Should there be laws against craft breweries opening up within a few blocks of one’s employment? I probably won’t debate it because, quite frankly, I’m just a wee bit happy to discover another local craft brewer that isn’t situated in some industrial park — it’s not the only one in Ottawa, but one of very…
Seasons Come … and Seasons Go
On February 3rd, Ottawa experienced the warmest February day on record, reaching nearly 10° Celsius. Then this Tuesday, February 16th, Ottawa had a record for its largest single-day snowfall — over 50cm. Yesterday night I went cross-country skiing. And today, February 20th, while not a record, the season has changed again and with a daytime…
“The Darkness” (Oatmeal Stout) Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
Pour chocolate into me and lick me clean …. Rating → 84 points Stats: Oatmeal Stout. 5.6% ABV. 30 IBUs. Ottawa, Ontario. Size: Half-growler Colour: Dark, dark brown — impenetrable Mouth Feel: Medium, very natural carbonation; light in the mouth, creamy in the middle, clean finish Purchased: From Brewery Price: $7 (plus $3 bottle deposit) Pairing Notes:…
Mission Accomplished (American IPA) Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.
Well, smack my tongue and call me shaven …. Rating → 79 points Stats: American IPA. 6.7% ABV. 65 IBUs. Vankleek Hill, Ontario. Size: 600mL bottle Colour: Dark gold Mouth Feel: Medium-low carbonation. Crisp with some bit and bitterness from beginning to end, but with a silky smooth finish. Purchased: LCBO Price: $24 (for Mix Pack)…
St Luke’s Verse (Gruit) Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.
Serve me warm and dip me in olive oil … and call me wonderful. Rating → 89 points Stats: Gruit. 5.7% ABV. 11 IBUs. Vankleek Hill, Ontario. Size: 600mL bottle Colour: Light copper – dark gold Mouth Feel: Medium-low but tight carbonation, that fades quickly. Refreshing and creamy finish. Purchased: LCBO Price: $24 (for Mix Pack)…
Winter Brewed (Coffee Amber) Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.
The Best of Beau’s — a mix pack you must get. Rating → 89 points Stats: Old Ale. 6% ABV. 25 IBUs. Vankleek Hill, Ontario. Size: 600mL bottle Colour: Dark amber — the colour of a well-steeped Earl Grey tea or a weak, reddish coffee Mouth Feel: Medium-low but tight carbonation, that fades quickly. Refreshing and…
Winter’s Capital
Yes, at the risk of furthering certain stereotypes of Canada and our nation’s capital, it seemed only fitting to end this series by publishing images of our Parliament under the cloak of last week’s ice storm. While some may prefer these in colour, I think, again, the black and white treatment suits the embattled limestone…
A Silver Sky ~ a study in black and white
To see the world with different eyes is to live differently. There is an incredible beauty to the snow, trees, and ice again a perfect and rich blue sky … which was on display when I took these, the next to last in my Ice Storm series. Yet to take away the colour of the…
Tails of Ice
Entranced by the colours of these warm ‘cattails’ … or ‘bull-rushes’ as we called them when I grew up. I still remember vividly the effect my childish hoarding of the fall rushes in my father’s shed had one warm day in spring when they all burst back to life and filled the shed and all…
Frozen in Time
As you can tell by this, the fifth in my series (a series that has lots of legs), I’m totally enthralled by what the Ice Storm did to transform the landscape and all that is in it. From the branches with which I started, to a stem of milk weed, to the branch of a…