Paradise Found Tropical Dark Ale

Paradise Found Tropical Dark Ale comes from Toronto’s Saulter Street Brewery—a place that I think has been flying beneath the radar for too long. Brewed using Demerara sugar, the beer contains 5.8% alcohol and is comes in 473mL cans that have a winter to summer beach look. The beer has a stout-like appearance, but didn’t pour with a whole lot of head—just a wisp of off-white head.

Paradise Found has an elegant aromatic profile, with considerably brown sugar sweetness, a whiff of coffee, and some dark chocolate. The beer has a creamy and entirely agreeable mouthfeel that supports a flavour rich in java and a golden rummy sweetness. The back end is bitter, with chocolate and coffee grit, and that provides excellent balance. There is also a very slight smokiness.

While I’d have liked to see a bit more suds atop mount Paradise Found, there isn’t all that much else to critique. It’s a really lovely, balanced and interesting little brew that walks a line between classic English ale flavours and some quirky new world elements. The strength to flavour ratio is good, and the total result is positive.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

The Wolf of Glen Moray Port Cask Finish

The Wolf of Glen Moray Port Cask Finish is a “dark Scottish ale aged in a Glen Moray whisky cask” brewed in Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland by Windswept Brewing Co. This one is aged in a port finish cask. It’s a burly 9% ale with a deep mahogany colour and a very this cream head. It comes in a 330mL bottle, sold in a whisky-style tube. My bottle was hand-numbered (4279/4344).

The Wolf Port Cask has a terrifically rich and sticky sweet aroma—malt heavy, with notes of raisin and treacle. The flavour is sweet, initially, with boozy, dried fruit leanings. The back end is warm, faintly bitter, and has subtle whisky elements.

This beer was highly agreeable; all the more so because it was woody without being overly sweet. Often I find barrel-aged strong ales run too saccharine, and this one displayed admirable restraint. Boozy and flavourful, this stuff was jammin’.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Rademuller's Refusal

Thirsty for something different, I checked out the trusty Ontario Brewers Map and decided to check out Henderson Brewing Co. 

 

Henderson is tucked in a little industrial area just if of Dundas Street in Toronto's west end. It's a cute little spot that has a lot of nice touches--free popcorn, a cool Rube Goldberg machine that opens and pours a beer, and a bottle shop on site. What really made me settle on this brewery though was their monthly beer series, "The Ides of". While this is a cool idea generally, it was the Ides of October on tap in October 2016 that truly sealed the deal. 

Called Rademuller's Refusal, this English strong ale is named in honour of J.P. Rademuller, the late lighthouse keeper at the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse on the Toronto Island. Rademuller died a violent death, his murder was never solved, his ghost is said to haunt the lighthouse, and he's a favourite villain of my buddies The Stormalongs. According to the legend as told on the Henderson advertising copy, Rademuller was an amateur brewer whose strong ale was much in demand. When thirsty soldiers showed up at the lighthouse in 1815 demanding beer Rademuller refused ... and was never seen again.

The brew, a 12oz draught, was hazy, mauve-brown, and covered in a thin cream head. It contained a bruising 9% alcohol, and packed a mighty aroma of dark fruit and roasted malt. The beer proved to be extremely flavourful and smooth. It had date and raisin notes, as well as a decidedly boozy vibe.

Strangely for such a strong ale, I found Rademuller's Refusal to be a bit thin of body. Certain elements put me in mind of a Belgian dubbel, minus the funky yeast. It tasted great and I'd gladly drink it again.

RADEMULLER!!!

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Netherworld

I used to buy Netherworld, the Cascadian Dark Ale from Barrie, Ontario's Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, with some regularity when I first moved to Toronto in 2010, but for years it's been pretty scarce. Recently it started showing up again on beer store shelves, so I pretty much had to buy some for old time's sake.

At 6%, this beer hits the cusp of what I'd call a "strong ale". Stout-dark and crowned with a lovely cream head, this beer is a real looker. It has a malty, syrupy nose that features dried fruit notes. The flavour is quite rich, but a tad too sweet. It has raisin elements and considerable malt in the first half, while the game concludes with a gritty, hoppy finish that has a taste of espresso.

Generally, I equate Cascadian dark ales with Black IPAs, but stuff is way maltier and sweeter than that style tends to play, particularly in the early going. Still, it tastes highly agreeable and it closes out strongly.

Something worth mentioning about this ale is its label. The 355mL bottles of Netherworld are adorned with a quartet of lurid, ghoulish hops-zombies huddled around what looks like a cauldron filled with electronics, art, a pink flamingo, and a purplish potion. Very strange. Very cool.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Wuchak Black

From Ottawa, Ontario comes Wuchak Black, classed alternately on the 473mL can as a Black IPA and a Cascadian Dark Ale. Its stats are unremarkable for the style--slightly understrength at just 6%, but amply bitter at 77 IBUs. Wuchak is brewed by the Kichesippi Beer Co. The beer is definitely dark--almost black and nearly opaque--buried underneath a froth of loose cream-coloured head.

I didn't find that there was a lot of aroma that made it through the thick, foggy head, but what there was displayed as resinous bitterness and roasted malt. Initially, the flavour packs a slightly more substantial bill of roasted malt, though this is subsumed fairly decisively by a whip crack of hops that dominates the back half of the brew. Bitterness manifests in dank, earthy notes, and the ale finishes quickly.

Kichesippi's Wuchak Black proved to be a nice ale. It could certainly have been stronger, both in percentage terms and with respect to aromatics. This is a less macho black IPA than I was expecting, but I don't see that as a negative. There is lots of room for subtlety in bitter black beers, and this one certainly had some of that. Where I found it falters a bit is in the front end, with too little emphasis on the rich flavours that roasted malts can impart. The finish, though, is really quite good. Would I buy this beer again? Oh, no question--in a heartbeat! But it's unlikely to ever be my favourite black IPA.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

La Buckdjeuve

The brewing scene in New Brunswick is starting to get pretty interesting. One of the newer players is Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault, an outfit from Edmundston. While home in my birth province over Christmas, I had occasion to try a couple of their brews, including La Buckdjeuve. Sold in stubby 341mL bottles, this little number was billed as a "dark strong ale". It contains a potent 7.3% alcohol, 29 IBUs, and is made with "mythical spices." According to the label, La Buckdjeuve is a rarely seen forest-dwelling critter that lives in the Madawaska Forests--sorta like an Acadian jackalope.

The beer poured with a nice mahogany colour and a layer of fairly thin off-white head. It packed a punchy, warm nose, replete with clove notes and heavy maltiness. The flavour, too, was malt-powered and full of warm spice notes. Alongside were some slightly nutty elements, and a modestly bitter, chocolatey finish.

To my mind, La Buckdjeuve made for a delightful winter ale--strong, seasonally-spiced, and tasty. 

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Dark Matter

Dark Matter came to me by way of Victoria, British Columbia. It gets its start in life at the Hoyne Brewing Company, where it is coddled up to a strength of 5.3% alcohol and bundled into 650mL bottles. The labels on these hefty bottles are lovely, displaying a campfire and the aurora borealis. Curiously, there is no style listed on the bottle; just "beer/bière". I'm gonna call it a dark ale, likely a porter, and double check on their website later.

Stout dark, and topped with a layer of cream head, Dark Matter has an extremely malt forward aroma. There are also notes of molasses and raisin to tickle the nose. It's got a creamy mouthfeel and ample flavour. The latter leans heavily to the malty side of the spectrum, and favours roasted grain and mocha vibes.

Victoria is a city that I've yet to visit, but I've tried a lot of craft beer that hails from BC's capital, and it's got me hankerin' to make the trip. Dark Matter is a credit to its hometown. Not quite as strong or as bitter as I'd have liked it, but rich in texture and flavour.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Winnikeg, Manitobeer--Fort Garry Dark English Mild Ale

Stay tuned over the next few days for a series of reviews of beers that hail from scenic Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Winnipeg's Fort Garry Brewing Company gave life to Fort Garry Dark English Mild Ale. This brew, sold in 473mL cans, contains 5% alcohol and pours an attractive dark amber colour topped with a quickly thinning off-white head. According to the can, it has a gentle 16 IBUs.

D.E.M.A. had a malty scent with some notes of vanilla and brown sugar. It featured a lovely smooth mouthfeel from start to finish, as well as a flavour that tended toward the malty, but with sugary mocha and vanilla elements.

I found this to be an enjoyable beer, though likely one that is too sweet and slight to bring me back to the well frequently. Certainly a good enough effort to leave me wanting to try more Fort Garry beer.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Secession Cascadian Dark Ale

Secession Cascadian Dark Ale comes from Portland, Oregon, where it is brewed by Hopworks Urban Brewery. I split a 650mL bottle with one of my best buddies shortly after arriving in Vancouver. It contains 6.5% alcohol and checks in at a hearty 70IBUs. It also has a very cool label.

Secession is a blackish brown ale. It pours with a thin layer of off-white head and has a malty, nutty scent. For a strong ale, the flavour is rather mellow--almost mild. There are notes of molasses and nuts at the outset. The finish, however, is where the beer really takes off. It has a pretty healthy dose of west coast hops in with the malts.

Final verdict? Not stellar, but satisfying.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Terrible

Another Monster from Chambly, Quebec's Unibroue, Terrible is a force to be reckoned with. It weighs in an an unforgiving 10.5% and comes in an imposing, corked 750mL bottle that features simple, stark packaging.  Well done, marketing folks. Well done.

Terrible is an abbey-style ale and a dark ale on lees. According to the label, it has 15 IBUs. It's a deep, dark brown ale topped with a never-say-quit off-white head. The nose is boozy and malt heavy, with notes of raisin and fruitcake. It tastes strong, but nowhere near its 10.5%. Terrible is a yeasty brew, malt driven, with dark fruit notes. The aftertaste is very sweet and almost syrupy.

In my opinion, this is among the finest Belgian-style beers that you'll find outside of Brussels. It's dark and flavourful, strong as can be, yet nuanced and almost delicate. This is the kind of beer to savour beside a crackling fire on a cool evening. My advice is not to open a bottle of this stuff unless you're planning on savouring it.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Bière du Boucanier-Dark Ale

This Dark Ale is the middle child in the Bières du Boucanier family. It comes in strange looking opaque white bottles and clocks in at a forceful 9%. This cloudy, reddish brown ale is fairly dark in colour. It's topped with a foam of off-white head. The Dark Ale features a surprisingly faint aroma, which is malty and has a dusting of dark fruit.

The Dark Ale is a smooth, malt forward Belgian brew. For a beer this strong, the flavour is mild. There are notes of raisin and plum, as well as some considerable yeastiness. The booze is very well hidden. This is very approachable stuff for a strong Belgian ale. However, I'd like to see a bit more flavour.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Wind & Sail Dark Ale

Wind & Sail Dark Ale is another entry from Picton, Ontario's Barley Days Brewery. I had a 341mL bottle at a pizza joint during a weekend escape to Kingston with my love. The bottle features a reproduced oil painting of a clipper ship (though it's hard to tell from my terrible photograph). W&S comes in at 5% alcohol. It pours a dark brown with reddish highlights and is topped with  thin and quickly dissipating cream head. It has an aroma of brown sugar and molasses.  The flavour is roasted, with some molasses and muted notes of cacao. It finishes with some decent bitterness.

This was a pretty tasty dark ale.  It left me thirsty for more.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Muskoka Dark Ale

Another entry from Bracebridge, Ontario's Muskoka Brewery, the Muskoka Dark Ale pours a deep brown with a reddish gleam and a lusty tan head. It comes in 473mL cans, and has an alcohol content of 5%. The aroma is sweet, with caramel and molasses as the dominant notes.  It's a malt forward ale with notes of caramel and biscuit. There was also a slight burst of tartness that felt a bit out of place, but was oddly enjoyable. A hint of bitterness closes the door.

The can told me to expect chocolate, but I didn't taste it at first. By the end of my pint, I knew exactly what they were talking about. There is a faint chocolaty undertone.

Muskoka Dark is a tasty brew. It's very attractive and has an interesting flavour. There's a lot going on--it's pretty nuanced.  I've really been enjoying the whole Muskoka line of beers.  This one isn't quite up to the outstanding level of their Mad Tom I.P.A., but it's pretty enjoyable.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Neustadt 10W30

Neustadt 10W30 hails, not surprisingly, from Neustadt, Ontario, where it is brewed by the Neustadt Springs Brewery.  The 473mL can describes 10W30 as a "Malty Grain Premium Dark Ale", and features the grille of a classic car.  The brew contains 5.5% alcohol.

10W30 pours a crystal clear, dark walnut colour, like the finish of the antique desk I would like to have in my office.  Surprisingly, it pours with very little head, though it does lace nicely.  It is lightly carbonated.

The aroma is a pleasing blend of malt, yeast and molasses, like a rich multigrain bread.  10W30 has a really excellent flavour that is unexpectedly mild but considerably nuanced.  It is graced with caramel, walnut and toffee notes and a very subtle aftertaste.  It is a delightfully gentle brown ale.

Typically, I'm a booster of dark ales that has strong flavours, but 10W30 manages to be extremely enjoyable despite its tame flavour.  This is a dark beer that can be appreciated by almost anyone.  My only genuine complaint is that I would like to see more carbonation and a bit of head on top of my pint.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Unibroue-Trois Pistoles

Chambly, Quebec's Unibroue has built its reputation brewing big, robust, yeasty brews.  Of their entire roster (at least of the brews I've tried), I'm inclined to say that their Trois Pistoles dark ale is my favorite.  Trois Pistoles' mystique begins with its badass packaging.  Like all Unibrue products, it features a foil cap.  The label is adorned with a spooky gothic font and the image of a winged horse flying above a church.  Cool stuff.

I opted for a six-pack of 341mL bottles, though this ale is also available in gargantuan 750ml vats.  Trois Pistoles is a strong beer, clocking in at a virile 9% alcohol.  It pours an incredibly dark brown colour with ruby highlights.  It is almost entirely opaque, which makes it hard to detect the carbonation, but trust me, it is there.  When poured, la biere yields a persistent off white head that will be with you until your pint is done.  However, for all of the persistence of the head, there isn't a lot of lace.  I suspect the beer is too heavy to waste its time clinging to a glass.

The aroma suggests a very malty and sweet beer.  There are notes of cherry.  Similarly, the taste is sweet and malty.  The cherry flavour is present, as are notes of red grape.   The mouthfeel is not as thick and creamy as I expected; more of a medium body.  The aftertaste is rich, but doesn't linger.  There is a slight bitterness, but I can't call this beer well-balanced: it is definitely a malty beast.I read some reviews that suggest the alcohol taste is cleverly masked.  I call bullshit.  This beer tastes strong, particularly at the finish.  If you sip it, you know how much alcohol you're consuming.

This is a BIG beer.  I wouldn't recommend trying to take on more than one or two in a sitting.  However, I definitely recommend picking up a six-pack.  If you're anything like me, it'll languish in your fridge.  You'll haul one out every week or so, enjoy it, and then leave the rest.  It is reminiscent of an abbey beer: strong, yeasty, meaty ales from Belgium.  When I think about Trois Pistoles, the adjective that immediately springs to mind is warm.  This beer will thaw you out on a cold night.  It has huge character and big flavour.  My only complaint is that it lacks drinkability.  If you bring six to a party, you're coming home with four...

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.

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.