Parallelogram - Oatmeal Coffee Porter (w/ Special Cask Edition!)

Hey all! How was your Paddy's Day? I rocked a bright green beard in Downtown Vancouver...it was pretty awesome. After work, Tammy met up with me and we went down to Tap and Barrel for a couple of drinks. As a special cask for St. Patrick's Day, Parallel 49 decided to make a Jameson version of their Parallelogram Oatmeal Coffee Porter (ABV 6.0%)

Not only that, this is a double-brew-review! Tammy and I bought a bottle of this brew a couple of weeks ago, so we'll be throwing that into the review as well.

First up: Parallelogram (Bottle)

Parallel 49 "Parallelogram" Oatmeal Coffee Porter @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

Parallel 49 "Parallelogram" Oatmeal Coffee Porter @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

Just popping the top on this beer, I could immediately smell a deep, rich cocoa aroma. I think my first words were "It smells like heaven." Then, I poured the beer into a glass (as pictured), and it looks like any other porter. That's a good thing, because you shouldn't be able to see through a stout/porter, and it should have a decent amount of head. This poured with some head, but it dissipated after a minute or so (I had to fidget with my phone camera).

On first sniff, like I said, the overwhelming delicious aroma of deep roasted cocoa mixed with the distinct smell of coffee. At that point, if it tasted as good as it smelled, I'd be in for a treat.

Tammy and I raised our glasses and took our first sips, looking at each other in disbelief. This beer is just as good, perhaps even better, than it smells. It's got a medium-full body with just enough flavour pouring through in a fluid balance of cocoa, coffee, and a cooked-brown-sugar flavour. It might sound a little 'out there', but I swear by it. This is hands down, one of my favourite porters I've ever had. That's right, this rivals the Phillips Longboat (although comparing a chocolate porter and an oatmeal coffee porter to each other is another story)!

I give the Parallelogram (Bottle) a rectangle-with-angles 10/10
Tammy gives the Parallelogram (Bottle) an I'd-have-that-with-breakfast 9.5 / 10

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Okay, okay, now that we've got the bottle out of the way, what does the cask taste like?

Second: Parallelogram Cask (Infused with Jameson)

Parallel 49 "Parallelogram" Cask infused with Jameson @ Tap and Barrel, Vancouver BC
Photo: Brewji

Imagine the brew described above (or, if you're lucky, you're a genius and you're following along with a bottle of the stuff right now), infused with a little Jameson ("Good Irish whiskey", as Tammy says). Sounds a bit weird, doesn't it? That's what I thought, too. But hell, it was Paddy's Day!

On first sniff, you could smell a similar aroma as from the bottle. You get the cocoa, the coffee, but at the same time you get a resounding hint of something different. Hmm, I wonder what that could be. It didn't smell booze-y, but it had kind of a warm, fuzzy, spiced scent to it. Nothing off-putting, is what I mean to say.

On first sip, you get the same front and middle taste as the Parallelogram from the bottle, but it went down warm, and left us with a comfortable (familiar) feeling in our stomachs. Needless to say, it was a great rendition of the brew, but I still think I prefer the original if it were any other day of the year. Tammy agrees.

Either way, if you didn't catch it this year, you missed out! Better luck next year!

I give the Parallelogram Cask a magically-delicious 9.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Parallelogram Cask a Hey-look--Jameson! 8.5 / 10

Luck of the Irish Red Ale (Russell Brewing)

Everybody ready for St. Patrick's Day? The only correct answer is YES (or some form of it).

What did I come home to today? The day before St. Paddy's Day, Tammy had the Luck of the Irish Red Ale (ABV 5%) from Russell Brewing as a surprise brew, chilling in the fridge. Now, seeing as Tammy is Irish, I was intrigued to see what she would think about this brew.

We poured this out into our glasses, and I was immediately impressed by the pour, as the 1/8" of head stayed solid and didn't lace away. The copper-coloured ale looked impressive as well.

Russell Brewing - Luck of the Irish Red Ale @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

On first sniff, there were malt-y notes, as well as hints of toffee. Seeing as it's 5%, I wasn't expecting a rush of overwhelming scented notes.

On first sip, we tasted the malt-y flavour right away, with a slight gesture of hops, and hints of toffee. It went down so smoothly, Tammy worded it as "Light, easy, and refreshing".

She compared it to a "Shandy", which I just learned is something very drinkable in Ireland. It's generally a Smithwick's mixed with lemonade, so you don't become inebriated too quickly, and it apparently goes down real smooth as well. I'll have to make sure to give one a try someday!

Overall, I have no real complaints about this brew at all. It's just tasty enough to not hit you too hard, is very smooth on the mouth-feel and carbonation, and is very session-able at 5% ABV.

I give the Luck of the Irish Red Ale a cula-bula 9.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Luck of the Irish Red Ale an 8.5 / 10

Unibroue - Éphémère Pomme (Apple)

Tammy and I were out and about on the drive, and our first plan was to head into St. Augustine's, but we didn't get a chance...seeing as it was a Saturday (hipster overload!). But, being the awesome guy I am, I had a plan B, C, and D for the night (there's always a place to get a good brew on the drive!).

After seeing Storm Crow was packed as well, and so was The Charlatan, we walked into Biercraft. Initially, the girl at the front said she'd call our name when she had space, so we stood just outside the door (as to not crowd the entrance). She skipped our name and said we weren't present. Not too impressed...she didn't seem very bright or attentive. After that, we weren't expecting much better.

However, we had the pleasure of being seated in an area where Paul, one of the most knowledgeable and kind staff members ever, served us. We had a few tasters, and then we got to the good stuff. While Tammy was on a smoke break, I got us a surprise bottle of the Unibroue Éphémère Pomme (ABV 5.5%).

Unibroue Éphémère Pomme @ Biercraft
Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

As you can see, it pours a beautiful golden hazy yellow, with a slight smidgen of head that didn't lace away too quickly. What made the pour even better? Paul knew exactly what glassware to use, and it had the brewery logo stamped on the front.

On first sniff, we got hints of apple and Belgian yeast. That's pretty much it; it smelled delicious. If you're a fan of apple-flavoured things, this beer is for you. It's not overwhelmingly sweet, like a green apple drink, but it's also not too strong on the yeast. It's very drinkable.

On first sip, you get a mildly carbonated apple undertone in a bread-y brew. It really sets itself apart from other brews infused with fruits. It's nowhere near most fruit-infused brews; if you're thinking of something like a Fruli, this has more taste, more body, and is like a step up from a Fruli or Liefmans Fruitesse.

Tammy noted that this is similar to what a "proper" cider is supposed to taste like. I've never been a fan of ciders, and I think that's mainly because North American ciders taste like expired Grower's coolers (or nasty fruit punch).

That all being said, this should definitely be on your "I'd tap that" beer list.

I give the Unibroue Éphémère Pomme a new-use-for-apples 8.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Unibroue Éphémère Pomme a 7.5 / 10

Red Hook - Brand New in Canada!

Hey all! Guess who's back in the game? That's right. I reviewed GIB's 4-pack a couple of days ago, and I'm on board to kick the train over with the Red Hook 3-pack I got in the mail on Friday!

Red Hook is brand new in Canada, as they're from Seattle and they're launching some brews up north. I had a great referral from Andrew at Beer Thirst, and he was able to grab me a few brews to try. Of course, being the gorgeous gentleman that I am, I split the beers with my girlfriend Tammy. We both had some choice words about these brews.

What were they like? Here's a visual look at how the bottles and beers looked:





1. Red Hook Long Hammer IPA (6.5% ABV)

Red Hook Long Hammer IPA @ Brewji Home
Photo Credit: Brewji

On the nose, I get hints of hops (obviously), and not even that much citrus at all. We weren't able to smell much. To be honest, we weren't terribly impressed with the smell of the brew. However, on first sip, one of the first things Tammy said to me was that this would be nice on a summer's day. I agree, seeing as if it was a pint or shared pitcher on a summer patio, this could be passed, even being an IPA. It's smoother and easier drinking than most IPA's out there.

This is a much easier transition IPA. I mean, this ain't no Steamworks Empress IPA, but it's definitely one of the IPA's I'd throw into a pile that you could transition someone into.

I give the Long Hammer IPA a yeah-I'd-hit-it 7.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Long Hammer IPA a 7.0 / 10



2. Red Hook Audible Ale (4.8% ABV)

Red Hook Audible Ale @ Brewji Home
Photo Credit: Brewji

Okay, let's get straight to it. I smelled this thing and it really smelled dank. There wasn't much to this at all, as the smell of any kind of hints of flavour were narrow. The things we did smell? They were unpleasant. I wouldn't call this a pale ale, nor would I call it an amber ale. I'd call it a stank lager. Sorry guys, but this is just one of those un-stomachable ales that's out there. I was so disgusted I asked Tammy if I could pour it.

However, being the nice guy that I am, I can see where if this was served at a bar, this could rock a summer beer on the patio from people that want more than just a lager at the table. I'd much rather prefer a Keith's or Rickard's ale any day of the week. That says a LOT.

I give the Red Hook Audible Ale a please-try-again 3.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Red Hook Audible Ale a 2.0 / 10



3. Red Hook ESB (5.8% ABV)

Red Hook ESB @ Brewji Home
Photo Credit: Brewji

Tammy and I took a whiff of this beer too, not expecting the greatest, but not judging before a good whiff / taste. Not surprisingly, this one didn't have the greatest smell, either. We could get a whiff of malts, not much hops at all (to be expected), but nothing outstanding that would make us want to dive in. However, we did just that.

We were surprisingly pleased with the taste, as it had hints of toffee, nuts, and roasted malts. It was quite delicious actually, in my opinion. Tammy is a little more hesitant to give a stronger positive vibe on this one, but I would actually pick and choose this on a menu if at a bar. This would be one of those "beers of choice" if I was going anywhere.

Way to go, Red Hook! You should establish yourself in Canada with this brew for sure. Compare this side by side with some of our competing BC products, and you should have some heads turned and taste buds converted.

I give the Red Hook ESB a surprisingly-good 8.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Red Hook ESB a 7.0 / 10


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Cheers all!

GIB 4-Pack!

Hey all, I know it's been awhile since I threw a post up here, but I've been in the process of getting a new place and a new job -- you know, real life stuff.

I had the pleasure of having the fine folks at Granville Island Brewing sending me a crate of 4 brews, ready and good to go for some tasters! It's a sample of their re-branded beers that they already have, but I figure it's worth a go.

Crate of Beer from Granville Island Brewing, courtesy of Jive Communications
@ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

The crate is pretty rad...I'm re-using it to store things around the house. But let's get a closer look at the brews I was sent, shall we? The photo below shows the beers I will review in order:

Maple Shack Cream Ale; Swing Span Amber Ale; Hey Day Hefeweizen; Infamous IPA
from Granville Island Brewing
@ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

1. Maple Shack Cream Ale (5% ABV)
I'm guessing this is the Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale, but re-branded to make it look like it's something new. Well, It pours the same, smells the same, but it's new alright. I split this with Tammy into two taster glasses, and we couldn't detect any maple on the nose. We don't know if the maple was reduced, or the recipe was changed, but unfortunately there was no maple scent.

From there, we took our first sips and tasted a plain-like cream ale. There wasn't much flavour or bite to it. It kind of tasted like a mildly-flavoured cream ale. I miss the Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale! I'm sorry, but this didn't have much of anything to it...and Tammy seemed to agree.

I give the Maple Shack Cream Ale a they-don't-make-it-like-they-used-to 5.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Maple Shack Cream Ale a 3.0 / 10


2. Swing Span Amber Ale (5.6% ABV)
Here's one I remember from awhile back! The GIB Amber has been around for awhile, and has always been a go-to brew if there's not much selection around. Tammy and I poured a taster of these, and we were pleased with both the nose and the flavour. There was a mild hop presence, some malt, and a slight hint of toffee. This beer had some promise and flavour to it! Tammy seemed to like this one the best out of the four.

I give the Swing Span Amber Ale an I-quite-like-this 7.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Swing Span Amber Ale a 6 / 10


3. Hey Day Hefeweizen (5% ABV)
I've never had their Hefeweizen outside of the summer season, and I wasn't really in the mood for one seeing as it was the winter. However, a cold hefe never gets refused from me (unless it's from Green Leaf). So, I poured a taster each with Tam and she was turned off immediately by the taste. Granted, it's no White Bark or glory-hefe from a brewery like Phillips, but it did have alcohol in it. Not to sound harsh, but it's an average hefe. It's something along the lines of what I'd expect to get as your standard wheat beer if I went to a dirty bar that had "some craft beer" on tap.

I give the Hey Day Hefeweizen a mildly-boring-and-out-of-season 5.0 / 10
Tammy gave the Hey Day Hefeweizen a 4.0 / 10


4. Infamous IPA (6% ABV)
This was the last beer of the pack, and it's the IPA that GIB has been making for awhile. I really don't understand the name change. Most of the brews don't taste any different, and I would always look for the older name if I was out anywhere. Besides that, this IPA pours a see-through light copper colour. It really tastes like carbonated hoppy-water. It's not a true, real west coast IPA, but it is definitely a good one to introduce and transition people into.

If you have friends that drink nothing but econo-lager piss-water, and they want something with more flavour (or actual flavour), then this is definitely a stepping stone into the world of real beer.

The Infamous IPA gets a hey-I-think-I-had-you-in-my-mouth-once-but-it-was-just-okay 5 / 10
Tammy gives the Infamous IPA 2.0 / 10

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I'll say this: I had much higher expectations from GIB, seeing as their previous samplers have been much better. If you're a newbie to craft beer, I might recommend you sample some of these, but I really hope they step up their game back to a reputable level! I'll stick to my Phillips for my dollar vs. value for now.

Cheers!