Beer Club

[Kiyoodle the Gambrinous]

Let's talk about our favourite beverage, beer...

Just to start the conversation, here's a little link to a beautiful place in Prague: The Beer Gallery.

Just for basic information about the place: Currently, visitors to the Pivni Gallery can choose from between more than 180 brands of beer selected from the portfolios of 34 breweries.

Doesn't that sound tempting?

[Sibling Lambicus the Toluous]

I hesitate to mention it in an open forum (because it's so tiny!  If it gets popular, I won't be able to get a seat!), but but one of my favourite places in Toronto is Smokeless Joe.

Tiny, tiny bar (it seats maybe 20 people, with another 10 on the tiny patio), but it has over 250 beers!

Apparently it's been sold (to another Joe), but under the old ownership, Joe would personally greet each customer as they came in and ask a bit about them.  The second time I went there was about a year after the first time I went there with friends, and as I walked in, Joe said "I'm sorry, I can't remember your name.  But I know you're in school for engineering... civil, right?  How's that going?"  It blew my mind.

And on top of everything, they play great music (over speakers - there's no room for a live performer), and have printed along the top of one wall the words "the blues are when you love someone who don't love you."

Great place.  If you're in Toronto, check it out.

[Kiyoodle the Gambrinous]

I think now I have defnitely a reason to go to Toronto some day...

[Opsa]

I'm a fan of really dark beers. Love Guiness Extra Stout and it's American cousins Black Toad and Rogue Shakespeare Stout. Samuel Adams has a black beer out, but so far I've only seen it available in a variety pack with other styles. Long ago I used to enjoy Sapporo Black (Japanese) around, but I haven't seen it around.

This past weekend I was at a party where some lovely people brought Corsendank, a real nice dark monastery brew  that I hadn't tasted in years. I also love Chimay. Monks really know their ale.

[Sibling Lambicus the Toluous]

I think Sam Adams Triple Bock is in season right now, though it's more like a liqueur than a typical beer.

[DaveL]

Seriously addicted to Belgian Bellvue Kriek Cherry Beer. I first had it on tap, but have found it in the larger retailers in medium sized bottles.

Not only is the colour unusal, it goes down a treat. Love the bitter sweet taste...awesome!!

[Sibling Lambicus the Toluous]

On the weekend, I picked up a pack of the Robert Simpson Brewing Company's Confederation Ale.

It's fairly mild (I think it may be classed as a "Mild Ale"), but pretty good - flavourful without being bitter or overpowering.  Probably a good beer to wean your friends off of watery mainstream stuff.

Also, it's got a gadget: a spot on the label turns blue when it's at proper serving temperature.  Unfortunately, they put it in a green bottle, but at least it comes in a fairly lightproof cardboard box.

I doubt it's available outside of Ontario, but try it out if you see it.

[Warlord of Elephants]

I saw a recipe for ancient Egyption beer on the internet once. It has (of course) no hops in it. I want to try to home brew it. Has anyone tried or tasted anything like this? Sincerely The Warlord of Elephants

[Bluenose]

Got some of these cooling to have with dinner tonight.  Can't wait...

[Sibling Lambicus the Toluous]

I just have one question for all of you who have visited the Southwestern US:  Why didn't any of you say anything about Fat Tire before?

I was introduced to it on my recent trip.  I like Fat Tire.  Good beer.   

[Sibling Chatty]

Uhhh, 'cause I can't tolerate alcohol anymore??

I've never met anybody that didn't like Fat Tire. Even me baby bruddah what don't drink will drink one of 'em. (He's a musician, and just got tired of it one day.) I've never been a beer or ale fan, but Fat Tire smells good, even to me!

[Aggie]

'Sat a mountain bike beer?  Sweeeeeet....!


Oh, one of my main favorites, though I rarely line up more than one bottle at a time, is Innis and Gunn.  It's a scottish beer aged in oak barrels:
http://www.innisandgunn.com/discovered.htm

Oohh....  Toluous, you need to snag the 2006 special edition in Ontario!  I can't get it here I don't think.

[Sibling Lambicus the Toluous]

'Sat a mountain bike beer?  Sweeeeeet....!

Yup... the brewery web site says that the beer was inspired by the brewmaster's bike tour through Belgium.

BTW - they hold their "Tour de Fat" ("a ballyhoo of bikes and beer", according to the web site) in a couple of locations that are semi-close to you.

Oohh....  Toluous, you need to snag the 2006 special edition in Ontario!  I can't get it here I don't think.

Hmm... I'll keep an eye out for it.  I'm having issues with the LCBO product search engine just this moment, but I'll keep trying.

[Aggie]

Hmm... have to go stateside, but maybe I can get the boys out for an excursion.  Too bad there's no June dates; dad and his cronies always get out for a bike trip in June.

[Sibling Lambicus the Toluous]

Just an update: for me, New Year's Day will be "New Beer's Day".   I'm getting set to brew a beer. 

I sterilized the carboy this evening, and tomorrow I'll be picking up beer ingredients.  Assuming I can get the stuff I need, I'm going to do a Scottish Ale recipe I came up with myself and last brewed in 1997.  It's dark, malty and murky, especially since I plan on using molasses instead of sugar to carbonate it.  If it turns out, I may bestow the name "Toadfish" on it.



BTW - Aggie, I haven't found the special edition, but I tried the "normal" Innis & Gunn - it's really good!