New Brewery: The Napanee Beer Co.

On Saturday July 9th I went into the town of Napanee, (only 15min from home) to make my first visit to one of Ontario’s newest Craft Breweries, The Napanee Beer Company. The brewery is located in an industrial area of town, only a couple minutes from Hwy 401, at 450 Milligan Ln., in an unassuming building. The garage doors were open and 7bbl stainless steel mash tun, kettle and  fermenters glistened in the afternoon sunshine.

I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to Geordan Saunders, owner and award winning home brewer. Clearly Geordan knows his stuff and is enthusiastic to talk all things beer. First I sampled the breweries current line up, Deadline Premium Lager, Mayday Belgian Pale Ale and Blacklist Dark Lager (Schwazbier), in the tap room. Geordan explained that he is interested in focusing on Belgian and German styles. A great idea! There seems to be a lack of those styles in Ontario at the moment and very few craft brewers seem interested in exploring them.

Next, Geordan gave me a quick tour of the brew-house and told me that they were working on a Belgian Style IPA for the upcoming Grand Opening called Extremist.

The Napanee Beer Co. will be having it’s grand opening: Sat. July 23rd @11am.

All 3 beers currently in the line-up are very good!

Bit of a side note: I don’t know about you, but I tend to get frustrated seeing craft breweries producing so called Premium Lager. At the moment the LCBO seems to fill its limited shelf space with an abundant amount of these Lager beers. Which, in my beer snob opinion, (Warning: The Following May Offend Some) ALL CRAFT LAGER TASTES THE SAME. Before you start calling for my head on a pike let me explain. I’m not suggesting they taste the same as the big breweries, watered down, corn/rice filled garbage. I also realise that my statement is overly broad and that even craft lager has subtle differences, however, I have been less than impressed in recent years with the range of variety found on LCBO shelves. I get the feeling the person in charge of beer purchasing either has absolutely no idea what they should be putting on the shelves or they simply dislike beer, (lager being the only exception). I was pleased to see that Deadline Premium Lager rises above the sameness. It was full flavoured and very refreshing, (I was unable to get a 6 pack the day I was there). I did bring home a 6 pack of Mayday Belgian Pale Ale and 6 pack of Blacklist Dark Lager. Both are excellent and I will be posting full reviews in the near future.

 

Home Brew News: Kit Arrives

Home Brew News: Kit Arrives (time to brew)

Fun and exciting times are coming to Beer’d blog…well for me anyway. A week ago my Brewers Beast home brewing kit arrived from Canadian Home Brew Supplies. This Sunday will be my first (of many no-doubt) brew day. I have been saving bottles for quit some time in anticipation of starting home brewing. Perhaps the toughest decision was what style beer kits to buy…decisions, decisions…

For my first 2 kits I went with the Brewers Best IPA and Scottish Ale grain/extract kits. I plan to brew the Scottish Ale kit first. Looks like the easier of the 2. I plan to take picks of brew day and update as my first ale becomes a reality.

Review: Forge & Fire, Amber Ale and West Coast Pale Ale

Forge & Fire Brewing Company

Amber Ale (Citra Hops)

and West Coast Pale Ale (Yakima Valley Hops)

Up for a brief comparison 2 brews from Forge & Fire Brewing Co., a Collective Arts Brewing project. First up, the Amber Ale: this is a nicely balanced, deeply copper coloured ale with a full, sweet malt bill with just enough hops to maintain a balanced ale. It is sweet to start with a refreshingly dry finish. A perfect full flavoured summer beer.

(WARNING: Beer geek info ahead) info from company website

5.0% ABV   38 IBUs  Bittering Hop: Citra    Aroma Hop: Citra    Flavour Hop: Citra

Malt: Flaked Wheat, Red X, Flaked Oats      Recommended Serving Glass: Nonic

Number 2 from Forge & Fire is their West Coast Pale Ale. This is a very refreshing, dark Blonde coloured Pale ale. Hazy, with a large fluffy head, the malt aroma id very light. The charm of this thirst quencher is in the moderately hoppy bouquet boasting resin and a host of citrus, notably grapefruit, orange and pineapple.

I say pick these up and enjoy! :^)

(WARNING: Beer geek info ahead) info from company website

5.0% ABV   38 IBUs  Aroma Hop: Cascade, Citra, Centennial   Malt: 2 Row, Flaked Oats, Carastan 33, Flaked Weat, Wheat Malt      Recommended Serving Glass: Nonic

 

 

 

Review: Schneider Weisse Original TAP 7

Original Weisse

TAP 7

What a surprise this Weisse was. Fermented in open vessels, bottled conditioned and brewed to the same recipie since 1872, it is claimed to be the world-famous Original wheat beer, from Bavaria’s oldest brewery Scheider Weisse. I was shocked at how good this was and wondered how had I not picked it up before now. I discussed this realization, via text with Richard, a fellow beer geek friend, his conclusion was, “I think because it looks European and crappy”. This was not a slight against Europe nor Europeans, Richard enjoys this beer too. But I immediately understood what he was getting at. With the craft beer revolution we have been spoiled with fun and creative packaging on beer these days. Schneider Weisse’s label looks…old and…boring, as if to say there’s nothing exciting and good inside.

Inside this bottle is a surprisingly good/exciting wheat beer. A medium dark sienna colour with a fluffy warm white head. The aroma opens with a light caramel, toasted hay and a hovering banana note typical of wheat beers. A moderately perfume bouquet with citrus of grapefruit and lime round out the scent. The real surprise came in the taste. Starting of sweat and slightly acidic the finish filled the back of my throat and palette with the taste of toasted coconut cookies. I will be looking for more offerings from Schneider Weisse. That is IF, yes it’s a big if, IF the LCBO can manage the difficult task of stocking their store with a variety of beer. THey seem unable to do that at the moment (but that’s a post for a later).

I suggest trying a TAP 7 Original, you may just discover something you didn’t know you wanted. ♦♦♦♦◊

 

Lunch at Stone City Ales, Kingston

Stone City Ales:

Barrels with “something” aging inside.

A nice little brew pub, located on Princess St., downtown Kingston. Stone City Ales opened its doors July 2014.

In their own words:

Stone City ales is a small craft brewery located in the heart of downtown Kingston. 275 Princess boasts not only our brewhouse but a tap room and bottle shop. Come hang out with us in the tap room, if we’re brewing you’re going to be immersed in the experience along with us only you get to do it with a beer in hand! In addition to our own beers on draft in the tap room we offer Ontario guest taps, Canadian wine, cider, craft soda and wonderful bites from our kitchen.

It is important to note that we are first and foremost a brewery. We are dedicated to making the highest quality beer possible. We don’t cut corners. We don’t rush anything and no, we don’t filter our beer. We source the best ingredients from around the world and use local ones as often as we can without sacrificing quality. Inspired by the American craft beer revolution and by traditional Belgian brewing we aim to make well balanced beers that will blow your mind.

Our bottle shop allows us to sell take-out beer to you right out of our front door. Buying straight from the brewery means you’re getting the freshest, most tasty beer possible – and we’re selling beer to go until 11pm 7 days a week. We hope to see you soon.

Cheers!

The Stone City Ales Family

I finally got my butt in gear this past weekend and made it to down town Kingston to check out the brew pub and enjoy lunch with my wife. They have an interesting and varied menu, without the typical greasy pub grub. Julie had the Candied BLT, a  Ships-in-the-Night-candied local bacon, tomato, crispy iceberg lettuce and garlic aioli served on toasted Bread + Butter sourdough, (which she described as delicious). I decided to try the Banh Mi Gently sandwich, a Vietnamese style sub served on a traditional Vietnamese style baguette (made specially by Bread & Butter Bakery and Fine Pastries) topped with Char Siu pulled pork (Chinese BBQ sauce), sliced cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon, lime aioli and liver pate all made in-house. A delicious sandwich, which I decide to pair with a glass of Sirena Spring Saison, a limited time specialty brew.

Sirena Spring Saison

I found the Sirena Spring Saison to be a unique summer offering, it opened sweet but quickly moved to a tart and rather dry finish, a nice compliment to the rather sweet Banh Mi sandwich.

Windward Belgium Wheat

My wife decided to try the one and only dessert offering, Cheese Cake Spring Rolls, house-made coffee cheesecake wrapped in phyllo pastry baked and tossed in cinnamon sugar, served with Vietnamese coffee-crème anglaise, (another satisfying menu item). I opted for a second brew instead and had the Windward Belgium Wheat. Foggy and pale golden in colour, it was surprising light in both nose and taste. It had a hint of banana on the nose and was crisp and refreshing.

If you’re in Kingston, passing through or up for a drive I recommend checking out Stone City Ales. Always nice to support local.

The standard line-up at Stone City

•Windward Belgium Wheat: 4.9%, 18 IBU

•12 Star Session Ale: 4.8%, 35 IBU

•Uncharted IPA: 7.0, 70 IBU

•Watchtower Conspiracy Imperial IPA (collaboration with Big Spruce, Cape Breton NS): 9.1%, 85 IBU

•Ships in the Night Oatmeal Stout: 5.6%, 25 IBU

 

Before I forget – make sure to take some beer home! This is what I left with. :^)

 

 

 

 

Review: Muskoka Brewery Legendary Oddity

Unfiltered Legendary Oddity

Today’s review is of an interesting Ontario brew from Muskoka Breweries LEGENDARY ODDITY (no…I’m not shouting). I had this interesting beverage a couple of years ago (it was still being shipped in bottles back then). Now we see it, as with most craft beer these days, in a 473mL can. Feel free to debate the pros and cons of craft cans almost yourselves if you wish. I will save my thoughts for another post. I also had the good fortune of sampling this on tap while having lunch in Napanee at the Waterfront River Pub and Terrace the other day.

Side note: the location is lovely, the Lamb burger was tasty, the service was great and they carry more than a dozen craft beers on tap.

Back to the review.

I was struck by how much this beer reminds me of a German beer called TAP6 Aventinus from Schneider-Weisse. When reading ingredients lists for each there appears to be very little to suggest these should taste similar. (Note to self: Drink more Aventinus and Oddity to be sure) 😉

Here’s the breakdown(WARNING: Beer Geek Info Ahead):

TAP6 Aventinus: Hops: Hallertauer Tradition and Magnum, Malt: 50 % wheat malt, 50 % barley malt from the region of Kelheim, Bottle and keg fermentation, IBU 16, 8.2 % vol. alc., Orig. gravity 18.5 %, Brewed since 1907

Legindary Oddity: Pure Muskoka Water, Heather Tips, Juniper Berries, Sweet Orange Peel Shavings, North American Malts, Noble Hops, Belgian Yeast and Belgian Candi Sugar. ABV: 7.1%

The Oddity has a quickly diminishing, bright white, fluffy head with a lovely light-medium copper colour. Though an unfiltered beer, I was surprised to find this quite clear. Lacking the hazy turbidity that is often found in an unfiltered ale. The aroma from the malt is lightly nutty, with toffee notes, brown sugar and nutmeg, and a hint of Hefeweizen inspired banana. The bouquet has a moderately noticeable spruce and flower quality. As we examine the taste profile, the Oddity begins moderately sweet with light acidity and bitterness. Moving towards the finish I find the  sweetness builds slightly, becoming moderately heavy, while acidity and bitterness remained the same. Mouthfeel is creamy on the palate, with a medium body, finishing with a light alcoholic note.

I think this is a great summer ale for someone looking for something a little different. So if you’re a bit tired of IPAs, Hefeweizen variations and Saison this spring and summer while on the patio see if they have the Legendary Oddity.♦♦♦♦◊

Review: Ayinger Weizenbock

Ayinger Weizenbock

Another May two four has come and gone, the weather was gorgeous, perhaps the nicest long weekend in many years. Now that we have discussed the weather (in truly stereotypically Canadian style) lets discus beer!

After enjoying a wide variety of beers this past weekend I would like to focus on a surprisingly tasty German Weizenbock that I had on the holiday Monday. Now I know you may baulk at the fact that I would have a German beer on the most Colonial holidays of holidays, if not a Canadian brew then why not an English brew, but before you have me tarred and feathered let me explain.

First point: there’s the fact the it is becoming increasingly difficult to find beer from anywhere other than Ontario at the LCBO these days (this is a point that requires a much longer rant, but that’s for another posting).  Second point: I am not a royalist and do not have the slightest interest in a family that as wealth and “power” simply for being born, under the delusional notion that a monarchy has a “divine right”, (sorry, another rant for another day and before you say anything, yes, I know the royal family has connections to Germany).

Alright, lets get on with the review.

Brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot purity law of 1516, German brewer, Ayinger, describes this Weizenbock as, “pale (helles), robust, spicy wheat ale, unfiltered”. The pale colour was a bit surprising to me because typicaly when I think of Bock beers they tend to be Traditional Bock, Dopplebock and Eisbock that tend to be dark in colour. I would describe this beer’s colour as medium to medium-dark golden, also hazy and unfiltered. It pored with a lovely fluffy, bright white head which gave the hazy golden beer below an overall “creamy” and appealing appearance once in the large pilsner glass. The malt aroma was quite light and had the scent of cereal and cloves, however, the sweet scent of ripe banana was very present. A moderate to heavy hop bouquet of flowers round out the scent profile. The taste is moderately sweet throughout with a light acidic and bitter. The body is medium to full. The mouth feel was lovely, thick and creamy, most enjoyable (and surprising).

I found this to be a wonderfully satsifying beer, perfect for the summer and I will be looking for more Weizenbock beers. ♦♦♦♦◊

Spiced Dunkel from Waterloo Brewing

Just a quick post.

I had the pleasure of running into a salesperson from Waterloo Brewing, in the parking lot of the Napanee LCBO, a number of weeks back. I asked him, “Why hasn’t Waterloo done a better job of creating new beer varieties?” I told him that Waterloo Dark was one of the beers that help me make my way into craft beer. I believe it is a good beer for anyone new to craft beer and may be looing to branch out and challenge their pallet with more robust flavours. It is, however, not compelling enough to keep me coming back, as it lacks the complexity I now look for in beer. This could be said about the limited line up Waterloo boasts. Don’t get me wrong, I do not mean to sound…mean, nor diminish a good brewery. Waterloo is one of Ontario’s early craft brewers and I am a supporter of local brewers.

As we spoke in the LCBO parking lot, the salesperson (I can’t remember his name?), pulled out a can of the new seasonal beer Waterloo was about to have in the LCBO, a SPICED DUNKEL. I notice that Waterloo’s web site has a page for this new beer. I haven’t seen it in any stores yet, but when I do I will defiantly give it a try. Hopefully some exciting seasonal beers will bring me back to Waterloo brewing.

 

So many beers…so little time! :)

It’s been awhile since I have taken the time to write new reviews and post some new finds. I hope to make some time over the next couple of weeks. So many new beers come out this time of year, it becomes difficult to keep up. So in the interest of keeping things “up to date” here are a few pics of new brews.

Review: Cheli’s Pal Ale

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CHELI’S PALE ALE

I have to say, this summer has been, for me, a summer for Pale Ale. In the past I have avoided picking up pale ale’s in favour of the more robust flavours found in IPA, Porter or Stout. I didn’t realise the variety and complexity that craft brewers are imparting into pale ale. Just more great beer to try!

Cheli’s Pale Ale is from Lake of Bays Brewing Company is the official brewery of the NHL Alumni Association and has crafted an ongoing series of brews that gives a portion of proceeds to support the activities of the NHL Alumni Association.

The series of 750ml bottles honors the greats of hockey’s past. This is an Oak Aged, Pale Ale, and is named for Chris Chelios, perhaps best known for his time playing for the Detroit Red Wings (1999 – 2009). It may be almost sacrilegious to say this as a Canadian, but I am not really hockey fan. In fact I decided to tackle this rather large bottle, while watching Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire of all things. The fact that it’s 750ml’s and 7% abv does make a Harry Potter movie a bit more enjoyable…but I am getting away from the point.

As I poured this pale ale into my favourite, all purpose, footed pint glass I was immediately taken by the abundant aromatics of citrus, orange specifically, filling the air and my olfactory senses. A frothy, bright white head rested comfortably atop a light, amber/orange hued brew.  The malt bill is very light, just a small amount of grain and straw come forward. The hop bouquet however, that’s a completely different story. Here the nose is filled with the heavy aroma of orange and a hint of pineapple, hidden underneath I found flowers and a bit of pine. Initially the flavour is lightly sweet and a bit bitter. It remains sweet throughout, however, the bitterness increases to a moderate level. It’s body is medium and creamy in the mouth. It settles in through the middle and becomes pleasing and balanced, culminating in a finish which is medium in length and presents as lightly alcoholic. ♦♦♦♦◊