I hear it a lot from people who don't know me that well, who follow me, periodically, on Twitter, who see a photo of a glass or bottle, almost daily, on Facebook.
"You drink a lot," they say.
For the record, I don't drink a lot: I drink often, and there's a big difference.
Those daily Untappd
posts? That is the one beer I drank. Sometimes, I might have two;
rarely, three, unless I'm drinking a sampler, four to six four-ounce
glasses. I rarely, if ever, have drained every one of those glasses.
Almost every time I order a sampler, there will be at least one glass
that has only had one or two sips; other glasses will be left half-full.
I don't drink a lot: I drink often.
I can stop anytime I want. I know, a lot
of people with drinking problems say that, and I don't wish to make
light of those who really do struggle with alcoholism and are courageous
in their fight to break free from the temptation to put the bottle to
lips.
Because I am fortunate to not have an
addiction, I can say, with confidence, that I can stop drinking when I
want to. And, for the remainder of this month, and into the beginning of
October, I'm going to do just that. I shall not drink any beer, any
wine, any whisky, any alcoholic beverage, between September 8 and
October 2.
And the reason why I'm on hiatus from my cherished bevvies is not what you think: I'm back on my bike, training for a 100-kilometre ride from Ottawa to Vankleek Hill, for Beau's Oktoberfest,
on Saturday, October 3. Because I haven't ridden my bike very much
since the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour, from Perth to Kingston, in June, I
have gained some extra flab around the waist.
It doesn't take a lot of beer and little exercise to do that.
When I ride my bike, it doesn't take
long to lose the spare tire, but because I don't have a lot of time to
train, I don't want to fight the fat with beer. And so, until I get to
Vankleek Hill, I'm not putting unnecessary calories into my body.
I'm going to try to watch what I eat, but I have a greater weakness for food than I do for alcohol.
While I was on vacation, I travelled to
several Ontario craft breweries and I tried many local ales from the
Bruce Peninsula, Muskoka region, and Guelph, and I made some notes for
reviews. So, while I may not be drinking through September, my Beer O'Clock reviews will continue each Thursday.
I'm on a hiatus: my beer blog isn't.
Over this summer, I've noticed that of the beer I've consumed, very little of it has come from outside Ontario, and even less has come from outside of Canada.
That's not surprising, considering that I buy the majority of my beer at the LCBO, and I go to the craft-beer section, where local beer features prominently. And if I see a new beer from a local brewery that I like, or from a local brewery with which I'm unfamiliar, I tend to pick that bottle, can, or six-pack up (my local LCBO recently started stocking 12-packs of select beer, but nothing new, and the only one that interests me is the sampler from Muskoka Brewery).
Every once and a while, though, I do cruise the aisle just behind from where the local craft beers are stocked, where the imported beer is kept. And recently, my eye caught a four-pack that was simple in design, with a simple name that stood out in big, red type.
And as I've been enjoying saisons and farmhouse ales more and more, I was sold on trying this one.
Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale (8.5% ABV)
Smokeshack Series
Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, Missouri
Appearance: an unfiltered, deep gold to amber-orange, with a creamy, pale-beige head that provides a thick cap.
Nose: yeast and dough, like unbaked bread; citrus and earthy herbs.
Palate: yeast, hops, flinty minerals, and alcohol. The finish is clean, though the alcohol lingers, but not overpoweringly so.
Overall impression: I drank the first bottle of this ale without checking the ABV level. When I did check it, as I poured my second bottle, I was surprised by the high level. I did expect a higher-than-normal level, but somewhere in the range of six to seven percent. The alcohol is apparent in the taste, but it doesn't dominate the other flavours. But, because the ABV is high enough, this is an ale that you will want to enjoy when you're not planning on going anywhere.
So sit back and enjoy Tank 7. Enjoy the full flavours and the nice finish. I would drink this farmhouse ale anytime.
And I'll also check that aisle in the LCBO more often.
Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5
Cheers!
The first time that I tried a beer from Nickel Brook, it was their flagship brew, Naughty Neighbour. It's a great, full-bodied American Pale Ale with good hops but not too bitter flavours. I tried it at the Arrow and Loon Pub, during the first time that I read at Blog Out Loud.
I think I said, in front of a crowd, that the beer was "fucking awesome."
Since then, I've enjoyed their Maple Porter, the Bolshevik Bastard, and La Paysan Saison.
But I'm not partial to their Cause and Effect Blonde, and I really disliked their gluten-free offering.
And now, I've tried their IPA, which to me is the obnoxious neighbour to the Naughty Neighbour.
Head Stock India Pale Ale (7.0% ABV)
Nickel Brook Brewing Company
Burlington, ON
Appearance: clear, amber-orange with a foamy, off-white head that lasts as a full cap.
Nose: aromatic citrus and a slight hint of pine. I loved the bouquet.
Palate: bitter tea and tannic pepper that builds to a big, hoppy finish that brings out the alcohol. The flavour builds and the finish lasts long.
Overall impression: this is an intense IPA that seems to focus on the bitter hops and alcohol. While I loved the aromas, I found that the flavours in the mouth are more than I'd like to have. Where Naughty Neighbour is well-balanced, Head Stock is bitter and strong.
While I would recommend this IPA, I recommend it if you like an ale that is in your face. If this beer were a neighbour, it would be the one who spoke loudly, wanted to be the life of the party, but when he had too much to drink, you just wanted him to go home.
Beer O'Clock rating: 2.5
Cheers!
I may live in Ontario, but my beer tastes are international. And though the LCBO seems to favour Ontario, I am always looking out for beer that comes from other reaches of our great country. And while my latest finding is still brewed in Ontario, its ingredients come from the Arctic.
Bush Pilot Brewing Company makes its beer at another great brewery, Nickel Brook, in Burlington, Ontario. But its inspiration for its latest creation comes from legendary Inuk bush pilot, Johnny May. His plane, named Pengo Pally—Inuktitut for I miss you—is the name of this saison, that features the Arctic herbs, crowberry and Labrador tea, which were picked in Nunavik.
Enough of what I read off the label: let's get to the beer.
Pengo Pally Saison (6.5% ABV)
Bush Pilot Brewing Company/Nickel Brook Brewing
Burlington ON
Appearance: cloudy, deep, dried-apricot orange that reveals an effervescent storm that swirls in the glass—I wouldn't want to fly through that! An active, foamy, cloud-like head pours thick—I believe in aviation terms, it's a cloud with a high ceiling—and takes a while to settle in the glass. It's a slow pour to fill your glass.
Nose: candied pear, banana, and yeast.
Palate: more banana, spiced fruit, and pepper. There's also a little something that I couldn't put my finger on, like a fruity grass. These flavours, no doubt, come from the Arctic herbs.
Overall impression: this is a great farmhouse ale—earthy, fruity, and well-balanced. I wish that the alcohol level was lower so that I could enjoy more than one bottle in a single sitting. To that effect, think of it as a one-way flight, rather than a round trip. That's my of saying that if you drink one bottle, don't drive.
Or fly.
Beer O'Clock rating: 4
Cheers!
I abhor violence, will never watch a boxing match. I never understood the need to cheer on as two people pound the shit out of each other. But that's me: I'm a lover, not a fighter.
When it comes to beer, however, I've noticed that there are some killer brews that have recently lined the shelves of my local LCBO (which is finally bringing in 12-packs, but that's another story), and I have found one that's a real knock-out.
Hopfenweisse (5.1% ABV)
All Or Nothing (formerly Underdogs) Brewhouse
Oshawa ON
Appearance: a murky, unfiltered apricot with a thick, creamy-white head that, together, reminded me of a Creamsicle.
Nose: also creamy, nutty, and spicy, with distinct malt and a light-citrus bouquet.
Palate: a rich body with spice; flinty and warming, with a short finish and a clean aftertaste.
Overall impression: this ale drinks like a saison for a farmer's ale--something for a late-summer evening, when the temperatures cool and the humidity drops. The four hops and three malts make it a well-balanced, easy-drinking ale.
I'm learning to appreciate wheat ales more and more: with hopfenweisses such as All Or Nothing, I'll be a convert in no time. While I didn't slam this beer down, I find it a real hit.
Beer O'Clock rating: 4
Cheers!
Editor's note: on December 1, 2015, Underdogs Brewhouse changed it's name to All Or Nothing Brewhouse. I updated the post, accordingly.
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!
Last month, when I was reviewing radlers, I always imagined these fruity, low-alcohol beers being served on sunny pub patios, umbrellas shading the sun-glasses-clad, beautiful people who were enjoying the heat of the day.
I almost exclusively sipped these cold, refreshing brews on my patio, taking refuge in shade, admiring the shimmering sunlight coming through my neighbour's small-leafed tree; sometimes, watching the glowing sky of the setting sun.
Radlers are for summer.
There's a new radler that I tried this week: nowhere on the can is the word radler written on it, but there's no doubt that this is exactly what it is. It's name does not make me think of summer patios: rather, it makes me think of beaches, at sunset, with a bonfire burning on the shoreline, women in bikinis and men in swim shorts, playing volleyball or singing along with someone who is strumming an acoustic guitar, another paddling a percussion instrument that goes by the name of this beverage.
Bongo Grapefruit Ginger Lager (2.9% ABV)
Big Rig Brewery
Ottawa ON
Appearance: a murky, pinkish-orange, like ruby-red grapefruit juice, with a foamy, white head that settles to an effervescent lace and a lingering collar.
Nose: candied citrus with barley overtones.
Palate: sweet, sparkling grapefruit juice with distinct barley flavour. Although ginger is used, it's not discernible in the mouth: only after you're more than halfway through your glass can you taste a trace of ginger in the throat. This fruit-flavoured lager, with its barley flavour, actually tastes like a beer. There is a good, well-balanced finish.
Overall impression: this is a really good radler (yes, I'm going to insist on calling it what it is). There is a sweetness, but it's subtle and is no sweeter than my favourite radler, Stiegl. I like the barley, which lets you know that you are drinking a beer, not a summer pop.
Big Rig hasn't been one of my favourite breweries, as I find it to be hit-and-miss, with more misses than hits, and with hits that seem to come rarely. Bongo, fortunately, is a solid hit. Of the radlers that I've enjoyed this summer, this one comes a very close second.
Unfortunately, if you live outside Ottawa, Bongo is out of your reach: it's only available at Big Rig, which is a shame because it's perfectly packaged for transport, with its shiny copper-and-black cans.
Brewmaster Lon Ladell told me that he's hoping to get them in the LCBO for next summer, and if it does get there, you would do yourself a favour to grab it.
And then, hit the beach.
Beer O'Clock rating: 4
Cheers!
