Posts Tagged:winter

Winter Beard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout — Muskoka Brewery

Winterbeard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout — Muskoka Brewery

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 […]

Beer Lovers Wish List

Well, it’s probably time to think about gift-giving for this holiday season. There is no shortage of excellent beers to give that special beer-loving someone in your life. And old favourite is joined by a new favourite this year at the LCBO for the winter beer release.  Lava from Ölvisholt Brugghús is back, in all […]

Bog Water — Beau’s All Natural Brewing

Bog Water — Beau's All-Natural Brewing

I’m actually very shocked I don’t have a review of this one.  Beau’s has been making their winter-seasonal, Bog Water, for at least a few years.  It’s a beer I look forward to each year, and yet, no review.  So let’s start with the 411: Bog Water is a Gruit, which is a very old […]

BNL Strong Beer — Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

BNL Strong Beer — Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

*** 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 […]

Lions Winter Ale — Granville Island Brewing

Lion's Winter Ale — Granville Island Brewing

Bloody hell it’s cold out there.  I know we’re still north of 0*C in Toronto, so it’s only going to get colder, but the morning walk with the Beagle down to the beach was a frosty one.  And while I’m the first person to defend drinking any style of beer, any time of the year, […]

Rickard’s Oakhouse Winter Lager — Molson-Coors

Rickard's Oakhouse Winter Lager — Molson-Coors

Well, I’m getting closer to caught up on the review front (so so close!).  This one is actually timely!  Rickard’s is obviously committed to doing a rotating seasonal beer; Cardigan was the fall seasonal, and now we have Oakhouse, their winter lager.  Now, as you might know, oak-aged beers are becoming a kind of big […]

Lava – Ölvisholt Brugghús – 2010 and 2011 Vertical Tasting

Lava – Ölvisholt Brugghús Vertical Tasting 2010 and 2011

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, […]

Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout

If you’re not familiar with Nøgne Ø brewery from Norway, don’t worry. I think most average folks in Toronto would be surprised to see a beer from Norway at the LCBO, but for this year’s winter release, that is exactly what we got. Nøgne Ø has been producing excellent bottle-conditioned ales in Norway since 2002. […]

Winter Ale – Great Lakes Brewery

Winter Ale - Great Lakes Brewery

I remember the first time I went to Cloak and Dagger, on College St.  I was meeting a friend before hockey, and we had decided to just randomly find a place near College and Bathurst, as that was a good meeting spot.  I got there first, walked east along College, and saw a dark little […]

St Ambroise Special Reserve Russian Imperial Stout – McAuslan Brewing Inc.

St Ambroise Russian Imperial Stout - McAuslan Brewing Inc

There is no secret about my love for McAuslan Brewing from Montreal.  I kind of go on and on about them….. Their Pale Ale makes me quiver, etc.  So, when I was sent a bunch of their brews, I was a little more than excited.  That it included their new barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout nearly […]