Mill Street Organic Ice Cream Float

The other day I saw a strange thing on the menu of Toronto's Lakeview restaurant--an ice cream float made with beer.  What the what?!  Of course I tried it.  This odd creation was made out of Mill St. Organic and ice cream.  They were out of vanilla, so they had to use chocolate.  This was going to be weird.  Partner made this face.

 It was a weird looking concoction.  When it arrived, it was a very layered, almost greenish colour.  Gradually, it melted together into a sickly brown colour.

 The sweetness of the ice cream really accentuated the beer's sour flavours.  I suspect that this would have been a lot better with vanilla.  This is definitely not something that I'd try with a beer stronger than a light pale lager.

I didn't hate it.  But it was strange and confusing.  Would I recommend a beer float?  ...Um...m...aybe...?  It is unique and interesting, but also a little gross.

Coopers Sparkling Ale

Coopers Sparkling Ale is a tasty little brew out of Australia.  It is brewed by Coopers Brewery and hails from Regency Park, South Australia.  It is a strong ale and is bottle fermented.  Sold in 375mL bottles (which, incidentally, is an excellent size for a beer), C.S.A. contains 5.8% alcohol.  It pours a cloudy orange, and is topped by a thick white head.  There is a yeasty aroma, accented with a sweet, fruity quality.  It has a bready flavour that is pretty close to a wheat beer.  C.S.A. has a fizzy, cider-like quality that leaves the lips tingling after each sip.  It is more sweet than bitter and has notes of apple and pear.

This is a pretty nice brew.  It's a bit on the yeasty side, but drinkable nonetheless.  An interesting beer that will appeal to a wide range of drinkers.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Dark & Handsome

This glorious offering comes from the Box Steam Brewery out of Wiltshire, England.  It is sold in 500mL bottles and contains 5% alcohol.  Dark & Handsome pours a deep, brooding ruby colour and features considerable head and lace.

It has a sweet, malty aroma that is reminiscent of a stout.  To my mind, the flavour tastes like a hybrid between a stout and a bitter.  It has the dark molasses notes of a classic stout married with the lively hop bitterness of a pale ale.  Somewhere lurking in the body of this behemoth is a heart of sweetness.  D&H ends with a slightly smokey aftertaste.

The packaging features some unusual touches, such as the observation that it was "engineered by hand".  and an anecdote about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who was apparently a reputed engineer in the 1800s.  What gives?  Is this beer brewed by former engineers?

This is a damn fine beer.  It's quite unique, features ample character and is a highly stylish pint.  Box Steam Brewery's Dark & Handsome is more than worth a try.  I'd be eager to buy it again.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.

Iron Spike Blonde Ale

This nice looking, clear ale is produced by the Railway City Brewing Co. of St. Thomas, Ontario.  It's sold in stylish and edgy 473mL cans.  Iron Spike contains a modest 4.3% alcohol.  It pours a rich gold colour and is topped by a quickly dissipating cloud of white head.  It doesn't have a lot of carbonation or lace.

Iron Spike has an aroma that is relatively malty and sweet, featuring the autumn-y scent of apples.  It has a very mellow flavour that moves from sweet to bitter.  There is a nice smack of apple and a short, bitter aftertaste that is slightly metallic.

This brew has a nice flavour combo.  It is easy drinking and highly sessionable--a craft beer that you can put away with gusto.  I'd like it to have a bit more carbonation and a higher alcohol content, but Iron Spike is a beer worth looking into.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Gaffel Kölsch

Like all kölsch beers, Gaffel hails from Cologne, Germany.  It comes in a 500mL bottle and weighs in at 4.8% alcohol.  Gaffel pours a bright golden colour.  It's very clear, has lots of carbonation and it topped by a substantial white head.  With each sip, Gaffel leaves behind curtains of lace.

It has a slightly metallic aroma that features notes of sweet corn and a bitter kick.  The flavour is mild--nicely balanced between a gentle bitterness and a bready, malty sweetness.  It's a mild little brew, quite refreshing and drinkable.  Perhaps a touch too sweet for my taste, but still nice.  Definitely worth buying.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Hopportunity Knocks Ale

Hopportunity Knocks is a cheeky ale from Ashland, Oregon, where it is brewed by the Caldera Brewing Company.  According to the label, it is from the "Caldera Kettle Series".  The bottle only says ale, but if I had to label this one, I'd call it a pale ale.  It's sold in pint bottles and contains 6.8% alcohol.

H.K. pours a fairly cloudy dark brown that is streaked with gold highlights.  It has a foamy off-white head, but not a lot of carbonation.  It has a yeasty, hop-heavy aroma with a nice caramel undertone.  Tastewise, there is a dose of malt on the front end and a bit of yeastiness, but this beer is first and foremost bitter and hoppy.  It also has a very hoppy aftertaste.

This is a pretty solid beer.  A hop monster, but one with considerable character and style.  A bit more balance would be appreciated, but it's still worth a try.  Buy it if you see it.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Löwenbräu Original

Löwenbräu Original is a typical pale lager out of Munich, Germany.  I had a 500mL can.  It contains 5.2% alcohol.  It pours a clear pale gold colour with a thick foamy white head that thins quickly.  It has a grainy aroma with a metallic twinge.  It's pretty thin, with a flavour of grains and corn.  Löwenbräu Original begins sweetly and moves into a gently bitter aftertaste.

It's a pretty standard German lager: crisp, drinkable, and refreshing.  It isn't terribly remarkable, but its a nice beer to wile away a hot summer afternoon.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Lava Smoked Imperial Stout

Lava is a bold pint brewed by Ölvisholt Brugghús, out of Ölvisholt, Iceland. It's a smoked imperial stout, which is a pretty badass style--definitely not for the faint of heart.  It is sold in 500mL bottles and is a virile 9.4% alcohol. 

The brew pours very black with about an inch and a half of thick tan head.  It has a highly smokey aroma, underscored with rich molasses.  Lava comprises a strong combination of flavours.  It starts with a malty and sweet initial taste of brown sugar and molasses.  The body, however, is extremely smokey.  There is also a pleasant dose of bitterness and a slight flavour of anise.  There is also considerable alcoholic kick. The aftertaste remains highly smokey.

Lava is definitely not easy-drinking--it's big, robust, and smokey as hell.  Chalk full of character, this beer is definitely worth a try.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Missing Elf Double Bock

Missing Elf is a strong ass double bock built by the good people at Brewery Rinkuškiai.  It comes from Rinkuškiai, Lithuania and, according to the label, is "...the most heating and famous beer of Beer Country!"  It's sold in a sorta goofy pint bottle and contains 9.5%.

 It pours a light copper colour and is very clear.  It has moderate carbonation anda very thin cap of white head.  It has a  pleasant metallic scent that is also a bit grainy and malty.  Flavourwise, this beer is extremely coppery and all kinds of malty.  It has an undeniable alcoholic warmth and has a metallic aftertaste. Truth be told, its not really my favourite brew.  It's a bit too malty and too doughy.  However, it's certainly got some merit--it's a strong, punchy and warm ale.  Probably worth sampling, particularly on a cold day.   Rating: 6.5 out of 10. 

St. Charles Porter

Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, St. Charles Porter is made by the Blackstone Brewing Company.  It's got a respectable booze content of 5.8%.  It's billed as a brown porter, and pours a deep, dark brown colour with red highlights.  It has a fairly thin off-white head, and not a lot of carbonation.

St. Charles has a lovely aroma of toasted brown sugar.  The alcohol taste is well masked by a complex network of flavours. It has the sweetness of molasses and brown sugar with a slightly bitter kick on the back end.  It's a nice porter--robust flavour without being overpowering and not too sweet.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Anchor Steam

Made by the Anchor Brewing Co. out of San Francisco, this tasty little brew comes in a beautiful 355mL bottle. The label has a history lesson that explains that "steam" in the name is 19th century slang for West Coast beer.  Who knew?

This steam is a brownish orange colour, clear and considerably carbonated.  It has about 3/4 inch of off-white head.  Sweet caramel tones and a dose of breadiness accent a hoppy aroma.  The body is nicely balanced, with bitter leading into caramel and butter sweetness.  The aftertaste stays true to the flavour.

This is a brew that constantly finds its way into my fridge.  Its got something for everyone and is well worth buying.  I'd like a bit more bite, but its not a major complaint.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Wychcraft Blonde

This handsome brew comes from the Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire, England. It comes in a very snazzy 500mL bottle and contains 4.5% alcohol.  It pours a very clear, bright, brassy colour with lots of carbonation and a thick, foamy white head.

Wychcraft has a metallic aroma with a dusting of toffee sweetness. The bottle says that it's "Thrice hopped for flavour".  It's a nice, mild ale.  There isn't a lot of maltiness--the flavour is primarily bitter.  The finish is bitter and underscored with buttery toffee.

Ample hop character make this an enjoyable pint.  It is a bit on the tame side for my tastes, but this beer is likely to appeal to a wide swath of suds enthusiasts.  Not bad at all.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

El Lapino

El Lapino is a jalapeño-flavoured beer that hails from Mont-Laurier, Quebec.  It is produced by Microbrasserie du Lièvre, contains 5.4% alcohol, and is sold in 341mL bottles with an actual orange-y jalapeño floating in it.

The beer pours a clearish, brassy gold.  It has very little carbonation, head or lace.  It has a strong hot pepper smell, but doesn't really smell a lot like beer.  Flavour-wise, this brew is a ridiculously spicy for a beverage.  It's not uncomfortably hot, but it could never be called refreshing.  Unfortunately, there isn't much flavour besides jalapeño.  The aftertaste is warm with a dose of heartburn. This is an interesting product, but not really my fave.  Beer-wise, it's  a bit thin.  I'd like a bit more carbonation and body.  Spice-enthusiasts might dig this, but beer-lovers might be non-plussed.  I'm afraid that, for me, this one was more novelty than brewery.

Did I eat the hot pepper?  Sorta.  I ate about half of it.  It was plump and juicy looking, but then I bit into it, and it deflated in an upsetting way.  It was weird. Rating: 5.5 out of 10.  

Duggan's Sorachi Lager

This is a first--I'm reviewing a light beer.

I do not care for light bière.
I will not drink it in my chair.
I will not store it in my fridge.
I just might throw it from a bridge.

The Duggan's Sorachi Lager is not just another light beer.  Sure, its extremely pale and has only 4% alcohol, but it's got character and is far more noteworthy than its watery, timid counterparts. The Sorachi Lager hails from Toronto, where it is brewed by Duggan's Brewery.  It is sold in stylized 275mL bottles and pours a very clear, moderately carbonated pale straw colour, crowned with a bloom of foamy white head.  It has an interesting and surprisingly robust bitter aroma for a light beer.

Sorachi is a very thin brew.  It has an extremely delicate, somewhat nondescript flavour on the front end, but that soon gives way to a surprisingly abrupt, bitter crunch in an aftertaste that is also somewhat metallic.  It is an interesting taste combo that I was definitely not expecting.

This is still a light beer.  It is thin and a bit flimsy, but it's not too watery and it's got more oomph than your average light.  I'd like a bit more zealousness in the initial taste, but this is a beer I would try again.  It is highly drinkable and quite distinctive.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Raven Mad Imperial Porter

This bold, beautiful porter comes from the Bridgeport Brewing Company of Portland, Oregon.  It is sold in a spooky, large format bottle, and weighs in at 7.5% alcohol.  The label says that this foreboding brew is comprised of 50% porter aged in whiskey barrels and 50% unbarreled stout.

Raven Mad pours an opaque black colour, topped with a thick and creamy tan head.  It has a fierce, chocolatey aroma underscored by an unusual tobacco note.  The taste is quite bitter for a porter, with a hop kick lurking beneath its dark, malty body.  There are also some notable dark chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is makes me imagine being in a Southern roadhouse--there are notes whiskey and tobacco smoke.

This brew was really enjoyable.  It was strong, moody, and impressive.  It was really evocative--I could almost hear honky tonk music being piped in though a jukebox.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.