Beer O'Clock: Augusta Pils

I did something, this week, that I haven't done in many months: I bought beer.

Not only did I buy beer but I also visited a brewery. The last time I was in a brewery was when I visited Broadhead Brewing, after kayaking at Petrie Island, and DW, our Paddlefolk, and I stopped for lunch.

I ordered a pint with my meal but I actually didn't pick up any to bring home with me. I haven't had beer in my mini fridge since the end of May.

It seemed that I had pretty much given up on beer. I filled my mini fridge with flavoured sparkling water, ginger beer, and tonic water, but no beer. Even when I went out for my regular karaoke nights, I would sometimes drink a soda or some other alcoholic beverage. And if I did decide to drink beer, I'd have only one can.

I had sort of lost my groove for beer.

On Monday, I drove to Toronto with Kid 2 and my father. My daughter had come up to Ottawa to join her closest friends for a cottage getaway but asked me to drive her back to her Toronto home afterwards (she's a starving artist and couldn't afford return transportation). And it just so happened that my father wanted to go to Toronto to check out an old MGB that was for sale, so we made a day trip of it.

We left the house early and took Kid 2 straight home, where she dropped off her suitcase and changed into something more suitable for the heat of the city. The three of us then went for lunch, after which we said goodbye to my daughter, and my father and I continued to Etobicoke, where the car was.

My father was going to take a couple of hours to inspect the car and go for a test drive. I didn't want to interfere with his time with the car, so while he was busy, I performed a search for the closest breweries to me.

The closest beer shop was Rainhard, but because I remembered trying one of their brews and giving them a scathing review, I searched for the next closest brewery, which was in the opposite direction. It was Mascot Brewery.

I've also reviewed a beer from Mascot, last year, but didn't remember having done so when I made the decision to check out the brewery and shop.

When I entered their beer shop, I found two large refrigerators that were crammed with myriad cans. The person who worked the shop entered from the back and told me that if I took 12 cans, I would receive a 15-percent discount.

I was initially only planning to take six cans, but my mini fridge was even low on sparkling water and cocktail mixers, so I decided that this was the time that I'd start putting beer back into that fridge.

The first beer I sought out was a stout. It's still my favourite style of beer and I'm always looking for a new one. I saw many cans that were labelled IPA, so I asked the person behind the counter to describe the various cans: some hazy, some fruity, but none were true IPAs.

Sigh.

I picked up two kinds anyway, plus I grabbed a dark lager and a couple of pilsners. I had 10 cans and was looking for two more cans to get my discount, so I asked the person in the shop what she would recommend, based on what I had already taken and what was left.

She told me that her absolute favourite was a pilsner and she pointed out the can, which was tiled with various comic-like illustrations. I said I'd give it a try and took the two cans that made up my dozen.

And for my first beer review in more than three months, let's take a look at this beer that is the favourite of the person who works in the beer shop of Mascot Brewery. And it wasn't until I took the can out of my fridge and cracked it open that I learned something that was a bit of a surprise, as you'll see.

Augusta Pils (5% ABV)
Kensington Brewing Company
Toronto ON

Did you notice something? Yes, the beer that is the favourite of the beer shop employee isn't actually from Mascot Brewery. It's from Kensington Brewing.

I did a search and learned that Kensington Brewing, which was on Augusta Avenue in the Kensington Market, was permanently closed. This news rang a bell with me, as I remember not being able to find this brewery on a search, last year, when I was in this market area. Instead, I found Burdock Brewery and did a couple of reviews of their beer (a mango gose and a saison).

I also learned from a blogTO article that not only had Kensington Brewing closed suddenly, it had been acquired by Mascot. Mystery solved. Let's get back to the pilsner.

Appearance: a slightly unfiltered, golden yellow that produces a white head that starts with a foamy cap but settles to a thick lace.

Nose: grassy lemon (as opposed to lemongrass) and biscuit.

Palate: more biscuit and grassy lemon. The body is medium but with a light, short finish.

Overall impression: Augusta Pils (named after the street on which the old brewery resided) is a simple, typical pilsner. It's easy drinking and not complex, something that many beer drinkers would appreciate but beer connoisseurs might give a pass. It makes me wonder what the person in the beer store was drinking before she tried this pils and whether she has tried all of the beer that Mascot has to offer.

And if she has tried them and still prefers this brew, what am I in store for with the five other selections?

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺 I can't fault Augusta for what it is. It's exactly what I expect from a pilsner. But there's nothing that I found that stands out with it. It is what it is.

Next I'll try the stout and I'll give a review if it stands out or if it doesn't hold up. If it's a good, standard stout, I won't bother giving it a review.

So beer is back in my home. Is this the start of getting back to my usual stockpile or will I let the fridge run dry again? Stay tuned.

Beer O'Clock: Cody's Brew

I'd been looking forward to trying this brew for a while.

Even though DW suggested to my family and friends that my birthday party, in March, was a no-gift event, some people brought something anyway. From lush wine to hand-made, knitted toques, my friends and family are thoughtful.

Among the generous gifts, I received a pack of assorted beer from various breweries in the east end of Orleans—an Ottawa neighbourhood that I don't get out to often enough. The pack included brews from two of my favourite breweries, Stray Dog and Broadhead, as well as from a brewery I have yet to visit and whose beer I have only tried a couple of times.

OBC: Orleans Brewing Company.

As I moved the cans of beer from the wooden crate that held the gift pack to my beer fridge, I read the labels of each can, and I gave an "oooh!" as I looked at one can. It was an oatmeal stout with coffee.

I don't drink as often as I used to. Now that I'm retired, it could be too easy to open a beer at lunchtime or keep a pint next to me while I work on my novel. And I promised myself that I wouldn't do what it did at the start of the pandemic, when I always kept my beer fridge full and would drink a few pints a day.

My gut is big enough, these days, and I want to focus on my writing.

More than seven weeks after my party, I decided that the time had come to try this coffee stout. I had already enjoyed some of the other brews from the gift pack but I wanted to give this stout a proper review. My hopes were high as I cracked it open.

Cody's Brew: Oatmeal Stout with Equator Coffee (4.6 % ABV; 22 IBUs)
Orleans Brewing Company
Ottawa ON

Appearance: pours a near black with a foamy, deep taupe head that settles to a fine lace. Within a couple of minutes, the head was completely gone and the effervescence disappeared. I thought the stout might be flat, but it wasn't.

Nose: strong coffee with a hint of chocolate.

Palate: there was almost a sourness right away but the coffee followed up. A bitter chocolate brings the short finish. I was almost put off by that sourness but on subsequent sips, it disappeared. While the brew wasn't flat, there wasn't much fizz action going on in the mouth. It made me wonder how long the can had been sitting on the OBC shelves before it was added to my gift pack.

Overall impression: there's good coffee flavour in this stout and not much else to distract you from it. Equator Coffee Roasters make great coffee and their beans make this a much better brew. It's a fine stout but perhaps my expectations exceeded what I received. Was it a good stout? Yes. Would I drink it again? Perhaps. Would I seek it out? No.

In my opinion, Stray Dog and Broadhead make better stouts.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

OBC offers online ordering with free shipping on orders of $60 or more and within a 30-km radius.

Thanks to my friends, Bee and Marc, for the lovely brew pack. I still have more cans to savour.

Cheers!

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.

Beer O'Clock: Madri Excepcional

I was originally going to turn my nose up to it.

I was meeting up with some long-time friends from my journalism days at a roadhouse near IKEA, last summer, and the beer menu didn't look promising to me. There were the standard Molson Coors offerings and no local craft beer, and I was almost going to order a glass of the house red.

But there was a brew that I didn't recognize and sounded Spanish, and I became curious.

It's a lager, which also made me tempted to pass it up, because that is one of my least favourite styles of beer. But then I thought, what the hell, I might as well try it so that I could objectively poo-poo it down the road.

And it was summer, and I was hot, and needed something light to quench my thirst.

To my surprise, I actually ended up ordering a second. This stuff wasn't that bad. And when, a few months later, I came across a four-pack of it in the LCBO, I decided to pick it up to do a proper review for Beer O'Clock.

And then, I promptly forgot about it in my basement beer fridge. DW and I went to Mexico with four of our friends. Christmas came and went, as did New Years.

Even when I saw that my supply of local craft beer was dropping, I didn't pay much attention to these bright red cans, but instead ordered more beer from a local brewery.

Almost three months have passed since I picked up this four-pack. In that time, I had one on New Years Day and gave one to my father when my folks were visiting. But then, this week, my eyes fell onto the remaining two cans and I thought I should finally give this lager my full attention.

For you.

In preparing for this review, I performed an online search and was surprised (not-so surprised) to learn that it's not Spanish at all, that it was originally produced in the UK by Coors, in collaboration with their Spanish subsidiary, which is based in Toledo La Sagra, Spain.

It's only 'inspired' by Spanish lagers. It's not really Spanish.

Looking at the can, now, I feel a bit deceived, as the main, identifying label is printed twice: once, in Spanish; and again, in French, to appease the Québec government language police. There is no English as part of the main label.

Another part of the labelling reads "Experience the Soul of Madrid," which might also lead one to believe it's a product of Spain.

In Canada, Madri (the Spanish name for Madrid) is brewed by Molson Coors, which now makes sense to me that the menu at that roadhouse only featured beer by that mega producer. Had I known on that summer evening, I would have definitely gone for wine.

But let's look at the beer that refreshed me enough to make me want to pick up that four-pack.

Madri Excepcional (4.6% ABV)
Molson Coors Beverage Company
Toronto ON

Appearance: pours a clear gold with a creamy white head and lots of effervescence.

Nose: a citrusy malt aroma that's fresh, almost like lemongrass.

Palate: the maltiness leads the way, followed by a slight pine resin flavour. The body is light and leaves a lingering, biscuity finish. On subsequent sips, the biscuit developed a caramel-like complexity that tempers the pine resin.

Overall impression: as I've said, lagers aren't my preferred style of beer but I've had enough of them to at least appreciate what they offer. Madri is a good example of a lager. It's easy-drinking and was perfect for that summer's evening with my friends.

And, given the alternatives from Molson Coors, it was the best bet.

That being said, I'm disappointed that a lager that is packaged to give the appearance of being Spanish seems to be done so to trick those who don't investigate to believe that they're drinking a product of Spain. And that's deceptive.

I don't support Molson and tend to avoid buying from colossal breweries. At a time where I'm buying Canadian—especially from small businesses—and avoiding anything that comes from the US, I feel many will be duped into thinking that they're buying from a Spanish brewery.

Sure, Madrid tastes good, but I won't be buying it again.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

You can find Madrid in the LCBO and probably in The Beer Store.

Cheers.

Beer O'Clock: London Calling

It was never my intention to abstain from beer consumption in January.

In fact, on New Year's Day, as we hosted dinner for my folks and Kid 2, who wasn't able to join us over the Christmas holidays, I had two pints over the course of our evening. They were cans of beer that I had reviewed in early December and I wanted to make space in my beer fridge, so wanted to use them up.

My father and Kid 2 helped me use up several cans, too.

And yet, after making space in my mini fridge, I didn't replenish the void for a few more weeks. I wasn't drinking beer at all, even though my fridge wasn't completely empty.

No, I wasn't participating in Dry January: it just seemed that I'd feel like pouring myself a can—usually, after work (Work mode: OFF; Beer mode: ON)—but I'd never actually head down to the basement to retrieve a can. And with the passing of our New Year's dinner, I only had two cans of beer left in the fridge.

I placed an online order for beer but even after it arrived at my doorstep, I didn't crack open a can. That is, until this week, more than halfway into the month.

(Now, don't get me wrong: it's not as if I've been abstaining from alcohol this month. DW and I have shared bottles of wine and I've had a couple of cocktails over the weeks. I just haven't been drawn toward beer.)

When I thought of Ottawa beer companies from which to place my order, I naturally fell to one of my favourite breweries. But when I saw what they had available, there was nothing new, and I was in the mood for something new.

So I went to another favourite brewery, and this time, I hit the jackpot. There were three brews I had never tried before. In this post, I review one of them.

Stray Dog is certainly a big favourite of mine. I visited this Orleans brewery when they first opened and again at their first anniversary celebration. I've attended various events and will do so again, in a few weeks, when they hold a karaoke night.

Stray Dog makes great hazy pale ales and has one of the best stouts in town, but when I saw that they were offering an ESB (Extra Special Bitter), which is a favourite style of mine but isn't something that many local brewers produce, I had to get me some.

As my first new brew of 2025, let's crack into it.

London Calling ESB (5.8% ABV)
Stray Dog Brewing Company
Orleans ON

Appearance: pours a clear, copper-red to brown, almost like a good, steeped tea, with a thin, whitish head that quickly settles to a solid lace.

Nose: a caramelly sweetness and steely flint to the aroma, mixed with overripe prunes.

Palate: where there is sweetness in the nose, there is no trace of it in the mouth. A bitter fruit meets the palate straight away, with malt backing it up. There's also an acidity that makes me think of over-steeped tea, which brings about a strong but dry finish that doesn't linger. The body is full but not heavy, making this a somewhat quaffable ale. I'll get to the 'somewhat' element soon.

Overall impression: The can does describe this ESB as 'complex' and I'll give Stray Dog that. Perhaps too complex, in that some of the traditional bitter-versus-maltiness is overpowered by the acidity. A traditional ESB is supposed to be sessionable, meaning it's easy to drink. This one gives a bit of a punch in the mouth.

Maybe that's why Stray Dog gave it the name that they did. The opening notes to The Clash's 1979 hit, London Calling, provides solid jabs of guitar and drums from the get-go, and builds into a solid scream. This ESB is like that: powerful from the first sip.

I have to admit that as I drank more, the acidity seemed to lessen and I was able to enjoy it more. This ale leans toward the upper end for ABV from an ESB (usually as low as 4.6% to as high as 6.2%) and I can taste a bit of the alcohol. It goes down like a spiked cuppa tea.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

London Calling is available from the brewery itself and can be ordered online for delivery, for a modest fee.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Solace

I could use a bit of serenity right now. Thankfully, in two more days, I'll have it.

I take solace, in the meantime, of knowing that as of the end of business day, today, I'll be on vacation until the end of this month. I'll be on a sun-soaked beach, sipping mango margaritas and snorkelling with tropical fish.

I'll also be with DW and four of our friends.

Solace, indeed.

When I saw the label on a can of beer, with its sea turtle, swimming in pastel colours of the sea and a twilight sky, I knew I had to pick it up (actually, I picked up two). I'm fascinated by sea turtles, ever since I first swam with them, in 2019, and will be seeking them again, on Saturday.

It's only fitting that in my last beer review before my trip to Akumal Bay, Mexico--and probably, my last review of 2024, I check out a hazy, tropical ale. After all, these hazy IPAs have almost become my comfort ales.

Let's see if this one brings me some comfort.

Solace Hazy IPA (6.7% ABV; 30 IBUs)
Common Good Beer Company
Scarborough ON

Appearance: pours a murky, Creamsicle-orange with a sudsy-white head that settles quickly to a dense lace.

Nose: mango, pineapple, orange, and a touch of grapefruit.

Palate: goes down easily, with only a bit of pine resin. The tropical fruits loom large, making this ale highly quaffable. Though it has a somewhat high alcohol level, it's by no means boozy. It has good body and well-balanced flavours that culminate in a medium finish.

Overall impression: I liked this easy-drinking, hazy ale. It goes down easily, though at 6.7 percent, I'd recommend drinking in moderation. Solace, as its name suggests, brings me comfort.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

You can find Solace in select LCBO stores.

You can find sea turtles in Akumal Bay.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Pilly

One thing that I try to do, when I visit Toronto, is to visit an LCBO store and search for beer that I haven't seen at my neighbourhood liquor store. And there are a lot to choose from.

When I saw a pilsner from an Etobicoke brewery, I knew that I'd be hard-pressed to find it on my local shelves, so I picked it up. And because I'm not usually one to pick up a pilsner, I thought I'd give this one a shot.

Pilly (5% ABV)
Mascot Brewery
Etobicoke ON

Appearance: initially pours a clear, yellowy-gold with a foamy, white head that settles to a solid cap. The head was thick, out of the can, so I held onto the rest until the head settled (after I shot my photo). When there was enough room in the glass to empty the rest of the can, the clarity changed to an unfiltered haze, albeit slight.

Nose: lemons, with a hint of flint.

Palate: citrus and mineral tones, and a slight piney finish that was clean and palate-cleansing. There's a good body to it, if a bit on the light side.

Overall impression: this is a quaffable pilsner that I quite enjoyed. I don't know why I shy away from pilsners because they are easy-going brews. I'd drink this one any time it was offered.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

I picked up another beer on my last trip to Toronto, and I'll review that next week (it's been a while since I've reviewed beer on my blog).

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Another Non-Alcoholic IPA

Pouring them, side-by-side, I could have sworn that I was pouring the same beer.

It wouldn't surprise me if Farm Boy had struck a deal with Collective Arts. And I would have even said that they were a good fit for one another: a small but growing Ontario grocery chain and a small but growing Ontario craft brewery.

Looking at both glasses, I saw the same, unfiltered yellow ale with a foamy, white head that settled to a solid lace. It was as though I had poured two glasses of carbonated lemonade.

But the nose differed, as did the flavour profile. And one read that it was produced in Ottawa, while the other came from Hamilton.

They were not the same IPA. But which one is better?

Last week, I looked at Farm Boy's own brand of non-alcoholic IPA. I picked it up toward the end of my Dry July challenge, along with another non-alcoholic IPA from one of my favourite Ontario breweries, which was on the shelf next to the house brand.

Let's look at that brew now.

Non-Alcoholic IPA (0.4% ABV)
Collective Arts Brewing
Hamilton ON

I've already mentioned the appearance, so let's continue...

Nose: a sharp pine and something chemical, almost like acetone. Normally, I would say this is the sign of a flaw but I think this is how it smells. I've smelled other non-alcoholic beer that has had this aroma, only not as strong. There's also a bit of malt on the nose and a hint of biscuit.

Palate: the pine resin continues in the mouth with a bit of pineapple and grapefruit. There are stronger qualities that lean toward an IPA than what the Farm Boy brew had, but there's also a bit of a petrol essence in the finish that I didn't like.

Overall impression: while there are some characteristics of an IPA in this offering by Collective Arts, whereas there was more of a saison in the Farm Boy IPA, I actually prefer drinking the Farm Boy IPA to the Collective Arts offering.

That said, I thought the Collective Arts non-alcoholic IPA was fine. I've always said that this Hamilton brewery has never produced anything that I haven't liked, and this rings true in this case. It's not its best beer but I've certainly had worse.

Would I buy it again? No. I much prefer their Hazy Pale Ale and would reach for it when choosing this style of non-alcoholic beverage. If offered the choice of the Collective Arts IPA and the Farm Boy IPA, I would accept the Farm Boy brew, even though it doesn't resemble an IPA.

I just prefer its flavour profile.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺 even though I prefer the Farm Boy NA IPA, I give Collective Arts a higher score because it at least is closer to an IPA.

You can find Collective Arts NA IPA in select grocery stores, the LCBO, and you can also order it directly from Collective Arts.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Haze of the Dead

It was bound to happen, eventually.

In March of 2016, long before the American election, my family and I were in the United States, and I had made the decision during this trip that it would be my last one to that country. I could see that it was becoming a very polarized place, and I was just done with it.

Sure, Canada has its issues but the polarization doesn't seem as bleak.

After the Orange Felon was elected, I really decided that I was done with the US and decided that I would avoid buying anything made in America. When we went shopping, I'd always check the origin of a product before adding it to our shopping cart.

That also included beer. I haven't bought an American beer since 2016. Except for just recently.

At my latest visit to my friendly neighbourhood LCBO, I saw so many new beer labels that I had to pick some of them up. I picked up a session IPA from Mill Street and some other local brews. I also saw a striking can of a brewery that I hadn't heard of, and without looking any further than the name of the beer and that it was a double-dry-hopped IPA, I threw two cans into my basket.

It wasn't until I got home and was putting the beer in the fridge that I looked closer at the label and realized that I had bought a beer from Illinois. But because the Orange Felon had also just been convicted of all 34 charges in New York, I considered these to be celebratory brews and would not return them to the LCBO.

Here's the beer and what I thought of it.

Haze of the Dead Double Dry Hopped Hazy Imperial IPA (8.5% ABV; 83 IBUs)
Destihl Brewery
Normal IL

Appearance: pours an opaque orange, like orange juice, with a creamy white head that maintains a solid cap.

Nose: tangerines and pears.

Palate: bright citrus tones with a mild pine mouthfeel and a full-bodied, long finish.

Overall impression: For an ale with high IBU and alcohol levels, it's neither overpowering or boozy. On the contrary, it's quite easy to drink, though at 8.5 percent, you'll want to take it easy.

I'm finding it difficult to come out with distinct descriptions of these hazy, fruit-forward ales, and Haze of the Dead is no different. It's a good DDH Imperial IPA but I found nothing that jumps out at me. There's nothing wrong with it and it tastes like every other beer like this. I would never turn one down, if handed to me, but I would not necessarily seek it out over another DDHIIPA.

I probably won't buy any more.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

You can find Haze of the Dead through the LCBO. Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Spin

It's been such a long time since I've done a review of a Mill Street brew that you might have thought that I had forsaken this great Toronto brewery. And perhaps, to some extent, I had.

When Labatt bought this powerhouse brewery, I did feel a bit sad, that the owners had sold out to a macro-beer giant. And with the sad passing of the founding brewmaster, Joel Manning, I have to admit that some of my love for the brewery waned.

But I have to admit, despite the changes, Mill Street still puts out great beer.

So when I saw a neon pea-green can with Mill Street's logo at the bottom, as I shopped my friendly neighbourhood LCBO, I thought I was overdue for a revisit. If not, for anything else, for the memory of the kindness that Joel, and so many others at the Ottawa brew pub, had shown me so many years ago.

Spin Session IPA (4.9% ABV; 25 IBUs)
Mill Street Brewery
Toronto ON

Appearance: a slightly unfiltered, pale gold. It's not cloudy, as you can see the effervescence throughout the glass, though I could only see my fingers on the other side of the glass as pale shadows. The head pours a sudsy white and settles to a solid, creamy cap.

Nose: lemon, lime, and a touch of pineapple and mango.

Palate: lightly tart lemon with a bitter, hoppy mouthfeel. The body is full with almost a slightly soapy finish.

Overall impression: I think Spin does a good job of combining the light flavours of a session ale with the full-bodiness of an IPA. There are good citric flavours, but I also find that the soapy finish doesn't do it for me. With other Mill Street brews that I've tried, I've often enjoyed the flavours from start to finish.

This one is great from the start and the middle, but I don't care for the finish.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

I'm glad I was able to pull out one of my many Mill St. beer glasses, again, and hope to fill it up again soon. And with it, I raise a glass to the memory of Joel.

Spin is available at the LCBO, at various grocery stores, and through Mill Street.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Tuesday

I know: it's not Tuesday.

Perhaps, I should have broken tradition and posted my beer review a couple of days early, instead on my usual Thursday. I started posting Beer O'Clock reviews on Thursdays because I thought that if anyone was interested in picking up the reviewed beer for the weekend, particularly if the beer is available at your friendly neighbourhood LCBO or in grocery stores, you would have Thursday evening and all day Friday to get your hands on the brew.

I post on Thursdays for you, my friends. You're welcome.

Last week, I wrote about a brewery that I stumbled upon in Toronto's Kensington Market. Though this brewery had myriad cans of varying styles, some labels stood out for me.

And while today's brew came in a pretty bland can, it stated the type of beer that I particularly like, especially in warm weather. And this week, we certainly got a good dose of warm weather.

Let's take a look at this ale a bit more closely, even though today is Thursday.

Full confession: I swiped the glass in NYC.

Tuesday Saison (5.3% ABV)
Burdock Brewery
Toronto ON

Appearance: Hazy yellow, like a cloudy lemonade. A thick, fizzy white head that settles to a solid, foamy cap.

Nose: Lemon citrus and something that initially hit me as vanilla but was gone before I could pinpoint it. But it was also somewhat candied.

Palate: A mineral bitterness and more lemon citrus. A flinty (aka peppery) finish.

Overall impression: This is close, but not quite a classic saison. It seems to be missing any distinguishing spices, such as clove, opting for a more lemony signature, and the hops were more prominent than any mineral character. And while it's not a common characteristic, I often get banana on the nose of a good saison.

But I still enjoyed Tuesday. It was clean, refreshing, and had good flavours. It's possibly closer in character to a Belgian-styled farmhouse ale, where I might be more used to a North American saison.

Nevertheless, I'd drink this one anytime.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Unfortunately, I couldn't find Tuesday on an LCBO search so it seems that it's available only at Burdock Brewery. Fortunately, I head to Toronto fairly often and Tuesday seems to be part of the brewery's regular stock. If you're in the GTA, head out to Kensington Market and pick some of this up.

Any day of the week. They're open daily, 11am to 11pm.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Tarana-Saurus

It's funny how certain coincidences come about.

Last week, on one of my social-media platforms, someone asked about how various people pronounce the Canadian city, Toronto. Is the second T uttered? "Toron-toe?"

At first, I answered comically: "I think Torontonians pronounce it The Centre of the Universe." But then I admitted that unless I'm really concentrating on the name, I omit the second T.

I say "Toronno" or even omit the first O in an almost slur: "T'ronno."

So imagine my delight, just a day or two later, finding myself at my friendly neighbourhood LCBO and seeing an artful label on a beer can with a whimsical spelling of another pronunciation of Ontario's capital city.

The label seemed simple at first but is quite striking. Black and blue, it shows the Toronto skyline, with the CN Tower, seemingly in the mouth of a giant beast and some clouds. Only the head of the beast is shown and it almost appears as though it's an x-ray: you can see a translucent snout and the skull; toward the back of the head, the artwork becomes more abstract.

I really like the label.

Let's examine what's inside the can...

Tarana-Saurus Toronto IPA (6.7% ABV)
Indie Alehouse Brewing Company
Toronto ON

Appearance: pours a hazy, deep-gold, with a creamy, off-white head that lingers as a solid cap. Holding my pint glass up to light (a white computer screen), the colour is reminiscent of a classic IPA, though unfiltered.

Nose: ripe oranges come through strongly, followed up by a hint of pineapple.

Palate: tropical flavours of guava and pineapple, with bitter pine ending in the finish. Initially, the fruit gives it an essence of sweetness but the hoppy body quickly tempers that.

Overall impression: this is a nice, fruity ale that is balanced with the bitterness of an IPA-styled beer. It's both flavourful and palate-cleansing. All in all, a refreshing and satisfying ale.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Seeing that I'll actually be in Tarana/T'ronno tomorrow, I might see about visiting the Indie Alehouse. Because one of my friends, who I'll be visiting over the weekend, wants to check out another brewery that's nearby, perhaps we can make some time to go to both.

In the meantime, you can find Tarana-Saurus at select LCBO locations. I suggest you dig some up.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Hazy Maitland IPA

There was no mistake about what I was getting. But as a newcomer to this brewing company, I wasn't sure what it was called.

You see, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the top of the can, which clearly reads Hazy IPA. Good. I was in the mood for one.

Filling the top half of the can was an image of a fish with two legs, a top hat, and cane, a la Loonie Tunes Singing Bullfrog, surrounded by the words Something In The Water. Hazy IPA is repeated, toward the bottom of the label, with Maitland, in a different font, separating the two words.

Was Maitland the name of the brewing company, I asked myself. There's a Maitland, Ontario, which rests along the St. Lawrence River, between Prescott and Brockville. It's quite possible.

I don't like to look too closely at a label on a beer can or bottle because I don't want to be influenced by any descriptions of the contents. For me, it's best to open the can, consume some of its contents, make some deductions of aroma and flavour, and form an opinion before I learn more about what I'm drinking.

After finishing my first can, I learned that Something In The Water is the name of the brewery and that Hazy Maitland IPA is the name of the beer, itself. And no, the company is not located in this small town.

Here are my impressions:

Hazy Maitland IPA (6.5% ABV)
Something In The Water Brewing Company
Toronto ON

Appearance: a cloudy, dirty orange that reminded me of grapefruit juice, with a creamy, off-white head that pours thick and settles to a solid cap, which clings to the inside of the glass as the contents go down.

Appropriate, considering this IPA is named after the "Muddy" Maitland River, in Listowel (north of Stratford, ON), where a partner of the brewery, Mike, spent his childhood, catching frogs.

Nose: ripe oranges and grapefruit, with a touch of pineapple.

Palate: dank fruit, mostly of orange rind (the inner part) with ever-present, though mild, hops. There's solid body to it and a lingering finish that brings the bitterness out. The alcohol is discernable without being boozy.

Overall impression: it's a good, solid ale that has fruit and a bite to it. Apparently, Mike almost lost a finger at the Muddy Maitland to a snapping turtle. Coincidence?

I'd be interested in trying the other offerings of SITW, hoping that they're just as solid.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

You can find Hazy Maitland IPA in your friendly neighbourhood LCBO. A $50 purchase online will get you free delivery in Toronto or Kingston (where they have a second location).

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Windmill Brewery

In November of 1838, approximately 250 men from an American para-military group tried to cross the St. Lawrence River and seize the small town of Prescott, in an attempt to gain a foothold on what would bring further incursion into Canada.

The mission largely failed, due to the British forces being tipped off and were prepared (along with the townsfolk and some American authorities), but some of the invaders landed downstream, at Windmill Point, just east of Prescott. These forces managed to hold the hamlet of Newport and its tall, stone windmill, which they used as a lookout of advancing British troops.

The para-military group managed to hang on to the windmill and hamlet for four days before surrendering to the outnumbering British forces.

The hamlet is only a memory, today, but the windmill still stands. Sort of. It was converted into a lighthouse in 1873 and was declared a national historic site in 1920.

I discovered this landmark when I was scouting out a good spot to set up my camera gear to photograph the upcoming solar eclipse. One of my cameras will take a wide-angle shot, in which I will create a composite of the phases of the eclipse, and I wanted an interesting landmark in the foreground.

I think this spot will work nicely.

Last weekend, as DW and I made our way to the windmill/lighthouse, we passed a brewery near the turnoff. It was aptly named Windmill Brewery. It's just off Highway 2, between Prescott and Johnstown, in a spot called Wexford (if you blink, you'll miss it).

"Well, I know where we can go after the eclipse," I said to DW.

Sadly, the brewery is only open on weekends. The total solar eclipse is on a Monday. But that didn't stop DW and me from paying the brewery a visit after we scoped out a few spots in the area, including in the town of Prescott, itself.

Windmill Brewery shares its space with a distillery, King's Lock, plus the Newport BBQ & Bakery. We arrived shortly before they closed but early enough to enjoy a few samples. I tried a couple of their samples (the gentleman behind the counter actually cracked open fresh cans to let me try) and not only did I walk out with a couple of cans of the two beers that I tried, I also grabbed a couple of cans of a third, untried brew to surprise myself back home.

The guy also directed us to the distillery, after we were done, and we walked away with four bottles of lovely vodka, rye whiskey, and more (curses, that brewery guy!).

Let's focus on the beer today.

I was tempted to try the unknown beer as soon as I got home. Looking at the label, which features the inner confines of Fort Wellington, I asked our friend at the brewery if it was a stout or porter, and he said no, that it was a black lager.

Barracks Black Lager (4.5% ABV)

Appearance: pours a coppery black, almost like root beer, with a foamy beige head that starts thick (a centimetre or two) but settles quickly to a fine lace before clearing to a thin ring around the side of the glass. Large, effervescent bubbles settled to fine pearls, and eventually went all but flat (disclaimer: I drank this lager over more than an hour but still felt it should have some fizz left). Don't dally with your pint.

Nose: chocolate and figs.

Palate: light-bodied, with hints of prunes, a touch of coffee, and dark chocolate that hits the back of the tongue in the finish. At times, I thought I tasted black licorice but if I did, it was fleeting. Even though I let my glass go flat, the flavours held firm.

Overall impression: this is a very nice, easy-drinking schwarzbier. Light-bodied but flavourful, with nothing overpowering. I wish I had picked up more than two cans: its incredibly sessionable.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

The next beer that I want to share with you is the first ale that I was offered. Admittedly, the guy in the shop said that he didn't know a lot about IPAs when I asked him if Windmill made a traditional, British-styled IPA, as opposed to the modern, hazy, tropical-fruity brews that are so popular these days.

As he cracked open the can, he told me that their ale poured clear. He almost seemed apologetic but I was quite enthusiastic. "That sounds traditional to me," I said.

I'll blend some of my first impressions, in the taproom, with a closer analysis at home in my review.

Four Chord IPA (4.5% ABV)

Appearance: a slightly unfiltered, straw gold with a foamy white head that creates a firm, dense cap. I know the guy in the shop said this IPA pours clear, and in the couple of ounces that he placed in my sample glass, it seemed that way, too. But when you pour the whole contents into a pint glass, there's a bit less clarity. It's a bit paler than a traditional IPA but only slightly, and takes the palest part of the pale spectrum.

Nose: it's a bit closed in the pint glass but I got traces of lemongrass in the small sample glass. There's a balance of malt and hops with a hint of grapefruit.

Palate: the hops come forward in the mouth but do not overpower. It's a full body with a bit of pine resin in the lengthy finish. At 4.5% ABV, this ale is a bit lighter in alcohol than an English IPA (which is usually 5 to 7.5 percent) but this tastes very much like a classic IPA. I had my doubts in the tasting room, with such a small sample, but the full pint has me more convinced.

Overall impression: this is quite a good, traditional IPA. It's hoppy and full bodied, without the haze and tropical fruit of what passes as a NEIPA or other so-called IPAs that make me cringe, even though I love their flavours. I was prepared to give this brew a rating of 2, when I was in the Windmill tap room, but I've since revived my score.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

The third brew was enjoyable from a small sample glass: how does it stack up in a pint glass?

Festbier (6.5% ABV)

Appearance: pours a copper-amber with a fizzy-white heat that settles right down to nothing. There are miniature pearls that rise to the surface and spread out to the edges of the glass.

Nose: spices that remind me of pumpkin pie and a bit of malt. There's also a bit of nuttiness to it.

Palate: I'm not 100-percent sure of the style of beer but I'm leaning toward a Märzen (in fairness, the name sort of implies the style). It certainly has that Oktoberfest flavour to it. In addition to the spice (clove?), I get a bit of toasted caramel and more breaded malt. A little headier than a traditional Märzen, I get the alcohol but it doesn't detract from the overall taste.

Overall impression: I can see myself drinking this brew in the fall, when the leaves change colour and the air gets cooler (again, the label helps put these thoughts in my head). There's a good body to this beer and the flavours are warm and inviting. The brewers at Windmill have produced a good German-styled lager (yes, I've now finally read the label) of which they should be proud.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Being a small brewery, they don't offer delivery service but they're a short detour from Highway 401, just west of the 416 interchange. They're definitely worth a stop (though, they're currently only open on weekends). Plus, you can also check out the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site.

I'm sad that the brewery won't be open on April 8 but now that I've been here, it won't be my last visit.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Florida Stole My Parents

My parents never took me to Florida. As a kid, I think that would have been a great vacation but today, you couldn't pay me to go. And though I've been to that messed-up state a couple of times as an adult, my parents have never gone.

I have such distain for Florida, these days, that I almost passed on this quirky-labelled can when I saw it on the shelf of my friendly neighbourhood LCBO. But my eyes also fell to the large-printed OJIPA and I had to look closer. Was this an orange-juice-infused IPA?

The ingredients list says different: barley, wheat, and oats. But surely, there must be more to the contents? I mean, what about water, to start? Elsewhere on the label, I learned that this strong beer is also brewed with Comet and Eclipse hops, and is a "fresh squeezed delight."

Did they simply not list all of the ingredients?

I also learned that this ale is made by a brewery that I like, so I grabbed two cans and made my way to the cashier. At home, I'd determine if orange juice is included in the can.

Florida Stole My Parents (6.5% ABV)
Refined Fool Brewing Company
Sarnia, ON

Appearance: pours a hazy, deep orange (almost matches the label) with plenty of sediment and an off-white head that comes out thick and remains a solid, foamy cap.

Nose: more of lemon-lime citrus than oranges and slightly dank.

Palate: bitter orange and pineapple. The hops are there but aren't overpowering and blend well with the fruit. The alcohol is noticeable on the medium-length finish but again, is not overpowering.

Overall impression: it's a solid, full-bodied ale with the right balance of bitterness and fruit. There's not much that can be compared to a traditional IPA and I can't even say with any confidence that there's any orange juice added. The name confounds me.

It is a good beer, though. Worth trying, and I'd have one any time it was offered. But there are so many hazy, fruity ales out there that I find there's nothing that would urge me to buy this one over one that I truly love.

If you like hazy, fruity, and hoppy ales, this OJIPA is worth trying.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: The Taste of Costa Rica

Typically, when I find myself in the Caribbean (and by that, I mean the only other two Latin-American countries I've been to: Mexico and Cuba), I don't reach for beer. I'm usually at a resort and tend to opt for easy-to-drink cocktails, like a margarita or a Cuba libre (rum and coke), with the occasional piña colada thrown in.

Cuba is where I discovered the mulata and made it my own when I returned home.

But in Costa Rica, signs for its national beer, Imperial, were everywhere. And in the videos that I watched while researching my trip, people tended to go for this cerveza. Naturally, I'd have to try it.

On our first full day in Costa Rica, we drove from San José to La Fortuna. It was a nearly three-hour trek that had us climbing up mountains and literally into clouds before we descended again and ended up in this popular volcanic town.

Our first goal was to find a place to eat, and we quickly found Pollos La Familia, not far from the centre of the town. I ordered a place of rice and shrimp, and of course, a glass of the flagship lager from Imperial, which was on tap.

It came in a large glass mug and tasted exactly as I expected it to taste: it's an American lager that smells grassy, tastes of grass and corn, and goes down easy. But there's no character to it. Think Miller or Blue or Canadian or any other macro brewery. They all taste the same.

Later, that evening, as DW and I were enjoying a meal at Soda El Turnito, where I had an amazing chifrijo meal, I tried another Imperial brew, Silver. It was lighter in body than their classic lager and had a bit more citrus flavour to it, and I actually enjoyed it. In some ways, it's more like Corona but more flavourful.

Not surprisingly, when I was offered a choice between the classic Imperial and Imperial Silver, my server would acknowledge that the Silver was their preferred choice, too.

But I really strove to find local craft brews from Costa Rica and I actually was quite successful. Some were offered on menus of upscale restaurants or in grocery or liquor stores.

In Uvita, when we were grocery shopping, the store had a huge liquor section that had several microbrewery offerings and I happily filled my shopping basket. I also visited a couple of craft breweries around the country and had some good success.

Here are a couple of brews that stood out from my travels:

• 
  Segua, by Costa Rica's Craft Brewing Company (4.8% ABV; 0 IBUs): this Red Ale had nice malts and notes of caramel, mixed with fruit and floral aromas and a hint of spice. It went down surprisingly well as I sat on the edge of the pool in the pool of our Dominicalito Airbnb, soaking my feet in the cool water, at the end of a long day. I'm not sure I would have been so welcoming of this ale at the height of the heat, but with the sun gone and the distant sound of the Pacific Ocean with the gently buzz of night bugs in the surrounding jungle, it was perfect. 🍺🍺
• 
  Indómito, also by Costa Rica's Craft Brewing (7.6 % ABV; 70 IBUs): this was a heavy-hitting brew and also the best IPA that I had in Costa Rica (to be fair, I only tried four). It was unfiltered but not hazy, with a copper-amber colour that is traditional in a British-styled IPA. The nose presented citrussy hops and the palate was cleansing yet full-bodied, with a lingering finish. I also enjoyed this ale in the evening from our Airbnb, actually while writing a blog post as others went to bed. I liked it so much that I had two, and slept like a baby. I wish I could have brought some home. 🍺🍺🍺
• Tropical IPA, by Papagayo Brewing Company (6.2% ABV; 0 IBUs): it was hard to believe that his fruity, hoppy IPA registers at 0 IBUs, but it did give the impression of more sweet fruit than any bitterness. I ordered it from the patio of a soda on Playa Santa Teresa, on the Nicoya Peninsula, after sunset. Paired with shredded beef tacos, it was a great combination. Even though the IPA is fruit-forward, it did retain solid characteristics of a classic IPA. Unfortunately, because I drank straight from a brown bottle, I couldn't see the colour: I had to go to the Brewery's Web site to see that it was slightly hazy and more golden than a traditional IPA. It was my first IPA in Costa Rica and was initially my favourite beer thus far in our journey, and was only beaten by Indómito later on. I kept my eyes open for more but sadly never saw it again. 🍺🍺🍺
• 
  Murciélago, by Monteverde Brewing Company (5% ABV; 30 IBUs): we visited the brew-pub for lunch, after trekking through the Monteverde Cloud Forest and standing on the continental divide. Surprisingly, we were served by a man from New Jersey who has now made Costa Rica his home. I had started with a session IPA, which was light and refreshing and went well with my burger, but wanted finish my meal with this coffee stout. It was more of a dark-roast ice coffee than a stout: eye-opening on both the nose and the palate. There was also a creaminess to it, no doubt from the nitro infusion. Though heavy on coffee, the body was surprisingly light. It was delicious. 🍺🍺🍺
• 
  Botánica, by Calle Cimarrona (5.5% ABV; 20 IBUs): the last beer that I had in Costa Rica (in fact, the last beer that I've had, period!) was a perfect choice for the perfect end to a perfect vacation. Served at Café Rojo, which I've now mentioned in a couple of posts, this lovely saison had a classic banana nose, mineral palate, with an added flavour of tamarind spice. It was refreshing and matched my pork ban mi perfectly. 🍺🍺🍺

There are many more craft beers that I tried over our two-week vacation but these were the best. If you ever get to Costa Rica, I recommend that you seek these out.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: München Weissbier

I should have tried this beer during Octoberfest.

I normally pass the imported beer section when I visit my friendly neighbourhood LCBO, and I really shouldn't. I mean, the Ontario craft beer scene is awesome but it's not the be-all and end-all. I should learn to broaden my horizons.

And it wasn't in the LCBO where I found this German ale. I just happened to be cutting down an aisle in one of my local grocery stores, heading toward the front cashiers, and I happened to make a shortcut of the beer and wine aisle.

Coincidence. Pure coincidence.

I saw a lot of cans that I recognized but my eyes fell upon this seemingly festive label. And while the illustration on the can isn't a Christmas-festive theme, the greens and reds, mixed with the foliage at the top of the can—accentuated, no doubt, by the Christmas music that was flooding the store's speaker system—made me think of the holidays.

I'm no stranger to the Paulaner Brewery label. I've had beer from this Munich-based brewery in the past, and likely, I've had this wheat ale before. It's just that I don't remember the last time that I've had this beer (Untapp'd was no help) and I certainly have never sat down and given the brew enough thought to warrant a review.

Until now.

So while Octoberfest is far behind us, other holidays are upon us. Does this wheat ale make for a festive brew?

Weissbier (Munich Wheat Beer: 5.5% ABV)
Paulaner Brauerei
München, Germany

Appearance: pours an unfiltered, apricot-gold with miniscule effervescence. The head is white and starts with a thick, dense foam, but settles to a thin but solid cap.

Nose: banana and pear are distinct, and I'm reminded of a saison.

Palate: there's a dankness about it but the fruit still comes through, although subtly. The mouthfeel is dry but still with loads of effervescence and a bit of mineral, almost flinty. There's practically no finish.

Overall impression: it's a pretty simple wheat ale. It has a fragrant nose, a non-complex body, and a finish that cleanses the palate. As decent as it is, though, each sip did not have me clamouring to take another. It was refreshing, easy-drinking, but seemed to me to be missing any distinct characteristic.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Paulaner has been around since 1634 and this Weissbier is touted as Germany's number-one wheat ale. Far be it from me to argue with that claim but I've had wheat ales that I've enjoyed more.

If you've never had a wheat ale before and want to start with something authentic, I would recommend this brew. But I find that the Belgian wheat ales that I've had give just a bit more flavour.

Cheers!

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: Bitter & Twisted

After enjoying the whisky-barrel-aged stout from Harviestoun Brewery, last week, I had to run back to the LCBO and pick up more. I may just clear out the shelf of every store in my area before long.

It's that good.

But when I had originally shopped for this wonderful dark ale, I picked up a couple of bottles of another offering of this Scottish brewery and I was now looking forward to trying this very different brew.

Would it be as good as Ola Dubh?

Bitter & Twisted Golden Ale (4.2% ABV)
Harviestoun Brewery
Alva, Scotland

Appearance: pours a clear, golden honey with a very light, white head that settles to a fine lace. The effervescence is alive with miniscule pearls.

Nose: honey isn't just its colour. There's a clover-like scent of honey and cantaloupe, with a bit of lemongrass.

Palate: it's light and grassy with a bit of piney bitterness that gives a full body and a lingering finish. At times, though, I almost taste a residue of soap, which didn't ruin the overall flavour profile but did catch my attention the more I drank.

Overall impression: I'm reminded of other golden ales that are mass-produced in Canada, like Molson Canadian or even Steamwhistle. But an elevated version of these popular brews. It's not particularly my sort of ale but I can see how it would appeal to the masses who like mainstream golden ales.

If you like Canadian, Steamwhistle, or Beau's Lug Tread, you'll like Bitter & Twisted. I don't like any of those but I liked Bitter & Twisted more.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

While there were several bottles of this ale on my friendly neighbourhood LCBO, I saw none in the shop where I stocked up on more of the Ola Dubh (I went to both stores in Barrhaven). But I'm sure it's around.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Square Nail

In an old train station along a set of tracks just to the northern end of St. Marys, Ontario, you'll find a small brewery that pays homage to the Grand Trunk Railway of 1858, which used to service St. Marys Junction.

On the last day of our Stratford visit, DW and our travel companions, Nina and Brian, made a side trip to the small town of St. Marys and, in particular to this brewery. Because it participates in the Bacon & Ale trail, we took advantage of our remaining voucher to sample some of the brews on tap. You can read more about that visit in a previous blog post.

Having finished my four samples, I wanted to take some beer home with me: in particular, I wanted a couple of the brews that I had sampled and liked. However, our server, Meg, informed me that the beer that I wanted was either unavailable in cans or was sold out, so I perused the fridge to find other beer that might interest me.

There were cans of a sample I had wanted to try, but the tap at the time was pouring only foam. I picked up a couple of those. I also grabbed a couple of cans of a raspberry sour that Brian had tried and liked. And I also asked Meg to recommend something for me to complete the six-pack that I was building.

Meg pointed to an amber that she said was her favourite, so I went with her recommendation.

Here are my notes.

Square Nail Amber (5.1% ABV)
Broken Rail Brewing
St. Marys ON

Appearance: a clear, rusty-copper with a pale beige head that pours a creamy head that settles to a thin cap. According to the brewers, the rust colour of the ale matches the rusted, square nails that were used in the construction of the train station.

Nose: warm malt and toffee.

Palate: there's a slight bitterness that hits the tongue initially but a sweet toffee dominates the palate. There's even an impression of coffee and walnuts in the medium-length finish. The body is solid without being heavy.

Overall impression: Square Nail is a solid recommendation. Thanks, Meg! Now that we're into cooler weather, this amber would be enjoyable on a night in, relaxing around friends, in good conversation. Maybe with some cheeses and cold meats on the side, with some honey to boot.

This amber is one I'd happily drink whenever I had the opportunity. Though I don't drink this style of beer often, Square Nail has me wanting to reach for an amber more often.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺

Sadly, Broken Rail doesn't deliver to Ottawa. I can't even have it shipped to a friend in Guelph. Deliveries are only local. But as with the beer I enjoyed in Stratford, it's one more reason why I shouldn't be a stranger to this region of Ontario.

If you're in the Stratford–St. Marys area, whether living in the region or just passing through, make Broken Rail a destination.

Cheers!