Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale – Tree Brewing Company (Kelowna, BC)
Posted: July 26, 2012 Filed under: Review, Tree Brewing Company | Tags: amber, British Columbia, canada, canadian, summer Leave a comment »
ABV: 5.0%
CANADIAN BREWING AWARDS 2011
BRONZE MEDALIST
CANADIAN BREWING AWARDS 2012
SILVER MEDALIST
Our most popular beer! A smooth amber ale. Medium bodied and bursting with flavour, this beer is clean to the finish.
Appearance:
It is what it says… A nice amber/gold colour with a frothy cream coloured head that lingers.
Aroma:
First thing you get is fruit. Not only are there some nice refreshing citrus notes, but also a hint of banana. All in all, it is pretty inviting.
Taste:
This is a great summer amber ale! With the fruit notes coming in from the aroma are nicely balanced with a slight nutty-caramel flavor as well with some light hops. It goes down smooth with a slight bitter aftertaste but an overall crisp taste.
Overall:
A great amber ale. This is the type of summer beer you want. You don’t realize that you’ve finished your first pint and you’re back in for a second. It is very refreshing but enough subtle flavors to keep you intrigued and wanting more. This would be a good compliment to some spicy backyard BBQ.
Unfortunately it is only available out in the Prairies and West, but if you stumble upon it be sure to grab some.
About Nick Collicutt
Nick is a guest author who travels across Canada and has access to the wonderful craft beers our country has to offer.
Dieu du Ciel – Blanche du Paradis
Posted: July 18, 2012 Filed under: Dieu du Ciel, Review | Tags: Montreal, orange, wheat, White beer Leave a comment »
ABV: 5.5% ABV
STYLE: Belgian Wit
ADJUNCTS: Coriander Seeds, Curaçao Orange Peel
It’s hard to find a Dieu du Ciel beer that I do not like. Every time I go to a speciality beer store and they have bottles I’ll try to pick some up. Their brewpub is definitely a place every Montrealer should visit on a regular basis. Like the other white beers featured here lately, summer is the perfect time for them. So let’s hurry up and crack into this bottle.
Blanche du Paradis is a Belgian-style Wit brewed with coriander seeds and Curaçao orange peels, the spices traditionnally found in this classic style. Unfiltered and containing almost as much raw wheat as malted barley, it presents a veil of yeast and proteins giving this style its “Blanche” name. Round and light at the same time, it exhales fresh baked bread aromas, and reveals spices and citrus flavours, accompanied by subtle notes of acidity coming from the wheat.
The Blanche du Paradis was born in our Montreal brewpub in May 1999
Appearance:
Pours a dull straw yellow with a lot of haze. Cloudy white three finger head that dissipates quickly. Very nice lacing. This is a bottle conditioned beer. Classic white beer look.
Aroma:
Strong yeast aroma. Bread and wheat along with some spiciness. A little bit of the orange peel makes its way through. Very simple and delicate aroma. Nothing jumps out at you. Still very appealing though.
Taste:
The smooth and creamy mouth feel is the first thing I noticed. It has a peppery and slight hop middle and a very subdued bitterness at the end. Good balance of spices and the slight citrus from the orange. Very little aftertaste and very fresh tasting.
Overall:
This is a well rounded white beer. Perfect for the style without doing anything out of the ordinary. Perfect for a summer session beer. What I like the most about this beer is that it is not thin or watery like a lot of other white beers I’ve had. It has a nice solid body. This is hands down a go to white beer and a perfect example of the style. It’s a little difficult to get your hands on it but if you can pick it up.
Unibroue – Éphémère Pomme
Posted: July 17, 2012 Filed under: Review, Unibroue | Tags: apple, fruit, Unibroue, white Leave a comment »
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 10
STYLE: White ale brewed with apple must
I’m a big fan of Unibroue beers and this is an easy one to pick up in stores. The first time I’ve had it was at a restaurant where I ordered both versions of Éphémère, apple and blackcurrant, for my girlfriend and I. I had the blackcurrant and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since this is an easy enough beer to find in most grocery stores and white beers are perfect for summer drinking, I decided to pick up a case.
Éphémère Pomme is made in honor of this great fruit. Its lively effervescence, fresh and refreshing taste as well as its Granny Smith apple nose combine to offer you a unique sensory experience. It pairs extremely well with goat’s milk, cheeses, pork or duck. It has known such a success that you will now be able to appreciate its taste all year long.
Appearance:
Golden and hazy in colour with yeast cloudiness. Large three to four finger frothy white head. It dissipates rather quickly. Expected for a white beer. Really good lacing and a lot of carbonation streaming off the bottom of the glass.
Aroma:
Not as much apple in the aroma as I would have expected. I get a very spicy and yeasty aroma. Ginger and nutmeg are more prevalent. The apple is more subdued, but it is definitely akin to a granny smith apple. The aroma itself is sour. Reminds me a little bit of the Jolly Rancher candies. The spices and yeast definitely play a larger role here.
Taste:
Again, as expected from the aroma, there are more spices in the taste. Ginger is more noticeable than the nutmeg. The apple flavours are more subtle. A very nice mix of sweet and tart going on. The body is very thin and watery (almost a bit grainy as well) and there is a lot of small bubbles in the carbonation. Expect to burp a few times. A bit of a dry and lingering aftertaste. This is where the tart green apple flavour shines. The aftertaste will stick with you for awhile and it’s a bit yeasty as well. The longer it lingers the less pleasant it becomes.
Overall:
This is a decent beer but it’s not a favourite. I think the spiciness from the yeast overwhelms the beer in the wrong direction, masking a lot of the interesting apple flavour. The aftertaste also lingers too long in a bad way. On top of that, for some reason, the carbonation just does not sit well with me. I’m not opposed to drinking it but I don’t think I would go out of my way to have this again, especially when it’s counterpart, Éphémère Blackcurrant is better in my opinion.
All that being said, I think this beer would really work in conjunction with some nice goat and stinky cheeses. But I’m not reviewing a beer coupling, just how it stands on its own.
St-Ambroise – Raspberry Ale
Posted: July 4, 2012 Filed under: Review, St-Ambroise | Tags: fruit, raspberry Leave a comment »
ABV: 5%
St-Ambroise Raspberry Ale is a wonderful seasonal ale that comes out around June every summer in Montreal. I found out about the beer two years ago at their terrace and it has been a yearly staple on draft and in the fridge. It’s the perfect blend of fruit and beer.
Made with fresh raspberries and choice sun-ripened hops, it gently engages your taste buds in a delicious explosion of flavours. Its delicate fruit aromas marry perfectly with the pleasant hop character typical of all St-Ambroise ales. Brewed in Quebec – just once a year – it’s a unique summertime treat!
Appearance:
The Raspberry Ale pours a deep dark red with a fluffy pink cloud-like two finger head that slowly dissipates. The beer itself is a bit hazy with a very deep ruby red colour. The darker colour comes from using darker malts, which is a smart decision to give it that red colour. (I’ve always thought the blonde raspberry ales at other brewpubs looked wrong for the flavour). When put up to the sunlight it just glows red. Very good lacing around the glass. This beer looks absolutely gorgeous.
Aroma:
This beer smells like raspberries. Lots and lots of raspberries. The aroma is very pleasantly natural without any kind of sweet synthetic aromas. Like a fresh field of raspberries. There isn’t anything else on the nose and that’s OK. The raspberries are very inviting and you begin to salivate at the prospect of drinking this beer.
Taste:
Again, we’re talking all raspberry here. A tart raspberry taste. Some malt flavours and a nice medium body. Not overwhelmingly sweet but enough to cut the tart bitterness of the raspberry flavour. Little bit of carbonation. It ends with a traditional McAuslan hop finish that is recognizable from their other beers. A little bitter at the end with a sour aftertaste. Very refreshing and surprisingly a well balanced beer between the raspberry flavours and beer flavours.
Overall:
This is a great summer beer. I want to emphasize that this is indeed a beer. If judging by the colour and aroma alone, you would think this is some kind of blended beer with synthetic sweetness. But this is not the case. While it has a very powerful and inviting raspberry aroma it still blends the malt and hop flavours perfectly. Like I mentioned earlier it’s a staple in my fridge during the summer months. Perfect for sipping or session drinking, depending on your mood.
Schoune – L’Érabière
Posted: May 22, 2012 Filed under: Review | Tags: maple, Sour Leave a comment »
ABV: 4.5%
SERVING: 341mL Bottle
While I was planning on brewing my homebrew maple ale, I saw this in the depanneur and I was enticed to give it a shot. There isn’t a whole lot of information on their website regarding the beer. Schoune is a very hands on brewery, their slogan being “De la terre à la bière”.
The website is a bit outdated with the description of the beer, listing their maple beer as a 5%ABV but my bottle was 4.5%.
Appearance:
This pours with a large frothy head that dissipates quickly. It is a kind of brown or amber colour in the light. It is very good looking beer that resembles maple syrup. There is a lot of carbonation bubbles pouring off the bottom of the glass. It is a bit cloudy as well.
Aroma:
This beer has a great aroma. There is a sweet and maple aroma mixed with a bit of sour lemon. A bit of a strange and unexpected aroma but it is inviting. No hops noted and it is very sugary.
Taste:
The taste is even more strange and unexpected. Right away you are hit with a lambic like sour flavour.The sourness is cut with a little sweetness but it is not sugary like candy. It has a slick feel in my mouth with lots of carbonation which washes away the flavours quickly. Not bitter at all and very dry and earthy at the end with some woody notes (most likely from the maple syrup). The sour sits on the tongue but doesn’t linger at the end. It is very light and refreshing all things considered.
Overall:
This is a very intriguing beer. What was expected was an overwhelmingly sweet maple ale that ended up being more sour like a lambic than anything else. Maybe I am drinking a bad or an old batch. Not sure as there is no date on the bottles. I definitely want to try this again just to make sure I wasn’t drinking an old or off batch. Otherwise, the beer is interesting and surprisingly nicely refreshing. The carbonation cuts the sourness nicely and it’s relatively light. However you can’t sit and down and drink too much of this without the sour taste getting to you. In fact, I find it hard to finish a full glass of this sometimes and with my 6-pack I think I ended up dumping the last few mouth fulls.
So I guess I’m torn. I would cautiously recommend this. If you’re interested in trying something unique then you should pick up a six pack. Otherwise you might want to stay away from it if the thought of a sour beer doesn’t sound good.
Brasserie Dunham – Wit Blanche Belge
Posted: May 4, 2012 Filed under: Dunham, Review | Tags: Witbier Leave a comment »
ABV: 5.0% (Bottle)
STYLE: Witbier
I really enjoyed Dunham’s English IPA, so when I saw this in the grocery store I decided to pick it up. Aside from liking their other beer I am also really attracted to the labeling on their bottles. Very simple with the style of beer in big text. And yes, as specified on their website, the pink label is not a misprint.
Notre blanche belge, ou Wit en flamand, est une bière de blé naturellement voilée. Rafraîchissante et légèrement épicée, elle offre des arômes de coriandre et d’écorce d’orange. Et non, ce n’est pas une erreur d’impression, l’étiquette est vraiment rose. Pour vrai.
Appearance:
It pours a hazy yellow straw colour, with a puff of yeast floating like smoke in the middle. It’s a bit clear and not very vibrant though. A one to two finger foamy white head dissipates fairly quickly and leaves a bit of lacing around the edge of the glass. Hard to see the carbonation bubbles but there are there.
Aroma:
Very floral and spicy. Coriander and citrusy notes like lemon and orange. A bit yeasty and earthy. It has a very pleasant smell.
Taste:
Right away I can taste the spices, mostly clove and coriander. Through the middle the fruity esters hit the tongue with a big of lemon and orange. Body is a bit thin and watery and is missing wheat malts from the taste. Nothing spectacular until the nice zesty hop finish and aftertaste. Mostly Goldings hops in the taste come through for me.
Overall:
This is a bit thin for a witbier and not incredibly complex. However it hits the right notes for me with the hop finish. It’s not a go to and at the price it might be a bit expensive but this would be a great summer session beer. Unfortunately, not as good as Dunham’s English IPA which so far is my favourite from them.
Brasserie Dunham – English IPA
Posted: May 3, 2012 Filed under: Dunham, Review | Tags: IPA Leave a comment »
ABV: 5% (Bottle)
STYLE: English IPA
I’ve had this brought to me a few times during tastings and I’ve really grown fond of it. Dunham IPA is a traditionally brewed English IPA with a nice malt backbone and subtle hops.
Appearance:
Pours hazy orange with a off white head. Very nice 2 finger head but unfortunately it dissipates quickly. Good amount of carbonation as the bubbles just float off the bottom of the glass.
Aroma:
This is a well rounded smell of malts and herbal hops. It’s not bursting with aroma hops but there even is a hint of citrus in there I think.
Taste:
Very bitter in the front and finish with a good balanced malt back bone. Sweet caramel malts and a bit of astringency in the middle. This then bites back with a nice bitter finish and after taste. I also tend to get a bit of a smokey after taste. It’s subtle but it is definitely there.
Overall:
This is a great tasting IPA and it is very drinkable. Nicely balanced as to not crush your taste buds with hops. I could probably easily put down a six pack of this without feeling any kind of fatigue. Not sure where that smokiness comes from or it is just me, but I kind of like it and feel it gives it a bit of a unique taste.
I would definitely go back and have more of this any chance I get.
Cerveceria Bucanero S.A. – Bucanero Fuerte
Posted: May 2, 2012 Filed under: Cerveceria Bucanero S.A., Review Leave a comment »
ABV: 5.4 (Can)
STYLE: Adjunct Lager
When you go on vacation to Cuba you really only get two choices of beer. Cristal and Bucanero Fuerte. Cristal seems to taste mostly of water while Bucanero has a bit more taste and bigger alcohol punch.
Bucanero Fuerte gets its name from old legends of the pirates that roamed the Caribbean Sea. Considering that Bucanero Fuerte is one of the best hidden treasures of Cuban beer, this connection is fitting.
Strong and full-flavored, Bucanero Fuerte is made from the most natural and freshest ingredients, with superior malt and is blended with just a touch of Cuba’s finest sugars.
Appearance:
This poors a golden yellow and is very clear. Cloudy head that dissipates very quickly but a nice half inch of lacing sticks around. Lots of carbonation bubbles flow from the bottom of the glass throughout drinking this beer.
Aroma:
Not much of an aroma. Mostly sweet from the sugars and a faint note of the earth hops. The hops smell a bit grassy.
Taste:
Above they describe the beer as blended with just a touch of Cuban sugar. Which I would argue is not the case. It tastes and feels like there is a lot of high fructose corn syrup in here. The beer is sweet with a bit of a hop finish and after taste and that’s about it. Funny enough, it feels a bit sticky on the lips. This needs to be served at 0°C and then it becomes crisp and manageable. My biggest complaint would be the high carbonation that really sits heavy in the stomach.
Overall:
It’s difficult to sit here while enjoying a glass of this and complain how it doesn’t compare to the great microbrews of Quebec. It doesn’t. Cuba isn’t known for it’s beer. Quite honestly when you go on vacation you won’t even have much of a choice. This is a mass produced lager for a hot country and I would drink this over a coors light any day if I had the choice.
Just drinking this again brings back memories of my vacations to Cuba and everything involved. I drank this a lot there and I prefer it over the other choices. Besides, how can you say no to beer with a pirate on the label?
Trader José – Dark
Posted: April 30, 2012 Filed under: Review, Trader Joe's | Tags: Dark, Review Leave a comment »
On my last trip to the US I stepped into a Trader Joe’s and fell in love with the beer selection. While I contemplated over which new beers I would like to try a clerk said if I wanted I could create my own taster six-pack. I left the store with 12 beers. I figured I would give a nod to the store that allowed me to pick up a variety of different beers by picking up their brand beer.
Also it was dirt cheap.
Trader José Dark Lager is a Mexican import much like Negro Modelo, the go to beer for all-inclusive Mexican vacations. It is an American Amber / Reg Lager style beer.
Appearance:
Beer pours dark mahogany and very clean. Up against a light you really see some of the red shine through the dark brown beer. Head was a nice foamy tan colour that really sticks around.
Aroma:
Sweet malty aroma right off from the start. You can really detect the breadiness and biscuit malts.
Taste:
Taste is what you would expect. Has a nice bready thickness to it that you can chew on. Nothing too complex but it has a very clean finish.
Overall:
This is a simple beer. It’s not complex and bursting with flavour. Simple isn’t bad. It’s the type of beer you can enjoy plenty of on a nice summer day. This beer is also very cheap and at that price point I would recommend it over many other beers in the low price range.
However, it is a bit bland for my own personal taste and I wouldn’t go out of my way to have it again.
Mad Elf Christmas Seasonal – Tröegs Brewing Company
Posted: March 12, 2012 Filed under: Review, Tröegs Brewing Company | Tags: cherries, seasonal Leave a comment »
ABV: 11% (Bottle)
IBU: 15
HOPS: Saaz, Hallertau
MALTS: Pilsner, Munich, Chocolate
YEAST: Belgian Spicy Yeast
ADJUNCTS: Pennsylvania Honey, Sweet and Sour Cherries
I received this beer as a Christmas gift this year (along with das boot). It’s a Christmas Seasonal with a 11% ABV. It has been a daunting beer to pick up but I decided to give it a shot before the weather got too warm outside.
The Mad Elf, a cheerful creation to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. The combination of Cherries, Honey, and Chocolate Malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the pleasant character of this intriguing yet delicious Ale. The Mad Elf, a jolly and delicious beer for the Holidays.The Mad Elf, a cheerful creation to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. The combination of Cherries, Honey, and Chocolate Malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the pleasant character of this intriguing yet delicious Ale. The Mad Elf, a jolly and delicious beer for the Holidays.
And warming it does. I’ve been drinking this beer for about two hours and it is definitely warming me up. Let’s get on with this review to the best of my ability.
Appearance:
Pours deep ruby red and clear. Has a off white frothy head that stayed for quite awhile. This is a very good looking beer. Very clear and beautiful with no sediment and very little bubbles. I sat and enjoyed the colour through a light for awhile before taking my first sips.
Aroma:
You can definitely smell the cherries in here. A mix of sweet and tart on the nose and a little bit of spiciness. Not much hops come through. You can also pick up a hint of alcohol.
Taste:
Mad Elf is a complex and full bodied ale. This isn’t messing around and a pint bottle is best shared with friends. It’s very smooth with little carbonation. Very slick on the tongue. There is sweetness and tartness in there from the cherries and a spiciness from the yeast. The end is strong with a bit of a bitter hop finish that will stick around on your palate well after your last sip. There is an alcohol bite at the end to remind you that this beer is 11% and not messing around. Unfortunately there is a bit of a cherry cough syrup thing going with the taste of cherries and alcohol. This flavour is there when the beer is too cold and too warm but in the middle the real flavours come out front and center. Recommended to drink at around 10°C and 12°C.
Overall:
This beer doesn’t mess around. A pint glass got me feeling good and warm over a few hours of drinking. At 11% alcohol it can become a bit difficult to drink a lot of so I would suggest sharing a pint of this with friends. And pairing with a nice herb sausage would probably work really well.
Overall this is a great, full bodied and complex beer. It’s perfect for the cold months of winter. Definitely a nice social beer to be shared and enjoyed slowly. I recommend picking up two bottles of this when it is available. One to enjoy now and another in the cellar for next year.
