July 2005
Road Note #3 - Sebago Brewing, Portland, Maine
Posted by on Sunday, July 31, 2005 in - leave a comment
In April I picked up a IPA and Brown from Sebago and reviewed them here when I got home but last night we visited the Mall of Maine location and had the stout on tap. I don't know why Mainers make the best stout on the planet but they do. This one is creamy, licorice and chocolate. The location is …
Flatter Me
Posted by on Saturday, July 30, 2005 in - 3 comments
Short of sending gifts of pawning value, which I fully encourage, the best way to get mention around here is to flatter and fawn. Consider these two recent emails and the excellent example they set: • “Exhibit A: • Hi there Alan, was just hoping you could mention or link to my …
Buying Beer In Portland Maine
Posted by on Friday, July 29, 2005 in - leave a comment
OK. So I am on holiday and what am I doing on holiday writing on the beer blog. My car has a flat, that's what. Got a flat in the driveway so it's in the shop and I am waiting. • Portland Maine is one of the best places to buy beer if convenience, selection and quality is the thing you are after …
Ontario Craft Beer Route
Posted by on Thursday, July 28, 2005 in - 3 comments
Interesting to note that Ontario, through the LCBO and Ontario Craft Brewers, has witnessed the launch of a beer route for beer related tourism. This is similar to the idea moving through New York's legislature that we read about last month. The LCBO, the province's semi-monopoly on hootch supply …
Road Note #2 - Fosters Special Bitter
Posted by on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 in - leave a comment
Been a long time since I poured out a beer. It was not skunky or foul or anything. It looked really pretty with a nice caramel colour and white fluffy head. Sweet with a bit of a rough hop edge - nothing that is testing your tastebuds but...then it starts...that feeling. It is that brewer's sugar …
In USA, Wine Topping Beer...Amongst Mooks
Posted by on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 in - leave a comment
There are a number of stories popping around about how the USA is turning from beer to wine, such as this... • “Beaujolais has beaten the Busch. For the first time since the Gallup Poll began keeping track in 1992, more Americans say their alcoholic beverage of choice is wine, not beer …
Road Note #1 - Adirondack Pub and Brewery,<br>Lake George, NY
Posted by on Sunday, July 24, 2005 in - 4 comments
I am on summer holidays and the blog is at the mercy of my interest in posting but I have to say that the Adirondack Pub and Brewery in Lake George, New York is pretty good. I had their IPA as well as a decent sampler of blond, hefe, steam, stout, IPA and...umm...another. The food was great and …
Let's Get Good Beer Into Restaurants
Posted by on Thursday, July 21, 2005 in - leave a comment
Read this news item from the Beer Advocate: • “We simply don't understand how the vast majority of chefs can slap their food in the face by pairing it with mediocrity. Why go through the incredible attention to detail to make everything top-notch, only to embarrass yourself with a lame beer …
Six US Pales
Posted by on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 in - 3 comments
New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York, California, Oregon • Once again, this time in lighter tones. I found the six darks a bit hefty for a heat wave but here we have again a range in a style: a pale ale or three, a bitter, a India Pale Ale and a Double India Pale Ale. It is like collecting …
Low Formaldehyde Beer
Posted by on Sunday, July 17, 2005 in - 17 comments
There has been a wave on news out of China over concerns with the formaldehyde levels found in the beers. The People's Daily Online reports: • “Chinese brewery giant Tsingtao has confirmed the safety of its product, saying the per-liter formaldehyde content of its product is much lower than the …
1023 visits yesterday! First quadruple digit day.
Posted by on Friday, July 15, 2005
The Real Dortmunder
Posted by on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 7 comments
Sometimes I buy beer — and other things for that matter — for the wrong reasons. Last week, for example, I was in Ottawa, buying wine at the LCBO, when I noticed a display of cold, imported beers. • Some were familiar, some not. Then I noticed an array of tall 500ml cans with some writing under …
Holland: Christoffel Blond, Bierbrouwerii St. Christoffel
Posted by on Thursday, July 14, 2005 in - leave a comment
This beer was just sitting there at the LCBO, 2.50 CND for 330 ml of 6.0% ale. Nice Dutch swing top. A homebrewer's delight. The lable says dubblegehopt bier or "double hopped beer". The brewery says the usual: • “Blond has a full body, a very balanced taste and a beautiful bitterness due to a …
Yet Another Beer Blog
Posted by on Thursday, July 14, 2005 in - 2 comments
And it is another group blog: the SudsPundit. Look for more under the web resources page.
The News You Need
Posted by on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 in - leave a comment
The internet is fairly amazing and what better proof do you need than I now know this: • “Baltika brewing company of Saint Petersburg has resumed supplies of its production to Georgia and Armenia, reported the company press service. The supplies to Georgia and Armenia were ceased in July 2004 …
Six US Darks
Posted by on Sunday, July 10, 2005 in - 4 comments
Washington, Vermont, New York, Oregon, • Pennsylvania and California • Life is tough. Life needs little projects. I found all of these lovery little brown bottles at the excellent Finger Lakes Beverage Center in Ithaca, NY and was able to buy singles of each - though the Southern Tier Porter …
New York: JW Dundees APA, High Falls, Rochester
Posted by on Friday, July 8, 2005 in - leave a comment
I have had this bottle at the back of the fridge for a while. And I know the photo is not as sharp as it might be. But I like it. And I like this beer. This is the upgrade from High Falls Brewing of Rochester, (land of the garbage plate) the brewers for decades (or rather successors of brewers) of …
Ugandans Love Beer
Posted by on Friday, July 8, 2005 in - leave a comment
Who knew? • “Alcohol consumption is not entirely a problem, because those who love the bottle will tell you that even Jesus turned water into wine. But as we imbibe the frothy stuff, we should not forget the dangers that come with it. We all know drinking and driving is dangerous, but there are …
Posted by on Thursday, July 7, 2005
New York: Saranac Variety 12-pack, FX Matt, Utica
Posted by on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 in - 8 comments
Another variety pack from New York state, another reason to wonder why we organize our lives like we do in Canada. Saranac is the main brand of the Matt Brewing Company of Utica to the right of Syacuse about an hour and twenty minutes south then east from here. Last year I bought a mixed twelve of …
St. Amand, Brassiere Castelain, Benifontaine, France
Posted by on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 in - 1 comment
I found this at Galeville about a month ago. At $6.99 USD or $8.74 CND for a 22 oz bottle it is one of the more expensive brews you can buy but I think it is good value. On this visit, I actually escaped the clutches of customs additional 37% solely through the kindness of a guard who obviously …
Finger Lakes Beverage Center, Ithaca, New York
Posted by on Monday, July 4, 2005 in - 9 comments
You know when they say someone or something • is truly beautiful on the inside once you get to know? • OK, I have been a little quiet around here as of late but that is because I have been on special assignmentTM and this last special assignmentTM took us to Ithaca, New York about 3 hours due …
Posted by on Friday, July 1, 2005
Belgium: Kwak, Bosteels, Buggenhout
Posted by on Friday, July 1, 2005 in - 1 comment
For the uninitiated, Bosteels Brewery's Pauwel Kwak beer can be quite a confusing beer. Even for connoisseurs, Kwak is decidedly, well, different. • One glance at its signature drinking glass with its wooden stand and handle is enough to tell most that they are in store for a unique beer. I …
