You know those imperial stouts, that are like, double imperial stouts?……. So lots and lots of people really like Amsterdam’s tempest Imperial Stout. Like, it’s pretty normal to hear descriptions like “Best Imperial Stout in Toronto.” etc. It’s just really really good. It was even better when they made it Full City Tempest and included […]
Despite to much evidence to the contrary, I love it when somebody proves me totally wrong. Such was the case with this pairing. I know Bellwoods’ 3 Minutes to Midnight well. We got the first ever cask of it at Castro’s for our 50th anniversary celebration of the Cuban Missle Crisis. I’m not sure if […]
Day two of the battle royale. Today it’s a shaolin vs grasshopper kind of day, with Bellwoods Hellwoods Russian Imperial Stout matched against Amsterdam Tempest Imperial Stout. You should probably know that both Luke and Mike of Bellwoods worked at Amsterdam before striking out on their own, and opening the immensely successful Bellwoods Brewery. Luke, […]
I remember drinking Muskoka Cream Ale at my family’s old cottage outside Bala, in probably 1999-2000. The beer was nice, and I found it so cool that it was made in Bracebridge. Then Muskoka kind of went of my radar. When I got into the craft scene pretty heavy, Muskoka was about to turn over […]
*** Update*** On release, this beer was called “BNL Imperial Stout”. I’ve left the name in the title for continuity, but it’s the same beer. I grew up in Scarborough, which probably isn’t as bad as you think if you’re not from Scarborough too. But the reality is, growing up there, we didn’t have a […]
Oh my oh dear. Is there anything Bellwoods makes that doesn’t turn to solid gold? Yes, those things that turn to platinum. If you like beer, and you haven’t experienced a beer from Bellwoods, stop reading this very instant, and go get some. Seriously. Consistently phenomenal beers, creative, exciting, stellar. While Bellwoods’ main production is […]
Perhaps this will come as news to you, but aging beers in oak barrels is kind of a big deal. True, you probably won’t see a Maker’s Mark aged Lite Lime Lager in this lifetime (thank God), but more and more breweries are experimenting with barrels of various types, and the impact they have on […]
Today was Amsterdam day, in Amsterdam week. I was able to check out the space that the new brewpub will be in, visit the new brewery in Leaside and hang around with some of my favourite brewers. More on all that tomorrow (with pictures of the new brewery, and words about the new brewpub; basically […]
A while ago, Ryan Morrow, who is brewmaster at Nickel Brook, handed me some beers to check out (too long ago, my apologies Ryan). I have never really gone crazy for a Nickel Brook beer; I’ve never had a bad one (like spoiled, infected etc), but the lager and green apple pilsner just never really […]
For those of you following along, you will know I am a big fan of Ölvisholt Brugghús, from Iceland. A young brewery in a country with a young brewing heritage (they had prohibition on beer until 1989. Yeah. I know….) these guys are making at least two really incredible beers. Lava, their smoked Imperial Stout, […]
