Salanis to the red phone please

poopshovel wrote: Personally, I've gotten on a kick where I can't really enjoy anything but Imperial Stouts. Specifically, I was drinking Old Raspy every night (had some of the barrell aged E36 M3 a few weeks ago - can't remember which iteration. ZOMG,) but now OB Ten Fidy is all that feeds the monkey. I'm enjoying one right now!!!

Do you get Boulevard brewery beers in your area?

If so, try the Smokestack Series Bourbon Barrel Quad, sounds like something that would be right up your alley. Basically all of their Smokestack Series is pretty tasty.

Sure don't, but I'll keep an eye out! Thanks!

I once knew a barmaid that told me to buy a Heinekin light and dark at the same time,drink half the light dump half the dark in and continue with both hands.

Finished the triple bag tonight.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I'll leave it at that 'cause, well, I'm pretty pissed up right now.

'night all!

TRoglodyte wrote: I once knew a barmaid that told me to buy a Heinekin light and dark at the same time,drink half the light dump half the dark in and continue with both hands.

Wells & Young, english brewery.

The brew "Youngs Double Chocolate Stout" great beer, they also brew "Well's Banana Bread Beer"

Mix together approx 50/50.........Chocolate Banana Bread Beer.........it's awesome.

^Hah, I have both of those in the cupboard right now. The chocolate stout is delicious, but I find the banana bread beer too sweet. Might give your mix a try tonight!

Grapefruit - Ruthless Rye is very much like grapefruit.

bouquet? a lot like those sour key candies. Hey, I'm new!

It's creamier in texture than what I usually drink (grocery store quality stuff), but nowhere near as creamy as the triple bag. That stuff was like buttah for creaminess, but holy strong!

Canadian mass market beer is a lot more crisp - like perrier but with sharper bubbles if you get my meaning. The bitterness is also very low by comparison.

I'd say this is a bit more bitter than a Boston Lager, but not unenjoyable.

I'm digging the creaminess and fullness, but could use a bit less bitterness.

akamcfly wrote: Grapefruit - Ruthless Rye is very much like grapefruit.

That's from the hops. Normally that's a common description for Cascade hops (the main hop for the Pale Ale). Apparently that does not have any of those. It is dry hopped with Citra (which, as the name would imply, is very citrusy) and has a lot of "Experimental Hops" in it. Who knows what those are, probably some new crazy hybrid.

bouquet? a lot like those sour key candies. Hey, I'm new!

Honestly, I think that's a better description than most of the usual fancy terms tasters use. I can actually imagine what you mean.

Jay wrote: Railway City's website: www.railwaycitybrewing.com Grand River's: www.grandriverbrewing.com Mill St.'s: www.millstreetbrewery.com You may also want to check out Flying Monkeys from Barrie, a sort of artsy California-wannabe brewery. I've had their "Hoptical Illusion" pale ale (very hoppy - duh) and Netherworld Cascadian Black Ale (which I personally like better), but not very much of either. I did notice their beers seem to vary in flavour between batches quite a lot.

I have been less than satisfied with their brews. I loved the Robert Simpson Confederation beer before the Flying Monkeys took over. Now all I taste is the same poor malt many microbreweries default to in a bid to lower costs.

ZOO wrote: I have been less than satisfied with their brews. I loved the Robert Simpson Confederation beer before the Flying Monkeys took over. Now all I taste is the same poor malt many microbreweries default to in a bid to lower costs.

What time span are we talking? It's probably not a change in malt their choosing. It might be a process change. But most often poor quality malt is just a result of a bad barley harvest year (we're talking about a food product here) requiring people to use lower quality malts than they normally would in order to produce enough beer.

Often times, smaller breweries simply can't get good malt if a year is bad because the maltsters will sell their best stuff to the bigger guys with the longest term contracts and the most money clout to throw around.

Salanis wrote:

ZOO wrote: I have been less than satisfied with their brews. I loved the Robert Simpson Confederation beer before the Flying Monkeys took over. Now all I taste is the same poor malt many microbreweries default to in a bid to lower costs.

What time span are we talking? It's probably not a change in malt their choosing. It might be a process change. But most often poor quality malt is just a result of a bad barley harvest year (we're talking about a food product here) requiring people to use lower quality malts than they normally would in order to produce enough beer. Often times, smaller breweries simply *can't* get good malt if a year is bad because the maltsters will sell their best stuff to the bigger guys with the longest term contracts and the most money clout to throw around.

The initial Robert Simpson beers were done around 2007 or 2008. The brewery was sold to Flying Monkeys sometime after that. They were still producing "Confederation" -- but I thought it had changed in taste. When we visited, they confirmed that they were using a different malt. Too bad, as the original was one of the best beers I've ever had.

I love beer. We are quite spoiled in Ontario with many exceptional microbreweries. I am happy to host any GRM member for a beer or two should they find themselves near me.

Jay wrote: Where are you exactly? I know several excellent microbrews operating in the Windsor-Toronto corridor. You can get them all over southern Ontario, not so much elsewhere... Mill St. Tankhouse Ale is one of my favourites which I think sees some national distribution, it's not tooo hoppy but has a very distinctive blend of hops meaning you really get a unique flavour without as much bite. Give it a try if you see it.

Re-reading this thread while enjoying a Tankhouse Ale.

It's not a hop barrage - Poopshovel wouldn't be able to tell it from water - but for me it's a nice amount of hop bitterness. IBU mid to high 20s I'd say. Maybe 30.

The Western NY and area regional IPAs are hoppier, but I should have no trouble finding this at any LCBO and it's good. Really good actually.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Ya, it's not hugely hoppey, but it's got a nice complex flavour nonetheless. I'd say more like 30~35 IBU, you can definitely taste hops but that's not its defining characteristic. Ymmv though.

Stratford Pilsner might also be up your alley, if you can find it. Way more like a real Euro pilsner than what passes for such in the mass market beers. I think the brewery is pretty much a one-man operation but I saw it at a few different LCBOs in London last summer.

Damnit, I want a Tankhouse Ale now. If someone wants to bring me a 12 over here I'll repay you in kind with the best northern Germany has to offer.