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.