Stranger Than Fiction

"Life goes on. .. Ever immune to prediction
And life can be strange
But love can be stranger than fiction
Only love can be stranger than fiction."—Joe Jackson, Stranger Than Fiction

I love cans.

Not big cans, mind you. I like the ones that aren't more than you can handle with one hand. Not too big, not too small. Somewhere in between.

Just right.

I'm talking about beer cans. (Geez... what did you think I was talking about?)

As much as I love to support local breweries and bring home samples of their latest brew, or pick up some of my favourites, I'm starting to dislike growlers. With a growler, because the 64-ounce glass jug is either filled at the time you pick it up or had been recently filled and stuck in a fridge, you have to drink the brew within a week to appreciate the full flavour. Opening a growler after a couple of weeks could likely leave you with a flat beer. And once you've cracked that puppy open, you really need to consume it in a couple of days, or less, or suffer the same consequence.

Half-sized growlers, I find, have an even shorter shelf life.

I also hate having the burden of returning a growler. Because you pay a $4 or $5 deposit on the jug, you can't simply return it with your other empties at The Beer Store. You either have to return them to the brewery from where you bought it or to a brewery that participates in a growler exchange, sometimes getting less than the deposit amount for their trouble of returning it to the rightful brewery.

Personally, I also feel guilty if I return an empty growler but don't want a replacement jug. I feel pressure from the brewery (and it's on me, not them) to grab another one.

Which brings me back to where I started: with a big glass jug that takes up space in my garage.

I have a growler from when I bought beer in Buffalo, NY. I'm never getting my deposit back for that one.

One of the things I love about Tooth and Nail, in Ottawa, is that they will put their beer in cans for you. No deposit, no need to return.

So, lately, I've stopped buying growlers and have opted for cans. (I still buy traditional bottles at the LCBO.)

Luckily, many of my local brew pubs have caught on and have started canning their popular brews, and I hope that that trend grows so that I can also pick up all that they offer. 

One Ontario brewery that I have enjoyed in bottled six packs has released one of its ales in cans and, because I have recently been on a can-collecting spree, I was eager to add this to the mix.

And then promptly drink it. (I bet you were wondering when I'd get to the review part of this post, weren't you?)

The name of this porter always puts a certain Joe Jackson song in my head, though I hardly find that the name suits the brew.

Stranger Than Fiction Porter (5.5% ABV)
Collective Arts Brewing Ltd.
Hamilton ON

Appearance: deep walnut to black, with a foamy, dark-taupe head that leaves a solid cap.

Nose: coffee, cocoa, prunes, with a touch of vanilla and marzipan.

Palate: dark-roasted coffee and dark chocolate. This porter comes close to resembling an Imperial stout, without crossing the border into harsh bitters and high alcohol. The body is rich and well-balanced, and the finish is clean, with the malt flavours lingering for no more than they should: that is, long enough to savour, yet short enough to make you crave that next sip.

Overall impression: Collective Arts never disappoints. They have a great range of styles that satisfy. As with their other ales, I would gladly drink Stranger Than Fiction over and over again. This is the fourth of their six beer offerings that I have tried, and I haven't had one that I didn't like.

However, I'm not sure what the folks at Collective Arts were thinking when they named this porter. It's not strange: there is nothing unusual about this porter. It's a solid, flavourful dark ale with no unexpected flavours. They didn't add vanilla bean, or raspberry, or oysters. It's simply porter: an excellent porter, but a plain one.

The expression "stranger than fiction" implies that something is unbelievable, that it sounds made up. Did the folks who named it mean to imply that this porter is too good to be true? It's a bit of a stretch, if that's the case. It's really good, but I've come to expect that from Collective Arts.

Enough about the name. I don't want to spoil the review.

Beer O'Clock rating: 4

This is the first Collective Arts beer that I've had from a can. Like their bottles, the cans come with a variety of artistic labels. It kind of makes you want to collect them all.

I'm excited to try the other brews from this brewery, and someday, I hope to make my way to Hamilton to visit the brewery itself.

I'll continue with my review of canned beer in the coming weeks.

Cheers!

Speak Easy, Drink Well

Ottawa's latest brewery is set to open its doors tomorrow, August 7, and it is taking on a theme that harkens to prohibition.

But it has no reason to hide.

Located in the dark depths under the Lunenburg Pub, where once veteran pub, Alfie's, crammed the booze faithful into its tight space, brewer Marc-André Chainey is seeing his two-year (plus) dream come true.

The suspenders-donning civil engineer, who has turned his love for beer, is opening Waller Street Brewing, starting at noon. There will be tasty treats, a live jazz band, and even an early Model A Ford.

And, of course, beer.

Marc-André has four brews on offer, for sampling or by the glass, but remember: this is a brewery and not a pub. If you want to drink it up, this is not the place. Pick up your half-growler and enjoy it at home.

The four mainstays of the brewery are as follows:

Bootleg Blonde (5% ABV)—an American blonde ale with good pepper notes and plenty of hops, this is one of the best blondes I've ever had, and I'm not into blondes (even though I married one). Easy-drinking, it reminded me of a session ale. (Beer O'Clock rating: 3)

Hideaway Hefe (5% ABV)—a German-style hefeweizen, this is my favourite of the Waller Street offerings. Big notes of banana on the nose and puréed pairs on the palate, this cloudy ale got me so excited that I drank the half-growler that I bought as soon as I got home. This hefe will be a hit for wheat-beer lovers. (Beer O'Clock rating: 4.5)

Speakeasy Red (4.4% ABV)—a complex, Belgian-American-red-rye-session-IPA. This is a mouthful, and your mouth will enjoy the many flavours that comprise this ale. "Everything is about balance and subtlety," said Marc-André, about his personal favourite of his creation. (Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5)

Moonlight Porter (6.3% ABV)—solid notes of coffee and chocolate nibs on the nose, with licorice and molasses on the palate, this substantial dark ale is full of hops and reminds me of an Imperial stout. I found this selection a bit lacking in carbonation, which may have made it a little silkier, like moonlight. Perhaps it was the condition of the growler from which we drank, but I'll be able to confirm that when I open my mini growler. (Beer O'Clock rating: 3)

At the brewery's grand opening, a special, unnamed, cask-condition ale will be opened.

I'm excited for Waller Street Brewing. They are off to a fine start with their beer offerings and their theme makes it a good attraction, given its location, outside the bustle of the Byward Market. Time will tell.

Cheers!

Not How I Remembered It

Is it a coincidence that after I open a bottle of beer that features a curling rink on its label that Canada wins the gold medal in both the men's and women's curling?

I think not.

And while I was looking forward to enjoying this vanilla porter from Canadian craft brewers, Beau's All Natural Brewing Company, I was in for a bronze medal.

It's a winner, but not the best. It's not what I remember it to be, that is.

I first tried this porter about a year ago, at the 2013 WinterBrewed festival. That year, the event was held on Sparks Street in downtown Ottawa, and the festival ran over one of the coldest weekends of the season. Patrons of the festival huddled around outdoor heaters and fire pits while vendors struggled with hair dryers to thaw their frozen tap lines. As the photographer of the event, I had to constantly swap the battery from my camera, warming the cold battery under my arm while the other tried to maintain its charge.

When I visited the Beau's kiosk, not far from its ice bar, I was pleased to find their vanilla porter flowing. I remember the taste and marvelling at the fresh vanilla flavour. As it was frigid outdoors and the porter was colder than it should have been, I could hold the liquid in my mouth and draw out the flavours as it warmed.

I loved it.

Flash forward to today, when I opened a bottle of this ale, which had been sitting in my basement since the Christmas holidays. After the 2014 WinterBrewed, I was ready to try this porter that had warmed my heart a year earlier.

Burnt Rock Vanilla Porter (4.9% ABV)
Beau's All Natural Brewing Company
Vankleek Hill, ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 3

Appearance: deep brown to black, with a foamy, taupe head that settles to a thin cap.

Nose: dark-roasted espresso and full malts, with hints of dark chocolate.

Palate: burnt vanilla and oak, with a dash of clove. There is a light, almost watery finish.

Overall impression: I don't know if the recipe has changed since last year's batch, but I don't remember the finish dropping off as sharply, and I found it disappointing to have such a strong start, with its robust aroma and initial mouth feel. This porter starts high and ends on a bit of a low.

But it's still a great porter, worthy of a try. It can still be found at the brewery, and some LCBO stores may still have the festival four pack on their shelves. Shop around.

Cheers!

Lost and Found

I've been incredibly negligent in my beer reviewing, since Christmas. After reviewing a stellar chocolate milk stout, I had a Belgian IPA that did very little for me (and so, I didn't review it), then overindulged on one of my favourite beers, and then settled right down, drinking only three wee bottles of beer for the rest of the holidays.

I did have some amazing wine with friends, as we celebrated the new year, and a spectacular 1991 Tokaji Aszú (pronounced toke-eye ah-zoo, it's a sweet Hungarian dessert wine) that my wife and I had stashed in our cellar but finally opened and shared, with family, on Christmas Day.

But I digress.

All this to say I didn't have much in the way of beer over the past couple of weeks. But, last night, I decided that a review was overdue. And I had two good reasons to break out a bottle: two friends were celebrating birthdays, so I promised that I would raise a glass to one and dedicate a beer review to the other.

Cheers to you both! To Miriam, The Merry Runner, and Marissa, The Beer Gypsy!

As it turned out, the beer that I chose to review is a favourite of Marissa's, so there's an added bonus to opening it. Actually, I should have suspected as much, because I believe it was Marissa who brought a bottle of this Baltic porter to the last Ottawa Bottle Share. At that time, I only had a small sip of it: this time, I had an entire bottle to savour for myself.

Let's take a look:

Lost River Baltic Porter (ABV 8.5%)
Bellwoods Brewery
Toronto ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5

Appearance: deep walnut with a creamy, dark taupe head that settles to a full cap.

Nose: dark chocolate, fresh, ground walnuts, and prunes.

Palate: dark-roasted coffee, prunes, and cedar, with a bitter, slightly alcoholic but well-balanced finish. As the porter opens up, the alcohol becomes less-defined.

Overall impression: this is a bold and bitter porter with distinct, roasted notes. It's a celebratory ale that would pair well with a good cigar—which is appropriate for my tasting.

For me, Baltic porters have larger-than-life flavours and come off as being boozy. The Porter Baltique Grande Cuvée by Les Trois Mousquetaires is a classic example of a heady porter. But while Lost River is big in flavour, it lacks in the boozy characteristic.

And, for me, that puts it heads above the other Baltic porters.

While this brew is not available through the LCBO, you can get it directly from the brewery. And because I don't live in Toronto, that makes me sad. I can only hope that Bellwoods gets its product in the stores and in Ottawa.

Because, when I want to toast my friends on their birthday, I want easy access to good beer.

Cheers!

'Tis The Season

Okay, the Christmas Season can officially begin.

When I think of the Christmas holidays, I think of spending time away from the office and of spending quality time with family and friends. When I think of Christmas, I think of gently falling snow, of fireplaces, of lights and music, and of the smell of festive trees and fresh-baked treats.

The smell of gingerbread is intoxicating.

Big Rig Brewery gets that.

Jeff O'Reilly (left) and Brewmaster Lon Ladell

On Friday, the local brewery released a festive ale that is a collaboration with Brewmaster Lon Ladell and beer aficionado, Jeff O'Reilly. And they released this ale in two versions.

Gingerbread Porter (5.6% ABV)
Big Rig Brewery
Ottawa ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 4

Appearance: caramel brown with red highlights and a creamy taupe head that dissipates quickly.

Nose: while the ale was closed at first (it pours too cold for this style of beer: best to let it warm up), I was able to discern molasses and spice. When the beer nears room temperature, it has a definite bouquet of fresh-baked gingerbread cookies.

Palate: ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, that culminates in a warm, malty beverage. It is well-balanced, with lots of rich flavour and comes to a good, solid finish.

Overall impression: while this is a flavoured porter, it does not display the characteristics of a traditional porter. Rather, the porter is more of a template from which the gingerbread was designed. With vanilla pods, sticks of cinnamon, and organic ginger added during the conditioning process, the resulting flavours make this beverage an instant holiday classic. It's a heart-warming, palate-pleasing ale that I will enjoy for as long as it lasts.

Lon and Jeff brewed 1,100 litres of Gingerbread Porter, so expect it to be gone by Christmas.

One beer that did not last was a one-off, cask-conditioned version of the Gingerbread Porter. On steroids. Jeff added crème de menthe, cherry brandy, Kahlua, and Goldschlager to the mix. What resulted was a gingerbread cookie in a glass, with candy cane sprinkled on top. There was a distinct, candied nose and lots of mint on the palate, making this sweet version (clocked in at an estimated 7.5% ABV) an extra treat.

Lon pours the cask-conditioned version.

While the cask-conditioned porter didn't make it through the night, you can enjoy the regular Gingerbread Porter at Big Rig. It's also available in growlers, which you can purchase at the brew pub or you can have it delivered to your door, using Ottawa's newest service, Brew Donkey. This company is dedicated to bringing the best Ottawa-area craft beer to your door. They also organize tours, so you can get to the breweries.

Beer life in Ottawa gets better all the time.

In Other Beer News

Interested in craft beer and want to become a certified aficionado? The next level-1 Prud'homme Beer Certification course will be held at The Clocktower Brew Pub, on Bank Street, for four evenings, starting January 20. For more information and to register, go here.

Cheers!

A Collaborative Effort

One of the consequences of reviewing beer at home is that I don't have anyone with which I can share the experiences. My wife doesn't mind beer but she's not a lover like I am, and while she will sometimes partake of the beer I'm reviewing, she will take hours to finish a glass of beer, if she finishes it at all.

She prefers wine (we took the sommelier course together at Algonquin College).

This weekend, however, I found a sampler pack that the two of us could share and enjoy, and Lori actually helped perform reviews. You see, as much as she would rather review wine, she enjoys cider. And, for the holidays, one brewery produced a pack of both beer and cider.

Waterloo Brewing Company (aka Brick Brewing), which is a partner of Seagram, has released a holiday pack that includes three cans of beer and three ciders: something for everyone.

Because Lori doesn't drink beer, she was unfamiliar with my format for reviewing. I told her to review the cider the same way she used to review wine, and all would be well. I explained how the rating system worked (you can see it in the right-hand column) and to give it a point rating based on how she felt about the beer overall.

Over the course of the weekend, we each drank our beverages and made our notes. I then compiled them and here they are for you.

Waterloo Authentic Amber (6.8% ABV)
Waterloo Brewing Company
Kitchener ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 3

Appearance: pours a clear, rich, reddish amber with a foamy beige head that lingers.

Nose: grassy malt and light, citrus hops.

Palate: caramel and malt, with light coffee. The alcohol comes out in the finish but is nicely balanced.

Overall impression: this is a good lager, overall. Good body and flavourful, and not filling. A general, easy-drinking beer.

Seagram Amber Cider (5.3% ABV)
Waterloo Distillery
Kitchener ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 2.5

Appearance: amber—the colour of maple syrup. Slightly sparkling.

Nose: caramel notes and sweet cider.

Palate: the nose presented itself in the taste, with sweet caramel notes. The alcohol comes through.

Overall impression: tasty if you like sweet cider (Lori does not).

Waterloo Original Dark (5% ABV)
Beer O'Clock rating: 2.5

Appearance: dark brown with red highlights. A sudsy taupe head that settles to a thin but foamy cap.

Nose: cocoa and licorice.

Palate: a sourness hits the mouth, with mild coffee and a watery but clean finish.

Overall impression: I used to drink this brown ale whenever I was in a pub that didn't offer Guinness. It's a light, good alternative.

Now that I'm reviewing it critically, I would drink it in a pub when no other darks are on hand. It's good but leaves me craving something more fulfilling.

Seagram Apple Cider (5.3% ABV)
Beer O'Clock rating: 3

Appearance: pale straw.

Nose: light apple, slightly sweet.

Palate: light, slightly off-dry.

Overall impression: an enjoyable cider.

Waterloo Union Mills Porter (7% ABV)
Beer O'Clock rating: 4

Appearance: deep walnut with slightly red highlights. A creamy taupe head that stays.

Nose: dark chocolate and rich, dark-roasted coffee.

Palate: creamy chocolate and malt, with an easy finish. The alcohol does not overpower at all.

Overall impression: I could drink this porter all day. It has good body throughout. I hope it's available on its own, because I would easily keep this at home.

Seagram Pear Cider (5.3% ABV)
Beer O'Clock rating: 2

Appearance: golden yellow.

Nose: sweet pear.

Palate: sweet pear.

Overall impression: it has a lovely pear flavour but is too sweet.

So, there is my first review collaboration with Lori, on a sampler pack that is a cider-beer collaboration. While Lori is short on words, she does know what she likes in cider. If it's not dry, she's not particularly interested. But she says anyone with a hankering for sweet cooler-like beverages, these ciders would be worth a try.

Cheers!

Bringing a Favourite Home

There are some flavours, some foods, that once you've tasted, you never forget.

At the very first Brewmaster's Dinner that I attended, in the spring of 2012, at Mill Street Brew Pub, I had the pleasure of eating a lobster bisque that made me remember what true love is. It was rich, flavourful, and silky smooth. One of the ingredients that made this lobster bisque stand out from any other that I've had was a touch of vanilla.

The beer that was paired with this culinary masterpiece was the brewery's Vanilla Porter.

This seasonal had only been available on tap at the brew pub and select drinking establishments. But this weekend, it became available in nitrogen-charged cans at the LCBO.

Vanilla Porter (5% ABV)
Mill Street Brewery
Toronto, ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 5

Appearance: a clear, dark brown with red highlights, almost like root beer, with a dense, creamy taupe head that sticks around with a thick cap.

Nose: vanilla, faint licorice.

Palate: vanilla, maple syrup, light chocolate, and a light espresso finish.

Overall impression: this is a well-balanced ale with imposing vanilla, warm malts, and a slightly hopped finish. It tastes sweet without cloying, but finishes dry. It is a true treat.

I have missed that lobster bisque ever since I had it, more than a year and a half ago. And I miss the vanilla porter when it leaves the taps at Mill Street. But at least now I won't have to miss one of them anymore. (You're making the cans available year-round, aren't you, Mill Street?)

Best to play it safe and stock up.

Maple Season

With the pre-spring thaw in the Ottawa area, we are firmly planted in what is often known as maple-syrup season. What better way to break in this season with some beer?

Last month, during the WinterBrewed festival, I had the privilege of trying some outstanding craft ale. Among my favourite tastes was one by a favourite brewery of mine, McAuslan. Among their standard fare of fine ales (their St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout and IPA are among my favourite beers of all time), they had a special seasonal that, to this date, is not available in Ottawa or in most locations in Ottawa.

Luckily, I live on the border of the brewery's home province of Québec, and I work a short distance of beer shops that stock it.

But what I didn't realize until I started my quest for this special ale was that other breweries craft a similar brew.

That beer is maple ale.

Over the last couple of weeks (and especially, this weekend), I came across and sought out more maple-flavoured ales and decided to conduct a comparison.

I found four, and over the weekend I tried all of them, which I will share with you now.

The first beer I tried this weekend comes courtesy of my favourite Ontario brewery, and came to me as a birthday gift. Mill Street has recently launched a spring sampler pack, with three bocks, called Spring Imp, and three maple ales, which lead my tasting for this review.

Spring Thaw Maple Ale (5.3% ABV)
Mill Street Brewery
Toronto, ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 3

Colour: deep amber to a copper orange, with a foamy beige head that dissipates but maintains a thin coating over the top of the glass.

Nose: a pumpkin-like citrus and maple, with a bit of a freshly baked bagel.

Palate: fresh citrus and very mild honey; the maple grows in the mouth but stays dry through the finish.

Overall impression: this is a fresh, easy-drinking ale with just a kiss of maple. While it is highly enjoyable, I was reminded of the pumpkin ale and, to an extent, the Tartan Scotch Ale. I liked this beer but was starting to wonder if this breweries seasonals were taking on a familiar theme, based on a single recipe with a few differences.

Still, I really liked the beer and looked forward to the remaining bottles in the pack.

Next, I went to the beer that I sought out and that started my whole maple kick.

St-Ambroise Erable (4.5% ABV)
Brasserie McAuslan
Montréal, QC
Beer O'Clock rating: 5

Appearance: tawny-amber with a whitish-beige head that vanishes quickly.

Nose: candied fruit with definite tones of maple syrup.

Palate: intense maple without the cloying sweetness of syrup.

Overall impression: I love—LOVE—this ale. I could happily pour it over my pancakes (though I'd have to add some sugar). The maple clearly comes through. This is the best maple beer I've ever had.

Next, I went for something different but right up my alley.

Maple Porter (6% ABV)
Nickel Brook (Better Bitters Brewing Company)
Burlington, ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 4

Appearance: dark walnut-brown that allows no light to pass through it; a foamy taupe head that dissipates but coats the top of the pint.

Nose: coffee and chocolate malt.

Palate: definite maple off the top with chocolate and coffee backing it up. It's rich with a mild sweetness in the finish.

Overall impression: this is an incredibly balanced porter. There are rich flavours of a great porter that happens to have a touch of maple syrup. I could drink this ale all day. It's beautiful.

Finally, I tried a beer that was recommended to me by a fellow Ottawa blogger and Twitter friend, who warned me that this ale was "crazy sweet." He said it was like drinking a Wurther's Original. Reluctantly, I picked it up.

Spring Maple Belgian Blonde Ale (7% ABV)
Lake of Bays Brewing Company
Baysville, ON
Beer O'Clock rating: 2

Appearance: honey gold with a white foam that vanishes immediately.

Nose: honey, orange citrus, lemongrass, and candied fruit.

Palate: grassy hops with very little maple.

Overall impression: this ale was nothing like I expected. It was very grassy in the mouth and quite herbal, but I found no cloying sweetness. In fact, my taste buds worked very hard to find any sweetness at all. I did find a touch, but it was overwhelmed by the grassiness of the hops. And I really didn't get enough maple to consider this selection a maple ale.

While there was nothing wrong with this beer, it wasn't to my taste and I don't think I would drink it again. But it did round out my sample of maple ales.

So I think my appetite for maple ales is satiated. I will stock up on St-Ambroise and Nickel Brook and will enjoy Mill Street's offering while I can.

Cheers!

Beer Amongst Friends

I love travelling and finding obscure beer to bring home, to try and share with my friends and family, and to review and tell you all about.

But I also love when friends also travel, and think of me, and return with more obscure beer to try.

And when I use the term obscure, I mean obscure to me.

This weekend, I had the honour of hosting one of my oldest and dearest friends, Stuart, and his wife and daughter. Stuart is an associate professor of history at the University of Guelph. He is an extremely knowledgeable and interesting person who can talk at great length about the history of coffee—and make it sound fascinating.

As part of Stu's research, he gets to travel the world. Recently, his work took him to southern Brazil, and so when he came to visit this weekend, he brought me a most generous gift: beer.

Demoiselle Porter (6% ABV)
Cerveja Colorado
São Paulo, Brazil
Beer O'Clock rating: 3

Colour: deep brown with a thick, rich, foamy, taupe head that lasts.

Nose: mild chocolate and coffee, malt, honey, and freshly cut wood.

Palate: bittersweet chocolate and oak, which carries through to the finish and mixes with coffee.

Overall impression: this is a pleasant, easy-drinking porter. While I find that wood is perhaps a little over-dominant in the nose and on the palate, it's not unpleasant because the coffee in the finish gives it a rich roast flavour.

Thanks, Stu. This was a treat! Keep travelling!

Cheers!

Elemental

Last month, I reviewed a wonderful stout from New Zealand, the first beer that I've ever had from that land far, far away.

When I saw that the LCBO had another offering from this brewery, I had to have it.

Elemental Porter Ale (6% ABV)
Renaissence Brewing Company
Marlborough, New Zealand
Beer O'Clock rating: 3/5

Colour: dark, chocolate brown with a foamy, deep taupe head.

Nose: dark chocolate and prunes.

Palate: raisin, dark-toasted espresso, cocoa powder, with a sharp, bitter, cedar finish.

Overall impression: I found that the hops in this ale are sharp and powerful, compared with the creaminess of its fellow stout. I found this was a good porter, but for me it was a little too powerful. I did, however, love the chocolate notes.

For me, this porter is good, but not great. I would drink it again (I do have a second bottle) but I don't know that I would seek it out again. I'm happy for the experience.

Cheers!

BC, Berries, and Beer

Months ago, I was told that I should get my hands on beer from British Columbia because, I was told, it is awesome.

So, in July, I got my hands on a raspberry porter that supported that claim. It was pretty awesome.

So when I saw another fruit porter in the LCBO, I jumped on it. And it was another porter, so I expected more awesomeness.

Blackberry Porter
Cannery Brewing Company
Penticton, BC
LCBO: $5.80, 650 ml; 6% ABV; 45 IBU

Colour: deep brown with a foamy, light-brown head.

Nose: intense cassis with a light malt aroma

Palate: sweet coffee and sour, bitter fruit; hints of tannin and a metallic finish

Other notes: when I first tasted this porter, I thought there was a flaw in the bottle. At first, I sensed a slight acetone flavour, but I later identified it as metal, like iron. My second bottle also had this flavour. Although this is a strong porter, the alcohol is well-balanced.

Overall impression: although I liked this porter, there was something in the finish that gave me pause, and so I'm not going to call it awesome. It was good. The nose is incredible and enticing and I enjoyed the malty flavours. I'm glad I tried this beer and am looking forward to trying their scotch ale, also available at the LCBO.

My rating: 3/5