You gotta love the explosion of craft breweries and brewpubs in Canada's capital region and Brassuers du temps was one of the first (and in my mind one of the best) in the area. They usually have a dozen or so beers on tap at the brewpub in old Hull, a rotating selection of the 25+ beers they make (their website lists 27) so you will always get the chance to try something new. With so many different beers available I had to choose something to review (a difficult task) so I decided to go with the allumante, a really interesting and complex nut brown ale.
For a nut brown ale, it is quite fruity, I instantly noted a banana and hazelnut flavour when I took my first sip. Maybe that was because the person sitting next to me was drinking their banana flavoured beer and the smell wafted over, but it caught me off guard. In terms of texture it is pretty malty, but it is really smooth and the hazelnut and fruit notes really come out during the course of the sip. It does have a bit of a watery middle to it, but that is not enough to negatively impact the overall impression of the beer, but it finishes with a nice hoppy/bitter kick to it, a reminder that it is not a traditional brown. I was a bit worried that they would fall into the trap of making the beer too sweet, as a lot of commercial brown ales are, but they really kept the sweetness to a minimum. It is more of a hybrid between an English brown ale and a Belgian brune, and they really pull it off nicely. Creativity is something BDT do really well and this is a great creation of theirs.
It's available on draught and in bottles at their brewpub and retail store in the old Hull part of Gatineau. For those who like hockey it is a 10 minute walk from the Robert-Guertin Arena, the home of the Gatineau Olympiques so you can go to BDT for your pre-game beers.
Rating: 4.5 Steins
What you need to know
Brewpub and retail store
170 rue Montcalm,
Gatineau, QC
J8X 2M2
Website
http://www.brasseursdutemps.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/LesBrasseursDuTemps
Twitter
@BrasseursDT
@BrasseursDT_eng
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
Turtle Island Brewing: Wild Harvest ESB
These are exciting times for beer fans. There seem to be new breweries popping up all of the time, some of them successful, some of them less so, but all of them enthusiastic about the sudsy arts and because the general consensus is that most mass produced lagers are shit, we get some wonderfully creative brews and new interpretations on old styles. Turtle Island are a new brewery from here in Ottawa that have tried a few different styles so when this Wild Harvest ESB turned up at my local pub I had to give it a try.
I love a good bitter, it is my favourite beer style and an ESB is the bitterest and strongest version of the bitter style. Wild Harvest pours quite cloudy and muddy coloured, I was a bit taken aback at how cloudy brown it looks. Someone not used to this type of beer may be turned off by the cloudiness (it looks like there is a lot of sediment in it, but there isn't) but colour is only a small aspect of beer, so if you are worried by the colour then close your eyes and drink! It starts off quite a bit smoother than I was expecting, closer to a regular bitter as opposed to an ESB, before progressing to a disapointing watery phase, but then seemingly out of nowhere you get sideswiped by a bitter finish. This bitter finish has some fruity notes that really improve the overall impression of the beer but the entry leaves you wanting for more. It has great potential but I got the feeling that this wasn't quite finished yet. I can definitely see the potential but it just isn't quite there yet in my opinion.
It's available on draught at a handful of different places throughout Ottawa, but as Wild Harvest is a seasonal you never know where it will turn up. There is a list of pubs and restaurants on their website.
Rating: 3 Steins
What you need to know
At last I heard they were brewing out of Broadhead's facilities in south Ottawa.
Mailing address:
294 Badgeley Avenue
Kanata, ON K2T 0A7
Website:
http://www.turtleislandbrewing.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/turtleislandbeer
Twitter:
@TurtleBrewCo
I love a good bitter, it is my favourite beer style and an ESB is the bitterest and strongest version of the bitter style. Wild Harvest pours quite cloudy and muddy coloured, I was a bit taken aback at how cloudy brown it looks. Someone not used to this type of beer may be turned off by the cloudiness (it looks like there is a lot of sediment in it, but there isn't) but colour is only a small aspect of beer, so if you are worried by the colour then close your eyes and drink! It starts off quite a bit smoother than I was expecting, closer to a regular bitter as opposed to an ESB, before progressing to a disapointing watery phase, but then seemingly out of nowhere you get sideswiped by a bitter finish. This bitter finish has some fruity notes that really improve the overall impression of the beer but the entry leaves you wanting for more. It has great potential but I got the feeling that this wasn't quite finished yet. I can definitely see the potential but it just isn't quite there yet in my opinion.
It's available on draught at a handful of different places throughout Ottawa, but as Wild Harvest is a seasonal you never know where it will turn up. There is a list of pubs and restaurants on their website.
Rating: 3 Steins
What you need to know
At last I heard they were brewing out of Broadhead's facilities in south Ottawa.
Mailing address:
294 Badgeley Avenue
Kanata, ON K2T 0A7
Website:
http://www.turtleislandbrewing.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/turtleislandbeer
Twitter:
@TurtleBrewCo
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Golden Lion Brewery: Lion's Pride
Ahh Lion's Pride. This beer has been a mainstay at the Golden Lion pub since the 80's, and subsequently is one of Quebec's oldest microbrews. It's a delightful English style brown ale that essentially fuels the bachelors degrees of parts of the student body at neighbouring Bishop's University and is a source of pride (no pun intended) for Lennoxville residents.
Pride is quite malty, much maltier than a lot of other English style brown ale. A lot of commercial ales of this type (think Newcastle) tend to be quite sweet and smooth, but Pride doesn't go down that road. A sip starts out malty and quite bitter while it progresses through a slight watery phase before finishing with another bitter kick. It's a surprisingly complicated brew, but quite drinkable at the same time (as evidenced by the amount of business they do on Friday and Saturday nights). I personally have extensive experience with this beer (as an alumni of Bishop's) and so I always relish the chance to have some. It's a very good beer and one of my favourite English style brown ales. It isn't perfect (with that slight watery phase in the middle) but it is still a very good beer.
It's available on draught at their pub in downtown Lennoxville, Quebec as well as in bottles at stores in the Sherbrooke area.
Rating: 4 steins
What you need to know
Golden Lion Pub & Brewery
2902 College St
Sherbrooke (Lennoxville), Quebec
J1M 1T4
Website:
www.lionlennoxville.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenLionPubBrewery
Pride is quite malty, much maltier than a lot of other English style brown ale. A lot of commercial ales of this type (think Newcastle) tend to be quite sweet and smooth, but Pride doesn't go down that road. A sip starts out malty and quite bitter while it progresses through a slight watery phase before finishing with another bitter kick. It's a surprisingly complicated brew, but quite drinkable at the same time (as evidenced by the amount of business they do on Friday and Saturday nights). I personally have extensive experience with this beer (as an alumni of Bishop's) and so I always relish the chance to have some. It's a very good beer and one of my favourite English style brown ales. It isn't perfect (with that slight watery phase in the middle) but it is still a very good beer.
It's available on draught at their pub in downtown Lennoxville, Quebec as well as in bottles at stores in the Sherbrooke area.
Rating: 4 steins
What you need to know
Golden Lion Pub & Brewery
2902 College St
Sherbrooke (Lennoxville), Quebec
J1M 1T4
Website:
www.lionlennoxville.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenLionPubBrewery
Friday, November 22, 2013
Black Oak Pale Ale
When you go to most regular pubs, (ones that don't specialize in craft beer), you will usually a row of taps that are 75% lagers and pale ales so it can sometimes be tough to find something unique and interesting, but if faced in a situation such as this try to look for the Black Oak Pale Ale tap, because it will be a winner for your palate. It's also a good call if you aren't feeling like something less hoppy, or thick, as it is both interesting and drinkable at the same time.
When you get your pint of Black Oak Pale Ale it will look have the same golden colour as any other pale ale you have had. When you take a sip it starts out very smooth, but not so smooth that it is boring. As the sip progresses you get a nice foll bodied flavour with slight woody undertones before it finishes with a slightly bitter kick. It is surprisingly complicated for a pale ale, and something that makes it a nice treat when you want a lighter beer while watching the game at a pub, or just when you want a lighter beer in general. It's a proper pale ale, one that is interesting, but smooth and drinkable at the same time. A reminder that craft beer doesn't have to be scary.
It's available at some LCBO and Beer store locations as well as on draught at a variety of pubs in the GTA. Personally I had it at the Wallace Gastropub on Yonge st (near Yonge & Davisville) but it is available elsewhere. You can also go to their brewery in Etobicoke.
Rating: 4.5 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery
75 Horner Ave Unit #1
Etobicoke, ON M8Z 4X5
Website:
http://blackoakbeer.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/blackoakbrewery
Twitter:
@BlackOakBrewing
When you get your pint of Black Oak Pale Ale it will look have the same golden colour as any other pale ale you have had. When you take a sip it starts out very smooth, but not so smooth that it is boring. As the sip progresses you get a nice foll bodied flavour with slight woody undertones before it finishes with a slightly bitter kick. It is surprisingly complicated for a pale ale, and something that makes it a nice treat when you want a lighter beer while watching the game at a pub, or just when you want a lighter beer in general. It's a proper pale ale, one that is interesting, but smooth and drinkable at the same time. A reminder that craft beer doesn't have to be scary.
It's available at some LCBO and Beer store locations as well as on draught at a variety of pubs in the GTA. Personally I had it at the Wallace Gastropub on Yonge st (near Yonge & Davisville) but it is available elsewhere. You can also go to their brewery in Etobicoke.
Rating: 4.5 Steins
What you need to know
Brewery
75 Horner Ave Unit #1
Etobicoke, ON M8Z 4X5
Website:
http://blackoakbeer.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/blackoakbrewery
Twitter:
@BlackOakBrewing
Monday, November 18, 2013
Brasserie Belgh: Mons Blonde d'abbaye
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
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
https://www.facebook.com/BelghBrasse
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
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