Grozet - Gooseberry and Wheat Ale

Category: Import (Scotland, UK)

Type: Ale

Style: Gooseberry and Wheat

Brewed by: Heather Ale Ltd.

Alcohol content: 5% ALC

This is a delicious beer, it is simple and makes a true statement. It has a fruit flavour but is not over bearing. The gooseberry flavour doesn't take over the beer but does give it an interesting and unique aftertaste which is interestingly not sweet. However, this is only one aspect of its complex flavour. The rest is filled with a hopy taste with the wheat giving it a whole body and mildly bitter taste.

Overall, we are very impressed with it.  It is a great beer from Scotland with a interesting flavour, one we would have again and absolutely recommend.

Amsterdam - Nut Brown Ale

Category: Local (Toronto) 

Type: Ale

Style: Nut Infused

Brewed by: Amsterdam Brewery

Alcohol content: 5%ALC

This is now one of my favorites beers in a can. It is as smooth as silk and didn't fail to please my palate from the first sip to the last. I enjoyed how easily you can drink it, as it leaves no bitter or long lasting aftertaste which is fairly rare for a full bodied beer. To describe it in one phrase is to say "Easy to drink, not to plain but not to out there, either." Finally, it has a slightly sweet finish to the flavour of the beer. 

In the end, I will be adding Amsterdam Brewery beers to my list of beers I want to try/find and Nut Brown Ale to the list of beers to keep in stock.

Mill St. Brewery - Raspberry Beer

Category: Local (Toronto, ON) 

Type: Ale

Style: Fruit Beer

Brewed by: Mill St. Brewery INC
Alcohol content: 5.0%

When I saw on the menu that they had different fruit beers on tap daily I was excited and inquired what the flavour of the day was.  I was hoping it would be something we hadn't tried yet so was a bit disappointed when the waitress said it was raspberry which we have already tried twice.  I survived the disappointment and decided to order it since I love raspberry.

After the beer I had last week (that review is coming, sorry, we've fallen a bit behind) I was hoping it wouldn't be too sweet but was happily surprised.  At first, the beer tasted just like a Mill St. brew: flavourful but not overbearing.  Interestingly, the raspberry flavour started filling my mouth after a couple of moments and it was wonderful; not to strong or sweet, but also not too weak that it just tastes like regular beer.  The aftertaste was that of raspberry but with the hint of alcohol and beer.

Overall, I really enjoyed Mill St.'s attempt at raspberry beer.  I would definitely have it again and would even go as far to say that it is my favourite out of the three raspberry fruit beers I have tried.

Mill St. Brewery - Cobblestone Stout

Category: Local (Toronto, ON) 

Type: Ale

Style: Irish Beer

Brewed by: Mill St. Brewery INC
Alcohol content: 4.2% ALC 

Earlier this week BeerTester 1.0 and I went to the Mill St. Brewery Pub in the Distillery District in downtown Toronto.  We decided we would both get a different type of beer with our meal.  The first, which was my choice, was their Cobblestone Stout.  This is a great beer, it is flavourful with an interesting walnut and chocolate finish. The beer was served in a typical pint glass and was surprisingly black with a bitter head. It was a excellent beer, very harsh a first but the chocolate and sweeter finish smoothed out the initial taste.

Overall, it was a good and complex beer I would drink again. Too bad it isn't being sold in bottles.

Mill St. Brewery - Coffee Porter 

Category: Local (Toronto, ON) 

Type: Porter 

Style: Coffee Infused 

Brewed by: Mill St. Brewery 

Alcohol content: 5.5% ALC. 

 More coffee, less beer.

This is a very tasty beer with nice alcohol and hops flavour.  However, we are avid coffee drinkers so were hoping for a bit more coffee flavour to come through. The beer is very smooth with a light after taste and very little alcohol bite.


Overall, it is a good beer, not too strong but still flavourful.  Still, it is a bit disappointing as this is supposed to be coffee infused and there is hardly any coffee flavour.

Trafalgar Ales and Meads - Maple Bock

Category: Local (Oakville, ON) 

Type:Strong Beer

Style: Bock/ Lager

Brewed by: Trafalgar Ales and Meads Brewery

Alcohol content: 6.5% ALC.

Finally finished exams and fully recovered, we decided to celebrate with this interesting local beer brewed in Oakville.  Maple Bock is a maple infused strong beer with strong, sweet tones and maple flavour.  It also leaves a delicious aftertastes of pure maple syrup in your mouth.  The strong maple flavour doesn't allow for the alcohol flavour to come through until the last second and it quickly dissipates as the maple aftertaste kicks in.  Even at room temperature it is a delicious beer that does not fail or cease to impress the drinker from the first sip to the aftertaste of the final drops of the bottle.

Overall, we are very impressed with the maple-y sweet yet strong brew flavour of this beer.  We would most definitely buy it again and recommend it to all due to its many different flavours.

Trafalgar Ales and Meads - St. Patrick Pick: Extra Special Bitter

Category: Local (Oakville, Ontario)

Type: Ale

Style: Extra Bitter

Brewed by: Trafalgar Ales and Meads Brewery

Alcohol content: 5%

Alright, lads and lasses!  Last one for today (obviously we have been doing a lot of beer drinking these past two weeks but not enough writing - probably because of the beer drinking...and it's exam time).

This beer lives up to it's name for sure!  It is a very bitter beer with a strong bitter finish and aftertaste that lingers on the palate.  However, the flavour is very full and almost sweet at first which balances the bitterness "causing the drinker to drink more of the drink until there is no more drink to be drunk" (BeerTester1).

Interestingly, we have two verdicts on this beer.  I think it is really good and actually enjoy the bitterness because it is not just bitter to be bitter but a flavourful and with a distinct and original taste.  On the other hand, BeerTester1 says: "This is not something I would keep in stock because it is a recipe for a hangover.  It is also a bit too bitter for my taste.  I don't hate it, I just don't want to keep it around".

Overall, this is the kind of beer good with a plate of fish & chips and for those who enjoy beers such as Guinness.  I am perfectly happy BeerTester1 doesn't really like it - more for me.

Hacker-Pschorr - Weiss

Category: Import (Germany)

Type:Don't know, the label is in German!

Style: Traditional Wheat

Brewed by: Hacker-Pschorr

Alcohol content: Alc.5.5%

 

We were in the mood for an import so we decided to try this one, imported from Germany.  At first glance the bottle is very appealing with a resealable pressure lid, very cool and different.  The taste was just as good.  It has a light, clean, but very full flavour with a low alcohol aftertaste.  It is easy drinking, mildly similar to Erdinger but also different; this one is a bit less bitter and smoother.

Overall, a good hearty beer with a full and smooth flavour.

Mill Street - Original Organic Lager

Category: Local (Toronto, Ontario)

Type: Lager

Style: Organic

Brewed by: Mill St. Brewery

Alcohol content: Alc.4.2%

 

Before seeing a production of Clybourne Park at CanStage, myself and BeerTester1 decided to grab a beer that is produced locally in our area.  Mill St.'s Organic Lager is a light, golden lager with subtle flavours and a light finish.  Its key flavour comes from the slow brew process with a hoppy flavour being the most dominant.  Overall, it is a clean, crisp beer that doesn't fail to please.  I will add this to my beer-to-stock list...because it's really good.

Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer- Rum Finish

Category: Import (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Type: Aged Ale

Style: Rum infused Ale

Brewed by:  Innis & Gunn Brewing Co Ltd

Alcohol content: ABV. 7.4%

This is now one of my all time favorite beers from one of the best breweries in the world. I haven't had this particular one prior tasting it for the review but it was superb nonetheless. The flavor of the rum comes through the the beer but doesn't take over or destroy the flavor of the hops. The beer doesn't hide the alcohol, it is present with a fairly high alcohol content, but doesn't drown out the rest of the beer.

Overall this is a great beer; one I will be drinking again.

Innis and Gunn- Blonde

Category: Import (Scotland, United Kingdom)

Type: Ale

Style: Pale Ale

Brewed by: Innis & Gunn Brewing Co Ltd

Alcohol content: Alc. 6.0%

After traveling over to one of the local LCBOs I decided to pick up something that I've had before. From one of the best breweries and one of my favorite beers, Innus and Gunn Blonde is something hard to get tired of. The blonde has an all around flavor, with the classic oak flavor presenting but not taking over the show. It has a mellow flavor which makes it good for any day of the week. 

This is a great beer and worth investing money and time in making a special trip to get it.

Mort Subite- Raspberry Beer

Category: Imported (from Belgium)

Type: White ale

Style: Fruit beer

Brewed by: Anno

Alcohol content: Alc. 4.5%

I was initially unsure about this beer based on its price of almost $5.  However, after the success of Fruli (the strawberry beer), and since raspberry is my favourite fruit, I decided to splurge.  The beer is also appealing aesthetically: it has a champagne style corked seal.

Overall, this beer is well worth the price.  It has a rich raspberry flavour but is not overly sweet.  It is also nice because the flavour of the beer is not overtaken by fruitiness so you still know you're drinking beer, not a cooler.  With some research this brewery also makes a cherry beer.  I am intrigued.

Conclusion: Belgium makes fantastic flavoured beers, even if a bit pricey.

It is also interesting to note the producer of this beer is a part of the Heineken Group.

Sleeman- Honey Brown Lager

Category: Local (Ontario, Canada)

Type: Lager

Style: Light Lager

Brewed by: Sleeman Brewing and Malting Inc.

Alcohol content: Alc. 5.2%

This is your standard issue beer, it comes in cans or bottle and it is neither too expensive nor too cheap. It has a bitter finish but is easily consumed. It is smooth having a slight sweetness to it keeping the alcohol flavor subdued. There really isn't anything that is too special about it.

My verdict is that it is good if you want just to drink, but isn't a beer for someone looking for something special. I would say it is best for weekend barbeques, good to drink with burgers.

Duchy originals: Organic Old Ruby Ale

Category: Import (United Kingdom)

Type: Red Ale

Style: Organic Ale

Brewed by: Wychwood Brewery Co.

Alcohol content: Alc. 5.0%

Before I review this beer, there is something I must make mention of. It is the daily recommendation of beer on the back of the bottle. I have never seen a bottle with one and I have been drinking for a while. What is more is that it is my tendency to drink many different beers from a variety of places. England you have surprised and perplexed me/made me wonder, why?

Anyways back to the review...

This ruby ale is as well rounded as is possible for an ale; it has robust and complex flavor. It relies heavily on the hops for most of the flavoring and is tuned down a small bit by the malt to give it good balance. A strong alcohol flavor is present throughout the experience and grows as the beer starts to return to room temperature.

My final decision... I wound drink it if given but not seek it out again.

ps. The dog greatly approved of the few drops I spilled on the floor.

Fruli - Strawberry Beer

Category: Imported (from Belgiun)
Type: White Ale
Style: Fruit beer
Brewed by: BREWERY HUYGHE
Alcohol Content of: 4.1%

Coming into the local LCBO and heading start for the beer section, I came upon an interesting little bottle. Fruli, a strawberry based beer, is a import to Canada from the nation of Belgium. I decided to give it a shot, they make good chocolate, why not beer? First off this is a very unusual beer. As you, for the most part, do not taste the alcohol at all. It reminds me of a cooler, less of a beer. On top of that it is very sweet, but not sickly sweet (fortunately).

Even so, I like it and will continue to drink to the last drop.