Floats like cloud and drinks like a bee, this is the latest from Railway City … Rating → 79 points Stats: English Ale. 5% ABV. 29 IBUs. St Thomas, Ontario. Size: 750mL bottle Colour: Dark red-brown amber — perfectly filtered Mouth Feel: Medium-low, natural carbonation; relatively flat on the tongue with a low specific gravity….
“Winter Beard” (Double Chocolate Stout), Muskoka Brewery
If our current culture has hit ‘peak beard,’ then this is surely the crowning glory … at to that some ‘peak chocolate’ and you have sin in a glass. Rating → 95 points Stats: Chocolate Stout. 8.0% ABV, Bracebridge, Ontario. Size: 750mL Colour: Dark, nearly impervious deep brown with the slimmest of ‘red’ when backlit…
Fire and Blood (Red Ale) Ommegang Brewery
There can be only one … but this isn’t it. Rating: 78 points Stats: Red Ale. 6.8% ABV. Cooperstown, NY. Size: 750 mL bottle Colour: Deep red amber, slightly unfiltered (on lees) Mouth Feel: Medium carbonation with a very dry finish Purchased: LCBO Price: $9.95 Pairing Notes: Beef fajitas I know: I’ve been on a bit…
Hop Nouveau 2014 (American IPA) Trafalgar Ales & Meads
Pour cautiously our you’ll have wet hopped everything around you too …. Rating: 87 points Stats: American IPA. 5% ABV. Oakville, Ontario. Size: 650 mL bottle Colour: Slightly turbid straw Mouth Feel: High carbonation but very dry throughout Purchased: LCBO Price: $6.95 Pairing Notes: n/a Ok, so 30mL into pouring this beer, it was already evident…
Outburst (Imperial IPA) Pyramid Breweries
Not all those with imperial blood get to be king … Rating: 85 points Stats: Double IPA. 8.5% ABV. Seattle, Washington. Size: 650 mL bottle Colour: Perfectly clear, warm amber Mouth Feel: Medium-low carbonation, creamy with a dry finish Purchased: LCBO Price: $4.95 Pairing Notes: n/a It seems only right that after my tepid review of an…
“Harvest Ale” (American Pale Ale), Muskoka Brewery
A new offering from a brewery that makes an impression for its limited and season runs. Rating: 88 points Stats: American Pale Ale. 7.0% ABV, Bracebridge, Ontario. Size: 750mL Colour: Thick, dark, perfect amber. Mouth Feel: Medium carbonation; creamy middle. Dry finish. Purchased: LCBO Cost: $8.95 Pairing Notes: n/a So here’s another limited run beer from a brewery that has challenged…
“Rye Guy” (Rye IPA) Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
Rye Guy is a natural guy, comfortable in his own skin: strong with a complex & sensitive personality …. Rating → 90 points Stats: IPA. 6.7% ABV. 52 IBUs. Ottawa, Ontario. Size: half-growler (or full-growler also available) Colour: Golden, unfiltered, brewed on lees Mouth Feel: Low-Medium, very natural carbonation; refreshing, clean, dry finish Purchased: From Brewery Price: $7 (plus $3 bottle deposit) Pairing…
“The Mullet” (Belgian IPA) Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
Business in the Front and Party in the Back Stats: IPA. 75.8% ABV. 49 IBUs. Ottawa, Ontario. Size: half-growler (or full-growler also available) Colour: Dark gold, unfiltered, brewed on lees Mouth Feel: Low-Medium, very natural carbonation; refreshing, clean, dry finish Purchased: from the Brewery Price: $7 (plus $3 bottle deposit) Pairing Notes: n/a → 86 points It seems only fitting that I…
“Pumpkin Ale” (Spiced Beer) Great Lakes Brewery
The Great Pumpkin Ale emerges — all hail the great pumpkin ale…. Rating: 90 points Stats: Spiced Beer. 5.5% ABV. Etobicoke, Ontario. Size: 650mL bottle Colour: Deep straw, golden Mouth Feel: Medium carbonation; clean, bitter and refreshing finish. Purchased: LCBO Price: $4.95 Pairing Notes: Green curry. And so the field narrows and it comes to a point as I complete my seasonal quest for…
“Pumpkin Ale” (Flavoured Beer) Grand River Brewing
Suddenly, out of the turbid waters, a pumpkin appeared. Rating: 84 points Stats: Spiced Beer. 5.2% ABV. Cambridge, Ontario. Size: 500mL bottle Colour: Deep straw, golden Mouth Feel: Medium-low carbonation; medium mouthfeel. Purchased: LCBO Price: $3.95 Pairing Notes: A light Indian curry. With the bar now squarely set, I approach the third in the Great Pumpkin Ale challenge with this one from…