When you're always on the lookout for new flavours in craft beer, it's easy to forget that there are folks who just want something simple, something familiar. There are those who don't want to get fancy, who don't want brewers to get experimental or artsy-fartsy.
I respect the folks who know what they like and don't want to change. And there are some craft brewers who are catering to those tried-and-true methods to give those people what they want.
Enter a small Ontario town along the St.Lawrence River, Gananoque (pronounced "gan-ann-awk-way"), not far from Kingston, and its brewery of the same name. This brewery, which started up in 2011, makes a lager that everyone can enjoy.
Full disclosure: I am personally not a fan of lagers, but I can still drink one and appreciate it for what it is. My personal rating for this beer has been put aside and I have delivered a Beer O'Clock rating that I feel closely relates to what a lager-lover would rate this beer.
My tasting notes are my tasting notes, exactly as I tried the brew.
Naughty Otter Lager (5.2% ABV)
Gananoque Brewing Co.
Gananoque ON
Appearance: deep gold with a white head that settles to a fine lace.
Nose: grass, light citrus, and mild yeast.
Palate: a slight caramel or corn syrup flavour, mixed with light lemongrass. It has a well-balanced feeling in the mouth and leaves a medium finish.
Overall impression: I was reminded of an elevated Molson or Labatt product--if Blue or Canadian are your go-to beers, but you want to branch out into craft beer, this is definitely one to consider. It has mainstream flavours but with a bit more bite. It's exactly what I expect from a lager, so if a lager is your beer, this one should satisfy your thirst.
Would I try another brew from Gananoque? Absolutely. They can kick mainstream up a notch, and if they can deliver on a lager, I'm anxious to see what they can do with an IPA.
Beer O'Clock rating: 3.5
Cheers!
"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!
As we move into the coldest month of winter, I can't help but think about the summer and warmer weather. I also think of my 2015 summer vacation, when my family and I enjoyed a warm day on the beach, swimming in Lake Huron.
Because there are still several months before we can enjoy beach weather, the only thing I can do is reach for a beer and lose myself in warm thoughts.
That's not to say I drank myself into a stupor. I merely drank a session ale whose name brought me to thoughts of Sauble Beach.
Sawdust City Brewing Company became my favourite Ontario brewery in 2015, with its wide variety of standard and seasonal ales. I visited the brewery on my summer vacation and was blown away. And, as I begin a new year, my love for this Gravenhurst brewery will surely grow because I joined their beer club and will have their amazing brew arrive on my doorstep, every month, starting in February.
In the meantime, let's take a look at their pale ale.
Golden Beach Pale Ale (4.5% ABV)
Sawdust City Brewing Company
Gravenhurst ON
Appearance: a murky, wheaty, golden-yellow with a dense, creamy, off-white head that leaves a thick cap.
Nose: honeydew mellon, pineapple, with a pine-resin overtone that is mixed with grapefruit rind.
Palate: flinty grapefruit and lychee headline the mouth and carry through to a bitter, mineral finish.
Overall impression: the low alcohol is a strong contrast to the bold flavours of this session ale. On a cold winter's day, I was transported to the warmth of last summer on that beach. I was reminded that I could drink this ale year-round, which I would gladly do.
Beer O'Clock rating: 4
Cheers!
Perry didn't lie.
It was the first beer that I ever reviewed, was the ale that made me create Beer O'Clock. And it was the best Imperial stout I ever had. When I was told that it could last 10 years, I put it to the test. And this year, it was time to say goodbye.
Months ago, when I told my friend that I only had one bottle of his stellar creation, he told me, in that calm, soft, nonchalant voice of his, "that's one more than I have." For all I know, it was the last bottle in existence. If you have any, I'd love to hear from you.
Also, if you do have a bottle, drink it now or forever keep it sealed.
Because, on this Imperial stout's tenth anniversary, it's reached its end.
Tsarina Katarina 2005 Imperial Stout (9% ABV)
Scotch-Irish Brewing Company
Fitzroy Harbour, ON
Appearance: deep, deep walnut, with a dark-taupe head that needed coaxing. In fact, I poured the bottle into a glass and then quickly poured that glass into another, to bring it to life. It raised a thick, foamy head that settled to a solid cap.
Nose: dark chocolate, licorice, and prunes.
Palate: sweet prunes and mild coffee. The liquid was mostly flat but not dead: there was a faint pulse that stimulated the tongue. But as I drank more, I could tell that the fizz was this beer's final breath. The flavour carried through to a tangy finish that was slightly sour.
As I continued to drink this old stout, I could taste it change, become more acidic, as though it was burning out. I have experienced this mouth change in some very old wines, but never in a beer. The air was taking the life out of the glass.
Overall impression: if this had been a new beer, I would have said that it was slightly off, that there might have been a flaw in the bottling. At 10 years, it was still drinkable, though the final sips told me that not only was my glass finished, this majestic brew was, too.
Knowing this beer's history, this final bottle was still enjoyable. My friend didn't lie: this ale lasted 10 years. No more.
I tip my hat to you, Perry: you were true to your word. You made a classic Imperial stout and you made it legendary. Your brewery is gone, and now what may have been the final bottle has been consumed. Be proud that it happened.
The queen is dead: rather, the tsarina is gone, but not forgotten.
Beer O'Clock rating: 3
Cheers!
Centuries ago, Vikings came to Canadian shores and set roots, and until April of next year, they're setting up shop at our museum of civilization, now named the Canadian Museum of History. And because December seems to also bring in the flavoured stouts, it's only fitting that I take a look at a dark ale from the land of Vikings.
This one has bite.
Megagrisk Viking Chili Stout (10% ABV)
Hornbeer
Hornsherredvej, Denmark
Appearance: deep walnut with a dark-taupe head that settles quickly to a dense lace.
Nose: dark chocolate with hints of coffee.
Palate: the hot peppers hit you from the start, followed closely by dark chocolate. The chili follows through, conquering you, all the way to the finish and is matched with a kiss of licorice. The finish is long-lasting, taking up roots, thanks to those chili peppers.
Overall impression: this is a spicy treat but I don't know if I could have more than one at a time. Don't get me wrong: I really like it but the cumulative heat on one beer may be too much in a second one.
Oh, plus the alcohol level. At 10 percent, you have to be careful.
I love spicy food, and spicy beer is good, but in limited amounts. Like Vikings, you may not want them to stick around. (The Vikings exhibit lasts until April 17, 2016.)
Beer O'Clock rating: 4
Cheers!
Who doesn't love a redhead?
Ever since I first saw a summer sampler of Red Racer beer, with that illustration of a tantalizing redhead on a bicycle, I've been impressed. And it has nothing to do with Central City's symbolic lady.
Almost every one of the many beers I've tried, I liked. A lot. Earlier, this summer, their ISA blew me away and was one of my summer picks.
Now, for December, the girl is back: and I'm in love.
Red Racer Gingerhead Gingerbread Stout (6% ABV)
Central City Brewers
Surrey, BC
Appearance: motor-oil black with walnut highlights, and a creamy, taupe head that settles to a thin cap.
Nose: rich chocolate, coffee, burnt caramel, and spice.
Palate: the gingerbread comes out at the gate, with full force. There's a slight sweetness that, when swirled in the mouth, releases tones of vanilla and a hint of root beer. Chocolate brings up the rear in what is a rich, decadent finish, without any "strong-beer" taste.
Overall impression: I love a good, full-bodied stout, and this one delivers. The added flavours of gingerbread and sweetness of chocolate make this not only a great stout, but a decadent holiday dessert. I am thoroughly impressed with this latest Red Racer offering, and this is perhaps one of the best stouts that I have had in a very long time.
That red head has got my motor racing.
Grab some while you can.
Beer O'Clock rating: 5
Cheers!
When I pick up a beer that I intend to review, I try not to read too much of the label. I avoid the sides or the back, and if I see paragraphs of text, I look away. I don't want to be influenced by what the brewer has to say about the flavours, colour, or aromas.
That's for me to work out.
When that can or bottle catches my eye, for whatever reason, I look to see what style of beer is contained within, who made the beer, and where the brewery is located. I don't want to know the alcohol content or what types of malts or hops were used.
I want to come by my opinion honestly.
A couple of weeks ago, when my family and I were in Toronto, I visited the LCBO that was around the corner from our hotel. I went in there, specifically looking for beer that was made in the GTA and that I haven't seen in any of the stores in Ottawa. I was looking for breweries that I didn't recognize, and with the explosion of craft brewers in Ontario, that isn't hard to do.
I found three breweries that fit my criteria. You can read my reviews of those ales from last week and the week before. The third brewery, from Brantford, rounds out these finds.
Bell City Brewing opened its doors in February of this year and currently has one of its ales in cans, in the LCBO. I presume that this beer is the company's flagship ale, as I also presume that the can shows Alexander Graham Bell, experimenting with one of his inventions. Bell lived, for some time, in Brantford.
What I saw, smelled, and tasted did not meet my expectations, and I'm glad that I didn't read the back of the can or visit the brewery's Web site until I finished my review. Here's why:
Eureka Cream Ale (5.8% ABV)
Bell City Brewing Company
Brantford, ON
Appearance: a clear, deep amber with red highlights and a beige head that forms a solid cap. I had to re-read the can to make sure that I was drinking a cream ale, and not a red.
Nose: caramel and rich malt. There was a sweetness in the aroma that I did not expect. It was at this point that I knew that I was in for something different, and I had to check once again that this was, indeed, a cream ale.
Palate: more caramel, barley, and mild hops. The ale is full-bodied, with a rich mouth feel and a satisfying finish. But the flavours, although enjoyable, did not match with what I expected. The more I drank, the more I was reminded of a red ale.
Overall impression: while I was trying this beer, I was feeling chilled in my cooled house (I'm a little stingy with the thermostat and I'm fighting a cold that is aggressively trying to claim squatter's rights in my head), but after a couple of sips, I felt warmed, comforted. The alcohol content, though modest, was beginning to show itself more prominently, but not overpowering. In fact, the cream ale seemed to open my sinuses and give that cold a shot over the bow.
While this cream ale doesn't seem to have much of a creamy mouth feel, its richness made me feel like my tongue was receiving a warm hug.
After I recorded my impressions of this cream ale, I finally read the back of the can, which states that Bell City had crafted this ale according to a pre-prohibition style. As they put it, this offering "is NOT your typical lawnmower cream ale."
They have that right (though, in truth, I have no idea what a "lawnmower" cream ale is).
I had to think: was this ale what I expected? No. Was it what the brewer expected? Probably.
This was my eureka moment.
It is a good ale: it's not your traditional cream ale, and that's okay. It's more than okay.
Beer O'Clock rating: 3
At the time of reviewing this ale, my house, cooled as it was, was also filled with the aroma of a slow-cooked, barbecue pulled pork, and all I could think of was how this beer and that meat would make a perfect combination. And so I enjoyed a second can at dinner.
If you can find this ale in your LCBO, pick it up and try something different.
Cheers!
