Monthly Archives: December 2016

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale

For the 11th beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale

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This magical, mystical brew was only available for a limited time…back in the summer of 2012. I still remember the excitement when the clerk at the LCBO brought out a pink bottle especially for me–and when I finally cracked it open, I was blown away.

You’ve got enough maple flavour here to simmer down a sugar shack in Quebec, with just a hint of smoky bacon goodness. And lemme tell ya, it goes great with bacon poutine topped with Hickory Sticks. Just trust me on that one, son!

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Sam Adams Cinder Blonde Gratzer

For the 10th beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Sam Adams Cinder Blonde Gratzer

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Sam Adams is kinda like the George Washington of craft beers–y’know, the founding father of the whole shebang. So, back on Toronto Beer Week, when Sammy was throwing an open-bar party, you know I was gonna be there with flip-flops on, son!

Now, they did have a fish-taco table and a mac ‘n cheese station, but the main reason I went was to try a buncha different brews, bro. The only Sam Adams beer you can find in Toronto is the Boston Lager, which ain’t bad, but it’s really just scratching the surface. At this event, they brought out a handful of other beers I had never even heard of, including this beauty, the Cinder Blonde Gratzer.

Now, lemme tell ya, this beer was something else. It’s pretty light on the booze (4.4%) and the bitterness (14 IBU), but more than makes up for it with the smokiness. I think they actually use actual cinder blocks in the brewing process, cuz this brew tastes like a fireplace…in the best way possible. I betcha it would go great with some righteous barbecue–maybe some Cleveland-style lamb ribs?

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Arch Dinner Jacket O’Red IPA

For the ninth beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Arch Dinner Jacket O’Red IPA

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I dare you to find me a more hoser beer, bro! Brewed by Arch up in Newmarket, the Dinner Jacket is pretty much their signature beer–you’ll find it all over their website. And this ain’t yer grandpappy’s IPA, either, coming in strong at 6.3% with plenty of hops to go around.

You can find this one at a few local LCBO’s, but it’s kind of a funny story how I first heard about it. Y’see, back when the Ottawa REDBLACKS first joined the CFL, I asked the internet which beer I should be drinking whenever they lose to the Stamps. Somebody came up with this one, and it makes perfect sense. Not only does it have the team’s colours, but football fans in Ottawa like to roleplay as lumberjacks, so while they may not wear flannel to dinner, they definitely wear it to the games.

And yes, I’m even more bitter than a strong red IPA that the Stamps blew the Grey Cup in overtime to Ottawa this year!!!

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Big Rock Rhinestone Cowboy

For the eighth beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Big Rock Rhinestone Cowboy!

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To me, nothing says Alberta beer like Big Rock. I picked these up at The Beer Store a little while back when they were all outta Grasshopper, my usual Alberta brew. This German-style pale ale is light and fruity, and at only 4.6 per cent, it won’t knock yer boots off. Unfortunately, I only took a picture of the box…but what a beauty box, eh?

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Forgotten Lake Blueberry Ale

For the seventh beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Forgotten Lake Blueberry Ale (with a side of bacon)

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Man, it was raining, pouring and old-man snoring all over the Roundhouse Craft Beer Fest this summer…but between torrential downpours, I was able to pour me some of this sweet, sweet nectar. And lemme tell ya, this stuff is stronger than it looks–7.5 per cent, son!

You definitely get some tartness from the blueberries, but it’s not too sweet, or too sour. And it definitely goes good with some bacon-wrapped fried dough in a cone, bro!

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Belle Gueule

For the sixth beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Belllle Gueulllle

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This used to be one of my favourite beers to drink when I’d go down to party with Trudeau in Papineau, but I’d never ever seen it in Toronto. So I was shocked like a monkey when I went to Barque Smokehouse and they actually had it on tap!

This beer is nice and light, goes down easy, but has a more distinctive flavour than Molson Canadian, which you can’t actually get in Quebec. But you know I’d still drink this beer over Molson Canadian any day, bro!

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Mill St. Distillery Root Beer

For the fifth beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Mill St. Distillery Root Beer!

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Christmas Day brings an extra-special gift from Mill St. Brewery. They’ve actually been making non-alcoholic root beer since 2009, but this summer, they decided to mix it with their Vanilla Porter Bierschnaps, and a new brew was born!

This suped-up sarsaparilla is sweet, but not too sweet, and pretty much tastes like your regular root beer…but with a nice, boozy kick to it. I first tried it at the Taste of Toronto, where it went down smooth with an avocado popsicle. Aaaaand then I ate 11 other things.

Anyways, it might not be summer anymore, but you can still find this stuff at a buncha LCBOs, including a suspiciously large stash in Scarborough. Can you say Distillery Root Beer party at the moontower, bro?

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Hop City Polly Want a Pilsner

For the fourth beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Hop City Polly Want a Pilsner!

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This crisp, fresh-tasting Pils goes equally great with salty cheese as well as spaghetti and massive meatballs–and they’re even serving it up all the way out in New Brunswick, bro!

Y’know, with a name like Hop City, I’d expect everything they brew to be really bitter, but that was definitely not the case here. I could drink this over Steamwhistle or Old Style Pilsner just for the street cred alone. And check out that badass bird logo, bro!

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Wellington Loaded Lager

For the third beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Wellington Loaded Lager (plus some pierogis)

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Dude, you can only find this local light lager at one place–and that’s the Loaded Pierogi! Actually, make that three places, since they’ve opened a couple new locations since the last time I was there. And man, this place has everything: pulled pork, duck confit, Philly cheesesteak…or you can be like me and get the loaded surf ‘n turf, with lobster, crab and steak, son!

The local house brew has a clean, crisp, easy-drinking taste…kinda like Coors Light, but not quite. But hey, if you’re slamming down 17 pierogis with steak, lobster and crab on top, you don’t really wanna be drinking a heavy Russian Imperial Stout, amirite?

12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS: Granville Island Lions Winter Ale

For the second beer of Christmas, my Trudeau gave to me…

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…Granville Island Lions Winter Ale!

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I just had this stuff for the first time a couple weeks back, but man is it good! You’ve got a nice, chocolately, cocoa finish in a dark red beer that’s a little stronger than usual, at 5.5 per cent. Most beers with this kinda flavour are heavy, heavy stouts…but this one is not. I’m still not sure how they do it!

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