Celebrator Doppelbock

I'm not going to lie: I bought a bottle of Celebrator Doppelbock primarily because of the ridiculous little ram ornament hanging around the neck of the bottle.  My absurd consumerism aside, this was an interesting brew well worth picking up.

 It's also got a fantastic label.

Celebrator hails from Aying, Germany, where it is brewed by the Brauerei Aying.  It is sold in 330mL bottles and clocks in at a muscular 6.7% alcohol, to earn it the somewhat amorphous distinction of a "strong beer".

It pours a slightly cloudy mahogany colour and is capped by a frothy tan head.  There is some lace, but not as much as expected.  Celebrator features a yeasty, malty aroma, with notes of fig or raisin.  Similarly, the flavour is very malty.  There is a lot of sweetness contained in an odd combination of tastes ranging from raison to licorice.  There is very little bitterness, except for a tiny jolt in an aftertaste that also features some yeasty sourness.

This brew is a bit too malty for my taste, but there are enough interesting flavours to make it well worth a try.  It isn't an extremely drinkable pint, but it will keep your palette on its toes.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Creemore Springs-Kellerbier

The Creemore Springs Brewery of Creemore, Ontario makes a handsome, slightly cloudy sunburst orange brew known as Kellerbier.  Sold in 473mL cans and weighing in at 5% alcohol, the Kellerbier displays moderate carbonation and a generous cream head.

The Creemore Kellerbier was a tricky beer for me to review because it's not a style that I've got much familiarity with.  In fact, this is the only kellerbier I've ever tried.  This makes contextual rating a challenge.  According to the brief history lesson on the can, kellerbiers have a centuries old history in Germany.  They are unfiltered, resulting in cloudiness and are meant to be flavourful and refreshing.  These are the basic criteria that I'll use for my review.

The Kellerbier features a big hop aroma balanced against mellow caramel notes.  It's really a great smelling beer.  The flavour carries a lot of hop bitterness at the front end, giving way gradually to a zesty citrus aftertaste.

Based on the simple criteria of cloudiness, flavour and refreshment, the Creemore Kellerbier performs well.  It has a tangy, engaging flavour.  Though it isn't exactly what I would call refreshing, it is an interesting brew--one that leaves me eager to further explore the kellerbier category.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Cheetah Lager

I bought a pint of Cheetah Lager at a local Indian restaurant to go with my lamb roti.  According to the tabletop ad, Cheetah was brewed specifically to compliment spicy food.  Since my roti was mad hot, the test was set.

Cheetah is produced by Cheetah International Brewers of Toronto, Ontario.  It is sold in 341mL bottles and weighs in at the standard 5% alcohol.  The brew pours a pale gold colour.  It is slightly cloudy and mildly carbonated.  Topped by a thin head, Cheetah leaves behind very little lace.

The aroma is quite mild.  It smells slightly floral, with hints of sweetness.  The brew is quite thin and a touch on the watery side.  The flavour has a citrus touch to it, but only slightly.  There is a pleasantly bitter aftertaste.

This brew was better than I was expecting.  It isn't likely to win any international accolades, but it was a fine addition to my meal.  It really was pretty good with spicy food, though on its own, it was a bit wet.  If this brew is available at a purveyor of spicy delicacies, I say give it a try.  It won't dazzle you, but it'll put out the fire effectively.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Tecate

For me, Tecate is an interesting study in branding and brand loyalty.  As you'll see from my review, I recognize that Tecate is an easy-drinking if unimpressive macro-brew with limited character.  Still, it frequently finds its way into my fridge and I enjoy it with great relish.  The reason that I have such a boatload of goodwill toward this otherwise ordinary brew is that a few years ago, while working a summer gig in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I went on an extremely memorable camping trip in a lush oasis in the middle of the desert with my good friend Raph.  For this trip, Tecate was our brew of choice.  Ever since, I've always been forgiving to Tecate and its snazzy red cans.

Tecate is produced by the Cervezeria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma in Monterrey, Mexico.  It is sold in 355mL cans and contains 4.5% alcohol.  The can simply says "cerveza", but I guess this brew is classed as a pale lager.  It pours a pale straw colour and evidences loads of carbonation.  Tecate is crowned with a lively, bright white head and leaves behind a slight amount of lace.  There is a slight aroma of corn and wheat.  Tastewise, the brew begins with an initial flavour of malt and corn.  This gradually gives way to a slightly bitter, tinny finish.  The body is quite thin and watery, but is wonderfully refreshing and thirst-quenching.

This isn't a bad brew.  It tastes fine and it's very easy-drinking.  It just doesn't have a lot character or pizazz.  Still, every few months, I get a craving for it.  I buy a couple and relive some good times.  What can I say, I'm sentimental.

Rating: 6.5

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Young's Chocolate Stout is brewed by the Wells and Young's Brewing Company of Bedford, England.  It's sold in nice looking 500mL bottles and contains 5.2% alcohol.

This brew is DARK.  We're talking fully black.  I held it up to the light and saw nothing, except for a glimmer of red around the edges. It has a resilient tan head and loads of clinging lace.

According to the label, Young's earns its double chocolate name because it contains both chocolate malt and real dark chocolate.  Awesome.  Not surprisingly, there is a big chocolate aroma.  Not milk chocolate either.  More like an 80% roasted cacao bar.

The chocolate flavour of Young's is undeniable, but fortunately it's not too sweet.  The classic stout molasses flavour is present, but it's not in the forefront.  Rather, it's lurking in the wings.  The back end has a bitter kick that balances out the malty sweetness.  The mouthfeel is quite thick.

Young's is in tough in the stout category.  Among stouts, there are some pretty fierce offerings that offer unique and challenging flavours.  Young's differentiates itself with its chocolate sweetness, but it's not enough to elevate it to elite status.  The Double Chocolate Stout is not particularly drinkable--I would have a hard time drinking more than one of these bad boys in a single session.  Still, it's a highly enjoyable brew.  The brilliant cacao scent alone is worth the price of admission.

Rating:  8.0 out of 10.

Marston's Pedigree Very Special Old Pale

Marston's is one of England's premier breweries.  They are responsible for a number of really excellent beers.  So, my expectations were high when I pried the cap off of their Pedigree V.S.O.P.

The V.S.O.P is sold in fancy 500mL bottles that are individually numbered and bear the signature of Head Brewer Emma Gilleland.  The brew measures a ferocious 6.7% and hails from Burton Upon Trent, England.

Pedigree V.S.O.P pours a crystal clear gleaming gold colour.  It is crowned with a very foamy tan head and leaves behind enough lacing to make some lame curtains.  The aroma is fairly mild, featuring notes of copper, hops and a hint of toffee.  The V.S.O.P.'s flavour was really quite surprising.  What I expected was a hop-heavy and highly alcoholic tasting ale.  What I got was a reasonably sultry and well-balanced brew.  There is definitely a healthy does of hops, but this element is complimented by a malty front-end.  The ale definitely doesn't taste like a 6.7% offering, though it does pack a wallop.  If anything, the taste is a touch milder than expected.  The only real strike against this beer is a flat note struck somewhere in the aftertaste that isn't terribly pleasant.

On the whole, this is a pretty good ale.  Not elite or remarkable, but definitely solid.  For the price, it's a pretty good strong beer and it's definitely got character.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Lake of Bays Brewing Company-Rousse

Baysville, Ontario's Lake of Bays Brewing Company makes a pretty decent impersonation of a Quebecois rousse.  Served in 341mL bottles and containing 5% alcohol, this tasty red ale pours a surprisingly dark ruby colour.  It is clear, only mildly carbonated and is topped by a thinnish crown of white head.  It leaves behind thin curtains of lace that don't stick around too long.

The brew is blessed with a rich, well-balanced aroma of brown sugar and hops.  The flavour is nice and round.  It begins sweet and malty, with toasty caramel notes and it finishes bitterly, with a hint of molasses.  The mouthfeel is fairly dry and medium thickness. 

Lake of Bays' Rousse is a pretty solid little brew.  It's tasty and attractive.  It doesn't have a big enough flavour to warrant an elite 9, but it's not too far away.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Wellington County Brewery-Trailhead

After five consecutive reviews of wheat-based beers, I've been seriously craving something different.  To that end, I opted for a case of Trailhead Lager, produced by the Wellington County Brewery in Guelph, ON.  This is a pretty tasty beer, but all the more so when you consider the price.  For the price, I would be hard-pressed to name a better brew available in Ontario.

Trailhead is billed as a Vienna-style lager, and I think the description is apt.  It is a clear, fizzy brew with a gentle gold colour and topped with a cloudy white head.  The alcohol content is low, measuring just 4.5%.  Trailhead is sold in 341mL bottles.  The beer features a warm, rusty aroma that is quite potent.  The flavour is slightly oaty and graced with a not-unpleasant metallic tang.  Trailhead is extremely mild and has very little aftertaste.

At under $17 for a dozen, Trailhead is affordable.  And unlike the majority of other value brews, this one has some merit that goes beyond price.  It is a touch thin and a bit on the weak side, but it tastes great and looks nice.  Definitely worth a try.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Weiss/Wit/Wheat Week-Paulaner Hefe-Weizen

Wheat!  It's everywhere!

Paulaner is a tasty weissbier that hails from Munich, Germany.  Sold in 330mL bottles, it measures 5.5% alcohol, pours a cloudy yellow colour, and features loads of carbonation.

Paulaner is topped by a lively white head and has tons of lace.  There is a bready aroma coupled with faint notes of orange peel.  Similarly, the taste is doughy and features lots of citrus notes.  There is a medium mouthfeel and loads of fizziness.  The back-end is incredibly sweet...perhaps a little too sweet.

Paulaner is pretty much the prototypical wheat beer.  It has the colour, the cloudiness and the orange peel aroma that I have come to expect.  Weissbiers aren't my favourite style, but Paulaner's merits are hard to deny.  It looks nice, smells great and has an interesting flavour.  The only drawback is the too sweet aftertaste.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Also, it has this ridiculously wholesome Alpine scene on the bottle:

Weiss/Wit/Wheat Week-Mill St. Brewery-Wit

Toronto's Mill St. Brewery's Wit beer is billed as a Belgian-style wit beer.  Sold in 341mL bottles, it contains 5% alcohol and, like most wheat-based brews, is highly carbonated.  The beer is cloudy and light coloured.  It features a slight white head and moderate lacing.  For a crisp beer, the Wit features a big aroma--yeasty and highlighted by citrus tones.

The flavour is bready and dominated by the undeniable taste of orange peel.  Additionaly, there is some gentle spiciness present.  Overall, the taste is good, but the beer is too thin to be elite.  My two cents is that this brew needs work on its beery foundation and place less emphasis on peripheral flavours.  The aftertaste is slightly sour and bready--quite pleasant.

Mill St. has a truly excellent lineup for a craft brewery.  It's Wit is a good addition, but hardly the top of the class.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Weiss/Wit/Wheat Week-Mother Pucker's Ginger Wheat Beer

At a local beer bar the other day, I had occasion to sample Mother Pucker's Ginger Wheat Beer.  I ordered a pint on tap.  According to the beer list, the MPGW measured in at 5.4%.  It is brewed on site at C'est What? in Toronto.  It poured clear and ruddy--really surprising for what is ostensibly a wheat ale.  The head was really thin, but dense.  There was moderate lace and almost no evidence of carbonation.

If I didn't know that this was a ginger flavoured beer, I would never have been able to identify it from the scent.  It smelled just faintly of ginger, and also slightly yeasty.  The flavour was extremely mild.  Only some mild ginger tones. and very little else to report.  This beer had a ridiculously thin mouthfeel.  So thin that I am concerned the keg I was served from might have gone flat.

Mother Pucker's Ginger Wheat Beer was interesting in theory, but not terribly well executed.  It was refreshing, but far too thin.  The ginger taste was good, but insufficient.  All in all, it was a bit of a disappointment.  C'est What? has so many excellent choices, I wish I'd gone with something else.

Rating: 5.0 out of 10--However, due to the chance that the keg was off, I will revisit this beer in the future and update my review if necessary.

Weiss/Wit/Wheat Week: Dennison's Weissbier

Recently, a dream of mine came true.  My partner and I have dated for a long time and throughout the majority of our relationship, she has insisted that she isn't interested in beer.  Recently, she has decided that perhaps beer isn't so bad.  Her taste runs to the lighter end of the spectrum, preferring lagers and other pale brews.  This week, she agreed to review a beer with me.  I'm pretty pumped about it.

Because Partner prefers lighter tasting beer, we opted for a wheat beer.  Denison's Weissbeer is billed as a Bavarian-style wheat beer.  Brewed by Denison's Brewing Company, the Weissbeer hails from Toronto.  It is sold in 473mL cans.  It weighs in at a respectable 5.3%.

D.W. poured pale and cloudy straw colour.  It was considerably fizzy.  Said Partner, "It's like a crazy carbonation party."  The aroma was a delightful blend of tart fruit notes--pear and apple.  As Partner evocatively put it, "It smells like walking through an orchard after a cold rain."

The flavour begins with a cider-like pear flavour that moves toward a sour, bready aftertaste.  Nestled somewhere in between is the typical weissbier orange peel flavour.  The slightly elevated alcohol content is fairly evident.  In fact, D.W. might actually taste stronger than it is.  For that reason, it isn't particularly sessionable, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.  The mouthfeel is medium and quite fizzy.

Both Partner and I enjoyed this brew and would drink it again.  We agreed that it'd be quite enjoyable with a meal.  As weissbeers go, Denison's was pretty good.  Nice aroma, inviting initial taste, and considerably refreshing.  The sour aftertaste was a touch unwieldy, which kept the rating from being higher, but still a solid pint.

Rating:  7.5 out of 10 (Partner said 7.0).

Also, Arlo thought it smelled good:

Weiss/Wit/Wheat Week--Rickard's White

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to learn more about beer.  There are so many distinct and interesting styles of beer, each with there own characteristics and attributes, that it sometimes seems a daunting task to delve any deeper than the peripheral understanding that I already possess.  But that's what I want to do.  To that end, I think it makes sense to occasionally choose a style of beer and focus on it for a series of reviews.

The style I have chosen for my inaugural theme week is wit/wheat/weiss beers.  It's a style that I do not know much about, beyond the fact that these brews are united by the generous presence of wheat as a base ingredient, that they tend to be cloudy and that they are often paired with citrus wedges.  For an example of the level of my ignorance, I know that there is a distinction between Belgian-style witbiers and Germanic weissbiers, but what that distinction is eludes me.  What I do know is these wheaty brews seem to be becoming increasingly popular and are a summertime patio staple.

I had a pint of Rickard's White on tap at a neighbourhood sports bar.  At halftime of the Monday Night Football game, I borrowed a pen and wrote my thoughts on a napkin.  First off, RW almost always comes served with an orange wedge.  It's true that the orange goes well with the brew, but just once, I'd like a server to ask me if I want the orange, since the presence of an outside element tends to distort the flavour and make reviewing a challenge.

The beer is a very cloudy orange colour.  There is a thin white head and a little lace.  The aroma was muddled by the orange slice, but I could discern notes of bready yeast and citrus.  The taste is a blend of citrus and sourdough.  The finish is really just a continuation of the flavour.

These suds are quite thin, but mild and refreshing.  Rickard's White is a pretty solid summertime beer--it definitely tastes better on a patio.  It's really a pretty good offering for a large-scale producer.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Stonecutter Scotch Ale

Renaissance Brewing Company's Stonecutter Scotch Ale was a treat.  Hailing from Marlborough, New Zealand and sold in 500mL bottles, it boasts a meaty 7.0% alcohol content.  Stonecutter pours a muddy brown colour with rusty highlights and is barely transparent.  There is a thick tan head that persists like a frothy cap.  The ale is slightly carbonated but leaves behind lots of lace.

Stonecutter is a strong-smelling ale.  There are notes of caramel, brown sugar and raisins.  The taste starts bitter, but quickly becomes malty and sweet.  There are warm, comfortable flavours of caramel and raisin.  The mouthfeel is best described as buttery.  The aftertaste remains sweet, but is also a touch smokey.

I have mixed feelings about the Scotch Ale style.  I find many "wee heavies" too sweet, too malty.  However, Stonecutter was an extremely enjoyable pint.  It's certainly malty, but it features a rounder and more nuanced flavour than other Scotch ales I've tried.  Definitely worth a go.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.

International Stout Day

Beer fans!  My beautiful fiancée informed me that today is International Stout Day.  This is exciting news. 

Readers, I encourage you to make yourself comfortable and pour a rich, luxurious mug of stout.  Take your time, sip it slowly and enjoy the majesty.  I know I will.

Stay tuned.  I've got a bunch of stout reviews queued up for the coming weeks. 

1715 Lvivske Premium Lager

When I picked up a bottle of Lvivske Premium Lager, the woman working the register at the liquor store informed me that she, like the beer, was Ukrainian.  I asked her for a tutorial on how to pronounce the name.  After several torturous attempts, she advised me that I should simply call it 1715.

1715 hails from Kleparivska, Ukraine, where it is brewed by the Lvivska Brewery.  This pale lager is sold in 500mL bottles and has 5% alcohol.  Ontario's liquor stores have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to Eastern European pale lagers.  When making my selection, I look for things that set a particular brew apart.  For 1715, I was persuaded by the badass cap that featured a crowned lion hoisting a beer stein.  Simple things...

This Ukrainian brew is slightly darker in colour than a typical pale lager--a bit more golden than straw.  These suds are topped by a thin, white head.  There is a slight amount of lace and a moderate amount of carbonation.  The aroma is wheaty, with a touch of apple.  The mouthfeel is extremely thin.  Tastewise, 1715 is inoffensive, but unremarkable.  The flavour progresses from corny malt to slight bitterness.  Along the way, there really aren't any other taste notes to speak of.  There is barely any aftertaste at all.

1715 is an ordinary Eastern European pale lager.  It is extremely drinkable and refreshing--a good sunny day brew.  However, it is thin and lacking in distinctive character.  Lager fans will enjoy this one, but beer snobs might be less impressed.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.