Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Ontario Beer in Alberta

So we are going back on the road to find our beer roots.  It's been a while and to tell you the truth we haven't posted in so long because you start to lose touch.  You get stagnant and uninspired doing the same thing over and over.  So we're heading back out to do what got us inspired to talk about Canadian craft beer in the first place.

We are heading to what's arguably become the Canadian epicentre of craft beer, Toronto.  It's quite amazing how many new little micro and nano breweries that have popped up in T dot in the last year or two.  So we're heading there in search of new beer we haven't tasted yet.

Before we go, though, we thought we should acknowledge the Ontario beers that we do enjoy here in Alberta and through the prairies.  So here's our top 5 ok 6

6.  Hops and Robbers

Double Trouble's Hops and Robbers IPA is a drinkable IPA for all.  It's hoppy, but not the hoppy that will tun off a non-IPA drinker.  It will, in fact lead people to try other IPA's

The Beer

5 - Steamwhistle

Great pilsner.  They do one beer, but it's good.  You find it everywhere and even though it seems like you can't get away from it - they're still relatively small.  We like it.

Packaging Wallpaper

4.  Wellington

A little tough to find, but when you see it, grab it.  Wellington Dark is usually what is available and it is a good dark beer.  Malty and rich, it's a pleaser.



3. Muskoka


You can see seasonals from time to time out here, but lately a staple of Mad Tom IPA has been available in stores in Alberta and thank goodness.  This is absolutely one of the country's premier IPA's and we get to enjoy it.  It's hoppy, but if you're looking for something new - it's new.



2. Mill Street      

Holy crap are we ever happy you can get Mill St everywhere.  Especially Tankhouse.  What a delicious beer.  If you haven't bought a 6 pack of this, or the organic, or the coffee beer - try it.
We promise you will not be disappointed.  It's an effort in the stores because you really can't find it on drought.



1. Waterloo

Seems to be that you can only get this in a taster pack these days but that's ok.  The beers in the taster pack include the Waterloo Amber, IPA and the Dark.  It's the Dark that we REALLY want to hit home with here.  I don't know if we truly have a "favourite" beer, but if we did, this may be it.





Saturday, February 23, 2013

Wow! It's been a long time a coming

And not the Tragically Hip. Well we used to be, maybe. It's been too long and we've unfortunately had to focus on other aspects of our lives, but I think we've got some consistency and are back

With the annual YeastWrangler round up homebrewer competition and gala going on this week the thoughts of craft beer has been on our minds and it's time to discuss.

The round up is arguably the best and most well attended competition in the west and even in Canada. Take a look at the YeastWrangler site for innerspring or follow @yestwranglers to read them on twitter
http://yeastwranglers.brewcompetition.com/