Beer of the Week - Three Beers from Lake Wilcox Brewing

On Thursday, Teena was coming home from a client meeting in Vaughan and saw a sign for a brewery that I haven't tasted a beer from before, Lake Wilcox Brewing. She stopped in, took some pictures and came home to surprised me with eight of their beers to try.

It was a coincidence that the day after Teena stopped in was the brewery's second anniversary.

The brewery was started by David De Ciantis and Ray Nicolini from Richmond Hill and is named after a beautiful little lake located just outside of Oak Ridges, that I used to take my son, Ken, to when he was young.

Teena said they had a very nice looking tasting room, one that I would like to visit some time. Here are a couple of her pictures of the inside.

And their beer? Here are my three favorites although I have not yet tried the Triple.

The Saison

I love saisons so I thought this would be a great place to start.

It pours a deep amber colour with a reddish/orange tinge, much darker than many saisons I have tried, with an off-white head. Nice lacings are left behind when I sip. This has that nice saison aroma from the yeast which I enjoy so much.

This saison is a very flavourful ale! There is a touch of tartness in it but one that's not overpowering. I can taste just a touch of spice and just a little bitterness in the finish. This is one that I would like to get again.

Calypso Hopped Lager

The Calypso is golden in colour with a white head. I always feel there is a grassy aroma to lagers and while the hops are noticeable in this one when I take a whiff, that bit of grassyness is still there. That is not a bad thing.

This is a crisp tasting lager with much more taste to it than regular big brewery lagers. I would consider this a European Pilsner style lager. There is a nice hop bite to start, that continues through to the finish. This would be fabulous on a hot summer afternoon.

Black Hops IPA

The black hops pours the way its name indicates, black and with a brownish head. Chocolate and a bit of hops are in the aroma. One again, nice lacings are left behind along the inside of the glass.

My first sip has very pronounced coco tones in it which disappear in the middle and are replaced by a nice hop bite in the finish. It's a very well-crafted ale. I'm not sure if I would consider this a black IPA or a porter, but I do know it is one I would like to have again.

The brewery is located just south of Vaughn Mills Mall, which we pass on occasion during our travels and is a place I would like to stop into myself some time.

Beer of the Week - Fathom Double IPA from Nine Locks Brewing

Last June Teena was in Haliax and brought me home an ESB and an IPA from Nine Locks Brewing. Of course, I featured them as my Beer of the Week. They were delicious. This past weekend Teena was back in Halifax and brought me back a four pack of Fathom Double IPA from that very same brewery. I feel like now I've had a matching set!

The name Nine Locks Brewing Co. is named for the nine locks of the historic Shubenacadie Canal, which was completed in 1856, and built to transport agriculture, timber and coal between Halifax and the Annapolis Valley.

And the Double IPA?

The moment I cracked the top, hopes filled the air. They were a little citrusy but not overpowering with citrus. The aroma did fill the air and I was outside. It pours amber in colour with a white head. Lots of lacings are left behind as I sip.

I really enjoy the hop bite this IPA provides. It's not overpowering, not too citrusy but that great hop bite is there for sure and quite wonderful to taste.

If I could get this on Ontario, I surely would but as I can't.  I can only enjoy the four, whoops, make it three that I have left.

Beer of the Week Stats

Beers Profiled 346
Breweries 316
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Bomber Brewing Choqlette Porter

February features Valentines Day and in my Canada Craft Club package was a Bomber Brewing Choqlette Porter. Everyone knows that Valentines Day and chocolate go together. Yes, I know it's now March but I didn't get to it right away.

Bomber Brewing opened its doors in Vancouver in February 2014 by three friends who all played hockey together, COO Don Farion, Creative Director Cam Andrews, and Head Brewer Blair Calibaba. They have a tasting room that is open seven days a week and a place I would like to visit should I ever get back to Vancouver.

And the beer?

Animal lovers, especially dog people, will adore the art on the label. Perfect for Valentines Day

The Choqlette Porter was made with three (yes, three!) additions of chocolate in the brewing process. Dutch chocolate powder was added to the mash, then it was dry hopped with cocao nibs then four more kinds of nibs were added to the conditioning tank.

The porter pours very black with a slightly brownish head. There is lots of chocolate in the aroma. It is more creamy than a porter usually is. On my first sip, the chocolate comes through right away, followed by just a little coffee, then more chocolate  brings me to the finish, which has a delightful and surprising hop bite.

It's a very enjoyable porter and one that I would not hesitate to have again.

Beer of the Week Stats

Beers Profiled 345 
Breweries 316 
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Rodenbach Vintage 2014

This week's Beer of the Week comes from Rodenbach Brewery located in that most favorite of ale countries of the world, Belgium.

According to BeerTourism.com, Rodenbach Brewery has been around since 1836 and was founded by Pedro Rodenbach and his wife, Regina Wauters, who just happened to be the daughter of a a rich brewer. In 1864, their son, Edward, took over the brewery and expanded it. The Rodenbachs again kept the brewery in the family when Edward's son, Eugene, took it over in 1878.

Eugene brought in the huge oak foeders, giant wooden barrels, to age the beer in. Some of those original foeders are still used to day while most others have been replaced. When Eugene died in 1889, the brewery was run by his daughters and granddaughters for a hundred years until it was finally sold to Palm Belgium Craft Brewers.

The Rodenbach Vintage 2014 sour ale undergoes two fermentation stages and is aged in the oak foeders for two years. Before being bottled, one quarter of the mature sour ale is blended with three quarters of younger ale to smooth out the sourness.

So, how is the sour ale?

The first thing that is noticeable is that the beer is not capped but corked. It's a nice looking 750 ml bottle with a faded picture of brewery, glass in hand, standing in front of a foeder.

The sourness is noticeable right away in the aroma and is quite pronounced. It pours with a reddish hue to it and an off white head.

On my first sip, my mouth explodes with a wonderful sour kick and I notice a slight tingle on my lips. During my next sips, I notice that that sourness has leveled off and is replaced somewhat with an oakiness.

This ale is full of flavour. Because of this, it will be very hard to drink in one sitting. I'll have to save half for tomorrow. I would buy this again but only if I had someone to split it with. Teena does not like sours and will definitely scrunch her nose up at this one.

Me? I'm pouring another.

Beer of the Week Stats 

Beers Profiled 344 
Breweries 315 
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Andy's Stout

Before Christmas, my neighbor Andy, who is a homebrewer, gave me a bottle of his IPA to try. It was fabulous. I could only hope that one day he would give me another of his brews to taste. Last week he called me up and gave me a bottle of his newest brew, Andy's Stout.

As I poured it, I could smell dark chocolate tones coming off my pour. The head was silky brown like a stout should be until I tipped the glass upright too quickly and lost that creamy head. As for the beer itself, it was either a deep deep brown or black.

Andy's Stout is full of rich tasting dark chocolate flavour. Normally I will notice some coffee tones in a stout but not here in this one and really not missed. There is a nice little bitterness that comes in through the finish.

It's a wonderful tasting beer, one that I would be only able couple of pints of due to its richness.

I know that homebrewers will have some less than successful creations, that comes with the learning and experimentation process. I also know that I will only ever get to taste his successes, that is what I would do, but the two beers that Andy has given me shows me that he knows his stuff.

Not only am I looking to getting another from him in the future but when summer comes around, sitting on his or our patio and trying some different beers that I have cellaring and if he should bring a few of his own brews, they sure would be welcomed.

By the way, Andy, the bottle has been rinsed well and ready to return to you.

Beer of the Week Stats 

Beers Profiled 343 
Breweries 314 
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - The Beers of Big Rock Brewery, Liberty Commons

This evening Teena and I had supper at a new brewpub that just opened this week in Liberty Village, Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery. One of my favorite features of the pub is how close it is to where we live, which is about a ten minute walk.

I love the tile floor at the entrance.

The tap room where samples and pints can be had, plus there is beer to go.

The tap room taps. I stopped in last night to pick up some beer for home and my server in the picture below was very helpful and knowledgeable.

The pub is downstairs and is quite comfortable.

Their main beers are brewed out of their Etobicoke brewery but they always serve two which are brewed on site. Both were my two favorites of the night. The first was a stout which was creamy and smooth. There was hardly any bitterness to it which for me is fine for a stout. Chocolate and a bit of coffee came through.

Stupid me! I forgot to take a picture of the other brewed there which was an IPA. It was delicious, with a nice citrus bitterness to it. I hope it stays on tap as I would get it each time I'm there.

I love Scotch Eggs and very few places offer them but Big Rock has them on their menu. The yolk was perfectly done and it was delicious.

I had the beef brisket. It was so good, full of flavour and extremely tender. Yes, I would get it again. The potato salad was delicious too as was the cheese roll. I found the coleslaw rather flavourless.

Teena had the Jerked chicken. She enjoyed it and said she would get it again.

For dessert, we shared a rice pudding. It was quite different from what I expected. It contains wild and round rice, spent grains, mango, chocolate and pine nuts. The top was torched like a brulee, which gave it some bitterness. It was very different but very good. At first I didn't know whether I liked it or not but was disappointed once the tray was empty. I would get this again.

The brewery is on the way to the bathrooms. Conner was the brewmaster on duty and Teena had a chance to go in and talk to him.

Sarah was our server and did a great job looking after us.

This is a place that Teena and I will be coming back to. It's close enough to home that I will be stopping in here and there on a Friday night after work to unwind, have a pint and read.

Beer of the Week Stats 

Beers Profiled 342 
Breweries 314
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - The Beers of Halo Brewery

Today Teena and I took a detour while on our way to buy groceries to make a stop at Halo Brewery, which is on Wallace Avenue, about half way between Bloor and Dupont, off Landsdowne. The brewery was started by home brewers Callum Hay and Eric Portelance, who quit their full time jobs to open Halo this past May (2016).

What drew me to this brewery was a delicious Shapeshifter Sour that I had at Otto's Bierhalle last night. It was delightfully sour and full flavoured and, yes, I had more than one. I had hoped to pick up a few bottles but found that their bottle shop was sold out.

Damn!

I wanted to try the Event Horizon Extra Stout with Sarsaparilla, which sounded quiet interesting but it too was sold out. Oh well, maybe another time.

The tap room and bottle shop is nicely set up, with stools at the bar and tables to sit at.

Of course, I did come home with a couple of beers to try. The first is a 4.5% Half Truth Session IPA. The company's website shows the recipe for each stage of brewing every beer, which I found interesting.

The Half Truth pours a light golden colour with a white head which lasts. The beer was quite clear as the picture shows. There was lots of citrus that comes off the beer the moment the cap was removed. This may be a 4.5% beer but is full of flavour. Bitter citrus, I sensed some orange, which I know was never added, in the flavour. The sourness stays throughout and becomes a little more bitter in the finish.

I will be buying this one again!

To the other end of the scale I came home with a couple of 8%  Impossible Geometries Imperial IPAs.

This beer pours amber in colour with a white head. There is a little funk and earthiness in the aroma. It starts just a touch watery, just for a brief moment before some bitter citrus comes in. Although there is a bit of citrus here, there is some funk and earthy tones. This is a well balanced very nice IPA.

I'm glad Halo is not too far out of our way when heading for groceries, as we will be making more detours to Halo on Shopping Saturdays.

Beer of the Week Stats

Beers Profiled 341
Breweries 313
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Brasserie Dunham: The Second Coming of Broderus Christmas Saison

In my latest Canada Craft Club delivery, I received a Christmas Saison from Brasserie Dunham. The brewery is located just outside of Montreal in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. It opened in 2011 and features a pub which serves snacks and, of course, pints of their beer. The patio looks like a great place to have a pint in the summer.

The Second Coming of Broderus is a Collaboration beer between Kissmeyer Beers and Brasserie Dunham. Anders Kissmeyer from Kissmeyer Brewing was one of the founders of Denmark's Norebro Bryghus in 2003 but was fired from the company in 2010. After his firing, he created Kissmeyer Brewing as a one man gypsy brewery that collaborates with other breweries around the world.

Why the name Broderus? This is due to the fact that when this beer was first test brewed with Kissmeyer, it was on the sixth of October back in 2011. It was brewed again this year for bottling and once again it was on October the sixth.  In Denmark, October 6 celebrates an old Viking King Broderus! That makes this the Second Coming of Broderus.

So how does it taste?

The beer pours light amber in colour with a small white head. Saison yeast has a very distinctive aroma which is present in this. I notice some spicy notes too.

On my first sip and ones after, an excellent sourness hits me right away. It seems to let off and is replaced for a moment by a spiciness. The sour returns for the long finish.

This saison is brewed using a bit of pomegranate and maple syrup which surprises me. This must have been extra sour ale before those two ingredients were added in,

The Second Coming of Broderus is a very nice saison, one that I quite enjoyed.

                                                      Beer of the Week Stats 

                                                      Beers Profiled 340
                                                      Breweries 312 
                                                      Countries 49

Beer of the Week- Andy's Everyday IPA

Last week Teena and I bumped into one of our neighbours, Niki. She mentioned that her husband, Andy, brews beer. He had been doing that for years.

I never knew that. And they never knew I have a great fondness for beer.

Niki sent Teena a Facebook message saying that Andy had a beer for me that would be ready on Friday. Last night I got that beer which Andy calls his Everyday IPA. He uses Grolsch bottles for his brews as they are easy to cap, with that special Grolsch flip top and are very strongly-made which is a necessity when dealing with carbonated liquids.

So, how does it taste?

I'm not saying this because Andy is my neighbour and a nice guy but when I walked in the front door after taking pictures and having my first sip of his IPA, I exclaimed to Teena, "This is one friggin' delicious IPA!"

When I cracked back the Grolsch bottle cap, it jumped off with a loud pop. It poured light amber with what I can only call an orangy hue. As it is bottle conditioned (yeast left in to allow the ale to continue fermenting), there is yeast left in the bottom of the bottle so I poured very carefully.

The head was nice and frothy and quite meringue-like. The aroma that comes off is an interesting combination of a little pine and citrus. Although I sensed pine in the aroma, I did not taste it in this IPA. It starts with a nice citrus bitter bite which increases in intensity through the long finish.

Some citrusy IPAs are quite light in mouthfeel but this has a much heavier density to it. There's nothing wrong with that as I thoroughly enjoyed every sip.

Andy, I hope you have this recipe in a very safe place,as this is an IPA worth making again. Maybe you'll make an extra one for me!

Beer of the Week Stats 

Beers Profiled 339 
Breweries 311 
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Gigantic Brewing Scrilla

In my latest Canada Craft Club delivery, there was a 650 ml bottle of Scrilla Pale Ale from Gigantic Brewing in Portland, Oregon. The brewery opened in 2012 and makes a year-round IPA. The rest of the time, it appears they do one-offs.

One unique feature of the brewery is that Gigantic Brewing hires a different artist to do each beer label. The artist is given total control of the artwork. They are given the beer name and style and have the freedom from there to do whatever they want.

What is Scrilla? I didn't know either until I looked it up. It's slang for money. The label, done by artist Overton Loyd, looks very similar to a bank note.

And the beer?

Scrilla pours amber with a slight orangy tinge, with a good white head. There are lots of lacings left behind as I sip. Citrus very prominent in the aroma.

The ale starts off a touch watery but then a very nice citrusy bitterness comes through. It's not an overpowering bitterness but quite nice. According to the bottle, the citrus is coming from citra, crystal and simcoe hops.

Scrilla is a very nice beer that I quite enjoyed.

Beer of the Week Stats

Beers Profiled 338
Breweries 310
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Hopworks Organic Abominable Winter Ale

In this month's Canada Craft Club delivery, I received a 650ml bottle of Organic Abominable Winter Ale from Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB).

The brewery opened in 2007 in a city that is very high on my list pf places to visit, Portland, Oregon, which maybe the craft beer capital of the world. The family owned brewery, started by Christian Ettinger very small, now employs over 130 people in two brewpubs.

In December 2012, the Oregon Sustainability Board presented the brewery with the Governor’s Oregon Sustainability Grand Champion Award which promotes the use of sustainable practices in the private sector.

When looking at notes on the Abominable, I noticed they use Salmon safe hops.

Salmon safe hops .. what?

Salmon-Safe is a non-profit organization that works to keep agricultural watersheds and urban areas clean enough for native salmon to spawn and thrive.

And the beer?

The Organic Abominable Winter Ale pours brown with a slight orangy hue and white head. Lacings, of course, line the inside of the glass after each sip. There is a definite pine aroma to the nose.

The ale starts with a nice little bitterness, maybe a little citrusy, before a fabulous pine bite takes over. I have been craving pine needle bitterness lately and this ale has it. It is not an overpowering bitterness but nicely balanced.

The Abominable is dangerous as it is delicious but goes down easily like a session ale, but comes in at 7.3% APV in a 650ml bottle.

I really wish I had another as I really enjoyed the one I received.

Beer of the Week Stats

Beers Profiled 337
Breweries 309
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Whitewater Brewing Class V IPA

When I think of whitewater, I think of rafting down the Ottawa River on a warm summer day. It's been decades since I've done that but when I saw Whitewater Brewing sitting on the shelf of my local LCBO, it took me back to that trip.

Just now, when I stepped outside into the cold with a hint of snow in the air to take the above picture, whitewater rafting was the furthest thing on my mind. Maybe I should have put on shoes and socks instead of bare feet in Crocs was my prominent thought instead.

The brewery was opened in 2013 by three white water rafting enthusiasts. The three of us have had many adventures that have taken us from the incredible rivers of Ontario & Quebec to the mountain-fed creeks of British Columbia, from the deep canyons of the Colorado River, to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. One constant that has remained strong throughout this journey is our return to the heart of the Ottawa Valley to share our great adventures with great friends.

Our epiphany came on a rafting trip: The Ottawa Valley was already home to some of the best natural ingredients involved in creating true hand-crafted beer, as well as great people deserving of a local beer to share with friends. Whitewater Brewing Company was conceived.

A year later they changed from just a brewery to a brewpub (pictured below) in Foresters Falls, Ontario. Another place I would like to visit someday.

And the beer?

The Class V IPA (whitewater rapids are graded by class 1-5 with a 5 being the most dangerous) pours amber in colour with a nice off white head. There is pine and a just a hint of citrus to the nose. It starts of a touch malty, but just for a moment, before the piney hops bitterness comes through. Where citrus bitterness are quite nice during the hot summer months, I really enjoy a piney IPA instead when the colder weather comes. The Class V fits that bill very nicely.

I can see more of these coming into my fridge in the coming months.

Beer of the Week Stats 

Beers Profiled 336 
Breweries 308 
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - V Bines Wet Hopped IPA from 5 Paddles Brewing

A few weeks ago I was coming home from my mother's place north of Belleville and stopped into 5 Paddles Brewing in Whitby. It's interesting that what I craved the moment I got out of my car was not beer but a sausage on a bun as the Great Canadian Meat Company is in the same complex and were cooking up sausage.

The brewery had its grand opening on June 13, 2013. The name is interesting. I saw a canoe hanging from the roof and thought that might be where the name came from but was wrong. It's not a canoe paddle they were referring to but a mash paddle. According to What's Brewing:

A lot of people ask them where the name 5 Paddles Brewing Company came from. After bantering about potential brewery names for a few weeks, they came up with the name based on all of them having a hand, or mash paddle for that matter, in the brewing process. All five of them are brewers and are active in the direction of the brewery, the recipes that they create and the actual brewing process and it is for these reasons that they are called 5 Paddles Brewing Company.

They have a sampling area.

They also, of course, sell brewery merchandise.

I came home with some V Bines Wet Hopped IPA.

So how was it?

Wet-hopped really means fresh hopped, adding hops that come fresh from the vine. The hops in this beer were picked on a September morning and were used for the the brew that same afternoon.

V Bines pours amber colour with a white head. There is lots and lots of citrus in the aroma.

The citrus also comes through right away on the first sip but not in a bitter way. Just as a nice citrus addition. Then quickly that full flavoured citrus is followed by a bitter citrus which carries right through to the finish. It's one delicious beer for sure!

I doubt I'll get out to Oshawa before these are sold out but am happy I had the foresight to buy three bottles. My next trip home from my mother's will include a stop into this industrial complex for more 5 Paddle beer and some sausage.

Beer of the Week Stats

Beers Profiled 336 
Breweries 307 
Countries 49

Beer of the Week - Postmark Brewing Raspberry Fruit Beer

I received a bottle of Postmark Brewing Raspberry Fruit Beer with my Canada Craft Club July 2016 package. For some reason I took the picture, made all of my tasting notes but finish the write-up ... that is 'til now.

Postmark Brewing opened its doors in June 2014. The company's website shows its sponsorship of film festivals and music and there is a reason for that. The brewmaster, Craig Noble, has always loved craft beer but his main profession before opening the brewery was as a documentary film maker.

At Postmark Brewing we are inspired by more than just great tasting sessionable craft beers, we enjoy taking a collaborative approach towards our other passions in life including music, photography, travel, sport, design, events and especially those who are taking risks and making great things happen.

So, how is the beer?

This Raspberry Fruit Beer pours a light amber colour with a slight reddish tinge. I really noticed the raspberries which dominates the aroma.

I was wondering if this would be overly sweet but need not have been concerned. My first sip starts off a little tart and then the enjoyable raspberries come flooding through. The raspberries taste then falls off in the finish which is again tart.

One surprising thing is that as I was typing that last paragraph, I had the sensation of fresh raspberry, like I had a piece of one in my teeth. There are no pieces of raspberries anywhere in this but that taste was the same as when I'm at work and have just finished one of Teena's delicious freshly made fruit salads.

I didn't expect complexity in a fruit beer but found one here. Delicious and refreshing, especially on a hot afternoon when I had it (tasting notes written on July 23, 2016). I had ordered some more of these from Canada Craft Club (they all were delicious!).

Beer of the Week Stats 

Beers Profiled 335 
Breweries 306 
Countries 49