Wishing the Winter Goodbye with Fond Recollections of its Best in Beer

If you thought the fact that I have been too busy to write of late meant I hadn't either had time to have a few good beers or that I hadn't found any worth writing about lately... you'd be wrong indeed!

I thought I'd briefly share the notable findings of the last two months as I start to catch up with what matters to us all herein: good beer!

However, many of my newly discovered loves come from trades and a trip to Premier Gourmet in Buffalo (with "ONLY 1500 beers to choose from"), though I will start with my new discoveries in Quebec and Ontario first and post on the many excellent US gems shortly.  Note that these beers aren't (all) from these places, but are available/procured there for those wanting to find mentioned products.

Ontario

On my first visit to Bellwoods Brewery, I thought, "Everything's good; if nothing's great at least nothing is even as bad as average...impressive enough."  On my second visit, things improved with what would become Grizzly Beer American Brown Ale, Roman Candle IPA and Monogamy (Summit) impressing.  But then... on my third visit... Hellwoods Imperial Stout and Witchshark Imperial IPA became my two favourite Bellwoods offerings thus far!  I brought home - and promptly devoured the Witchshark which was also available in bombers from the now-opened retail store.  Though not available at the LCBO, the brewpub is a gem and their retail store offers excellent product at a reasonable price.  If you have yet to experience the place - or these specific beers - hop to it, lest they move on to something else (that will likely be equally delicious!)

Though no longer available, with some outside help - thanks Shlomit! - I managed to grab a couple Great Lakes 25th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA's which, though delicious, resulted in one bottle for trade that brought back two cans of Heady Topper in return.  More on that shortly.  Yes, the Black IPA was remarkable with a complex combination of melon, pine, citrus, and rind on the nose complemented by a toastiness dried with a smoky citrus finish.  I mention this mainly to say that, though I have now procured a few of their final 25th Anniversary product - a Bourbon-Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - I have yet to drink them, but anticipate marvellous goodness and so encourage you strongly to grab any of them few that remain in LCBO stocks!

The LCBO has a strong spring seasonal release this year, and one of those yet available that has stood out for me is Lakefront's Bridge Burner Special Reserve Ale.  This American Strong Ale (8.5% ABV) has a piney and slightly herbal hoppy nose with a faint roasted maltiness that quickly dries out with a nice spicy hops finish.  A very, very good beer and at just over $5 for a bomber (650 ml) of a solid American Strong, it is a (rapidly disappearing) steal!

Quebec

I have been disappointed of late with any new Quebec discoveries, while still enjoying regular staples.  Though Les Trois Mousquetaires' Hopfenweisse - a hoppier US-style version of the hefeweizen - has been available for some time, as a moderate fan of wheat beers at best, I had not as yet spent the money for it.  However, a bring-your-own-beer sushi night necessitated a hefeweizen pairing, and this didn't disappoint!  Especially if you enjoy hefeweizens, grab one and pair it with some sushi for a nice matchup!

Though not new, my love affair with Tripel Karmeliet continues.  Sometimes available at the LCBO and always at the SAQ, this is a treat not to be missed!

As always, many super finds from the US pleased (and continue to do so), but that will be for my next review!

'Til then... cheers!

Southern Ontario Beer News & Upcoming Events Roundup

Apparently, the LCBO will soon be stocking a handful of beers from Halifax's Garrison Brewing, including their Black IPA, Grand Baltic Porter, Winter Warmer, Pilsner, and Spruce Beer.  Though I have had none of these seasonal releases of Garrison's, I have had a few of their fine beers and this is certainly a solid craft brewery and I intend to try each of these offerings while they are available in Ontario.  I shall report back!

On the events front, three have caught my attention, but others will no doubt arise:

The first is The Only Cafe's Beer Fest slated for February 3rd and 4th, which will include sampling booths for at least 14 Ontario craft breweries, plus guided tastings, live music, and a meet and greet with Taps Magazine folks.  Oh, and British Columbia's Central City Brewing, and Quebec's highly praised Dieu du Ciel (!!!), and Microbrasserie Charlevoix (brewers of the esteemed Dominus Vobiscum Abbay ales!!) will be represented as well by Keep6Imports!  I just might have to attend both days... and not leave!  Fortunately, The Only has a backpacker's inn so I won't have to leave!  I promise to report back, but don't expect detailed notes - especially if Peche Mortel (at 9.5%) shows up in nitro taps!

Second, is Great Lakes Brewery's Project X, a regular event held the second Thursday of every month (at 9pm I believe?) that always offers a one-off cask/real ale alongside samplings of numerous other beers and paired food.  Each event costs $10 and requires a $10 membership (that comes with a T-Shirt).

Finally, if you just can't wait to try the new Innis & Gunn Irish Whisky Cask Stout (or have an overwhelming desire to drink I&G paired with haggis), The Monk's Table is hosting a reservation-only Innis & Gunn/Haggis paired dinner tasting on January 24th.  I probably won't be making this one, but would love to hear your thoughts!

If you know of more interesting craft beer events in the Southern Ontario area, feel free to share them in the comments.  I will report back on any of these I get to...

Sunday Afternoon Beers at the Brewery Market

Yesterday I attended my first Brewery Market event at Wychwood Barns (at St. Clair and Christie in Toronto's central-west-end) and I will provide my thoughts here on the space, the event, the atmosphere, the music, the food, and - of course - the beer!

The Brewery Market takes place at The Stop Community Food Centre (in their Green Barn) as a semi-regular Sunday afternoon event, offers only Ontario craft brewery beers (one or two breweries per event), allows tastings of new and/or one-off specially-brewed beers just for the event, and raises funds for the "The Stop’s many healthy food initiatives, which include community kitchens and gardens programs, community advocacy, urban agriculture projects, sustainable food systems education and peri-natal care programs."

The space itself is an excellent one - if admittedly better for summer weather than yesterday's pleasantly wind-free, but still minus 10 winter chill.  The indoor area is quite small with only two tables and a few benches.  Though sufficient for The Stop's food offerings and the beer serving bar, it got a bit tight since more people were crammed into the smaller indoor space than the larger outdoor one.  Outside, a fire served to keep attendees warm, while both indoors and out provided an excellent atmosphere, reminiscent of a visit to a sugar shack - with excellent beer - and felt like an excellent afternoon outing for the family.  Many kids, of all ages, were present too (including my 12-week-old) who enjoyed the atmosphere and food while their parents had a much needed drink alongside a pleasant weekend excursion.

The food/non-alcoholic drink on offer consisted of vegetarian chili, chili dogs, hot chocolate and marshmallows for the fire (or your hot chocolate).  The dogs themselves were excellent high quality all-beef and the chili was quite good, while both could be supplemented by a home-made chipotle sauce that fired things up a bit.  While the food was good, I had two slight complaints: the portions were rather small for the price and, since my breastfeeding wife cannot eat beans which make the baby too gassy, there should have been a cheaper rate for the dog-sans chili which cost us the full price.  All-in-all, though, these critiques are minor and this makes for an excellent afternoon snack.

Two solo musicians (guitarist/singers) entertained the indoor crowd, though with only acoustic guitars and unamplified vocals, they could really only be well heard before the crowd built throughout the afternoon.  The artists, Adale Dahli and Amy Nostbakken both brought excellent voices, songs, and spirit (in the singer-songwriter vein) that added to the event while advertising the Big Smoke Music Festival of which they are a part, and which seems like another great one to attend (does it have craft beer, though?).

Beer-wise, everything was good, if strong and I won't be offering elaborate reviews (both since they were all one-offs and since I was too busy socializing to take detailed notes).

Cheshire Valley Brewing offered an English Barleywine (at 9% ABV) and a Strong Scottish Pale Ale (at 8.5% ABV).  In brief, the Barleywine was a very good representative of the style that was remarkably balanced and was, to me, the better of their two offerings, though the Scottish Pale was nice too - smoky, and sweetly malty, though it was the lightest beer on offer at the event and the alcohol was most discernible which to me detracted slightly from the 'strengths' of this otherwise fine beer.

Great Lakes Brewery brought a wider variety of beers: Apocalypse Later (a black imperial IPA at 10.2% and 98 IBU), Dude Where's My Czar? (a vanilla-bean-infused Russian Imperial Stout with 11% ABV and 100 IBU), A Waste of Men (a 12% Old Ale), and an American-style Barleywine with a whopping 140 IBU.  The barleywine, for me, boasted far too much imbalance and indiscernible hoppy bitterness for my tastes, though the Apocalypse Later had a more nuanced bitterness with strong notes of grapefruit in the nose and tongue.  The Waste of Men old ale was quite good and reflective of the style, if way beyond in ABV, and the Dude Where's My Czar was clearly the winner of the day: a favourite of all 6 in my party and the first beer to sell out at the event on the whole.  It was very well balanced - extremely malty, and extremely hoppy, yet neither excessively egregious, both matched by the strengths of the other.  Smoky cereal and faint vanilla notes smoothed out the grassy hops and the alcohol was virtually undetectable.  An excellent beer - brew it again!

That's all for now, but keep in mind that the next Brewery Market event will be held on March 18 with details to come.  Hope to see you then, for it promises to be a wonderful way to spend a Sunday once again!