Innis & Gunn Winter Beer 2011. $14.95, LCBO

Before you do a double take at the price, know that this beer is part of a sampler of Innis & Gunn products available at the LCBO.  It comes with two of I&G's other offerings, as well as the branded glass you see in the shot. On to the beer!
This beer pours perfectly into the glass it comes with, the head just brushing the rim, and the shape focusing the nose in such a way that really helps you to appreciate the nuance of the recipe. Brilliant ruby red, with one finger of head that hangs around for a bit, it laces the glass pretty well and has little to no active carbonation visible to the naked eye. The colour is really stunning, there is no need to pass any light through it. Almost glows red all on its own. It smells like caramel malt, biscuity, with a spicy hint that eludes to cinnamon and nutmeg a bit, but I'm not sure if that is brewed in, or an effect of the whiskey casks it is aged in. The first sip brings more of the malts, caramel and toffee but not too heavy, and delicate, slightly citrusy hops that give way to some oak and vanilla. There is a dry finish that eludes to that cinnamon spike again, but I don't get much of it in the actual flavour, and I second guess myself a bit. But if that's what I taste, that's what I taste! The 7.4% ABV gives it a nice warming boozy feel, perfect for a cold winter night, or spreading some Christmas cheer. It is smooth, but not heavy, oily and slick but nicely crsip, almost micro carbonated.
      This isn't the kind of beer you pair with a meal, it's the kind of beer you sit by the fire and enjoy. Sure, you could find the perfect match for something like this, but it is so unique a product (as is the entire I&G line), that it really deserves to be savoured on its own. Innis & Gunn Original was one of the first beers that took me into a whole new world of possibility years ago. Four different I&G brews later and I am still impressed at the style and substance they have all had to offer. The complexity is there, but it never becomes over the top. In fact, you should really slow this one down and savour it. 8/10.

Yes, I still drink beer.

I just haven't had time to write about it this week. I definitely had some great pints though, from Great Lakes Brewery Winter Ale, Muskoka Winter Beard, some great Mill St. products, Shock Top Belgian White, Flying Monkeys Atomic IPA, and tonight will be some  Devils Pale Ale, and a duo from St. Peter's in a wicked new St. Peter's Pilsner glass!
I promise, I'll get back to business sometime in the next few days...
Cheers!

Brewer Spotlight: Railway City Part 3 of 3 - Failure to Launch

Sorry to those that were looking forward to the culmination of the series tonight. I went to Railway City an hour before they were scheduled to close, but alas the lights were off and the door was locked.
I bought myself a 6 pack of Flying Monkey's Smashbomb Atomic IPA instead, and if I manage to actually save one bottle of this nectar of the gods tonight, I may do a review tomorrow.
My apologies again. We will try for a re-do sometime this week.
Cheers!

Brewer Spotlight: Railway City Part 2 of 3, Dead Elephant Ale. $3.50, LCBO

This is the second installment of our Brewer Spotlight feature on Railway City Brewers, and the lead up to our tour of their brewery and some sampling of their product.

Dead Elephant Ale plays on the history of St Thomas Ontario, where Jumbo the circus elephant, owned by P.T. Barnum, was killed by a locomotive in a classification yard. A life size statue of his likeness can be seen in town, and I myself have experienced it many time from childhood on. Drinking this beer is a cool blast from the past for me, not just for the historic significance, but the reminiscing from my youth as well.
It pours a caramel colour, clear with one finger of head that has fairly good retention. It leaves a solid uneven cap and slight lacing on the glass. There is a  decent carbonation on the pour, but not many active bubbles as it sits waiting for me to snap some pictures. It smells like roasty caramel malts, pumpernickel bread, oranges, pine and sweet flowery hops. The caramel malt comes through in the flavour as well, with sweet pine, citrus, and a very long but muted bitter hop finish. The flavour doesn't bowl you over like American IPA's can, but the balance is good and the complexity is there. It isn't overly bitter either, which makes it more sessionable, as well as accessible, pretty impressive for a 6.8% Ale. It is medium light on the tongue, with a prefect amount of carbonation and not too slick, but not too dry.

I like this beer, I really do. I don't want to sound like I am pandering, or shamelessly promoting local just for the sake of local, but between Iron Spike and this pint, these are two quality beers that I really enjoy. As a short disclaimer, there aren't too many quality craft beers that I don't like! It may lack the aggressive flavour profile of other "big" beers, but it certainly outweighs the pretenders. It's interesting, but easy enough to drink  that most people would have no problem liking this beer, including some of my Coors Light buddies. The pine, citrus and good dose of hops is highly enjoyable, and if the light beer crowd isn't careful, a gateway to hard to find, "mecca" type beers. I give it 8/10 and I drink it quite often.

Brewer Spotlight: Railway City Part 1 of 3

On Saturday, I am going to tour Railway City Brewing in St. Thomas, Ontario. As a lead up to that feature, I will review two of their products that are most readily available- Iron Spike Blonde Ale and Dead Elephant Ale. I purchased both of these bottles from my local LCBO, and they are available on tap at many southern Ontario bars.
Railway City plays on the heritage of St Thomas, mainly it's historic railway station, as well as the story of Jumbo the Elephant, who was killed on the tracks at a classification yard there in 1885. They offer a number of different brews ranging from easy drinkers to beer geek specials, but each I've tasted is high quality and flavour forward.

Iron Spike Blonde Ale pours a beautiful orange amber colour, with a small head, and little active carbonation. This beer smells delicious. I get savoury baked goods, honey, and assertive floral hops in there too. The smell is surprisingly bold and complex. I didn't expect this from a "lighter" beer like this, but that goes to show you the quality in this pint. The taste is a little yeasty, with caramel malt, honey, and light dried fruit. A really nice delicate hoppy finish cleans it all up, very floral and long on the palate, but not too intense. The whole flavour profile is fairly subdued, but it is complex, and very long on the tongue. It just seems to go for miles when you consider the type of beer. I think it could have used a little more carbonation, but the weighty mouthfeel and softness almost give it a cask ale feel, which is really nice if that's what you like. Altogether a nice package with the sweet honey notes, and the balanced hops.
Overall, I am very pleased with this beer. This is the first time I've had it since I started drinking craft beers regularly, and I can honestly say there is a lot of quality and attention to detail. Sure, it's not a revelation, but that is a limitation of the style. What it definitely is though, is a beer that anyone could pick up and drink, and a great gateway for the average person into the world of micro brews. It's also intensely local for me and I think that's really great! I give it 8/10, and I would buy it again.

Brew Crew Night Out: Gambrinus Bistro and Cafe.

                                                  The wife sampling Lake of Bays Brewery's Mocha Porter.
                                                                   Just one of the many micro craft beers on tap @Gambrinus


To town we go!
      I had been itching to hit Gambrinus Bistro and Cafe in London Ontario for months now, and last night I decided to scratch that itch. From all accounts, it is the best place for craft beer this side of the GTA. My wife and I headed there for a dinner date and she knew little of my scheme to go there based on the beer selection, and I didn't know how wrong I was to discount the food. The quality of what we ate, and drank is second to few, and most definitely the best I've sampled in the area.
      Gambrinus is located in the heart of downtown London, in Covent Garden Market. Steps from the John Labbatt center as well, you would be hard pressed to find a better location in this city. The atmospere is inviting, dimly light and warm. Dark wood, big mirrors and a spacious private feel set the mood for your evening out. The staff was courteous and friendly, with service being surprisingly quick, although we never felt rushed, and were often left to finish our drinks and talk. It wasn't busy, but I hear that it can be a madhouse when the JLC is rocking, so choose your poison, and your night wisely. The bar is fantastic, with plenty of top shelf bottles and an endless collection of tap handles diplayed above it on glass shelving. The food we ate was quality and made in house, from the Butternut Squash Gnocchi to the Sausages, even the sauerkraut was made in the kitchen and it showed. But the beer...Oh the BEER! Eighteen beers on tap, one on hand pump cask, and a list of bottles that covered nearly three pages of the drink menu. Flying Monkeys' Smashbomb IPA on tap, Aventinus Dopplebock from a bottle and Lake of Bays Mocha Porter on tap for dessert. I can't say enough about Smashbomb, it might be the best Canadian IPA I've ever tasted. Aventinus always struck me as a beer that would go great with German sausage and sauerkraut, and I was right- it's a match made in heaven. Mocha Porter left a little to be desired, but honestly in the company of the first two beers, I didn't really expect to have three revelatory drink experiences in one night.
      The only downfall about a place this good is that you can't have it all. I left jolly and stuffed to the gills, and I had barely scratched the surface of what Gambrinus has to offer. For beer geeks, this place is a must for anyone in Ontario as a destination, and the best in SW Ontario that I've seen.
Keep a booth warm and the beer cold, I'll be back!

Congratulations to @dhlwilson!

@dhlwilson follows @brewcrewreviews on Twitter, and is the proud recipient of a Mill St. Seasonal Sampler pack! Keep your eyes peeled for our next contest!