Beer O'Clock: Burden of Proof

I had such a great time at karaoke night at Stray Dog Brewing, last Friday. But then again, I always do.

The talent pool is quite deep, with so many great singers, including Brewmaster Marc Plante. Even my karaoke buddy from Hummingbird Hall—and before that, the man who invited me to join his singing peeps at Conspiracy Theory—James, came along and added his voice to the participants.

Stray Dog is in my top three breweries in Ottawa, right up there with Broadhead Brewery and Bicycle Craft Brewery. But there are two things^* that I'm not crazy about with this beer shop: first off, it's too damned far from home.

In good traffic, I can get there in just over 30 minutes, half of which is highway driving, along the Queensway and Highway 174, out to the far end of Orleans. If traffic isn't ideal, I'm looking at almost 45 minutes.

If I want beer from them, I tend to order it online and have it delivered. But I'll almost never drive to check out a new release. It's just too far.

But karaoke night is always fun and worth the drive. You should check out their schedule and keep an eye out for the next one.

The second thing that works against Stray Dog, for me, is that I have to watch my beer consumption when I'm there, because I have to drive home. And I tend to stick to beer that is under the six-percent alcohol content.

On my last visit, I had two 14-ounce glasses of their new pale ale, Tariffied, a juicy and easy-drinking ale. (I feel stupid for not picking some up while I was there!) I had a third drink, their Jeanne D'Ark stout, which is my personal favourite of Stray Dog's lineup. It's only 4.5% ABV, so it's also an easy-drinking brew.

While I was singing, I found my throat was getting dry, but not wanting any more alcohol, I took a look at their non-alcoholic lineup, and chose their IPA. It was refreshing but it was clear that it was a so-called near-beer.

I was chatting with Marc about his non-alcoholic selection, and as I settled my tab, at the end of the evening, he slipped me two cans: the IPA and a pale ale.

Let's look at the latter.

Burdon of Proof Pale Ale (0.4% ABV; 65 calories)
Stray Dog Brewing Company
Orleans ON

Appearance: pours a clear, deep gold that had me thinking of a strong ginger beer. There are large bubbles that cling to the glass, further simulating a soft drink. A fizzy, white head leaves no cap, but a loose lace that quickly dissipates.

Nose: I detected pears right off the top but it had a flintiness that made me think stringent hops. After a few minutes of settling, a nice citrus aroma came forward.

Palate: this pale ale has that watery, light body that tells me right away that there's no alcohol in the glass. There's a flavour that I pick up in lots of near-beer (I'm thinking of Partake), and this one is no different. Stray Dog is not trying to fool you. But it is refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall impression: while I needed something to keep my throat moist for singing, I didn't want any more alcohol, and Burden of Proof IPA hit the spot. But I think I prefer the pale ale version, which is also refreshing but I found the aromas to be more enticing. The IPA is good: the pale ale is better.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Burden of Proof is a great alternative to actual beer. I'd gladly add it to my repertoire for non-alcoholic suds.

But I won't drive to Orleans to get it.

I would, however, consider adding it to my next online order. Deliveries in the Ottawa area are free on orders of $60 or more; otherwise, there's a $15 charge to get it to your front door.

Many thanks again to Marc for the cans. You are a gentleman and great brewmaster.

And you're a great singer, too!

Cheers!

^* To be clear, my two strikes against Stray Dog are said tongue-in-cheek: I'd never hold anything against the great folks of this Orleans brewery.

Singing Buddies

This isn't what I expected.

A few weeks ago, I had planned to check out a Bells Corners brew pub, which hosted a weekly karaoke night, to see if I'd be able to practice singing new songs before I tried them out on my friends who are also avid karaoke singers.

The first time I arrived at Conspiracy Theory Brewing on my own, it was filled with people who were celebrating someone's retirement. I stepped in the doorway, saw all the suits and dresses, and did a 180 out of there.

I then learned that the brewhouse and kitchen was moving it's Thursday karaoke to Friday. I couldn't go for the first Friday because it was DW's birthday, but I promised myself that I would go the next week.

And that was last Friday.

As I had hoped, the spacious dining area was mostly empty. Someone was at the microphone: a man who appeared to be in his mid-60s, belting out a song I didn't recognize with a beautiful voice.

Stiff competition, if this was a singing contest. Luckily, it's not.

Five people were at one table, four at another, and a lone man was at a third. Looking toward the bar, there were about four people ponied up, and a couple of people were sitting at a small table, across from the bar.

Small crowd. Perfect.

The server who had looked after my friend, Perry, and me, when we showed up in late November, greeted me once more. When I told him that I was just here for drinks and to sing, he let me pick any table I wanted, and I chose one of the long tables near the booth where Perry and I had sat a couple of months ago. I wasn't too close to anyone else and not far from the exit, so I could leave, unnoticed by the other tables, when I was ready to leave.

I ordered a pale ale that was hoppy and full-bodied. Flavourful and tasty. For any of my Beer O'Clock fans, it was called Cousin Yeti, a golden-amber brew that weighed in at 5.6% ABV and 35 IBUs. Crushable. Sessionable.

Two-and-a-half mugs on my rating scale.

About halfway into my glass and between singers, I moved up to the KJ to put in my request. He recognized me from November and asked me for my name again. When I gave it, he looked me up on his computer. Apparently, he keeps track of the singers and the songs they had performed.

I had two songs from when Perry and I were here: "Behind Blue Eyes," by The Who and "I Am, I Said," by Neil Diamond.

I asked him if he had "Driver 8," by R.E.M. I had sung that song at the last karaoke night my friends and I attended, at O'Brien's, and thought I'd warm up with a song I had already sung, but this KJ didn't have it.

"I have 'Drive'," he said.

"Not the same song," I replied. I figured that I might as well get right into the practice and requested a song that I haven't sung before. Luckily, he had it.

I returned to my table and listened to others. Everyone at the tables in my section participated, and they all had great voices. As the people at the table with six patrons got up and down from their table, I recognized a couple of them from my November visit.

When it was my turn to get up, I realized that I'd be leaving my glass unattended. I don't have the same fears as I have warned my daughters about, when they leave their own drinks unattended in a bar. I was pretty sure no one would try to put anything in my drink, but all the same I was going to sing with my eyes on my table—I knew the words to my song so didn't need the teleprompter.

Song done, I sat down and added liquid to my dry throat. Within a few seconds of settling in, one of the men from the table of six approached me.

"Are you on your own tonight?" he asked.

"I am."

"Would you like to join our table?"

Honestly, I didn't really want to. My whole purpose for being here was to enjoy a brew, maybe two, sing a song, maybe two, and head out. No muss. No fuss.

The man sort of reminded me of one of my oldest buddies, Don, minus the silver hair. I pegged him to be in his late 40s to early 50s. His friends were all looking toward us, a couple of them motioning for me to come over.

"Sure, if you don't mind," I said.

"Yeah, come join us."

There were two other men and three women at the table, all of varying ages. One of the men was the guy who was singing when I arrived. His name was Jeff. The man who invited me was James. There was an April and an Annie, and unfortunately I forgot the other two names shortly thereafter the introductions were made.

"How do you all know one another?" I asked, once I had sat down.

They hadn't worked together, hadn't met one another before they got into karaoke. Many of them were hardcore, going to venues around the city: some, as often as five or six times a week. They got to recognize one another and eventually started meeting up. They're essentially establishment at Conspiracy Theory.

We chatted about the genres of music that we liked and what we disliked. I said that there were only two genres of music that I really didn't like: rap and country.

Some of them loved country music and I was told that I was being too simplistic in generalizing rap music, that there were different kinds.

"I've heard many variations and there isn't one style that I've liked," I said.

"Same here," said Annie, "rock and roll, all the way!" She gave me a high five.

"Should I give the KJ another song?" I asked.

"No need," said James. "He's got you in the system. He'll call you up when it's your turn and you can give him the song then."

We chatted about the different venues for karaoke around the city and I learned, from James, that there's a place next to the Nepean School of Music, under the Barrhaven Mall, that has karaoke every Wednesday night. I might have to check that out.

I also learned that James lives in my neighbourhood. Not just Barrhaven, but one street over, about a couple of hundred metres or so from one another.

I ordered a second glass, this time choosing the No Goal IPA. I was pleased to learn that it is very much like a traditional British IPA: no haze, no tropical fruit; just a clear, copper-gold, with notes of grapefruit and pine resin, but a bitter acidity that was a bit strong.

Everyone at the table had a turn at the mic and everyone was great. Jeff took the cordless mic and walked as far as the bar. In unison, the other man at the table (whose name escaped me) and I said, "If he walks into the washroom with that mic, I'm leaving."

"Jeff likes to wander," said James. "One time, during the summer, he walked out to the patio and then kept going, got halfway across the street before turning back."

"Good range on that mic," I said.

It wasn't until I was about three-quarters through my IPA when my name was called. "I'm going to try something that I haven't sung before, so I'm going to get my apologies out of the way now," I said, rising from my chair.

I asked the KJ about which platform he uses for his music. "I buy them from all over. I pay about $3.50 to $4 per song and have made my own list."

I requested my song and he acknowledged that he had it. Typing the title on his keyboard, he showed me the result. "I have two versions: a KaraFun and Zoom version."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I've tried singing the KaraFun version, through YouTube, at home, but I don't like it. You have to sing all the words and some are out of my range. There's also a line that overlaps another so it can't be sung very well.

The Zoom Entertainment version leaves the high-range lyrics up to the recording and the overlapped lyrics are also automated. I requested that one.

There's a part in the song where the singer sings a somewhat high note and sustains it for a few seconds. When I've practiced the song at home, I've chosen to drop that note to the way it's sung two times previous in the song, at a lower register.

As I sang the song, I tested my volume and thought about that one note. Should I attempt it? Everyone who sang, this evening, had done a great job. Did I risk cracking my voice toward the climax of the song?

I was here to practice. I wasn't here to make friends. If I crack the note here, I'd drop down for when I sang it at the karaoke night with my friends, at Stray Dog Brewing, on February 8.

I decided, as the lyrics came up, that I was going to go for it.

If I cracked the note, who cares? Sure, these new folks were nice, inviting a new stranger to join their crowd. If I really botched the song, I could find another venue. Maybe James didn't go to the place in the Barrhaven Mall every week.

I nailed the note. Back at the table, James confirmed it. "You nailed it."

I only had a mouthful of the IPA left, and I had already settled my tab with the waitress, so I didn't bother sitting back down. I gulped the rest of my glass, grabbed my coat.

"Going already?" asked Annie.

"Afraid so. I was great to meet everyone. Thanks for inviting me to your table."

"We hope to see you next week," said the man, whose name I'll need to get.

Next time.

Beer O'Clock: Landlord

Whenever I see a 500 ml bottle of ale, I feel some trepidation. If it's an entirely new beer for me—new style or new brewer—I'm a bit hesitant in picking it up and adding it to my shopping cart.

If I don't like it, 500 mils is a lot to pour down the drain.

But when I went shopping for new brews (for me) from my friendly neighbourhood LCBO, I spied one bottle and decided to take the chance. It was a British ale, and I have yet to try one that I didn't like. Or love.

The bottle is simple enough: a typical English landlord (bar keep) pouring a pint, with the name of the brewery and the ale circled around the drawing. And it tells you that inside the bottle is not only a classic pale ale but "the" classic pale ale.

Let's find out, shall we?

Landlord Pale Ale (4.1% ABV)
Timothy Taylor's
Keighley, England

Appearance: pours a clear, deep copper with a dense, foamy head that lays like a thick, beige cap that settles to almost a centimetre in depth.

Nose: fresh-cut grass dominates but there's an underlying buckwheat honey aroma. With some perseverance, light citrus can also be detected.

Palate: a piney bitterness hits first with an overwhelming mouthfeel that screams chemical, like acetone. I suspected a flaw in the bottle so I dumped it and cracked open my second bottle.

This bottle poured with a slightly paler head that settled to a thin but solid cap, so I suspected the first bottle was off. This bottle's nose also wasn't as grassy and the honey stood out more.

This time, the acetone was gone and the piney resin taste was more tempered. There is still a bitterness but it didn't overwhelm me, and there was some honey that also came through. The body is full for a 4.1% brew but not heavy, and the finish lingers with flavours of a strongly brewed tea.

Overall impression: let's forget the first bottle. Landlord reminds me, in ways, of a classic IPA, though it's a bit milder. I find American pale ales are lighter in colour and in body, and are more easy-drinking.

If Landlord is the classic pale ale, it sets a new touchstone for me. But I think I prefer the lightness of an APA: if I want more bitterness, I'd opt for an IPA.

Still, Landlord has won many awards, winning both CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Awards Gold Medal four times.

Overall, it's an enjoyable ale that I would drink again, as long as it doesn't taste like the first bottle I opened.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

You can find Timonty Taylor's Landlord in the LCBO.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Hatch

I really shouldn't go beer shopping with DW.

"What about this one?" she would ask, pointing at a colourful can on the shelf in the LCBO. "It looks interesting."

"I've had it. Already reviewed it."

"How about this?"

"Had it."

"This?"

"Done."

"This looks good," she'd say, holding up a can.

"It is good. I've already reviewed it."

"Oh, you like Bellwoods," she said, pointing to a group of various cans and bottles from this Toronto brewery. "Have you had any of those?"

I scanned the shelf. I had had most of them but my eyes fell to a brew that was new to me. "I haven't had this beer," I said, picking up a couple of cans and adding them to my shopping basket, "but I've reviewed Bellwoods a couple of times. I'd like to review something from a brewery that's new to me."

"You don't make this easy," she said.

"It's usually easy when I do this on my own."

The truth is, when I wander the beer aisles of our liquor store, my eyes can quickly scan and rule out any beer that I've already had, where I recognize the can or label. I'll also see the logo of a recognized brewery and tend to keep scanning, always on the lookout for something new.

As DW demonstrated, I've tried a lot of different brews.

But next to the Bellwoods display, my eyes fell on a label that I didn't recognize. And I was unfamiliar with the brewery, so a couple of cans went into my basket.

"So we're done?" DW asked, her tone clearly indicating that our mission had been accomplished and that there was no point in lingering.

When I'm on my own, I would tend to keep looking. I'd fill my basket with several new brews so that I'd have an idea of how many Beer O'Clock reviews I had before me. And my beer fridge had only three cans of beer left in the fridge, all of which had been reviewed. I clearly needed to restock.

But I'd have to wait for another time, when I was shopping for beer on my own.

For now, I had a new Bellwoods brew to enjoy and a completely new brewery (new for me, that is) to explore and share with you. Let's call it a hatchling.

Hatch Pale Ale (5.2% ABV)
Slake Brewing
Prince Edward County ON

Appearance: pours a hazy pale orangy-yellow, similar to a glass of grapefruit juice (grapefruit is prominent in this ale). The head pours a modest white that immediately settles to a thin cap and then dissipates in a fine lace. On a second pour, I was much more aggressive and got a foamy head, but even that didn't last more than a couple of minutes.

Nose: bright, ripe grapefruit.

Palate: the grapefruit hits you right off the bat, with lush, bitter citrus. For a moment, I thought I was actually drinking a fizzy grapefruit juice. But the fruit drops off quickly and I was left with a short, watery finish. On subsequent sips, the bitter hops would coat the mouth but the fruit always fell away.

Overall impression: I always think of a pale ale as a milder version of an India Pale Ale: you get the hops, you get good fruit, but it doesn't wallop you like an IPA. A pale ale is an easy-drinking, sessionable IPA.

Hatch is certainly that, with the light and refreshing citrus aroma and a light body. But for me, I wish the citrus flavours would linger a little longer. I know it sounds like a fine point, but when this ale first filled my mouth, I thought wow, that's a juicy surprise; and then, my delight was abruptly cut short as I swallowed and all the flavour seemed to go down my throat, leaving just a trace of the hops.

After a minute or two of not drinking any of the brew, my taste buds had no memory of it. It's like the ale wasn't fully... hatched.

Now, this could be a good thing if you want to quench your thirst on a hot day and don't want any lingering flavours. This ale goes down well: it's just that when it's gone, it's gone.

Overall, I liked Hatch. And I guess that any beer that leaves you wanting more can be a good thing, right?

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Slake Brewing offers a $10 Ontario shipping rate if you want to order Hatch or any of their other offerings, and Hatch itself can be found in the LCBO.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: One Hop

There are lots of single-hopped ales out there, and that's a good thing.

By focusing on one hop, you can learn the subtleties of that variety and be able to detect it in future brews. If a label doesn't list the hops that are used in making the beer that you're drinking, you can at least pick out that hop by the flavour profile.

And so, today's review is going to focus on a single-hop pale ale by a brewery that I had never heard of before I happened upon one of their pale ales in my local grocery store. And while I wasn't fussy about that brew, I quite like this creation.

Mosaic Single Hop Pale Ale (5.2% ABV)
Furnace Room Brewery
Georgetown ON

Appearance: a glowing, hazy apricot-orange with a foamy white head that pours thick and then settles to a thin cap.

Nose: limes, pineapple.

Palate: flavours of pine and grass make up the bulk of what you feel in the mouth, and it comes to a short, clean finish. 

Overall impression: this is a thirst-quenching, easy-drinking pale ale that goes down nicely on a late-autumn afternoon

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Furnace Room Brewery gets bonus points for calling this ale a "pale ale" and not an IPA. Too often do breweries play fast and loose with that name for this style of beer that an India Pale Ale has started to lose its identity. If you've read my reviews of yore, you may have heard me complain in the past.

So good for you, Furnace Room!

You can find Mosaic Single Hop Pale Ale in the LCBO or you can order it directly from the brewery.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: East Coast Pale Ale

I actually thought I had reviewed this ale before.

One of the disadvantages of reviewing local breweries is that I feel as though I've focused on just a handful of the many establishments in this fine city. And it's true, I have.

I plan to cast my hop-scented net a little further, in the future, to bring you more suds from the breweries that Ottawa has to offer. I also want to go further and explore more beer in Ontario, Quebec, and the rest of Canada.

Heck, I want to try all the beer!

Before the pandemic, I made a trip out to one of the breweries between Little Italy and Hintonburg (Hintaly?), to a brewery whose beer I like but don't seek out as often as I should. Or maybe I made the trip sometime during the pandemic for a curbside pickup.

My COVID-brain has lost all track of time and space.

Regardless of when I made the visit, I picked up, among their flagship cream ale and other goodies, a pale ale that seemed to be a limited release. Last week, when I learned that Vimy Brewing Company had once again released this ale, I thought, "Oh, I should get some more. I remember writing a review."

Only, I hadn't written a review. In fact, I've only reviewed this brewery once, and it was their aforementioned cream ale.

This pale ale was deserving of a closer look, so here we go.

East Coast Pale Ale (4.8% ABV, 38 IBUs)
Vimy Brewing Company
Ottawa, ON

Appearance: a dried-apricot gold with a foamy, white head that settles to a thin but dense cap and stays that way down the glass.

Nose: mild grapefruit and the faintest hint of dried, candied fruit.

Palate: soft plums and easy-to-take hops culminate in a mildly bitter finish.

Overall impression: this is a very easy-going ale that can be casually sipped with company. There is no harsh bitterness and because the finish is mild, it begs you to take another mouthful. The fruit gently reminds you that it's there but doesn't impose itself. It's a great, all-round ale.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Because Vimy Brewing is in the process of moving, its taproom and shop are currently closed. This means that you won't be able to visit them until they settle into their new location, on Industrial Road (they're going to be neighbours to my good friends at Bicycle Craft Brewery!).

But you can order from Vimy and have your beer delivered. Orders of 24 cans or more get you free delivery in Ottawa or throughout Ontario for only $10. When I ordered my two-four before noon, it arrived later that afternoon.

I'm looking forward to checking out their new digs. I'll have to remember to do that.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Kashmir

Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars fill my dream
I'm a traveler of both time and space
To be where I have been—Led Zeppelin, "Kashmir"

Fourty-seven years, to the day, that this iconic rock tune was released, I still love it. Once it's in my head, it's hard to get out—not that I ever try to dislodge it.

One of the things that I like about Stittsville's Brew Revolution is that they give their suds names that take me back to good times, listening to the music that I grew up with and love to this date. Walkin' On Sunshine (their NEIPA). Vienna (a lager).

And Kashmir, a Norwegian pale ale, made with Cashmere hops.

I suspect that the folks at Brew Revolution use kveik yeast in their pale ale, to give it that Norwegian distinction. There's something in the flavour profile that gives me that impression.

Let's get into it.

Kashmir – Norwegian Pale Ale (4.5% ABV, 20 IBUs)
Brew Revolution
Stittsville ON (Ottawa)

Appearance: a clear, deep gold with a foamy white head that leaves a solid cap.

Nose: pear. That's it. Pear.

Palate: melon and lemon-lime citrus, with just the slightest hint of banana, and a flinty, mineral finish that coats the mouth with subsequent sips. It's a clean-drinking, dry ale.

Overall impression: the first time that I tried this Norwegian pale ale, I fell in love with it. It had characteristics that were both familiar and surprising. I reached for it when I wasn't in the mood for an IPA and it really hit the spot. It had a good, light body and lots of flavour. It was dry without being bitter and I could really discern the fruit flavours.

In reviewing Kashmir, I opened my last of four cans and was a little disappointed that my supply was coming to an end. And then I remembered that I could always order more, and I'll be sure to. Easily sessionable, I would drink this on both a cold winter's evening and a hot summer's day.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

You can pick up Kashmir Norwegian Pale Ale directly from Brew Revolution or order it online and have it delivered for a nominal fee.

My Shangri-la beneath the summer moon
I will return again
As the dust that floats high in June
We're moving through Kashmir

Rock on... I mean, cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Finch Pale Ale

A few weeks ago, I learned something new: goldfinches change their appearance during the winter months.

For the past few years, DW and I have enjoyed the myriad birds that have visited the feeder in our backyard. Chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, and juncos. We have even been surprised to find a couple of Downey woodpeckers visit our feeder.

Finches are common sightings on our feeder. We get house finches, purple finches, and goldfinches. But until recently, I'd only see goldfinches during the summer, with their bright-yellow plumage distinct and easily spottable in the green and purple leaves of our chokecherry.

Because I never saw our yellow friends in the winter months, I assumed that they simply moved on when the weather got colder.

Not so.

A few weeks ago, I saw a round-bellied, yellow-throated bird at my feeder and reached for my binoculars. "New bird!" I called to DW, getting her attention. I passed her the binoculars and went for one of my D-SLRs, adding my 300mm lens to it.

Having never seen a bird that looked like it before, I sent the photo to my Twitter followers, to see if they could identify it for me. It looked finch-like but I added that it wasn't a goldfinch.

I was wrong.

And that's how I learned, from my bird-loving photographer friend, Karen, that goldfinches change their plumage and indeed do stay in our neighbourhood.

Another finch that I discovered, recently, is one that doesn't literally fly but had me soaring to new heights and ready to sing its praises. And while I thought this Finch Pale Ale, by Bicycle Craft Brewery, might be better suited to summer months, I found it quite enjoyable in the middle of winter.

Let's take a close look at it. (No binoculars necessary.)

Finch Pale Ale (4.5% ABV)
Bicycle Craft Brewery
Ottawa ON

Appearance: mostly clear (slightly unfiltered), rich gold with a sudsy-white head that settles to a tight lace.

Nose: floral aromas mixed with lychee and a touch of pineapple.

Palate: fresh mango and distinct pineapple, with a kiss of lime on the finish. This is a clean, tropical ale.

Overall impression: while I tend to reach for this type of ale in hotter weather, I found it hit the spot on a winter's afternoon. Finch hit all the right notes in aroma, mouth feel, and finish. It's flavourful yet light, and I would reach for one any time.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

Finch pale ale is available at the brewery or it can be ordered online. There's free shipping in Ottawa and can be delivered throughout Ontario for a modest $12 fee (a minimum order of $40 is required for these delivery rates).

I imagine that Finch Pale Ale is flying off the store shelves so capture some while you can.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Chicken Man & Cat Lady

Chicken Man and Cat Lady sitting in a tree
D-R-I-N-K-I-N-G
First comes pale ale; next, IPA
When they're all done, they call it a day.

That take on a kids nursery rhyme came into my head as soon as I made my way out of the LCBO.

I hadn't set out to buy any beer that day. DW and I were in our local Loblaws, shopping for groceries to make dinner to celebrate my mother's birthday and my mother rarely has anything to drink. But when we turned down an aisle that was stocked with wine and craft beer, my eyes naturally turned toward the myriad cans.

I couldn't help but stop when I saw a green can that showed a man on a bicycle, transporting a chicken on a basket. Unable to read more than the name of the beer because I was without my reading glasses (and my eyesight is getting worse and worse), I picked up a couple of cans and thought I would surprise myself when I was finally ready to sit down and try the pale ale.

From Loblaws, DW said that we should stop by the neighbouring LCBO because she was out of vodka and had reminded me that I had complained that we were out of rum.

There was a time when I worked in a mall that had an LCBO and I couldn't pass by without stopping in and saying hello to the staff, who knew me well. Inside, I couldn't leave without checking out the Vintages section to see what was new in the world of wine. And I couldn't leave without picking up a bottle.

That would be rude.

Today, I can't be in an LCBO without checking out the craft beer aisles, and while I am actually able to do that without picking up any beer, this visit had me spy an IPA that made me think of my Loblaws purchase and I had to pick it up.

The brews were Chicken Man Pale Ale, by Furnace Room Brewery, and Cat Lady IPA, by Bellwoods Brewery.

Go back up to the top of this post and re-read the rhyme.

Today, I'm reviewing both ales because, although they are from different breweries, they seem to belong together. Let's start with the pale ale...

Chicken Man Pale Ale (5.5% ABV; 35 IBUs)
Furnace Room Brewery
Georgetown, ON

Appearance: clear, bright gold, with a generous, foamy head that settles down to a dense lace and clings to the sides of my glass.

Nose: lemon-lime and subtle hops.

Palate: dried fruit (peach?), grapefruit, and pine, which end in a short, dry finish. The hops linger with successive sips and seem a bit more astringent, but overall, this is a simple, light-bodied ale.

Overall impression: Chicken Man is named after an unknown resident of Georgetown, which is located to the northwest of Mississauga and lies between Brampton and Guelph. It's a story that is relevant to the town's community but was lost on me. My impression of this pale ale is a bit lost on me, too. I had expectations for this pale ale. I expected a medium-bodied, medium-hoppy ale. I found the nose and mouthfeel to be light and basic. But then the finish builds and lingers as you drink more and more. It's light up front, but more bitter with the passage of time.

In all honesty, I'm not sure how I feel about this pale ale. it's a bit off-balance for me, yet it is dry and easy to drink. Would I drink it again if it was offered to me? Yes. Sure. Why not? Will I seek it out again in Loblaws? Probably not.

Would I recommend it? Yes. If you like easy-drinking pale ales, this one does deliver. But if you're looking for a bit more, perhaps look elsewhere. The Chicken Man got my attention, but he didn't hold it.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺+ 1/2

Let's hope the Cat Lady does better.

Cat Lady (DDH) IPA (7.2% ABV) 
Bellwoods Brewery
Toronto, ON

Appearance: a hazy orange, like a pale orange juice, and a creamy, white head that leaves a solid cap that is retained as the ale goes down. Looking at the full glass, it's not what I expect to see when I pour an IPA but it seems to be the new norm.

Nose: juicy oranges (or tangerines) and tropical fruit. Hints of wood.

Palate: flinty minerals and fruit that makes me think of guava, and a bit of pineapple. The clean finish leaves my mouth dry. And though this brew has been double-dry hopped and has a high alcohol level, it is not overly bitter nor is it boozy; rather, it's well-balanced with its flavour profile.

Overall impression: I admit that I have developed a hang up over breweries that release a non-traditional IPA and call their brew an IPA. The appearance, nose, and palate reveal a hazy, fruity, juicy ale vary so far from what the British originally produced that a new name should be attached to these tasty ales.

On the whole, I love Cat Lady. It's the bigger-than-life, juicy beer that I tend to reach for more and more. Sometimes, by accident, because what I really want is a traditional IPA. I love the appearance. I love how it smells and tastes. If you like hazy, juicy pale ales, this one will make you purr.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺 (I would have given this ale two-and-a-half mugs but because it wasn't the type of IPA I expected, I'm sticking with two).

You can get both Chicken Man and Cat Lady at the LCBO. Chicken Man is also available in select Loblaws stores.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Partaking a Pale

Today is Day 13 of Dry January and so far, so good.

Mind you, I did slip on Saturday in my vow to also avoid sugar, having developed an insatiable craving for leftover Christmas cookies and one piece of homemade fudge that my sister bestowed onto the Brownfoots.

We received more fudge, this past Christmas, than my entire family eats at any other time in the past decade. But I digress...

A couple of days after Dry January started, I thought to myself, would I have to wait until February before performing and presenting another Beer O'Clock review? A couple of years or so ago, I had reviewed a non-alcoholic beer that I didn't know was alcohol-free until after I brought it home and drank it.

I asked my Twitter friends if it would be considered cheating if I drank a non-alcoholic beer during Dry January and received a resounding no. In fact, one of my virtual friends even recommended a choice that was available at the LCBO.

And so, here we are.

Partake Brewing founder, Ted Fleming, gave up alcohol a few years ago due to a medical ailment, but wasn't prepared to say goodbye to his love of beer, and decided to start his own brewery that is dedicated to creating good alcohol-free suds. His brewery produces a pale ale, IPA, blonde, and stout.

For my Dry January beer review, I take a look at his pale ale, simply called Pale.

As with my last Beer O'Clock review, I made a YouTube video. But because a 90-second review is far too short and difficult in getting all the information covered, and because I wanted to have a bit of fun making this review, I added almost an extra minute, making this one just shy of two-and-a-half minutes.

This also marks the last time that Beer O'Clock will appear in The Brown Knowser. As I mentioned last week, I have created a Brown Knowser YouTube channel, and this is the new home of my beer reviews. If you like them, please subscribe (that way, I know people are actually watching). Other videos that are not related to beer will also appear here.

I'll try to create at least one video each month.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Ultra Mosaika

A few weeks ago, when I was in Montreal with the family, I did something that I've been meaning to do, for years, but never seemed to get around to: I went to a brew pub.

I know, I know... that's no surprise. Neither is it a first for me. I've been to a few brew pubs in my home city, including a couple of visits to my favourite Quebec brewery, McAuslan.

But my second-favourite brewery also has a location in Montreal. It's location has typically been a bit too far of the downtown core or the old port, where I usually hang out, but because DW and I had taken the kids to a cat café for coffee, tea, and a light snack, and weren't that far away, we made one final stop before heading back home.

Located in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood (home of the famous St-Viateur Bagel Shop), this small, satellite brewery to Dieu du Ciel!'s main St.Jérôme site is cosy and has the feel as though it's been a part of the city for decades, with its simple decor, worn wooden floors in an old building. There is capacity for brewing on site, but not enough for the long list of suds that they have listed on their various blackboards.

Being the day before St.Paddy's Day, DW ordered a rich, super-creamy cream ale, Gaélique. She offered me a sip and my taste buds melded with the warm malts. It was heavenly. I, on the other hand, decided to go dark, and enjoyed their Résurrection Porter. The chocolatey, coffee tones were a perfect blend.

The kids had cola and ginger ale, and munched on a mini pizza. DD17 said the pizza was "okay, but there was something weird to it." But when I asked her if she'd eat it again, she said, "I probably would."

Ringing endorsement.

I was surprised to learn that while you could order a wide range of ales, lagers, and stouts, you couldn't bring any of them home. This brew pub has no space to stock bottles, and so you have to leave empty-handed.

Well, not completely empty-handed. My server gave me the business card for a dépanneur that was around the corner, on St.Laurent Boulevard, and they carried plenty of Dieu du Ciel! four-packs.

Unfortunately, we found neither the cream ale nor the stout at this shop, but I did come away with an Imperial stout and a pale ale, which brings us to my review.

Ultra Mosaika Ultra Pale Ale (5.4% ABV)
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
St-Jérôme QC

Appearance: it was the packaging that caught my eye in the dépanneur—a superhero wearing a red body suit over green tights that were laced with a hop design, cape waving in the breeze, a searchlight like the Bat signal, only, instead of a winged creature, a giant hop. He's on a building, overlooking the city. I was excited that this would be one hoppy pale ale.

Pouring it in my glass, I discovered an unfiltered, golden yellow ale that almost glows. Its foamy, white head pours thick and slowly settles to a solid, dense cap. The head clings to the inside of the glass as the beer goes down.

Nose: strong aromas of pine resin and pineapple. The Mosaic hops really come through, warning you that this is one bitter, ultra-pale ale. The fruit is sweet and lush.

Palate: a grassy herbaceous mouth feel gives way to a bitter pine (the bottle says spruce). It's full-bodied and clings to the tongue in a long, full finish. Though this ale comes across as a full-bodied one (it reminds me of a session IPA), it's fresh and not filling.

Overall impression: this pale ale is a real superhero. Strong, but unassuming. Willing to do what's right—please my senses but not overpower them. And it conquers my thirst without a high alcohol content.

Beer O'Clock rating: 4

Ultra Mosaika is available at Broue HA HA, in Gatineau, as well as other dépanneurs and grocery stores in that city. After picking it up at Dépanneur AS, in Montreal, I saw it in IGA extra Famille Plante, on St.Joseph Blvd, at Chemin Freeman (where I can also find the best store-made egg salad sandwiches). 

Beer O'Clock: Picking Up a Stray

Last weekend, Ottawa's newest craft brewery celebrated its opening in Orleans with a party that included live music, pizza, and even a visit from the mayor.

Oh, yeah, and there was also some pretty awesome beer.

On tap at Stray Dog Brewing Company's grand opening were six ales for tasting, plus a limited amount of a variation on one of those brews. I tried the Summer Slam, a cucumber-infused wheat ale that really refreshed, and a bold New England-styled IPA, Shaggin Wagon, that had lots of powerful hops with nice apricot and mango notes. But my favourite of the beers that I tried at the brewery was the Normandie Saison, which was a classic farmhouse ale with flinty, peppery flavours and a great body.

I really wished that the saison was available in cans. I hope they put it in portable containers in the future.

All three of those ales were available only at the brewery, which is quite the drive from someone who lives in the Barrhaven area. It's not often that I drive out to Trim Road, in the east end of Orleans.

Bearded brewer, Marc, who was out there, mingling with the crowd, gave me a small sample of his Bleu Nuit, which is essentially the Normandie Saison, brewed with blueberries that he sourced from Costco.

Hey, they're good blueberries.

If he puts that in cans, I'll be happy to make the drive out again soon.

I did purchase a six-pack of the beer that was available in cans, and that brings me to today's review. Let's take a close look at the ales that I thought were good, really good, and so-so.

This One California Common (5.2% ABV)

Appearance: deep amber to caramel, with a creamy, beige head that retained much of its solid cap.

Nose: a malty caramel with faint hints of toasted oak. There was something that almost opened my sinus passages as I breathed it in. It reminded me of eucalyptus, though the can says "mint." I didn't get mint.

Palate: comforting malt and a hint of gentle hops. A medium finish left traces of oak that lingered at the back of my throat.

Overall impression: This One is easy-drinking, an ale that you would want to reach for when you're enjoying a cheesy, bacon-topped pizza (I had that at the grand opening and it was delicious!). Expect to see This One on the shelves of the LCBO soon.

Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5

Anytime Pale Ale (5% ABV)

Appearance: an amber-orange with a foamy, off-white head that settled to a thin cap.

Nose: orange citrus

Palate: my first mouthful presented a sharp, powerful bitterness that came off almost as sour, to the point where I thought there was a fault with the beer. I decided to let it sit for a few minutes and tried again. The ale opened up and the bitterness subsided, and as I continued to empty my glass, it began to taste like a typical pale ale, but there was something more to it, something that I couldn't put my finger on. Something that wasn't quite right.

Overall impression: I wanted to like this beer but there was something that didn't seem to go with the flavours that I expected. I didn't detect a flaw; rather, it was like the pale ale was trying to be something more but wasn't quite there.

Beer O'Clock rating: 2.5

One Hop Wonder: Mosaic New England Pale Ale (5.7% ABV)

Appearance: a cloudy orange with an off-white head that quickly settled to a dense lace.

Nose: fragrant hops and orange citrus. It's a gorgeous aroma that had me constantly sticking my sniffer in the glass.

Palate: bold orange and tropical fruit flavours. I can never tell the difference between a west-coast style ale and an east-coast style. The hops are aggressive but not overpowering. It's like summer in a glass.

Overall impression: having tried the Shaggin' Wagon at the grand opening, I would have liked to have tried Mosaic at the same time, as I found their flavours very similar. A great balance of hops and fresh fruit flavours, Mosaic is a beer I could drink over and over again.

Beer O'Clock rating: 4

If their opening lineup is any indication of the success that the folks at Stray Dog are going to have, they are in for exciting times. Stray Dog is definitely worth the drive out to Orleans.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Industrial Pale Ale

Every so often, I venture to my basement to take inventory of the bottles and cans of unopened beer, to see if there's anything that I bought but somehow neglected.

You would be surprised to know that there are times where, atop the wooden wine racks, stacked with dust-covered bottles of old vintages, sits a flat shelf that is even-more stacked with cases and individual selections of ales, lagers, and stouts.

With the beginning of summer, I'm looking to shed any of the last remnants of heavier, winter beers, to make way for the light, refreshing summer ales.

I was surprised to find several bottles that have been in my basement since the beginning of the year, plus cans that I had bought at the beginning of spring.

Too late for spring cleaning: time for summer clearance.

Tucked behind a half-empty, spring-sampler six-pack from Mill Street were two cans that held promise. I knew that I hadn't had the beer before because with two cans, I was looking at my taster can and my potential review can. I always buy two cans when I'm looking to review a beer, just in case one is off.

After opening the first can, I was ready to do my review.

Located on a small peninsula where the Port Dalhousie Harbour opens into Lake Ontario, Lock Street Brewing Company claims itself to be the first authentic micro brewery in Port Dalhousie—ignoring the fact that this small community has been swallowed by St.Catharines, home of Plan B Beer Works, and is also a short jaunt from Silversmith Brewing, Niagara Oast House Brewers, The Exchange Brewery, Taps Brewing, and more on the way.

The Niagara Peninsula is a small region.

Nevertheless, Lock Street has established itself in a 140-year-old building that was originally a hotel and opened last year as a brewery, one of 400 in Ontario.

The beer that I found in my cellar was the breweries pale ale. Let's examine my findings.

Industrial Pale Ale (5.5% ABV)
Lock Street Brewing Co.
Port Dalhousie (St.Catharines) ON

Appearance: a clear, copper-orange body with a creamy, light-beige head that formed a thick, solid cap.

Nose: malts come out ahead of the hops. There's a citrus that is almost sour with grassy tones.

Palate: there is an even distribution of malt and hops, with grapefruit and caramel competing for attention. A heavy finish brings it all together.

Overall impression: calling this pale ale Industrial is apt: this is one heavy pale ale, but at the same time it's easy to drink if you're used to a typical IPA—it's not as bitter but it has a full body.

For myself, I wish I had consumed this ale in the spring, when I first found it and when the weather was cool and damp. With the summer heat and humidity, you're going to want to choose a cool, air-conditioned environment in which to drink it, rather than on a hot, summer patio.

Beer O'Clock rating: 3

Cheers!