Home Brew Keg Party!!

Last month I was invited to a keg party hosted by my buddy Chuck, who is an avid home brewer and a previous bartender at The Sugarbowl.  While working at the Bowl, we would often talk about the process of making beer and hear about Chucks adventures in home brewing.  Everyone knew Chuck liked his beer, but nobody had ever tasted his product....until now.

A few months ago Chuck started renting a heated garage and set up his micro-micro brewery, even going so far as to buying an old fridge and turning it into a 2x20L keg fridge with the two spouts coming out the side.  Sitting on two batches of beer just for himself can take a while to work through, and the longer it takes to cycle through a batch the longer it takes before he can play and experiment with new brews.  To combat this problem Chuck decided he would hold a monthly keg party, invite all of his friends to the garage and charge a minimum $5 donation to help pay for the cost of the product and a little left over to keep things going.  Well the idea was genius, and the parties are a huge success!

The Brewmaster
enthusiastically explaining the brewing process

The first kegger featured a delicious IPA, and a mind blowing Pumpkin Ale.  The IPA was crisp, fruity, and balanced extremely well.  From what I remember, Chuck calculated an IBU rating of 120 or something...if that was the case, it didn't show in the final product.  It was bitter, but a fine malt finish helped keep the extreme pucker at bay.  On the nose it was unlike any IPA I've ever experienced, smelling heavily of peach juice and other stone fruits.  An absolute delightful drink, along the same lines as the Raasted Grilløl....sharing similar flavor profiles.  The Pumpkin Ale, on the other hand, was out of this world.  Brewed with the pulp from a whole roasted fresh pumpkin and an appropriate amount of spices to warm it up, this beer was fantastic.  The pumpkin flavors were right upfront, without becoming too sweet or overpowering.  I've had a couple of other pumpkin ales that tasted almost synthetic, this was absolutely real.  The spices gave it a delightful pumpkin pie burst, ginger being a noticeable but savvy addition to the brew.  It was a clear golden amber color, quite viscous with a full flavor and decent hop aroma. Compared to any of the other Pumpkin Ales I've tried over the last couple of years, this one wins gold in my books.

Big ol'sack of two row malt

Yesterday was kegger #2, featuring an Irish Red Cream Ale and an imaginative Peated Malt Baltic Porter.  The porter was definitely the star of the evening, with the 20L keg drained in little over two hours. A round and rich roasted malt base and subtle hop profile, the smoke from the peated malt was barely present but still noticeable.  It added a unique flavor to the beer, leaving you wanting more.  I could have done with more smoke flavor, I'm pretty sure Chuck was looking for more smoke as well but played it safe with the first batch of this experimental brew.  Drinkability was dangerously high, and an 8% ABV made this fantastic beer a hit with everyone at the garage.  The Irish Red poured a rosy red hue, with a delicate frothy head.  Very smooth and a creamy texture brought on by using a small percentage of rice in the mash.  This beer was delicious and enjoyable, details at this point are fuzzy at best.  After a few of each, its hard not to feel pretty happy and carefree.  The great thing about these parties is the amount of people totally into beer and what goes into the beer.  Having like minded individuals, with equal if not greater love for the brew, to completely geek out with and not feel like a super nerd is such a fantastic atmosphere to be in.  I look forward to future keggers with Chuck and the gang, and I'll do my best to spread the word. Cheers!

Magpie - Big Rock Brewery

Big Rock Brewery, situated in Calgary Alberta, is probably Alberta's most successful "craft" brewery.  Every Albertan has swilled on pints of their Traditional Ale or Grasshopper Wheat Ale at some point in their lives, as these two beers have infiltrated almost every bar in the province.  Their roster of beers has grown over the years to include many different styles, some much better than others.....but most still not very good.  I've been told the beer used to be quite good in the early days of the breweries life, but as the popularity of the brewery grew, and the size of the brewery grew, the quality of the brew quickly began to wear thin.  New recipes, and cost cutting solutions have brought Big Rock's reputation to a stand still, putting them on par with the likes of Molson and other big adjunct beer producers (my opinion here, just saying).  But then word hit the streets that they would be re-releasing a discontinued hit from their past, beer geeks were getting stoked, and I had high hopes that maybe....just maybe, Big Rock could produce something worthy, perhaps even enjoyable.

Finding information and history on the Magpie is difficult.  It's a rye ale brewed by Big Rock ten years ago, back when "craft" was still the name of the game.  It seems to have made a quiet debut on the scene as their is still zero info about it on the website, as well as beer advocate.  As far as I know the only places in Edmonton to serve the Magpie is the Druid, and now for the month of December we're pouring pints at The Sugarbowl.  I've had a few pints in the last week or so, trying to get my head wrapped around this stuff.  Some of my beer geek friends were very excited about this product, and had great things to say about it....although these fond memories are at least a decade old. Here's to hoping.

The pint pours a light amber color, the head full of large dissipating bubbles and zero lacing.  On the nose it had a sweet undertone, pleasant hop character but that strange Big Rock smell is in full force.  I find all the Big Rock products to have a similar smell and taste, must be the water...I don't know. Either way it's not an overly enjoyable addition to the beer.  The flavor is sweet and malty, not sure what I'm looking for in a rye profile.  The only other rye beer I've tried is the  He'Brew Lenny's Double Rye IPA, which is fantastic and probably one of my favorite beers this year.  The Magpie I found to be a bit astringent on the tongue, thin and watery, and overall experience very tipical of a Big Rock beer.  If they're trying to coax experienced beer drinkers into buying in to this product, or any of their products for that matter, their going to have to start brewing a lot better than this. Nice try Big Rock, but your beer still sucks (my opinion here, just saying).

Alley Kat Cask Ale - Apple Wit

The Sugarbowl has had the opportunity to host Alley Kat's monthly cask ale night with great success for the past few months now. So far they've brought us cask versions of their Full Moon Pale Ale, Amber Ale, A Steam Beer, and a Chocolate Porter (My favorite so far).

Yesterday we sampled a cask version of their new 15th anniversary release, an Apple Wit. It poured hazy light orange in color with a light frothy head. Brewed with huge amounts of Granny Smith Apples, the unfiltered wit was full of sediment, and exploding with dreamy apple pie aromas. Drinking brought a rush of other flavors with a fresh sour apple cider base, with mild spicy notes, the yeast almost giving it the apple pie crust flavor. The lack of artificial carbonation in these cask ales really give the flavors a chance to shine and adding a heaviness, filling you up faster than usual. This was a great beer, and a delightful addition to their short list of anniversary releases. I'm looking forward to trying it again from the bottle.  I hope the rich flavors of this cask are brought along in the bottled version.

Aside from Alley Kat we've had another brewery Host a cask night with smashing success. Half Pints Brewery from Winnipeg, Manitoba came to the Sugarbowl along with Brewmaster/Owner, Dave Rudge. Dave brought along with him an Oktoberfest Lager. The cask sprayed the entire kitchen with beer when it was tapped, but the brew was delicious as was the other three Half Pint beers we featured that evening: Phil's Pils, Weizenheimer, and Pot Hole Porter. Currently on the feature list we are carrying their Stir Stick Stout, which I have yet to try.

Here's a short video of our kitchen being hosed with fresh cask beer. I was standing a little to close when she went off so the end of the video is mostly floor, but you get the idea.

Pike Brewery Dinner

Last Friday night we had the chance to enjoy an evening with Seattle brewery Pike Brewing Company, beer and Brewmaster Charles Finkel! The dinner took place at the Manor Bistro, consisting of a four course meal with beer pairings.

The meal started off strong with an amuse of Pike's "Dry Wit" a wonderfully floral Wit style beer, unfortunately my beer was molested by an orange slice while I was preoccupied which completely destroyed any aroma of the beer itself, and seriously masking any flavor. Beer + Fruit Garnish = Stupid.

The next course  was a delicious Stilton soup garnished with crispy parsnips and some sort of flavored oil paired with the Naughty Nellie Golden Ale. I thought the two worked really well together, the soup could have been the whole meal and I would have been happy.

Course three was a trio of salmon: Smoked Salmon, Basil cured Salmon, and a Salmon Tartar.  This, for me, was when things started to stray from good.  The Basil cured salmon was flavorless and a bit chewy, the salmon tartar was also seriously under seasoned and what flavor that existed wasn't very enjoyable.  The smoked salmon was delicious, salty and pleasantly smoky. There was some sort of yellow pepper puree and salsa garnish along with the dish that added nothing to the palette. I savored every morsel of the smoked salmon along with the paired Pale Ale which I found to be enjoyable. The hops maybe a bit over powering for the delicate salmon flavor, but worked well with the smoke. The disappointment of the food made the accompanying beer less memorable unfortunately. I think it was at this point in the evening when I started to focus more on my plate rather than my glass....chef habit.

Third course, entree.....ok, I'll try to be polite here. The beer, The Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale, was poured way before the food hit the tables. So by the time our meal came almost everyones beer was gone. But the beer was amazing and made a real impact on the evening I thought. This ale is brewed with a small percentage of peated Scottish malts adding tasty smoky sweetness and hints of Scotch Whisky to the brew, without adding boozy character which I find with most barrel aged Scotch ales.  The hops were subtle, doing well to not hinder the malty flavors from shining through. After completely enjoying almost all of my beer the food finally hit the table.  A free range chicken breast "stuffed" with Quebec Oka cheese and sage, eggplant cannelloni, some sort of roasted tomato sauce and grilled peppers. Now, when I see "stuffed" I assume the breast will be "stuffed". Rather the skin of the chicken was lifted and the cheese and sage placed under, the thing with this method of "stuffing" is that while the breast is being roasted the cheese has nothing containing it and just slithers out from under the skin and melts away...a complete waste. The chicken breast was at least juicy and tender, and delicious with the sauce. The cannelloni on the other hand was, in my opinion (and in the opinion of almost everyone at the table), a disaster. The eggplant was under seasoned and had nothing to make it short of boring, and wrapped around this bland mass was a severely al dante piece of pasta. The thing that really pissed me off about the dish aside from all of these things was the blatant over use pepper, which we already saw in the salmon course. Three massive pieces of grilled pepper, essentially an entire grilled pepper was the veggie portion of our plates. I didn't even eat it, out of spite, because it seemed like such a copout. I would have been happier with a side of boiled mushy carrots, at least it would have seemed like they tried. Overall third course fail, and thats not just my opinion but the unanimous opinion of the other seven people at my table. Sorry folks.

Image stolen from Jason Foster of onbeer.org

Fourth and final course, a bread pudding made with Pikes huge and delicious xxxxx Extra Stout was paired with the Old Bawdy barley wine.  The bread pudding was tasty, moist and spiced well. The fig compote on the pudding was enjoyable but cold, bringing an uncomfortable hot-cold complex to the dish which would have been more enjoyable if it had been all the same temperature.  The Old Bawdy blew my mind though! Granted it was my first barely wine experience, it was a perfect end to the meal. Heavy on all fronts, this extra malty and heavily hopped brew was balanced perfectly kicking the ass of any taste buds in its path. Four days later I still cannot stop thinking about it, and look forward to delving into the world that is barley wine. I cannot believe I have waited this long to try this style out.

Overall not a mind blowing evening, the beer being the star of the show most definitely. The company of Mr. Charles Finkel was a huge perk of the evening, bringing entertaining stories and history along with him despite the small room being extremely loud and some people not very engaged in his presence. I hope to one day enjoy his company again in a more comfortable setting, ideally working with him on my own terms to produce a beer dinner at the Sugarbowl....who knows. Here's to hoping. Cheers.

Thanksgiving WTF?

This Thanksgiving my wife and child spent the holiday in Calgary catching up with old/best friends, I decided to drive the other way and spend the day with my folks in Wainwright.

Wainwright is a smaller prairie community surrounded by rolling farms and a massive Canadian Forces training base.  Having grown up in this town I tend to generalize the people there as closed minded hicks, who swill the cheapest beer known to man just to get wasted and see who they can suck into a fight.  Maybe things have changed, it has been years since I've lived there and I don't (to my Mom's disappointment...sorry Mom) get out there as often as I probably should.  So this Thanksgiving, seeing that it would just be the three of us for dinner, Dad decided we would forgo the traditional turkey feast and indulge in sticky BBQ smoked pork ribs.  Of course ribs like these deserve a refreshing crisp beer along with it.  With my preconceived ideas about what Wainwright would have to offer in this department I settled on the fact I would probably be enjoying a Kokanee, or maybe if I was lucky a Stella, to wash down my saucy ribs.  Well smack my ass and call me Sally, we walk into the newly renovated Wainwright liquor store to a wall of some of the best available North American craft beer!  I couldn't believe it, a craft beer selection like this in my home town....things are really looking up!  Maybe I was wrong about this place, these hicks have some taste!  Are the piss swilling hicks a thing of the past?  It's probably too early to tell.

A little overwhelmed by the selection I'm only used to seeing at my trusty beer store in Edmonton, I jumped on a six pack of Red Racer Pale Ale for it's smooth easy drinking and powerful hoppy bite.  My Dad, having developed a taste for Alley Kat Charlie Flint Lager last time he was in Edmonton, was delighted to find it available and scooped one up post haste.  I also ventured into the equally impressive European import wall on the other side of the cooler and found a bottle of Brewdog's Hardcore IPA to be enjoyed on a later date.  Beer store success.  I walked out of that place shocked and proud.  Alberta has a long way to go in the craft beer world, but if Wainwright has jumped on board, I think we're doing alright.

NBC - Nelson Brewing Company

Here's a gem.  On our recent trip to the Kootenay's I was eager to try some of the products that NBC brews.  I had heard good things, and I vaguely remember trying their wheat beer while I lived in Victoria.  Unfortunately I haven't acquired a taste for the wheat beer yet, I know i know.....but it's just not my thing.

Nelson Brewing Company is a small craft brewery situated in Nelson BC, producing a handful of wonderfully flavored certified organic ales using traditional brewing recipes and methods. Their beer is not available at my beer store (Sherbrooke Liquor) so I had to try as much as I could while it was available. 

So the closer we got to Nelson I started to notice that almost every little restaurant and cafe we stopped at had these guys on tap.  Everyone had the Harvest Moon Hemp Ale and some carried the Wild Honey Ale.  That being said, the Harvest Moon Hemp was the first of their beers I sampled.

Harvest Moon Organic Hemp Ale - A German Kolsch style ale, this beer came out bright crisp and extremely refreshing.  Very clean on the palate, with a mild hop attendance.  A favorite of the locals, and only available on tap.  Every time I ordered one I happened to be sitting on some gorgeous patio which added major dramatic effect. (Insert photo of me with giant shit eating grin here)

Old Brewery Pale Ale - This tasty ale was given to me by my good buddy Scott, a resident of Nelson and manager of Little Mountain Liqour Store.  Well balanced, not overly hopped but definitely makes a appearance.  I suppose very typical of an English style pale ale, well rounded flavor with a noticeable bitter bite, and extremely easy to drink.

Paddywhack IPA - Pours a deep amber with a frothy head, medium lacing.  Wonderful on the nose with lots of citrus and pine and caramel notes.  Crisp and clean on the tongue, mildly astringent bitter that lingers.  Very piney, and mild malts.  Lots of hops in this beer. Medium body, but the malty base is slightly over shadowed by those incredible west coast hops. Overall a delightful beer.

Nelson After Dark - A British style mild dark ale, this beer was probably my favorite of all of the NBC beers I tried.  Rich and flavourful, medium body with lots of caramel, chocolate and coffee notes.  Fairly sweet on the tongue but balanced out nicely with a gentle hop hit.  The head is meager, disappears quickly and leaves very little lacing.  Despite how it looks it's not a heavy beer, which makes it quite refreshing.


With such a fantastic line of delicious beer, Nelson definitely stands out of the crowd with all of the rest.  Plus being an all organic brewery they have the upper hand on most, appealing to the earth forward thinkers.  The high quality of the ingredients used in these beers shines through magnificently, something I think all brewers should take into consideration.  I'm sure most craft brewers these days put huge amounts of thought into what goes into their beer, and where it's coming from, but NBC has put these thoughts into action and proudly produce liquid bottles of gold.  It's no wonder the locals are such loyal followers,  they're ahead of the game and they're winning.

Summer vacation....BC's Kootenay's

This years family vacation brought us to the beautiful Kootenay's of British Columbia.  Dreamy little hobby farms surrounding crystal clear glacial rivers dwarfed by the rolling green mountains, small highways winding dangerously through heavily wooded landscapes with to many reminders of lost loved ones dotting the roads edge.  A place of simple perfection, healthy happy living.  The purpose of our trip was to take part in the marriage of our good friends Becca and Dean, who along with Dean's brother Gord and wonderful partner Angela own and maintain one of those busy hobby farms (although not a hobby for these fine folks).  Crooked Horn Farm is where we called home for three days, tenting on the edge of the Slocan River, eating farm fresh veggies, and of course drinking wonderfully crafted BC beer.

A week or so before our departure, I contacted a friend of mine from Victoria and asked her if it was possible to bring me out a sixer of Phillips newly re-formulated Hop Circle IPA.  Not a problem at all she said, seeing as her best friend is Matt Phillips right hand lady at the brewery.  Not only did she bring me out a sizable sample, she even had one on ice ready and waiting for me!  Oh snap...hello vacation.  This IPA pours a hazy pale amber with a timid frothy head, which dissipates quickly leaving moderate lacing.  Very typical of a west coast IPA on the nose, which don't get me wrong is a thing of beauty.  Citrus and grapefruit notes come on strong but not over powering, it has richer accents that balance out those intense hop characters.  Flavor wise a delightful beer.  Medium carbonation, dry and light in the body.  Well balanced malts with pleasant citrus and piney hops to kick it up.  Overall quite hoppy but nothing to ridiculous, especially seeing as these days its almost as if brewers are going out of their way to make their IPA's hoppy as hell.  Being a lover of all things heavily hopped I'm not opposed to this mentality, but sometimes it's just not necessary and I think it's good to remember that.  It has become a summertime obsession to find the craziest hopped beers available, this beer brings you back to earth showing you that it doesn't all need to be extreme out of this world beer (ironic seeing as the label is an out of this world UFO).  I'm sure if this was available in Alberta it would be a staple in my fridge.


To the lovely Soo, thank you very much for going out of your way to bring me this fantastic beer. And to Sekhina of Phillips Brewing Company, big big thanks for sending this facelss name a sample of your tasty product.  I truly hope to see this and the rest of your brews in stores closer to home.  Cheers!


During our trip I ended up bring home a bunch of BC craft beers, mostly from Nelson Brewing Company.  During an impromptu house warming party after our return many of my holiday samples were pilfered from the fridge, but I will try to sit down sooner than later and talk about the beer that survived the party massacre.  Nelson Brewery being the focus as I was extremely pleased with their all organic product.

Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA

It's been a weekend of laboring on our new house, cleaning and painting.  Thanks to all that lent a hand with the revolting work of scrubbing years of nicotine from the walls and ceiling.  Hard work deserves a quality brew, lets hope this specimen stands up.

I was lucky to recently have one of my best friends move back to Edmonton from BC along with his wonderful family, and to make it even better he brought me a bottle of Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA to sample.  It sounds like Phillips Brewing Company out of Victoria BC has been producing some extremely good beer.  The Hop Circle IPA has been getting some great reviews, and my buddy Dan of small beer had the chance to tour and sample some of Matt Phillips newer brews with great words to say.  The brewery was started by one man, with a passion for quality beer and a stack of maxed out credit cards.  For the full story please refer to Dan's wonderfully written 3 part story, as he's done a substantial amount of work and research into the history and future of the brewery.  I vaguely remember trying some Phillips products while I lived in Victoria, but I do remember the absolute dedication people in the city hold for this brewery and their craft.

Phillips Amnesiac DIPA pours a hazy copper orange with an impressive frothy head which lazily fades away leaving heavy lacing.  Bright citrus and piney hops with sweet apricot and pineapple notes.  The flavor is pleasantly creamy, smooth and drinkable.  Sweet caramel malt base followed by citrusy floral hops with a surprisingly mild bitter aftertaste.  For an 8.5% ABV brew the alcohol content is hidden well until it's to late.  A little on the thin side though, for what it is.  The flavors are great, but they don't stick around very long.

A nice beer, mild but delicious.  I'd be happy to revisit a bottle of Amnesiac sooner than later.  I wish I had payed more attention to Phillips beer during my time in Victoria.  That being said, I wish I had payed more attention to all of the quality breweries in Victoria, or British Columbia for that matter.  Slowly they make appearances here in Alberta, unfortunately too slow for my liking.

Sherbrooke Neapolean Stout

This bottle has been sitting in my fridge for a good month now waiting patiently for me to drink it.  My brother in law gave it to me in hopes I would write about it and I didn't want to disappoint him.  In the few months of my blogs short life I have purchased/received many different varieties of beer with the intention of writing about them, but I've developed a terrible habit of drinking and not taking the time to write about it while the flavors and nuances are still within reach of my very short, short memory. Meanwhile I've made a point to drink as much beer as I could, and so far I've managed to drink a ton of beer.  A real achievement, my Mother will be so proud.  The writing.....not so good.  Fortunately for you, I will not give up.  But anyways, the beer.

Brewed by Alley Kat for Sherbrooke Liquor store,  this stout is a take on the ice cream flavor neapolitan.  Sherbrooke and Alley Kat have produced a number of beers with a wide range of unusual flavors created by local Edmonton home brewers.  The only other one that I've tried other than this was a red curry flavored beer, unfortunately that one didn't really do it for me or anyone else at the bar that got a sample.  I suppose they can't all be hits.  The Neapolean is a rich stout with the added flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.  It pours black and viscous with a thick mocha brown head.  The foam fades fairly quickly leaving small dimples of lacing behind.  From what I've read about flavored beers, adding oils to the brew virtually destroys any chance of achieving a decent head.  I was pleasantly surprised to see this beer developed a substantial head despite being artificially flavored.  It smells sweet and heavy with fruity notes of vanilla and coffee.  You can definitely taste the chocolate and vanilla with a bitter coffee like aftertaste, unfortunately the strawberry doesn't really come through at all.  The carbonation is extremely low and the hops are barely present, adding only a mild bitter touch at the end.  Overall an interesting beer, a little to sweet for my taste, but tasty nonetheless.  It didn't conjure up any old memories of devouring bowls of ice cream as a child, and for that I am disappointed, but it wouldn't deter me from recommending it to someone willing to try it out.

Foot in Mouth Syndrome - Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

In my last post I talked about the Dogfish Head 60-Minute, 90-Minute, and 120-Minute IPA's.  The 60 Minute IPA is readily available and extremely delicious.  Unfortunately the 90 Minute and 120 Minute IPA's are not as accessible.  Their 120 Minute IPA is an occasional release, probably only making appearances in pubs and beer stores in close proximity to the brewery.

Despite being one of their regular year round brews, the 90 minute has been a tough one to find around these parts.  I've asked some local beer geeks and beer store employees about the availability of this product, and everyone seems to carry the same opinion "Probably not going to see it any time soon."  Bummer.  Well what do you know, barely 24 hours after I blog about the near zero chance of ever seeing this product in our fridges, I walk into the staff room at work, kick off my shoes, look down and see this:

Well, needless to say I had a good laugh.  And let me tell you, it's a good way to start the day knowing that you will be enjoying this legendary beer at the end of your shift.

The restaurant was crazy busy, and the kitchen was hot as hell.  My mouth started watering before I even hit the bar, and after watching probably an entire case of these bad boys leave the bar into eager patron hands, it was now my turn to drink. It poured a clear golden amber with a think frothy head.  The nose was incredible, rich with floral hops and citrusy notes.  It has a very strong, but pleasant hoppy bitterness to it, balanced with a ton of sweet malty goodness.  Texturally I found it surprisingly dramatic, rich and buttery.  Creamy like an oatmeal stout, smooth with lively bubbles.  A fantastic package all around.  At 9% ABV I was feeling warm around the edges after just one (those of you who have worked in kitchens know that cooks rarely eat while working, so more often than not you end up drinking with an empty stomach).  It's a potent brew, if not approached responsibly.  The drinkability makes it a dangerous, but delicious combination.  Lets hope it stays around for a while.

With that I think it's safe to remove my foot from my mouth.  Come down to The Sugarbowl and get it whiles it's hot.

Also, if you can make it, tonight is the Alley Kat Cask Ale night at The Sugarbowl.  The keg will be tapped at 5pm, so be there early.  Hope to see you there!

Meat Beer Rock & Roll

The first day of summer brought us sweltering 30 degrees and thick humidity.  Summer brings joyful days spent in the backyard with family and friends enjoying the best things of the season (in my opinion) : BBQ, Beer, and Rock & Roll.  Slaving in front of a blazing grill doesn't seem all that bad when the stereo is cranked and the beer is cold.  Good company, of course, is always a welcomed plus.  So it's no surprise when that when times are enjoyable, the beer flows extra liberally.

Our almost daily trips to the beer store has brought to my attention some extremely enjoyable summer beers.  After a week or two of consistent drinking, they all tend to blend together in the ol'memory box, but their are a few that still stand out.  Talking about them all in detail would be lengthy, and frankly I don't have the memory to recall all of the details.

BrewDog Zeitgeist : This black lager hails all the way from Scotland.  BrewDog is Scotland's largest independent brewery started by two young friends looking for flavorful beer.  These guys produce some pretty hefty beer with massive flavor profiles and elevated alcohol content.  Their latest release called "Sink the Bismark IPA" packs a devastating 41% ABV content.  The Zeitgeist has a modest 4.9% ABV, but it's full of rich toffee like flavor. It's on the sweet side of things but it's still crisp, refreshing and delicious.  Think of liquid carbonated Tootsie Rolls.  Not selling it for you?  Try it out for yourself.

Red Racer IPA : I couldn't not talk about this wonderful creation.  I've been consuming many cans of this myself, and raving about it to anyone who will listen, so much so I feel I should receive some sort of compensation for my hard work and dedication.  Will work for beer, just putting it out there.  Central City Brewing from Surrey BC has brewed up a huge IPA packed to the ears with citrusy floral hops.  Its hazy rust orange body coats the mouth, rich flavorful malts and immense in you face bitter bite.  I've come to terms with the fact that it might not be for everyone, but I for one cannot get enough. Hook it to my veins!

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA : Dogfish Brewing has a thirst for extreme beer.  Nothing they produce is "normal" by current popular standards.  The 60 Minute IPA is their flagship beer from what I can tell.  Despite being constantly hopped on a 60 minute boil, this beer is well balanced.  The hops aren't to extreme, and the flavor is well rounded.  A crisp and medium body, it's a perfect fit between you and your BBQ.  I pray to the beer gods we see some of the 90 Minute IPA, and even more so the 120 Minute IPA.  Unfortunelty for us in Alberta, at this time the chances are slim to none.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale : These Chatoe Rogue beers are spectacular.  I picked up the Single Malt Ale a while back and it blew my mind.  The OREgasmic ale doesn't disappoint either.  A very ambitious line of beers these guys have produced, using ingredients grown on Rogue's very own micro hop and barely farms.  This beer is a deep amber color, rich in flavor with an exciting hop hit to be expected from any Rogue Brewing product.  I recommend any of the Chatoe Rogue beers, and also suggest buying them up before they are all gone.

Pike Pale Ale : Pike Brewing Company from Seattle Washington has produced a line of extremely enjoyable beers.  I've tried their IPA (quite nice), but the last couple of days have seen a few of the Pale Ale's go down with ease.  It seems to be modeled after the traditional English style Pale Ale with deep colored crystal and munich malts and big American and European Hop blends. Overall a bit on the watery side of medium body, but still flavorful with a pleasant hoppy touch.  Easy drinking, for you and your guests.

Victoria Bitter : While not the best beer in the world by far and in no way craft brew, it's an easy drinking crowd pleaser.  A play it safe lager not big in any of the real beer flavors that might not agree with everyone at the party (We are in Molson country remember), but not terrible enough to deter a thirsty beer geek from drinking away.  I was pleased with the sweet/bitter balance, but flavor wise it was watery and week.  Not something I would personally go out and buy for myself, but if someone offered me one I wouldn't say no.

Stay tuned for more summer rambles and suggestions. Have a good summer!

Also in the news, Alley Kat Cask Ale Night at The Sugarbowl this Thursday June 24th.  One cask conditioned version of an American Style Steam Beer.  Cask is tapped at 5pm, be there early to get your taste or you will miss out.

Yellowhead Brewing Company German Style Lager

The new kids on the Edmonton Craft Brewing scene, Yellowhead Brewing Company, have been up and running for a good three weeks now.  After reading that their lager was available in 500ml bottle directly from the brewery I decided it would be a good time to stop in and try the brew.

Yellowhead is situated downtown Edmonton in a gorgeous heritage building, with the brewhouse encased in a modern looking glass box built onto one side.  Short lived Maverick Brewing Company was the first to make a go at it with this location, but unfortunately were not able to stay afloat.  I've tried to find information about the demise of Maverick, but I haven't really settled on a definite conclusion as to why they were not able to make it.  I'm assuming because of the central location of the brewery, lease cost must be insane.  The brewery takes up most of the four story heritage warehouse style building, as well as a large space next door.  This area is prime real estate in Edmonton, and with the plans of building the new downtown Oilers Arena Mega-structure only a block or two away, it's only going to get more expensive.  Another theory that I've heard from a number of people is that they spent way to much money on marketing while the company was still establishing its roots, and basically drowning themselves in debt right from the get go.  Smooth move.  Maverick also produced only one beer, a lager. Very similar beginnings these two breweries seem to share, let us hope this one sticks around.

The Yellowhead Lager comes in a 500ml bottle, with an attractive retro prairie pride type label.  It pours a pale amber, the perky effervescence bringing to life a decent white foamy head to the top of the glass. It's sweet and grassy on the nose, with a mild hint of hops.  The flavor is quite enjoyable. Clean and fresh tasting, nice malty base, a round creamy texture with a well balanced subdued bitter.  The carbonation on the tongue is mild, but present.  A very easy beer to drink and a very good representation of the traditional German style lagers.  This beer has been sitting in the bottle for mabey a couple of weeks and it tastes great, I'm always amazed at how the flavor of the beer pops when you have the chance to get it so fresh.  I'm looking forward to trying it on tap, and hoping we can bring it in at The Sugarbowl even just for the summer months as this would be a great summer/patio drink.

I had the chance to meet one of the co-owners of the brewery,  who has been working like a dog trying to tie up loose ends with construction, cleaning, marketing (no website yet), production, bottling, as well as being available to host parties in the beautiful event room.  Despite being spread a little thin, tired, and probably feeling somewhat rough around the edges, Leon was a gracious host, and happy to talk about his new toy.  I asked if they had any plans to produce any other types of beer other than the lager, and at this point in the breweries young life, no plans have been made to expand their product line.  It sounds like they are going to focus on getting their first product out the door and into people's fridges, and become more established before going balls out.

Brewmaster Scott Harris has spent many years brewing in Germany, so I'm sure he's got his lager down, but he must have some tasty recipes gestating in that brain of his.  All I'm saying, Scott, is please don't keep them to yourself.
Show us what you've got.

Redheaded Mistress

She's here folks!

Central City Brewing Red Racer IPA has made the journey across the Rocky Mountains and finally made an appearance in Edmonton.  I have been extremely eager to get my hands on some of Central City's product, especially their IPA.  It seems to be a hit with all the hop heads, and it's managed to get a solid "A" on Beeradvocate.com.

Considering the amount of craft brewers British Columbia has produced, Alberta only has a small handful of the product.  I have spoken to one of the employees at Sherbrooke Liquor about the possibility of bringing in some more BC beers, mainly the Red Racer IPA.  He didn't seem to think they would be sitting on the shelves any time soon, stating that many smaller breweries are hesitant to expand outside of their provincial territories.  Growing means a huge financial investment and tons of paper work, with little guarantee that the product will move from the shelves. Unfortunately losing that kind of money could seriously hurt a small producer.

Well what do you know, barely three weeks after my inquiry about Red Racer, I find it sitting on the shelves.  At almost $17 for a six pack of cans, it's practically an investment in itself.  But don't let the price deter you, as I guarantee you will not be disappointed.  I still have this habit of associating beer in cans as shitty beer.  Growing up in rural Alberta you see plenty of cans, but nothing notably good.  This is a pleasant change of mind.

The Red Racer IPA pours an amber color with a robust head, a really nice looking product.  The excellent use of hops in this brew has given it a hefty scent of pine, citrus tang and rose water of all things.  An interesting mix, but it seems to work amazingly.  Despite a fairly heavy bitter hops bite, the overall flavor is balanced well, medium bodied, and has a pleasant taste that lasts.  My wife and I found it to be a great food beer, she actually found it too strong for her tastes without any food accompaniments.  But I fell in love.

An absolutely fantastic beer, lets do them a favor and make sure their product doesn't sit on the shelf and go to waste.  Mabey we can convince them to send the rest of their brews our way.  Fingers crossed.

Edmonton Welcomes New Craft Brewery - Yellowhead Brewing Company

May 19, 2010 marks the official opening of Edmonton's newest craft microbrewery, Yellowhead Brewing Company.  Expanding our short list of local craft breweries to three!

Named after a beer brewed by one of Edmonton's very first breweries, Edmonton Brewing and Malting, Yellowhead Brewing set up shop downtown in the now defunct Maverick Brewing space releasing their first brew to the public, a German style Lager.

Brewmaster, Scott Harris, originally from Edmonton but trained at Germany's prestigious Doemens Technicum has spent years working in German breweries before being accepted as Yellowheads main man.  I suspect having spent so many years brewing German beer, he`ll not disappoint with his lager.  Unfortunately I have yet to sample the product, but from what I hear the brew is available in 500ml bottles directly from the brewery and soon to be available on tap around the city.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, the brewery was blessed by Reverend Neil Gordon, of All Saints Cathedral.  For his service, the Reverend was paid in beer.  Four pints to be exact.  Stay tuned for more information and tasting notes on Yellowhead Brewing Company.

Photograph by: Ryan Jackson, edmontonjournal.com

Alley Kat Cask Ale Night = Huge Success

Wow, what a night!

Last night was the first Cask Conditioned Ale Night held at The Sugarbowl brought to us by the talented folks at Alley Kat Brewing.  We sampled a cask conditioned version of their staple brew, Full Moon Pale Ale, only instead the beer was dry hopped using Centennial Hops and the second fermentation took place inside the keg.

The keg was tapped at 5 o'clock and served to an army of eager patrons including Alley Kat staff, Edmonton Homebrew Guild members, local beer geeks, and a handful of lucky regulars that happened to be at the right place at the right time.  It was a terrific experience for everyone, who waited patently for the ale to come their way.  Alley Kat brought over their English pump tap for the occasion, which really seemed to slow things down as each foamy pint hand to be carefully pumped from the keg by hand.  But despite the slow pour, the cask was dry in little over an hour.  Unfortunately because of the overwhelming turnout, not everyone got the chance to sample this delightful treat, and the ones who did were only allowed one.

The task of the first pour was given to local beer aficionado Jason Foster of onbeer.org.  That's me with the big shit eating grin just over his shoulder.  I was excited, to say the least.

How'd it taste you ask....well, delicious.  My boss slyly snuck a pint into the kitchen for me and another chef to share in the basement, so we savored our splash of beer happily knowing we were lucky to even be tasting it.  Firstly the dry hopping added a huge fresh citrusy floral nose, with nice fruity notes.  The flavor was full and sweet, with a rich malty base and mild bitterness.  Because it was conditioned in the cask and not artificially carbonated the bubbles were extremely muted and barely present.  You could see them rising in the glass but they quickly disappeared once it hit your tongue.  It was a heavy beer, without the carbonation.  I saw it as a glimpse into the past of what beer was, before highly carbonated lighter beers took over the earth.

With this night being such a huge success, it's been decided that Alley Kat Cask Ale night will be a monthly event to take place at The Sugarbowl (joy!).  The next event planed for the evening of June 24th.  Stay tuned.

Photo borrowed from onbeer.org

Alley Kat 15th Anniversary Belgian Style Tripel

So what if out of eight posts, three of them are Alley Kat beers.

Alley Kat has just released its second in the 15th anniversary series, a Belgian Style Tripel.  A Belgian Tripel is basically a a strong brewed pale ale (this one being 8.2%), associated mostly with the Trappist Brewery, Westmalle. Despite being around since the early 30's the Westmalle brewery perfected the recipe in 1956, and more or less established the Tripel style and name which has basically remained the same since.  Alley Kat has decided to show us their version of this marvelous pale ale in a limited addition, bottle conditioned, 650mL bomber.  This also being the first bottle conditioned beer Alley Kat has ever released.

It pours a hazy light amber, with a gorgeous head of thick foamy white bubbles.  The nose packs a wallop! Rich fruity wheat & malt notes, spicy banana, coriander, with a hint of yeast.  Is this beer or are we baking dessert bread? Very impressive.

The sweet fruity malt flavor is fantastic, lots of apricots and Christmasy spice. Well balanced hops with a pleasant peppery finish. A well rounded medium body with a perky effervescence. The 8.2% alcohol content is masked well behind a yeasty base.

Overall I'd have to say thumbs up to the talented folks at Alley Kat for providing us with yet another tasty treat. I should buy and age these limited addition releases and try them again in six months to see how they stand up.

 To be honest in a world of craft brewers who building some extreme brews, I had always thought of Alley Kat as a "play it safe" kind of brewery. But in light of recent releases, I am learning that they are capable of brewing some extremely magnificent beer.  Unfortunately in a market such as Alberta you must have to hold yourself back and produce more easily approachable beer to appeal to the masses, and of course make enough money to stay alive.  But having a large and loyal group of fans will enable them to really experiment and create some fantastic extreme beer.

Tomorrow evening Alley Kat will be doing a cask conditioned ale night at our restaurant, The Sugarbowl, providing two cask conditioned versions of their popular Full Moon Pale Ale.  This I am excited for.  As for food specials we will be doing delicious scotch eggs, and beer battered fish and chips using Alley Kat's Amber Ale.  I hope to pick the brains of any brew savvy people that might be attending including Jason Foster who writes an amazing beer 101 blog through Sherbrooke Liquor and also manages his own website called onbeer.org.  Incredible what this man knows about beer.

And in other news, I am now the proud owner of a brand new home brew kit!!

I recently celebrated a birthday and my wonderful wife and daughter bought dad exactly what he wanted.  I also recieved a Barons Premium Dutch Lager Beer Kit along with the brewing equipment.  This particular beer kit is a good start for beginners like myself because no boiling is required.  It's fairly idiot proof as long as you are capable of following directions.  It's not the direction I plan to take with brewing my own beer, but it will allow me to get to know how to use all the equipment needed for brewing before buying the raw ingredients and attempting to make beer from scratch.  For a mere $30 you will be be blessed with a good 20L of fresh beer! A pretty good deal I'd say.  But the goal here is hand crafted beer.  So let the home brewing begin!

Tree Brewing Company Hop Head Double IPA

I am extremely eager to crack this bottle tonight. In the past year or so I have developed a love for hops, and extreme beers. I've guess I've noticed the DIPA's around, but for some reason hadn't picked one up. I've tried a couple of extreme hop beers by renowned craft breweries Dogfish Head and Rogue, which are amazing by the way. But I guess you could say I didn't really know what a Double IPA actually was. After browsing on wikipedia, I've learned that a DIPA is brewed the same way as a standard IPA but typically with 50% more malt and 100% more hops. They tend to have an alcohol content higher than 7% and for obvious reasons finish extremely bitter. I was given a good list of DIPA's to look out for but unfortunately my local beer store (who currently carries 681 different brews) didn't have a single one of them. They had a nice little selection of DIPA's and I decided this particular beer would be the one for tonight.

Tree Brewing Company hails from Kelowna BC and has been operating since 1994. The Hop Head DIPA is a limited Edition brew hopped to the max with five different hops all grown in Washington state. The wort is dry hopped and aged for three weeks, allowing the beer to ripen to a bitter perfection. It pours from the glass a foggy amber haze (unpasteurized, unfiltered) and settles with a good fingers worth of frothy white bubbles. As soon as I poured it from the bottle the aromas smacked me right in the face, waking up the senses and set my brain into battle mode. The rich fragrance is loaded with grapefruit and lemon notes, a vaporous fruit salad. It has a wondrous hoppy floral nose. There seems to be a lot going on and I've only just smelled it. I wonder if you can get drunk just from breathing it in?

The bitter hops wash over your tongue quite aggressively but the beer is balanced out well and the sweet malts rush in to save your mouth from puckering right off your face. You can taste the booze, but it's not disagreeable. I'll be feeling this one when we're done. Once the bitterness fades away it leaves a lemony aftertaste and you can still taste sweet roasted malts right up until you take your next drink. I like this Double IPA stuff. I think we'll be talking about them more as we go along.

From what I'm reading, Vancouver Craft Beer Week is a complete success. Almost every single food/beer event is sold out, and fast! It breaks my heart that Alberta doesn't have anything like this. Unfortunately it seems Albertans are quite happy with drinking fermented corn piss, or anything that comes along with an annoying in your face TV commercial. Big trucks and shitty beer. Good times.

Here's another spot CBC did for the Vancouver Craft Beer Week. Enjoy.
CBC News - Vancouver Craft Beer Week

Alley Kat 15th Anniversary Smoked Porter

Tonight is an exciting night. I happened to get out of the restaurant early and rushed home in the mood to drink and write. I've been stocking my fridge with frosty delights to keep the writings interesting and tonight I had one picked out before I even opened the door. In my last post I had mentioned how I love hops, and had asked for some hoppy IPA suggestions. Unfortunately I couldn't track down any of the beer I was told would most likely tickle my fancy, but I did pick up something that I thought might do the trick. I grabbed myself a bottle of Tree Brewing Company's "Hop Head Double IPA." A limited addition Unfiltered Double IPA. I was stoked to drink this giant bottle of bitter strong beer. So tonight I get home, pull this bad boy out of the fridge to warm up a bit and browse the beer ramblings on the interweb before cracking the bottle when I came across some info on Alley Kat's new 15th Anniversary Smoked Porter. And the sleepy hamster in my head began to run.....

You see I love the flavor of smoke. I have a borderline obsession with smoked things. And recently acquiring my father's Bradley Smoker on loan, I've been eagerly smoking my dinners hoping to refine my pit master skills. It wasn't long ago that I caught wind of the fantastic conception of smoking your malts, and brewing god damn beer out of it! Genius concept! But up until tonight I hadn't really had the chance to experience this clearly brilliant brew.

Now, having read about Alley Kat's limited one time offering (only 250 cases available) I had to get some, and I had to get it right NOW! So I got on the horn to my local, and truly fantastic beer store Sherbrooke Liquor (running I believe 681 beers from around the world), and inquired about the availability of said brew. I was so amped to hear they had it in stock, and rushed down to buy some before they were all gone. Because in my mind, they were flying off the shelf and I'd have to be a retard not to buy it at this very moment. I was relieved to see probably twenty or so bottles sitting on the shelf and convinced myself to buy only one so that I could also pick up a bottle of Chatoe Rogue's First Growth Single Malt Ale.

For this beer Alley Kat smokes the malts in house using applewood, a mild and sweet smoke compared to other heavy hard wood like mesquite or hickory. At first glance it looks reasonable, with a very cold coffee like color and consistency. I'm going to have to drink a lot more porters to compare and it's probably just inexperience talking, but I've come to expect a heavier body from most porters. But what do I know. The head is of larger bubbles that fade quickly, but will arise very nicely with some agitation.

It smells nice and sweet, very malty with a full nose of coffee and a hint of bittersweet chocolate. I'm getting some fruit....something but I can't narrow it down. I was hoping for more smoke to come through, but sadly it's extremely muted in the background. I get more wet charred wood than smoke. Like a dead campfire in the morning. If anyone has ever experienced Lapsang Souchong tea, you'll have a good idea of what I was expecting...or what I was looking for in a smoked beer. Mabey one day it will happen. Mabey that is my destiny in beer brewing.

On the tongue its mild, and on the thin side of medium. It has a pleasant roasted malt sweetness that lingers on the very tip of your tongue and a very subdued bitter. The smoke shows its face more here, but for me not until the very end once the flavor of the malts dissipate. It's kinda neat how it shows up actually, almost when you've given up you'll feel it crawl from the back of your throat and slowly make it's way up. Suddenly the flavor of the smoke really shines through, and your left with a dry campfire taste enveloping your tongue. Towards the end of the bottle its very evident that you are drinking a smoked beer as a strange tacky sensation lingers, a finish very similar to that of the Lapsang Souchong.

In the end I'd have to say this particular brew was enjoyable, and an experience. Alley Kat has produced a smoked beer which is both gratifying and drinkable. I will definitely pick up another bottle of this to share with guests, or drink while I am tending the smoker or BBQ. Overall I was expecting more from this smokey affair, but I was not left disappointed. I will continue to explore the world of smoked beers, and mabey one day brew something that I can be proud of as I'm sure Alley Kat is proud of this. Happy Anniversary Alley Kat, and many more to come! Cheers!

I saw a very inspiring promo video that I wanted to share for the upcoming first ever Vancouver Craft Beer Week being held in various venues around the beautiful city of Vancouver showcasing over 25 of BC's talented craft breweries. I pray to the beer gods that Edmonton, or even Calgary will hold an event as important to the industry as this one. It damn near brings a tear to the eye. Enjoy!

"Pride is more payment than any money you can make"

I am a Canadian Craft Brewer from VancouverCBW on Vimeo.

Alley Kat Amber - Craft Brewed Brown Ale

This afternoon I thought I would talk about a local beer, crafted by a small brewery in Edmonton called Alley Kat Brewing Company. Started in 1994, Alley Kat has grown from a small home brew operation to become Edmonton's oldest running, as well as Alberta's most successful microbrewery. This Amber is one of two original brews Alley Kat started off with.

It pours a deep amber color, with a fluffy foamy head that begins to retire fairly quickly. I get the feeling I've chosen the perfect beer for my early afternoon relax. Some old school Foo Fighters playing in the back ground and clear sunny spring afternoon, so far so good.

It smells sweet and lovely. A tinge of hops and a rich malt aroma, fruity caramel notes. It coats the mouth briefly, with a pleasantly sweet malt base. The caramel really comes through, staying on your tongue so you can enjoy the flavor until you take your next sip. Its has a very delicate bitterness, and a laid back effervescence that barely lets you know its there. Better seen than heard in this situation. I think having any more carbonation would distract from the round caramel sweet this ale lends.

I think this beer would be a suitable match for a home cooked meal like roast chicken, beef, or any BBQ. I'd say it's a decent brew, something I'd visit from time to time. I look forward to writing about it's brothers and sisters to taste what they have to offer. Alley Kat has a loyal following here in Edmonton, offers tours of the brewery twice a week, and is the monthly meeting place for the Edmonton Homebrewers Guild. If I'm planning to brew beer on my own, I think these guys are good people to get to know.

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale

I love hops.

There is something about the floral aroma from a well hopped beer that makes my brain float. I've been on a mission to drink the hoppiest beer alive, and although this one isn't it...it's still pretty good.

The Brooklyn East India Pale Ale pours a light amber color, with a short and quickly retreating head. Fresh from the bottle is smells great with loads of floral hops, lots of orange-citrus tang, and peppery notes. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to stick around, and dissipates into a skunky mash. I figure this might have something to do with the fact that this particular bottle is on the cusp of that not so fresh feeling.

As soon as it hits your tongue you get the bitter bite, a lingering bitter too. Its medium body plays in your mouth briefly before fading in to the back of your throat. There is something else that reminds me of grass tea, or leafy bitter greens and sweet undertones that help balance out the overzealous use of hops.

I drink this particular beer fairly often at work, and I'm beginning to wonder how accurate it represents a traditional IPA. I could use some suggestions of more traditional style English IPA's to construct a better opinion of what it is I'm looking for.

Honestly the more I think about it the more I realize how little I know about beer and these flavors that are popping on my taste buds. It seems so overwhelming and I'm finding it a challenge (a good challenge) to taste what is going on in the brew and what it is that contributes to these subtle variations in flavor, color, scent and body. You might be thinking "Dude, chill out and just enjoy your beer!" But tasting beer and drinking beer I'm finding are two very different activities. I read everything I can about brewing and what each ingredient brings to the party, but until I start brewing my own beer and seeing first hand how everything falls into place I don't think I'll have a solid grasp of what it is I'm tasting. Soon enough I suppose. Until then I will continue to drink, taste and write.

Corporation Brewpub.

Last night ended with a quick stop at Edmonton's one and only brewpub, Brewsters. It feels like your typical Alberta corporate restaurant only this restaurant has a gorgeous brewery built in the middle of it. I was accompanied by my friend Karl who used to serve, manage and even spent some time as the Brewmasters assistant at this particular location (Oliver Square).

Edmonton boasts a whopping five Brewsters locations, thirteen in total, the others being in Calgary and Regina, Saskatchewan (Regina being the birthplace). The Oliver location is actually the only Edmonton restaurant with an actual brewery, which apparently brews and shares a smaller amount of beer with the other locations. The rest of the beer being brewed in a large facility in Calgary and shipped around the province. They have an impressive amount of brews for such a small space, all available fresh from the tanks. Hand crafted by a talented German brewmaster. From what Karl tells me, this gent is the "creative brain" behind the Brewsters seasonal beers, and the most consistent brewer in the Alberta sector of Brewsters.

The restaurant itself is a cliche Alberta corporate eatery (this being a large building run by fresh faced post-teens, multiple dinning areas, two bars, Flat screen TV's everywhere, loud obnoxious pop music, and uninspired North American style bar food). But the beer....is actually decent.

I had the Brewsters sample platter consisting of five 5oz draft pours of my choice. I decided on: Czech Pilsner, Flying Frog Lager, Rig Pig Pale Ale, Lanigan's Irish Ale, and The Shaughnessy Stout. My seemingly 17 year old barkeep poured my platter, and I dove in. I brought a notebook with me to write stuff down, but between my conversation with Karl about beer and our current lives, I soon realized that my investigatory journalism skills are lacking and I was more into the drinking than the drink. Although, the beers that did stand out in my platter were 1) The Rig Pig Pale Ale. It had a potent hops punch right off the bat with a delightful full flavor and floral nose. Pale Amber in color, and a finish that decided to stick around for a while so you didn't lose interest in coming back for more. 2)The Shaughnessy Stout. Now, this stout isn't amazing, but its a smooth drink. A beginners stout if you will. Medium body with a nice mouth feel, not to complex. Creamy, dry and finishes fast and clean. The hops barely make an appearance. She's easy.

There are plenty more beers to try at Brewsters in the future. Next time I'l try to be more focus on the beer, but this trip was all about the good company. The sample platters are great when you want to try everything they have quickly, but the tiny glasses don't let the beers show their true colors. Its nearly impossible to agitate any life out of the brew, so getting a good deep breath of the aroma is tough. And they get warm fast, so if you want a crisp fresh drink at number 4 or 5 you must act fast.

Overall, since it's Edmonton's only brewpub you take what you can get. Try to block out the annoying kids and tv's in the background and admire the beautiful copper fermenting tanks behind the glass. The beer is fresh and extremely drinkable. They have a large patio in the summer so bring a friend and enjoy!

Gotta start somewhere...Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

I currently work in a busy University hang out with a fairly adventurous beer list. Working here has opened my eyes into the possibilities of what beer is and can be. I have since began my search for other beers available in my region, and the few beers brewed here in Edmonton.

But today I have decided to start this online rant with one of my regular after shift drinks:

Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

This particular beer is brewed in Oregon, USA. It pours velvety and viscous, with a deep coffee like color. The head settles to the top extremely thick, with tan-mocha colors.

This beer looks serious.

Its smells of lightly burnt coffee and dark chocolate. It really paints a picture of perfectly roasted dark malts.

The taste is rich, and coats your entire mouth. It has a slight bitterness, but nothing off putting. The coffee and chocolate flavors really shine through with a rich creamy texture brought to you by the the rolled oats. And there is a nice vanilla accent which adds to the sweetness of the brew. The hops are present adding the bitter, and rounding out the overall flavor of the beer.

Overall, I think this beer is something Rogue should be proud of. The roundness of this beer is enjoyable and extremely filling. It pours beautifully, looks super sexy, and is very satisfying to say the least.

I really enjoy all of the Rogue Brewery products that I have tasted so far, and I look forward writing about them. Stay tuned for more Rogue love.

Well....here I go.

So after reading the humorous, and witty beer blog (please read: Small Beer) written by my buddy Dan, I decided I would copy him and try this "blogging" thing out. I too enjoy drinking beer, and I have recently begun to acquire the equipment to set up a small home brew operation. I figure I could share my experiences of drinking and brewing with the unknowns of the interweb. I cannot promise the well written experience or the funny English bred discourse of Dan, as he is very well educated and I sadly am not. But I do love to drink, and I will write about it.

So welcome, and enjoy!

Brayden