21st Amendment brewery is named after the repeal of prohibition, and being opinionated themselves they brew opinionated beer. This one is a black IPA, which as far as I can tell just means that it’s an IPA with a bit more toasty malt to round out the flavour. It’s got a big, friendly grapefruit opening, with a bit of a bitter finish.
Would I drink it again? Hell, yes; I am right now!
This review is a first for me, I don’t normally drink wine. This month though as sort of an experiment in health I’ve decided to not eat wheat or sugar. I want to see if it affects the way I feel, or look. the wheat thing also includes beer. I know. But it’s only a month, and February is the shortest month of the year. Anyway this brings me to wine. I’ve been wanting to try a malbec ever since reading the 4 Hour Body by Tim Ferriss. He loves it and goes on and on about it. I bought this bottle a couple months ago but never quite got around to drinking it, I mean, there’s so much beer and so little time. This month…so little beer and so much time.
This wine comes from the Pelee Island Winery. According to their website they are the “Southernmost winery in Canada, located in the Lake Erie North Shore region.”. I thought malbecs all came from Argentina but apparently it’s a more widespread grape variety, we grow it right here at home in Canada.
I don’t really know anything about wine so I tasted it the same way I taste beer. Actually I taste spirits the same way too, it seems to work. I poured it into a glass and checked its appearance. Probably the thing I love most about wine is the colour, This wine poured out a rich ruby. Really nice looking. Then I sniffed it. A lot. The nose was really fruity. The label on the bottle mentioned plums and blackberries, that works for me, who am I to argue? That fruity smell carried through in the taste as well. This is a very light, smooth wine with a pleasantly bitter finish. Kim thinks it would be a nice wine to have in the summer. I don’t disagree.
I would certainly drink this again!
I was asked to retrieve a tasty treat for my lovely spouse, and I decided that I, too, deserved a treat. After much consideration I decided to try something a little out of the IPA bucket. Naturally, deciding to grab a random beer led to Vikings.
It poured very attractively, and for all that I’m not a huge fan of the belgian style beers by default, I think I like this one. I lack the foodie framework for coming up with flowery adjectives, but suffice to say it’s very tasty.
As noted, it’s quite pretty.
Vital Stats:
Since trying Brooklyn’s Sorachi Ace courtesy of Taylor Reese I have been interested in saisons. This one is brewed by Brasserie Trois Dames, Sainte-Croix, Switzerland and came came highly recommended from Keg n Cork.
I love the labels on Brasserie Trois Dames bottles.
I poured it out into a tulip glass and noted the hoppy aroma. The hops don’t come through like I was hoping they would in the flavour however. It’s a bit on the sweeter side. Altogether it’s a nice beer. I would drink it again but wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
This is a past big bottle from Alley Kat. It’s dry and tart. Crisp! Sort of like a raspberry champagne. Its really nice but if you are hoping to get some you’re out of luck, like all Big Bottles from Alley Kat it’s limited edition. This one is gone. Except for the twelve bottles in my basement. If you want to try it I’m your only hope!
Rosée D’hibiscus is an herbed, spiced beer thatvcomes from Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel in St-Jerome, Quebec.
It’s been sitting in my basement for a few months and I finally decided to try it and I’m glad I did.
It’s a great looking beer. It pours a beautiful ruby, the color of rose hip juice.
The look and fruity aroma suggests a sweet beer but it is pleasantly tart. It has a nice light floral taste with a touch of spice.
This is the first beer I’ve tried from Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel and I will definitely try others now. It really seems like Quebec has a great beer scene going on. Maybe a beer tour in Quebec is in order.
I’d drink this one again.
In honour of this year’s Stout Day, I gave Hitachino Nest’s Espresso Stout a go—turned out to be a fine celebration of the noble stout.
When there’s a flavour in the name of the brew, the fear is that that flavour is going to be all in your face, but that’s not the case with the espresso flavour in this one. It’s happy to share the stage with a bit of cocoa and malt tastes. It’s not quite as heavy or bitter as stouts can be either. Not quite crisp, but almost, with a small bit of carbonation. Very pleasing drink.
Hitachino Nest is fast becoming one of my favourite breweries. I’ve yet to be disappointed by anything of theirs I’ve tried and the Espresso Stout is no exception.
I remember trying the Blonde Innis back when I was first introduced to the brand, but not really taking to it. I would have the odd bottle to change it up, but it wasn’t ever as good as the Original, or as interesting as the variants when they appeared.
I must have always had the Blonde in a season that wasn’t summer because this where it fits perfectly. It has the richness of flavour of any other I&G brew, but it’s lighter and crisper which suits the summer months.
Would definitely drink again, especially if it’s served cold and on a patio.
Lentehop is an American style IPA, from a Dutch brouwerij (brewery) called De Molen. Like many great beers from that part of the world, it’s brewed in an old mill a mere 171 years older than Canada. Unlike many of those beers, it’s own history spans a little over a single decade. While it’s housings might give it instant credibility I’m inclined to criticize, brewers here in Canada should take note. Specifically Molson, who sold Molson House, a 50 year old fort near my house in Edmonton rather than making use of it in what would have easily been the most interesting place to drink in Alberta. But I digress.
Lentehop. It pours cloudy and golden, with a fairly substantial head. There is very little nose, just a hint of hops. I taste hops, certainly, but also some light citrus and pine. This IPA is surprisingly refreshing and fairly crisp.
I probably won’t go hunting specifically for it, but I would drink Lentehop from De Molen again.
I bought this bottle because I thought the label was cool. C’mon, it has a goblin on it!
It poured out a nice ruby brown with a tan head of foam that dissipated quite quickly. This beer smells delicious, fruit, malt, toffee and later on, coffee. This beer went directly from my basement to a glass so it wasn’t chilled, allowing the flavours to really come through. I could really taste the caramel and it finished with a nice hoppy bitterness. This is a really rich, full beer.
I would definitely drink this one again!
