The Polkies - The Year in Beer 2020

 

  I used to make my Best of the Best lists a week long writing extravaganza...that was way too much work and to be honest, not as much fun as writing 'The Ten'. The act of ranking a beer is very personal, it reflects not just a palate pleaser, but whether it is indeed what it claims to be. A stout with an adjunct added like coconut can be overwhelmed by the addition or made even more enjoyable. A dry hopped lager can be enhanced by the extra attention or rendered a mess if not handled properly. But at the end of every glass, it's just your opinion or mine. One person's Sparklechunks is another's favourite beer...but not mine...seriously...

  So with more than 800 reviews this year and more than 4000 in the last 6 years, not all of them Headstock, I have a small grasp on what I like and know a little bit of what I'm looking for when I drink a beer. I seek truth in every glass, I want what the label tells me the style is to be reflected in what I'm tasting and while I am not the best palate around, heck in my own house Kathryn is far better than I, I know my own self very well. I wish I could try more beers of every style, the exploration of diverse options is what drives the engine of so many of us here in the craft beer world, but I am also good with not worrying about things I cannot try or that slip away into the ether of the past. 

  Drink what you got, drink what you're able, if you're drinking with me, let's peel back the label!

Beer that tastes like a Damn Beer

Lagers

1. Collective Arts Brewing Audio Visual

  This beer just kept appearing in our fridge every week or so, whether it was a pickup at the brewery, grocery store or LCBO. A no nonsense, full bodied lager that delivered a simple, yet nuanced experience every time. No doubt a staple for many, it is a gateway beer to bring your macro pals over to the side of beer where taste matters over how cold your beer is.

2. Anderson Craft Ales Gold

3. Sawdust City Brewing Rice Lager

4. Merit Brewing No Limit American Lager

5. Godspeed Brewing Otsukaresama

Light Lager

1. Muskoka Brewery Tread Lightly

  This one caught everyone who tried it completely by surprise this year, Muskoka launched into this growing market with a superior rocket indeed. Full bodied, balanced bitterness and a delightfully crushable 355ml (my personal choice for this one) availability made for one hell of an entrance. Lacking nothing in a light beer like most macros, it was worthy of inclusion in The Ten most memorable beers of 2020.

2. Clifford Brewing The Crusher

3. Steamwhistle Brewing Session Lager

4. Forked River Lo Town

5. Gateway Brewing Slightly Startled

Pilsners

1. Tooth and Nail Vim & Vigor

  A close race, perhaps the toughest decision of the year with last year's Beer of the Year Donna coming in a very close second, Tooth and Nail are deserving of the spot with their super clean and crisp Vim & Vigor. It brings a simple, yet complex, grassy front, noble hop spice and a subtle beautifully balanced delivery in every sip. Classic, legendary and a must have for a true beer lover.

2. Fairweather Brewing Donna

3. Fairweather Brewing Jr.

4. Counterpart Brewing Pure

5. Red Circle Brewing Crystal Park

Blonde Ales

1. Royal City Brewing Two Rivers

  A style made for BBQs, late nights and long afternoons, Royal City nailed it with their Two Rivers. Full bodied, lightly bitter and touched with some fruitiness, its got session written all over it. Get a 24, you'll appreciate having it around.

2. Collective Arts Brewing Dry Hopped Blonde Ale

3. Forked River Brewing Capital

4. Nickel Brook Brewing Cause & Effect

5. Collective Arts Brewing Saint of Circumstance

Come to the Dark Side, we have Beer 

Porters

1. Muddy York Brewing Porter

  A long time favourite. it is among a handful of beers that are consistently included on this list every year. It is the go to definition of a classic porter. Roasted malt notes of cocoa, dark chocolate and a dry bitter finish always seems like the perfect fit in every sip. After all these years, it never fails to deliver an excellent experience whenever I can wrestle one away from the Lady of the Manor.

2. Oast House Brewers Pitchfork Porter

3. Collective Arts Brewing Stranger than Fiction 

4. Silversmith Brewing Horchata Porter

5. Trestle Brewing Red Rock

Stouts

1. Cameron's Brewing Crooked Nose Stout

  A late entry into the beer scene this year, Cameron's Crooked Nose stout was an outstandingly balanced dark roasted beauty. Smooth and full with a huge chocolate front, it was a fine thing to be able to pick up as the snow began to fall.

2. Anderson Craft Ales Stout

3. Stonehooker Brewing Wrought Iron

4. Kensington Brewing It's a Stout

5. Royal City Brewing 100 Steps

Adjunct Stout

1.Sawdust City Brewing Viva la Stout
  This beer returned in 2020, albeit at a lower ABV, and Sawdust City sent it into the larger world of LCBO and Grocery stores with an eye to that sessionable trend and to deliver a real treat of a dessert beer. Loved it from start to finish and it should be an easy buy for anyone with a taste for chocolate and fruit.

2. Fairweather Brewing Long Shadow

3. Collective Arts Brewing All the Things

4. Nickel Brook Brewing Wonky Bastard

5. Omnipollo Agamemnon

Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts

1. Nickel Brook Brewing 2020 Kentucky Bastard 

  This is probably the hardest category for me to pick because I am an unabashed lover of the big, boozy slow-sippers of the world and I always have a bunch on hand in the cellar for when the mood strikes me, adding new ones as they are released throughout the year. 2020 saw a hell of a stiff competition from Wellington and their UVB-76 series, along with the usual Amsterdam Double Tempest options, but one rose above and even in its initial drop was an absolute beast of a balanced pint. Nickel Brook managed to come within a barley grain of topping the famous 2016 version with this late October release. While this style usually comes out of the gate still rocking a lot of that bourbon heat, the gang at NB nailed a balance on this I haven't seen before. Outstanding now and sure to age into something even more spectacular in the years to come. I have a few aging now, available at the LCBO for you adventurous types!

2. Wellington Brewery UVB-76 Daniil

3. Collective Arts Brewing & Civil Society Brewing Origins of Darkness

4. Nickel Brook Brewing 2020 Cafe del Bastardo

5. Fairweather Brewing 2019 Wishing Well

Black Lager

1.Silversmith Brewing The Black Lager

 Simply the best. Silversmith has long held this category and while GLB and Muddy York each had fantastic Black Lagers this year, the OG Polk favourite continued to deliver a perfect pint of dark lagered joy everytime. Can or bottle, doesn't matter, it is the perfect representation of that the style should be.

2. Great Lakes Brewery Black Lager

3. Muddy York Brewing Black Opal

4. Black Lab Brewing Cornerstone

5. Napanee Brewing Blacklist

All Things Good and Hoppy 

Pale Ales

 1. Great Lakes Brewery Canuck

 This is a family favourite and another of those comfort beers we leaned into so hard in 2020. The best deal in Ontario at only $54 for a 24, it is the epitome of an easy drinking pale ale. They often say that it runs through the veins of GLB like a lifeblood and it is a trusted go to pint around here on a most consistent basis. The fact that I can get it for delivery now is just another mark in it's favour.

2. Bellwoods Brewery Jutsu

3. Merit Brewing More Than

4. Fairweather Brewing Menagerie Citra

5. Nickel Brook Brewing Juicy Scoops 2

New England or Hazy Pale Ales

1. Great Lakes Brewery Burst!

  They cannot stop with the awesome releases to the wider world this year and GLB once again nailed it with Burst! Peach, mango and strawberry with a light pine back and under $3 a can makes for a crushable and well enjoyed tropical pint!

2. Lake of Bays Brewing Off the Grid

3. Nickel Brook Brewing Hazy Neighbour

4. Prince Eddy's Brewing So Many Friends

5. Great Lakes Brewing Empowered

IPAs

American

1. Merit Brewing Young Rival

  The gradual climb of Merit to the top of the American style IPA category has been one of subtle refinements along the way. They have tinkered with the original recipe as this relatively new brewery were getting their legs underneath them. Citrus and stone fruit, pith and pine, all together a beautifully balanced and crafted IPA.

2. Badlands Brewing King Kang

3. Barncat Artisinal Ales Extra Juice

4. Fairweather Brewing High Grade

5. Great Lakes Brewing Octopus Wants to Fight

New England Style or Hazy IPAs

1. Sawdust City Brewing Everyday Magic 

  Dropping a brand new hazy IPA into the LCBO at the start of the lockdowns broght some brightness to the darkness of early March and this peach, mango and pineapple gem was and is greatly appreciated. Sawdust City has always been solid when it comes to bringing exactly what they promise to every pint they sell and this smooth tropical delight was in my glass many, many times this year. 

2. Third Moon Brewing Bone Tree

3. Town Brewery One Tree Planted

4. Great Lakes Brewery HazeMama

5. Merit Brewing Way Too

West Coast IPAs (not a real category on UNtappd, but it is in my heart so here we are)

1. Nickel Brook Brewing Headstock 

  I've said all I need to say about this one on 'The Ten"

It's simply the best.

2. Great Lakes Brewery 2010

3. Sawdust City Brewing Lone Pine

4. Indie Alehouse Instigator

5. Fairweather Brewing California King

Double or Imperial IPA

1. Sawdust City Brewing Binary System 2

  You could probably make a case for any of the 4 beers in this series on any best of 2020 list, they are playful, exuberant and solidly put together. This iteration just grabbed my attention and held on enough to be included among The Ten, so to the top of the big slow sippers it goes.

2. Counterpart Brewing Crowned

3. Barncat Artisinal Ales Cat Nap

4. Collective Arts Brewing IPA No 15

5. Merit Brewing Unrivalled

Triple IPAs

 1. Collective Arts Brewing Triple IPA

  Dangerous and beautiful, this 10%er landed in mid November and brought all the berry, mango and orange with it. Pithy and a little warming made for an exceptionally smooth big beer. More of this style in 2021 please!!

2. Barncat Artisanal Ales We Miss Growlers

3. Redline Brewhouse White Knuckle

4. Lake of Bays Brewing Apex

5. Montibello Brewing Tripa 3

Belgian IPAs

1. Block Three Brewing Cathedral

  A category near and dear to my heart, I am in love with this hybrid style of Belgian yeast and North American hops to create a truly unique experience and it is no surprise that St. Jacob's Block Three Brewing takes it home this year with their early 2020 release, the 6.5% Cathedral. The interplay of notes was so well tuned, I can still envision it almost 11 months later. They have one of the prettiest looking breweries in the province and crank out a variety of styles, lagers and IPAs to go with farmhouse ales and sours. But this Belgian IPA is my big love this year! 

2. New Limburgh Brewing Belgian IPA

3. Block Three Brewing Danger Zone

4. Napanee Brewing Extremist

5. Shacklands Brewing Blessed Acceleration

Black IPAs

1. Sawdust City Brewing Darkness on the Edge of Town 

  Another difficult decision had to be made in this category of the 2020 countdown. GLB Apocalypse Later and Problem Bears from Silversmith both warrant a mention in this category, but Sawdust City took it to another level this year. I called it elegant and this delicate balance of roasted malt bitterness, citrus pith and pine was like a well timed dance of the highest order. A joy to drink and a moment I remember well as the sun set in early April. 

2. Great Lakes Brewery Apocalypse LAter

3. Silversmith Brewing Problem Bears

4. Manantler Brewing Dark Prince

5. Henderson Brewing Henderson Cup

Session IPAs

1. Fairweather Brewing Forever Eva
  A repeat champion, this Vic Secret, Ekuanot and Citra hopped little IPA brings way more to the table than you'd think for that low ABV. Melon, peach orange and a light spice gave me a singular experience in session IPAs this year, far outpacing the other contenders, a runaway victory!

2. Nickel Brook Brewing Party Dad

3. Royal City Brewing Exhibition

4. Collective Arts Brewing Hazy State

5. Sawdust City Brewing We Belong to the Thunder

Sour IPAs

1. Fairweather Brewing Golden Hour Mango

  This one still pops in my mind, even though it has almost been a calendar year since I had it. Bright sunshine in a glass at a time when my world was very dark and Jinx had just left this mortal world. Absolute banger of a beer.

2. Sawdust City Brewing Electric Storm

3. Fairweather Brewing miiNG

4. Nickel Brook Brewing Zap!

5. Grain & Grit Beer Co. Dog Days

New for 2020!!

Kveik IPA (another not a real style, but again its my list, so here we go)

1. Nickel Brook Brewing Cold Pop

  At 6.5% and 0 IBUs, this smooth and tropical mango, pineapple and pine example of that Norwegian yeast  was a revelation in late May as the Summer approached. Super crushable and an instant classic.

2. Collective Arts Brewing Kveik IPA

3. Clifford Brewing Valhalla

4. Wellington Brewery Kveik IPA

5. Collective Arts Brewing Dalliance

Tart Puckers - Sour Ales

1. Merit Brewing Waves Peach

  It was mid June and the day had been no good, rotten and terrible. The I opened this Peach, Plum and Vanilla variant of Merit's Waves series and all was right with the world. It was a journey through each flavour and they all came together at the right point to deliver a fantastic beer all around.

2. Left Field Brewing Lo Viste

3. Shacklands Brewing Razzle Blazzle

4. Collective Arts Brewing Smoothie Sour

5. Muddy York Brewing Staring Down the Sun

Those Belgian Beauties

Saisons

1. Shacklands Brewing Saison Davenport

  Another returning champ, this time available at the LCBO and in cans at that! I know I go out on a limb with this proclamation, but it is perhaps the best Saison in the world and that is the truth as I see it. Everything a saison should be this is and more. That noble hop spice on the finish is perfection.
2. Merit Brewing Chanan

3. Little Beasts Brewing La Petite Duchesse

4. Shacklands Brewing Wit Saison

5. Bellwoods Brewery Saison Maison

Tripels

1. Shacklands Brewing Tripel

  Another spot on Belgian Banger from the best of the best this side of the Atlantic when it comes to these kinds of beers. It is full bodied, loaded to the hilt with all the things that make this style one of my favourites.

2. Merit Brewing Tomorrows

3. Royal City Brewing Tripel Entente

4. New Limburgh Brewing St. Barbara

5. Forked River Brewing The Oracle

Wheat Ales

1. Silversmith Brewing Breakfast Wheat

  A real fine wake me up one early June morning, this flagship wheat is all about that orange peel, lemon zest and bubblegum before the dry and spiced up finish. it was just a great way to sit and enjoy a sunny, warm morning outside with no work in my near future.

2. Tooth and Nail Brewing Sparrowhawk

3. Gateway CIty Brewing Cloud Captain

4. Grain & Grit Beer Co. Zigge Zagge

5. Bandit Brewing Solstice

Malty Goodness

Barleywine

1.Great Lakes Brewery 2020 Beard of Zeus
  Barleywines are rare creatures here in Ontario, but the ones I've managed to track down have been quite the happy circumstance. Great Lakes dropped Beard of Zeus into the LCBO early in the year and this 11.8% behemoth was a godsend in the chilly, homebound months that followed. And since most folks had never encountered this style before, making it more easily attainable, with an eye-catching label to boot, Great Lakes hit a home run in more ways than one.
2. Granite Brewery Gin Lane
3. Cameron's Brewing Early Bird
4. Wellington Brewery Yuletide 2019
5. Garrison Brewing Fog Burner

Brown Ales

1. Fairweather Brewing Baby Steps

  A one off, not repeated since piece of heaven hit the bottle shop at Fairweather in late July and disappeared almost at once. They nailed the balance between sweet and bitter with an eye to super crushability all the way through. May it return in 2021 with a wider availability, I would advise you order early and large.

2. Counterpart Brewing Rise

3. Concession Road Brewing Lumber Jacket

4. Black Oak Brewing Nut Brown

5. Royal City Brewing Smoked Honey

Extra Special Bitters

1. Clifford Brewing Dark Streets of London

  This one is close to my heart, a bready malty sessionable ESB that is a constant pickup whenever it returns to the taproom at Clifford. When this is all over and we can head back to sit in taprooms with impunity and fully vaccinated, I may spend my first afternoon drinking this pint after pint.

2. SIlversmith Brewing Dam Buster

3. Great Lakes Brewery Monty

4. HIgh Park Brewing Across the Pond

5. Concession Road Brewing Little Britain

Red Ales

1. Gateway City Brewing Devil's Dessert

  This Imperial Red was a big hit as I floated in the pool in early June. Big and bready malts with loads of caramel and a nice kick of hop spice on the back made for a very memorable pint.

2. Cowbell Brewing Doc Perdue's Bobcat

3. Beau's All Natural Brewing Strong Patrick

4. Cameron's Brewing Ambear

5. New Ontario Brewing Tree Topper

The Mish-Mash - The Best of the Rest

Styles that I had less than 5 examples of in 2019. Any less than that and it's just not worth telling you about.

Amber Ale - Block Three Brewing Beauty & The Belgian

Belgian Strong Ale -  Sawdust City Brewing L'il Man

Brett IPA - Shacklands Brewing Fuzzier Peach

Brut IPA - Muddy York Brewing Paper Moon

Dubbel - Chimay Red

Fruited Ale - Oast House Brewers Grandma's Strawberry Rhubarb

Gose - Merit Brewing What Dreams May Come

Helles Lager - Trestle Brewing Hole in The Wall

Imperial Stout - Merit Brewing Black is Beautiful

Milkshake IPA - Collective Arts Brewing Collective Arts Fest

Pumpkin Ale - Great Lakes Brewery Pumpkin Ale

Scottish Ale - Second Wedge Brewing Monday Night Piper

Vienna Lager - Clifford Brewing Chain Link

Wild Ale - Fairweather Brewing Wide World

  That's a wrap on 2020 from this corner of the world, may this next year bring more great beer, better times and a chance to sit down together and share a few pints.

Cheers! 
Polk