Quick notes on a cigar that I got to smoke last weekend. Sorry for the lack of picture. I liked this smoke but it was a bloody monster. I retired it a little early in order to make some dinner. Allot yourself a good hour and a half for something this size, and make sure you're smoking on a full stomach otherwise you might end up on your ass.
Perfect deep chocolate brown wrapper, no visible seams or veins. Nice even draw with minimal resistance. Cocoa, leather, allspice and black pepper notes. Slate colored ash with plumes of gray smoke. Hints of licorice and sherry as you progress. A little trouble keeping this lit, not sure why. Worked really well with my latte. Great construction and flavor, awesome value for money in this; don't think it was more than 8 bucks.
Good luck!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Latest 5
Five of the latest beers I have reviewed. A look at a few English and English style beers, a new lager from Flying Monkey's that was previously an ale, and an excellent Hopfenweisse from Quebec. Stout fans who find themselves the Fuller's Black Cab should give it a try, it's an exceptional beer and in shameless self promotion; on tap at BRU. The Tailset Ginger Beer was really well crafted, beautiful balance between spice and beer. The Shawinigan Handshake a great example of craft beer at it's finest, revolutionary style and superbly well built.
Fuller's Black Cab Stout
500 mL bottle. Pours opaque black with a thin beige cap, dissipates quickly with little lacing. Nose is largely roasted malt, coffee, cocoa, licorice, a touch of strawberry and woodiness. Crisp and dry with only slight carbonation. Finish is slightly bitter with hop and roasted malt, with lingering fruity esters in the English style. A real treat of a stout, full flavor and low alcohol and beautifully harmonious.
Flying Monkey's Antigravity Lager
335 mL bottle. The lager version of their old Antigravity Ale. Pours clear and light yellow with a fine white head. Aroma is minimal, a touch of Eastern European hops in a floral, herbal touch but not much else. A slight hint of cereal sweetness, but it would surprise me to find that this contains any adjuncts. Clean, crisp and refreshing with no aftertaste. Mild and light bodied with full carbonation. not a bad lager by any stretch, just bland.
Fuller's Organic Honey Dew
500 mL bottle. Pours clear golden with a thin white head. Aromas of honey, biscuit, apricot and a touch of herb. A hint of honey sweetness, but otherwise fairly dry with only a touch of bittering hop. Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Not great, but certainly not bad.
Grand River Tailset Ginger Beer
500 mL bottle. Pours bronze with a foamy white head. Aroma is packed with ginger, lemongrass, herb and bready caramel malt. Imagine a very clean brown ale infused with ginger. Slightly sweet, but well balanced with ginger. Not much hop presence here, medium carbonation and body. Really enjoyed this beer, everything is very harmonious.
Le Trou du Diable Shawinigan Handshake
600 mL bottle. Pours a very cloudy peach nectar color with a splotchy white head. Leaves some serious lacing. Aromas of apricot, banana, baking bread and piney hop. Bone dry with a hint of yeasty tartness, bright and fragrant; full carbonation and light to medium body. A lingering fruitiness and hop bite on the tongue. Very good, dangerously drinkable.
As per usual:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Fuller's Black Cab Stout
500 mL bottle. Pours opaque black with a thin beige cap, dissipates quickly with little lacing. Nose is largely roasted malt, coffee, cocoa, licorice, a touch of strawberry and woodiness. Crisp and dry with only slight carbonation. Finish is slightly bitter with hop and roasted malt, with lingering fruity esters in the English style. A real treat of a stout, full flavor and low alcohol and beautifully harmonious.
Flying Monkey's Antigravity Lager
335 mL bottle. The lager version of their old Antigravity Ale. Pours clear and light yellow with a fine white head. Aroma is minimal, a touch of Eastern European hops in a floral, herbal touch but not much else. A slight hint of cereal sweetness, but it would surprise me to find that this contains any adjuncts. Clean, crisp and refreshing with no aftertaste. Mild and light bodied with full carbonation. not a bad lager by any stretch, just bland.
Fuller's Organic Honey Dew
500 mL bottle. Pours clear golden with a thin white head. Aromas of honey, biscuit, apricot and a touch of herb. A hint of honey sweetness, but otherwise fairly dry with only a touch of bittering hop. Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Not great, but certainly not bad.
Grand River Tailset Ginger Beer
500 mL bottle. Pours bronze with a foamy white head. Aroma is packed with ginger, lemongrass, herb and bready caramel malt. Imagine a very clean brown ale infused with ginger. Slightly sweet, but well balanced with ginger. Not much hop presence here, medium carbonation and body. Really enjoyed this beer, everything is very harmonious.
Le Trou du Diable Shawinigan Handshake
600 mL bottle. Pours a very cloudy peach nectar color with a splotchy white head. Leaves some serious lacing. Aromas of apricot, banana, baking bread and piney hop. Bone dry with a hint of yeasty tartness, bright and fragrant; full carbonation and light to medium body. A lingering fruitiness and hop bite on the tongue. Very good, dangerously drinkable.
As per usual:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
WVRST
Toronto sometimes seems like an endless sprawl of ever changing restaurants. It can be tough for those who live outside the city to keep informed about the places that are currently trending downtown, let alone make it out to any of them. I try my damnedest to stay in the loop, but sometimes it takes months for me to make it to TO to head to a hot spot. Sunday gave us a great opportunity to head to WVRST, self described as a "sausage hall and other wonders". Inspired by German beer halls, WVRST features the staple communal tables and is modernized by 'order at the counter' style service and loft like decor.
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Hopfenstark Saison Station 7
750 mL bottle. Pours golden with a thin white cap. Aromas of herb, tea, earthy minerality and yeasty spice. Mild and well balanced with old world hop bitterness. Medium bodied with full carbonation.
A great place to stop for a quick bite to eat, or an interesting destination for an afternoon of beer sampling!
Dinner for three with rare beer, draft cider and tip $130.
WVRST
wvrst.com
609 King St. W
Toronto
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Take a walk up to the cashier in the far corner of the building to place your order. The menu is strikingly simple, in essence one has three choices; sausage, fries, sausage and fries. Tough choice, I know, but please don't feel limited! They have 16 varieties of sausage to choose from, including game meat, vegetarian and heritage breed pork. All of the meat options are gluten free. They serve your choice of sausage in one of two styles; on a bun (with 2 free condiments!) or 'currywurst' (over a slab of rough bread with curry sauce). Even the fries have options, select regular or duck fat fried, then plain or dirty. Dirty fries come smothered in fried peppers, caramelized onions and WVRST special sauce, while regular come with a complementary side of dip (of which there are over 10 types). For those of you keeping track, that's actually 165 menu items based on combinations of sausage servings, fry servings and sausage and fry servings alone, yet to mention the toppings and dips! All the sausages are made in house, meticulously seasoned and cooked to doneness, not dryness. My rabbit sausage was juicy and a touch spicy, the duck and foie gras juicy and aggressively foie flavored, and the Tamworth pig well seasoned if lacking a little bit of fat. The duck fat fries are exceptionally tasty, and stay crispy well beyond the length of time it takes you to finish your sausage.
WVRST also features a beer list that will make even connoisseurs happy. Rare and large bottle formats from Cantillon, Hopfenstark, La Trou du Diable, Panil and Bruton. Draft offerings from all the popular Ontario craft breweries, German staples, and more exclusive goodies like Bellwoods, House Ales, Dieu du Ciel and Urthel. We thoroughly enjoyed rare 100% Organic Geueze from Cantillon, and Hopfenstark Saison Station 7, but excuse my brief notes, it's hard to eat and record these things.
Cantillion 100% Organic Geueze
350 mL bottle. Aromas of chamomile, lemon zest, fresh cut grass and yeasty brett funk. Bone dry with plenty of sourness and a distinct barnyard aftertaste with a touch of hops. Complex and well built.Hopfenstark Saison Station 7
750 mL bottle. Pours golden with a thin white cap. Aromas of herb, tea, earthy minerality and yeasty spice. Mild and well balanced with old world hop bitterness. Medium bodied with full carbonation.
A great place to stop for a quick bite to eat, or an interesting destination for an afternoon of beer sampling!
Dinner for three with rare beer, draft cider and tip $130.
WVRST
wvrst.com
609 King St. W
Toronto
Monday, June 17, 2013
'New Job'
My 'new job' as Chef/Beer Manager at Bru in Oakville has opened me up to tasting a lot of beer lately, chatting with sales reps and buying what I like. Too bad I don't have time to make notes on it all. Here's a list of what I've been drinking lately.
Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Saison
750 mL bottle. Pours straw yellow with a thick white head. Big yeasty aroma with apple, banana and spicy phenols; clove and allspice. Mild cotton candy sweetness, super smooth and very refreshing. A touch of earthy funk here as well as it warms up a little. Fine champagne like texture. A damn tasty saison, but I’m a sucker for the style.
Les Trois Mousquetaires Hopfenweisse
750 mL bottle. Pours a hazy hay color with a foamy white head and lots of lacing. Great aromas, fresh herbaceous oregano and mint, nice tropical fruit notes from the cascades and yeast; mango, banana. A hint of bubblegum sweetness, but still dry, a thick wheaty mouth feel with an nonabrasive yet palate coating hop bitterness. Light on the palate with full carbonation. A tasty beer, perfect for summer.
Mikkeller 'The American Dream'
330 mL bottle. Sold as ’The Canadian Dream’ in Canada. Pours amber with a huge off white head and patchy lacing. Deceptively rich, ale-like nose, packed with hop bite. All kinds of hop notes on the nose; earthy herbs, bitter citrus and a hint of fruit. A touch of sweetness and nutty caramel notes. Clean and refreshing with medium body and carbonation and a lingering hop tinged aftertaste. Extra points for the complexity of flavor obtained in this lager: superbly a-typical.
Renaissance Marlborough Pale Ale
500 mL bottle. Pours orange tinged brown with a foamy off white froth. Nose is woody hop and citrus, a touch of grape and papaya. Fairly sweet, caramel malt with a hint of breadyness, a full body and a big bitter finish. Medium carbonation, a slight boozy heat and a slick palate coating hop flavour. A fairly standard DIPA, was expecting a little less of an 'American' taste due to the use of NZ hops. Well made nonetheless.
Howe Sound King Heffy
1000 mL bottle. (Gosh thats big). Pours golden with a thin white head. Aromas of banana, cloves, orange peel and yeasty spice. Fairly sweet and medium to full body with moderate carbonation. good hop bitterness and booze on the finish. Interesting.
Estrella Damm Inedit
750 mL bottle. Pours hazy straw with a thick white head and lots of soapy lacing. Nose is lemon and fresh cut grass, coriander and a touch of yeasty spice. Mildly sweet but dry on the finish, a full carbonation and medium body that leads to a smooth fruity/floral finish. A real quencher, reminds me of a light farmhouse ale. Well made but not mind blowing.
Great Lakes Brewing Miami Weiss
650 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy straw color with a spongy white head and lacing galore. Great piney, citrusy hop nose. Layers of aroma hop, hints of citronella, wax and soap. Fruity and bone dry with medium carbonation and a well rounded and smooth wheat accented mouth feel. Clean and American in style. The ultimate summer beer, dangerously sessionable.
More here:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Saison
750 mL bottle. Pours straw yellow with a thick white head. Big yeasty aroma with apple, banana and spicy phenols; clove and allspice. Mild cotton candy sweetness, super smooth and very refreshing. A touch of earthy funk here as well as it warms up a little. Fine champagne like texture. A damn tasty saison, but I’m a sucker for the style.
Les Trois Mousquetaires Hopfenweisse
750 mL bottle. Pours a hazy hay color with a foamy white head and lots of lacing. Great aromas, fresh herbaceous oregano and mint, nice tropical fruit notes from the cascades and yeast; mango, banana. A hint of bubblegum sweetness, but still dry, a thick wheaty mouth feel with an nonabrasive yet palate coating hop bitterness. Light on the palate with full carbonation. A tasty beer, perfect for summer.
Mikkeller 'The American Dream'
330 mL bottle. Sold as ’The Canadian Dream’ in Canada. Pours amber with a huge off white head and patchy lacing. Deceptively rich, ale-like nose, packed with hop bite. All kinds of hop notes on the nose; earthy herbs, bitter citrus and a hint of fruit. A touch of sweetness and nutty caramel notes. Clean and refreshing with medium body and carbonation and a lingering hop tinged aftertaste. Extra points for the complexity of flavor obtained in this lager: superbly a-typical.
Renaissance Marlborough Pale Ale
500 mL bottle. Pours orange tinged brown with a foamy off white froth. Nose is woody hop and citrus, a touch of grape and papaya. Fairly sweet, caramel malt with a hint of breadyness, a full body and a big bitter finish. Medium carbonation, a slight boozy heat and a slick palate coating hop flavour. A fairly standard DIPA, was expecting a little less of an 'American' taste due to the use of NZ hops. Well made nonetheless.
Howe Sound King Heffy
1000 mL bottle. (Gosh thats big). Pours golden with a thin white head. Aromas of banana, cloves, orange peel and yeasty spice. Fairly sweet and medium to full body with moderate carbonation. good hop bitterness and booze on the finish. Interesting.
Estrella Damm Inedit
750 mL bottle. Pours hazy straw with a thick white head and lots of soapy lacing. Nose is lemon and fresh cut grass, coriander and a touch of yeasty spice. Mildly sweet but dry on the finish, a full carbonation and medium body that leads to a smooth fruity/floral finish. A real quencher, reminds me of a light farmhouse ale. Well made but not mind blowing.
Great Lakes Brewing Miami Weiss
650 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy straw color with a spongy white head and lacing galore. Great piney, citrusy hop nose. Layers of aroma hop, hints of citronella, wax and soap. Fruity and bone dry with medium carbonation and a well rounded and smooth wheat accented mouth feel. Clean and American in style. The ultimate summer beer, dangerously sessionable.
More here:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Our First Five Beers in Review!
This evening Tyler and I got together to assemble some reviews of our first five home brews. We noticed a distinct increase in quality as our experience waxed; our latest brew is extremely flavorful. Hopefully those of you who had the opportunity to enjoy our beer liked it, and for those of you who didn't, this could be your sneak peek!
AlphaBeer American Pale Ale:
Pours hazy, light amber with a thick lasting head, lots of soapy lacing. Aromas of light citrus, pine, candle wax and mild malt. Fairly dry with a long bitter finish. Medium bodied with a sticky mouth feel.
Not-so-Weizen German Wheat:
Pours a hazy orange straw with a big rocky head. Aromas of banana, clove, orange, wheat malt and yeasty esters. Dry and highly carbonated with a smooth mouth feel. Thin bodied with a mildly spiced aftertaste.
OAKville Imperial Stout:
Pours opaque black with a thin beige cap. Largely oak on the nose with a touch of earthy hop, deep roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. A touch of sherry like sweetness with a hit of bitter hop and roasty malt on the finish. Mild carbonation, full and layered on the palate with a long lingering finish.
Brohemian Rhapsody California Common:
Pours a clear dark amber with a thin white head, minimal lacing. Herbal hop nose with hints of thyme, allspice, wood and caramel malt. A touch of sweetness, high carbonation and a hint of hop bitterness. Smooth and sessionable with lingering malt sweetness.
Saison du Maison:
Pours murky orange amber with a thick white head. Nose is very estery, banana, clove, honeycomb and black pepper. Dry with a touch of zesty sourness on the finish. High carbonation with a thin mouth feel and lingering noble hop bitterness on the finish.
It has been a blast brewing all these beers, we have both learned a lot and are continuing to learn more. Anyone interested in brewing with us or enjoying a sample please feel free to drop me a line!
AlphaBeer American Pale Ale:
Pours hazy, light amber with a thick lasting head, lots of soapy lacing. Aromas of light citrus, pine, candle wax and mild malt. Fairly dry with a long bitter finish. Medium bodied with a sticky mouth feel.
Not-so-Weizen German Wheat:
Pours a hazy orange straw with a big rocky head. Aromas of banana, clove, orange, wheat malt and yeasty esters. Dry and highly carbonated with a smooth mouth feel. Thin bodied with a mildly spiced aftertaste.
OAKville Imperial Stout:
Pours opaque black with a thin beige cap. Largely oak on the nose with a touch of earthy hop, deep roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. A touch of sherry like sweetness with a hit of bitter hop and roasty malt on the finish. Mild carbonation, full and layered on the palate with a long lingering finish.
Brohemian Rhapsody California Common:
Pours a clear dark amber with a thin white head, minimal lacing. Herbal hop nose with hints of thyme, allspice, wood and caramel malt. A touch of sweetness, high carbonation and a hint of hop bitterness. Smooth and sessionable with lingering malt sweetness.
Saison du Maison:
Pours murky orange amber with a thick white head. Nose is very estery, banana, clove, honeycomb and black pepper. Dry with a touch of zesty sourness on the finish. High carbonation with a thin mouth feel and lingering noble hop bitterness on the finish.
It has been a blast brewing all these beers, we have both learned a lot and are continuing to learn more. Anyone interested in brewing with us or enjoying a sample please feel free to drop me a line!
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Hoyo de Monterrey Coronations Tubo
I have always enjoyed Hoyo cigars, with their staple salt and mineral character; when I found this little beauty at The Village Cigar Co in Burlington I didn't hesitate to buy. A little darker than tan with no visible veins and a firm pack, the pre-light draw was a little tight but pleasantly earthy and floral. Lit, this petit corona let out a wispy stream of white smoke and exuded lovely flavors of chalk, leather and mild tobacco. The ash was tight and perfectly cement colored. A bit tight on the draw, but a razor sharp burn. Continuing birch and herb notes. A delicate smoke for the early afternoon.
The Village Cigar Co.
2049 Pine St
Burlington
Thursday, June 6, 2013
More beer ratings!
Summer beers are out at the LCBO! Here are a few, I'd shy away from the Bush/Scaldi's Triple and the Abbaye des Rocs, but everything else thus far has been very good. There's an exciting semi-sour from Amsterdam/Great Lakes and a full sour from Bockor that make great complex and refreshing drinks, while the Beau's Festivale and Lone Pine IPA are good matches for food. Also, one beer from the summer brewery feature, Renaissance of New Zealand.
Sawdust City Lone Pine IPA
500 mL bottle. Pours clear amber with a foamy white head. Caramel toffee nose with earthy pine, citrus zest, honey and wax. Mildly sweet and medium carbonation, sticky mouth feel and a long bitter finish. A well balanced IPA, much better on cask, but what isn’t?
Beau's Festivale Plus
600 mL bottle. Pours red amber with a thick white head. Aromas of berry, crystal malt, earthy hops and brown butter nuttiness. Well rounded, medium body with a slick mouthfeel, nice hop bite. A tasty malt forward beer.
Bush/Scaldi's Blonde Tripel
750 mL bottle. Pours straw with a thick white head. Aroma of banana, cotton candy, clove and floral hop. Aggressively sweet and a bit of alcohol bite. High carbonation with medium body. Too sweet and hot for me.
Abbaye des Rocs Blanche des Honnelles
330 mL bottle. Pours a hazy honey orange color with a thin white head. Nose is wheat and citrus, wildflower honey and floral musty hop. Slightly sweet with layered notes of yeast spice and aroma hop. High carbonation and thick wheaty mouthfeel. Well rounded and balanced but not outstanding.
Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale
500 mL bottle. Pours amber with a thin white head. Fruity with a touch of Vienna/Munich malt on the nose, berry, light caramel and floral hop. Mildly bitter, dry and clean. A great session ale.
Amsterdam/Great Lakes Maverick & Gose
500 mL bottle. Pours a hazy yellow orange with a blotchy white head. Aromas of orange, coriander, lemon zest, mineral and floral hop notes. Taste is crisp and dry, with a light easy drinking body and a clean, slightly saline and tart finish. Unique and refreshing.
Bockor Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge
330 mL bottle. Pours a reddish brown with a thin white head. Aromas of apple, sour cherry, nectarine, a touch of vanilla and oak, and a fragrant tea-like note. Full on sour with a fine mouth feel and medium body. Lingering sourness and minimal hop bitterness or aroma. Complex and smooth, undoubtedly well made. A great sour.
As always:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
Sawdust City Lone Pine IPA
500 mL bottle. Pours clear amber with a foamy white head. Caramel toffee nose with earthy pine, citrus zest, honey and wax. Mildly sweet and medium carbonation, sticky mouth feel and a long bitter finish. A well balanced IPA, much better on cask, but what isn’t?
Beau's Festivale Plus
600 mL bottle. Pours red amber with a thick white head. Aromas of berry, crystal malt, earthy hops and brown butter nuttiness. Well rounded, medium body with a slick mouthfeel, nice hop bite. A tasty malt forward beer.
Bush/Scaldi's Blonde Tripel
750 mL bottle. Pours straw with a thick white head. Aroma of banana, cotton candy, clove and floral hop. Aggressively sweet and a bit of alcohol bite. High carbonation with medium body. Too sweet and hot for me.
Abbaye des Rocs Blanche des Honnelles
330 mL bottle. Pours a hazy honey orange color with a thin white head. Nose is wheat and citrus, wildflower honey and floral musty hop. Slightly sweet with layered notes of yeast spice and aroma hop. High carbonation and thick wheaty mouthfeel. Well rounded and balanced but not outstanding.
Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale
500 mL bottle. Pours amber with a thin white head. Fruity with a touch of Vienna/Munich malt on the nose, berry, light caramel and floral hop. Mildly bitter, dry and clean. A great session ale.
Amsterdam/Great Lakes Maverick & Gose
500 mL bottle. Pours a hazy yellow orange with a blotchy white head. Aromas of orange, coriander, lemon zest, mineral and floral hop notes. Taste is crisp and dry, with a light easy drinking body and a clean, slightly saline and tart finish. Unique and refreshing.
Bockor Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge
330 mL bottle. Pours a reddish brown with a thin white head. Aromas of apple, sour cherry, nectarine, a touch of vanilla and oak, and a fragrant tea-like note. Full on sour with a fine mouth feel and medium body. Lingering sourness and minimal hop bitterness or aroma. Complex and smooth, undoubtedly well made. A great sour.
As always:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/
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