What're you drinking right now?

[GtownRandy]

I have been loving the bigrig alpha bomb lately, available now at lcbo and also grocery stores. I tried it a couple of times months ago and was disappointed. Maybe they were old cans? But the current batch of sept 18 is hazy hoppy and bitter, with grapefruit tastes. At $2.95 for a 6.6%, 84ibu ipa its a good value.

[cratez]

Over the week at home:
The Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale
Firestone Walker Pivo Pils
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen
Wells Banana Bread Beer
Collingwood Whitney's Vintage Ale
AleSmith Old Numbskull

[beerstodiscover]

De Ranke XX Bitter — Damn this a fine ale. Does anyone make anything like this (or Simplex) locally? I may have to order a whole case.

[Belgian]

Side Launch Wheat (AKA the original world-champion Denison's Weissbier) - fantastic as always, it's much more consistent compared to years ago when they were contract brewing it at Cool / Mill Street / etc. I'd say it's generally less lemony that it sometime could be, but theres a hint of citric tartness over the banana and clove sweetness. A local / Ontario favorite.

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout - wow, the oak barrel and bourbon and maple on this is just working with the coffee and chocolate and dark roasty malts. It's a ridiculous beer, it's the Bentley automobile of Imperial Stouts because everything you could add to it to optimize the luxury and decadence is just there. My second-last bottle.
Also I voluntarily paid full price for my stash but I recall the store were trying to give me a 24 case for the price of six bottles, as they were assuming the bottle price must be the 4-pack price, haha.

Hanabi Smoked Saison by Godspeed Brewery
Hanabi = smoked. One of my favorite Luc creations, ever.



Godspeed Nonbe Style Oktoberfest / Märzen. Very solid! Still love the Dortmunder but this brewery is kicking it.

Godspeed Kurayami Mysterious Stout - loving this new one. Belgian ale yeast, full but not heavy, hint smoke, black fruit and bit of chocolate. It's the Black Album of beers.

[beerstodiscover]

Head to head wet hop showdown.

Bellwoods Bine Hunter
500ml bottle
$7.50 (IIRC)
5.0% abv
For sale on Oct 20

Amsterdam Autumn Hop
473 ml can
$3.25
5.6% abv
Canned Sept 21

Where is Nickel Brook this year?

Drinking the Bellwoods first I thought it was just nice. Solid hop pungency on the nose. Dank and herbal, fruity too. Very easy drinking and tasty.

Switching to the Amsterdam and all I notice is the much heavier malt presence. Sure, it's hoppy — pine, grapefruit — but the sweet grainy malt is very present. Perhaps it was better a few weeks ago or may be due to its 12% more abv. However, this is by no means a bad beer, but the Bellwoods is clearly better in my view. And it aught to be for double the price.

[Belgian]

Beyond the Pale Yummy! IPA

By gosh this is tasty. I hope the canned LCBO version of this maintains the fullness, cloudiness and the nice tropical fruit tones.

[-Liam-]

Beyond the Pale Yummy! IPA

By gosh this is tasty. I hope the canned LCBO version of this maintains the fullness, cloudiness and the nice tropical fruit tones.

A very good beer. Not widely available though, unfortunately. Better than their Aromatherapy, imo.

[BartOwl]

Head to head wet hop showdown.

Bellwoods Bine Hunter
500ml bottle
$7.50 (IIRC)
5.0% abv
For sale on Oct 20

Amsterdam Autumn Hop
473 ml can
$3.25
5.6% abv
Canned Sept 21

Where is Nickel Brook this year?

Drinking the Bellwoods first I thought it was just nice. Solid hop pungency on the nose. Dank and herbal, fruity too. Very easy drinking and tasty.

Switching to the Amsterdam and all I notice is the much heavier malt presence. Sure, it's hoppy — pine, grapefruit — but the sweet grainy malt is very present. Perhaps it was better a few weeks ago or may be due to its 12% more abv. However, this is by no means a bad beer, but the Bellwoods is clearly better in my view. And it aught to be for double the price.

I had these both recently too, and I agree that the Bine Hunter had more hop flavour. The Bellwoods info on Bine Hunter states that they use Fraser Valley hops. I don't know how they ship them so quickly from BC to do a wet hop beer, but I guess anything is possible. On the other hand, the Autumn Hop uses Ontario hops, which I would think would make the most difference in the two. I had fun chasing down wet hop beers at Cask Days. Is there a defining taste/aroma characteristic of wet hop beers? Perhaps, they are fresher tasting then regularly hopped ales, but I find it hard to tell. A few years back, I had an ale at a beer festival that had over 20 varieties of Ontario hops in it. It was very delicious.

[portwood]

Head to head wet hop showdown.

Bellwoods Bine Hunter
5.0% abv
For sale on Oct 20

Amsterdam Autumn Hop
5.6% abv
Canned Sept 21

I had these both recently too, and I agree that the Bine Hunter had more hop flavour. The Bellwoods info on Bine Hunter states that they use Fraser Valley hops. I don't know how they ship them so quickly from BC to do a wet hop beer, but I guess anything is possible. On the other hand, the Autumn Hop uses Ontario hops, which I would think would make the most difference in the two.

I would think the fact the Amsterdam was canned a month before the Bellwoods would mitigate any advantage of shorter shipping distance for the Ontario vs BC hops.
I bet if the two were brewed/packaged at the same time the Amsterdam would probably win out on "wet hop" aroma/flavour.

[beerstodiscover]

...shorter shipping distance for the Ontario vs BC hops...

Bellwoods says it "overnighted" the hops from BC. So the difference in shipping time would really have been a matter of hours. That would definitely add to the cost of production though.

[beerstodiscover]

2018 Bellwoods BOYD - This year has more cognac notes than previous years. Lot's of fruity notes and barrel. Super smooth going down with a slick mouthfeel.
2017 Bellwoods BOYD - Compared to the 2018, this has less cognac and barrel presence, especially on the flavour. Retains more traditional stout character.

Both are delicious.

[BartOwl]

Head to head wet hop showdown.

Bellwoods Bine Hunter
5.0% abv
For sale on Oct 20

Amsterdam Autumn Hop
5.6% abv
Canned Sept 21

I had these both recently too, and I agree that the Bine Hunter had more hop flavour. The Bellwoods info on Bine Hunter states that they use Fraser Valley hops. I don't know how they ship them so quickly from BC to do a wet hop beer, but I guess anything is possible. On the other hand, the Autumn Hop uses Ontario hops, which I would think would make the most difference in the two.

I would think the fact the Amsterdam was canned a month before the Bellwoods would mitigate any advantage of shorter shipping distance for the Ontario vs BC hops.
I bet if the two were brewed/packaged at the same time the Amsterdam would probably win out on "wet hop" aroma/flavour.

What I was getting at is the terroir of the different hop regions would make the most difference in taste. Although I am not as finicky as some about getting hoppy beer fresh, I realize that hoppy beers don't have a shelf live forever. A few years back, i made the mistake of stocking up on NB's wet hop ale. After a few months the hop flavour was almost gone with a tinny metallic taste left. I don't know if it was just this wet hop beer or all of them suffer from greater than average deterioration after a while. Having had the Amsterdam Autumn Hop several times over the years, and now the Bine Hunter. I still prefer the Bine Hunter, but at half the price, I would be quite satisfied with Autumn Hop.

[BartOwl]

Right now: Fuller's Imperial Stout - I like this one a lot.
Recently: Bellwoods regular Skeleton Key -nice balance in something with a lot of flavour
MacLean's Cherry Porter - another winner from this brewery

[roland]

Right now: Fuller's Imperial Stout - I like this one a lot.

Yes, that Fuller's is a good one, especially for the price.
Boulevard Whiskey Barrel Stout is excellent, cheaper than the KBS.
Also tried Bring Out the Imp. I had it right after Boulevard, so my taste test may have been compromised. It was OK and sweeter.
Anyone had Ommegang Rosetta?

[sofakingdrunk]

Right now: Fuller's Imperial Stout - I like this one a lot.
Recently: Bellwoods regular Skeleton Key -nice balance in something with a lot of flavour
MacLean's Cherry Porter - another winner from this brewery

This years Fullers Vintages is quite lovely, as well