Garrison Brewery-Grand Baltic Porter

When I think back on the time I've spent in Halifax during the winter, I remember snowy, windy weather and toasty, crowded pubs. This big ol' porter would be a great compliment to the latter and a fine weapon against the former. Garrison's Grand Baltic Porter is sold in 500mL bottles topped with black foil and emblazoned with a cannon.  It tips the scale at a virile 9% alcohol.

GBP pours a dark brown that is nearly black, with a ruby twinge.  It is topped with a full brown head. There is a strong molasses aroma accented with a hint of roasted cacao. The flavour has lots of malty action for a porter, with a taste reminiscent of a molasses cookie. This is balanced against some bitter ballast on the back end.  And GBP definitely has enough boozy warmth to combat the fiercest winter storm.

Garrison's Grand Baltic Porter is a full-on winter brew and should readily appeal to those with a taste for darker ales. Get thee to a liquor store.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Garrison Brewery-Winter Warmer

The Winter Warmer is one tasty seasonal brew from the Garrison. It comes in a 500mL bottle crowned with red foil and clocks in at a toasty 6.5%.  The Warmer pours a cloudy, brownish red, with a thick, creamy head and barely any carbonation. It leaves luscious rings of lace behind with every sip, just as a nice pint should.

It has the Christmastime aroma of cloves. The flavour is predominantly sweet and malty. There are notes of cloves, as well as raisins or figs. A dose of bitterness kicks its way in through the back door.

This is a damn fine example of a winter beer. It's got lots of sweetness, but well-balanced. It's very warming and pairs nicely with a cigar. For all of you living in Garrison country, I'm afraid it'll be a long wait until next winter.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Garrison Brewery-Imperial Black IPA

Another tasty offering from Garrison Brewing Co., the Imperial Black IPA comes in 500mL bottles and contains a vigorous 6.2% alcohol.  It pours an impenetrable dark, dark brown colour that's topped with a fluffy tan head.  This brew looks for all the world like a stout.

The Imperial Black has a considerably punchy hop-heavy aroma. The tastes flirts briefly with sweet before veering abruptly toward bitter. It's a very full-flavoured beer, with a stout-like molasses front end and a big ol' hop body and finish.

With its deep, ominous look, full hop monster flavour, Garrison's Imperial Black IPA is a beer worth trying. It's an uncommon style, nicely executed.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Garrison Brewery-Spruce Beer

Garrison's Spruce Beer is sold in 500mL bottles that are emblazoned with a cool historical quote about spruce beers and their use in Halifax; however, the quote is, unfortunately, unattributed.  I'd really like to know what the source is.  According to the label, this interesting ale is brewed using spruce and fir tips and a bit of molasses.

The Spruce Beer clocks in at a fulsome 7.5% alcohol. It pours a surprisingly dark, reddish brown colour and is mostly clear.  It is topped with a thick cloud of khaki head.  The evergreen bouquet is tempered with some dark, malty sweetness. The flavour is really sweet--you can really taste the molasses. There is some bitterness at the back end that is a welcome relief from the sweetness that, at times, is almost syrupy. The spruce taste is a compelling undertaste throughout.  It doesn't really dominate, and lets the other flavours mingle.

Kudos to Garrison for reviving an historical alternative to the conventional barley, yeast, hops, and water formula. Their spruce beer isn't the kind of brew that I would reach for on a daily basis, but it is a thought-provoking pint that is definitely worth sampling.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Garrison Brewery

The other day, I was perusing the LCBO (Ontario's government-run liquor stores), looking for interesting things to review when I came across something that caught my fancy--actually five things--a collection of five brews from Halifax's Garrison Brewing Co. that I HAVE NEVER TRIED!  I am pretty stoked about this development.  So stay tuned to the blog for the next few days for my reviews of five exotic pints from one of the East Coast's great breweries.

Big Rock Traditional Ale

Traditional Ale is one of the premier brews from Calgary's Big Rock Brewery. It comes in at 5% alcohol. I enjoyed a pint on tap at a local pub with my favourite newlyweds in the afterglow of their nuptials.  Big Rock's Traditional Ale arrived a brownish, ruby colour. It didn't have a whole lot of head, carbonation, or lace.

Trad had a nice aroma that is malty and sweet.  Its flavour is considerably full-bodied, encompassing notes of molasses, toffee, and roasted nuts.  The brew is malt focused, though a little bit of bitterness hangs out near the back end.

This is a nice brew for all seasons. It's a reliable if not exceptional brown ale.  I'd like a bit more hop bitterness to round out the flavour, but I'm not going to complain, because I've never been disappointed with a Traditional.  I'm pleased to see this brew showing up in more public houses and liquor stores nationwide.  You should probably try some.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Yukon Gold

Yukon Gold is the pride of Whitehorse, where it is crafted by Yukon Brewing. My soon-to-be brother in-law has been insisting that I try this hazy, orange-gold ale for some time, and I'm glad I finally got around to it.  It contains 5% alcohol and comes in awesome looking 341mL bottles.

Y.G. is an English pale ale. It's well-carbonated and topped with a thin layer of off-white head.  The Gold has a toasty, sweet aroma, with some pleasant mashmallow notes. It has a fairly thin mouthfeel and a flavour that goes from sweet to bitter and builds to a considerably hoppy finish.

Not a bad little pale ale. Yukon Gold is a bit wet on the front end, but makes up for it with a punchy bitter aftertaste that really hits the spot.  If you see Yukon Gold, be sure to give it a try.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Downtown Brown

Downtown Brown is a brown ale brewed by the Lost Coast Brewery and hails from Eureka, California. It comes in a 355mL bottle that features a pretty awesome stylized label.  It pours a nice, slightly hazy dark brown colour streaked with reddish highlights.  It's topped with a creamy tan head and it's lightly carbonated.  Downtown Brown leaves behind all kinds of lace.

There's a considerable amount of brown sugar sweetness in the aroma, as well as a touch of nuttiness.  The flavour is considerably sweet, with a nutty tang. It's a little bit bitter on the back end, balanced against some molasses notes.

With a label like this, how could I say no to Downtown Brown? The actual beer isn't quite as flavourful as I might have liked, but it's pretty good nonetheless.  Probably worth a try, if you can find it.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Southern Pecan

My favourite Tennessean recently gave me a couple of brown ales to review. So, the next two posts are dedicated to a badass lady and a true friend of Stout Man in a Bitter World.

Billed as "The Original Pecan Nut Brown Ale", Southern Pecan is brewed by "Mississippi's Brewery", aka the Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company out of Kiln, Mississippi. Apparently, this little gem is brewed with whole roasted pecans. Bring it on!

Southern Pecan is a bit deceptive.  It's not really much of a brown ale at all--more of a red colour. It's topped with a thin layer of off-white head and is lightly carbonated. The aroma walks a nice line between bitter and malty. Toasty and slightly nutty flavours pervade the front end, while moderate bitterness closes the door.

S.P. comes in a 355mL bottle.  According to their website, it contains 4.39% alcohol by volume.  It's a very interesting beer.  It's a pretty mild brew, but one that's composed with a flock of cool flavours.  Be sure to try some if you come across it.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Trafalgar-Smoked Oatmeal Stout

This offering comes from Oakville, Ontario's Trafalgar Ales and Meads.  Trafalgar's Smoked Oatmeal Stout comes in 650mL bottles and contains 5% alcohol.  The S.O.S. pours an extremely dark brown that almost borders on black. It's topped by a thin off-white head.

It has a nice chocolatey aroma, with an understated smoke quality.  There's a rich flavour with notes of malt and chocolate. S.O.S. is primarily sweet, but there are bitter elements as well. For a beer with "Smoked" in its name, the smokiness of this brew is considerably understated--there is a bit of smokiness to it, but it isn't the primary flavour.

Trafalgar's Smoked Oatmeal Stout is a nice dark beer. It has considerable character and it comes in a big ol' bottle. These are facts that pretty much guarantee I'll come back to this one.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Prud'homme Beer Certification--Level 1

Starting a beer blog has tonnes of perks, one of which is the major influx of beer related gifts that come your way for birthdays and special occasions. I've been given more bottles, books, and beery miscellany since I became the Stout Man than at any other point in my life.

Without a doubt, the finest beer related gift that I received since starting my blog was registration in Level 1 of the Prud'homme Beer Certification program. My parents really scored big with this one!  Kudos Ma and Paw.

Named after Louis Prud'homme, Canada's first licensed brewer, Prud'homme Beer Certification offers beer lovers an opportunity to learn more about suds and to fine tune their appreciation for this brilliant beverage. The Prud'homme program is made up of three levels. Level 1, entitled the Beer Enthusiast, is the introductory course. Levels 2 and 3, the Beer Specialist and the Beer Sommelier, respectively, are the more advanced programs requiring greater time commitments and delving deeper into beer. I took part in Level 1, and I am happy to report that I passed and am now a certified beer enthusiast.

Level 1 is available as either a classroom program or online. I opted for the classroom sessions, and I'm glad I did, since the ability to interact with fellow beer lovers made the classes that much more enjoyable. My class was made about of a handful of fellow beer geeks, each of whom made valuable contributions to the experience.

The 12 hours of instruction were broken up into 4 classes that culminated with a test and a much anticipated (for me at least) beer and food pairing. Over the course of the program, participants were provided with instruction on many aspects of beer, including beer history, the traditional ingredients, the brewing process, beer styles, glassware, draught systems, tasting concepts, and even cooking with beer.  Lessons were supplemented with detailed course materials and powerpoint presentations. Each 3 hour classroom session ended with a tasting, which meant that there was always something to look forward to.

The instructor, the self-styled Professor of Beer (one of the finest titles a person could hope to acquire), was an interesting cat and an engaging lecturer. He cut his teeth in the beer industry and has parlayed that into a pretty cool little niche career. By his own admission, he is an opinionated dude. He has some very definite ideas about beer, and though I didn't always agree with him, to his great credit, he had the chops to back up his statements. Plus, I often agreed with him. What I liked most about the guy was his commitment to ensuring beer drinkers get quality beer experiences whenever they enjoy a pint. To this end, he instructed us on the best ways of setting up draught systems, the best way to pour beer, the best way to clean and store glassware, beer storage tips, and a whole host of other valuable lessons--lessons he encouraged us to disseminate widely in the hopes that it will make a positive impact on beer culture.  That's a message I can get behind!

Some of what we learned was retread for me. Let's face it, I already know a fair bit about beer, particularly about beer appreciation. Still, I can honestly say that I learned a great deal and had an excellent time in the process. The area that I was most exited to delve into was beer and food pairing. I had to wait for the last class, but I got an excellent lesson in matching beers to food. Now I've got huge visions of hosting a beer dinner for some buddies sometime in the near future. I also picked up a great deal of information on ingredients that was news to me.

I would recommend Level 1 of the Prud'homme Beer Certification program to anyone with a passion for beer and a desire to learn more. I'm certain that you'll learn some cool things and you'll grow to love beer a bit more.

Brooklyn Lager

Billed on the label as "The Pre-Prohibition Beer", Brooklyn Lager is brewed by the Brooklyn Brewery in Brooklyn, New York.  It's sold in 355mL bottles and contains 5.2% alcohol.  It pours a barely hazy copper colour with ample carbonation and a cloudy white head.  B.L. has a strong, warm malty aroma. The flavour moves from sweet to bitter and has a bready body with slight caramel notes. The aftertaste is doughy and reasonably bitter.

Brooklyn Lager is a really robust lager with tonnes of character.  It's flavourful, interesting, and full of good luck.  As a vehement hater of the New England Patriots, I was sure to buy a New York brew to support the Giants in Superbowl XLVI.  I'm not saying that Brooklyn Lager made the G-men upset the Pats, but it sure didn't hurt.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Fuller's London Pride

Fuller's London Pride is a nice copper coloured ale that comes from Fuller's Brewery in London, England. I enjoyed a pint on tap courtesy of my Pops over a plate of nachos. It arrived looking very clear, topped by a thick white head, and displaying mild carbonation.

FLP has a warm hop aroma, combined with rich toffee sweetness. The flavour is nicely balanced between notes of toffee and hop bitterness. The taste is quite consistent from initial taste all the way through the aftertaste.

This is a solid bitter.  It's beautiful and tasty, without a real downside.  I might prefer a touch more hops, but I haven't got any major complaints.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Granite Brewery-Peculiar

 Another Granite Brwery offering, Peculiar, is a nice brown ale that contains 5.6% alcohol. I enjoyed a pint at the brewpub. The beer had a hazy, ruddy brown colour, with a loose, off-white head that fades quickly.

There was a faint aroma that was sweet with molasses notes. Peculiar had a rich, well-balanced, and nuanced flavour. It moves from malty to bitter, and is toasty, nutty, and a touch smoky. The mouthfeel is pretty thin. The aftertaste is nicely bitter.

This was a really solid beer that I would love to try again. I have a feeling that if I lived closer to the Granite, this'd be a go-to brew. It had an interesting, solid flavour and is definitely worth tracking down.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Granite Brewery-Hopping Mad

Granite Brewery is a cozy microbrewery in Toronto, Ontario. They make an array of ales that all sound great. Hopping Mad is a cask-conditioned pale ale. It checks in at a respectable 6% alcohol. I enjoyed a pint on tap at the brewery.

It arrived a mostly clear, reddish orange colour, topped with a loose, bubbly, off-white head. Truly a cask conditioned ale, there was very little carbonation. It has a bready, bitter aroma and a very thin mouthfeel. A warm, fruity flavour leads into a nice, hoppy finish--an aftertaste that is bitter and a touch nutty. The elevated alcohol content is barely detectable.

Hopping Mad was a deceptively easy-drinking brew--my pint was gone in a flash, and I suspect that six or more could be made to disappear without much effort. It's a nice ale--a bit thin on the front end, but solid and smooth.  The finish is excellent.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Liberty Ale

Liberty Ale is a product of San Francisco's Anchor Steam Brewing Co. According to the label, it was originally brewed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride. It comes in Anchor Steam's distinctively shaped 355mL bottle and clocks in at 5.9% alcohol.

Liberty Ale pours a hazy, golden orange colour. It's comfortably carbonated and is topped by a thick off-white head. It has a bready, caramel aroma that is balanced against a hoppy base. The flavour moves from sweet to bitter. Considerably maltiness gives this beer a full, complex flavour. The body has buttery, caramel notes and the aftertaste is hoppy and floral.

This is a quality brew with a slightly elevated alcoholic blast and an interesting flavour. It's well-balanced and quite delicious.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Fin du Monde

Unibroue strikes again!  Fin du Monde is a lovely golden ale from Chambly, Quebec that I reviewed with my brother on Superbowl Sunday.  It contains a badass 9.0% alcohol. It's sold in 341mL bottles that have a beautiful label featuring a map of la Belle Province.

Fin du Monde has a cloudy, honey gold colour.  It has lots of carbonation and is topped by a thick white head.  It has a heavily yeasty aroma underscored with notes of sweet fruit.  It has a malty, yeasty sourdough flavour, with a nice dose of apricot. The aftertaste is malty but drops off quickly. The substantial alcohol content is barely discernible, but I was certainly aware of it after I stood up.

This is a great beer: bold, complex, and potent. Personally, I find it a touch too yeasty and too potent to make Fin du Monde an everyday beer, but it's wonderful once in a while.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.