The Bar Towel

Germany Braü thema:

Black Flag Anything Gose
Godspeed Oberkassel Altbier
Haand Buuck

I remember Aass Bock was also a bold-tasting Dunker Bock. Similarly Scandinavian.

Thursday night and last night:

Garrison-juicy IPA- terrible terrible stuff.

Black Flag-anything gose: super refreshing beer with just the right saltiness for me, nice little hop kick as well. Believe it or not, the hopping in it reminded me a bit of one of the HHOE beers I had recently. I've had a couple beers by these guys before when I've been home in Scotland, but this may be the best one I've had.

Badlands-through the glass: hazy,fruity,juicy and creamy. Citrus/mango/papaya and a tiny bit of minty-ness. Possibly the best beer available at TBS right now.

Tempest-brave new world:a lovely tropical IPA.

Tempest-in the dark we live:black IPA jam packed with overripe berry flavours,blood orange citrus notes and almost perfect balance. Brilliant.

Octopus wants to fight: tasting mighty fine this year, better than last year iirc.

CA-life in the clouds:super crushable, I think this can lasted maybe 5 mins before it was gone.

Barncat-Bloom: the colour is striking and flavour is even better. I think this may be better than the last couple? variations of Bloom

Barncat-Bastet sauvage:mindblowing good, like almost Grandmas Boy level. Sourness mingles with the gentle sweetness from the grape juice perfectly, a little bit of oak, some gooseberry and lychee. Get some of this if you can.

Live Transmission Milkshake IPA from Flying Monkeys, the first such so called IPA I've encountered. It's very good and the milkshake is there.

As an aside, I have a lot of faith in this brewery regarding Pale Ale's and IPA's, but very little faith regarding stouts. I thought Aurora Heart was a watery mess and Chocolate Manifesto a sugar bomb, although that may be personal taste.

BeerIsGood wrote:Live Transmission Milkshake IPA from Flying Monkeys, the first such so called IPA I've encountered. It's very good and the milkshake is there.

As an aside, I have a lot of faith in this brewery regarding Pale Ale's and IPA's, but very little faith regarding stouts. I thought Aurora Heart was a watery mess and Chocolate Manifesto a sugar bomb, although that may be personal taste.

Their dark beers have been hit or miss I'd agree, however I really enjoyed the BNL Chocolate Stout a few years back. It was waves and waves of chocolate, I'd love to see that recipe return. From my notes I enjoyed Chocolate Manifesto too, but certainly in the context of dessert beer. I had to share that bottle.

BeerIsGood wrote:Live Transmission Milkshake IPA from Flying Monkeys, the first such so called IPA I've encountered. It's very good and the milkshake is there.

As an aside, I have a lot of faith in this brewery regarding Pale Ale's and IPA's, but very little faith regarding stouts. I thought Aurora Heart was a watery mess and Chocolate Manifesto a sugar bomb, although that may be personal taste.

Seems FM is finding their way back on the hoppy front. I also enjoy the Live Transmission, and Juicy Ass is really good also.
To further your point, the only one of those
"Desserty" beers I've had was the city and colour. I shared with a friend, we both got a couple ounces into i and could do no more. Poured our glasses and the rest of the bottle away. Such a hot sweet sweet mess

Driftwood Brewery Farmhand Saison.

I wish we had more access to their beers here in Ontario. I've had seven or eight different ones on visits to Vancouver and been very impressed with them all. One of the better breweries in the country I believe.

John Tory said this is great weekend to watch "sports and Netflix."

Seems to me as good a time as ever to pull out a Val-Dieu Grand Cru. I warmed it under the tap to ~8C and poured it into a Chimay chalice, which sits comfortably in the hand while looking out the window, thankful I have nowhere to be. The nose is just wonderful. Loads of grape/fig/molasses/banana, which follows through on the taste. It is sipping wonderfully, low carbonation, very fruity. Not as bready as some ales of this type can be. Cheers to Christmas in April!

BeerIsGood wrote:Driftwood Brewery Farmhand Saison.

I wish we had more access to their beers here in Ontario. I've had seven or eight different ones on visits to Vancouver and been very impressed with them all. One of the better breweries in the country I believe.

Also available at the LCBO is Driftwood Blackstone Porter. I had one yesterday. Very good!

Over the weekend at Bellwoods Hafis Road, Henry VIII Ale House, and The Monk's Kettle:
Bellwoods Bellweiser (draft)
Fullers' ESB (draft)
BrewDog Punk IPA (draft)
Henderson's UPA (draft)
Great Lakes Octopus Wants To Fight IPA (draft)

Over the week at home:
Badlands Distorted Re-Ale-Ity
Wellington County Brown Ale
Badlands Through The Glass IPA
Great Lakes Restrained Jubilation
Bellwoods & Evil Twin Fruit Helmet - Strawberry/Banana
Great Lakes As Far Back As I Can Remember

BeerIsGood wrote: I wish we had more access to (Driftwood) beers... I've had seven or eight different ones on visits to Vancouver and (have) been very impressed with them all. One of the better breweries in the country...

I agree wholeheartedly.

Prairie Artisan Ales Paradise Imperial Stout

I love vanilla flavour in general, but usually not so much in beer. This is an exception. A good imperial stout with a strong vanilla flavour. That said, the 12 US oz bottle is more than enough, especially at 13% alc.

Ransack The Universe, which has become my go to beer recently. Unfortunately, it's my last for a while, as I was just diagnosed with IBS. My gastro specialist wants me on something called a FODMAP diet for at least a month, which apparently frowns on the consumption of beer. Surely this is the way the universe defines irony.

S. St. Jeb wrote:Prairie Artisan Ales Paradise Imperial Stout

I love vanilla flavour in general, but usually not so much in beer. This is an exception. A good imperial stout with a strong vanilla flavour. That said, the 12 US oz bottle is more than enough, especially at 13% alc.

If you haven't had the opportunity, Ballast Point Victory At Sea might work for you as well. Cheers.

BeerIsGood wrote:Ransack The Universe, which has become my go to beer recently. Unfortunately, it's my last for a while, as I was just diagnosed with IBS. My gastro specialist wants me on something called a FODMAP diet for at least a month, which apparently frowns on the consumption of beer. Surely this is the way the universe defines irony.

Sorry to hear that.

BeerIsGood wrote:Ransack The Universe, which has become my go to beer recently. Unfortunately, it's my last for a while, as I was just diagnosed with IBS. My gastro specialist wants me on something called a FODMAP diet for at least a month, which apparently frowns on the consumption of beer. Surely this is the way the universe defines irony.

I had to give up beer, and pretty much all sugars for about two months to lose weight for a hernia operation a couple years back. Ended up being great for several reasons. I went from 213lb to 181lb in just under two months, felt like a million bucks after the operation healed, and appreciated beer far more than I had before. Silver linings and such.

I hope you experience a similar positive outcome.

BeerIsGood wrote:Ransack The Universe, which has become my go to beer recently. Unfortunately, it's my last for a while, as I was just diagnosed with IBS. My gastro specialist wants me on something called a FODMAP diet for at least a month, which apparently frowns on the consumption of beer. Surely this is the way the universe defines irony.

I cut out all added sugar a few months ago, along with candy, chocolate bars, and soda, lost a few pounds, and my digestive system is more normal. Best wishes