Tag Archives: top-pick

St Ambroise India Pale Ale – McAuslan Brewing Inc

St Ambroise India Pale Ale

McAuslan is another one of those breweries, that if you read here enough, you know I’ve got a bit of a thing for.  A big bit of a thing.  Their Pale Ale is just amazing, their Oatmeal stout is one of my favourite stouts, their Citrouille is probably my favourite pumpkin beer; the list goes on.  Needless to say, I was more than happy to receive a selection of their current line-up, including this, their India Pale Ale, as well as their Scotch Ale and new Russian Imperial Stout.  Now, I know that McAuslan makes some very authentic English-style ales, despite being located in Montreal (okay, in a suburb, whatever).  Despite the explosive (dare I say “unlikley”) rise of IPAs….  [Read More]

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pumking – Southern Tier Brewing Co – 2011

pumking - Southern Tier Brewing Co.

So, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while (like, a year, at least), you will know I actually reviewed this beer last year.  I don’t expect that they have changed the recipe or anything, but it’s a good idea to re-review beers from time to time, and as well, I really like this one, so I needed an excuse to buy it.  Southern Tier is a renowned brewer in Lakewood, New York, known for making some pretty big hoppy brews.  pumking is also considered by many to be the best pumpkin ale in the USA.  This is quite a pedigree, so let’s see how it translates in the glass!

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Escondidian Imperial Black IPA – Stone Brewing Co.

Escondidian Imperial Black IPA - Stone Brewing Co.

Okay, if you’re not familiar with Stone Brewing Co. of California, I will assume you’re from Ontario, and give you some grace for our common geographical lacking.  If everyone else will give me a moment to chat to my Ontario cohorts.  Stone is one of the top brewers in the states, producing some amazing beers, including Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Ruination IPA, Stone Levitation Ale and many others.  It’s just (go figure), you can hardly get them here in Ontario.  I was lucky enough to share this bottle with Stephen Beaumont yesterday (among others) and just had to take notes for a review.  Stone created this beer for their 15th anniversary, and it’s a big one.  Befitting a brewer of….  [Read More]

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Hop Head IPA – Tree Brewing Co.

Hop Head IPA - Tree Brewing Co.

I know we’ve talked about this before, but it’s just a fact:  There are a lot of awesome IPAs from the west coast.  Now I’ll add the usual caveat: I consider anything west of Regina “West Coast”, which makes calling a beer from Tree Brewing out of Kelowna BC, “West Coast”.  I have done this ever since a BC-born friend of mine referred to me, with no joking in his voice, as an “East Coaster”.  I found this interesting, as there is about 1000km between where I live and where the ocean is. According to Google I can actually be in salt water quicker by heading north (if I’m flying, and seriously, who wold drive?) and going to James Bay,….  [Read More]

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Miami Weiss – Great Lakes Brewery

Miami Weiss - Great Lakes Brewery

Ah Great Lakes, you and your crazy names.  Robohop, Does the Muumuu make me look hefe?, and the classic, Miami Weiss (say it. Remember, that “W” is pronounced like a “V” in German).  Miami Weiss, up until now, has only been available on draught at bars in southern Ontario and at festivals, where it is often served in a dry-hopped cask version.  The funny thing about it, is it’s not a weisse beer.  It would more accurately be called a pale ale, with a lot of wheat in the grain bill.  But you’ve got to love the name.  It’s available for a limited time at the LCBO, and often found at bars around Toronto.

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Dunkel Buck – Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.

Dunkel Buck - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co.

Okay, I know, I kind of go on and on about Beau’s.  But seriously, this is one of the coolest friendliest breweries out there.  And they just keep on making awesome beers.  Many of you will be familiar with their “Wild Oats” series, which are special batches of beers they make seasonally. Vrienden, Bog Father, and Winterbrewed all pop to mind. So of course, when I heard about their new Wild Oats, No. 10 “Dunkel Buck”, I was excited.  Beer from one of my favourite breweries named after one of my favourite films from my youth.  It’s hard to imagine it could go wrong.  The style of beer is a Dunkel Weisse beer, the dark strong Bavarian-style wheat beer.  For….  [Read More]

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Hop Yard Pale – Garrison Brewing

Sorry, it’s been a while. Turns out Toronto Beer Week can really take up the free time! The good news is, TBW is going to be even better this year (hard to imagine, I know). But while I’m trying to reclaim my computer from so yet-to-be-determined problem, I decided it was high time I get back on the bloggy review wagon. I had this bottle tempting me in my beer fridge for a while. The last of a six that I was trying hard to keep for review. Some of you will remember the spectacular Garrison Imperial Pale from last year. Hop Yard Pale is it’s kid-brother. A bit less aggressive than the Imperial, it is still a heavy-hitter. I….  [Read More]

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Red Racer IPA – Central City Brewing

Red Racer IPA - Central City Brewing

A lot of people bang on about BC here in Toronto.  The trees are bigger, the people cooler, the air fresher, the sushi better.  You’ve probably heard it.  Lord knows I have.  Not having been west since I was three, I’m really in no place to rebut any of those claims, however, I can certainly support one:  There are some killer beers.  We’ve been blessed to have Tree Brewing’s Hop Head IPA, and now our friends and heroes at Keep6 Imports have gotten in Red Racer IPA, the pride of Surrey BC.  Central City won “Brewery of the Year” at last year’s CBA’s, and Red Racer IPA was voted best beer in BC 2008-2009 by CAMRA Vancouver.  A nice pedigree….  [Read More]

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2XIPA – Southern Tier Brewing Co.

2XIPA - Southern Tier Brewing Co.

So I mentioned this one in my run-down of the LCBO’s summer beer release. It is a double or imperial IPA (sorry Stephen), from Southern Tier, a highly respected brewery in Lakewood, New York.  Okay, it’s currently 32C at Billy Bishop, according to Environment Canada.  This is not traditionally thought of as high hop/high alcohol beer time.  People are swigging pilsners, and wheat beers, and cider (sometimes over ice).  But an 8.2% monster?  Not the norm, I know.  But I’ve had 2XIPA waiting for review, and if I didn’t get to it soon, I was likely to just drink it.  So I did, but I reviewed it too.

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Dernière Volonté – Dieu du Ciel!

So the rapture is happening anytime now.  Apparently.  So, just in case, I thought it appropriate to review a relevant beer.  Two obvious choices would the either La Fin du Monde or Maudite by Unibroue, but that’s sort of been done.  Instead, I’d like to offer a blessing, or a last rite.  Which is what Dernière Volonté translates into in English.  Last rite.  Seems fitting.  As a side note, I’ve actually had this beer since last August from my pneumonia-fated epic Montreal trip with my bro, Rob.  I had actually lost track of this bottle; it was hiding behind my last Garrison Imperial Ale. Hoping it’s held up okay.

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  • Chris Schryer

    Chris SchryerI regularly describe myself as an "ardent supporter of beer", which pretty well sums it up. While I'm not working or busy being a husband and dad (okay, honestly, sometimes while I'm doing those things), I am drinking beer, attending events, visiting pubs, and thinking about beer. I work at Castro's Lounge, my local bar in the Beach, where I host beer events and take part in most things beer-related.

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