Beer O'Clock: Re-Gifted

I've had this beer before.

One of the biggest lies that I've told to my best friend's mom—she was kind of like a second mom to me—was that I loved her fruit cake, which she always gave to me at Christmas. I'd always accept her gift with an enthusiastic "Thank you!" before I took it home and offered it to my parents.

Often, it would stick around our house, untouched, for months, before I finally gathered the courage to throw it out.

It wasn't until nearly 30 years later that I finally broke down and told Monica that I didn't, in fact, like fruitcake of any sort and that I had been re-gifting her present to me or tossing it out. I told her that the mere fact that she thought of me over the holidays for all those years was a gift in of itself.

That comment bought her forgiveness.

I'm not a fan of raisins, currants, or dates, and I'll only eat figs if they're mixed into a fruit bar, though I don't seem to mind any of those flavours in a beer. So when my good friends at Spearhead sent me yet again another wonderful care package of various brews, and I saw that one of the cans was festively decorated for the upcoming holidays, I thought I should try that beer first.

I've had this beer before.

Re-Gifted Strong Beer (6% ABV, 35 IBUs)
Spearhead Brewing Company
Kingston ON

Appearance: a clear, reddish-brown that is a tad paler than a scotch ale, with a foamy, pale-beige head that settles to a fine lace. Small pearls cling to the inside of the glass at first pour but dissipate to a fine effervescence.

Nose: dried fruit and a hint of cinnamon.

Palate: raisins, figs, dates, and spices lead, followed by warm malts and a slight nip of hops in the finish.

Overall impression: I have a surprisingly good memory for flavours and can often imagine these flavours, merely by thinking of whatever it is that I want in my mouth. With Spearhead, there is a certain flavour profile that I expect from their beer. There is a maltiness with a bit of dried fruit in many of their ales, and I expected no less from this brown ale. But when I swirled my first sip in my mouth, something told me that I have had this ale before.

And I have: on further inspection of the can and the card that accompanied my care package, I learned that Re-Gifted is a small-batch version of their Moroccan Brown, which had disappeared from their regular lineup.

They've re-gifted their ale.

But this is one dried-fruit ale that I, myself, won't re-gift. I've missed the Moroccan Brown and this was a welcome surprise. It's a brown ale that has a boost of fruit and spice, and is perfect for the holiday season.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

Because Re-Gifted is a small-batch release, I expect it won't stick around for long. You can order it directly from the brewery and have it delivered for a modest fee (minimum purchase is required).

Beer O'Clock: Ginger Snap Cookie Golden Ale

A bag of gingersnap cookies has never been safe around me.

Photo source: Google

As a kid, we didn't keep them in the house that often because I would easily devour the bag within a couple of days. I remember setting up an obstacle course around the main floor of our house, where I'd have to jump over broom sticks or crawl under chairs, and bounce my way down the length of our sofa.

The obstacle course would take me through the kitchen, where I'd have a stack of cookies awaiting me. As I passed through the kitchen, I'd grab a cookie, pop it in my mouth (gingersnaps are fairly small, even for a kid), and start another lap around the house.

When I moved out on my own, gingersnap cookies were always on my grocery list. I'd keep the bag next to the chair in the TV room, and I'd snack on the cookies while watching my favourite programs.

I'm older, now, and these addictive cookies go to my belly faster than a pint of beer, so I've sort of given them up, though I do miss them from time to time.

Luckily, the good folks at Spearhead have teamed up with the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies to create an ale that brings back fond memories of gingersnap cookies.

For those of you who don't know, the ladies who drink beer in this organization bring women who work in the beer industry together with like-minded women who love a pint or two. The Society was founded in 2013 by Erica Campbell, who worked full-time at Black Oak Brewery, in Etobicoke, Ontario (GTA), and noticed that she was in a male-dominated industry.

Erica set out to bring more awareness to women beer lovers that they were not alone. Today, the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies is North America's largest women's beer community.

The group has also started working with breweries in collaboration to introduce new brews to beer lovers, and one of their latest collabs, with Spearhead Brewing, is the focus of today's review.

Ginger Snap Cookie Golden Ale (4.7% ABV; 14 IBUs)
Spearhead Brewing Company
Kingston, ON

Appearance: a clear, copper-red ale with plenty of effervescence and a foamy, beige head that settles to a fine lace.

Nose: breathing in, I could have sworn that I just opened a bag of gingersnaps. Loads of candied ginger and biscuit hit the nose. The aromas definitely match the name of this brew.

Palate: more ginger and a hint of clove. I was also reminded of pumpkin spice. In subsequent tastes, I could easily imagine that I was drinking a pumpkin ale, though the ginger would just as easily bring me back to my favourite cookie. The finish reinforces the biscuit, and lingers.

Overall impression: Ginger Snap Cookie Golden Ale definitely lives up to its label. This is liquid gingersnap. It's also a perfect autumn brew because it has a kiss of pumpkin spice, which is super-popular at this time of year.

You don't need to be a member of the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies to enjoy this ale. And, like gingersnap cookies, it's not safe around me. (Though, I won't be creating an obstacle course around my house in order to treat myself to a pint.)

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺+

You can find Ginger Snap Cookie Golden Ale at select LCBO stores. As always, you can order it directly from Spearhead and have it shipped to your door for a modest fee.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Your Pick

I have gotten so in the habit of ordering my beer online that I rarely step into an LCBO with the purpose of looking for new beer.

I really wasn't planning on doing it this past weekend, but DW and I were just coming out of Costco and when she noticed that there weren't many cars parked in the lot close to the neighbouring liquor store, she asked me to pull up.

"I've been wanting to pick up some St-Germaine for a while," she said.

For those of you who don't know, St-Germaine is an elderflower liqueur that tastes a lot like lychee. DW bought a couple of small bottles, last December, to give as Christmas gifts and she kept one for herself.

It was a tasty treat.

As the parking lot promised, the store was quiet. DW made her way to the spirits aisle and I headed straight for the back of the store, to the refrigerated section where the beer is kept.

As the sliding glass doors parted, I was immediately met with a display and sign that read "New Beer." This would be as far as I would go. Three brews, each from a different brewery, caught my eye. I grabbed one of the shopping baskets that were conveniently stacked by the entrance and loaded up two cans of each style.

Over the weekend, I tried a can of each beer and was pleased to discover that I liked all of them. They each had a distinct style and each were good examples of that style. I told myself that I'd be happy to write a review for any one of them.

The problem was, which one would I review first?

I left that decision to my Twitter followers. Yesterday, I posted a poll and asked my peeps which style of beer I should review next. The choices were IPA, maple ale, and sour. Because I needed enough time to crack the winning beer open, review it, and write this post, I allowed only a two-hour window for people to cast their votes.

Here's the beer that 85.7 percent of the pollsters chose:

Maple Beer (5% ABV)
Brew Microbrewery
Windsor, ON

Appearance: pours an unfiltered, medium gold with a creamy white head that settles to a solid, half-centimetre cap. Reddish-brown sediment, almost like dark sugar crystals (maple sugar?) fell to the bottom of my glass.

Nose: rich, sweet maple syrup can be detected from about a half-metre away. With my nose right up to the glass, this smells like something that you would pour over fresh-out-of-the-oven pancakes (yes, DW makes oven-baked pancakes: they're awesome!). There's a lingering aroma that reminds me of buckwheat.

Palate: the maple syrup continues as the leading star of the flavours in the mouth, but there's a spice that backs up the sweetness in the finish and also reminds me of buckwheat, but it's actually ginger, which is one of the ingredients that has been added to the batch. The mix of maple and ginger is a winning combination.

Overall impression: it's been many years since I've had a maple ale, and at the time, McAuslan's St-Ambroise Erable was the benchmark of maple beer. But Brew Microbrewery's Maple Beer gives St-Ambroise Erable a run for its money. The only thing this beer is missing is smoke from the sugar shack. It's sweet without being cloying; it has a rich maple flavour that makes me long for a breakfast treat; it makes me think that I need to brush my teeth right after finishing a glass; yet, it has a light to medium body that makes it nice to drink—that is, it's not so rich and sweet that I can't finish the glass.

I don't reach for maple beer often but during maple syrup season, this is a great one to grab.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺 this is a very good maple beer with a bit extra.

This brew is currently available throughout Ontario, in the LCBO, or can be ordered online directly from the brewery (they seem to have a sale on). The brewery also has a lime beer and various wines.

Have you got a particular style of beer or a specific brew that you'd like to see me review? Leave a suggestion in the Comments section and I'll see what I can do. I'll review the other two beers in the coming weeks.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Laura's Pick

I'm allergic to cherries. But that's okay, because I've never been a huge fan of them, except when they're candied.

Call it a sweet craving.

So, you're probably asking yourself, why would I bother to review a cherry ale? And a sour one at that? (If you may recall, I don't like sour ales.)

When I visited Kichesippi Beer Company, last week, my intention was to try another seasonal that they had released: the Remic Rapids West Coast IPA. But the person behind the counter started talking up another seasonal so much, I had to give it a try.

I may not like sour beer or cherries, but I can still be objective when I try an ale that is both, can't I?

Can I?

Laura's Sour Cherry Wheat
Kich Staff Pick No.7 (4.5% ABV)
Kichesippi Beer Company
Ottawa, ON

Appearance: an unfiltered peach-pink with plenty of effervescence in the pour, with a white, bubbly head that immediately dissipates, just as though I was pouring a soda. The large bubbles clung to the inside of the glass, but quickly shrunk to tiny pearls.

Nose: candied cherries with only a touch of sourness.

Palate: more candied cherries, with only enough sourness to live up to the claim that there was any. The lush Montmorency cherry flavours were the star of the ale, and I detected a sweetness with the sour. The fruit remained in the finish.

Overall impression: despite being allergic to cherries, I think that the boil countered whatever it is that makes me react to them. And because the flavour was candied, with only a hint of sourness, I found this ale to be a pleasing summer thirst quencher. With the heat and humidity that we've experienced in Ottawa, this summer, Laura's Sour Cherry Wheat cuts my thirst.

Laura Oattes has been a brewer with Kichesippi Beer for more than five years and chose sour cherries for this mid-summer thirst quencher (apparently, it was either this or malt liquor). I'm glad she went for the former.

According to the lad who talked me into picking up a couple of cans of Laura's brew, the company sold 3,000 litres in only three weeks. They are currently working on a second batch.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺 While this is a beer style that I would usually overlook, I'm glad that I tried this one. The cherries are flavourful and a bit candied, which is the only way that I like cherries, and there isn't very much of a sour flavour, which is also a plus. I highly recommend it and would try it again.

Get yours directly from the brewery or contact them to see who has it on tap.

Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Christmas Beer

It's not often that holidays are centered around beer, and frankly, that's a shame.

The lovely folks in Denmark, however, have not only created such a holiday but they have moved it a couple of times so that it doesn't interfere with the work week. Known to the Danish as "J-Day" and celebrated on the first Friday in November, Julebryg (trans: Christmas Brew) is the fourth largest beer sold in this Nordic country, each year.

Which says a lot, considering that it's only available for six to 10 weeks out of the year.

In North America, Julebryg is tapped at precisely 5:59 pm on December 1, presumably because we tend to signify this day with the beginning of the Christmas season.

I was lucky enough to be at the only place in Ottawa that was tapping Tuborg Julebryg for this festive occasion.

For the first week in December, the only place that is pouring this exclusive dark lager is Bier Markt, on Sparks Street. Here, you can find servers donning bright blue Santa suits and caps. Banners celebrate J-Day and the Christmas spirit can truly be felt. As a special treat, Denmark's embassador to Canada, Niels Boel Abrahamsen, poured the first glasses at 5:59 on the dot.

So, just how is this festive lager?

Julebryg (5.6% ABV)

Tuborg (Carlesburg Group)
Fredericia, Denmark

Appearance: caramel-amber with red highlights, and a creamy, beige head that clings to the sides of the glass as it settles right down to a thin, loose lace before disappearing.

Nose: the aromas aren't eager to reveal themselves right away but slowly expose hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Palate: I was promised anise flavours by Carlsberg Territory Manager Petter Wramhed, but my first mouthful, which I swirled over my tongue and around my teeth, made him a liar—for about five seconds. It's not overwhelming anise but it is a pleasant sensation every time you inhale after swallowing your brew. It beautifully complements the clove, nutmeg, and nutty finish.

Overall impression: there's a reason why this seasonal lager sells so well. It's immensely drinkable and has you yearning for Christmas baking and logs crackling in the fireplace. It warms the heart and makes you feel peace on Earth, good will to all.

Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5

This is a wonderful Christmas brew... I mean, Julebryg. It has everything that says glædelig jul—Merry Christmas!

If you want to experience this limited brew, head over to Bier Markt. Check out the lights on Parliament Hill and the outdoor hockey rink, and then warm yourself with a delicious meal and a Tuborg Julebryg.

Tell them I sent you.

On December 8, you can also find this brew at Central BierHaus, in Kanata Centrum. But you have to wait until Friday.

Cheers! Skål!

Beer O'Clock: Beau's Does It Again

I like Beau's, but not always.

Beau's All Natural Brewing Company is what I consider a hit-and-miss company. Sometimes, this organic beer company produces some awe-inspiring beer, like its Bog Water, its Beaver River IP-Eh, and its Hogan's Goat Spiced Bock. I absolutely loved their Weiss O'Lantern Pumpkin Wheat Ale—it was my overall favourite pumpkin ale last fall.

Sometimes, I feel the Vankleek Hill brewery misses. I'm sorry to say, I am not a fan of their flagship beer, Lug Tread Lagered Ale. And I found that their Mr. Hyde rye flavoured IPA was a little too much.

You can't please everyone.

But their third installment of their winter beer is a big-time pleaser.

Winterbrewed Coffee Amber Ale
Beau's All Natural Brewing Company
Vankleek Hill ON
LCBO: $7.85, 600 ml; 6% ABV
My Beer O'Clock rating: 4/5

Created a couple of years ago, during Winterlude, the folks at Beau's teamed up with another local company that specializes in fair-trade, organic coffee (yes, I'm talking about Bridgehead). The result is an amber ale that has coffee written all over it.

And then some.

Deep copper-red with a creamy, beige head, I detected malt and heavy raisins off the nose, followed by a hint of that Bridgehead coffee. The raisin flavours carry through on the palate and mix with spiced fruit cake and burnt caramel. And then the coffee comes through to the finish, which balances nicely with the alcohol. With each sip (and you'll want to continue to sip this stuff), the coffee builds.

Coffee and beer: my two favourite liquids.

I found a perfect food pairing with this beer: poutine. I made some homemade poutine this weekend, peeling and slicing Yukon Gold potatoes and baking them in the oven with organic olive oil, and then sprinkling them with St-Albert's curds and drenching them in a beef gravy. On a cold winter's day, this is the perfect comfort food. Winterbrewed is the perfect ale to wash it down with.

No doubt, Beau's will be at Winterlude, during the beer festival on Sparks Street (February 16 and 17), aptly named Winter Brewed. I'll be shocked if their Winterbrewed isn't on offer.

Because that would be a real miss.

Beer O'Clock: When In Winter...

Only in Ottawa can we go from above from above the freezing point, where we're wearing a sweater and a down-filled vest, to a deep freeze, where our parka just doesn't seem warm enough, in less than two days.

Welcome to winter.

Luckily, we Ottawans are a hearty bunch. When the snow has fallen and the wind chill makes the temperature feel like –20°C, we can head out and shovel our driveways, and break out in a sweat.

The best reward for enduring the bitter cold is to come inside, eat a chicken pot pie, and wash it down with a fine beer. But in winter, not any beer will do.

Enter this week's selection, from Québec, aptly named for this season.

Solstice d'hiver (Winter Solstice)
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
St-Jérôme, QC
Broue Ha Ha: $9.99 (plus tax, deposit), 4 x 341ml; 10.2% ABV
Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5 out of 5

This beer, a barley wine, is brewed in July and then aged for five or six months. As its name implies, it is released on December 21^st—winter solstice. And with its hearty flavours and high alcohol content, it is a perfect winter ale.

Dieu du Ciel is also planning to release this "vintage" again this coming June 21 (its one-year anniversary) and again on the next winter solstice, the anniversary of its release.

A deep, murky, copper-brown colour with a creamy, beige head, I immediately detected a caramel nose with clove and some nutmeg. The spice carries through on the palate with slightly sweet toffee.

There is a great hoppy finish with lingering alcohol that isn't overpowering, despite it's high content.

This is a nice barley wine—the nicest I've had—but I wouldn't want to drink more than one in a sitting. The second time I tried it (after my initial tasting and review notes), I split the bottle with Lori while we had some homemade chicken pot pie. The beer was a great match. And it was a great way to reward myself after shovelling the driveway.

I plan to keep my remaining two bottles to open on June 21^st and December 21^st. I may provide an update.

Sliante!

Beer O'Clock: Studying Scottish History

I love history. In university, one of my favourite courses of study was an elective for my minor: Medieval history.

Ever since I was a kid, I've loved castles, knights, kings, and battles with swords (not guns). When I was creating my fictional character, Roland Axam, I travelled to his home town of North Berwick and went over the moon when I found out that a Medieval castle with a colourful history was only three kilometres away.

In my first story with Roland, the climax was set at Tantallon Castle.

Over the holidays, I went to my local LCBO to see what seasonals were available, and I was pleased to see a box with historic Scottish ales. I had seen this set last Christmas, but I was in search of local craft seasonals, so I let the gift set go.

Not this year.

Sadly, I fell ill over the holidays and for a record nine days, I drank no beer. No reviews, no tastings. I suffered on top of suffering.

Now that I'm better, I wanted to start my reviews for 2013 with this sampler by Williams Brothers Brewing. Because, if any of these gift packs are still hanging around, you should grab one.

I tasted these beers in the order in which they came packed, from left to right. And as a flight is concerned, this seemed to be the best order in which to enjoy them. And that's how I'm going to list them.

Historic Ales from Scotland
Williams Brothers Brewery Company (OA Heather Ale Ltd.)
Alloa, Scotland
LCBO: $10.85, 4 x 330ml

Grozet Gooseberry & Wheat Ale (5% ABV)

Made since the 16th century, this brew is made with malted barley bree, wheat, gooseberries, bogmyrtle, and hops. Pale apricot in colour with a fine, white head, this refreshing beer has a fruity nose of pear and peach. On the palate, I caught tones of pineapple and honey that ended in a nice, light finish.

It was delicious, and I give it a rating of 3 out of 5.

Fraoch Heather Ale (5% ABV)

Heather ale is Scotland's native ale and dates as far back as 2000 BC. Deep apricot in colour with a foamy white head that dissipates quickly, I found the nose held a musty pine scent and earthy floral. In the mouth, I tasted a creamed honey and more wood, with a dry and tannic flavour. The finish was clean and light, with a dryness that made me want more. More flavour, that is, and for that, I gave it a 2.

Alba Scots Pine Ale (7.5% ABV)

According to the label, the recipe for this ale was introduced to the Scots by the Vikings. This style of beer was popular in Scotland until the 19th century.

Copper-red in colour, Alba produced a lively effervescence with a pure white head that dissipated almost immediately. I popped the cap, poured it into my glass, and grabbed my camera: by the time I was focused, the head was gone. And because I poured it into a wine goblet, as the label recommended, the bubbles also faded quickly. The beer was flat before I managed to finish it.

But at the start, Alba delivered a fruity nose with hints of ginger and apple. In the mouth, I tasted nice hops with traces of whisky and a sharp flavour of wood. The beer ended in a caramel finish.

This is a hot beer with a high alcohol level that made me pace myself, which probably accounted for the dissipation of the fizz. But it went flat far too soon. Despite my final mouthfuls, I enjoyed this ale. It was interesting, complex, and warranted a score of 3.

Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale (6.5% ABV)

This historic ale was introduced to the Scots by the Welsh in the 9th century. It is cola coloured with a foamy, light brown head that also doesn't stick around; nor did the lively effervescence that came in the glass. This ale gives a spicy nose with roasted malts; in the mouth, I tasted mild hops with a toastiness and an enjoyable, medium finish.

This gruit-styled ale was my favourite of the bunch. I gave it a 4.

We owe so much in the modern world to the Scots. Industry, art, and beer. So we should embrace Scottish history.

This beer is a good start.

In Search of the Great Pumpkin Ale, Part 5

At last, I've reached the end of my pumpkin ales. I am so ready to move on to different styles of beers, there's no way I can describe how relieved I am that we've come to the last remaining bottles in my collection.

I realize that I barely scratched the surface of the number of pumpkin ales available in Ontario, West Québec, New York State, and Delaware (my final tasting), but I hope that I've raised an interest in this interesting style of beer. And I know that some of my beer-loving friends (yes, I'm talking to you, Katy and Scott) have amassed a much greater collection of pumpkin ales, but for me, the number that I had was considerable, seeing that I've never had more than two different pumpkin ales in one season.

I reviewed 12 breweries but I tasted at least a half-dozen more that I decided to leave out of my reviews. And to spare the readers who may not care for pumpkin and spice in their ales, I fear that a dozen was too many.

But I've reached the end with the final three, none of which is available in the LCBO or is made in Canada. This weekend, I went south of the border. And once I've given my review of these beers, I'll give you my top five pumpkin ales and a couple of my least favourite ones.

I spread the final tastings out over three separate sessions. The first one, I had on Thursday night, with dinner. And thankfully, it renewed my love of pumpkin ale.

UFO Pumpkin
Harpoon Bewery, Windsor VT
5.9% ABV

I have my friend, Tom, to thank for this one. My buddy went for a beer run to Vermont and returned with a trunkful of beer. He came straight from the border to our weekly social event, Thursday Pints, and as we headed out he showed me his haul and offered me a bottle of this unfiltered pumpkin ale.

I'm honoured.

A cloudy amber orange with an off-white, foamy head, this ale delivered a nose of baked apple-spice cake. On the palate, I was immediately hit with spices, a hint of orange citrus, and brown sugar. The finish was all pumpkin pie.

This pumpkin ale hit the mark exactly. It was delicious and makes me want to venture down to Windsor next year. UFO is a favourite.

On Friday, I shared another beer with an expert: brewmaster Adam Rader from Mill Street. This one was from my recent trip to Cortland, in the Finger Lakes district of New York State.

Pumpkin Ale
Cortland Beer Company, Cortland NY
ABV NA

I came across the CBC by accident. My family and I were looking for a place for dinner in Cortland, and when we turned down a street off the main road, we passed an old fire station that was converted into a brewery. We pulled over and I hopped out.

I had a small sample of their pumpkin seasonal and decided that I would take some home. It was available only in a growler, so I made the decision right then and there that I would share it. I was hoping that I could share it with my three buddies, but neither Katy, Scott, or Tom were available, so I thought I'd take it to Adam.

Reddish-amber with a thin, off-white head, I caught a buttery nose. Adam pointed out the smell of popcorn, and it all came together. I also smelled pumpkin spice. On the palate, I tasted a toffee spice cake with a slight sweetness that accumulated as I finished my glass; the sweetness became cloying and coated my tongue. The finish seems to get sweeter as the glass emptied. And neither the growler nor the brewery Web site provided the alcohol content, though I couldn't taste anyone.

This is a good pumpkin ale, but I was glad that I shared. For me, it was too much to drink on my own. As it was, I left Adam the growler with half of the ale remaining. But I repeat: it was good.

I saved my final beer for yesterday (Sunday). I loved the beers that I had tried from this Delaware brewery and expected another awesome ale. What I got was not what I expected at all.

Punkin Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Rehoboth Beach DE
7% ABV

I first had Dogfish Head beer this summer, in Charlotte, NC. Then, I had the incredibly intense 90-Minute IPA. Great hops, better flavour. A couple of months ago, I attended a beer tasting and tried several more, and I fell in love with this brewery. So I couldn't wait to try the pumpkin ale.

And thanks go to Katy, who gave me this bottle when I started collecting pumpkin ales.

In the glass, I saw an unfiltered liquid the colour of a pumpkin skin: deep, intense orange. The head was thick and foamy. On the nose, I smelled intense pumpkin and spice with a hint of ginger, almost like ginger beer. In the mouth, I tasted a sweet and sour flavour, and a fruit that reminded me of plums. Throughout my tasting, I had a craving for egg rolls.

There was citrus on the palate, but not much in the way of hops. At least, not the intense hops that I associate with Dogfish Head. The finish was hot, due to the high alcohol content.

Punkin was a nice ale, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed. The love I developed for this brewery didn't continue with this offering. Punkin was not going to fall within my top five beers.

So which pumpkin ales rated as my top five?

1. Beau's Weiss O'Lantern: incredibly flavourful and well balanced, the combination of pumpkin ale and wheat ale won my heart.
2. Southern Tier Imperial Pumking Ale: this is an all-time favourite that is a great substitute for actual pumpkin pie.
3. Harpoon UFO Pumpkin: what can I say? I loved it.
4. St-Ambroise Citrouille: this offering is crisp, clean, flavourful, and reinforces why this brewery is one of my favourites.
5. Nightmare on Mill Street: while this beer tastes slightly different in the bottle and on tap, I prefer the draft version, but the bottle is right behind it.

If you can find any of these ales, pick them up. Cherish them. If you can't find them, make sure you get your hands on some next year.

Which pumpkin ales fell short for me? Quite a few of the ones that I reviewed and didn't review fell into that category, but there were two pumpkin ales I will avoid in the future.

• Black Creek Historic Brewery Pumpkin Ale: not enough flavour, pure and simple. Not worth having again.
• Brooklyn Post Road: I purchased two bottles of this ale. The one that I reviewed wasn't finished, was dumped down the drain; the second, I gave away.

 So that's it. That's my review of pumpkin ales. Next week, I look forward to sharing something completely different.

Beer O'Clock: In Search of the Great Pumpkin Ale, Part 4

Okay, I'm getting a little tired of pumpkin ale.

I've only been drinking pumpkin ale for a couple of years: since my friend, Perry, took me to Toronto for Volo Cask Days, when he introduced me to his own version of the seasonal ale and I first tried Great Lakes' interpretation.

Since pumpkin ales sprang up, I've limited my self to only a couple each year. Not so this year.

In addition to the pumpkin ales I've reviewed, I've had some at beer tastings and at social gatherings, where I haven't taken notes (I did review a pumpkin ale last week, along with other beers at a food pairing dinner). Needless to say, I've had more pumpkin ale this year than I've had in all other years, combined.

I'm getting pumpkin beered out.

That said, I did try two more pumpkin ales this weekend: one from Ontario, another from New York State. And both of them are available at the LCBO.

I tried the Ontario ale first.

Highballer Pumpkin Ale 
Grand River Brewing Company 
Cambridge, Ontario
LCBO: $3.95, 500 ml; 5.2% ABV

The last time I reviewed a beer by Grand River, I wasn't particularly kind and I was somewhat reluctant to review them again. What if I didn't like this offering from this small brewery? Would I publish my findings? I decided that they deserved another chance.

Deep orange-ambered, the white head dissipated fairly quickly but left a nice, thin lace. On the nose, I detected a definite pumpkin and spice aroma with some citrus. In the mouth, the flavour was an obvious pumpkin but almost no spice. The fruit of the pumpkin was all that came through and ended in a clean finish.

While I would have liked to taste more spice, this was a good, easy-drinking ale. Grand River had redeemed itself.

I followed the Ontario ale with one from Brooklyn, New York.

Post Road Pumpkin Ale
The Brooklyn Brewery
Brooklyn, New York
LCBO: $2.45, 355 ml; 5% ABV

While this seasonal is available in the LCBO, it is only available in limited quantities and only at a few stores.

Dark orange with a thick, beige, creamy head that lasts, this beer delivered a candied orange and malt nose. In the mouth, you are immediately hit with good hops, sour caramel, and orange rind. And like the Grand River, there was more pumpkin than spice.

But what disappointed me about this ale was the finish. The flavours seemed to drop off, leaving me with a watery finish. I didn't crave another sip after the first. And as I approached the bottom of my glass, I found myself bored with the whole drinking experience and did something I almost never do.

I dumped the rest of the glass down the kitchen drain.

Was I tired of drinking pumpkin beer? Perhaps. But I was certainly tired of this particular beer.

If you are determined to try all available pumpkin ales from this season, then give it a try. Give both of these beers a try.

I have a few more pumpkin beers to try. But then I may be done drinking pumpkin ales for a few years.

Cheers.

In Search of the Great Pumpkin Ale, Part 3

Yes, my beer review is one day late, but I decided that because it was a holiday there was a good chance that many of you wouldn't be spending your free time in front of a screen. Also, I got home too late and too tired on Sunday, after spending some time in nature, capturing the colours of the autumn leaves, and with family, stuffing our faces, to sit down and bang out a beer review.

If you get a chance, get out soon to enjoy the colours of fall. The Gatineau Hills to the north of Ottawa have exploded in vibrant colours of red, yellow, and orange. This week's Wordless Wednesday will showcase some of the images I captured this weekend.

But I also took the time to enjoy two more pumpkin ales while I absorbed the beauty of the changing leaves in the Gatineaus.

This weekend, being both the Thanksgiving weekend in Canada and with Columbus Day in the United States, I went for a Canadian offering and an American one. And in drinking these seasonal brews, I only had one regret.

That I didn't buy more.

This week's selections are Beau's All Natural Weiss O'Lantern Pumpkin Weiss and Southern Tier Imperial Pumking Beer. I started with Beau's.

Beau's, for me, is a hit-and-miss brewery. I like some of their beer; I dislike others. When Beau's creates something truly special, I want to stock up. Their Bog Water, Festivale, and Beaver River IPA come to mind. Sometimes, they seemingly try too hard (I'm thinking of Mr. Hyde) and for me, it's too much. And, I'm sorry to say, I don't like their flagship brew, Lug Tread (I respect it; I just don't appreciate it).

Their Weiss O'Lantern (LCBO: $7.85/600 ml; 5.6% ABV), I'm happy to say, firmly hits the mark for me. A golden-yellow glow with a hint of orange and a lush-white foamy head catches your eye. Like most weiss-styled wheat ales, there is the murkiness of little filtration. As a result, the light that enters the glass seems to remain captured within.

On the nose, I was immediately hit with intense banana. This is only the third time that I've noticed this fruit in a beer, and it tells me one thing: this beer is going to be good. In the nose, there are also hints of spice, which comes through more clearly on the palate.

In the mouth, I was met with warm clove spice and pumpkin flavour. This is a full-bodied, but not heavy, wheat ale. The fresh yeast comes through in the finish and leaves a beautiful, clean aftertaste.

Sadly, I only picked up two bottles on Saturday. I tend not to purchase more than two bottles of an unknown entity: I buy a second just in case there's something wrong with the first, but I don't buy more just in case I don't like the beer and am then stuck with it. And with my experience with Beau's, my opinion could have gone either way.

I'm happy to say that this seasonal is something I would be happy to drink year-round. It's flavourful, it's refreshing, and it's a hit with me. I am going to hit the liquor store in the next day or two to track down more of this excellent pumpkin ale.

The second selection for this week is a friend of mine from last year. I first experienced Southern Tier's Imperial Pumking Ale (LCBO: $8.95/650 ml; 8.6% ABV) over the Thanksgiving weekend one year ago, and it blew my mind. It was the most-intense pumpkin ale I had ever had, including Perry's Atomic Pumpkin Ale, which I had a couple of years ago at the Volo Cask Days. That cask-conditioned ale, made by my friend, Perry Mason, was pumpkin pie in a glass.

Pumking is pumpkin pie in a glass, followed by a kick in the head. It's massive, eye-opening stuff.

Rich bronze-orange and red in colour, the white foamy head dissipates rather quickly. It's clear, so filtering is well-performed.

On the nose, you are immediately hit with an intense sweetness, like honey, and a warm aroma of fresh-baked banana-nut loaf (my youngest daughter, who loves beer—particularly stouts—picked up the banana bread first; I got the nuts). Some pumpkin fruit also comes through in the nose, but the sweetness overpowers it.

On the palate, there is a big maltiness with spices, sweet honey, and pumpkin. This is not so much a beverage as it is a dessert. Someone at Southern Tier has a sweet tooth: their Crème Brulée Stout is so sweet that I have to share a bottle with at least two other people.

Pumking has a creamy finish and staying power. Hours after finishing my glass, I could still taste it. The day after, I could still recall the flavours.

When I started collecting bottles of pumpkin ale for reviewing, Pumking was at the top of my list. I wanted to have it as the star of my reviews. But as I've tried more and more of these seasonals, Pumking is facing a lot of stiff competition. After tasting the two beers this weekend, I found myself craving more of the Beau's. Perhaps that craving stemmed from the fact that I was out of it, whereas I stocked up on plenty of Pumking—enough to last me the season. But I know that this Thanksgiving, I was thankful that I drank two awesome pumpkin ales.

Beer O'Clock: In Search of the Great Pumpkin Ale, Part 1

Let's be clear: this is not a competition.

A few weeks ago, I started collecting bottles of pumpkin ales. I wanted to do a comparison of the different seasonal ales from the breweries that are available to us beer lovers in Ottawa.

And some that aren't, but they won't be part of this taste comparison.

However, after I amassed a small stash of beer from all over Ontario, from Québec, and parts of the United States, I started thinking: I can't drink all of these beers in one sitting. I'll get pissed. I suppose I could drink a little of each, but what to do of the remainder of the bottles. When I review beer, I tend to do it alone. I don't want to be influenced by anyone.

And so I came up with an idea. I will drink two to three different pumpkin ales each week, giving my impression to you.

I'm starting with two very different pumpkin ales: one from Toronto, Ontario; the other, from Montréal, QC. In my search for great pumpkin ales, I went to Black Creek Historic Brewing and McAuslan Brewing (to the bottles, not the actual breweries).

I have never had either of these ales before this weekend, so I was tasting fresh. But I must admit: I had great expectations for the St-Ambroise Citrouille. After all, this brewery creates my favourite stout and makes an amazing seasonal IPA.

I performed this tasting in two sittings, drinking a bottle of each of the pumpkin ales in each tasting. For the first tasting, I drank a bottle of the St-Ambroise, and then drank the Black Creek. A couple of days later, I drank both ales at the same time, taking notes. Here's what I discovered:

The Black Creek pumpkin ale (5% ABV) shows a rich, murky amber-brown colour with a creamy, thick head that lasted for most of the life of the beer. I found the nose to be closed for many minutes; it slowly opened while I drank, but I could only detect faint spices. In the mouth, I was met with mild pumpkin and spice. The finish reminded me of black pepper but was short, and I caught something astringent.

Black Creek is an easy-drinking pumpkin ale. While I would have liked it to open more, would have liked a little more pumpkin-pie flavour, I did enjoy it. This is the type of beer that you could enjoy at a social gathering.

The St-Ambroise Citrouille (5% ABV), on the other hand, is very different. Starting with the appearance, this pumpkin ale is crystal-clear, with a deep amber to caramel colour. The head is white but disappears almost immediately. I thought my first bottle might have been flat, but the miniscule pearls stayed throughout, and this beer was fine. The second bottle was the same, so there was nothing wrong.

Where the Black Creek was closed, the Citrouille held intense spice on the nose, lots of pumpkin, and a freshly baked pie crust. I couldn't wait to taste it.

On the palate, the Citrouille was slightly sweet (did I detect maple?) and incredibly flavourful. The finish produced citrus flavours and great hops.

The St-Ambroise tasted more like a dessert-like beer; something that you treat yourself with.

While I liked the Black Creek, I loved the St-Ambroise pumpkin ale. But this isn't a competition. If you like pumpkin ales, go out and get both. Serve one after a meal; drink the other one when you're enjoying an evening with friends.

Next week, I'll take a look at two other Ontario brews: Mill Street and Great Lakes Beer. Cheers!

Beer O'Clock: Cross-Border Shopping... Sort Of

I love living on the border of Ontario and Québec: not only do I have exposure to Canada's two official languages, I get to sample beer from both sides. And because I live in Ontario but work in Québec, I cross the border several times each week.

Both Ontario and La belle province have a thriving beer industry, as was evidenced at last weekend's Craft Beer Week festival. While the majority of the breweries that attended the nine-day event were from Ontario, one brewery is based in Montréal: McAuslan.

I've been drinking McAuslan's beer for years. Their St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout is my all-time favourite stout. I love the smokey flavour and hints of dark chocolate intertwined. It's not a creamy, smooth-drinking stout, but I'm not known for consuming easy-drinking beer. I love that in-your-face flavour. I guess that's why I also love the smokey, peatiness of a good Islay single-malt scotch (FYI: Laphroaig and St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout are an excellent combination).

When I saw the McAuslan tent at the beer festival, I went straight up to it, said hello to their lovely rep, Hollisha Francis, and was quick to let her know of my love for her company's dark ale. She, in return, poured me a sample to enjoy while we chatted.

McAuslan had three taps on offer at the festival: the oatmeal stout and their pale ale (which I've had once before: it's a nice, easy-drinking, medium-bodied ale. I've already told you I prefer more flavour in my beer, so it should be no surprise that I haven't gone back for more), but I saw a green tap that I didn't recognize.

"I didn't know you made an IPA," I said, showing a keen interest.

"It's a seasonal," Hollisha informed me. With my stout finished, I was eager to try the IPA.

And as soon as I had it, I wanted more. Much more. I asked her where I could obtain some for my personal collection. Sadly, Hollisha dashed my hopes, saying it wasn't at the LCBO, that it would only be available on tap at select pubs. The only one she knew of in the Ottawa area was the Arrow & Loon.

I love the Arrow & Loon, but unfortunately I don't get out to it very often. Not nearly often enough to take advantage of a seasonal.

Fortunately, for me, I don't give up easily. Especially, since I live on the border with Québec. Sure, it wasn't available at the LCBO, but maybe a dépanneur would have it^*.

Not only did I find the St-Ambroise IPA in a Gatineau store (McAuslan's Web site shows who carries their beer), it was an awesome store, and it was only a two-minute drive from my office.

La trappe à fromage (The Cheese Trap) is a gorgeous épicerie that offers (obviously) cheeses of every ilk plus deli meats, specialty jams, jellies, and spreads, and more. And it has a great beer selection.

It's beer heaven. There are lots of microbreweries: from Unibroue to Gatineau's microbrewery, BDT. There were labels that I didn't recognize but am eager to try. And I found McAuslan's IPA.

So I cleared the store out of their supply.

Here is the low-down on this ale.

St-Ambroise India Pale Ale
Brasserie McAuslan
Montréal, QC
La trappe à fromage: $9.99, 4 x 341 ml; 6.2% ABV

Made with pale, Crystal, and Munich malts, and with both Willamette and Golding hops, this is a traditional English IPA. The colour is a brilliant copper-amber; the head, a white foam that dissipates shortly after the pour. The nose is aromatic: I could sit and breathe the fresh citrus bouquet all day, but I really wanted to get to the drinking part.

On the palate, you are hit immediately with intense hops, but the flavour of bold, fresh orange and spice almost instantly washes the tannin-like taste away in a clean, short finish. I was reminded of a cold orange pekoe tea as I drank. This IPA is immensely refreshing. The flavour hits you, goes away, and has you craving more.

St-Ambroise IPA may very well be the best IPA I've ever had. There is a nice balance between the flavours and alcohol. Though it is a strong beer, it doesn't drink like one.

I'm hoping that even though this beer is a seasonal that it sticks around for a while. And I hope that La trappe à fromage gets more.

But if you want to get some, you'd better act fast: as I said, I'm only a two-minute drive from one of Gatineau's two locations. Maybe you'd be best to try the Arrow & Loon.

^* I know, I know. It's currently unlawful to transport alcohol over provincial borders. But the law will be changing soon and I'm counting on the belief that authorities have bigger fish to fry. So shh...