Last nights beautiful burnt orange offering was a New Holland Brewing Mad Hatter India Pale. Brewed out of Holland Michigan, this dry hopped floral beer was a very approachable beer for those of us who like a strong hop character in our ale. Personally I felt this beer had the potential to be brewed with more subtle flavours and made into something that was maybe more distinguished with the floral character creeping up rather than being immediately present in full force. Once I exercised the armchair brewer, I settled into what was a very enjoyable IPA capping off what was a particularly long Fall day.

But, don’t take my word for it. Drink the Beer!

http://newhollandbrew.com/

Double Trouble Hops and Robbers IPA. I had tried it a few times in the early spring. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t until the early summer when Hops and Robbers came out in cans that I really became enamoured. The light crisp taste and smooth citrusy flavour from the hops make it such a good summer beer and nearly perfect accompaniment at the cottage. I definitely suggest Double Trouble’s Hops and Robbers as your summer beer.

But, don’t take my word for it. Drink the beer!

Yesterday I wrote a post about hops. Loosely detailing what hey are and why hey were used. My study partner for he article was a bottle of Tree Brewings Hop Head IPA. I vaguely remember trying it last year and not being entirely enthused about it. This was a second bottle of it that had been tucked in the back of he fridge and left there for quite awhile. I’ve been finding that some beers blossom after they’ve reached maturity. This Hop Head, bloomed with a citrusy floral aroma which led me to pause before drinking, the orange golden colour and head were beautiful and sight and smell culminated into a balanced flavour slightly sweet,bitter and utterly refreshing.

But, don’t take my word for it. Drink the beer!

http://www.treebeer.com/113/143/126/

Taking our monthly Toronto Beer Lovers meet up on the road we went to Stout Irish Pub in Hogtown. It was my first time out there and have to say I liked it quite a bit. A sentiment echoed by most of the TBL as well. Great pub atmosphere, fun local beer on tap and from why I saw decent pub grub as well. Baking and cleaning all day I was a few drinks in well before I made it out to Stout. The atmosphere and some good beer and company capped off a productive day at home. Through the night I had one of my new favourites the Red Racer India Pale Ale out of British Columbia. One of my favourite from last year Beaus Lug Tread Lagered Ale and a St. Ambois Scotch Irish Ale to cap off the night. We had a great group out everyone animated and chatting with each other. Erin and the rest of Stouts staff were awesome and we had a superb night and everyone went home happy.

torontobeerlovers.com

http://www.stoutirishpub.ca/

I tried the Beaus Beaver River at the the Only Winter Beer Festival at the beginning of February. It was delicious like I’ve come to expect from Beaus Beers. It was actually being delivered to the LCBO the same day as the festival. It was good to try on it’s own rather than with all the other great beer I was drinking. Beaver River is smooth and drinkable with a mild hop bitterness I’ve come to associate with Beaus offerings. As far as my deeper thoughts on it I’ve decided It’s going to take more analysis.

But,don’t take my word for it. Drink the beer!

Here’s the Beaver River profile courtesy of Beaus.ca

http://www.beaus.ca/beer/seasonals/beaver_river

For this fine Movember fundraiser the burger bar hosted and shared cask beer. Great bluegrass music played over the sound system. Brock the Burger Bar’s proprietor came around and shared the house barrel aged tequila with us. It was beautiful and smooth with a woody complexity. The Chesire Valley IPA was quite good and an excellent accompaniment to my six cheese burger. House ground organic beef. Covered in cheddar,smoked provolone,gruyere,blue cheese,brie and chavre. Paired up with maybe the best sweet potato fries I’ve come across. On the beer list they had Dieu de Ciel Corne de Diable. Which is a pale ale I had tried and enjoyed in a bottle before. Unfortunately they had just changed the tap and I tried the beer that was taking the spot a really strong tasting stout Dieu de Ciel’s Peche De Monde. Which I think might be loosely translated into “if you ever need to get a moose drunk, this is the beer for the job”. It was good to try but the high alcohol was very overwhelming and took away from some of the subtleties I look for. It was a good time and a good way to cap off Movember 2011. Fur faced men. Good hospitality, good beer and friends.

 After working thirteen hours and dreaming about a beer and a nap for he last half of that I wasn’t in the mood to experiment with my choices. Armed with a falafel wrap I delved into my fridge and come out with my last Muskoka Mad Tom IPA. Hoppy and cold it complimented my dinner well and left me satisfied.

But, don’t take my word for it. Drink the beer!

http://www.muskokabrewery.com/mad-tom-ipa.php