First Day Of Summer

Brewsters Rig Pig Pale Ale

It's the first day of summer. Why not celebrate with a good beer? I did just that. The weather was nice enough for me to sit out on the balcony and enjoy the late afternoon sun, beer in hand. The beer was from my local brewpub Brewsters, and was bottled in a 675ml "bomber". Rig Pig Pale Ale is in the style of an American Pale Ale. It has a deep golden colour, great creamy, lasting white head. Lightly hopped aroma - there's some citrus notes of orange and a trace of grapefruit. The flavour is a touch malty, some sweetness and caramel notes with subtle citrus finishing hops. 5% abv, a nice lighter beer with enough flavour to enjoy in the warmer weather. Here's to a great summer, with great beer!

Edmonton's Festival Of Beer '07 and other stuff

Beerfest: I attended another small festival this weekend - Edmonton's Festival Of Beer 07. It was housed in the Aviation Museum Hanger, a nicer more spacious venue than the earlier fest held at the Dinwoodie Hall at the U of A. I also got wise and got myself there at noon Saturday in hopes of avoiding the crowds, which made the experience more enjoyable, I actually got to have a few conversations with the brewery reps. It was a small fest, there really wasn't anything availble there that I couldn't have found at the local store or brewpub. I did manange to sample a few that I hadn't had, saving me from buying a sixer. I did find it strange that our 2 local micros were both absent from the fest. I can understand Maverick not being there, as they are in the middle of restructuring (possibly closing?), but Alley Kat, where were you? Sadly Paddock Wood was absent as well. Hopefully these three will be back at next year's fest, assuming there is one, and hopefully it isn't held on the same dates Calgary's fest. Now on to "other stuff"...

Beer Podcasts: I've been really digging the podcasts put out by the fellas at Craft Beer Radio. I've been loading 'em up on the ipod and listening on the way to work. Makes the 3 bus and one train trip a little more tollerable every morning. Thanks guys!

Recent Tastings: Not a lot to report, a few quickies from the fest. San Miguel Dark caught my eye, as something I might like, I was also curious to see if it was similar to Efes Dark which I had at the last fest. It was similar, sweet brown sugary aroma, a little bit of coffee and roasted malts. Rating 3 Brewsters Wit (listed as Christmas Wit on ratebeer) was a very drinkable example of the style - nice clove/yeast/pink gum aromatics, light bodied, sweet clovey flavour, a nice choice for hot weather (hope we get some soon) Rating 3.7 A second wit I found at the fest was Rickard's White. Can Molson make witbier? Sort of... it seemed quite sweet and orangey, and grainy especially in the finish. Really doubt I would buy this, especially when Hoegaarden or even Blanche De Chambly are so common, and more flavourful. Rating 2.8

Some recent beers

Well, it seems I've slowed down rate-wise as I approach another milestone, rating number 700. I have a ton of beers on hand, and time to rate, just haven't got my butt in gear lately. May be the onset of spring here (it comes a little late in Edmonton) and wanting to be outdoors enjoying the few rays of sun after being cooped up for a long, cold, snowy Albertan winter. At any rate, the few beers I've taken notes for have been for the most part enjoyable.

Edelweiss Snowfresh Weissbier

Edelweiss Snowfresh Weissbier - This beer poured an expected hazy pale yellow, fairly strong white head as a Weiss should have. Pleasant wheat aroma with some pink bubblegum and vanilla notes. The flavour was similar to the aroma - wheaty, yeasty and vanilla-y, some citrus. Some of the "alpine herbs" the bottle proclaims it is brewed with show up as grassy notes in the finish. Light bodied and good to comsume in hot weather. Rating 3.6

Lobkowicz Demon 13° - I was surprised to find this beer classified as a Vienna, as I haven't had very many of the style. This Czech version was coppery with a small tight head, with a nice strong malty nose. Flavour was also malt accented with some grassy hop accents. The aftertaste was again malty and toasty. A nice find. Rating 3.5

Brooklyn Lager - Imagine my surprise finding another Vienna to rate just a few days after the Demon. Brooklyn advertises this one as a "pre-Prohibition" styled lager. I enjoyed this one a bit more than Demon. It was a great beer to look at - orange/gold in colour with a lasting sticky white head. Aroma was floral, flavour was somewhat fruity (citrus/apricot) with a hoppy, dry finish. Another good lager to session while the sun beats down on you. Rating 3.7

O Hanlons Goodwill Bitter - I just picked this up on my last beer shopping trip because I love a good bitter, especially a Camra approved bottle conditioned 500ml bottle of it. Upon getting it home I noticed St Nick on the label. Yup, a Christmas seasonal just became available to us at the end of May. I also noted that when I popped the cap, the cap liner had a gummy layer of yeast under it, leading me to believe the bottle spent some time upside down on it's journey from Devon, England to Edmonton, Alberta. It poured a hazy orange with a small receeding white head. The aroma was standout with some candied orange and sweet malt behind it. The beer was solid flavourwise, malty with a citrusy bitter finish. Fairly light bodied with fine light carbonation, a great session pint. Looking forward to cracking the bottle of their Port Stout I also picked up! Rating 3.7

Bieropholie Cascade Plus - One of the many bottles I recieved in a mystery beer swap. This has the same malt bill as their regular Cascade IPA, but double the hops. It poured beautifully, orange in colour with a sticky, thick, merangue like head which lasted to the end of the glass. Tons of Cascades in the aroma, grapefruity with a touch of spice. Hoppy flavour, earthy in the finish. Went down way too easily for a 7%abv beer. I'll seek this out (and some more Bock Emassaire)if I'm ever in Quebec again. Rating 3.9

La Recidive

Brasseurs et Freres La Recidive - Another great bottle received in the mystery trade. I read in someone's review that Recidive means "second offence", which I guess eludes to the fact that you'll be reaching for another bottle of this great stout once you finish the first. The label shows a bandaged, somewhat derranged looking mouse returning to the mousetrap for another hunk of cheese. Very deep brown/black colour with a beige cap. Superb chocolatey aroma. Flavour had coffee, cocoa and a dark (blue?)berry like fruitiness beneath it all. Bitter, roasted finish. A lot of flavour packed into this 4.8%abv stout. Canadians can definately make some kick ass stouts (see St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, Dieu De Ciel Peche Mortel, Paddock Wood Bete Noire for starters)! Rating 4

Other beers I've recently had included the harsh, fizzy Carling Black Label Extra Old Stock malt liqour (Rating 1), the average Western Canadian amber Kootenay Mountain Ale (Rating 2.8), and an underacheiving, slightly lemony, corny pale lager from South Korea - Hite (Rating 1.5) Can't win all the time I guess...

Rogue Chipotle Ale

Rogue Chipotle Ale

It's been a while since I've blogged, sorry to the regular readers (haha). Been picking up new beers here and there such as Brooklyn Lager, my local brewpubs new seasonal Maibock, and today's featured beer - Rogue Chipotle Ale.

I'm a big Rogue fan, and this one showed up on the shelves unannounced so I had to buy it, despite having reservations about it being a "chili" beer. I haven't had much experience with these beers, I had one many years ago before I rated by a London Ontario brewer which has long since gone out of business called Glatt, which if I recall was infused with Jalepenos. Since I didn't take notes, I can't give you the specifics of it, but I recall being not quite ready for a beer that was spicy and packing heat, and not enjoying it too much. Also in the back of my mind was the legend of Cave Creek Chili Beer, which has the reputation of being one of the worst rated beers of all time on Ratebeer.com. I decided to soldier on and take one for the team (or blog).

The beer poured a hazy shade of caramel brown. It held a bit of a head for a while, then settled to a thin white layer, leaving some stiky lace behind. I was expecting a lot of spice in the aroma, but found the Chipotle notes to be pretty reserved. There's a little smoke in the aroma and some caramel malt. The first sip (ok it was more of a gulp) took me a bit by surprise as the heat of the Chipotles showed itself in the beer's finish. Upon slower sips I noticed that the beer started with light caramelly malts then finished with some light touches of smoke and had a red pepper flake type heat which lingered breifly. There was a light citrus hop character to the finish as well. It had a fairly light body with a fine, persistent carbonation. I enjoyed it, and decided the nest time I would try pairing this with mexican dishes, or maybe some spicy pizza to see how it fairs. The label suggests pairing it with chicken or pork dishes. Overall this isn't a beer I'd reach for during a playoff hockey game, or to quench my thirst in the summer heat, but I can see it being an interesting compainion with a Mexican meal. It wasn't over the top with heat which I enjoyed, yet I think it could have used a bit more body and malt, for some extra oomph. Rating 3.3

Chat-O Stout

Chat-O Stout from Alley Kat

Finally picked up a few singles of Chat-O Stout, a local oatmeal stout brewed and sold exclusively for the Chateau Louis liquor store here in Edmonton. It is brewed by Alley Kat.

The above photo shows it soon after it was poured, and due to the limitations of my digital photography skills it appears a lot darker (black even) than it was. It was dark brown, though not opaque, it had reddish brown highlights. The head settled quite a bit as well, leaving only a thin covering of fine bubbles on the surface. It posessed a light roasty aroma with cocoa hints. Flavour had dark chocolate, and light roastiness. There was a bit of watery coffee at the end with some dry roasted malt. Some reviewers complained that the stout was overcarbonated, I didn't find that to be the case, it did have a fine prickly carbonation and a light but slick somewhat oily mouthfeel, neither of which detracted from the beer. Rating 3.4

Edmonton's Festival Of Beer

Edmonton's Festival Of Beer has just been announced for Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9.

Here's the link: Edmonton's Festival Of Beer Website

Not much on the site, a list of attending breweries would be nice. Hope the crowds/lineups are handled better than the last 'fest we had here at the U of A Dinwoodie Lounge.

Anyways, not a bad time to beer a beer geek in Edmonton as of late!

New local micro?

Just came across this on BA. It was posted to the ProBrewer forums.

"Talented, outgoing brewer required for a Microbrew startup in Edmonton. Needs to be able to develop and produce outstanding beers. Will oversee all production from cradle to grave, including brewing, fermenting, conditioning, kegging and bottling. Must be willing to take an active role in ongoing sales and marketing including such roles as attending festivals, visiting bars and liquor stores, appearing on televison and radio and others as required. Must love to promote, promote, promote. We are in a great spot, with a fantastic facility and we will be reintroducing one of Alberta's best loved beers (as well as our own flavours). Salary is negotiable and will vary based on experience. Bonus and incentive programs, with no upper limit, are available. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to get in from the ground up. email your resume in complete confidence."