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. ♦♦♦♦◊

 

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. ♦♦♦♦◊

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. ♦♦♦♦◊

Review: Muskoka Brewery Cream Ale

It’s been quit a few days since I last posted a review, though I have sampled more than one brew in that time…been busy renovating the kitchen. As many of you DIY’ers know, nothing develops a thirst quite like all those trips to Home Depot and Lowes. At the end of the day I think I have found a new favorite, a beer that’s full-bodied and complex, while simultaneously being refreshing and easy to drink. To answer this thirst I present – imagine drum roll and trumpets – Muskoka Breweries unfiltered Cream Ale .

Cream ale, is under the Light Hybrid Beer category of the BJCP guideline. It’s described as being “A clean, well-attenuated, flavorful American lawnmower beer.” When I read the phrase, “American lawnmower beer”, I tend to run for the hills, immediately thinking of flavourless, corn/rice adjunct filled lager. However, this example of cream ale seems about as far way from that description as possible. I would describe Muskoka Cream Ale as approaching something more like a Scottish Light 60/- , but you can judge for yourself.

The cream ale filled the steamed pint glass, a lovely haziness (due to it’s unfiltered nature) accentuated a medium amber colour (not the brilliant, sparkling, pale straw colour expected by the BJCP) with a quickly diminishing, fluffy, warm white head. It had a modest carbonation, not the high carbonation described by the BJCP.  The aroma was moderately sweet notes of bread, toffee with a hint of nuttiness. The bouquet is light and flowery. Taking a sip you find a balanced, light sweetness initially that builds to a more moderate sweet finish. The mouth feel is medium, creamy with a soft carbonation. A perfect beer to cap off a hard summer days work, maybe even after cutting the grass. ♦♦♦♦◊

Review: 3 Pale Ales; Sierra Nevada, Maclean’s and The Publican House

These brews all seem to fit within BJCP (beer judge certificate program) categories 8A and 8B – English Pale Ale . The history of English Pale Ale or what is also referred to as “Bitter”, a draught ale served very fresh under no pressure (gravity or hand pump only) at cellar temperatures (i.e. “real ale”). Bitter was created as a draught alternative (i.e. running beer) to country-brewed pale ale around the start of the 20th century and became widespread once brewers understood how to “Burtonize” their water to successfully brew pale beers and to use crystal malts to add a fullness and roundness of palate. This is category 8. English Pale Ale, within the guide and is broken down to three subcategories; 8A. Standard/Ordinary Bitter, 8B. Special/Best/Premium Bitter and 8C. Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale). Differences between subcategories are minimal, increased alcohol content, slightly higher IBUs, increased malt character, with more significant bitterness in the final category.

First, a look at Sierra Nevada’s, 5.6% adv. Pale Ale. I purchased this as a 355 mL bottle 6-pack. Grabbing a Willybecher style glass (this is the standard beer glass in Germany, tapering at the top, holding 500 millilitres or 16.9 ounces of beer and typically used for German beer styles) I headed outside on a sunny afternoon. The afternoon sun brilliantly illuminated the light amber ale as it filled the glass, finishing on top with a fluffy warm white head. To my surprise, I found some sediment spill into the glass at the end of the pour. This pale ale has a moderately strong malt aroma. Lightly roasted cereal and notes of straw. The complexity of aroma from the hop bouquet was very pleasant, presenting a moderately strong perfume, with citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit that rose above the malt to dominate.  The initial flavour is lightly sweet that remains light throughout, however a moderate bitterness builds toward the finish and diminishes slowly. Mouth feel was creamy, with a lively carbonation. ♦♦♦◊◊

I had my 500 mL, 5.2% Maclean’s Pale Ale  in one of my favourite beer glasses, a short stemmed, tear drop pint glass from Riedel (look for info regarding glassware in Brew news coming soon).

I found this to be a very drinkable ale. It poured a large, fluffy warm white head, was clear with medium carbonation and medium amber in colour (as you would expect). I didn’t expect the hop bouquet to be so full of flowers and perfume notes followed by some citrus, that presented as orange rind. The malt was moderately rich with subtle notes of honey, cereal and bread. Maclean’s initial flavour was moderately  sweet with a light acidity. As it finishes the acidity disappears, leaving behind a light bitterness to balance the remaining sweetness. ♦♦♦♦◊

Last but not least, Square Nail Pale Ale from The Publican House Brewery, 5.5% abv. in a 473 mL can. Using the same Willybecher glass as I used with the Sierra Nevada brew.

A small, fluffy, warm white head sat atop the light amber coloured brew. I took in a deep sniff of malt and hops. Confronted by the malt first, it presented as moderately sweet with bread and straw, and a subtle caramel note that’s well hidden, but waiting to be unearthed. The perfumey bouquet was light, layered with spruce and grapefruit. The initial flavour was lightly sweet and bitter, with a lasting moderately bitter finish. ♦♦♦◊◊

Brewery Notes on the can state the following:

“At 5.5%, our west coast style pale ale has a huge citrus and caramel aroma on the nose. The special pale ale is full flavoured, with a bitter finish that is balanced out perfectly by the toffee malt character.”

I don’t believe there’s a huge citrus and caramel aroma, but it is present. They also refer to it as “special pale ale” on the back. Why not call it that? Special Pale Ale is category 8B in the BJCP.

All in all three good examples of pale ale, whatever category you put them in. I think my favorite was the Maclean’s. Happy sampling.

P.S.

The Willybecher style glass (just for reference) –    

Review: Blue Buck from BC

I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much from this can of beer when I picked it up from the LCBO shelf. Something about the label screamed, generic lager, at first glance. In fact, the label stated only that what was inside was “Beer”. No mention of ale or lager, just 5% abv “beer”. Could you get more generic than that. With a simple pub glass in hand, sitting outside on a lovely summer afternoon, I eased the 473mL can of “beer” out from it’s aluminum cylinder. To my surprise, a medium dark, amber coloured beer emerged. It’s interesting how package design can direct our expectations. I thought I was going to get some sort of flavourless hipster beer, perhaps akin to PBR. But this brews malt presented moderately robust complex notes of bread, a toasted nuttiness and a subtle, but sweet, hint of toffee, all gently hovering above the frothy, warm white head. A simple bouquet of grass and light spruce followed. The initial flavour had a light layering of sweet, acidic bitterness, but the acidic quality diminished out of sight in the finish, leaving only a pleasant bitter/sweet flavour lingering on the pallet. In the end, this can of beer, surpassed my expectations and reminded me to try not to judge a craft beer by it’s cover. ♦♦♦♦◊

Review: Fire in the Rye from Double Trouble Brewing Co.

Fire in the Rye from Double Trouble Brewing Co.

When it comes to rye beers I’m a little undecided. It’s not that I necessarily dislike the qualities that rye offers a brew, it’s just that the few I have had in the past tended to overwhelm the pallet. Because of this apprehension the 473mL/6.1% abv. can of Fire in the Rye from Double Trouble Brewing Co. sat in the fridge for 3 weeks before I got around to sampling it. To my surprise (relief really) this rye beer was more balanced and less rye intense than I had feared. It pours from the can with a slowly diminishing, fluffy, warm white head that sits atop a hazy, unfiltered, medium auburn beer. The initial flavour was slightly sweet and acidic, with a moderately strong malt character of roasted grain, cereal and brown sugar. The hop bouquet was light but complex, showing up as flowers and herbs. There was also fruit, to me it seemed as though it was a mixture of orange, lime and pear, these developed late and were very subtle. Fire in the Rye has a long finish that’s moderately bitter and slightly acidic with a mouth feel throughout that’s pleasantly soft, but ends moderately astringent and lightly alcoholic. ♦♦♦◊◊

ONE, that’s right, ONE craft beer on tap

It was a beautiful summer day, my family and I ventured to downtown Kingston, Ontario for lunch. I have heard, on the radio, that the Merchant Taphouse boasts more than 20 beers on tap. Time to check it out, I thought. So, we sat down at a shaded table outside. The waitress handed us the drink menu. To my surprise, no beer list. Confused I asked the waitress for a list. She said that there wasn’t a list because it changed to often. So I asked if she could tell me what was on tap. And I kid you not, her response was.

“We have 28 different beers on tap. I can’t list them all.”

Remember now, this place is called TAPHOUSE…lots of beer on tap, that’s part of their business model. And the waitress can’t list the beer on tap? I’ve been in similar style establishments and the staff can always recite the list. They may stumble or forget one or two, but always give the list verbally.

She asked what was I in the mood for and perhaps she could suggest something. I told her I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for. She proceeded to mention 4 or 5, all beers ultimate owned by the Big Beer Empires. I asked what they had in the way of craft beer. To my shock, she informed me that they only had 1, that’s right, 1 craft beer on tap (MacKinnon Brothers, Crosscut pale ale) and one in a bottle (Beau’s, Lug Tread). I have nothing against either craft breweries I just listed. I live a mere 20min from the village of Bath and MacKinnon Brothers brewery and I am a big fan of almost everything Beau’s brewery makes. But I was in search of something I haven’t had before, and I have no interest in making the Big Breweries richer. Not when there are small brewers that deserve the dollars for their hard work and quality products. Disappointed, we left the Merchant Taphouse.

Hoping for better luck a few blocks away, the Red House was another craft beer and lunch possibility. The Red Houses craft selection was much better consisting of the following:

Mill St. Organic Lager, Mill St. Cobblestone Stout, St. Ambroise Cream Ale, Griffon Red, Nickle Brook Headstock IPA, Les Trois Mousquetaires Gose, Big Rig Hefeweizen, Steam Whistle Pilsner, Pilsner Urquell, Labatt 50, Wapoos Cider

(In the interest of fairness I have linked all the brands listed above all their respective websites)

I decided to begin with a glass of Les Trois Mousquetaires Gose while I waited for my lunch to arrive. It opens with a crisp, bright citrus notes upfront. The sour qualities emerge in the middle with a tart lemon quality. That tartness fills the palette momentarily, but diminishes rather quickly as it finishes dry with a thin and slightly tannic mouthfeel. A nice summer beer, when lager and IPA have overstayed their welcome. Though it’s not the type of flavour that lends itself to an entire afternoon of indulging, it is a great apéritif, opening up the palette and appetite.

For lunch I chose the Crispy Pork Belly Sandwich (soy glaze, daikon slaw, iceberg lettuce, spicy basil aioli, Navajo roll) with a glass of Big Rig Hefeweizen. This is a very nice example of Hefeweizen, carrying notes of citrus and subtle banana with a well-balanced hop character of spruce and herbs. A great pairing for the sweet/salty crispy pork sandwich, very tasty.