Quebec microbreweries love Belgian style beers, certainly more than in other parts of Canada so it comes as no surprise to see a whole lot of different Belgian style beers in Quebec supermarkets. Mons Abbey Blonde is a traditional Belgian style beer that is a very intriguing brew.
As someone who lives in Ontario, I don't get a chance to try as many Belgian beers as I would like. As opposed to the relative simplicity of English style beers, Belgian styles are remarkably complex and diverse, a good one can be a real joy to drink. Mons is a Belgian style blonde, unlike what we think of blonde beers in North America, the only thing blonde about this is the colour. It is a very thick and strong beer, almost a meal in a glass. When you take a sip, you start by getting an overwhelming sweet flavour, with banana and honey notes, this fruity flavor is accented by a little bit of smokiness. The finish is decently bitter compared to most beers, but not particularly bitter compared to other Belgian style blondes. This beer has a very good balance and the sweet and fruitiness makes it much more drinkable than a commercial Belgian blonde like Leffe, so if you are unsure of Belgian style beers then I would suggest giving this a try.
This is a very new brewery, based in Amos, Quebec but their beer is available throughout Quebec in supermarkets and higher end beer stores.
Rating: 4 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery
8, rue de la Brasserie
Amos, QC J9T 3A2
Website:
http://www.belghbrasse.com/
Twitter:
@BelghBrasse
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BelghBrasse
Monday, November 18, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Helm Microbrasserie: Mile End Best Bitter
Helm is one of a growing number of microbreweries in Montreal, and particularly in the very popular Mile End neighbourhood. Helm is unique as it is a microbrewery that specializes in English style ales as opposed to Belgian style beer, which tends to be very popular in Quebec. Whenever I see a bitter on any beer menu I have to give it a try, it's my favourite style of beer so I was naturally very interested and optimistic about Mile End best bitter.
Bitter as a beer style can be a bit misleading to North American beer drinkers. A bitter or best bitter are traditionally not all that bitter, especially when compared to the hop filled IPA's and APA's popular with many Craft Breweries. It's once you get into the Special Bitter or Extra Special Bitter that you start to see the real bitterness come through, so at 4% and styled as a best bitter I was anticipating a smooth and flavourful beer that had a twinge of bitterness. Unfortunately Helm don't seem to have grasped the proper subtleties of the different versions of proper English bitter as Mile End really caught me off guard with it's bitterness. Unfortunately it is doesn't have the full body of a proper ESB so it finds itself in a bit of limbo, a beer looking for a style. Style confusion aside, this beer still needs some work. It starts off being quite watery, with a hint of maltiness, before adding an uppercut of bitterness. This frustrating imbalance doesn't make it all that appealing to me as a fan of bitter beers, but I can see the potential here. If they manage to improve the balance of it and smooth it out so it doesn't punch you in the face with bitterness it could become a very solid session beer, but as it stands now I would suggest trying their other selections.
It is only available on draught or bottle at their brewpub on rue Bernard in Montreal, which has a good vibe, and my companions enjoyed the beers they had so I am definitely willing to give them another shot.
Rating 1.5 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery/Brewpub
273 rue Bernard Ouest
Montréal, QC H2V 1T5
Website:
http://helmmicrobrasserie.ca/
Twitter:
@BrasseurHelm
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Helmmicrobrasseriesurbernard
Bitter as a beer style can be a bit misleading to North American beer drinkers. A bitter or best bitter are traditionally not all that bitter, especially when compared to the hop filled IPA's and APA's popular with many Craft Breweries. It's once you get into the Special Bitter or Extra Special Bitter that you start to see the real bitterness come through, so at 4% and styled as a best bitter I was anticipating a smooth and flavourful beer that had a twinge of bitterness. Unfortunately Helm don't seem to have grasped the proper subtleties of the different versions of proper English bitter as Mile End really caught me off guard with it's bitterness. Unfortunately it is doesn't have the full body of a proper ESB so it finds itself in a bit of limbo, a beer looking for a style. Style confusion aside, this beer still needs some work. It starts off being quite watery, with a hint of maltiness, before adding an uppercut of bitterness. This frustrating imbalance doesn't make it all that appealing to me as a fan of bitter beers, but I can see the potential here. If they manage to improve the balance of it and smooth it out so it doesn't punch you in the face with bitterness it could become a very solid session beer, but as it stands now I would suggest trying their other selections.
It is only available on draught or bottle at their brewpub on rue Bernard in Montreal, which has a good vibe, and my companions enjoyed the beers they had so I am definitely willing to give them another shot.
Rating 1.5 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery/Brewpub
273 rue Bernard Ouest
Montréal, QC H2V 1T5
Website:
http://helmmicrobrasserie.ca/
Twitter:
@BrasseurHelm
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Helmmicrobrasseriesurbernard
Friday, November 8, 2013
Waterloo Dark
Waterloo Brewing Company are to Ontario what St. Ambroise are to Quebec, originally a small brewery that built themselves up into something bigger, a province wide brewery through acquisition and merger. As one of Ontario's original craft breweries they have a good reputation province wide and my personal favourite is Waterloo Dark, a black lager.
Black Lager is really an under appreciated beer form and Waterloo dark is a fine example of the art. This type of beer originates in Germany (where it is known as schwarzbier), the original Black lager being Kostritzer. A good schwartzbier should be smooth but malty at the same time, similar to traditional lagers but with a more distinct flavour to it. Waterloo dark fits that mold nicely, It is a very drinkable beer, it has a good balance, with a distinct malty and caramel flavour. It goes down very smooth, but it has a bit of a bitter kick at the end of it, just enough to remind you that it is not a regular lager (if one was drinking it from a can). I like this beer, it is one of my go to session beers but there isn't anything overly complicated about it either so hardcore craft beer aficionados might find it a bit lacking, however drinkers of lagers and pale ales would really enjoy it.
It's available throughout Ontario at the beer store and LCBO as well as in Nova Scotia, PEI and Alberta. You can also purchase it at their brewery.
Rating: 3 steins
What you need to know
Brewery
181 King Street South
Waterloo, ON N2J 1P7
website:
http://waterloobrewing.com/
Twitter
@waterloobrewing
facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Waterloo-Brewing-Co/157802271063635
Black Lager is really an under appreciated beer form and Waterloo dark is a fine example of the art. This type of beer originates in Germany (where it is known as schwarzbier), the original Black lager being Kostritzer. A good schwartzbier should be smooth but malty at the same time, similar to traditional lagers but with a more distinct flavour to it. Waterloo dark fits that mold nicely, It is a very drinkable beer, it has a good balance, with a distinct malty and caramel flavour. It goes down very smooth, but it has a bit of a bitter kick at the end of it, just enough to remind you that it is not a regular lager (if one was drinking it from a can). I like this beer, it is one of my go to session beers but there isn't anything overly complicated about it either so hardcore craft beer aficionados might find it a bit lacking, however drinkers of lagers and pale ales would really enjoy it.
It's available throughout Ontario at the beer store and LCBO as well as in Nova Scotia, PEI and Alberta. You can also purchase it at their brewery.
Rating: 3 steins
What you need to know
Brewery
181 King Street South
Waterloo, ON N2J 1P7
website:
http://waterloobrewing.com/
@waterloobrewing
facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Waterloo-Brewing-Co/157802271063635
Monday, November 4, 2013
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
It's always hard to objectively review a beer that you have had many times before and love, but I am going to try anyways with St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, probably my favourite stout of all time. It's a product of Montreal's Macauslan brewery which has really become a standard bearer for the small brewery come good and one of their flagship brews.
St. Ambroise Oatmeal stout is one of the finest examples of what a stout should be. It pours pitch black with an excellent off white coloured foamy head that, if poured correctly, looks like a perfect beer. When you take a sip you instantly get the creamy taste that typifies a proper stout, this creamy taste is followed by a strong coffee taste as it flows over your tongue. Some beers will advertise notes of this and that which are only noticeable to the most trained beer palate, but any beer drinker will be able to taste the coffee flavour. This coffee taste results in a decently bitter finish, certainly more bitter than a lot of stouts, but this creamy intro, coffee middle, and bitter finish are what makes St. Ambroise Oatmeal stout so unique and so tasty. It's thick texture makes it a perfect beer for those cold winter evenings, preferably in a cozy pub or next to a fire, however if I see it on tap at any time of year I am probably ordering one.
It's available year round across Canada in bottles as well as on draught at a variety of pubs and restaurants. It is definitely easiest to find on draught in it's native Quebec but I have seen it at the occasional pub in Ontario as well.
Rating: 5 steins
What you need to know
Website:
http://mcauslan.com/
Brewery address:
5080 St-Ambroise
Montréal, Québec
H4C 2G1
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/bierestambroise
Twitter:
@bierestambroise
St. Ambroise Oatmeal stout is one of the finest examples of what a stout should be. It pours pitch black with an excellent off white coloured foamy head that, if poured correctly, looks like a perfect beer. When you take a sip you instantly get the creamy taste that typifies a proper stout, this creamy taste is followed by a strong coffee taste as it flows over your tongue. Some beers will advertise notes of this and that which are only noticeable to the most trained beer palate, but any beer drinker will be able to taste the coffee flavour. This coffee taste results in a decently bitter finish, certainly more bitter than a lot of stouts, but this creamy intro, coffee middle, and bitter finish are what makes St. Ambroise Oatmeal stout so unique and so tasty. It's thick texture makes it a perfect beer for those cold winter evenings, preferably in a cozy pub or next to a fire, however if I see it on tap at any time of year I am probably ordering one.
It's available year round across Canada in bottles as well as on draught at a variety of pubs and restaurants. It is definitely easiest to find on draught in it's native Quebec but I have seen it at the occasional pub in Ontario as well.
Rating: 5 steins
What you need to know
Website:
http://mcauslan.com/
Brewery address:
5080 St-Ambroise
Montréal, Québec
H4C 2G1
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/bierestambroise
Twitter:
@bierestambroise
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Flying Monkey: Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale
Flying Monkey love them some hops. Their beer selections include such hoppy brews like Hoptical Illusion and Antigravity and so I was expecting a significant amount of hops from this and they did not disappoint on that front. Many readers will know that I am not a fan of the craft brew trend of engaging in an arms race of hops so I always am a bit skeptical of IPA's or APA's but fortunately Flying Monkey resisted that temptation.
It pours black, but it does not taste like a dark ale whatsoever, which was a bit of a shock. Most dark beers are very malty tasting, but this one does not taste like malt at all. Once you get past the fact that it tastes like a regular IPA, but darker, it is actually a pretty tasty beer. It's well balanced and not overwhelmingly hoppy, however the hops that it does have make an appearance at the end of the sip, a decently hoppy finish. It also has a bit of citrus undertones that catch you a bit off guard, but that goes back to the fact that you are drinking a black beer that tastes like a light coloured IPA. Flying Monkey are known for their adventurousness, and this really fits their mold and I applaud them for trying new stuff, especially as their beer usually involves a ton of hops. It is a solid beer, just don't let the colour confuse you.
It's available at the beers store and LCBO as well as at bars and restaurants throughout Ontario. They also have a store at their brewery in Barrie.
Rating: 4 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery
107 Dunlop St. East
Barrie ON
L4M1A6
website:
http://www.theflyingmonkeys.ca/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flying-Monkeys-Craft-Brewery/108949405799023
Twitter
@Flyingmonkeys
It pours black, but it does not taste like a dark ale whatsoever, which was a bit of a shock. Most dark beers are very malty tasting, but this one does not taste like malt at all. Once you get past the fact that it tastes like a regular IPA, but darker, it is actually a pretty tasty beer. It's well balanced and not overwhelmingly hoppy, however the hops that it does have make an appearance at the end of the sip, a decently hoppy finish. It also has a bit of citrus undertones that catch you a bit off guard, but that goes back to the fact that you are drinking a black beer that tastes like a light coloured IPA. Flying Monkey are known for their adventurousness, and this really fits their mold and I applaud them for trying new stuff, especially as their beer usually involves a ton of hops. It is a solid beer, just don't let the colour confuse you.
It's available at the beers store and LCBO as well as at bars and restaurants throughout Ontario. They also have a store at their brewery in Barrie.
Rating: 4 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery
107 Dunlop St. East
Barrie ON
L4M1A6
website:
http://www.theflyingmonkeys.ca/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flying-Monkeys-Craft-Brewery/108949405799023
@Flyingmonkeys
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Muskoka Harvest Ale
The concept of a harvest ale is often misunderstood by beer drinkers. Many people equate harvest ale to pumpkin flavoured beers, or other autumnal flavoured beers, but in fact harvest ale refers to beer made with freshly harvested hops, as opposed to most beers being made with dried hops. The result is often a cleaner and crisper tasting beer, but it can take on many forms.
Muskoka's Harvest Ale is of the American Pale Ale style, meaning it is actually darker in colour and quite strong. I had it on cask at the Rochester Pub, it has a very rich and thick malty flavour with a significant amount of hops. When you take a sip it is quite clean and malty at first but the hops really kick in giving you a very bitter finish. It is a tasty but a bit overwhelming so I am still unsure of what to make of it. I like the maltiness of it but found that the extreme difference between the tame beginning of the sip to the really hoppy finish a bit difficult to appreciate. Fans of APA's in general would probably appreciate this harvest ale more than I did but it is still a pretty tasty brew, although I am not sure I would go out of my way to find it. At 7% alcohol it is quite strong, but I would not consider it to be too dangerous as I would be hard pressed to have more than 1 or 2 pints in a sitting.
It's available on draught throughout Ontario as well as at the Beer Store and LCBO, you can also get it at their brewery but it is only sold from September to November each year.
Rating: 3 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery
1964 Muskoka Beach Road
Bracebridge, ON
P1L1V4
Website
http://www.muskokabrewery.com
Twitter
@MuskokaBrewery
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/muskokabrewery?fref=ts
Muskoka's Harvest Ale is of the American Pale Ale style, meaning it is actually darker in colour and quite strong. I had it on cask at the Rochester Pub, it has a very rich and thick malty flavour with a significant amount of hops. When you take a sip it is quite clean and malty at first but the hops really kick in giving you a very bitter finish. It is a tasty but a bit overwhelming so I am still unsure of what to make of it. I like the maltiness of it but found that the extreme difference between the tame beginning of the sip to the really hoppy finish a bit difficult to appreciate. Fans of APA's in general would probably appreciate this harvest ale more than I did but it is still a pretty tasty brew, although I am not sure I would go out of my way to find it. At 7% alcohol it is quite strong, but I would not consider it to be too dangerous as I would be hard pressed to have more than 1 or 2 pints in a sitting.
It's available on draught throughout Ontario as well as at the Beer Store and LCBO, you can also get it at their brewery but it is only sold from September to November each year.
Rating: 3 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery
1964 Muskoka Beach Road
Bracebridge, ON
P1L1V4
Website
http://www.muskokabrewery.com
@MuskokaBrewery
https://www.facebook.com/muskokabrewery?fref=ts
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Ashton Brewery: Vanilla Stout
I love stouts. It is my second favourite beer type after bitter and I always relish a chance to try a new one, as no 2 stouts are the same so when I saw that Ashton had a tent at the latest installment of Ottawa's Brewery Market and were pouring a stout I made a beeline for their tent to get a glass of Vanilla Stout for a glass of nice thick beer to warm me up on a windy October afternoon.
The first thing I noticed when I got my glass was the colour, it is a actually more brown than black with a thick foamy head, so far so good. When I took my first sip I was surprised how bitter it was at the start, most stouts tend to be creamier and smoother than this one. Once the bitterness subsides it does have a good creamy vanilla finish. Unfortunately it is more watery than I was expecting, but still quite tasty. Fans of Guinness might be put off by the initial bitterness, but they would appreciate the fact that it is quite watery. Personally I prefer oatmeal stouts that are thicker and creamier, so I was a bit disappointed, but it is still a good stout.
It's available at their brewpub in Ashton, Ontario as well as at selected events in the Ottawa area. Unfortunately they don't sell it at the LCBO or beer store, but you can buy it in bottles at the brewpub.
Rating 3 steins.
What you need to know
113 Old Mill Road
Ottawa, ON (Ashton)
K0A 1B0
Website:
www.ashtonbrewpub.ca/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ashtonbrew
Twitter: @AshtonBrew
The first thing I noticed when I got my glass was the colour, it is a actually more brown than black with a thick foamy head, so far so good. When I took my first sip I was surprised how bitter it was at the start, most stouts tend to be creamier and smoother than this one. Once the bitterness subsides it does have a good creamy vanilla finish. Unfortunately it is more watery than I was expecting, but still quite tasty. Fans of Guinness might be put off by the initial bitterness, but they would appreciate the fact that it is quite watery. Personally I prefer oatmeal stouts that are thicker and creamier, so I was a bit disappointed, but it is still a good stout.
It's available at their brewpub in Ashton, Ontario as well as at selected events in the Ottawa area. Unfortunately they don't sell it at the LCBO or beer store, but you can buy it in bottles at the brewpub.
Rating 3 steins.
What you need to know
113 Old Mill Road
Ottawa, ON (Ashton)
K0A 1B0
Website:
www.ashtonbrewpub.ca/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ashtonbrew
Twitter:
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