Blanche de Chambly

Quebec's Unibroue has a reputation for delivering fine beers-typically robust brews with significant alcohol content.  Blanche de Chambly is another top-notch product from the Unibroue stable, though considerably subtler than many of its fellows.  Brewed in Chambly, Quebec, Blanche de Chambly is a Belgian-style witbier with 5% alcohol.  I purchased a six-pack of very attractive 341mL bottles complete with silver foil.

The beer is an extremely cloudy sunburst orange colour that resembles a nice apple cider.  When poured, there is a moderate amount of off-white head.  One of my favourite things about Blanche de Chambly is its carbonation.  The beer is damned-near effervescent and the bubbles look fantastic rising through the opaque orange suds.

The aroma tends toward citrus notes, particularly orange peel.  Like a good witbier, Blanche de Chambly isn't overly bitter.  The flavour begins "yeastily" and proceeds to a nice citrus finish. Additionally, there are several other complex undertones that are detectable (and perhaps identifiable by someone more skilled than I).

This is a very enjoyable beer.  It is refreshing, drinkable and has considerable character.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Stone Hammer Dark Ale

F & M Brewery's Stone Hammer Dark Ale hails from Guelph, Ontario.  It is sold in 341mL bottles and weighs in at 5%.  The Dark Ale pours a handsome clear brownish colour with a moderate amount of frothy, cream-coloured head that laces nicely.

The aroma is quite sweet, with notes of caramel and a faint smokiness.  The taste is rich and warm.  It starts sweet and becomes progressively more bitter.  Caramel flavour is present initially, giving way to a slight hoppiness.

This is a really nicely put together little brew.  It has a considerable amount of character, but remains surprisingly drinkable.  It looks nice, tastes great and leaves you wanting more.  I highly recommend it.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Jack Layton (1950-2011)

 During the last Canadian federal election, Jack Layton was widely revered as the political leader most Canadians would like to have a beer with.  There.  This post is now tangentially about beer.

To my eyes, Jack was the finest politician of his generation; a man who had wide appeal that transcended political lines.  He was undoubtedly pragmatic, yet he was unwilling to compromise his core values.  He was a voice for many Canadians who, without his presence on the political landscape, would have been wholly disenfranchised.

Those of you who know me personally know that I have a great love of local government.  One of my most constant refrains is that "everything is municipal."  Jack Layton was the consummate municipal politician.  He was on the cutting edge of any number of social issues.  He was willing to take unpopular stands because he believed in the cause.  He was a champion of the environment, AIDS education, LGBTQ issues, homelessness, and affordable housing.  The more I read about his work as a Toronto City Councillor, the more I appreciate how much of a lasting mark this incredible man left on the city I choose to live in.

As the leader of the NDP, Jack was nothing less than a dynamo.  He took a second-tier party and made it a unified force to be reckoned with.  Under his leadership, the political landscape in Canada has been fundamentally shifted.  Thanks to him, the left has a real voice in Parliament.

Jack Layton made a mark on me as well.  Though I never met him personally, I have heard his words.  His message was inspiring, but it was also challenging.  Jack called on all Canadians to excel, to fight for change.  In a world where politics tend toward the critical, Jack's words were uncommonly hopeful and aspirational.  He was a great individual: honourable, compelling, charming and brilliant.

For all the good that he did in Toronto and in Canada, I say cheers to Jack Layton.  He was one of a kind and he will be sorely missed.

DAB

DAB (Dortmunder Actien Brauerei) is a dortmunder straight from the source, Dortmund, Germany.  I purchased a 500mL can.  It is listed at 5%.  DAB pours a yellow gold colour.  It is very clear and, though there is little head, there is considerable evidence of carbonation.

DAB is a beer that I used to drink in considerable quantities in my early beer drinkin' days. For whatever reason, I haven't gone back to it since early on in my undergraduate degree.  From what I remembered, it is a typical German pale lager-crisp, clean and unremarkable.

My recollections appear to be pretty spot on (which is noteworthy given the vast quantities of this little brew I used to put away.)  There is a clean aroma, with hints of something almost pastoral.  Hay, perhaps?  The taste has a slight yeasty quality reminiscent of bread, but beyond that, there isn't much else.  I really had to struggle to detect any discernible flavours (though that might be because I'm new at this).  The aftertaste is mildly bitter.

Overall, the beer is a bit thin for my taste.  It is rather watery and a bit short on flavour.  Still, there are definitely positives as well.  This beer is uncommonly drinkable.  It goes down almost like a light beer, but with slightly more body.  It is well suited to drinking in gulps rather than sips.  The high degree of carbonation makes it pleasantly tingly.  On a hot day, possibly after doing some yard work, you could do a lot worse than to reach for a DAB.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Mill Street Brewery-Coffee Porter

I don't typically drink stouts or porters when the weather is hot.  This can lead to some pretty long months in the summer, since the darker ales are among my favorites.  I made an exception tonight for the Mill Street Brewery's Coffee Porter, and I'm glad I did.  It's a real beauty.

The Coffee Porter comes from Toronto.  It's sold in 341mL bottles and contains 5.5% alcohol.  According to the bottle, it's made with Balzac's dark roasted coffee.  The colour is very dark, but not totally opaque.  When poured, it features a creamy brownish head.

Not surprisingly, coffee features prominently in the the aroma, flavour and aftertaste.  This gives the beer a very robust quality.  However, there's more to this brew than a cuppa joe.  There is a rich porter flavour that is complemented by the coffee, not overwhelmed by it.

This beer is definitely worth a taste.  Porter fans, go get this one.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Saint Andre-Bohemian-Style Lager

Saint Andre Lager is a solid little brew from Toronto.  It is sold in 341mL bottles and clocks in at 4.6%.  It pours a snazzy clear amber colour and has very little head.  The aroma is quite sweet with notes of toffee or caramel.

For a beer with so little alcohol content, the flavour is surprisingly malty.  Additionally, there is a slight smokiness and a sweet toffee taste.  It finishes sweetly, again with a hint of toffee.

I was surprised to learn that this brew is produced by the Cool Brewing Co., whose namesake beer is not one of my favorites.  Still, they definitely got something right with this one.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Christoffel Bier-Dubbel Gehopt

Christoffel Bier Dubbel Gehopt (Double Hopped) is a tasty pilsner that hails from Roermond, The Netherlands.  It is sold in flashy 330mL swing-top bottle, which, truth be told, is the thing led me to purchase the beer in the first place.  Billed as a "strong beer", Christoffel features an alcohol content of 6.0%.

The brew pours an orange colour and yields a lively head.  It bears some resemblance to a nice apple cider.  The aroma is pleasant and slightly bitter.  Tastewise, the beer features a nice balance between sweet and bitter flavours, while the aftertaste is decidedly more bitter.

This is not exactly a refreshing beer, but it is definitely enjoyable.  I would recommend readers to give it a try, particularly if they are looking for a pilsner that departs from the traditional.  However, for those looking for elevated alcohol content and robust flavour, do not be taken in by the use of "strong beer" on the label--this is not what you are looking for.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Hop City Brewing Co.-Barking Squirrel Lager

Hop City Brewing Co.'s oddly named Barking Squirrel Lager was my treat at the end of a long day spent sending out resumes and writing cover letters.  BSL is the pride of Brampton, ON.  I enjoyed a pint of draught at a local watering hole near the Rosedale subway station in Toronto.

Barking Squirrel is a lager in name and in flavour, but its appearance is more like an English Ale.  It has an attractive clear coppery colour and has very little head.  While there is very little aroma, BSL's taste is a pleasant mix of hops and malt.  The beer finishes slightly sweetly and there is not much of an aftertaste.

As an advocate of local beers, I encourage readers to give this brew a shot.  It has a robust colour, but is relatively light and drinkable.  In short, an enjoyable if not remarkable beer that should appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Celt-Golden Crafted Ale

Celt's Golden Crafted Ale is sold in 500mL bottles and clocks in at a somewhat anemic 4.2%.  It hails from Caerphilly, Wales.  Upon opening, I was greeted by an enjoyable coppery aroma.  The Golden Craft Ale poured nicely; there was a moderate amount of head that laced nicely in the glass.  GCA was a cloudy goldenrod colour.

Taste-wise, the beer starts sweet and finishes bitter.  There is a significant amount of hoppiness.  Additionally, there is a definite citrus note that I was unable to place.  Fortunately, my stalwart brother happened by mid-pint as I was puzzling, and suggested grapefruit.  I think he nailed it.  The GCA ends with a pleasant aftertaste that sticks around for a while.

The Celt Golden Crafted Ale is a nice beer.  It isn't outstanding, but there really isn't much to dislike about it either.  It does lose some points because of its low alcohol content, but it gains back a little ground thanks to its spartan but attractive packaging.  Give this one a try, especially if it happens to be on sale.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.   

Banjaluka Brewery-Nektar

In keeping with my summer lager/pilsner tour of Eastern Europe, I tried my first beer from Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Nektar is brewed by the Banjaluka Brewery in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska.  According to the label, it has been brewed since 1873.

Nektar is sold in 500mL bottles and clocks in at 5%.  When poured, it yields a very lively head and displays lots of carbonation.  It features the ordinary pilsner aroma with no surprises.  Nektar is a pale gold colour and is very clear.  There is very little flavour beyond what you might expect from a German Pilsner.  It is a bit watery and there is very little aftertaste.  That said, it is extremely drinkable (I finished my pint long before I finished taking notes).

Nektar is worth a taste if you're looking for a refreshing summer brew.  It isn't anything special, but it is a drinkable alcohol delivery platform.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen

Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen is a delicious wheat beer from Frankfurt, Germany.  It is imported in 500mL bottles and checks in at 5.0%alc./vol.  Like most weissbiers, Schöfferhofer pours extremely cloudy and features a considerable amount of foamy white head.  Once pored and settled,  the suds are a brownish gold-colour and feature a pleasant, yeasty aroma.

The bottle is not particularly noteworthy, except for a tiny portrait of Peter Schöffer von Gernsheim, a one-time apprentice of Johannes Gutenberg.  Apparently, Schöfferhofer is brewed in his former abode.

In terms of taste, the flavour begins sweetly and finishes richly (sometimes I wish that "yeastily" was a word).  In between, there are citrus hints and a slight sourness.  This beer looks great and tastes very good.  It is moderately refreshing and is just slightly more bitter than more common weissbiers like Hoegaarden.  Fans of wheat beers should definitely give this one a try, as should anyone looking for a unique late-summer brew.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Brick Brewing Co.-Waterloo Dark

Waterloo Dark is produced by one of Ontario's largest craft brewers, the Brick Brewing Co.  It is sold in 341mL glass bottles and has an alcohol content of 5%.  Waterloo Dark belongs to the Schwarzbier family of dark lager beers.  It is nearly as dark as a stout, but its flavour is considerably lighter.

WD comes from Waterloo, Ontario.  It is extremely drinkable for a dark beer, but otherwise unremarkable.  When poured, it looks uncannily like Coca-Cola--beautiful dark amber colour with a creamy brownish head.  The beer is extremely clear.  Unfortunately, it doesn't taste nearly as good as it looks.

In terms of taste, Waterloo Dark has a mild, malty flavour.  There is some sweetness but nothing overpowering.  It has a faint, slightly sour aroma.  I couldn't identify any particular notes; it just tastes like beer.

Waterloo Dark is not a bad beer.  I picture it being consumed around a campfire-it would make a welcome addition to a camping trip.  For a dark beer, it goes down easy and it tastes pretty good.  It just isn't very noteworthy.  There is no smokiness or nut flavour to hold the interest and it doesn't have the big flavour of its gloomy brethren.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Svyturys-Ekstra

One of the reasons I decided to start this blog was to learn more about beer.  Svytutys Ekstra provided me with two learning opportunities in one large bottle: my first Lithuanian beer and my first dortmunder.  Dortmunders are a subset of lagers.  They are slightly darker and sweeter than pilsners and are common to Germany and parts of Eastern Europe.  Having tasted Ekstra, I am thirsty for more.

Ekstra comes from Klaipeda, Lithuania.  It is sold in heavy 500mL bottles and has 5.2% alcohol.  According to the label, Ekstra is "Lithuania's most popular".  As a novice Latvian ales, I don't have much of a frame of reference though I did find this lively brew quite enjoyable.

Ekstra is very clear.  It is a yellow gold colour and features a foamy head that thins quickly.  It is not as crisp as I expected.  Rather, the taste was surprisingly sweet.  There is a faint hint of fruit, possibly pear.  The only real strike against it is the aftertaste, which is a bit stale.

Perhaps Svyturys Ekstra received an unfair advantage over other beers reviewed on this blog.  As I drank it, I watched my beloved Red Sox jump to a 7-2 lead over the hated New York Yankees, so I will
admit that I was predisposed to like it.  Still, ballgame notwithstanding, this was a tasty brew.  An interesting twist on the traditional lager and definitely worth a taste.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Dark Star Brewing Co.-Sunburst Classic Golden Ale

My partner and I just went to the theatre.  The performance was lousy and I needed a drink to pick my spirits up.  To that end, I sampled Dark Star Brewing Co.'s Sunburst Ale.  Unfortunately, my disappointment was not alleviated.  It's not that the Sunburst Ale was particularly unpalatable or disagreeable.  It just isn't all that good.

The most notable thing about the Sunburst Ale is its undeniable citrus flavour.  I love citrus and I believe that, in certain circumstances, it can greatly enhance an ale.  However, Sunburst's citrus flavour is unfortunately sour.  It gives the beer an unfortunate tartness that is hard to look past.

The beer is an attractive enough colour.  It is yellowy-gold and a bit cloudy.  It is sold in nice looking 500mL bottles and checks in at a respectable 4.8%.  It comes from Partridge Green, West Sussex, England.  When poured into a stein, there is very little head.

The Sunburst Ale is not without merits.  It is quite refreshing and the aftertaste is agreeable.  However, it doesn't have enough character to guarantee a return to my refrigerator.  My advice is to give this brew a wide berth unless your penchant for citrus fruits overlaps with your passion for beer.

Rating: 6.0 out of 10.

Wellington County Brewery -Dark Ale

Wellington County Brewery's Dark Ale dodged a bullet.  I hated it when I first tried it and I was all set to pan it, but I gave it another chance and was pleasantly surprised.  My first taste was during a house party, sitting outside on the patio on a sunny day.  Second go saw me smoking a cigar on a rainy evening.  Trust me--this beer is much better suited to the latter.

The Dark Ale is a handsome deep amber colour.  It is quite clear for a dark ale.  In short, a very attractive brew.  It weighs in at 5.0% and comes in 341mL bottles.  It is made by Guelph, Ontario's Wellington County Brewery, which purports to be Canada's oldest independent craft brewer.

The Dark Ale features a really nice head that lingers; it clings to the glass with each sip.  The taste is malty without being overpowering.  It has a strong aroma and there are faint notes of caramel.  The aftertaste is quite bold.  It stays with you in between sips.

Ale lovers should look into Wellington County's Dark Ale.  It is tasty served cold, but even better slightly chilled.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Duchy Originals from Waitrose-Organic Old Ruby Ale 1905

Holy shit, what a mouthful.  It shouldn't take a guy ten minutes to type the name of a beer.  Surely they could have cut it down a bit.

This little brew comes all the way from Oxfordshire, England.  At 5.0%, it is sold in very attractive 500ml bottles more reminiscent of port or sherry than beer.  This is a decent beer, but perhaps the most pretentious that I have encountered.  According to its label, the Old Ruby Ale features "an English barley first used in 1905 called Plumage Archer."  A portion from the proceeds from each bottle sold is donated to The Prince's Charities Foundation.  It is certified organic.  In short, I'd poured myself an uncommonly socially conscious pint.  But was it any good?

The Organic Ruby Ale wasn't quite what I was expecting.  First of all, it isn't really all that ruby.  Its colour is more of a cloudy auburn--very pretty but decidedly not red.  There is a nice amount of creamy head and it looks great in a glass.  I liked it very much at first, but by the end I was less convinced.  There was an initial hint of bitterness.  However, the body was extremely sweet, as was the finish.  It was a bit too saccharine to be drinkable.

The Organic Ruby Ale 1905 was agreeable enough, but lacking in character.  I was hoping for a more robust, full-bodied beer and was left a bit disappointed.  It was more memorable for the bottle and the impressive social credentials than the suds.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.