality European beers. Some beers with a lot smaller amount of hops (the main ingredient affected by UV light) are also bottled in clear or green because it doesn't make a big difference in taste. There is a lot of controversy with beer producers bottling in green or clear bottle from beer bloggers and advocates. Companies like Moosehead are often scrutinized for the decision.

In my opinion, I think the colour of the bottle can add depth for certain beers and has a good amount of historical value. Also with technological advancements today it is possible to put a UV protection on a green or clear bottle keeping the beer just as fresh as a brown bottle.



-Matt



Information sourced from http://brokensecrets.com/2010/03/23/why-beer-bottles-are-green-brown-or-clear/

Gourmet Food and Wine Expo!

For this week I will be posting about the Toronto Gourmet Food and Wine Expo! I will be attending this great event this weekend and encourage everyone near the Greater Toronto area to attend.

The annual Gourmet Food & Wine Expo(http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca/) is held in November at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building. Each year the Expo offers 38,000 guests an unparalleled opportunity to sample over 1,500 fine wines, spirits and beers from around the globe. A great opportunity to try some experience some new drinks and try some great food.

When:
Thursday, November 14, 2013, 6pm-10pm VIP Preview Evening
Friday, November 15, 2013, 2pm-10pm
Saturday, November 16, 2013, 12pm-10pm
Sunday, November 17, 2013, 12pm-6pm

Where: This event is downtown Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building at 255 Front St W.

Tickets:

VIP Preview Evening Thursday $40 (including HST)

General Admission Friday & Sunday $20,
Saturday Afternoon $25 (including HST) must arrive prior to 5pm, permitted to stay later
Saturday Evening $25 (including HST) arriving past 5pm
Buy ticket for when you plan to arrive

Elite Pass $50 (including HST) The Elite Pass is perfect if you do not know which day you wish to attend as it is valid any one day during show hours. You will also be permitted to enter through the Elite Entrance instead of the General Admission Entrance. If you plan to attend during peak times such as Friday or Saturday evening the Elite Entrance will offer quick access to the Expo as we often experience line ups during these heavy traffic times. The Elite Pass also includes one complimentary sample in the Trialto Booth in the Fine Wine & InterVin Tasting Lounge.

Elite Weekend Pass $75 (including HST) This includes all the features of the Elite Pass as well as a wristband and lanyard that will permit the guest in and out access through the Elite Entrance all weekend. This is for customers who want VIP access to the Expo for multiple days - it includes Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

All offerings will cost sample tickets which can be purchased for $1.00 each and are available in sheets of $20.

Brewers: Amsterdam Brewing Company, Beau's All Natural Brewing Co., Moosehead Breweries, Creemore Springs Brewery, Nickel Brook, Mill Street Brewery, Saw Dust City Brewing, and many more!

Cuisine: There will be tons of cuisine including; Big Daddy's Bourbon Street Bistro, College Street, Crepe De licious, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Eudora's Fine Food, Feel Good Guru, Guu Toronto, Hank Daddy's BBQ, Hudson Kitchen, Mad Italian Gelato Bar, The, Maple Floss, Matt & Steve's Tasty Beverage Co., Mushrooms Canada, Playa Cabana, Real Sports Bar & Grill, Royal Elephant Thai Fusion Food, Valor Chocolates, Vegan Bites & Delights, andWindsors Arms Hotel

-Matt

Nickle Brook Headstock IPA

Matt's weekly choice: Nickle Brook Headstock IPA

Look - 3.5  Smell - 3.75   Taste - 3.75  Feel - 4  Overall - 3.75

Look - This India pale ale was poured from a 473mL tall can. It is a murky amber colour with a half finger of off white head. Has little visible carbonation.

Smell - The first scents you smell are very floral and hoppy. It continues with smells of pine, bready malts and citrus. Quite a strong smelling beer.

Taste - The taste starts with a strong pine hops with lasting citrus undertones. It is fairly bitter throughout the drinking experience and has a strong bready malt after taste.

Feel - This beer feels almost like cream ale when you are drinking it which might be because it isn't filtered and has no additive or preservatives. It is quite crisp and smooth with a medium body and light head.

Overall - I really enjoyed this beer but it is definitely for India pale ale lovers. It was surprisingly crisp considering how close the feel was to cream ale. I would suggest one or two of these beers for anytime you want a beer with more flavour.

-Matt

Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale

Evan's weekly choice: Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale


Look - 4  Smell - 3   Taste - 2.5  Feel - 3  Overall - 3

Look - This India pale ale was poured from a 355 ml green bottle into a clear pint glass. When poured it has a clear light golden yellow colour with about 1 finger of bright fluffy white head that dissipates quite fast but never fully disappears. It shows signs of high carbonation throughout the beer. As the head starts to disappears, it left a thin layer of lacing around the India pale ale.

Smell - When first poured the India pale ale was very light on the nose. It had a bready caramel and floral smell with a hint of corn and grassy aroma.

Taste - The beer had a mild sweetness that was kind of sour. It was kind of bitter so I could not pin down any kind of real flavour to it.

Feel - It has a high carbonated feel with a fairly light body that felt a bit dry.

Overall - This beer was just another average India pale ale. I felt like it did not have the stronger taste that most India pale ales have. It was too sweet and didn't give off any distinct taste that would make me want to purchase it again.

-E

Fraser Valley Culture & Craft Beer Festival

The Society Board of Directors would like to bring to you their first benefit debuting Saturday November 30, 2013 that brings together vibrant art, delicious craft beer and some fantastic local cuisine. The Fraser Valley Culture & Craft Beer Festival will feature about 20 different Canadian craft brewers and various artists around the Chilliwack area to bring together a wonderful celebration for the community of Chilliwack. Chilliwack art and beer enthusiasts will fill the landmark Chilliwack Cultural Centre to enjoy the theme of craft beer and local cuisine mixed with rollicking live music. This event will help raise funds for the arts and crafts program at The Centre. The Fraser Valley Culture & Craft Beer Festival is generously sponsored by the likes of the District Public House, Murray Honda, True North Brew Supply, The Chilliwack Progress, Chilliwack Rotary, Tourism Chilliwack, Royal Hotel, Signal Signs & Graphics and 89.5 The Drive. There will be a live auction at 8 pm on Saturday November 30, 2013 where it will auction off prizes for the Sun Peaks Lodge, Fraser River Fishing Lodge, Langley Dive Centre, Therapy Vineyards, Personal Trainer, Anthony Toth, Abbotsford Heat, Valley Helicopters and Chilliwack River Rafting.

When: Saturday November 30, 2013 from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Where: This event will take place at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on 9201 Corbould St. in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

Tickets: Tickets are $35 which includes a complementary glass tasting mug and 5 tasting tokens. Additional tokens can be purchased for $2 each while complementary local cuisine will be offered.

Brewers; The list of brewers includes Coal Harbour Brewing, Cannery Brewing, Driftwood Brewery, Howe Sound Brewing Company, Old Yale Brewery, Pacific Western Brewing Company, Parallel 49 Brewing Company, Steamworks Brewery, Dead Frog Brewery, Beverage Concepts, Four Winds Brewery, Tin Whistler Brewery, Turning Point Brewery, Russell Brewing Company, McClelland Premium Imports, Cariboo Brewery, Scandal Brewing, Big Surf Beer and Mt. Begbie Brewery.

Local Cuisine: The list of local cuisines includes Verard Farms, Frankie’s Italian Kitchen, Birdie’s Bakery, Smits & Co Cheeses,Bill’s Beef Jerky, Decades Coffee Club, Fraser Valley Meats, Happy Days Dairy, Holland Shopping Centre, Original Joe’s, and True North Kettle Corn.

So if you are in the beautiful landscape of Chilliwack, British Columbia, stop on by to take in a fantastic event.

-E

Moosehead Lager

Matt's weekly choice: Moosehead Lager


Look - 3.25  Smell - 3   Taste - 3.5  Feel - 3.75  Overall - 3.5

Look - This lager was poured from a 355 ml green bottle into a clear pint glass. When poured it had one finger of white head and was a clear, golden colour. Medium visible carbonation.

Smell - This beer had a slightly skunky and lightly malted smell to it. Also had a faint and sweet grain smell.

Taste - This beer has a nice smooth crispness to it with a taste of grainy hops, it slightly metallic on the tongue. Has a sweetness to it that creates a lasting aftertaste.

Feel - It has a medium carbonated that creates a nice mouthfeel. It was refreshing to drink and has a medium body.

Overall - When smelling the beer you expect a deep skunky taste that most people associate with any beer in a green bottle (UV light changes the taste over time). After tasting it, I was quite surprised that it was a crisp tasting beer that was quite enjoyable. To me it was a pretty average beer that is a nice casual drink- nothing too special.

Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale

Evan's weekly choice: Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale


Look - 4.5  Smell - 4.25   Taste - 4.5  Feel - 4.25  Overall - 4.5

Look - This pale ale was poured from a 355 ml bottle into a clear pint glass. When poured it has a clear dark copper colour with about 2 fingers of tan head that dissipates very quickly after pour. It shows signs of medium carbonation throughout the beer. As the head starts to disappears, it left a thin layer of lacing around the pale ale.

Smell - When first poured the pale ale had a caramel and toffee type of aroma from the malts. When I took a second sniff of the pale ale, I was able to smell a piney and citrus smell of hops.

Taste - The beer starts off with a nice crisp taste. Then it is followed up by a delicious caramel malt taste with hints of citrus hops that aren't too strong.

Feel - It has a medium carbonated feel that goes down nice and smooth due to the light to medium body of the pale ale. It has a nice silky feel to it.

Overall - I loved this beer and would recommend it to everyone! Since this brand is from the Barrie area, you could say that I am a bit biased towards this beer. This beer showed all signs of a succulent pale ale and shows why it is a winner in my books. I would recommend enjoying this beer in any type of situation. So make sure you go out and try this delicious pale ale.

-E

Ladies Beer League Cask Fest

The Ladies Beer League would like to present you with the first ever Cask Beer Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia! The Ladies Beer League has brought together a mixture of delicious craft beers and fantastic food for the people of Halifax to enjoy for a one day event. This event will feature seven different Maritime craft breweries that will supply unique, one off, cask conditioned ales for the various beer lovers and enthusiasts of the Maritime region. For those who don't know what cask conditioned beer is, you can expect an unfiltered, unpasteurized ale that is traditionally fermented inside a cask. This allows the brewers to have some fun by offering you a smooth and flavourful experience as you taste these fantastic beers. This event will take place at the newest craft beer bar in Halifax, The Stubborn Goat. Each ticket purchased will include a 7 oz. sample from each cask and a chance to vote for this years 2013 Cask of the Year. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Ladies Beer League in which they will attribute the money to help host more exciting events in the future! If you aren't full after the sampling from each cask, you will be able to purchase additional drinks and food from the lovely staff at The Stubborn Goat.

When: Sunday November 17, 2013 from 1pm-8pm.

Where: This event will take place at The Stubborn Goat on 1579 Grafton Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Tickets: Afternoon session takes place from 1 pm to 4 pm for $35 and the evening session takes place from 5 pm to 8 pm for $35.

Brewers; The list of brewers include Hell Bay Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Garrison Brewing, Picaroons, Big Spruce Brewing, Boxing Rock and still one cask to be released soon.

So if you are in the gorgeous area of Halifax, stop on in to this one and only event that praises the delicious drink we call beer!

-E

Beau's Lug Tread Lagered Ale

Beau's Lug Tread Lagered Ale

Matt's weekly choice: Lug Tread lagered ale

Look - 3.75   Smell - 3.5     Taste - 4   Feel - 3.75   Overall - 4

Look - Poured from a 600 ml bottle into a pint glass. Light and golden colour which was perfectly clear, it had half a finger of white head which faded quickly.

Smell - This beer is very light smelling with smells of grain with a mix of light hops and malt.

Taste - Crisp tasting with flavours of grains, malt and slight floral notes. Has a bitter hoppy finish to it.

Feel - Very crisp and easy drinking. Medium carbonation and body. Has a dry after taste.

Overall - After smelling this beer I wasn't expected too much flavour but I was definitely wrong. It is very refreshing and a good lager. A very nice finish to the beer and delicious after taste. I definitely enjoyed this beer and would recommend it for any drinking occasion. It comes in an awesome 4 pack of beers which you can pick up at any local lcbo!

- Matt

Nickel Brook Green Apple Pilsner

Evan's weekly choice: Nickel Brook Green Apple Pilsner


Look - 4  Smell - 4.25   Taste -2.75  Feel - 3  Overall - 3.25

Look - This pilsner was poured from a 473 ml can into a clear pint glass. When poured it has a crystal clear bright golden colour with about 2 fingers of bright white fluffy head that stays around for about 6 minutes. It shows signs of high carbonation throughout the beer. As the head starts to disappear, it leaves a nice lacing around the top of the beer.

Smell - Once you open the can of beer, you instantly get a strong scent of green apple. Even throughout the beer it is constantly dominated by the smell of green apple and sugar. It comes to the point where it is almost impossible to smell any of the beer qualities that people are used to.

Taste - The beer starts off very sweet. Then it is followed up by a kind of sour green apple taste that overtakes the sweetness. The taste is like a cross between a cider and a beer.

Feel - It has a very high carbonated feel that is followed up by a light body. It feels a bit watery when going down.

Overall - I didn't mind this beer but I found it to be a bit fruity in my opinion. I felt it was too sweet for me. Even though I do love cider, when I am drinking a beer, I prefer a less of a fruitier taste. This wouldn't be too bad if you were having one on a nice summers day on the deck but I do recommend only having 1 or 2.

-E

OktoberFEAST 2013

What do you get when you combine some of the best craft brewers from Ontario, an assortment of gourmet food trucks and tons of Bavarian activities? You get an experience of a lifetime called OktoberFEAST! OktoberFEAST is a fundraising event with a portion of the sales going to the Canadian Cancer Society to help fund life-saving cancer research.

Inspired by traditions started in Germany over 200 years ago, OktoberFEAST hopes to bring together traditional Bavarian celebrations through food, drink and of course, festivities. This new event will help bring together craft brewers and beer enthusiasts, hot restaurants and food lovers, and Canadas most trusted charity and cancer fighters for an unforgettable night. This event will take place at the Evergreen Brickworks which is in the top ten geotourism destinations in the world considered by National Geographic. The event is sheltered but is still considered an outdoor place. So dress warm because this event will take place rain, snow or shine. But if you get cold there will be a few bonfires around to warm up by. This is a 19 plus event, so children and infants are not permitted.

Where: This event will be hosted at Evergreen Brickworks at 550 Bayview Ave. in Toronto, Ontario.

When: This event will be hosted on Friday October 25, 2013 from 5 pm to 1 am.

Tickets: Prost Pass- $75 (sold out)- includes: 5 drink tickets, line bypass, a stein and VIP seating
              Regular Pass- $20- includes your admission (drinks will be $6 each or 4 for $20)

Brewers: Amsterdam Brewery, Beau's All Natural Brewing Co., Black Oak Brewing Co., Creemore Springs Brewery Limited, Lake of Bays Brewing Co., Junction Craft Brewing, Northwinds Brewery, Pommies Dry Cider, Spearhead Brewing Company and Steamwhistle Pilsner.

Food Vendors: Choco Churros, Gourmet Gringos Catering, Hero Certified Burgers, Hogtown Smoke, Hot Bunzz Street Cuizine, Rock Lobster, Romen Chariot and Stuft Gourmet Sausages.

So put on your lederhosen and gamsbart and come out to help support a good cause at a wonderful event.

-E

 

Breweries of the week: Moosehead, Alexander Keith's and Garrison

This week we will be discussing a few breweries in eastern Canada!

Moosehead Brewery

Moosehead Brewery is Canada's oldest independent brewery that is family owned and has operated since 1867. They operate out of Saint John, New Brunswick and ship their beer to 14 different countries around the world. They produce a wide variety of beers for each international market that they sell in. For Canadians living in Ontario the most recognizable beers are Moosehead lager and Sam Adams Boston lager.

Alexander Keith's Brewery

Alexander Keith's Brewery is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It opened in 1820 and they have been brewing beer ever since. Alexander Keith, the founder of the company, was very politically active on the east coast and was even elected Mayor of Halifax in 1843. They are most known for their India pale ale and have recent released two new versions. These two new ales are their Hallertauer hop ale and Cascade hop ale which both offer a new distinct taste. They also have a very historic brewery tour in downtown Halifax if you are ever visiting!

Garrison Brewery

Garrison is a microbrewery in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are one of the founders of the microbrewery movement in Halifax and have operated since 1997. They offer a variety of microbrews including their Irish red ale, Tall Ship amber ale and nut brown ale. All of these beers can be purchased in a 2L Growler container which can be returned, cleaned and refilled for an affordable price. If you are ever in Halifax I suggest checking out their brewery which is right near Pier 21. It is a great place to have a patio beer and visit the local market for some delicious, fresh seafood.

- Matt

Cask Days 2013

Cask Days is back for the 9th year in 2013. Cask Days has transformed into one of the largest craft-beer events not only in Canada but North America. This event will feature over 200 casks from over 100 different microbreweries across Canada. This years main highlight will feature 36 beers from the United Kingdom.

This years Cask Days will be held at Evergreen Brick Works in which it will be helping to raise money to support Unity Charity. As a major contributor to the Ontario craft-beer community, Cask Days event holders have taken this event to the next level hosting over 4000 people over 2 days. This event will have different features such as beer education and introduction, community- focused beer drinking lifestyle, arts, music, food pairings and one on one time with the brewers across Canada.

Where: Cask Days is located in the Holcim Gallery and Koerner Gardens of Evergreen Brick Works at 550 Bayview Avenue in Toronto, Ontario.

When: October 19, 2013 (12 pm to 12 am) to October 20, 2013 (12 pm to 10 pm)

Tickets: Session One (12 pm to 5 pm)- $25- Saturday October 19, 2013
              Session Two (7 pm to 12 am)- $25- Saturday October 19, 2013
              Session Three (12 pm to 5 pm)-$25- Sunday October 20, 2013
              Save the Cask (5 pm to 10 pm)- Sunday October 20, 2013
              All Access (Session 1, 2 $ 3)-$60
              Brewers Breakfast (10:30 am to 12 pm)-$20-Saturday October 20, 2013

So if you are around our biggest city in Canada, try and drop by to visit this fantastic event to help raise money for a charity and to enjoy Canada's finest craft beers.

-E

King Pilsner

Evan's weekly choice: King Pilsner


Look - 4.5   Smell - 4   Taste - 4.25  Feel - 4.25  Overall - 4.25

Look - This pilsner was poured from a 473 ml can into a clear pint glass. When poured it has a crystal clear bright golden colour with moderate carbonation and about 2 fingers of milky white foamy head.

Smell - This pilsners aroma gives out hints of grainy and bready malts with a ting of spicy and grassy hops and a faint smell of citrus.

Taste - The beer starts off with a nice, crisp, dry taste that is expressed by the spicy hops and grainy malts. It then follows up with a mild aftertaste that allows you to enjoy it longer.

Feel - It has very moderate carbonated feel that is followed up by a light body with a excellent texture that goes down nice and easy.

Overall - I loved this beer and found it to be a very enjoyable pilsner.  I liked the light crisp taste that this pilsner had to offer which made it an easier choice to have more than just one. I would recommend this to people who are enjoying a nice sunny day on the patio. It is a very light bodied beer that could be easily enjoyed while you are soaking up the sun on a nice summers day.

-E

Lake of Bays Crosswind Pale Ale

Matt's weekly choice: Crosswind Pale Ale

Look - 3.25     Smell - 3     Taste - 3.5    Feel - 3.75   Overall - 3.5

Look - Poured from a 473ml tall can into a pint glass. Light, golden amber colour, half a finger of white head which faded quickly. Very little visible carbonation.

Smell - Light citrus floral notes with some malty caramel. Not a very strong smelling beer.

Taste - Very crisp tasting with notes of citrus, medium hops, and pale malts. Finishes with a taste of floral malts and a lasting bitterness.

Feel - Very light and easy drinking. Mild carbonation with a slight spicy feel. Has a bit of lasting dryness in the after taste

Overall - When I opened this beer I was expecting all the strong tastes that come with a Pale Ale. It was very crisp and tasty with a smooth finish. Feels like it is a bit watered down but still a very enjoyable drink. In the end, it is an easy going drink for any night but if your looking for something packed with Pale Ale flavour I would choose another beer.

- Matt

Breweries of the week: Beau's All Natural, Lake of Bays & Nickle Brook

For this week we will be featuring more Ontario Breweries!

Beau's All Natural Brewery

Beau's brewery is located at 10 Terry Fox dr in Vankleek. They have a focus on brewing all natural, high quality organic beers. It is a family run company that proudly controls the whole process of beer brewing, selling, marketing and transporting their product. Their goal is to "bring the world to us" through the creation of internationally renowned beer. They have won countless awards over the years and brew a wide assortment of seasonal and unique beers. Right now I would recommend checking out the Oktoberfest Mix Pack that includes a banana rauch weissbeer, German porter, roggenbeir (Bavarian rye), and a maibock.

Lake of Bays Brewery

Lake of Bays is located up north near Algonquin park at 2681 Muskoka rd in Baysville. They dedicate themselves to producing all natural premium beer. A free brewery tour is offered for anyone who wants to visit and book in advance. They hand-pack the beer with local employees and offer a 5L mini kegs (which can be found in many local LCBOs). The craft beers they produce season round are Crosswind pale ale, Spark House red ale, and Rock Cut lager.

Nickle Brook Brewery

Nickle Brook is located at 864 Drury lane in Burlington. They were founded in 2005 and have quickly created a diverse assortment of beers. They have free brewery tours (with samples!) that you can book and the brewery participates in many events within Toronto. They offer a wide selection of craft brews including their Nickle Brook green apple pilsner, a couple of India pale ales and many seasonal beers.

- Matt

Muskoka Dark Ale

Matt's weekly choice: Muskoka Dark Ale

Look - 3.5       Smell - 3.25      Taste - 4      Feel - 3.5     Overall - 3.75

Look - Poured from a 355ml bottle into a pint glass. Deep brown with two fingers of beige coloured head that disappeared quickly. It had a bit of lace (when the foam sticks to the side of the glass) making the beer look quite nice while drinking.

Smell - Deep chocolate and nutty notes with a hint of coffee.

Taste - Bitter chocolate, coffee and roasted malt taste. Leaves a burnt bitter after taste.

Feel - Easy drinking, thin beer considering it is dark ale. Medium to high carbonation that makes it quite smooth.

Overall - To start off I will say that I enjoy many varieties of dark ale and have a bit of a bias towards it.  It is surprisingly easy drinking considering it is a dark ale and is one of the only dark ales that I can enjoy more than one or two of in a single sitting. Might be a little over carbonated but that is probably to make up for its consistency. Easy drinking and quite an enjoyable craft brew.

- Matt

Muskoka Cream Ale

Evan's weekly choice: Muskoka Cream Ale


   Look - 4     Smell - 4   Taste - 3.75   Feel - 3.75  Overall - 4

Look - This cream ale was poured from a 473 ml can into a clear pint glass. When poured it has a clear copper-gold colour with constant carbonation and about 2 1/2 fingers of brownish-white foamy head. When the head settles it keeps a nice rim of foam over the body of the cream ale. The colour is a lot darker than I expected.

Smell - This cream ale has a sweeter smell with a mild grainy scent to it.

Taste - The beer starts off with a mild sweet taste that finishes off with a rather dry and bitter ending which is most likely caused by the malt and floral hops mixture.

Feel - It has very light carbonated feel that's followed by a thick heavy body which allows the cream ale to go down nice and smooth.

Overall - I would classify this beer as good choice of cream ale to enjoy. I liked the robust flavours that the beer had to offer that made it not too bold and aggressive. I would recommend this to people who enjoy having a beer to unwind while reading the paper or watching a television program. I wouldn't recommend drinking this beer in large quantities due to the fact that its heavier and that the taste might be too strong after a while which in turn could case you to become a bit ill. This is definitely better than most cream ales I have tried over the years.

-E

Harrison Beer Festival 2013

Craft beer month is back in British Columbia for October. With that being said Tourism Harrison Hot Springs  would like to welcome you back for the 2nd annual Harrison Beer Festival in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia. This years event will be bringing together BC's absolute best craft breweries as well as one of the more recognized and successful craft brewery from Ontario to the shores of beautiful Harrison Lake. The Harrison Hot Springs and Agassiz has a rich history in the beer industry that dates back 60 years ago. About 60 years ago, the regions main industry was hops which in turn is one of the main ingredients in beer. At the height of their industry, 300 acres were planted with hops.

This event will take place on the last weekend of October on the 25th and 26th with 3 different events taking place that will bring you fantastic tasting beer, delicious food and enjoyable entertainment.

Events

Cask Night
When: Friday October 25, 2013 - 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: St. Alice Hall
What: This event will feature 6 brewers offering a cask of their finest beer in which they will be judged and rated in a friendly competition to see which one prospers and gets picked the winner. This will be displayed with a British pub theme that offers a piano player and multiple dart boards for your entertainment while you enjoy your drinks.
Cost: $18 which includes a sampling glass and 3 tasting tokens.

Beer Festival
When: Saturday October 26, 2013 - 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: St. Alice Hall
What: This event will bring together BC's best craft breweries to celebrate craft beer month in which people will be able to visit, sample and enjoy the beers that the brewers have to offer.
Cost: $20 which includes a sampling glass and 3 tasting tokens.

Oktoberfest Dance
When: Saturday October 26, 2013 - 8 pm to 11:30 pm
Where: St. Alice Hall
What: The Beer Barrel Band will come together to give you live entertainment while you try to combine beer and food in your hands with dancing.
Cost: $25 which includes an authentic Oktoberfest mug

Sponsors: The Village of Harrison Hot Springs, The Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce, The Agassiz Harrison Museum, The Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa.

Brewers: Cannery Brewery, Central City Brewing Co., Coal Harbour Brewing Co., Dead Frog Brewery, Driftwood Brewery, Fernie Brewing Co., Lighthouse Brewing Co., Mill St. Brewery, Mission Springs Brewing Co., Mt. Begbey Brewing Co., Old Yale Brewing Co., Pacific Western Brewing Co., Parallel Brewing Co., Phillips Brewing Co., Russell Brewery, Tin Whistle Brewing Co., Tree Brewing Co., Vancouver Island Brewery

So if you have a free weekend to spare, not only go to Harrison Hot Springs for the beautiful views and hot springs but for this fantastic event of great festivities.

 -E

Breweries of the week: Muskoka Brewery, Flying Monkeys & King Brewery

 

 

For this week we will be discussing a few breweries north of Toronto! We will be sampling two Dark ales from these breweries and blogging about them.

King Brewery

King Brewery is located in Nobleton at 5645 King Road just north of Toronto. They opened in 2002 and are committed to brewing authentic premium beer. Their website explains it best "(We) offer an unprecedented combination; the craftsmanship and heritage of Old World brewing, combined with the freshness of a local product". They have won many awards including a gold medal in 2012 at the Ontario Brewing Awards and participate in many Toronto beer events. Their beer selections include King Pilsner, King Dark and Vienna Lager.




Flying Monkeys Brewery

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery is located north of Toronto in Barrie. They are right downtown at 107 Dunlop Street East. This brewery's motto is "Normal is Weird" and just seeing their beer list you can understand. They brew a massive variety of craft beers; the year round ones are their excellently named Antigravity light ale, Hoptical Illusion pale ale, Netherworld Cascadian dark ale, Smashbomb Atomic IPA and Flying Monkeys amber ale. If you are ever walking around Dunlop street I encourage you to head inside for some free samples(yes free!). They also offer free tours with samples every weekday at 2pm,  and Saturdays hourly from1 pm and 4 pm and Sundays at 1pm and 3pm.

 

Muskoka Brewery

Muskoka Brewery is right in the middle of Muskoka on 1964 Muskoka Beach Road in Bracebridge. It was established quite recently in 1996 and has quickly grown into a popular craft brewery. They offer a wide selection of beers; you can enjoy their cream ale, dark ale, craft lager, mad tom IPA and many other specialty beers. This brewery participates in the Muskoka Beer Festival every year which is highly recommended. For cottagers enjoying Muskoka, check out their brewery tours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30PM.

- Matt





Windsor Craft Beer Festival 2013

The Windsor area is finally bringing you an event dedicated to beer and wine. The Windsor Craft Beer Festival 2013 is the first event in the Windsor area that praises beer and wine for 2 consecutive days. This will be hosted by WindsorEats who have been bringing you events and information on restaurants and bars within the Windsor and Essex County area since 2004. The event will bring together local and craft brewers from across Ontario who will participate together in a festival that will celebrate delicious beers and wonderful wines. The event is about local culture, the resurgence of Walkerville Brewery and the rapid craft beer movement across Canada. There will be entertainment, craft beer from around the province, great local food and also an ode to beer throughout each day to show our appreciation for the best type of drink on earth, BEER!

Where: The event will be held in Windsor, Ontario in the Olde Walkerville Historic Neighbourhood across from the Walkerville Brewery at 525 Argyle Rd. and Wyandotte St. E.

When: Friday, October 18, 2013: 5:00pm to 10:30pm
           Saturday, October 19, 2013: 3:00pm to 10:30pm

Admission: $25/Day ($30 at the gate) General Admission (Limited Tickets)
                    $45/Day VIP Pass (Sold Out)

Brew Houses: Bayside Brewing Company, Mill Street Brewing Company, Beau's All Natural Brewing Company, Broadhead Brewing Company, Highlander Brew Company, Lake of Bays Brewing Company, Motor Craft Ales, Walkerville Brewery, Wellington Brewery

So if you're in the Windsor area, I highly recommend visiting this drinkable event.



-E

Mill Street Original Organic Lager

Evan's weekly choice : Mill Street Original Organic Lager

  Look - 3     Smell - 2.5    Taste - 3.5   Feel - 3   Overall - 3

Look - This lager was poured from a 473 ml can into a clear pint glass. When poured it has a yellow-gold colour with light to medium carbonation and about 2 fingers of white fluffy head.

Smell - This lager has a very mild aroma with a malty, grassy/grainy type of smell with a hint of citrus.

Taste - The beer starts off with a bitterly-sweet taste follow up by a malty and grainy aftertaste.

Feel - It has light to medium carbonated feel with a light body that goes down fairly smooth with a slightly crisp, clean feeling to it.

Overall - I would classify this beer as just average. I didn't come into this situation with much expectations about this lager so it was just as I expected. It is awesome to see that Mill Street is producing an organic style of beer. I would recommend this beer to be drank on a hot summers day but other than that I would only drink this if someone offered it to me.

-E

Amsterdam Blonde Lager

Matt's weekly choice : Amsterdam Blonde Lager

For each of the beers we sample we will be rating them on five different classic categories. Look, taste, smell, feel and overall rating. This Amsterdam Blonde Lager was poured from a 473 ml can.

 Look - 3     Smell - 3    Taste - 4    Feel - 4   Overall - 3.5

Look - Very clear with a yellow-golden tinge to it. Minimal head when poured from a tall can into a pint glass. Lots of visible carbonation in the beer. Looks like an average blonde lager.

Smell - Not very much smell to this beer, a slight tinge of hops and a bit of a floral scent to it.

Taste - For a light blonde beer I thought the flavour was great. It was a very clean, refreshing taste which goes down really easy. Slight tinge of caramel, malt and sweetness. Nice, almost bitter after taste which arises from the floral hops.

Feel - It has a smooth, carbonated feel on your palate. Crisp and easy to drink.

Overall - In my opinion this is a great beer for a sunny summer afternoon. Nothing too memorable about the taste but it is produced from all natural ingredients and not pasteurized. Nice to drink very cold and slowly warming where you can get more of the essence of the beer. For the price it's a great choice for Toronto locals.

- Matt

Toronto Breweries

 We will be discussing three of the largest microbreweries in Toronto. Steamwhistle, Mill Street and Amsterdam breweries have grown in popularity and size over the last few years. These breweries produce a variety of different beers and two of them have large restaurants where you can enjoy them with a nice meal.

Steamwhistle Brewery

Steamwhistle is located in the heart of Toronto at The Roundhouse at 255 Bremner Blvd. It has been a brewery enjoyed by Blue Jay's fans for countless years and known to produce a single pilsner beer in a green glass bottle. They have a very informative tour which explains how they grew as an iconic Toronto based beer company. Their slogan is "Do one thing really, really well" and they believe in perfecting their one pilsner to excellence.

Mill Street Brewery

Mill Street is in the Distillery District at 21 Tankhouse Ln. They have a large brew pub where they serve fantastic food and draught beer. You can get a sampler to try an assortment of their many handcrafted beers. They have over 12 beers to choose from with many new and seasonal varieties coming out every year. They recently expanded into Ottawa and Pearson airport and continue to produce excellent innovative beers.

Amsterdam Brewery

Amsterdam brewery recently relocated their brewery to Leaside Village at 45 Esandar Drive. At this location you can take informative free brewery tours where you can sample their beers.They also have established Brewhouse which is located right on the lake downtown at 245 Queens Quay W. In the Brewhouse they serve all of their beer types while selling gourmet quality food. They have beer samplers where you can try four of their beers including a different seasonal beer for each time of year.





Keep calm and drink on!
E & M

Types of Beer

For our first post we wanted to help our followers understand the various types of beer. Here are the names and definitions of all the delicious varieties of beer.

Lager

A lager is typically pale, crisp, dry and refreshing. It is fermented for a much longer period and at a lower temperature than ales.

Pilsner

In 1842, Czechoslovakian brewers created a new type of lager, the pilsner. Pilsners have a familiar golden colour and a notable hop accent. Even though pilsners and lagers are both bottom-fermented, you can rely on a difference in tastes to help distinguish between the two.

Ale

In ales, you will find much more flavourful beers that can have strong individual personalities. Many of them will have fruity, herbal or spicy characteristics. Ales use top fermenting yeasts that do not require the refrigeration that other yeasts do.

Pale Ale

Surprisingly, pale ales may range in colour from golden to deep amber. They were named pale ales because they were much lighter in colour than the dark porters and stouts that preceded them. Pale ales are generally more highly hopped and lightly carbonated. Pale ales are robust beers that can be enjoyed with strongly spiced foods.

Porters and Stouts

Dry or sweet, flavoured with roasted malt barley, oats or certain sugars, stouts and porters are characterized by darkness in colour and rich roasted malt flavour. Porter is an ale brewed with a special combination of malts to create a heavier flavour, aroma and colour. To complement this heavier flavour, Porters generally have a fuller body and a slightly sweeter taste.
Stouts often use a portion of unmalted roasted barley to develop a dark, slightly astringent, coffee-like character. Stout features a rich, creamy head and is similar to a dark Porter, but is usually less sweet-tasting and more heavily hopped.

Wheat Beer

Wheat beers often have an unfiltered pale and hazy appearance because of the type of yeasts used. Wheat beers have a wide range of flavours as a number of spices are used in the brewing process. As the name indicates, a white beer is brewed with a large proportion of wheat and malted barley. White beer and weissbier are the most common types of white beers.

Light and Extra-Light Beer

Light and extra-light beers are brewed in a similar fashion to ale and lager, but are lower in alcohol and generally contain fewer calories. A light beer in Canada contains 2.6 to 4% alcohol by volume and an extra-light beer contains less than 2.5% alcohol by volume.

Fruit/Vegetable/Spice Beer

In recent years, brewers have revisited a past tradition of adding flavour and in many cases real fruit or vegetables to the brewing process in order to create a wide variety of new beers. While most fruit beers are ales, they typically do not carry much of the ale character. In order to allow for the fruit flavor to come through nicely, the malt’s flavor is not dominant and there is a low bitterness level to the beer.

Keep calm and drink on!
E & M


This was sourced from http://www.brewers.ca/en/types-of-beer

Welcome!

Hey everyone and welcome to Evan and Matt's Let's Talk Beer blog! Over the next few months we will be discussing anything and everything about Canadian beer. Each week we will be sampling beers of a certain type. From a lager to a nice indian pale ale, we will be expressing our opinions of the beers and making suggestions to our fellow beer drinkers. We will give details into how beers are made, local Canadian breweries and the differences in each type of beer. We look forward to a fun and informative experience helping our followers choose the most delicious beers!

Keep calm and drink on!
E & M