Random Reviews

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:41 pm

Tree Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale - Wasn't expecting a big American amber, but this was a bit disappointing in having no hop presence at all. Small bit of toffee and apple flavour, but really dominated by sweet graininess

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:55 pm

Over the weekend in London, had the chance to try Forked River Capital Blonde Ale (name seems more than a bit obscure, though London was once "selected" to be capital of Upper Canada i guess) and Riptide Rye Pale Ale from growlers. I liked both of them and would say this brewery is off to a promising start. The blonde was perhaps unexceptional, but very fresh tasting and pleasantly quaffable, while the RPA was resiny, slightly woody, with a touch of cocoa and a nice hoppy finish. Also very drinkable.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 7:26 pm

icemachine wrote:Tree Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale - Wasn't expecting a big American amber, but this was a bit disappointing in having no hop presence at all. Small bit of toffee and apple flavour, but really dominated by sweet graininess

I usually like this one... the munich malt and floral hopping reminds of an Alt. It seems to appeal to a diversity of people and it's their top seller. It's readily available here, which is nice.

Now that said, I picked up their mix pack about a month ago to try the 2 new brews and unfortunately, my review would be very similar to yours... the toffee & roasted nut flavours were dominated by a grainy astringency, while the hops seemed to have disappeared.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:42 pm

Whitewater Brewing Whistling Paddler English Style Ale: very dry (highly attenuated?) with a nutty, slightly woody aspect. Pleasantly drinkable. Reminded me of early Macleans Pale Ale.

Whitewater Brewing Midnight Stout Oatmeal Stout (sic; I don't get it either): more a porter or even a brown ale, at least to my taste. Dark brown in colour and not particularly roasty. Good all the same though, very nice body (from the oatmeal?) and just a hint of plum or pear. Another quite sessionable brew.

Both sampled on tap at Frisco's in lovely Eganville, Ontario.

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 2:42 pm

midlife crisis wrote:Whitewater Brewing Whistling Paddler English Style Ale: very dry (highly attenuated?) with a nutty, slightly woody aspect. Pleasantly drinkable. Reminded me of early Macleans Pale Ale.

Whitewater Brewing Midnight Stout Oatmeal Stout (sic; I don't get it either): more a porter or even a brown ale, at least to my taste. Dark brown in colour and not particularly roasty. Good all the same though, very nice body (from the oatmeal?) and just a hint of plum or pear. Another quite sessionable brew.

Both sampled on tap at Frisco's in lovely Eganville, Ontario.

Eganville is a lovely town, despite the presence of my mother-in-law. Surprised to see craft beer on tap there and excited to try it out! Not sure if you ever had chance to go to the Schnitzel place across the street, but the schnitzels are shockingly good.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 3:06 pm

Yes. I am pretty sure this is Eganville's first foray into craft beer, but then Whitewater is their first remotely local brewery, so good for them at Frisco's for putting it on. Frisco's also has Creemore Pilsner, FWIW. I've always been disappointed that neither the LCBO nor TBS in Eganville carry Kichesippi, and in previous years Heritage or Beau's or any other Ottawa craft beers.

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 4:21 pm

Bobsy wrote:Eganville is a lovely town, despite the presence of my mother-in-law. Surprised to see craft beer on tap there and excited to try it out! Not sure if you ever had chance to go to the Schnitzel place across the street, but the schnitzels are shockingly good.

Mmmmm The Granary. The family cottage is on Lake Lorwell and visits to The Granary, the Jolly Friar, and the IGA for Chelsea buns were all annual rituals.

G.M. Gillman · Post by **G.M. Gillman** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 5:29 pm

Anchor Steam: Of all things, a stray bottle in the LCBO's singles basket, and it turns out to be the best Anchor Steam I've had in Toronto in some 20 years. Super-fresh, not a hint of damp paper oxidation or other staleness as I sometimes encountered in past years. It has a trademark mango-like fruity quality (the ale side) with a rounded and even-tempered mineral quality (the lager side?). Good neutral bitterness too. Even though not hugely flavoured the flavors are excellent and all in the right place. Legend.

Kensington Brewing Company's Fish-Eye: excellent heavy American IPA, reminds me a lot of the old Ballantine IPA (albeit with a stronger West Coast hop accent) as do many in this style. Well-made, no weird tastes, just rich malt and big American hopping to match. Perfectly executed.

Marston's Pedigree: This had the sulphur notes associated to the Burton pale ale style but seemed a little stale and dull. Not too much happening. Not sure why, but too many English ales seem excellent on cask yet don't translate well to bottle or can.

Tuborg (Green Can): This is now brewed in Turkey, which is neither here nor there since I am convinced you can make a beer taste exactly like you want no matter where made. My take: clean, no faults, but very little hop, just a light spritzy grainy quality. I remember Tuborg in the 70's when it was malty and with an elegant perfumed quality. That 70's version was I am quite sure Tuborg Gold, which is still made and another iteration of the Tuborg brand, but I've had the current Gold too and it seemed not much different to the Green pilsener version. Memory can play tricks, but the beer just seemed better all those years ago.

Gary

zane9 · Post by **zane9** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:51 pm

G.M. Gillman wrote:...Kensington Brewing Company's Fish-Eye: excellent heavy American IPA, reminds me a lot of the old Ballantine IPA (albeit with a stronger West Coast hop accent) as do many in this style. Well-made, no weird tastes, just rich malt and big American hopping to match. Perfectly executed...

^ +1 Really enjoying this one. A confident step for Kensington. Found it well matched with a spice-forward quesadilla, etc.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:18 pm

G.M. Gillman wrote:Marston's Pedigree: This had the sulphur notes associated to the Burton pale ale style but seemed a little stale and dull. Not too much happening. Not sure why, but too many English ales seem excellent on cask yet don't translate well to bottle or can.

hopdevil · Post by **hopdevil** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:40 pm

Muskoka Mad Tom:
I had this on draft yesterday at the Muskoka Highlands Golf Club, in Bracebridge. It was fantastic.
The $5.25 price tag for the pint added to the enjoyment.

Picked up some cans of Mad Tom in Bracebridge, with an 'enjoy before' date of 03 Nov 13 . It's not in the same league. Very disappointing.

FYI: The brewery has moved from the downtown area, to Muskoka Beach Rd, on the southern outskirts of town.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 11:13 pm

Indie Ale House + Biergotter Sweep the Leg Wheat Wine, on tap the other night at Indie: perhaps the best barrel aged beer I have ever had. Great stuff. Unlike so many others, not sweet or cloying at all, delicious and dangerously drinkable, yet with plenty of "barrel" flavour. Way to go guys!

grub · Post by **grub** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:22 am

midlife crisis wrote:Indie Ale House + Biergotter Sweep the Leg Wheat Wine, on tap the other night at Indie: perhaps the best barrel aged beer I have ever had. Great stuff. Unlike so many others, not sweet or cloying at all, delicious and dangerously drinkable, yet with plenty of "barrel" flavour. Way to go guys!

wow, thanks! glad you enjoyed it. pretty damn happy with how it turned out.

CA_in_VA · Post by **CA_in_VA** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:22 pm

Beau's Opa Gose

Damn good beer. Reminds me of a La Fin Du Monde, but not as strong nor as sweet. Exactly what I wished La Fin du Monde was during the summer heat.

Maple Leaf Lager

I saw this 500ml bottle at the LCBO all by itself, so I picked it up. Long story short, it sucked. Kinda skunky, kinda tangy, and not-at-all refreshing. I rarely refuse to finish a beer, but I could not finish this (and I've been known to drink warm OV when necessary)

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:10 pm

CA_in_VA wrote:
Maple Leaf Lager

I saw this 500ml bottle at the LCBO all by itself, so I picked it up. Long story short, it sucked. Kinda skunky, kinda tangy, and not-at-all refreshing. I rarely refuse to finish a beer, but I could not finish this (and I've been known to drink warm OV when necessary)

You just got Trafalgared

The Bar Towel

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