Molson Canadian

Molson Canadian is a lager who is sometimes brewed at 4.9% and sometimes 5%. It is very light tasting. Goes down easy, it is a little watery. There is a hint of cereal but nothing too much. The carbonation level is fine to my taste, a little more than other lagers. I am happy that it is now widely available in Quebec.Canadian water, prairie barley and no preservatives seems to be a great recipe. Crisp and icy, my review might be biased because I love this one. Funny review I read was commenting on the aspect of the labelling indicating that it is made with Canadian water. Water from the sewer, from lake Athabasca or from the tap? Anyways, ideal for a fishing trip, skiing , a hockey or football game or just a regular night with the guys, this beer often makes my day.    


9.2/10

14.99$ for 12x 341ml in Quebec

Colt 45

Colt 45 is a malt liquor designed as a cheap intoxicant. It is now distributed by the Silver Creek Brewery from La Crosse Wisconsin but was originally introduced in 1963 by the National Brewing Company. The logo includes a kicking horse and a horseshoe in order to insinuate that it has an extra kick over the competitors. It is also printed on the back of the label so you can see it when you finish drinking the bevrage. The transparent bottle is unusual specially in the 40oz format. A gold, almost amber nectar has a dominant alcohol flavor. A surprising but expectable sweetness makes it resemble very dry ciders. Because of the 8% alcohol content it is not very carbonated. It is often mentioned in songs by Snoop Dogg and Afroman. Colt 45 was often accused of targeting under aged drinkers. Finally, it goes well with fried chicken, but use these two ingredients with caution.

7.1/10

Steam Whistle 5%

This fine Canadian pilsner has a rich golden colour. Consulting their very complete website I learned that Pilsener is a type of lager named after the city of Pilzn in the Czech Republic where it was first made in the 19th century. The FAQ section and the Recipes are my favourite. Three guys who formerly worked in a microbrewery witch was bought out by a national brewer and closed down where on a canoe trip when they decided to create Steam Whistle. On every bottle or can we can see the indication 3FG for 3 fired guys.The taste of barley stands out in the aftertaste. A nice clean feel and deliciously refreshing aroma is what I bargained for. Light enough for anybody with its own little particularities. Accompanied by this homemade Manila Clam Chowder on a sunny autumn afternoon made it all even better.

2.80$ for a 500ml can in Ontario

9.1/10

www.steamwhistle.ca

Butternuts Beer & Ale

Butternuts has to my taste awesome marketing and a very nice website. Another plus is that the beers have an estimated nutritional value. 150 calories, 8 grams of carbohydrates, and 1 gram of protein. Very estimated because these 4 beers indicate the same information.

Moo Thunder 4.9%

One of the most watery stouts I have ever drank, this is no necessarily a bad thing. Like alot of stouts it is relatively light, the creaminess is almost absent. Very dark, sort of looks like coke or pepsi, it is also rare to find stouts in the 355ml can format around here. I taste hints of dark chocolate. Has some traits similar to Murphy's.

Snapperhead 6.8%

Snapperhead is an all malt bevrage, the label doesn't show a snapper and is kind of a knockoff of Landshark.Very perfumed smell, I detect a hint of pine. A kind of sappy taste is present. Not too cerealy but there is a hoppy bitterness. The colour is almost opaque, its actually kind of cloudy copper. In general I find it to be more neutral than other artisan beers.

Heinnieweisse 4.9%

The logo has something that looks like a hop head witch is very similar to an alien. Again all malt. Its a cloudy blonde, almost white, very European. It has a clean feel and the bitterness this time is well doused.

Porkslap 4.3%

This is their house brew, their trademark. Once again very perfumed and bitter, very minor hints of sweetness. I prefer it to Snapperhead but very similar except for the abv. Hard to detect the ginger. The cereal gets into your breath real fast. 

15.99$ for 12x355ml in New York, its one of the most expensive American beers but alot cheaper than the beer around here.

http://www.butternutsbeerandale.com/                                                    Garratsville, NY

JR 6.0

It starts a little fruity and ends a little bitter. Some beers are good but you only appreciate them when you are near where they are made. Fine beer, but I will probably not drink anymore unless I am in Brampton, Ontario. For best results: pull tab (haha!). Its a good powerful Lager with nothing outstanding to it and an absence of particularity. The marketing is actually what attracted me to it. Nice logo and an intriguing sleek can witch resembles an energy drink. This days beer companies are really trying to get a piece of the pie of the energy drink craze. This is the one I found up to now to have the closest image. Both these industries are also trying to reach out to athletes not that there is anything wrong with this because at the end of the day people choose what they put in their own body. Personally, I rather the Michelob approach witch consists of printing the nutritional information on their product.

9.95$ for 6 x 355ml sleek cans in Ontario

6.9/10

James Ready Light

James Ready is a Canadian brewing company, they self proclaimed this beer the winner of the awesomest light beer in the universe, whatever that means. I wouldn't go that far but I wasn't all disappointed. First of all the clearness is incredible, I believe I have never seen a beer this clear, good?, bad?, I don't know. It kinda tastes like club soda. I think club soda says it all. There is no pronounced taste and its easy to drink.Its dry, watery and bubbly all good adjectives to describe a beer except maybe for watery depending on the mood. The marketing is nice, I love the ''dragonesque'' lion. It goes well with salty foods like chips or popcorn but rare are the beers who don't. Doesn't taste much and is a 4% product, probably better enjoyed after sports on a hot summer day. Just got back from a dek hockey game so, I might be biased. The 8-pack format is quite unusual, I wonder why beer companies are always changing the packaging sizes, they should stick to 6,12 and 24.

8 x 355ml for 12.95$ in Ontario

6/10 Can this be considered beer? At least its not disgusting...

Sir John A's

This honey wheat ale from P.-E.-I. is said to be a light golden brew with honey-ish notes on the nose and a rounded off dry and slightly citrusy body. It is the gold medal winner at the 2011 Canadian Brewing Awards. Brewed by Gahan, it is not pasteurized. At first I was struck by its beautiful colour, I tought it was surprisingly pale by my expectations. The honey-ish notes, I could not find them. It is nice and dry tough and feels very light. The wheatyness is there and never goes away. The packaging date is very evident and clearly indicated witch is a plus. The bubbles are a tad creamy but fade away really quickly. The smell was a terrific arrangement of everything nice, but overall this one is not one of my favourites. This beer has 4.5% alcohol.

3.60$ for 500ml in Prince-Edward-Island

6.6/10

Rickard's Cardigan

This is a 5.5% Autumn Lager. The colour of the label reflects the beer really well. The bottle cap is a cardigan button witch is kind of funny. Very spicy, the taste of cinnamon steps out alot. This harvest Lager tastes and smells like pumpkin pie. It actually smells like old cardigans found in the attic of a pottery barn ad. Its to my taste too aromatic. It tends to sweeten if kept in mouth for a while. Its colour is a pale ginger. Is it an old folk beer? Is it distributed in cans? All I know is that there is a certain lightness to it despite its high alcohol content. As it is shown on the label: COOL, TILT, POUR, FINISH, ENJOY. 

7.9/10

11.99$ for 6 x 341ml in Quebec... OVERPRICED!

Singha

Drank this beer again today to have a better idea of what it tastes like. Reminds me of this summer at the beach. Call me crazy but I can distinguish a hint of peppermint. I had said that last time I had tried it and recognized it again. With a 5% alcohol content this lager is not that bad, one of the reasons why I sometimes buy it is because it is one of the only beers that the SAQ keeps refrigerated. By the way I still don't understand why some stores keep their stock at room temperature, it is so bad for the beer's preservation. The fact that they give you some merchandising is often a tiebreaker when you don't exactly know witch beer to buy! Singha is from Thaïland, can't wait to go there. Downside, the beer is flat. They have been brewing it since 1933.

7/10

2.15$ for 330ml in Quebec

http://lastreetfoodfest.com/

www.singhabeer.com

Beach Chair Lager

This beer is an all natural lager from Prince Edward Island. Nice and light @ 4.5%.  No preservatives or additives, just pure PEI water, Canadian barley, hops, yeast and the skill of island brewmasters.At first it looks like a can of iced tea because of the cans colour. I don't know if the barley is roasted or something but the little aftertaste is wonderful. Sometimes when the barley flavours are too evident it makes the beer taste like saugy cereal. In this particular blend a subtile aroma is perfectly doused and created to make this beer so good. A strict bitterness is developped at beers end but once again is nicely doused. I guess these PEI brewers really are brewmasters. 

8.8/10

473ml (Ball)

peibrewingcompany.com

Headstrong Black & Tan

This mix is actually a beer drink made of a blend of pale ale and stout. A nice stout taste with the carbonation of a pale ale. It kind of takes away the richness of the stout tough. I haven't tasted both beer separately but the stout seems quite sweet and chocolatey with uhh a hint of tobacco, am I crazy? The idea of this blend isn't optimal because I prefer my black and tan when every sip has a different concentration of each type of beer. On the upside it seems to keep well because I have had this for a few weeks and it is still fresh tasting. Since 1996 it is brewed by Big Hole Brewing Company out of Utica, NY.(reminds me of the movie Road trip) But it actually originates from Montana The name Headstrong comes from the Buffalo with enough determination to blaze a trail for the rest of the herd to follow. 473 ml @ 5.5% ...The best part of this beer is the fact that I am drinking it out of my Defensive Player Of The Game mug I got this weekend in our football victory.

5.9/10

I actually paid 2.60$ for a 473ml can in Ontario a few weeks ago but according to the LCBO website it is now discontinued and liquidated at 2$.

Budweiser Shots

Budweiser followed the trend and pulled out a cold shot! Its a 7% beer in a smaller can format (236ml). Not very carbonated probably because of the bud image and the higher alcohol content. Nice marketing with the black can witch is rare, most beer companies stick to the aluminum colour. A very distinct aftertaste is detected but hard to describe. As you keep it in your mouth for a while, it is multiplied but as unique as it is, hard to describe. Essences that make you feel like at the end of a dark beer, probably related to the packaging colour. Gets you where you are going! The practicality of the format is also a plus.

6.99 for 4x 236 ml in Quebec

Chad 6.8/10
Me  7.8/10

Moose Light

This is another beer from the loot my brother brought back from the maritimes. Being a big Moosehead fan and drinker, this beer could only deceive me because my expectations where so high. Lets do this responsibly instead of drink responsibly is an interesting variation of the warning on the can. It is hard not to like a light beer because it is so similar to draught beer. The little distinction of the original Moosehead beer is recognizable but very slight. Nonetheless not that bad... Seems to be a little heavy for a light beer if you know what I mean...

7.4/10

Alpine Lager

My brother was in P-E-I lately and he brought me a few presents. He knows me well, he got me a variety of out of province beers. This fresh little lager with a slight aftertaste is delightful. Maybe i'm crazy but it is kinda close to a pilsener but what do I know? A regular 5% beer brewed by Moosehead in New-Brunswick. This beer is inspired of Austrian and German beers.This particular edition of the beer harbours the logos of the Festival Acadien de Caraquet, Le Festival du Pays de la Sagouine and Le 28e Festival Western de Saint-Quentin. The marketing makes the beer look even more refreshing with the condensation bullets painted on to the can. Wonder if the yellow star and the blue white and red is associated with something

8.3/10

Miller Milwaukee's Best Ice 5.9%

Here is a little leftover from my weekend trip to Schroon Lake. Beers with the word Milwaukee in them are always good, its like a standard. This one was made by Frederich Miller (Ball). Crisp and bold, it is ice brewed to create this quality beer. Is nicely carbonated and has a surprisingly high alcohol content. Not the best by Miller but dirt cheap with a good quality standard. Tastes a bit like Carling Lager. Would buy and drink again!

7.99$ for a 12 pack of (0.355L)

7.5/10

Alexander Keith's Dark Ale

I love Alexander Keith's, this dark one is fine. Not to heavy smooth neck, almost opaque colour makes it a good fall beer. Mahogany coloured as they call it. You can really taste the coffee note in the aftertaste, the chocolate, a little less.There is still this tiny dark chocolate twitch at the end right after this little tickle on the tongue.  It has 4.1% alcohol by volume. Fine bitterness, not too much so you could probably drink a few. My tasting technique needs a little more work because it is hard to put beers head to head, the last time I drank dark beer was this spring... For what I remember this one distinguishes itself by its dryness not that creamy ones aren't good but, like I have said before, it all depends on your mood. the smell is wonderful blend of aromas from dark beer, roasted coffee, bitter chocolate and something sweet. Even if these beers are supposed to be consumed @room temperature, I prefer them extra-cold!

2.50$ for a 473ml in Quebec

8.2/10

Maclays

This is a traditional pale ale like I love. Slightly bitter, it is a nice clear dry blond beer. Upside: no aftertaste! Originates from Thistle Brewery in Alloa Scotland and is made by Sleeman in Guelph for distribution in Canada. This crisp ale does not have a big head but is definitively nice and bubbly. The coat of arms indicated Nobilis est ira leonis wich means the wrath of the lion is noble in latin. Got these at the beer store and really enjoyed them! Also I realized that the taxes and deposits are included in the price who at first seemed a little high!

12x355ml is 17.50$ in Ontario

7.9/10

Foster's Lager

Makes (the can) a nice sound when you crack it, I'm not just fucking with you! I say it smells neutral but my buddy says it has a very distinct smell anyways what does he know? So we are sitting here in a campground in Lake Luzerne, NY trying to figure out this one, not an optimal situation, taken that we drank all night and haven't brushed our teeth yet. This can is a real one, a "Pounder". Weighs about a pound, gets you pounded if you pound it! Brewed by Oil Can Brewing in Melbourne, Australia, but this one is made around here by Ball. Not as watery as other 4% beers. Nice Slogan: How to speak Australian : Foster's ... Grab some for your mates. Drinks well and made to be enjoyed in large formats so you get the cold beginning and the lukewarm lager ending.The constellation on the can is the southern cross the same that is found on the Australian flag.

1.99$ for a 24.5 fluid ounce can (750ml)

9.0/10

Adirondack Brewery

Allright these two beers have really nice marketing but couldn't enjoy either of them because they both have a big and very similar horrible aftertaste.

Dirty Blonde Ale:  Unfiltered American Wheat Ale, oh yes you get what you paid for very wheatty. For the unfiltered part there wasn't any residue in the bottom witch is good. Has a nice little story on the side about dirty blondes jumping on wealthy industrialists and a beautiful label to it. Fun to enjoy it while on vacation siting in Lake George but not very good. Really gets to your nose and stays there for way too long.

6.1/10

Bear Naked Ale: All Natural Amber Ale, not bad but didn't order another...therefore not good enough for me! Nice little info about black bears on the label: They can smell up to 600 feet but can't see very well. Well i probably could smell this beer if it where 600 feet away from me... you get the picture.

6.4/10

Buck

The red Buck is quite bitter. My favourite part was the texture, nice neck, cool rich brown colour and sufficiently carbonated. Thing is, it taste pretty much like alot of the other micro-brewed beers I have tasted. It tastes like boiled cereal. The bottle shape is nice and the redemption not that expensive (.30$) but hard to return, still a plus. Unfortunately people around here don't believe in recycling! This one is brewed by Multi-Brasses in Tingwick, Quebec. (south of Trois-Rivières)

6.8/10

6.99$ for 500ml in Quebec

Genesee Cream Ale

This apple juice coloured ale has a nice ''perk'' to it. Similar to the Sleeman cream ale, I wonder why the two mentioned before are cream ales by the way because they aren't very creamy. Although they have nice necks the beers themselves aren't creamy but clear. None the less a good crisp beer. This brewery stationed in Rochester, N.Y. is brewing American Classics since 1878. They also make a nice variety of regular and seasonal beers that I can't wait to discover. This Cream Ale's website: http://www.geneseecreamale.com is pretty cool and includes a few recipes to combine with this fine ale. Once again like alot of american beers the alcohol content isn't indicated on the can or box but luckily for us, all the important info I was looking for was on the website. For a 12oz can its got 162 calories, 15 grams of carbs, 1 gram of protein and 56 mgs of sodium. Lets not forget 5.2% of alcohol. Introduced in 1960 this beer is recommendable.

8.6/10

7.99$ for 12x12 customary fluid oz cans in Maine

Schlitz Classic '60s Formula

You know why beers are usually 355ml? It is because this amount equals 12 US Customary fluid ounces. 341ml is also 12 ounces but this time in Imperial fluid ounces. We sometimes see 330ml in new or craft beers presumably to keep costs down marginally. In Australia they have 375ml witch is basically 750ml/2.

As for Schlitz, I was in Maine over the weekend and found a case of this beer I had been looking for. It is supposed to be the beer that made Milwaukee famous. Its not Genuine Gold but it will have to do. Very similar to Molson O'keefe, it is brewed by Jos Schlitz Brewing Co. in Milwaukee. The colour is nice and golden, perfectly carbonated. Little bite when it gets to the bottom of the throat, itsy bitsy tiny weeny aftertaste. A lot of beers from the U.S. do not indicate the alcohol volume on the packaging. I remember calling a help line a few years back to ask and I was informed it differed from one State to another.

9.99$ for 12x12 US Customary fluid ounces in Maine

8.3/10

Steeler by Lakeport

This beer is union made with a 5% alcohol by volume. Ok the first thing you gotta know is that you are drinking a 950ml can,therefore be (stay) thirsty my friends. Big format, drink it fast because it ain't getting better! For some reason people in Ontario say it is beer for hobos. Smells sweet. Has a really light texture to it, its extremely well carbonated almost like dish soap (?)It is marketed to the colours of the NFL team the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not so bad, not so great and the beer has a nice yellow colour also...


7.8/10

3.95$ for a 950ml in Ontario

Molson Dry Cold Shot 6.5

Here we have got something very interesting, as much as was impressed with the Molson Canadian Cold Shot this one was even better. Surprisingly is even more neutral tasting and is very well carbonated for a beer with nearly 7% alcohol content. Little punch in esophagus but nearly no aftertaste. The bull's eye is right on target the format is ideal. Except for the price this beer is great. DRINK VERY, VERY CHILLED as indicated!

12.50$ for 8x250ml in Quebec

8.8/10

Molson Canadian Cold Shot 6.0

The first heat wave of the summer was well timed with my visit to The Beer Store. Actually tastes like Molson Canadian with a little stronger alcohol content. The sleekest can possible is only 250ml and is at its best when really cold. It has a nice golden colour and is well carbonated. The format taste and makes you feel like you want to drink it all down in one sip, especially in this weather. The format is ideal for a little table beer or week night drink, as long as you don't drink the whole pack of course! The bull's eye is a little high on the can if you want to guzzle it down with a key. Goes down like a charm and reminds me of the Molson Dry Cold Shot. I will go and buy some soon to compare them side to side if they still exist of course! Simple good tasting macro-brewed beer. Brewed to 6.0% alcohol, this lager packs bold flavour you'd expect nothing less from a country strong and free.

10.00 for 8x250ml cans in Ontario

8.0/10

Michelob Ultra

2.6 grams or carbs/ 95 calories /0.5 grams of protein per 341ml serving. Nice sleek cans the way I love em! Interesting that they put the nutritional value on each can! 4% blond beer, good, light and hopefully ice cold! Exceptional is the right word to describe it. Brewed by Anheuser-Busch. Hopefully the price will come down eventually because its 18.99 for 12 cans of 355ml in Quebec witch is outrageous specially for a light beer. Marketed for athletes, similar to an energy drink witch I don't mind at all and find quite funny. I would buy more but for a lower price. We will have to wait and see what happens... 8.6/10

Boris

I go where I want to, because only freedom motivates my steps and my thoughts. I am not afraid. My values are those of a generation that has taken control of its existence and my future. I pledge allegiance to only one flag: my own THE ALSATIAN FLASK(regular) or the THE STRONG ALSATIAN(bold).

This morning after only a few hours of sleep I was woken up by my wife had a breakfast soup @ Ho Guom B.Y.O.B. Got myself some Boris. I found it was really well marketed and cheap! there is nice inspiring poetry on the can . It is a pilsner like beer, a nice refreshing blond. 5.5% Must try! The Alsatian Flask... 7.9/10

2.29$ for a 500ml in Quebec

The Boris Bold is also very enjoyable for a strong beer. Not strong tasting surprisingly! Its a tad sweet but most strong beers are! Better than the Navigator and just as cheap if not cheaper for a similar content. 8.6% The strong Alsatian... 7.9/10

2.29$ for a 500ml in Quebec

Brewed by Brasserie des Licornes Sas., 67701 Saverne France

ELLI WILL

Elli Will is brewed by Les Brasseurs du Hameau in Ham-Sud Quebec. It is a spruce beer with alcohol, quite rare but interesting concept. In fact, it has a 5.5% alcohol content. Brewing only 750 litres a week, this beer is from the smallest brewery in Canada. As for the taste it is quite mind boggling. I was expecting something sweet but it was instead very bitter and flavourful. It seemed just like if I was drinking the sap of a spruce. You know those little bubbles filled with sap on the bark that we used to constantly pop, as kids, and get all  sticky? North American Indians used to brush their teeth with this sap.That's why I know what it tastes like. I enjoyed it more than alot of micro-brewed beers but would I buy it again? I don't know we will just have to wait and see!

On a scale from 1 to 10, I give it 7.5/10 in its category of course.

5.99$ for a 500ml in Quebec

Prestige

What better than a Prestige imported from Haïti to bring a little sunshine on this first rainy weekend of June? Witch better way to accompany it but with a little Griot? This incredibly clear beer was very delicious if you ask me. Reminds me of the Antilles, Hispaniola. Winner of the 2000 World Beer Cup this American Style Lager took my breath away. Its 5.6% alcohol volume is dissimulated in its smooth and light taste colour and texture. Its slight hoppy end is always welcomed. Available @ the SAQ but often past due. Best bet : Dépanneur Bonaco on Bélanger Street corner 26^th avenue in Montreal, its always nice, fresh and cold. Enjoy! In 2011 Heineken publicly announced that they now own 95% of the shares in Brasserie Nationale d'Haïti. They used to have 22% this is probably why Prestige is now more and more available.

2.99$ for a 355ml in Quebec

9.2/10

Bud Light 4%

This one should be my type of beer, nice and clear and everything but I was disappointed. Let me tell you I tasted it well. I have been drinking it for four months in order to collect the NFL glasses they give free in every case. Really nice item tough they are engraved with logos of Superbowl winners. Unfortunately didn't have time to collect all 18, maybe that's a good thing. On the morning of this year's Superbowl as every good Giants fan would do, I went and bought a case of beer, and coincidence, I got the glass of the latest Superbowl Champions THE NEW YORK GIANTS They were also giving NHL t-shirts one time. If it wasn't for the merchandising I wouldn't be buying it! Light beers are fine on a nice hot summer day but just don't do it on Saturday night if you catch my drift! Doesn't even taste like Budweiser. The thing I dislike in this beer is its thickness... it is like slightly viscous and fills you up really fast unlike other light beers. At the end of the day it tastes a bit like a typical macro-brewry product so I still prefer it to alot of micro stuff. As you might notice one of these cases is a 24 and for some reasons it was 29.99$. Ten bucks for four more beers? Anyways for a while when my friends came over to my house I would request they bring a case of Superbowl edition Bud Light and kept all the emptys to take this picture! Lost a few pounds during this stretch but I don't this its related to the beer. Why don't they make the nutritional information sticker mandatory on beer?

Therefore in its category I give it a 6.4/10

19.99$ for 20x341ml in Quebec.

Sol 4.5%

Sol since 1899...This afternoon I had to modify my training regiment because my partner hurt his wrist yesterday. Ideal opportunity to work on our cardio. The program: 200m. 400m. 600m. 800m. 1000m. 800m. 600m. 400m. 200m. with 3 minute rest between distances. Afterwards we combined crunches and Russian twists and one minute of abdominal plank in a super-set for three sets.Three sets of back hyper-extensions completed our day. Now its time to enjoy a nice light summer beer on this hot sunny spring day. Sol is far from being widely distributed here but it is always possible to put your hand on a case if you know where to look. Imported straight from the Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma in Veracruz Mexico. The clear bottle makes it hard to preserve but mine was nice and fresh. I can be enjoyed with a hint of lime but is also quite nice without it. Its clear, light and has a nice head to it, nothing overwhelming about it, tastes just fine. A tiny aftertaste is surprising for this kind of beer but its subtility makes it good. This is my type of beer. What can I say? Taste it for yourself.

12.99$ for 12x330ml in Quebec

9/10

St-Ambroise Premium Taster's Pack by Mcauslan

This weekend was a great one! It was one of the first ones with nice weather this spring. I had three BBQs got up early made a lot of chores around the house and exercised sufficiently. I might have overindulged a little but it was all worth it and well deserved. One of my friend brought this box over to my place so we could have a try!

www.mcauslan.com

We started with the St-Ambroise India Pale Ale 5%

The first specialty beer to be bottled and sold in Quebec. Really tasted roasted wheat, bitter body and a very dark color for IPA. Not very magical if you ask me.

7/10

Than moved on to the Griffon Extra Blond 5%

I know it all depends on your mood, but this is the one I enjoyed the most a very nice yellow color but the taste is still too similar to the IPA. Its also a little sour by times. It says its faithful to the fine Quebec ales of the 1940's and 1950's whatever that means...

7.4/10

Followed by the Griffon Red Ale 4.5%

This cold filtered red ale has an intense smell of wheat. Tastes like the bottom of a copper canyon with a bitter ending. At the end of the day it is a red ale just in between commercial and artisan ones. Long to digest and heavy in the stomach.

7/10

And Finished with the St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale 5%

One of the trademark beers of this brewery. At first taste it is similar to Domingo Coolers. Tastes very artificial but not very sweet in order to keep the taste of the beer. Very fruity, its the king of beer that you split with someone or that you enjoy only occasionally like it says on the label. Probably the only one of the four that I would try again. In a bad situation I might go for the extra blond.

7.2/10

14.99$ for 12 x 341ml in Quebec

Valentins Hefeweissbier 5.3%

I was too lazy to hit the gym after work today, probably still recovering from my prom this weekend. After dinner I felt kind of guilty so I went for a run. It felt pretty good in the light drizzle and fog of early May. After my run I hit the convenience store near the park and was very surprised to find this beer I had never heard of. In fact the whole label was strictly in German. The flat 3.00$ price might also be an indicator that I will have trouble finding more. Well not too big of a problem because I didn't really enjoy it. Orange white cloudy colour. A bitter wheat taste and its flat in two shakes of a lamb's tail! According to the website it was named after St-Valentines the patron saint of lovers. Too bad it did not make a good first impression on me. The best before date under the can wasn't until 2013. Who knows more people may try to market it but I doubt it!

3.00$ for a 500ml in Québec

6.2/10

Rickard's Dark English Style Porter

Ehhh I hate the new blogger! Yeah so I'm drinking dark beer because its dark and raining and cold... depressing can't wait for the nice weather, got all wet going to work on my bike today and ran a 5k afterwards in the rain once again, the motivation is low and the time is quite normal 24min. 43 sec. I had tasted it a few times before and had brainstormed on it during march madness with my friends associating it with Louisville the dark horse getting to the final four. Unbelievable the are still selling the Movember marketed cans in April but it seems to have kept well.  This 4.8% beer is not too bitter for my taste. It has a reddish brown colour when you look at it in the light. A little "stoutty" aftertaste can be figured out. It has a smokey sweet taste. Its very enjoyable and its interesting that its brewed with maple syrup from Quebec. It is not too sweet like other maple beers. Delicious dark beer even for the ones who are not big fans of dark beer. Not very creamy either! I would go for it again anytime...

2.50$ for a 473ml in Quebec

8.6/10

Sapporo

Just came back from 34 laps or swimming, damn I ain't no fish... my technique is terrible and due to exactly that boy is it a workout. Here is a little beer to reward myself and relax on this nice spring Thursday night.Had to do this taste test a few more times than for other beers because once it was hot from the bottles @ Poody's birthday and the next time it had a sweet skunky taste out of a can. This Japanese beer is brewed in Guelph for residents on Québec. I would probably prefer it if enjoyed in Sapporo, Asahikawa or Shinhidaka, but as high as my expectations where as much I was deceived, overall is a good beer but the hype around it is way to high. High points are the colour and its life, there is constant action in your glass till its empty. For this can size I have to say the poring is way better in the tallboy format than in this nice but ineffective format. I have to say this is probably not the last time I will have an encounter with this beer because of its popularity but my impressions are mixed emotions. For a premium beer they should make sure it is always kept cold and never put in direct sunlight but I guess that is very hard to regulate. At least put a production date or an expiration or best before on the can for me to decide if its a good bet to buy or not! What are your comments on this one? 5% alc./vol.

4.99$ for a 650ml in Québec

6.9/10

Last day of the season means the beginning of the next

Woke up early this Saturday morning, decided to go fishing and try out my newly fixed bike, drank half a coffee witch I rarely do but it was cold out. About 1 degree but it quickly got up to 7. Nice and sunny on the fifth cast I got this nice yellow walleye probably the biggest I caught up to now I would say about 18 inches maybe more. Tomorrow the new season starts and the only species we can fish for more than a month will be Carp and Shad bohhooo... I will have to find a new spot and figure out new techniques. Hope the subsistence fisherman don't continue to keep their catches.

Rickard's White

I tasted and commented on it last weekend with a few of my friends after an afternoon of touch-football and soccer. Coming back from work today on my bike my chain broke and I had to walk to the repair shop. The repairs who set me back 100$ left me with an hour to kill. On this beautiful sunny but chilly Friday afternoon I decided to walk in to a convenience store a get myself a nice beer to pass the time. Brewed with orange peels and coriander, this 5.4% beer is very perfumed both to the taste and smell. The orange taste is very light but the coriander is very flavorful. You can even see tiny pieces of it in the beer. The collar falls extremely quickly witch says a lot about the texture. The big punch comes with the aftertaste that ends with a little bit of sweet citrus. Ideal to be enjoyed between breakfast and lunch or brunch as we call it!

2.50$ for a 473ml in Québec

G: 8/10

Q: 7.7/10

M: 6.9/10

Smithwick's draught 5%

Montréal hosts the longest running St-Patrick's day parade in Canada and controversy roams around witch city between Boston and New York holds the title in North America or even the world. Always great fun, I put this celebration up with Christmas and the Superbowl to be my favorites! I've been attending for the last 5 years. Tons of stories and memories are made on the Sunday following St-Patrick's day. In the morning I enjoy a few beers, special coffee and sometimes an Irish Car Bomb. Smithwick's is an Irish ale, reddish brown in color, this particular batch was brewed in Dublin in July 2011(we are now in march). The importation process seem to be very unkind for these European beers because the ones I have tasted in London where better by far. I can taste these red beers close to my scapulas and my spine. I don't know if its the enthusiasm around this festivity or the fact that I’m drinking beer in the morning but I really enjoyed this beer in its category. Not too bitter and a short tasty aftertaste comes following a light bitterness.

2.25$ for a 500ml in Québec

7.6/10

Harp's Lager 5%

This morning while at the grocery store I picked up a few packs of Irish beer recently arrived and marketed for St-Patrick's day. After a Jameson coffee I walked with my brother to some middle eastern butcher shop in order to buy lamb for an Irish stew. I am now ready to enjoy. This is a nice lager from the makers of Guiness. Its brewed in Dundalk Ireland so it can be considered a genuine import. Sometime the imports we get here are brewed here following the recipe. Tasted like the actual beer you can drink at a real brew pub. Nothing really overwhelms you while tasting it witch is good but also makes it hard to comment on. You either like it or you don't! Its a generic lager from a country that doesn't brew alot of lagers. Seems harder at first than it actually is. Goes down like a charm. There is a light bitterness to it at the end that can be quite enjoyable. Nice yellowish color. Coppery?

2.25$ for a 500ml in Québec

7.8/10

Navigator of Holland

Since 1275 strong 8.4% beer. 1275, that's a really long time ago, the first documented time they cited Amsterdam instead of Amstelland. Beers are often better when packaged in a can. This strong beer is typical, a smooth beginning bitter in the middle with a sweet flavorful citrus like ending that doesn't linger. It seems to have a feminine side to it. Light,fresh smelling with a syrupy texture and golden color. Not very carbonated obviously therefore the collar quickly goes down. Excellent match with my spicy chili con carne. Sort of, rather than specially, recommended for strong beer ''connaisseurs'' might scare away a few Coors Light aficionados. Looks good, cool can but easy to bash, because you gotta be in the mood to enjoy fully! In its category I would give it a 6/10. At least it doesn't smell like sewer water and tastes like skunk ass! I remember seeing it in 10% also, I wonder if they still make it.

500ml for 2.69$ in Québec

Wernesgrüner

German pilsener, I find that pilseners are a type of beer that don't varie very much in taste. They are a sure shot. A little heavier in content and taste than blonde ales but they have a powerful and distinctive kick. Their bitterness is subtle and stays in the back of the pallet. This one was fairly old, I bought it a few months ago when I went up to the cottage to work with the chainsaw. It obviously kept well because its in a can and also because its a pilsener. The smell is surprisingly fresh almost fruity, but hard to identify. I might have to retake the taste test since I just shovelled the whole driveway and got pretty, thirsty pretty fast. Very generic large batch beer just like I love. I do recommend! 4.9% Brewed according to the German Purity Law*.

*This law was created in 1516 and dictated that the only ingredients used to brew beer must be barley, hops and water and only of premium quality in order to prevent people from drinking poor standard and potentially lethal beverages. Remember that the water supplys back then where often tainted.

www.wernesgruener.com

Let's get this thing back on track!

I realise I haven't written at all in the last year or so but i'm back and i'm here to stay I hope. I'm going to transform this blog into a beer blog but will keep on posting on physical activity. A little contradictory you might think but to my eyes complementary. I've recently bought the new encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger to enhance my training. Recently I have been doing a 3x a week full body regiment to get back into it accompanied by 2-3x a week yoga. For extra motivation I subscribed myself and 18 of my friends to the Spartan Sprint in Mont Tremblant in june. Not that i'm going to run it as fast as I can, but just to make it easier on me. A few fine brews before start time will probably make my run more enjoyable! Alot has happened since i've written on here, a senior football season with no victorys, an undefeated season and championship in the arena football league, a concussion, a half marathon under two hours, new fishing spots, a well accomplished Movember fundraiser, a bachelors degree and many more events have kept me occupied. Enough said lets keep in touch from now on!

Mahalo!

Mr. Hyde 6.7%

A few weeks ago on a sunny allstar sunday with nothing to do, I decided to go to Vankleek Hill Ontario with my brother, my girlfriend and one of my attorneys and his wife. We sped down the highway with only one highwayside bathroom break (snowbank) to finally arrive in a small town where people nod at you at the gas station. We bursted in to the brewry, unexpected out of towners, an hour or so before closing time. After two tiny samplers, we started to hoard the counter with our order. Next thing you know we find 2$ underfills of lug thread (their blond beer) so we crack a few open for the 3 minute tour of the factory only to learn shortly after that it wasn't allowed to do so. After an evening @the Winsor Tavern and supper @the Blueberry pub we went back home with a few litres of beer. This morning as I woke up I had in mind of buying a rye bread for some toast and what better way to accompany it but with rye beer? Mr. Hyde is a very bitter organic rye beer (30%). The best compliment I can give it is its creaminess, or maybe its label or even its bottle witch is very typical of the Beau's brewerie. Tastes are very individual, but personally this wasn't my favourite. Damn beautiful bottles tough but the redemption on them range from 0.80$ to 4.00$ and you can't sell em anywhere. Its so hard to recycle and bring back your emptys nowadays even if its the law, but lets not get me started on that! Back to Mr. Hyde, this bronze or copper colored beer has a very long lasting aftertaste that stays with you like the pain of a punch in the mouth, its almost chocking. The alcohol content is 6.7% witch is rare in a beer. Anyways I'll be back there someday to bring back my bottles and probably will try the Dr. Jekyll.

BEAU'S ALL NATURAL BREWING CO.

10 TERRY FOX DR.

VANKLEEK HILL, ONTARIO, CANADA