Advent Calendar Day 24

Black IPA (5.7%) by Brasserie Dunham

http://www.brasseriedunham.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dunham-black-ipa/163154/

This one pours jet black with an aggressive head.

What a beer to finish the advent calendar with. As I have said over and over, I am not a fan of the IPA category, but you know what?  This one is pretty good.  It is more of a stout than an IPA, except it does have that hoppiness to it, particularly the finish.  But the other flavours in this beer are showing their presence enough to make the bitterness balance out pretty well.

I never thought I would say this about an IPA......  It's a buy.

Advent Calendar Day 23

Low Life Pilsner (5.5%) by Evil Rwin Brewing

http://www.eviltwin.dk/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/evil-twin-low-life/172103/

Pours cloudy golden with an aggressive head.  Taste is citrusy with a light skunky hop.  It reminds me of Lethbridge Pilsner I used to be given as a kid.  I'm not a fan of the Pilsner category, I find them skunky.  I won't be buying this one either.

Advent Calendar Day 22

American Standard Ale (4.5%) by TapIt Brewing Co.

http://tapitbrewing.com/index.html

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/tap-it-brewing-american-standard-asa/188899/

Pours clear and golden with a light head.  Aroma is fruity with a healthy hop smell.  Taste has hints of orange, especially on the finish.  Almost like orange peel is being used for the bitter.  This beer is just on the fringe of what I would enjoy in bitterness.  It is crisp and refreshing, but honestly, I wouldn't buy it with my aversion to hops.

Advent Calendar Day 21

Hop Noir Black India Pale Ale (8.2%) by Peak Organic Brewing Company

http://www.peakbrewing.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/peak-organic-hop-noir/142278/

Pouring this beer gave me a Déjà Vu as it looked very much like yesterday's Winter Ale.  That is where the similarity ends, however.  I should have saved this one for my IPA buddy.  It does have some stronger flavours of molasses and fruits that go with the colour, but those hops...... Yuck.  History does repeat itself and reaffirms that I do not enjoy the category.  If you like IPA's, you should give this one a try as it is different.  You shouldn't have too much trouble finding it in the specialty store, because I won't be buying any.

Advent Calendar Day 20

Lighthouse Winter Ale (6.5%) by Lighthouse Brewing Company

http://www.lighthousebrewing.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lighthouse-winter-ale-2013/234544/

This Winter Ale pours black with a small head.  The nose gives a sweet molasses scent.  Taste is burnt caramel and molasses and ripe red fruits.  No bitterness.  I'm surprised this is an ale as it comes across more like a stout or porter, but perhaps just a little milder than those categories.  Quite drinkable.  Buy.

Advent Calendar Day 19

Newport Storm Rhode Island Blueberry Beer (?%) by Coastal Extreme Brewing Co.

http://www.newportstorm.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/newport-storm-rhode-island-blueberry/60586/

This beer pours a light coloured copper with a small head.  Nose is Blueberry, taste is mild blueberry, leaving a lingering light blueberry flavour.  No bitterness at all.

If you like fruity beers, then you should give this one a try.  It was a very drinkable beer, but I am simply not a fan of the category, so personally, I would not buy it...... but my wife might.

Advent Calendar Day 18

Cameron's Cream Ale (5%) by Cameron's Brewing Co.

http://www.cameronsbrewing.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/camerons-cream-ale/14781/

Unlike yesterday's hedonistic selection, this cream ale provided little in the way of head.  Well balanced light beer, with a light honey flavour.  Although this beer went down relatively easy and even my wife thought it was OK, unfortunately, that is all it is....just OK.  If it was available on an otherwise poor menu selection, we would order it and enjoy it with a meal, but I cannot see myself seeking this one out in a specialty store.

Don't buy.

Advent Calendar Day 17

Hedonism Red Ale (7%) by Ruckus Brewing Co.

http://www.ruckusbrewing.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/ruckus-hedonism-red-ale/168515/

Sorry for the blurry picture, but I had to use it to make the point that this beer lives up to its name by giving lots of head.  After the foam dissapated, the beer was a cloudy brown color.  Tastes malty and finishes hoppy, too much so for my taste.  It isn't an IPA, but the hops are the dominant flavour coming through.  I have to give it a Don't Buy.

Advent Calendar Day 16

Crosswind Pale Ale (5%) by Lake of Bays Brewing Company

http://lakeofbaysbrewing.ca/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lake-of-bays-crosswind-pale-ale/184374/

This beer pours a slightly cloudy yellow colour with a short lasting white head.  Tastes light and light hops, but as light as it is, the hops is the flavour that lasts.  Not bitter, just a little skunky.  Reminds me of Lethbridge Pilsner that I didn't like as a youngster.  Not a terrible beer, but not one that I will go out of my way to buy either.

Advent Calendar Day 15

Hollow Point Quadruple Ale (10%) by The Perfect Crime, Stratford, CT

Unable to locate brewers website

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/the-perfect-crime-hollow-point/183257/

This beer poured a dark, cloudy amber with a decent head.  The taste was of sweet ripe fruits, sweet bread, and belgian yeast, almost earthy at times.  Slight bitterness to counter the sweetness.  Interestingly, the closer to the bottom of the glass, the more tart it seemed to get and that Belgian yeast got stronger.  Perhaps that is just the effect of the 10% talking.

I like the category and I like this beer.  It's a buy.

Advent Calendar Day 14

Bolshevik Bastard Imperial Stout (8.5%) by Nickel Brook

http://www.nickelbrook.ca/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/nickel-brook-bolshevik-bastard-imperial-stout/163041/

This one poured very black with practically no head initially, but it settled out to a thin beige head about a quarter inch high that dissipated quickly.  Strong sweet molasses, chocolate, and coffee flavour that felt very creamy or silky on the tongue.  Not particularly bitter or hoppy.  This stout made me wish I was eating a nice thick rib steak.  If you are having a rich meat meal this stout would go well with it.  

This is a buy for when I feel like a stout.

Advent Calendar Day 13

Espresso Amber Ale (6.8%) by Peak Organics Brewing Company

www.peakbrewing.com

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/peak-organic-espresso-amber-ale/95024/

This beer poured a dark amber, almost orange colour, cloudy, with a medium head that dissipates fairly quickly.  Tastes of coffee, caramel, and chocolate, with a crisp hops presence on the palate.  The hops does not take over this beer, as the espresso and malt flavours prevail.

This is a definite buy.  A fine example of a beer that makes you sit back and appreciate the complexity of it.  I'll be looking for this one in the store.

Advent Calendar Day 12

Auburn Ale by Cameron's Brewery

http://www.cameronsbrewing.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/camerons-auburn-ale/14780/

This beer poured a clear darkish red...well... Auburn colour with a generous off-white head.  It was crisp and refreshing, with just a hint of hoppy bitterness on the finish.  There was enough maltiness and caramel to keep me interested.  I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't want two in a row.  

You might just catch me purchasing a bottle or two of this one.

Advent Calendar Day 11

Newport Storm India Point Ale  (6.5%) by Coastal Extreme Brewing Company.

www.newportstorm.com

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/newport-storm-india-point-ale/185020/

 

I know the IPA from Day 9 I didn't even open, but you might wonder why then, did I open this one?  Well it turns out that I am away for a few days and won't have access to my Advent Calendar, so I moved those days into November.  So for me, this IPA was actually the first beer I had from the box, so I did not give it away.  I should have though.

This beer poured a cloudy amber colour with a medium head that stuck around for a bit, leaving traces on the glass.  To my palate, this beer lives up to expectations of IPA's with a strong bitter hops flavour. There was some fruitiness in the complex flavour, but I felt like I bit into a grapefruit when the hops almost instantly assaulted my senses.  As I have said before, hoppy beers are not my favourite.

Click on the image to see what others think at ratebeer.com.

If you are a fan of IPA, then this is a try.  For myself though, Don't buy.

Advent Calendar Day 10

Truck Stop Honey Brown Ale (6%) by Back Forty Beer Company

http://backfortybeer.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/back-forty-truck-stop-honey-brown-ale/111330/

Mmmm, Brown Ale.  I think we have established I am a fan of the category.  This one poured a slightly cloudy amber colour with virtually no head.  I find this one just a little on the tart side with a tangy finish.  I think there is plenty of choice in the category that I honestly don't think I would go out of my way to buy this one.

 

Advent Calendar Day 9

Tap It Brewing India Pale Ale (7%) by Tap It Brewing Co.

http://tapitbrewing.com/index.html

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/tap-it-brewing-ipa/144385/

OK, let's get this over with.  You will notice that I did not open this bottle, and as a result, I won't describe it here.  It is simply because I am not a fan of the category, and I pretty much know that unless this is a terrible example of an IPA, I won't enjoy it.  Hoppy beers like IPA's are not for me.  RateBeer.com seems to rate it quite high with a 95 rating and 92nd. in it's category, please follow the links to say what others think.

I have a friend who was unable to get an Advent calendar that does enjoy IPA's, and since it is better to give than to receive, he will get a little gift at work in the morning.

By default, this beer gets a Don't Buy from me, but if my buddy gives me a review, I will add it here.

UPDATE:  John says it poured a nice copper colour with a nice foamy head.  But he also found it unpleasantly bitter.  He gives it won't buy rating as well.

To make up for this gap in my calendar then, I swapped in an alternative.

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Pauwel Kwak (8.4%) by Brouwerij Bosteels

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/pauwel-kwak/3658/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/pauwel-kwak/3658/

RateBeer also rates this beer high, at 94, and 89th in its category, but this has become arguably my favourite beer.  It pours a nice clear amber colour with a generous head.  Very fruity, and it has that Belgian Yeast character.  Nice smooth drink, almost the antithesis of the IPA that I was supposed to drink today, with well balanced hops that let you enjoy the other flavours.

I was first attracted to this beer while having lunch in Brussels, when I saw the intriguing glass at another table.  I asked what it was for later reference, and when we were in Bruges later on, I enjoyed my first taste of it.  I was pleasantly surprised to find I could not only get this beer at Sherbrooke Liquor Store here in Edmonton, but they also had the gift set with the glass.  This saved me a lot of space in my luggage for the return flight home.

This Belgian Strong Ale has replaced Newcastle Brown Ale as my favourite.  It is not quite as available in restaurants though, so I only enjoy it occasionally.  You can get it, complete with the interesting crystal glass, at The Sugar Bowl Restaurant, and yes, it even goes good with breakfast.  Try Chicken and Waffle with a Kwak, you won't regret it.

Of course, I rate this one as a buy, buy, buy...

Advent Calendar Day 8

Spark House Red Ale (5%) by Lake of Bays Brewing Company

http://lakeofbaysbrewing.ca/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lake-of-bays-spark-house-red/143803/

Pours a nice reddish brown with decent head.  OMG, Best One Yet, but of course, as you know, I am a fan of the category.

Chocolate and roasted malts jump right out on this well balanced beer, not excessively hopped and just nice and refreshing.

A definite buy, and I'll look for this one on my travels through Ontario.

Advent Calendar Day 7

Stillwater Existent American Farmhouse Ale (7.4%) by Stillwater Artisanal

http://stillwaterales.blogspot.ca/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/stillwater-existent/134038/

Poured dark brown with a good head.  Taste of caramel, malts, and chocolate and not too much hops.  It has a bit of a tangy fruitiness to it.  Finish is slightly bitter.

It's pretty good.  Buy.

Advent Calendar Day 6

Moose Knuckle Winter Stout (6%) by The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company.

http://www.thegrizzlypaw.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/grizzly-paw-moose-knuckle-winter-oatmeal-stout/26390/

This stout poured black with minimal head.  A nice coffee, caramel, dark chocolate flovour.  If I am not mistaken, I have enjoyed this beer with a meal at the Grizzly Paw Brew Pub in Canmore.  So far, this is the most local selection from the box, although it would still be a 3 1/2 hour drive to Canmore to get one with a meal.

As far as stouts go, I enjoyed this one, I'll give it a Buy rating and look for it next time I am dining in Canmore.

Advent Calendar Day 5

Newport Storm Hurricane Amber Ale (5.2%) by Coastal Extreme Brewing Co.

http://www.newportstorm.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/newport-storm-hurricane-amber-ale/7120/

Pours a cloudy copper with a good white head.  I'm not getting much on the nose, and a crisp mildly hopped beer on the palette.  The finish reminds me of Lethbridge Pilsner with a bit of a mild skunky hop bitterness.

Unlike yesterday's selection, I'll be able to finish this one, but it is not even close to competing for the best beer in the box.  For my shopping cart, this one is a Don't Buy.

Advent Calendar Day 4

Yukon 39 1/2 Foot Pole Black Currant Ale (6.7%) by Yukon BrewingCompany

http://www.yukonbeer.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/yukon-39-1-2-foot-pole-black-currant-ale/230607/

Well, not too much to say about this one.  It pours a cloudy orange color with a small head that doesn't last.  Aroma is hoppy, taste is hoppy, finish is hoppy.  Not as bitter as an IPA, but too much hop for me.

Don't Buy

Advent Calendar Day 3

Cucapa Obscura American Brown Ale (4.8%) by Cerveceria Cucapa

http://www.cucapa.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/cucapa-obscura/62440/

When I originally read the label and saw Cervesza, I expected a beer comparable to Corona, but I was pleasantly surprised to pour a clear and colourful Brown Ale.  Well, if you read my first post you know I am a big fan of the category, with Big Rock Traditional Ale and Newcastle Brown Ale being formative in my taste in beer.

This brown ale does not disappoint.  Refreshing and full of chocolate, toasted malts, caramel, and feeling creamy as is goes over the tongue.  This is not only a beer to buy, this one is worth looking for in my opinion.

Yum.

Advent Calendar Day 2

Kudzu Porter (5.5%) by Back Forty Brewing Co.

http://backfortybeer.com/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/back-forty-kudzu-porter/161740/

Wow, it is not every day I choose to drink a porter, and now two days in a row.  The Advent Calendar folks like to just jump right in.

After yesterday's glass of foam, I poured this one a bit more carefully, but not overly so, and produced very little head on a black black beer.  Flavour is roasted malts and caramel, and not even as hoppy as yesterday's selection.  This one is definitely better all around, and since yesterday's was acceptable for a buy, so too is today's selection.  I am really quite enjoying it.  Still, I wish it had a bit more chocolate flavour or espresso.

Buy

Advent Calendar Day 1

Nickel Brook Maple Porter (6%) by Better Bitters Brewing Co.

http://www.nickelbrook.ca/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/nickel-brook-maple-porter/71674/

Happy December.

Well, we might as well not build up gradually and just jump right in to a porter.  This Nickel Brook Maple Porter was difficult to decant as it produced a massive head filling the glass with foam.  It took about five minutes before I was able to empty the entire bottle into the glass.

Despite the name, I don't detect so much maple as to get the title on the label.  Perhaps lightly in the nose, but roasted malts and molasses take over on the palette.  This is a well balanced beer and not too hoppy, with just a slight bitter finish.  If you enjoy the occasional porter or stout, this one goes down quite well.

I enjoyed this one, and I'll rate it a buy.

Back in the day...

Back in the days of my pre-legal drinking age, the beers I had access to were limited to the occasional drinks allowed by my parents.  The variety was non-existent, as the only beer commonly available, at least in my parents house, was either Molson Canadian or Lethbridge Pilsner.  Occasionally when an older brother would come home for a visit, Labatt's Blue might also make an appearance.  I didn't much care for these beers, I found them to be nothing special, but a teenager in the 70's wouldn't refuse them either.

Once I was out on my own and legal, I discovered O'Keefe's Extra Old Stock, also known as High Test.  Besides being a stronger 6% beer! I found the flavour much more interesting than the standard fare, and it was my standard choice for a few years.  If it was unavailable, I would order Coke rather than settle for the standard three.  Also, American beer at the time was weak and watery.

Then in 1985, something rather magical happened.  Big Rock breweries came out with their Traditional Ale.  This beer not only became my standard choice, but it soon spread far and wide as far as availability in Alberta goes.

In the same tradition, one of my favourite beers when I can find it available is Newcastle Brown Ale.

With the relatively recent availability of craft beers and European beers in the market, I am more and more able to experiment with new beers, but Big Rock Traditional continues to be my baseline.  If I can't get Traditional or better, I'll drink water.

This year, my lovely wife has acquired for me a Craft Beer Advent Calendar.  For 24 days in December I will have a new North American Craft Beer to sample.  I am sure that there will be a few that I simply won't enjoy, as I do not enjoy the bitterness of hops in my beer.  For me, hops is a delicate balance, and is the primary reason I will either buy or don't buy a beer for the second time.  

I look forward to trying these 24 beers in December and I will record my impressions in this blog.  At the end of the day, I will make a buy or don't buy rating for my future reference.