The trouble with Ontario is really expressed in its beer distribution system: it is too big. Half the nation lives here, half the office space and half the bears as well. It goes from the arctic to the Carolinian forest, from the western prairie to a few miles from Montreal. The effect on beer distribution is a focus on localization so that if you want to find one of the beer from the handful of brewers in the province you have to drive. Driving on the weekend for other reasons, I took the opportunity to test the LCBO stocks in Guelph, north on highway 6 just past the Sleemans Brewery, four hours drive to my west.
This beer was worth the drive. A dark ale that actually tries to be something other than a darkened lager like the quite foul Waterloo Dark. Dark ale is not really a style so much as a place there by brown on the lighter side and porter on the richer. It is a small place and this beer settles there well. The body is heavier than the average Canadian ale - as the automotive oil name would imply. It is however fairly fresh with bright, if twiggy, hops cutting quite a sweet rich malt profile. Within the malts there are grainy pale malt flavours as well as some chocolate. Amongst those there is also a treacle note and perhaps a little hint of licorice. A brighter and lighter Theaksons's Old Peculier? Here is what the advocates say.
Perhaps not the most amazing ale but - for those named dark - the best I have had from Canada.



Comments
Steve Poteet - September 14, 2005 9:48 pm
I have a 1937 MGTA,1953MGTDand1962MGA2.I would love to buy some of your beer to drink and add to my MG collection!Do you have any signage for sell?
Thank you
Steve Poteet
380 College Ave
Clemson,SC 29631
Phone 864-654-4484
Ed - May 11, 2006 2:22 pm
You may want to contact Andrew directly for the signage request...
It's pretty much just him and his wife that run the operation.
Brewer: Andrew Stimpson
Neustadt Springs Brewery
456 Jacob Street
Neustadt ON
+1 519-799-5790
10:00am-6:00pm.
Cheers
Alan - December 23, 2006 2:16 pm
Beer alert. Beer alert.
Alert! Now in the Kingston LCBO! Alert! Now in the Kingston LCBO at Barrack Street and King!
This has been a beer alert.
Dave - December 23, 2007 2:14 pm
I had to try the beer just because of the name. I've been accused many times - over the years of drinking "crankcase oil"...
Damn! I really like it!
Shaine - July 10, 2008 4:38 pm
I bought this beer on a trip east last May (07). I look forward to my trips just to try out new beers. I bought this one as a bit of a gag on my father-in-law. But what a great beer - I have tried to find it here in southern Alberta... but if it isn't Big Rock or Bud we don't seem to have it.