review: Big Sky Brewing Bobo's Robust Porter

Today's beer adventure: Big Sky Brewing Bobo's Robust Porter (MONTANA, USA). 355ml Bottle. 6.2% ABV. Served in my stolen BP pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.


The thick, syrupy pour is so dark, so black, it would blot out the sun. Two fingers of tight, dense tan-coloured head. Great lacing. Little carbonation. Nose is big caramel, toffee, chocolate, espresso.  MMMMMMMM...


Flavour is mocha espresso, toasty malt, apples, cinnamon(?), slight hops. Big roasty beer. Finish is toffee, a bit dry.


Rating is 8.5/10 dogs. Nice nice porter. Comparable to Palliser Porter from Bushwakker Brewing, but perhaps a little more ooompphh. 


What other people think: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/big-sky-bobos-robust-porter/98126/

review: Big Sky Brewing Moose Drool Brown Ale.

Today's beer adventure: Big Sky Brewing Moose Drool Brown Ale (MONTANA, USA). 355ml Bottle. 5.3% ABV. Served in pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.

The pour is deep brown in colour. One finger of bubbly head. Decent lacing. Little carbonation. Nose is apple, roasted malt sweetness, toffee, coffee, slight chocolate, plum? 

Flavour is coffee, toffee, biscuit, apple, dark chocolate, slight slight alcohol. Medium mouthfeel. Rich malt sweetness on the finish with a hoppy, slightly dry ending. Nice beer.

Rating is 8.0/10 dogs. Excellent brown. Sometimes browns get a little boring..this one is the only one I have had so far that can stand up to Sodbuster Brown from Bushwakker Brewing.

What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/751/2296

Cool beer stuff!

A former co-worker found this on the innertubes..really neat beer packaging designs -> http://www.ohbeautifulbeer.com/

Check it out!

review: Cannery Brewing Anarchist Amber Ale

Today's beer adventure: Cannery Brewing Anarchist Amber Ale (Penticton, BC). 650ml Bottle (also available in cans). 5.5% ABV. Served in my stolen BP pint glass. Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina ~$7.00/bottle

The pour is medium orange amber in colour. Two fingers of solid bubbly head. Decent lacing on the glass. Light carbonation. Nose is sweet malt, biscuit, sweet toffee. Sweet sweet. Slight hops

Flavour is lively on the tongue. Sweet, bready, biscuity malt. Alcohol is there. Slight sour(?) hoppy flavour. Bitter, slightly dry finish.

Rating is 7.0/10 dogs. Pretty decent. The last Cannery Brewing offering (Naramata Nut Brown -> http://ddoggsbeerblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-cannery-brewing-naramata-nut.html) I tried was solid as well, but this one would be ordered before that one. I do enjoy ambers, but his one is not quite as nice as Fat Tire and nowhere near Alaskan Amber.

What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4049/11486

review: Deschutes Red Chair NWPA

Today's beer adventure: Deschutes Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale (OREGON, USA). 355ml Bottle. 6.4% ABV. Served in my stolen BP pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.

The pour is orange amber in colour. Slightly hazy. Small amount of solid but quickly dissipating head. Good lacing. Nose is floral hops, citrus peel, grapefruit, orange, spices.

Flavour is all the nose ingredients in spades - the grapefruit, orange, slight lemon..then the spices kick in...pepper, pine, coriander. Solid malt on the back end that evens the flavour right out. The alcohol is not out front or in the back - could be a sneaky one. Just dry enough on the finish. *Very* drinkable.

Rating is 8.25/10 dogs. This is such an incredibly balanced yet crisp hop forward beer. Derek and I made a "mistake" and both put a sixer of this in the cart when we were on our trip, not knowing what it is that we were looking forward to. I think it worked out really well! I will buy this one again in a hot minute. Great beer. Wow.


What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/55564

review: Bust-A-Nut Original Ale

Today's beer adventure: Bust-A-Nut Original Ale. 355ml Bottle. 5.0%(?) ABV. Served in branded Bust-A-Nut glass. Won online in a contest after trying it at Festiv-Ale. Hey, FREE BEER!!!.

The pour is a dark amber. Sightly hazy. 2 fingers of rocky head. Good lacing. Good carbonation. Nose is of floral hops, grapefruit, slight biscuit. sight spice.

Flavour is a hop forward ESB-style. Grapefruit, malt sweetness, again with the biscuit. Pleasingly bitter finish.

Rating is 7.25/10 dogs. This is a solid offering by a new brewery that is finding their feet in Regina. Hopefully this beer is well received when it comes onstream sometime in April (according to the brewers). Bust-A-Nut Original would serve as a good introduction to hoppy beers for the rookie.


Apparently there are plans in the works for other brews as well. 

Since there are no other reviews for this beer, go check out the brewery homepage -> http://www.bustanutbrew.com/

Bacon Beer!?!? YES PLEASE!

Rogue Brewing has released a Maple Bacon Ale. *FAINTS* -> http://rogue.com/beers/voodoo-bacon-maple.php

review: Bayern Bakken Bock

Today's beer adventure: Bayern Bakken Bock Dark Dopplebock. 355ml Bottle. 8.4%(!) ABV. Served in my stolen BP pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.

The pour is dark brown with ruby highlights. Virtually no head at all. No lacing either. Low, appropriate carbonation. The nose is toasted/burnt malt and grain, alcohol, and...that's about it. Not much on the nose.

Flavour is incredible. Dark fruit, plum, roasted malt, slight hops. Where is the alcohol? It's a sneaky one. Medium mouthfeel. Very drinkable - at least until you have 4 and fall over I would imagine.

Rating is 7.75/10 dogs. According to the brewer's website - Jurgen Knoeller, brewmaster at Bayern, developed the dark lager to be much more smooth than other traditional dark beers, such as stouts and porters. He designed it to be "a treat after a long day in the oilfields." 

I could find no other reviews for this beer at all. Apparently it is a limited or seasonal release from Bayern. I am really liking the offerings so far from Bayern - Bakken Bock, Dancing Trout and Dragon's Breath. I look forward to the next time we travel to MT for beer so I can try more of their brews as they seemed to be quite common. Check out the brewer's website at http://www.bayernbrewery.com/

review: New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale

Today's beer adventure: New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale. 355ml Bottle. 5.2% ABV. Served in pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.

The pour is orange amber in colour. Not much head..maybe 1/4" tops. Great lacing though. Nose is mostly sweet malt. Peat? A bit bready. Not much nose for me really.

Flavour is sweet sweet malt..and then..hops. Hoppier than one might expect out of an amber. Quite pleasing. Mouthfeel is light/medium and crisp. Very refreshing. Solid session beer for sure.

Rating is 7.25/10 dogs. The first time I had this beer was at a friend's house near Las Vegas and I remember loving it. Fat Tire means Vegas to me and that is a great thing! This is a beer you can drink a lot of..especially when they are free when you are playing pennies. :)


What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/607

review: New Belgium Ranger IPA

Today's beer adventure: New Belgium Ranger IPA. 355ml Bottle. 6.5% ABV. Served in my stolen BP pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.


The pour is golden. Two fingers of frothy, long-lasting head. Lacing stays around forever. Nose is of BIG fruity hops - grapefruit, lemon, cut grass. Big nose on this.


Flavour is west coast IPA - grapefruit, lemon, pine sap, grassy. Crisp sparkly mouthfeel. Lingering bitterness in the finish. Enough malt to give reasonable balance, although the hops are still very much in the forefront.


Rating is 7.5/10 dogs. Big hop forward beer. Would be incredible with hot spicy food. I am just getting my "hop legs" under me, and this is pretty hoppy for me. Very solid beer. I had been looking forward to this as it is from New Belgium, which produces Fat Tire, which I love. I am not disappointed.


**BTW..I have no idea why the font is F*ucked on this post...sorry.


What other people think: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/new-belgium-ranger-ipa/108325/

review: Red Lodge Bent Nail IPA

Today's beer adventure: Red Lodge Bent Nail IPA. 355ml Bottle. 6.0% ABV. Served in pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.

The pour is slightly dark copper. Two fingers of frothy head. Good lacing. Nose is an assault of fruity hops - grapefruit, lemon, but then...rich malt(!?), leather? The nose gets me really wondering about this beer.

Flavour is hop forward - grapefruit, pine, lemon, etc....then lots of unexpected underlying malt, bready cereal. Medium-light body, Lingering bittersweet finish.

Rating is 6.0/10 dogs. The balance just wasn't there for me even though the malt was there. It tastes like they threw in the malt as an afterthought? Too much hop? Not enough malt? Not sure...
One thing is for sure, this is the kind of beer that I neither like nor dislike, which means that I will drink them until I decide one way or the other. If I come up with something brilliant to say, I will leave it in the comments, but don't hold your breath.

What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7122/28011/?ba=aggiearcher13

review: Bayern Dragon's Breath Dark Heff Ale

Today's beer adventure: Bayern Dragon's Breath Dark Heff Ale. 6.0% ABV (the website actually lists it at 5.6% as well as 6.0%). 355ml Bottle. Served in pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.

The pour is a dark chocolate brown haze. Small amount of head. Moderate lacing. Nose is of caramel, lots of malt, dark dried fruit, red wine? bananas? Light carbonation.

Flavour is what one would think it might be..a very malty hefeweizen. Wheat, malt, raisiny sweetness, bananas again, alcohol. Mouthfeel is very creamy and enjoyable. The carbonation is interesting in that the bubbles are very small, making it feel a touch "sparkly" on the tongue. Slight bitter finish.

Rating is 7.75/10 dogs.  Neat beer. I really enjoyed this..I kinda wish I didn't have to split the sixer with Derek! :)

What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/605/49354

review: Alaskan Amber Alt Style Beer

Today's beer adventure: Alaskan Amber Alt Style Beer. 5.3% ABV. 355ml Bottle. Served in pint glass. Purchased during our trip to Plentywood. ~$2.00/bottle.

The pour is ruby amber. Small amount of quickly dissipating white head. Light lacing. Nose is of apples, spice, malt, citrusy hops, grainy, woody?

Flavour is a touch sour - in a good way, sweet malt, citrus fruit. Mouthfeel is a touch viscous. I was left with apples and pears on the tongue afterward. Slight bitterness in the finish. This beer draws you back again and again.

Rating is 8.0/10 dogs.  I really like this beer. It's a very sessionable, clean beer. It breaks no "new" ground., but is very solid. On a trip to Alaska a number of years ago, we tried to drink it all. We did not succeed. The taste of this beer brings me back to that trip every time. I wish they sold it in Regina.

What other people think: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/alaskan-amber/13/

D-Dogg's Beer Blog goes INTERNATIONAL!

Today's beer adventure..ROAD TRIP!

On a bit of a lark, my beer-loving buddy Derek and I decided to take a day trip to Plentywood, MT to buy beer and experience the local flavour.

The drive was gorgeous, a beautiful day. We had a plan for our trip - hit the liquor store, and as many convenience stores and grocery stores as we could to find any interesting beer that we could. As we found out, Montana has a WIDE variety of state-brewed craft beers, and also offer some craft beers from further afield. But let's start the adventure..shall we?

We stopped at a gas station/convenience store as soon as we entered the town. I went immediately to the coolers and found 3 of my favourite brews..Alaskan Amber, Fat Tire, and Moose Drool Brown Ale. These are all darker ales that I LOVE..I left them there for the time being and we moved along to the...

LIQUOR STORE!  The sign says "Liquor Store - Welcome Canadians!". Derek and I parked the Tercel and we went inside...anticipating the treasures within.

OK, firstly..in Canuckistan, where we live, MOST liquor is sold via the government outlet - the SLGA. Beer and liquor are both sold there. Private liquor/beer vendors are few and far between. The idea of buying beer in a convenience store still makes me giggle like a schoolkid...and the idea of a liquor store that DOESN'T SELL BEER is foreign. This liquor store did just that..it sold hard liquor...that's pretty much it. Derek and I are both huge tequila fans and rum fans, and I like scotch, so we were really hoping to find things we couldn't get at home, or maybe save a dollar or 5 on a bottle of something familiar. No such luck. The selection was poor and the prices high in our opinion. We left the liquor store and went to...

THE GROCERY STORE! It was right across the street. We went in with a non-beer shopping list consisting of bacon spray cheese and vanilla Coke from our buddy Randy, so we picked that up and headed to the substantial beer section.

We found a very helpful store employee who showed us about. Apparently she is asked to bring beer "back home to Michigan" every time she travels that way. We loaded up on Montana-based craft beers, the few others I mentioned above and a few others that looked really interesting. Derek and I generally prefer brown/dark ales, trappist/abbey ales and we are developing a taste for hop-forward beers - IPAs and ESBs. We found some really neat IPAs and brown/dark beers. Here is the LIST:

Alaskan Amber Alt Style Ale (Alaska Brewing Company, ALASKA)
Fat Tire Amber Ale (New Belgium Brewing, COLORADO)
Bent Nail IPA (Red Lodge Ales Brewing Co., MONTANA)
Bobo's Robust Porter (Big Sky Brewing Co., MONTANA)
Ranger IPA (New Belgium Brewing, COLORADO)
Bayern Dragon's Breath Dark Heff Ale (Bayern Brewing, MONTANA)
Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale (Deschutes Brewery, OREGON)
Bakken Bock Dark Dopplebock (Bayern Brewing, MONTANA)
Moose Drool Brown Ale (Big Sky Brewing, MONTANA)

Altogether we bought 11 6-packs, paid a total of about $98.00 USD for them and paid an additional $37.00 CDN duty and taxes at the border. The cost for the each 6-pack was about $12.75 or about the same price as a 6-pack of domestic beer at the SLGA. Not too bad.

So after we bought beer, we needed lunch. We were hoping to go to this grungy pizza joint I found on the internet that was purported to be the hangout of the town's "colour", but it was not open at lunchtime. We opted for the Golden Dollar, a diner with excellent hamburgers that feature both bacon AND Canadian Bacon! TWO KINDS OF BACON! We had hoped to try the pie which was on offer, but there was no more room in the tummies. We paid the bill and made our way to...

CASSIDY'S! Cassidy's is a bar and lounge across the street from the Golden Dollar. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a beer. The barkeep brought us two Bayern Dancing Trout Ales. This is something that we didn't pick up earlier and we were game to try something new! I don't have a full review on the Dancing Trout, but it was a very tasty wheat ale. In hindsight, we should have picked some up for home, but alas we did not. Cassidy's runs a game called "shake-a-date" which we participated in. Shake-a-Date involves paying 50 cents for the opportunity to shake five dice. If you get five of a kind, you win the "pot". Nobody at the bar won the pot that day, but it was fun to participate in something that was definitely local flavour. Derek did buy a Powerball ticket though, so maybe the riches are yet to come! We also found that Cassidy's makes Caesars..which VERY few American bars do...and they make it with a splash of olive juice and a squeeze of lime..might have to try both! While Derek nursed his beer (he was driving), I had a Bayern Dragon's Breath. VERY interesting...a review will follow at some point. We left Cassidy's, went for a bit of a walking tour of the Plentywood shopping district, then went to...

THE BLUE MOON!  The Blue Moon is east of town by a mile or so, and is a bar/lounge/event location? It is quite spacious with tons of slot machines, a dance floor, a side room and a long bar. Derek and I were two of only four people in the whole joint..plus the bartender. We bellied up to the bar, and I ordered a Shock Top Raspberry Wheat Ale. It was really good! REALLY good. It would be fantastic on a hot day. Since I ordered a "girly" beer, Derek made up for it by ordering a Michelob Ultra. Uh huh...*I* got the girly beer. While Derek drank his diet beer, I finished the Shock Top and ordered the bar's namesake..a Blue Moon Belgian White. Blue Moon is a solid Witbier..I do enjoy it. We threw some money into a slot machine, finished our beers and started back to Canada.

Derek and I had an excellent time and brought back some hopefully excellent beers! Stay tuned for the reviews as I get time to do them.

Salud!

review: Bushwakker Sodbuster Brown Ale

Today's beer adventure: Bushwakker Sodbuster Brown Ale. Offsale from The Bushwakker. 5.0% ABV.  $15.00/2L.

The pour is medium brown with ruby highlights. One finger of foamy head disappearing into lovely lacing on the glass. Nose is of roasted malt, slight hops, hint of chocolate, molasses? 

Flavour is of malt. Malt malt malt. Sweet malt. Just enough underlying hops to balance it out and give a slightly bitter finish. Molasses again. Slight flowery hop flavour. Slight chocolate as well. This is an incredible session beer. A very nice brown.

Rating is 8/10 dogs. This is my "go to" beer when I need a break from the new and just want to drink something familiar. It's comfort beer.


Check out the BW website:  http://www.bushwakker.com/


What other people think: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/bushwakker-sodbuster-brown/31783/

review: Bushwakker Chinook ESB

From the beerchives...

Today's beer adventure: Bushwakker Chinook ESB. Served on tap at the mighty Bushwakker brewpub in Regina. 5.8% ABV.  $6.95/pint.

The pour is "burnt amber" according to my wife Rhianna, so let's go with it. Not much for head. Lacing is OK. Nose is malt, light hops, a bit flowery?

Flavour is thin? More malt than hops, which would normally be a good thing, but meh? Kinda funky in the middle? Bitter hops at the end that hang on a bit..not unpleasant, but only OK for me. This would be (for me) an English Style Bitter as opposed to an Extra Special Bitter..

Rating is 6/10 dogs. I've had this before and it wasn't a favourite then either. Not a repeat for me.

Check out the BW website:  http://www.bushwakker.com/

**NOTE: I am a MASSIVE fan of The Bushwakker....this just isn't one of my favourites. I have a rule that I will drink EVERYTHING on their beer menu at some point....it just happened to be this one this time. :)

review: Brassierie Dieu de Ciel Aphrodisiaque!

LIVE FROM BUSHWAKKER BREWPUB IN REGINA..Today's SECOND LIVE BLOGGED beer adventure: Brassierie Dieu de Ciel Aphrodisiaque. 341ml bottle. 8.7% ABV. $8.95. Served in a goblet.

The pour is dark reddish brown. Derek exclaimed "Hope you enjoy your engine oil". Head is non-existent. No lacing at all. Nose is of black currants, coffee, dark chocolate, coffee, toasted malt.

Flavour is huge chocolate, cherries, vanilla bean, coffee, plum, roasty malt.. dry finish.

Rating: 7.0 dogs. Meh. It was good. Derek observed it may be good as an introduction to dark beer for the neophyte. Maybe? It was good, but there definitely is better.


What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1141/10330

review: Maredsous 10 Tripel

LIVE FROM BUSHWAKKER BREWPUB IN REGINA..Today's LIVE BLOGGED beer adventure: Maredsous 10 Tripel. On tap @ Bushwakker Brewpub in Regina. 10% ABV. $9.95/ ha'pint. Served in a La Trappe goblet. Enjoyed with my good buddy Derek Barnes.

The pour is a pleasing golden amber. Head is pretty much non-existent (awww....). Tremendous lacing.
Nose is of wood, massive alcohol...kinda like moonshine! Hard to get past the booze.

Flavour is definitely boozy, then sweet malt kicks in. Bitter hops. Very dry finish.

Rating: 7.5 dogs. This is an OK tripel....not the best, but OK. The La Trappe that BW had on tap prior to this one was better IMHO.


What other people think: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/maredsous-10/2527/

review: Erdinger Weissbier

Today's Beer Adventure: Erdinger Weissbier. 500ml bottle. 5.6% ABV. Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina (I think). ~$5.50ish Served in my neglected Great Western lager glass. I really need a tulip glass for the Weissbiers and Trappists and such. Perhaps this weekend I will remedy that.

Pour is hazy golden orange. Huge, slowly dissipating head. Nose is peaches, coriander, cloves, bread, orange, lemon. It smells fantastic.

Flavour is fuzzy peaches, orange peel, light spice. Full, creamy mouthfeel.

Rating: 7.5 dogs. I really enjoyed this one. I do like weissbiers as IMHO they taste and drink as a "lite" trappist ale. This will be a regular in the Doghouse. If you like Hoegaarden, Rickard's White or any of the "white" beers, try this and realize how good Witbiers can be.

What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/703/2434

There IS such thing as free beer!

I won free beer and a mug from Bust-A-Nut (http://www.facebook.com/BustaNutBrew)!!!!!!

Epic, as the kids say nowadays! Feckin' A is what we woulda said in the old days.

As soon as that stuff is in my hot little hands, I will review the stuff for you thirsty masses. Yep. I will.

review: Cannery Brewing Naramata Nut Brown Ale

Today's Beer Adventure: Naramata Nut Brown Ale. Cannery Brewing out of Penticton, BC. 650ml bottle. 5.5% ABV. Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina. ~$5.50ish Served in my neglected Great Western lager glass. I know..wrong glassware...did I mention I needed real glassware if I am going to continue this endeavour?

Pour is dark dark brown. One finger of thick white head. Ample carbonation. Great lacing. This stuff LOOKS incredible! Nose gives me layers of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate. There is something sweet in there though..fruity...can't place it though...

The first pull gives me a blast of malty sweetness and another hint of that something else that I can't place..maybe it is plum? It is definitely dark fruit..currants? Sweet espresso coffee. Nuts. Very malty and quite interesting but VERY sweet. Almost too sweet.

Rating: 7.0 dogs. Solid beer. I enjoyed this one but was not floored by any means. Better than some (hi there Howe Sound Rail Ale) and not as good as others (Bushwakker Sodbuster). Would order if available on tap in town.

What other people think: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/cannery-naramata-nut-brown/19851/

review: König Ludwig Weissbier

Today's Beer Adventure: König Ludwig Weissbier Hefewiezen. 500ml bottle. 5.5% ABV. Purchased at SLGA in Regina. ~$4.00

Pour is hazy golden amber. Huge pillowy white head. Ample carbonation. Nose is bready, yeasty malt, a bit of citrus...lemon? Bananas?


The flavour is light and refreshing. The citrus notes are there as are some clove/spice flavours. Almost like a "Belgian Lite Beer". Medium bodied. A bit light for a Wiesbier, but very drinkable. This is a beer I have bought and enjoyed before and will again.


Rating: 7.0. Solid beer. Could be a bit more of .. well .. everything, but it is very approachable and enjoyable.


What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3900/4847

review: Coney Island Freaktoberfest Lager

Today's Beer Adventure: Coney Island Freaktoberfest. Schmaltz Brewing Company, NY. 330ml bottle. 6.66% ABV (ha!). Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina. ~$5.00? Served in my stolen BP pint glass.

The pour is RED. Yep, RED with one finger of thick Red Head (heh). Hazy. Light carbonation. Heavy lacing. Nose is Plum? Strawberry? Rhubarb? Definitely sweet.

The flavour bears out the nose...plum, berry, tomato? A wee bit spicy? Kinda like a V8? Lots of malt. Sweet, fruit beer. Tart/bitter near the end.

Rating: 7.0 dogs. Solid beer. Interesting if nothing else! A neat seasonal beer.

What other people think: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/262/43442

Festiv-Ale. Not-quite-live coverage.

Sooo..I had the opportunity to attend Festiv-Ale (http://festiv-ale.ca/) yesterday thanks to a last minute invite from my buddy Fabian. I had not attended in the past and had wanted to go, but was too cheap to part with the $30 to get in the door, and then pay for tickets to get booze. Thank to Fabe for the invite! I put on my free admission wristband, got the requisite wee beer stein, paid the $20 for 40 tickets and awaaaayyyyy we go!

So the event was in some ways better than expected, and in other ways exactly what I expected. I managed to slide by the Minhas booth, the Molson booth, the Mike's Hard Lemonade booth, etc unscathed... then made my way to the other excellent booths that were available...which brings me to the good and the bad.

THE GOOD:

 - Bust-A-Nut Brewery (http://www.facebook.com/BustaNutBrew). Billed as Regina's newest/only microbrewery, Bust-A-Nut has one label presently, a very tasty ESB style ale. I was suitably impressed. The rep for the brewery at the booth informed me they were in discussion with 40 different restaurants in the Regina area to have their product carried on tap, but there are none presently. Take notice O'Hanlons, Beer Brothers, the myriad chain restaurants in town, and even the Mighty Bushwakker Brewpub...this is a tap you might consider carrying. Quite tasty brew, and a bargain at 1 ticket per wee steinful.

- Chase English Potato Vodka (http://www.chasedistillery.co.uk/). Yet another entry into the Ultra Premium vodka market. Yawn..right? Wait a second..this stuff is good. No, really. Somewhat similar to Grey Goose - and priced HIGHER than Goose - it is a lively vodka with lemony citrusy notes. Tasty stuff. 6 tickets for about 1/3 oz though...I guess they do price it higher than Grey Goose! :)

- Willow Park Wine and Sprits (http://www.willowpark.net/), the source of a number of my reviewed beers, was there in full force offering no less than EIGHT different beers on sample. I tried one that I cannot remember the name of (I know, I suck)...it was an aged trappist-style french beer. I DO remember huge black currant, plum and dark fruit flavours and a dry finish. I will figure out which beer this was and report back. I also remember it was EIGHT tickets for about 3 oz. of beer. Worth it though. Ooooo and I got to share it with the lovely and talented Cheryl Tovey from The Bushwakker. Hi Cheryl!

- Brown's Socialhouse (http://brownsrestaurantgroup.com/brownssocialhouse/category/locations/regina-now-open/). No booze here, but an excellent although small, selection of appetizers. I selected the Dragon Bowl. Yummy. 6 tickets.

- Paddockwood Brewing from Saskatoon (http://www.paddockwood.com/). They only had two beers of their excellent selection on offer - the 606 Pale Ale (excellent) and the Red Hammer Red Ale.  I hadn't tried the Red Hammer before and was delighted to sample it. It was a great beer, and will be one I will review properly in the future. 2 tickets only made it even better!

- Half Pints Brewing (http://www.halfpintsbrewing.com/). They had their excellent Stir Stick Stour on tap as well as one I had not heard of - Sweet Nikki Brown. Couldn't get near the booth though, so I went away thirsty. :(. Will try to find the SNB somewhere and review it....

- The Bushwakker Brewpub. 'Wakkers. A little slice of my heaven. I could live there. The beers they had on offer (Bourbon Barrel Stout, Pumpkin Spiced Ale, and two others that escape my memory) I have had in the past over and over and over, so I elected to give them a miss at the event..I did see many many of the BW staff there expanding their palates at the various booths though. :)

- The bands! I had friends in two of the three bands there, and all three bands were a lot of fun! Check out The Chris Henderson Band, Route 66 and Tongue Jungle if you have a chance!

THE BAD:

- the organizers (maybe the vendors?) need to get together and decide if I need to carry tickets or cash. All liquor was available via tickets, but the food vendors were split. It is nice to know what I need to give a vendor for their wares. Makes it simpler...especially after one has sampled a few beverages!

- the door fee. It still seems high to me. I know I didn't pay it, but I am still not 100% sure I WOULD pay it to get in. It was a good time though, so maybe.

- the CROWDS! WOW! If you want to have any chance at getting to the booths, gotta go early...after about 9:00, you have no hope.

- last call is at 10:30 and all liquor booths were done by 11:00PM. Seems early to me..but hey. :)

Conclusion: check out Bust-A-Nut if you can. Nice beer. Hopefully they can get a toehold in Regina and maybe even produce a second label!

review: Lost Abbey Judgement Day Belgian-Style Quadrupel

From December 14, 2011:

OK..tonight's beer adventure.. Lost Abbey Judgement Day. Yes, Judgement day. Judgement Day is an Abt/Quadrupel from Lost Abbey brewing in CA. 10.5 ABV. Picked up this 710ml bottle at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina.

Pours dark red/amber with a thin white head. HUGE plum and raisin flavour and nose. Finish is long and sweet. Is there booze in here? Not really sure..it is hidden VERY well. Could be a sneaky one.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Trappist ales. This offering from California would hold up with most Belgians I have sampled. Very nice. 8.5/10.

Lost Abbey Judgment Day

review: Shipyard Smashed Blueberry Ale

From December 27, 2011:


Tonight's beer adventure: Shipyard Smashed Blueberry Ale. Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina. 710ml bottle. Approximately $12.00 (I think!).

Bought this at the recommendation of a co-worker who is a beer aficionado and sampled it at a tasting sponsored by Willow Park. The beer is purported to be a combination of a porter and a scotch ale (yay!) with a splash of blueberry.

The pour is DARK. Huge, long lasting head. Nose is roasted malt, chocolate and blueberry. Yummy. The mouthfeel is creamy, rich and roasty. Not too fruity (I had been advised of this by my co-worker). Lots of roasted malt, a bit of smoke. Dark chocolate covered blueberries. Pleasing finish..it hangs on for the precisely correct amount of time. It begs you to come back for another mouthful.

Damn, I like this. I like this a lot. Not sure if Bushwakker Brewing Company would bring it in as an import, but I would certainly buy it if they did. 

Obligatory link to other rating site: 

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/shipyard-smashed-blueberry-pugsleys-signature-series/146135/

review: Central City Brewing Red Racer ESB

Todays Beer Adventure: Red Racer ESB  355ml Can, 5.8% ABV. Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina. ~$2.75. Served in a glass mug I got at a work function.

The pour is amber gold with two fingers of thick, foamy, long lasting white head. Nose is flowery hops and citrus (grapefruit, lime?)..not a trace of anything else. Good carbonation.

Flavour is of flowery, citrusy hops - grapefruit, lime, grass, lemongrass. Pine? Lingering bitterness is enjoyable. Very similar to a "West Coast" IPA. I don't get much malt out of this, but others disagree..

Rating: 7.0 dogs. Solid beer. I do have a question though..what is the difference between this "Extra Special Bitter" and those West Coast IPAs?  I have had the Red Racer IPA as well and it is bigger yet with the floral hops and such, but really..what is the difference?

What other people think:

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/central-city-red-racer-esb/113319/

Woof.

review: Raftman Belgian Pale Ale

From January 18, 2012:


Tonight's beer adventure: Raftman from Unibroue. 5.5% ABV. Bottled. Served in Big Rock stein. Should have been served in a tulip glass - but I don't have one so shut up. Bought at SLGA. $6.00 for 700ml bottle.

Pour is orangey-amber with a THICK, rocky, soapy white head. This a LOT of head...almost 3 fingers worth. Aroma is similar to many Belgian Ales..orange, coriander, yadda yadda,

This beer claims to be brewed with a smoky, whisky malt, but that is really well down in the flavour. Lots of bready, somewhat orangey flavours..this seems to be a Unibroue thing...maybe it is the yeast?

Overall, this is an enjoyable brew, and I was looking well forward to it, but it really didn't deliver the goods that I thought it might. One other reviewer thought it might benefit from a higher ABV to balance it out a bit, and they might be right? I have to say I have enjoyed other offerings from Unibroue more, such as Blanche De Chambly and Maudite. I'll buy it again, but not often. 7/10.


http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/793

review: Maui Brewing Company CoCoNut PorTer

Today's beer adventure: Maui Brewing Company CoCoNut PorTer. Purchased at Bushwakker Brewing Company, but consumed at home. 355ml can. about $8.00. Ouch. Served in stolen BP pint glass. I should buy some decent glassware.

The pour is almost black with one finger of dark tan head. Nose is coffee, chocolate, smoke? No coconut to be found as yet.

The first pull shows licorice, more chocolate, some coffee and a lingering roasted coconut flavour. The sweet, roasty coconut flavour just stays and stays. Not as heavy as most porters..you could almost session this beer. This stuff is incredible...one of the best things I have had in my mouth. Soooooo good. Wow. Buy this and drink it. Often if possible. I know I want to. Might be worth going to Maui just get it on tap.

I love dark beers..stouts and porters..brown ales. I have to say this is one of my favourite dark beers of all time. Wow. Nice to have this after a few misses over the last few adventures (I have to review the Granville Island Brewing Maple Cream Ale yet..but here is a preview..boring).

9.5/10 Incredible beer. Drinkable. Complex. Leaves you wishing you had another can.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/maui-brewing-coconut-porter/59330/

review: Harviestoun Old Engine Oil English Porter

From January 26, 2012:

Today's Beer Adventure: Harviestoun Old Engine Oil English Porter. 6.0% ABV. Purchased at SLGA. ~$3.75/330ml Bottle. Served in my stolen Boston Pizza pint glass.

The pour is jet black. Thick pour with very little head. Typically I like more head than this, but hey.. ;). Light light carbonation. The nose is roasty, almost burnt malt. Dark Chocolate. Oaty. A bit of smoke.

Good mouthfeel, creamy but perhaps thinner than I was expecting. Medium bodied I guess. Not disappointing.

Taste is roasted malt, wood, marmite, bittersweet chocolate, smoke, cherries? Very nice porter. Not as bitter as I had expected, which is a plus for me. Quite drinkable. Very enjoyable. Delicious. Will buy again for certain. 9/10

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/323/875

review: Affligem Blond Abbey Ale

From January 27, 2012..


Today's Beer Adventure: Affligem Blond Abbey Ale. 6.8% ABV. Bottle conditioned. Purchased at SLGA. ~$3.75/330ml Bottle. Served in my stolen Boston Pizza pint glass. Again.

The pour is hazy amber/gold. Massive rocky white head. 3-4 fingers worth. Lots of bubbly carbonation - I imagine due to the bottle conditioning. The head lasts forever.

The nose is funky like James Brown's jockstrap on a hot Alabama day. THAT funky. Not certain how exactly to describe it. Spicy..maybe ripe pineapple?

Taste is a bit dry? Honey, grainy, metallic (like copper?), apples, salt. The further I get into the glass, the drier it becomes....

I am a HUGE fan of trappist/abbey beers. This one for me, although quite drinkable, is not a favourite. Too dry for me for the style. Maybe great on a hot day? It's only OK for me. 6.5/10

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/affligem-blonde/3733/

review: La Vache Folle Extra Special Bitter

Today's Beer Adventure: La Vache Folle ESB  500ml Bottle, 6.0% ABV. Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina. ~$5.75...can't remember. Served in my stolen BP pint glass.

The pour is golden amber with a small, quickly dissipating head. Decent lacing. The nose is flowery/herbal...like an IPA? Some sweetness on the nose as well. Citrus..orange?

The hops jump right at you at the first sip. Grapefruit notes. Grass. Bread. Bitterness is definitely there but is balanced off nicely by the sweet malt. Medium body.

Rating: 7.5 dogs. Delicious beer.

What other people think:

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/charlevoix-vache-folle-esb/33047/

Woof.