Naughty & Spiced ... Winter Porter from Russell!

As we dip into the Holiday season, I have been wanting to sink into a good brew to get me started. I've already had the GIB Winter Ale, which is a staple to anyone in B.C., and the Whistler Winter Ale, which is the hidden gem of winter ales in B.C.

However, I have yet to taste a 2013 version of a Winter Porter, until tonight. My girlfriend brought me the Russell Naughty & Spiced Porter (6.5% ABV; 30 IBU). She bought it out of the blue...because she knows my 3 favourite things, and beer is one of them.

I popped the bottle open, and poured into my glass, only to be initially saddened by a lack of head from the pour. Honestly, it looks like every other porter under the head. You can't see through the damn glass; that's a porter for you.

Russell Brewing Co. Naughty & Spiced Porter @ Brewji's House

During the initial smell test, it smells like a black porter would, strong hints of roasted malts, and cocoa powder. However, the bottle says it's naughty and spiced. I could barely sniff a hint of something, but couldn't tell what it was.

As I took my first sip, I could immediately taste hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. It smelled like a little bit of the holidays thrown into a porter. The inital taste was surprisingly good. The texture and mouthfeel were calm and smooth. This brew is very drinkable, especially for being 6.5%.

What would I pair this with? A gingerbread cookie. Seriously.

My girlfriend's sister baked me a delicious assortment of baked goods, consisting of gingerbread cookies, among other things. The gingerbread cookie went so well with this beer. Having this beer without a gingerbread cookie would be like drinking rich hot chocolate without whipped cream.

If you get a chance this holiday season -- regardless of what you celebrate, this brew is a great addition to any stocking. If you're just in the mood for a brew, this will do, too!

The Russell Brewing Co. Naughty & Spiced Porter gets a silky, smooth, and spiced 8.5 / 10

Saison Dupont

I know the season is over, but I didn't have time to write about this particular saison, which I ended up snapping up in the early Fall.

My girlfriend and I headed to Spud Shack Fry Co. for their delicious poutine, and because they have a selection of beer that isn't a plethora of North American econo-lagers. I don't normally review food in blogs, because I would look like a disgusting pig after the first month of posts, but the fries at Spud Shack are definitely worth a go.

The best part isn't actually their poutine (which is superb), but rather their custom dipping sauces. They have their own version of bacon mayonnaise which combined with their gravy and the Saison Dupont (ABV 6.5%), makes a human feel like they're in heaven.

From Brasserie Dupont in Belgium, this seasonal brew is raved about by hipsters all over the place. I think that this time, their thick-rimmed glasses and moustaches have got something right. But my average beer-appreciating personality will put Belgium's "finest" saison to the test:

Saison Dupont by Brasserie Dupont, @ Spud Shack Fry Co., New Westminster B.C.

The beer pours a beautiful golden colour, and has a crisp 1/4 inch of head that does not dissipate quickly. The aroma of citrus, and maybe melons? Maybe even banana peel? I don't know, but it's quite the mix.

On first sip, a little malt at first, then a little spice, and then the fruit kicks in. It's a smooth curve of tastes that flow one into the other. None overpowers the other, but each is just right. It's a delicate balance, and it's done quite well.

I thought that Granville Island did a good job with their saison, but then I tried this. This wins, hands-down. Comparing this brew to the saison from Granville Island is like comparing Pavel Bure to Mason Raymond. To each their own, right?

In the end, the suspender-strapped, vinyl-wielding hipsters were right. The Saison Dupont is the home-run of the Saison class. If you haven't had a chance to get your hands on one this year, stick around for next year's run! It's worth a bottle or two.

The Saison Dupont gets a cooler-than-cassette-tapes 9.0 / 10

Russell's Angry Scotch Ale

Wouldn't ye like a wee bit o' scotch in yer ale?

Okay, I'll stop typing like I'm crazy. I really liked everything I've tried so far from Russell Brewing, especially the Blood Alley Bitter, which I have a review on if you scroll back far enough in time.

Lately, I indulged in the Angry Scotch Ale (ABV 6.5%; 30 IBU).

On first pour, it has an amazing dark, rich, cocoa-caramel colour, with a 1/4 inch of head. It dissipated before I could take my picture, but it poured well. It smells sweet, with toasty malt notes and caramel. At some angles, it looks like I poured a stout, and some angles (with bright light behind it), you can see the dark reddish-tan colour of the beer.

On first sip, my smelling senses confirmed the tastes. Delicious hints of smoke, oak, caramel, malt, toffee, mmmm tasty! It's complex, layered, but it is decadent and not cluttered. The flavours flow together and bring a richness not found in many other brews.

As an experiment, I paired the beer with my friend's home-made chocolate syrup topping. It brings out the richness and compliments the flavour of the beer. We mixed this flavour combination up a little bit, but I think a spoonful of that syrup is the best fit solution for this beer so far.

Overall, the Angry Scotch Ale is by far a brew that makes me an antonym of Angry. This melody of flavours melds into one solid beer to appreciate. If you have never picked this up, do it.

The Russell Brewing Angry Scotch Ale gets a not-so-angry 9.0 / 10

GIB - Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse

Hey all, I've been occupied with my new full time position at a local chocolate company (mainly eating chocolates and getting fat), and I haven't been able to post a quality review for some time now.

That aside, the fine folks at Granville Island Brewing sent me their Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse, and at 2.8% ABV, with an IBU of 8, I was sceptical to say the least. I have had sour beers before, but none were even close to the lightness in alcohol content or bitterness. What was it like? Let's see.

Granville Island Brewing - Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse @ Brewji's House

As you can see, the label design on the bottle has a similar graphical theme to the Thirsty Farmer Saison label. I quite like it, but I'm here to drink it, not to fancy the look of the label.

The brew poured a hazy, orange-yellow, with a generous enough carbonation to it. It's got a little bit of white head, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch worth. It smells great too, as there's almost no strength to the alcohol content to the beer, it allows the other ingredients to come across in the aroma. I smell citrus zest, overall citrus-y smells and a hint of something that reminds me of a yogurt-like drink. It must be the lacotbacillus bacteria content (the same stuff that's in yogurt).

This is what it looked like when poured in a glass. Mmm...beer.

On taste, it was much, much lighter than I expected. I guess I've never had a beer with an IBU of 8 before, and there was virtually no bitterness. The citrus-y taste kind of died down after a little bit, and I was left with an after taste of the slight tartness. I've had sour beers before, and they focus on that puckering gross taste, where this one is light and fresh.

This is most definitely my choice for introducing someone to the sour beer family, as it's light in ABV, a very weak and almost non-existent bitterness palette, and it's got that light tartness to it, which overall flows well together and makes for an easy-drinking beer.

Overall, this was something that I've never tried, and unless it was asked upon me to drink this, I probably wouldn't have risked it. But you know what? Sometimes going out of your comfort zone to try a beer pays off in a good way. This is one of those times.

The Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse from Granville Island Brewing gets a newly refreshing 8.0 / 10

Thirsty Farmer Saison - Granville Island Brewery

Hey all, this is the first time in my life where I've actually had a brewery send me their product for a review! I was so happy when I got this, that I even made a video! But, the video doesn't contain my review, it contains a weird experiment that I had to make an omelette. It didn't go as planned, because someone in the house ate all my ingredients.

Nonetheless, I am here today with the Granville Island Brewery (GIB) Thirsty Farmer Saison (6.2% ABV; 30 IBU). This is a limited edition brew from GIB, and it always in the past has saddened me to learn of a limited edition brew from them, because I've generally wanted their limited editions as regulars (such as the Chocolate Imperial Stout...mmm). Today, I opened my bottle, finally, and ran around the house looking for a bottle opener as I'd lost my regular opener.

Thirsty Farmer Saison by Granville Island Brewery @ Brewji's Home

Thirsty Farmer Saison by Granville Island Brewery @ Brewji's Home

In that time, the beer warmed up (from the fridge) to the recommended 7 to 12 degrees Celsius. I poured it in the glass and got a hazy light to golden yellow with a quarter inch of head. It looked beautiful. It looked quite similar to the Driftwood White Bark, actually, and smelled just like it too. The nose offered me some malt, bitterness, and hints of orange and/or grapefruit peels. Mainly orange peel I guess, since it has no resemblance whatsoever to a west coast IPA.

Then I dove in for my first sip, I got bready Belgian yeast and malt at first, then a hint of the orange peel and a touch of sweetness, and then a dry wheat beer after-taste. It was absolutely, surprisingly, delicious. I rated my previous favourite wheat beer as the White Bark from Driftwood, but this has to edge it out. I'm not quite sure why, but it might have something to do with the 6.2% ABV, or it might just be the flavour combinations put together. Either way, I was never really a fan of wheat beers until the White Bark came along, and never liked many except for that one. But I'm adding a new one to the favourites list today!

The Thirsty Farmer Saison is most definitely a sipper brew. Do not chug this, do not use it in a game of flip cup or kings or whatever the hell goes on in the summer time while I'm at work. This is a precious brew that needs the respect that it offers you as a brew-admirer.

Picture a small, neighbourhood pub with a patio and 3 to 4 good buddies sharing a pitcher of the best hefeweizen you've ever had. Get yourself a safe ride home and make this your beer. Done and done.

Now, before I go, I promised a video. It's not the best, but hey, I get to write about beer and get paid for it. How many people can say that?

Hurry to the liquor store as this is a limited brew!

The Granville Island Brewery Thirsty Farmer Saison gets a surprisingly incredible 9.0 / 10

4-Brew Taster!

Hey folks, it's been awhile! I just graduated from university, so I had to find a job in between my last blog post and now. Found one thanks to my buddy Danny! Climbing up the corporate ladder, one beer at a time.

So to celebrate the joyous occasion, I had a 4-brew taster down at the Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub in Burnaby. What did I taste?

- Four Winds Brewing Co. Saison (ABV unknown)
- Cannery Brewing Blackberry Porter (ABV 6%)
- Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears (ABV 6%)
- Granville Island Uncle Monty's Best Bitter (ABV 3.6%).

Four Winds Saison || Cannery Blackberry Porter || Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears || Granville Island Uncle Monty's
@ Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub, Burnaby BC

First off, we have the Four Winds Brewing Co. Saison. The smells to me have yeast, spices, and wheat. Being a saison, it's not supposed to be a strong brew. For those of you who don't know, the saison beer was brewed for seasonal farm workers; usually it brewed through the fall and winter, and was drinkable in summer. They were generally low ABV, as it was the closest thing to clean water that could keep the farmers hydrated and not die from water-borne illness. Pretty cool, huh?

Anyways, on first sip, I got a very nice, dry mouthfeel, and it stayed all the way through. It tasted like the smells, but also had a hint of fruit. Four Winds Brewing Co. is the newbie in town, and maybe it's just me, but I think they've notched the saison. It's usually not at the top of my list, but this brew just has a light to moderate taste, not offensive at all, and is very mellow. I'd recommend this to anyone -- it's one of those "good at any point of the summer" brews. Coming home from work, maybe at a lunch, or even a dinner. I don't know what other people would pair food-wise with this beer, but I feel it would pair well with yam fries or pecan pie. Just my personal preference.

Overall, the Four Winds Brewing Co. Saison gets a where-have-you-been-all-my-summers 8.5 / 10

--

Secondly, I got a taster of the Cannery Brewing Blackberry Porter. Keep in mind, I've had this once before, but I wasn't doing reviews back then. Everything I've tried from Cannery so far has been stellar, especially their Maple Stout. If you haven't tried that, do it. That aside, this porter pours like any other, dark and rich. The smell is great, like a flavoured porter should be. It has sweet scents as if you're smelling part of a blackberry jam (wouldn't that have made an awesome phone name?).

The taste is just as it smells. I love my stouts and porters, and I hold the standards pretty high. Nonetheless, if you're new to the darker brews, and aren't a fan of maple or chocolate, then this is the brew for you! If you don't like maple or chocolate, you need new taste buds.

The Cannery Brewing Blackberry Porter gets a sweet 8.5 / 10

--

My third brew is the Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale from Parallel 49. I had high hopes for this one, as I've tasted a few of their brews that I really loved. Their Hoparazzi and VCBW 2013 Altbier were incredible. I tried to dampen my hopes as I smelled this one. I didn't want to set the standards too high. I smelled malty notes, it kind of smelled just like a Rickard's Red. Not the best sign, but hey, smell isn't always 100% accurate.

I took the first sip and kind of cringed at the taste. I was just expecting more, it felt watered down. In fact, I think the first words that came out of my mouth at the table were "Watered down Rickard's Red". Don't get me wrong, I really like me a Rickard's Red, but one thing I don't like is watered down brews. Maybe it was the keg, but the Hop has been pretty stellar when it comes to the quality of their brews. Just not really a fan of this one. But hey, if you like really light-tasting red ales that might be disappointing, this one's for you!

The Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale gets a Molson-did-it-better 4.5 / 10

--

Last one on the list is Uncle Monty's Best Bitter from Granville Island . You know what an ESB is, if you've read my blog (or perhaps you're Googling it now), but this is something different. You know how the econo-brands are releasing light beers for the summer? The ones with low ABV, some with low calories, and definitely low taste? Well, the fine folks at Granville Island have come up with the solution to all that mess. Meet Uncle Monty -- part light beer, part bitter.

It smells like an ESB would, malty and all. The kicker? It's 3.6% ABV, that's lighter than most light beers. Now keep in mind, it's not going to be mind-blowingly full of flavour like a full 6% bitter, but it has to be the most rock-solid light beer on the market. For all of us that want something lighter once in awhile, but don't want to have to turn to a garbage cup of urine, or sorry, Molson 67, we get to have something delicious instead!

What does it taste like? Well there's the most important question. It's got it's malty notes up front, followed by what would normally be a punch of flavour from a bitter, but instead a watered version of that. You can still notice some grapefruit, and something a bit sweeter like caramel. It almost reminds you that you're drinking a lighter beer, but it still feels good. And that's the best part, you still feel good because it tastes good and it's 3.6%. Pair this brew with BBQ or hot wings, even beef dip sandwiches and if you stretch it, maybe a poutine.

Because it's a light beer, I will rate it in terms of a light beer.
Oh yeah, this is a limited time brew. Go get some!

Uncle Monty's Best Bitter from GIB gets a holy-crap-I-can-enjoy-a-light-beer 9.0 / 10

---

Hope you liked the 4-brew taster review!
Do you like the taster format, or the single brew posts?

Cheers!

Steamworks - Raspberry Frambozen

Hey everyone, it's getting close to summer time, and you know what that means? Summer seasonal brews are coming to town! Well actually, they've already arrived. I've had the chance to sample some of this year's best, and today, I have to let you know about the 2013 Steamworks Raspberry Frambozen (ABV 8.5%). I've been told about this one before, and always meant to try it. Last time I went to Steamworks, I had their Empress IPA, so I was excited to have their summer seasonal. I tried the Frambozën at the Hop and Vine in Burnaby.

I ordered this brew on tap, as it was on special that night. I thought I'd seen it before, but my buddy Danny ordered it and it looked completely different from when I was at Steamworks. This poured a deep reddish amber colour. Plus, I could smell the Raspberry from where I was sitting. When I got it, I realized it looks nothing like other fruit beers. So I took a sniff, and it smelled like a tart raspberry, mixed with a bit of a Belgian ale. If you're unfamiliar with the smell of a Belgian ale, imagine yeast-y scents. But the tart raspberry was en par with the Belgian ale smell. Deliciously tempting for that first sip.

Steamworks Raspberry Frambozën - @ Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub, Burnaby B.C.

As I dove into this brew, the taste was impeccable. I initially got a hit of the tart raspberry, and the Belgian ale taste, but no one flavour overpowered any other flavour. It stayed in perfect balance all through the sip. It had a long finish, as the taste lingered, but at no point was the brew too bitter, too sweet, or too anything. The alcohol content in this beer is 8.5%, and it drinks like a 5.5% beer. It's so smooth, and goes well with anything summer. It's definitely a patio beer, and I'd rank it at the top of the charts. If you're a lager person, you'll like the Helles Lager that I reviewed from Central City. If you're a fruity beer or pale ale kind of person, you'll absolutely love this as your summer beer.

I ended up drinking almost half of the brew before Danny reminded me to take a picture. It's best to sip on this one, as the high alcohol content can deliver the buzz faster than normal. The most stand-out characteristic of this beer is that it's a Belgian Triple, at 8.5%, and the taste is just perfectly balanced. There is no way you can leave this one untapped, as it's probably one of the best summer brews you'll ever have.

The Steamworks Raspberry Frambozen gets a sweet, perfectly balanced 9.5 / 10

ALTBIERE from the VCBW (Vancouver Craft Beer Week) - Parallel 49

The holy grail of the Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) is the highly anticpated Altbiere (5.8% ABV, 50 IBU). Why? Because 14 different breweries had a hand in crafting this altbier, which is supposed to top the Crooked Coast from Driftwood Brewery. That's definitely a difficult task if any.

What am I waiting for? Let's do this!

ALTBIERE from Parallel 49 (& Collaborators) for Vancouver Craft Beer Week

There's a picture of the bottle, in case you want to skip the review and go grab one right away. (Hint: You might want to do that before it sells out).

ALTBIERE from Parallel 49 (& Collaborators) for Vancouver Craft Beer Week

Okay, so I poured this baby into my glass, and it's beautiful. It's a very dark brown/amber and has excellent carbonation. I can see it in the side of the glass. There's a quarter inch of head and it doesn't just dissipate like other beers. This is a solid contender from the get-go.

On first sniff, I get hints of breads, caramel malt, and some greenery like grass or flowers or some plant stuff. I'm not the best with flowers. Gotta ask my girlfriend for that kinda stuff. Anyways, it smells incredible.

The first sip is surprisingly good. This is a true Altbier done in every possible way to keep it completely real. I don't know how to explain it in a better way. Girls: It's like buying that real $3000 bag for the price of a fake. Guys: It's like ordering a Hyundai from a dealership and getting a Lamborghini instead.

There is no overwhelming flavour; everything is well-balanced. It's like all the breweries got together and put the best of everything they have into one beer. This is remarkable. This is most definitely a sipper beer, for those who don't know a lot about altbiers.

The texture of the beer is quite dry, not overwhelming at all, and has a moderate thickness. Not too thin like a lager, and not thick like a porter.

Would I buy another? OF COURSE! This is probably one of the best beers I've ever had. It's on my top five for sure.

What are you waiting for? Go and get one before they're all gone!


The ALTBIERE from Parallel 49 (& Collaborators) gets a deliciously perfect 10 / 10

Laid Back Lager? More like Low Budget Lager.

So Danny and I went to the Hop and Vine about a month ago, just before the Canucks golfing season began. We decided to watch the game, and grab a pitcher of what was on special. I thought, "Hey, Big Surf is a B.C. brewery, we should be good." We ordered a pitcher of the Big Surf Beer Co.'s Laid Back Lager (5% ABV).

The beer came in a bright yellow, almost a neon too-many-vitamins-in-my-urine yellow. There was some head that didn't stick around too long, and it smelled like a stale Molson Canadian. Danny and I just looked at each other, and we figured "Well, it's a lager, it should go down without much of a fight."

My first sip into this beer, and wow. Laid Back Lager should be changed to Cat Pee. The taste of this beer reminds me of the smell of cat pee, mixed with the smell of Molson 67. I'm sorry, Big Surf, but there is no way in hell I'm going to order anything from you guys without a taste test first.

Big Surf Beer Co. Laid Back Lager @ Hop and Vine, Burnaby B.C.

Maybe it was old, near the end of the keg. Maybe it was a bad batch, maybe. There are a lot of possibilities, but the one I'm sticking with is that this beer is just plain garbage.

If you're looking for a North American-style lager that actually has some merit and would knock this one out of the park (faster than San Jose knocked the Canucks out of the first round), then try the Mt. Begbie "High Country Kolsch" -- it's a far superior beer.

The picture above might look okay, but I'd say look elsewhere, pretend you never drank this one, and move on.

The Big Surf Laid Back Lager gets a disappointing "who-mixed-my-Molson-with-cat-pee" 1.5 / 10

Perfect Patio Beer! Helles Lager from Red Racer.

I have discovered the beer of the summer! It's the perfect patio beer, goes down smooth, and has just enough flavour to satisfy your taste buds. Serve this baby ice cold, or head down to Central City Brew Pub in Surrey to grab one on tap! Okay okay, I won't spoil it. I went to White Rock with my girlfriend, and decided to stop over on our way home at the Central City Brew Pub for a beer. I hadn't seen the Helles Lager (ABV and IBU unavailable) there before, so I decided to give it a try.

I received my beer, and it looked pretty standard to me. Honestly, when I smelled it, it kind of just smelled like a normal lager, so I wasn't too excited to dive into it. Then I took my first sip. I looked up at my girlfriend and said "This is one you'll actually like."

She took a sip and was quite pleased with the taste. This, my friends, is my Summer 2013 patio beer of choice. It has lower carbonation, and a slightly different taste to it. By different, I mean it has an almost indescribable difference. The words that come to mind are "crustiness" and "rough". Not in a bad way, though. Serve this baby ice cold, sit on a patio in that perfect lawn chair, and enjoy the company of friends!

Red Racer Helles Lager @ Central City Brew Pub, Surrey B.C.

As you can see in the picture, it looks just like a normal lager. However, taste the difference and you'll be surprised just how enjoyable this brew really is.

What's the difference between a Helles Lager and a normal lager? Well, there was a point in time where German brewers were worried that new lagers that were being brewed by other countries of Europe (like the Czechs), would lure their German customers to drink the new brews. So they came up with the Munich Helles Lager, and saved themselves! Bet you didn't know that. Thank goodness they came up with this beer! Now we can all enjoy it. I hope this stays on tap for the rest of the summer.

The Red Racer Helles Lager gets a refreshing, "get-out-the-lawn-chairs" 8.5 / 10

Lost Lake Unfiltered IPA

Now I've never made a post about an IPA for people that are new to IPAs. But this one deserves the crown. I've been asked by a few people which IPA they want to get into, as their significant other, or some friends are getting into the beer scene. Keep in mind, a true IPA is usually packed with flavour. Keith's "IPA" is not an IPA.

If you think you really like the Alexander Keith's IPA, well, that's actually a lager. I don't know how they got away with it, but the Keith's IPA is just another macro-brew econo-lager. Keep in mind though, that the Keith's Red, White, and Dark are all worthy of a taste.

ANYWAY, I was at my local pub the other day, and decided to sit down and try the Whistler Brewing Lost Lake Unfiltered IPA (6.8%, 75 IBU). The beer itself, at 6.8% is stronger than your average brew, and packs some solid taste, while at the same time, not overpowering your taste buds.

The reason I say this is a great IPA for people that are wanting to try an IPA without being overwhelmed with nasty, bitter, undrinkable characteristics, is because this beer packs flavour. I mean, you'll get the bittnerness of the IPA, but at the same time, you'll get well-rounded characteristics which don't overpower each other. This is a true IPA, which means it's a sipper beer.

Whistler Lost Lake Unfiltered IPA (6.8%, 75 IBU)
Blame my iPhone 4 for the picture quality.

On first sniff (always make sure to sniff test...mmm hops), I get a nose of hops, citrus peels, and maybe a slight undertone of caramel malt. It's pretty much your standard west coast IPA smell.

On taking the first sip, it comes out strong at first. The bitterness is the first taste you get, followed by a mellowing out of the bitterness, being replaced by the citrus and malty flavours of the brew. The mellowing out of the flavours is the key to having this be a transition into liking IPAs. It still packs IPA flavour, but allows the taste buds to enjoy all of the flavours without packing too much punch.

The flavours are well balanced, and there is no disappointment in the craftsmanship put into this beer. It pours a great amber colour, exactly the right amount of head, and goes down smooth. I highly recommend this beer to both new IPA drinkers, and to seasoned beer geeks like myself.

The Whistler Brewing Lost Lake Unfiltered IPA gets a well rounded, give-me-another-one 8.5 / 10

I'm back! GIB Irish Red!

So I'm back from the hiatus I was temporarily on...coming back strong with the Irish Red (ABV 5.6%), released by Granville Island Brewing Co. en lieu of St. Patrick's Day 2013. I picked it up from the liquor store and was really excited to try it, seeing as I like most brews from GIB.

I let it chill in the fridge and got it down to about 5 degrees Celsius, popped the top and poured it in my glass. I noticed right away I could smell notes of an IPA, which kind of threw me off as to what I might get in terms of taste. There were a lot of hoppy notes and I couldn't really tell what I was smelling because of the confusion in my head. I swear I thought I smelled IPA...maybe it was my lack of beer and perhaps my sense of smell is just rusty.

The brew poured well, with a smidge of head that dissipated away.

Granville Island Brewing Co.'s "Irish Red" (ABV 5.6%)

I took the first sip of the Irish Red and was kind of disappointed actually. It tasted like someone mixed a little bit of their Brockton IPA into a red ale. After a few more sips, the tastes began to grow on me. There are some other grains in the taste, and some fermented fruit. Obviously there will be some fermented fruit, but this doesn't taste too citrusy. Perhaps apricot? It's a complicated taste, and I think that's why it took so long to grow on me.

Nonetheless, if you take your first sip and aren't immediately impressed, I wasn't either. However, the taste does grow on you and you won't be too depressed afterwards. This would go great at a bar if you're sitting down with some friends and enjoying sip after sip in a long conversation. This is a sipping beer (in case you didn't already get that).

It wouldn't be my first choice at a bar, but definitely wouldn't be my last. I think I would prefer to stick with the Granville Island pale ale or IPA instead of this, but it's definitely an interesting brew for this time of year.

Brew-lovers, pick one up, it's the least you can do in order to try something that actually stands out from the rest!

My personal rating might not reflect others' ratings, because a lot of my friends have liked this much more than me.

The Granville Island Brewing Co. Irish Red Ale gets an actually-unique-tasting 7.5 / 10

St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout

Highly debated as the best oatmeal stout in Canada, the St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout (ABV 5.0%; IBU 45) from Brasserie McAuslan Brewery in Quebec is something I've had before, but have yet to review on Brewji.

The story of the first time I had this stout is part of the reason why I needed to give it another go. I was at a friend's birthday party one summer, woke up hungover after too many jello shots that were made in muffin trays (don't ask...), and my friend, being part Irish and part German, had no hangover.

He handed me a beer, told me it was "like a Guinness, but tastier and feels like breakfast". He wasn't wrong. If you are new to stouts, as I was at the time, you will realize how this trumps a Guinness any day of the week. I opened the bottle, poured myself a glass, and it tasted like a coffee-hinted stout with a feeling of "Hey, no more hangover!"

St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout by Brasserie McAuslan Brewery

Let's get to the most recent events with this brew, shall we? Seeing as I've had this before, I snapped the picture before I opened the bottle because I didn't know if I would remember to take a picture while drinking it.

I sniffed the brew and got hints of roasted cocoa malts, coffee, and even a slight hint of what I think is oatmeal...maybe it's just because the name of brew is oatmeal stout, but I swear I smell it. There's a little bit of something else too, can't quite put my finger on it though.

On first sip, I immediately could taste cocoa flavours, with roasted malts and coffee hints. It is so well crafted, it's undoubtedly the best oatmeal stout I've ever had -- and stouts are my forte.

The taste goes through stages for sure. The first taste feels like a smooth cocoa-oat taste under a solid stout top. The second taste flows into a coffee hinted flavouring, and thirdly finishes with a caramel malt-y taste. This then flows into a lingering aftertaste of malts and coffee. The taste factor alone is enough to win this beer an award!

The "mouthfeel" as beer people call it, feels like a thicker than normal beer (obviously, it's a stout), but it's creamy and smooth at the same time. It lacks a lot of carbonation that other types of beer have, but as is the case with most stouts.

Now, this may actually be a beginner (stout) brew; if you're going to get someone into stouts, let them compare this brew vs. a Guinness. Tell them that most people drink Guinness and ask them which one they think is better. Something tells me that the majority will pick this oatmeal stout.

Also something to note -- don't serve this beer at ice cold temperatures! It's best served a little warmer than normal to allow the flavours to work their way over your taste buds.

The bottom line on this brew: It's cheaper than most stouts, it tastes better than most stouts, and it comes in a 6-pack of bottles. What do you have to lose? Grab some and enjoy!

The St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout gets an exceptionally well-crafted 9.5 / 10

STORM WATCHER Winter Lager

I'm back from my hiatus! Guess what I picked up this time? Another brew from the folks at the Vancouver Island Brewery, that's what! I figured they've been great so far with every brew of their's that I've tried. So I popped into the liquor store and made the choice to go with another one of their seasonal brews. I had a little voice in my head that said "Well, you like everything else they make..." I picked up a 6-pack of the Storm Watcher Winter Lager (ABV 5.5%) for my bro at work. You can find this at most BC Liquor Stores; I got mine at the Northgate location.

Vancouver Island Brewery - Storm Watcher Winter Lager (ABV 5.5%)

On pour, it has a caramel-amber colour, and the head dissipates quickly. It smells quite sweet, with a honey lager-like aroma. Before I even took a sip, I felt like this brew had more characteristics of an ale than a lager. I'm pretty sure this lager was made for ale-lovers.

The first sip sat well with my taste buds. The overall taste had hints of honey, caramel, and cereal-like tastes. It's not crisp and clean like most lagers, but the way it's flavoured has more of an ale characteristic. A lot of people might not be on top of that, but I find that it works quite well in this case. It's designed to be served really chilled, and it has a sweeter taste that I really like.

It definitely differs from other winter lagers, like the Rickard's Oakhouse winter lager. This doesn't have a hint of oak at all, but both are solid winter lagers, despite what other "beer people" think. I can't speak for them, but I am a real person with normal taste buds, and this is what I think.

So if you're in the mood for a bit of a sweeter lager that will go down smooth, something different for a change, I suggest snapping up a pack of the Storm Watcher. It's great for a rainy day (maybe that's why they named it Storm Watcher?), which we see a lot of, living on the west coast.

Overall, the consensus from my buds: This beer is light-tasting, sweet, refreshing, and smooth.

The Vancouver Island Brewery Storm Watcher Winter Lager gets an enjoyable 8.0 / 10

DEAD GUY ALE

I saw this bottle at the liquor store and read "Dead Guy Ale", I figured it'd be bold. Either that or it would taste like something you should only drink if you're dead. Anyway, I took the bottle home and chilled it in the fridge.

The Rogue Ales Dead Guy Ale (6.5% ABV) is a German-style Maibock. Now, from what I've learned, Maibocks are actually a type of lager, but maybe I've been misinformed, as Rogue calls this one an ale. What is a Maibock? Well, let's first start with a Bock. A Bock is traditionally a strong lager which was developed in Germany. A Maibock is a type of Bock, one that is enjoyed mostly during Spring festivals, particularly in May. There are other types of bocks, just Google them to find out more.

Now, when I poured this into my glass, there was originally about a quarter inch of head, which as you can see from the picture, dissipated quite quickly. There was an immediate smell which took over the room, and I realized this was going to be bold. I originally thought at this moment that maybe the "Dead Guy" part of the name had to do with the smell, but then I was able to pick up notes of fermented fruit, lots of bread-y malt, some hops, and complex strong notes that I still can't decipher. By the way, the "Dead Guy Ale" name is derived from the Mayan "Day of the Dead" also known as "All Souls Day" (Nov. 1st).

On first sip, I had to take a baby sip. It's so densely packed with flavour, and the flavour is so strong, that it takes a long time to get used to it. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm saying you really got to savour this brew. I was immediately caught off guard, and had a bit of a negative reaction, but after awhile I realized that what I was tasting was actually really well put together (as I began to understand what I was tasting).

There is a blast of bread-y malt, this overwhelms the hearty brew. It also has hints (if your taste buds can take it) of toffee, burnt sugar, and maybe fruit. Either way, this is full of flavour. It's a baby-sipper, savoury brew. Did I like the taste? I am still new to strong beers myself, but after acquiring the taste of this maibock, and now that I look back on it, I quite enjoyed it. Also -- don't chug it, that's for sure.

What food would I pair this with?
I immediately think of a delicious pasta with a tomato-based sauce, and spicy Italian sausage to go with this brew. Either that, or get some super old cheese, like an aged cheddar to nibble on while sipping this.

The Rogue Dead Guy Ale gets a lively 7.5 / 10

Wychwood Brewery - Hobgoblin

I've talked a lot about a precious ruby ale that hails from England. I've always said "You want to try a new brew? Check out the Hobgoblin!" It gave people weird impressions, and some of them just gave me weird looks. The reason why I'm posting this is because I haven't had one in awhile, and it's definitely one to blog about.

I popped the top on this 330mL bottle, which by the way, has a really cool look on the front. Great visual art. The pour is great as well, a dark amber ale by the looks of it. They call it a "Ruby Beer", and after looking into it, it's actually part of the ESB (Extra Special/Strong Bitter) branch. I would have considered it otherwise, seeing as it didn't really taste like an ESB to me.

As seen in the picture, it pours with a solid half-inch of head, and it doesn't dissipate as other red or amber ales do. The nose gives off malty smells with hints of toffee, and perhaps even chocolate, but hardly if so.

On first sip, I immediately notice the texture before the flavour. It gets full points for mouth-feel and carbonation. I taste malts, combined with little hints of toffee and it truly is bitter-sweet on the tongue. Mainly bitter, of course. It has a nutty-malt, and lots of malt. It's not the easiest to explain, but if you had a sip then you'd understand.

The main reason why I recommend this brew is because it could be looked at as a gateway beer to determine what kinds of beers you may like in the future. I've recommended this beer to many friends, and some of them, depending on their taste buds, have narrowed down their tastes to find particular beers that they like. Some of them have found they like ESB brews, some have found Weizens (by the dislike of this brew), and some have found comfort in the red, or even dark ales.

It doesn't have the best taste in the world, but it is great. It can definitely be put in the ring as a beginner's brew. It's not going to taste like any econo-beer you've tried, but it gives that different taste which you will like at least parts of; if you like none, you'll probably like a Weizen (wheat beer, just ask for recommendations).

There you have it, solidly satisfying.

The Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin gets a classy 7.5 / 10

Hermann's Dark Lager

Usually, one of the cures that works for an upset stomach is a dark brew for me, such as a stout or a porter. The good folks at the Van Isle Brewery recommended me their Hermann's Dark Lager, and their Hermannator Ice Bock (which I unfortunately couldn't find).

So, I stopped over at the Rogue Kitchen + Wet Bar near Waterfront SkyTrain station in Vancouver, and browsed their brew menu. I got pretty excited when I saw the Hermann's Dark Lager (ABV 5.0%) from Vancouver Island Brewery on the menu, seeing as I wanted to review it. At the time, I also had a slight stomach ache, so I thought I'd test my theory on a dark lager, seeing if it would not only taste good, but help my gut at the same time.

Hermann's Dark Lager from Van Isle Brewing Co. @ Rogue Kitchen + Wet Bar

I had it poured on tap, as pictured above. It looks like a standard dark ale, or a stout/porter with no head. I'm guessing when they poured it, the head dissipated. On first sniff, I couldn't really tell if it was a lager at all. I picked up roasted malt, maybe a bit of burnt malt. I also smelled chocolate; it smelled closer to more of the dark ales I've had in the past, so I wasn't sure if they poured my brew right until I dove in.

That first sip was so smooth, I knew it was a form of lager. It felt like a mutated lager, but in a good way. Dark, roasted malts, combined with some sweetened flavouring and kind of a nutty taste too. I also picked up a slightly cocoa-like taste, maybe coffee. It's not bitter, but at the same time not sweet either. It's well balanced, and the tastes all fit together.

Maybe it was just me personally, but I felt immediately relaxed after the first few sips. The taste was impressive for a dark lager. And to make the sips even sweeter, it did remedy my slight stomach ache. I'm not really sure why, nor does it matter for this post.

This is a drinkable brew for any taste-level. Whether you're new to beers, have had a few in the past, or even a few too many, you'll enjoy the taste of this dark lager. I can't think of anyone I've met that would turn this down at a bar. If it's in season, it would probably be on my list of choices for the night, but maybe not the first choice. I tend to start off my bar visits with a heavier brew, but this one is good too!

I don't actually think I can take off any marks from this brew for much. The carbonation could have been better, and maybe a little bit of head would have been good too. However, it was probably just the fact that I bought it on tap, and perhaps the keg was running low. Either way, it doesn't lower the rating by much.

If you're ever unsure at a bar, or the liquor store, pick up this brew, I swear it's good for you (and tastes awesome). So far, everything I've tried from the folks at Van Isle has been quite good. Personally, its reputation is high up with the folks at the Red Racer breweries in Surrey. That says a lot.

The Hermann's Dark Lager from the Vancouver Island Brewery gets an enjoyable 8.5 / 10

Lone Wolf - The Bad-ass IPA

Let's start this review off by saying that I highly recommend this IPA (India Pale Ale) for IPA-aficionados and experienced brew-lovers.

The Lone Wolf IPA (ABV 6.5%) from Fernie Brewing Company is by far the most bad-ass IPA I've ever had, bar none. This experience will explain why.

I ordered this brew with my buddy Danny at the Hop and Vine in Burnaby, and we split a 650mL bottle because he needed to try this too. Not the greatest photo snapped, mainly because I used my iPhone in a pub.

On first sip, every cell in the smelling sense of your body is hit with hops and golden citrus peel. It is a delicious yet dangerous smell. It smells like it'll be a strong IPA, and then you realize your body needs to put its guard up for this one.

Guard up or down, the first sip can be described by asking the following question: "You know Bruce Lee?" The people around you will slowly nod, confused. "Imagine him dragon-kicking you in the mouth with flavour", and that about describes it.

The IBU (International Bitterness Unit) scale rates most IPA brews between 50-80. The Lone Wolf IPA gets a 65 rating (corrected from 100+, thanks to @FernieBrewingCo for the tweet!) but this is about as bitter as it gets. This is because the flavoured are complex, but they are strong and flow well at the same time.

What did I think of the "bad-ass" flavour? Well, it was overwhelming, but at the same time, delicious. I could see Danny trying to keep a straight face, until he asked me "Why the hell did you order this??" It was too overwhelming for him; it's most-often overwhelming for anyone who tries it.

Like I say, it's for the experienced brew-goer. If you live in an area where you can buy this, I highly recommend adding this brew to your bucket list.

Would I cook with it? No. 

Would I pair it with food? No. 

It's only 6.5%, so it's not going to do as much damage as it tastes like it might. But this is definitely one you can brag to all your friends about.

The Lone Wolf IPA gets a hulk-smashing 8.5 / 10

Albino Rhino - Winter Pudding (@ Earls)

The other day I got together with my buddy Danny, and we tried to get into the FireFighter's Club near Metrotown for a beer, but they wanted to charge us $8 cover, so we bailed and decided to go to Earl's. What a great decision that was! Not only did I get to keep my $8 for half a pitcher of delicious brew, but my taste buds were quite happy too.

After a brew or two, our barkeep Aracy decided to give us both a taster of the Albino Rhino Winter Pudding (ABV unknown). Danny and I looked at each other, and immediately decided to get a pitcher of the stuff.

Albino Rhino Winter Pudding @ Earl's on Kingsway, Burnaby B.C.

Its smells were similar to a Rickard's Dark Ale or a Waterloo Dark, but instead infused with hints of vanilla, caramel, and desserts. It's much better than I anticipated, seeing as most "house" brews serve as a mediocre version of a brew that already exists. As pictured, our pitcher poured well with a solid half-to-3/4 inch of head.

The taste that hits the tongue is like taking a bite of chocolate pudding just before taking a sip of a dark ale. It works with some people, and for others it's too sweet. Personally, I really enjoyed the taste, but it felt as if there was something missing. It just seemed like it wasn't all there. It felt like a generic winter ale, but the after-taste was amazing. I love sweet, dark ale after-tastes, and this one sticks the landing.

I later found out that this is brewed by the Kamloops Brewing Company, along with all of the other Albino Rhino brews. If you're in a winter-y mood, or you're at Earl's, or both, make sure to get a taste of this Winter brew! If you're having a dessert at Earl's that's chocolate-heavy, I suggest getting a taster of this brew and having a sip of it right after a bite of your dessert!

If you could buy this by the bottle, it might be a great choice for steak marinade, just saying ;-)

The Albino Rhino Winter Pudding gets a great-with-or-without-food 8.0 / 10

Parallel 49 - Black Christmas CDA

I know I know, Christmas has long passed - but the brews are still around! I first tried this brew just before Christmas, as I got it from a co-worker as a gift. I've been quite happy with the brews that have emerged from Parallel 49, such as their Hoparazzi IPA and Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale. Nonetheless, this is one of their Christmas brews, and it's one that I forgot to review. As a gift from my "secret Santa", I got the Parallel 49 Brewing Co. Black Christmas C.D.A. (ABV 6.5%) (C.D.A. stands for Christmas Dark Ale).

Parallel 49 Brewing Company's "Black Christmas C.D.A."

Seeing as I first got this as a gift from a co-worker, I decided to actually try it right when I got it. Hence, the photo was snapped of the bottle before I opened it.

On first sniff, there are definite smells of dark chocolate, hops, and what seems to be citrus-y pine. I'm not sure if that's just me, or if anyone else smells that too. Either way, it doesn't smell like an average winter warmer, nor does it smell like an average north American-styled winter ale.

On first sip, there are tastes of dark cocoa mixed with citrus-y hops, and a bit of pine in there too. I'm not quite sure how they managed to make cocoa, citrus, and pine all work in a brew, but all I know is that they did. Now, it's a really dark brew, unfortunately I don't have a picture, but it looks black and has a good inch of tan-coloured head when poured.

It doesn't have the most outstanding, mind-blowing taste to it, but it's a great brew to have during the winter season. It wouldn't be my first choice at a bar (because I love chocolate stout), but if I was bringing a few different brews home during the holidays, this would definitely be on the list.

The Black Christmas C.D.A. is definitely in my top 10 winter brews that I've had over the season, as it deserves a spot on the blog. That being said, it's got a very distinct taste to it, and a heavier 6.5% ABV. So if you're used to drinking crappy econo-beer, this will definitely be a change for your taste buds.

If there are any left in stock at your local liquor store, I recommend you go out and grab one before they're gone! Since it's still winter, this beer is still likely to have some stock remaining.

What I would really like to try with this beer, is cooking with it. It has such distinct tastes to it, that I would want to try cooking ground beef with it, and perhaps some stews. Even adding it to a steak marinade wouldn't be far off the list.

The Parallel 49 Black Christmas C.D.A. gets a well-deserved 8.0 / 10

Anderson Valley - "Boont" ESB

I was in the mood to try a real ESB with a bit of a punch, but from somewhere outside of BC. I figure I've sampled a lot of the ESBs from around the Lower Mainland and I figured I should venture out of my comfort zone. (To the brew-newbies, an ESB is an Extra Special/Strong Bitter; Google will explain the basics ;-) )

So what did I do? Well, I went to the Hop and Vine in Burnaby and ordered an Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boont ESB (6.8% ABV) from Boonville, California -- I got a chilled bottle on sale for $2!

The "Boont" ESB from Anderson Valley @ the Hop and Vine in Burnaby, B.C.

Of course, being at a tap house during a sale, I couldn't go alone, so I brought my buddy Danny with me (those are his hands in the background of the photo). He helped keep my opinions in check on this brew.

This ESB poured a dark yellow, and has a hazy translucent, almost opaque appearance. It actually had the visual characteristics of looking like a wheat beer. Every sip, the head had lots of lacing after every sip, just the way I like it.

On first sip, I could only smell hints of yeast-y smells and hops. It's not my favourite smell, but I figured it'd do.

On first taste, I got a full hit of bitter hops, a little grassy actually; quite tasty for an ESB. I don't know how to put it, it just tasted really yeast-like, almost like there was some sort of bread in there mixed with herbal fermented citrus. I know that doesn't paint the most delicious picture, but these are the words that come forth.

It's mildly carbonated, but at the same time very strong and crisp. This probably isn't a beginner brew, but if you want to allow your taste buds to "acquire" the bitter tastes of stronger tasting brews, this is one to go for. At 6.8% ABV, your taste buds will submit and your brain will buzz (just a bit).

Overall, it's an ESB that stands out in its own way. It's no Red Racer, but it scores points in its own categories. I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new ESB and don't know where their taste buds want to be.

The Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boont ESB gets a special-in-a-good-way 8.0 / 10

Espresso IPA? I think so!

Let's face it, we've seen espresso put into all sorts of stouts, porters, hard liqueurs, coffee liqueurs, and the list goes on. What about any other type of beer? Well, the folks at Tree Brewing Company in Kelowna have created one of the most unique and delicate beers that I've come across.

I was at the checkout of the liquor store on Willingdon and E. Hastings when out of the corner of my eye I spotted the bottle of Molto Bella Espresso IPA (ABV 4.8%). I couldn't resist exiting the store without picking this up, and I'm even skipping all the brews I had in queue just so I can review this one tonight.

I'm guessing this is a limited brew, so I may as well review it now and let you know about it. I'm excited, can you tell?

Photo Credit: Mark Burnham / MarkBurnhamPhotography.com

I popped the top of this beautiful bottle, poured it into the glass (as pictured), and even before sniffing this brew up close, I could smell hints of espresso. Seeing that this isn't a stout or porter, I wasn't sure how it would actually turn out. I put the brew up to my nose, took a small sniff and made out a strong espresso overtone, with slight hints of grapefruit, citrus-y scents, and other standard IPA smells. I don't know how to describe it, other than delicious.

Without hesitation, I took my first sip and the flow between espresso and IPA was flawless. I didn't even think this was possible, but the two flavours worked in harmony. There is a feeling of surprise, ever so delicately when you discover this taste. It's a good feeling - just don't chug this baby.

I'll admit, I drank it pretty quickly myself. It's too bad it only comes in a 650mL bottle, because I'd buy a size bigger any day.

This IPA is nowhere nearly as bitter as other IPAs, keep that in mind. This is a flavoured brew, so the bitterness level of citrus and hops is instead replaced by the strong fusion of espresso flavouring. It's a great mix, but if you're into the Fat Tug and Lone Wolf IPAs, then you might not enjoy this as much.

This goes down as my new favourite flavoured non-Stout/Porter. It comes up huge and delivers on all fronts. A solid brew for a thirsty you!

The Tree Brewing Co. Molto Bella Espresso IPA gets a surprisingly-delicious 9.0 / 10

Tin Whistle - Scorpion Double IPA

Have you ever dug up a compost pile full of citrus fruits, grabbed the nastiest, mouldy piece of citrus peel, and just taken a bite out of it? Welcome to the "Big, Bold, Extreme" taste of the Tin Whistle Brewing Co.'s Scorpion Double IPA (8% ABV).

On first smell, this beer hit really hard. I could smell very, very strong citrus. It smelled like the taste of accidentally biting into an old orange peel, along with hops, lots of hops and some strange confusing smells. I couldn't dissect the smell because the strength was so overwhelming. Either way, I still wanted to try it.

On first sip, I coughed a lot, the flavour was so overwhelming. It wasn't good. Then the after-taste kicked in. Why would anyone brew something like this and try to sell it? I've tasted home-brews with more merit.

This beer tastes like a rotten grapefruit decomposed into fertilizer, and was poured into an IPA that could have been drinkable. I'm sorry to say, but the guys at Tin Whistle should just stay away from anything to do with an IPA. I felt immediately nauseated after about 3 sips of this beer.

I've had my fair share if IPAs, and double, even triple IPAs. None have ever been so nausea-inducing. This honestly tastes like I left a grapefruit, orange, and perhaps a baby mandarin in my locker for a full school year before I decided to nibble on them.

The best positive remark about this beer? Before I opened the bottle, I still thought it was cool. Like a poorly written book, the further you go into it, the more disappointed you are.

Maybe it was just my bottle, but you must really not judge this beer by its label. I made a newbie mistake by seeing a cool-looking scorpion on the label, followed by the words Big, Bold, and Extreme. I then looked and found the Tin Whistle Brewing Company signature - I figured it'd be good because I like some of their other brews.

Sorry to say, Tin Whistle, but you've come up a bit rusty on this one. Maybe it's time to stick to what you're good at. Either that or give me another one to sample, to make sure it wasn't just a bad batch.

The Tin Whistle Brewing Co. Scorpion Double IPA gets a "donate-this-to-the-sink-it-must-be-thirsty" 2.0 / 10

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout!

Now, the holiday season has just wrapped up, but I need to get this out. I don't care if you're still in the mood for winter beers, if you're still on vacation or you just love dark chocolate! I recently went to the liquor store and found a bottle of the Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout (10% ABV) for under four bucks!

I didn't expect much of this stout, I'll admit. The price didn't really intrigue me, and I'd never really heard of a stout over 8.5% that actually had any taste left in it that didn't make me want to vomit everywhere. Well, this is one of those "exception" brews. 

Do you like dark chocolate? I'm not talking 70% dark chocolate, I'm talking at least 85%, maybe even 90%+ dark chocolate. If you do, just smell this brew. You'll smell dark death and dark chocolate. This is the sign that you should dip your lips in for a sip.

As pictured, the bottle looks harmless, and the beer pours dark like a normal stout, with a little bit of tan-coloured head. Beware, brew-lovers, this stout packs a hit.

The instant flavours, which remain through to the after taste, are strong stout mixed with 90% dark chocolate. There's nothing much else to it, simple and to the point. For the class of beer it's in, where there is almost no competition that will come close, this beer ranks among the finest.

Foods? Pair this brew with strong-tasting vanilla desserts. If you have a cheesecake, ice cream, or something sweet that will counter-balance the taste of this brew, go right ahead and enjoy it! I'd recommend this taste with or without dessert. It's a good choice all on its own.

What other chocolate stout out there ranks with dark chocolate as the main flavour, and has a well-respected balance of super dark chocolate with flavours encapsulating a delicious stout? None, so far as I've seen.

This beer is one you'll want to sip until it's over, and then tell your friends about. It's the "Hey guys, I just tried this 10% stout beer and it was great!" beer that you'll love to brag to your buds about. Even if you're not in a winter mood, it's worth it to bust a bottle of this stuff open and share it with whomever you wish.

The Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout gets a commendable, honourable 8.5 / 10

Russell's Blood Alley Bitter

First off, I'd like to say Happy New Year to all readers :)

I figure I've been having a lot of stouts and winter ales lately, seeing as it was just the holiday season, but I wanted to post a review of a beer I had on tap recently. I was eating at StackHouse in Yaletown, and I decided to grab the Russell Brewing Company Blood Alley Bitter (Alc. 5.5%). It's something I've seen in BC Liquor Stores, but never bothered to pick it up for some reason. I mean, I really liked their cream ale, but I guess I just wasn't in a bitter enough mood at the liquor store to pick one up (get it?).

Nonetheless, I must have looked like a weirdo, but I picked up my glass in the restaurant, gave it a sniff, and smelled lots of hops. I was expecting an overpowering bitter flavour, so I looked my girlfriend in the eye, and said "Here goes!"

I took a sip, put down my glass, and realized there wasn't too much bite. The high tastes were pleasant, the medium was full of bitter, and the end taste was sharp and crisp. It reminded me a lot of the Red Racer ESB, but smoother and a bit more of an after taste. This brew is definitely a contender in the top 5 bitters I've had in the lower mainland.

As you can see in the picture, I took more than a sip before I realized I should take a picture of what it actually looks like so I can share it with you.

The overall taste is what you'd expect from a bitter; you get hops, something a little floral/fruity, something very slightly citrusy, and even a slight hint of caramel in there somewhere. Somehow, the fine folks at Russell Brewing Company have done a swell job with this one, making it stand out in comparison to the rest.

If you're a newcomer to bitters, I'd recommend this one to you. It's a little hard to get into at first, but it satisfies the taste buds. If you like this beer, you might also like the Red Racer ESB.

So overall, if you're in a bitter mood, grab a blood alley and make the bitter better!

The Russell Brewing Company Blood Alley Bitter gets a delicious 8.0 / 10