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

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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

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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

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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

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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