Cameron's Brewing Cask Night - Raising Pints and Sharing Laughs!

Everyone of these is a moment I cherish. What a night!

Make your way with me this past Friday to Cameron's Brewing Company and their quarterly Cask Night. Some of my favourite people in Craft beer work here and I always feel like I'm coming home whenever I get the chance to stop by. This night was a little more special because so many of the folks I know and love from Instagram were there and it made for an epic evening and a wee bit of a tired Polkaroo the next day.

From the moment you walk in the door you are welcomed with enthusiasm and a personal touch you find only in this community. The brewery is spotless and the music was pumping from the back. Eyeing the casks, I settled on Unfiltered Steamwhistle first and was pleasantly surprised by how much more malty it was. The regular is a ubiquitous selection in our house as it can be enjoyed by even the non craft drinkers who visit. Mrs. Polkaroo is a huge Steamwhistle fan and returned again and again for this treat of a beer.

I headed back toward the front and the Cameron's table next. They had a refreshing saison and one of my faves of the night in a Lager Noire that will be exclusive to Craft beer delivery service The Brew Box coming out soon. If you want to know what its like, I was lucky enough to get a bottle from Beer Saint Mike (Kanobi2000 on IG) and enjoyed it with relish. Review as always on my IG, Drunk Polkaroo So many more choices awaited and I ventured off to explore even more.

Two beauties right here.

It did seem every time I turned around, more friends, new and old, came into my path. Fellow beer writer Don Redmond (Check out his blog here) was already there with his pal from BC, Liz. His infectious joy at all things craft and his ever present smile made the start to my evening go up over the top and it was only 7:30. We haven't been able to spend a lot of time outside of our online friendship so it was wonderful to be able to actually talk beer with one of my favourite beer bloggers.

Great beer minds think and apparently dress alike! Donny is the best!

Moving a little forward into the brewery, past the bright tanks and fodder, I encountered my old friend from Innocente Brewing, Craig, manning the casks of strawberry Conscience and a Peach Hefe. The nose on the Conscience was so full of the berry and it was a pleasant way to enjoy a great IPA. Hefe with peach is a great idea and one I might bring to the table for our next homebrew project.

These two were spot on. Innocente does things right!

As always, I encountered even more friends and for the first time came face to face with Danielle (Fiona Face on IG) and fellow beer geek Brett, whose IFindBeerEnjoyable Instagram is full of the most amazing pictures of Craft beer. Meeting in the real world, I was immediately drawn in by their pure happiness and smiling faces. So wonderful that the people I meet are exactly like they are online and  I cannot wait to head up north in the fall to spend some real quality time with these two fine folks.

The beer was awesome, but these two were even better. Raising glasses and friendship in the barrel room.

 Someone who I had been lucky enough to spend a little time with before, Robin (BeerCoreDroid on IG) is another explorer of the world of craft. His palate is one of the best I've encountered and we keep trying to make plans for a collaboration homebrew. It will happen and it will be delicious. He also had the Beer Saint moment of the night when he dropped 2 bottles of Halo Brewing's beer into my hands as well as a whale of a beer in Oskar Blues Ten Fidy. I can't tell you how overwhelmed I still am by his generosity and cannot wait to raise a few next month with my good friend.

The man who has taken being a Beer Saint to a whole other level.

Onward into the night we travelled and when I saw that Ash Ritchie (loads of great pics of her Insta here) had arrived I was so happy. I haven't had much time to chat with her lately and she is recovering from a rather nasty bout with something that knocked her out of commission for a while. She was back to to her old self Friday night and it was my pleasure to be able to spend time with this positive force in the craft beer world.

The undefeatable Ash Ritchie.

What night out would be complete without some time spent with two of our first friends made in craft beer, Joan and Steven (CraftBeerandBacon on IG). We have raised pints and shared meals with these amazing people, talked late into the night and traded our favourite beers. They were the inspiration for Beer Saints and continue to be two of my favourite people whom I've had the pleasure of getting to know.

Four beer friends reunite and all is right with the world

We didn't come alone to Cameron's as my decade long beer drinking pal Brett (WobbleyMoose on IG) and his pregnant wife and DD Leanne joined us. They've been there for the hell of macro over consumption and with their world about to change forever, I am glad the light has dawned and I am here to see it happen. We may grow old, but never apart

We don't get wobbley much anymore, but better beer makes us smile!

 What night out would be complete without the lovely Kat by my side. As Mrs. Polkaroo, she is the perfect companion to my travels and it is a great joy for me to watch her try new beers. It might get a little more expensive on my beer runs as she is coming to love so many more craft beers. She's my anchor in the storm and these events are even better when she is with me.

 

All smiles and with Kat by my side, there isn't anything more I need in the world.

 There were so many more beer friends that we ran into but of course I am a talker and not a photographer, so I will try to catch you all at the next event for a picture. Big thank you again to the people who work at Cameron's. From owner and president Bill Coleman and his passion for making great beer to the guys and gals working the front and back, you made my night with this one. Truth be told, the rebrand, new beers and direction taken by this 19 year old brewery speaks volumes about all of you. I can't wait to see what the celebrations are going to bring when you turn 20 next year. You know the Instagram crew will be there, cheering and drinking with you as we raise pints to one of the finest Ontario Craft beer brewers out there.

Cheers!

 

Raise your glass and your standards with great beer and people at Cameron's Brewing Cask Night!

Beer of the Week - January 31st to February 6th

Sunday morning is usually a slow burn for us here at the Polkaroo manor. I work almost every weekend, but usually close the store on Sundays, so I don't have to be at work until noon. This week is the exception to that rule as it is the busiest day of the year for us in the food service industry, Super Bowl Sunday. So many damn chicken wings to cook. It's a great day for me, to be honest, and I look forward to it all year.
This week, I talked about low ABV (alcohol by volume) beers that will allow you to have a few without getting hammered while watching the big game and having to deal with the hangover the next day at work. I have many of them in my fridge chilling right now for when I get home from work and look forward to enjoying the spectacle. I was not really surprised then when it was a low alcohol beer that caught my eye and taste buds.
It is a recurring theme on my blog that I have really come to enjoy stouts and this week I had two that were just outstanding. First up was my 2014 Amsterdam Brewing Tempest Imperial Stout. I bought two of these last year and was disciplined enough to actually age one for 15 months in my cold cellar. It was an amazing beer that really smoothed out with aging and I noticed some more nuances in the flavour profile had changed since I first tried it. The only disappointment was that they no longer are making this, so I cannot buy the 2015 version to age and compare. Hopefully it will make a comeback in 2016.
My other standout stout is my choice for Beer of the Week (BOW) for a variety of reasons. Hailing from one of my favourite breweries, Beau's All Natural Brewing Company, The Tom Green Stout is a wonderfully put together beer that has found its way into my heart. It is a milk stout, and the organic lactose and oats make for a real creamy mouthfeel. Fantastic dark colour with a thick tan head.  It has a bitter coffee bean smell and flavour that doesn't quit. A chocolate note comes on nicely in the middle, while the finish is dry, hoppy and outstanding. The roasted malt flavours are so damn delectable that I went out the next day and grabbed a couple more to keep on hand for a treat.It is only a 5.0% ABV, so despite its big flavour, it is a sessionable stout. Usually this style is a little bigger in the alcohol department, so it is nice to find one that is so crushable.
It feels like I am constantly praising Beau's for their beers and it is with good cause. they keep coming out with innovative and different approaches to new and old styles. This week I had three different beers from their menu and each one was fantastic. The Bogwater (a Gruit) and Grisette (Belgian Style Ale) were great examples of what a brewery can do if they let their brew master's imaginations take hold and create something out of the ordinary.
 So it is without trepidation that I congratulate Beau's for yet another BOW and hope you can get your hands on The Tom Green Beer so that you can see what a fine brew it really is. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
Cheers!


Super Bowl Beers

The big day is fast approaching. You've got your nachos, pizza, wings and assorted bowls of snack foods prepared to go. Friends and family will gather round the glow of your big screen and take part in an American ritual older than me. I'm of course talking about the Super Bowl and all that it entails. This year is the 50th version of the NFL Championship and it seems to get bigger every year. It doesn't matter if you are a football fan or not, most people know of the game and many have some sort of party that involves food and of course, beer.

But there is a catch to all this fun. It is on Sunday. That means work the next day for the vast majority of people and if you're like me, you do not want to spend Monday fighting a hangover for 8 plus hours. So it is with that in mind that I bring you some suggestions to help you enjoy the game with some great beer that won't leave you hanging the next day.

I have been evolving on what I bring with me when I go to a party or event. I went way too big and robust on New Year's Eve and even with moderation had a bit of a headache the next day. My subsequent revisions of my travelling beer list has helped to alleviate this problem. I would advise you to avoid anything Imperial or above 7% ABV. When you get to having a good time, sometimes you forget that those big boozy bastards can pack quite a hidden punch.

I'm thinking lower ABV, but not lower taste. You don't need crazy high alcohol to enjoy great flavour and what better way to celebrate the end of the gridiron season than with some fine Canadian Craft beer. I'll give you some different styles so you can mix it up and have something for everyone. All of these should be easily available at your local LCBO, so get shopping now and chill these babies for Sunday. If you'd like to see these and some other great choices, go check out my YouTube channel, for my weekly video post. This week is all about choices in your beer for Super Bowl.

Lagers

What we think of as regular beers. If you have someone who drinks Coors or Canadian, give them one of these. They have all natural ingredients, great flavour and even better, they are lower in ABV.



1. 416 Local Lager - Amsterdam Brewing Company (4.16%) Clean, crisp Lager.
2. Craft Lager - Muskoka Brewing Company (4.8%) - Unfiltered, cloudy. Malty.
3. Anti-Gravity - Flying Monkeys Brewery (4%) - Full bodied.
4. Tennent's - Caledonian Brewery (4%) - Scottish. Malt and floral notes.
5. Dark 266 - Cameron's Brewing (4.5%) -Black Lager

American Pale Ales

These beers have a little more in the hoppy department. Not crazy big, but definitely a change from the everyday.



1. Naughty Neighbour (4.9%) - Nickel Brook Brewing - Classic APA with citrus and malt.
2. Canadian Pale Ale (4.9%) - Old Tomorrow Brewing - Mango and citrus front, ready caramel back.
3. Cruiser Pale Ale (4.9%) - Amsterdam Brewing Company - Pineapple, grapefruit and malt again. Crushable.

English Pale Ales

Getting a little more bready and biscuit flavours. More toasted malts than bitter hops. Smooth.



1. Pompous Ass Ale (4.2%) - Great Lakes Brewing - My go-to brew. Crisp and slightly bitter.
2. Special Pale Ale (4.5%) -Wellington Brewery - A little hoppy, but great malt and accessible.

Amber Ales

Get some red love in your life. Sweeter with almost no bitterness.

1. Grindstone (4.8%) - Broadhead Brewing - A slight bitter to go with the sweet.
2. Amber (4.25%) - Hockley Valley Brewing - Smooth and clean. Easy drinking.

IPA

Get your hops on without getting crazy drunk. Bitter, piney and citrus coming at you.

1. Red Racer ISA (4%) - Central City - Light and fruity with citrus and malt back.
2. Genius of Suburbia (3.8%) - Flying Monkeys Brewery - Piney. Strong citrus up front. Drinks bigger than it is.
3. Detour (4.3%) - Muskoka Brewing - Fruity and hoppy.
4. State of Mind (4.4%) - Collective Arts - Citrus, resin and pine. Dry Finish.

Blonde Ale

Blondes do have more fun if you like a little orange and lemon in your brews.

1. 100 (4.2%) - Hockley Valley Brewing - Hints of lemon. Light and crisp.
2. Cause & Effect (4.7%) - Nickel Brook Brewing - A little hoppy with a clean citrus flavour.
3. Saint of Circumstance (4.7%) - Collective Arts Brewing - Cloudy. lemon and orange with some zing.

Grab Bag of Styles

Three more that are low ABV and give you some different options.

1. Newcastle Brown Ale (4.7%) - John Smiths - English. Nutty, lightly malted
2. French Press Vanilla Stout (4.8%) - Double Trouble Brewing - Chocolate, vanilla, coffee. Tastes bigger than it is.
3. Steamwhistle (5%) - Steamwhistle Brewing - Pilsner. Grassy and floral. Crisp and clean tasting.

There you have it. I think having some different beers for the night makes it a little more fun. I rarely drink two of the same brew when I watch the game because I really like to experience a bunch of flavours and it helps me to slow down a bit so I can actually be coherent and enjoy the spectacle. So plan ahead, get something you haven't had before and try to give your guests something out of the ordinary.

As always, please don't drink and drive and be sure to have options for your friends to stay over or take a cab home. No one wants to be remembered for being a jackass and driving while intoxicated is probably the stupidest thing you can do. Stay safe and enjoy the party.

Cheers!



The Ritual

I think one thing that I have gained from exploring all that good beer has to offer is that I no longer desire or need to get blackout drunk. I might sound like a broken record, but Craft beer may have saved my life. This is a subject I keep coming back to again and again as I write because it is so important to me. It is always hovering in the background and I have no doubt that if it weren't for some self control and of course, delicious Craft beer, I would fall off into the abyss again.

It is with this in mind that I want to pause my day for a moment to discuss The Ritual.

I think we all have some sort of routine we fall into for anything we do, brushing your teeth, cleaning the house or car or even getting ready for bed. These things are mindless activities that we go through every day and for the most past they occur without any real forethought. I used to drink macro beer with the same approach. My only concern was with having enough and getting it as cheap as possible. Growing as a person and coming to the realisation that I could do better than I was has created a lot of change in my life and part of that is how I approach beer and life in general.

I like to call my approach The Ritual and it helps me to be fully present in the moment for the purpose of gaining all the experience I can from anything I do. With beer, it begins when I choose what to drink. I have an array of beer in my cold cellar and fridge and often take a bit of time to consider my choices. What am I feeling? What do I want from my beer tonight? Am I enjoying the game, someones' company or is it a quiet night just sipping and reading? All of these things play in my head as I scan the bottles and cans before me. It was easier to just grab an Old Mil and get plastered, but hey, I am trying to grow here.  A lot of times, I will latch on to a theme, like a particular region or country or perhaps a  style like a stout or pilsner and ride that for the evening. Other nights see me choosing a beer I have seen popping up all over Instagram or Untappd. It is not so much falling prey to advertising, as it is reading what others I trust write about the beer and wanting to try it myself. 

I always consider the proper and recommended temperature for serving the beer when choosing. Often I need to bring a beer out 30 minutes or so before drinking it in the case of a stout and warm it a bit if I need to. Check with the brewers website or someone you trust for advice based on the style you want to consume. Macro lagers must be drunk ice cold because that is the only way you can avoid any flavour issues they have as they warm.

Once a beer has been chosen, it is my next step to get the glass I want to use and rinse it out. I have harped on this subject as well and I cannot drink out of the bottle or can anymore unless I am forced to by circumstance. I always drink some water before I have my beer, as well as between brews to help cleanse my palate, slow myself down and fill me up. Not a bad idea.

The Pour is maybe the best thing about beer after the taste. The moment when you pop the top, crack the can or twist off the cork begin a cascade of events that lead to the first sip. The sound of opening a beer turns my head and heightens my other senses. I know what is to come. Tilting the glass in front of me, I begin delivering its contents forward. Slowly and deliberately, it is almost a religious experience. As it fills the vessel, I begin to straighten it up and the head, be it thick and bubbly, or thin and ethereal, begins to form. The aromas can make you salivate sometimes. I love it when a beer announces itself as soon as you open it and often it really explodes as you get it into your chosen glassware.

I always take a moment when the Perfect pour is done and consider what the beer looks like. Hold it up to the light and pause for a bit. You can start to tell the character of the beer by its how it looks. Is it thick and dark with a large head? Thin and straw coloured with a foam that just sits on the rim? An amber? Cloudy? So many things can come into play when you take the visual impact of a beer into account. But you must always approach with an open mind as appearances can be deceiving. I have been surprised plenty of times when a beer looks like one style and delivers a knockout flavour I wasn't expecting. I recently had a Farmhouse Ale called Biere de Noel from Niagara Oast House Brewers that poured black with a thick tan head, but it delivered a saison like orange peel, the spices of a winter warmer and a hint of roasted malt chocolate flavour. Great discoveries in beer take all the senses into account.

Only a small step left before the grand finale. Smell your beer. Give it swirl, get in there and sniff. The main reason I hate drinking from the bottle or can is that I miss a lot of what I was intended to receive when the brew master conceived the brew. The sense of smell tells you so much about what you are about to experience and why you would want to miss that by bypassing the aroma is beyond me. Especially with the stouts and porters. They can transport you to distant places with their thick heavy smells of roasted malts, coffee and spices. Other, lighter beers can have floral notes, grassy takes and fruits, even banana. I wouldn't have known that I was supposed to slow down and smell my beer from my previous experience with beers like Brava Light, as those are meant to be consumed quickly, not savoured and enjoyed.

Finally the time has come for the final step in The Ritual.

 The Sip.

I call it that and always begin my flavour descriptions with the phrase "On the sip" because that is what I want to do. You should too. Take a sip, swirl it around. Let it play on your taste buds. Often times when I take that first sip and begin to feel the brews notes expand I am surprised by what appears. There are a myriad of flavours in any beer and it is up to you if you experience them. Quickly downing beer after beer will get you nothing but drunk. Stop and consider what you have in your glass and savour the whole experience. I get the need to just pound beers one after the other, I really do. But it is in the slowing down and deliberately giving in to the beer with all your sense that you truly open yourself up to new and wonderful things. I have travelled the world through my beer and it is that kind of thing that has led me to this point. There are so many different styles and sub styles and even smaller niches that I don't think I could do them justice in one lifetime. The discovery of a flavour that you never considered before in a beer can be eye opening, as it was for me with English pale ales and their bready, caramel and nutty flavours. I never thought I would crave that kind of thing, but I never pass up a chance to grab one and enjoy that combination of tastes and many more. 

The drinking of my beer is always a singular experience for me. If I am going to a party or dinner, I always choose something I have had before. I want to be there for the experience of the event, not trying to make notes or take pictures about the beer. I touched on that last week and work very hard to pair the beer I drink with what I am doing. When I am chilling with my wife or alone, I always try to get new beer or two and just really enjoy them. Every beer deserves your attention because if you are not going to get all that it has in it, why bother. Get a case of Coors Light and get lit up. Even a brew that you don't like can tell you something and it is often by revisiting a style I didn't like at first that I am most surprised. IPAs, saisons and stouts are prime examples of beer types I struggled with when I first began my journey, but now clamour for on a nightly basis.

So please take the time tonight to slow down a bit. Open your senses to what is before you and really give your beer proper consideration. Explore something new and try something different. You will be surprised at how much you can learn just by letting yourself become immersed in that beer you have in front of you and shutting everything else out.

I know I will.

Cheers.

So Damn Good!


As always, check out my Facebook Page for links to my videos and other great stuff.

Treat your Beer Right. Put it in a Glass!

That looks delicious!

Do me a favour, won't you? Put your beer in a glass. It's not hard and you will thank me for it. I can do it for you or show you how if you are unfamiliar with the process. It's not that I want to be "that" guy, but you are really missing out. Beer is not just meant to be tasted, it is meant to be smelt, felt and dealt. By that I mean smell the aroma, feel the texture and deal with the flavours as they come. Don't force yourself to decide your love or hatred for a particular beer based on one sip. Relax and enjoy the journey.

One of my first posts was about whether the glass you use to drink beer matters, check it out here. It was a pretty simplistic view of what a proper beer glass means but had one central theme : Don't miss out on the wonderful aromas that the brewers intended you to have as a component of the beer by chugging it straight from the can or bottle.

If your having a Macro lager like Coors or Canadian and all you are after is a little refreshment or that sweet oblivion that only many beers can bring, you should ignore what I am saying and keep tilting them back. Maybe shotgun one and speed up the process. These beers are only "good" if they are served ice cold and flavourless. The less time you spend trying desperately to find some flavour, the better.

However, if you are like me and really want to get into your beer, grab a glass, something clean and big enough to hold your beer. Try to avoid novelty glasses or plastic. They will do in a pinch, but for best results a  glass appropriate to the style is best.  If you can find all six of the glasses below, you have all you need to really drink your beer. They are available at the Bay here in Canada and while they are not cheap, I love them for drinking beer. German glass maker Spiegelau has teamed up with well known brewers to design glasses that are ideal for every style of beer from IPA to Stout. Here's the link to the glasses available online here.

I hope someone got to drink all those beers.

I only have the IPA glass on the far right so far, but am anxiously saving money to get all of them. They'll run you $29.99 for two of each, so you are paying a little more for the quality. The glass feels thin but they are quite sturdy despite that delicateness. I am not gentle by any means and they stand up to a night of citrusy Pale Ales very well. I think it is the fact that they are designed with brew masters that makes them perfect. These guys get what you need when you want a beer, so they really tried to help deliver the whole package in a glass.

If you don't want to spend more than $200 on beer glasses, then any pint glass will cover 90% of your needs. I have several that I love to use on a regular basis and would encourage you to get a couple that you can really hold on to as you drink your beer. If it feels good in your hand, the vessel becomes an extension of you. I am not conscious of the glass when I drink my beer if it feels right and that is fantastic. Nothing should get between you and that delicious lager or ale you have been waiting to try all day.

I have an cabinet built into the wall of my basement and it acts like a cold cellar. This is where I store my glasses until I need one. I always rinse it out before I use it to ensure there is no dust or residue left from washing. A clean glass is imperative for a good pour. Tilting your glass at a 45 degree angle as you start the pour will allow the beer to flow without building up a crazy huge head that, for the most part, you don't want. As you pass the halfway mark, start straightening your glass, this will help create the right amount of head and really release the aromas. Pour at a slow pace to start, there is no hurrying a good brew. Not all beers have a head that lingers. Depending on the style you will see very different results. My Saison last night had a big 2 finger foamy head that lasted the whole time I drank it, but the Barking Squirrel lager I drank after was just a thin off white one that dissipated quickly to the rim. There is nothing better for me than the creamy thick head a stout gives you. It adds to the complexity of the brew and it looks cool too.

Take a moment when you have poured your beer to admire how it looks. Damn that's nice. Give the beer a sniff and a sip. Dig into your senses and use them to really experience the whole beer. Swirl it around (gently, don't spill) and give it another smell. You will get something every time and as your beer warms up, the flavours will change too. Sometimes becoming stronger or weaker depending on what you have. I am always surprised as new notes emerge and combine to create something special.

But do this one small thing.

 Pour your beer into a glass.

 It's worth it every time.

Cheers!

Saisons are still growing on me.
But Dougie will always be my favourite!



Polka Dot Awards 2015 #3 - Long Dark Voyage to Uranus

Just something about the name makes me smile.

Long ago, in the barren macro lager land of the Drunk Polkaroo's past lies a sad little truth. I never understood what it meant to drink good beer. Anything but the coldest, flavourless lager would chase me from the table and make me hide behind my tall boy of Old Milwaukee.

Moving my taste buds away from not feeling anything at all through drinking better beer led me to discover how much I love the dark stouts of Winter. So many flavours, textures and combinations of ingredients make for some amazing beers. This might be one of the best. Not to mention, what a name!

Gravenhurst, Ontario brewer Sawdust City makes many good beers, but I looked forward to no beer more than the return of Long, Dark Voyage to Uranus. I bought the beer for the wacky name and wanted it again because of what was inside. I rarely quote the blurbs found on the beer I drink, preferring to craft my own not so eloquent description and I will, but this is too much to pass up

"What's in a name? Uranus by any other name would smell so sweet. That was written many eons ago by Toftorg Golshop, Ruler of the Third Empire of Uranus on one of his many voyages to earth (it was stolen and re-written by "you know who" sometime later).
And while on earth for one of those trips, Toftorg grew fond of the rich, robust stouts of Northern England. Designed to withstand the grueling intergalactic voyage from Earth to Uranus, "Long, Dark Voyage" is a Uranal Stout of the highest order. Ass puckeringly bitter and dry as a bone, this dark chocolate treat is quite dangerous and can sneak up on you from behind if you don't keep your wits about you. You've been warned! "

I mean, come one. Who doesn't want to try this seasonal beer after that.

Pours thick as motor oil, with an impenetrable black colour and a creamy bronze head. Smells like dark chocolate. Tip the glass back and get a thick mouthfeel that cascades coffee, bittersweet chocolate and roasted barley malt. Hint of caramel and licorice add to the complexity of the darkness. Driest stout I've ever had and the finish is a great bitter punch that leaves you wanting more. At 9.5% ABV and 60 IBUs, this isn't a beer for the weak of heart.

This brew was the first time in my life I waited for a beer to come back. I never knew that such a thing as seasonality existed when it came to malted barley and hops. Learning the patterns and tastes of each season really is a treat and I appreciate what they bring as the world turns. These dark, high alcohol beers are perfect for the long cold winter here in Canada. they warm you up and give you a healthy glow as we hibernate and wait for the first light of spring.

I am in love with this beer and have one set aside for next year to age as well as one in the fridge for New Year's Eve. Nothing but great beers that night.

Congratulations Sawdust City and Long Dark Voyage to Uranus on your Polkie win!

Cheers and let's go exploring!

Seems like these guys should get together and make a beer.
I know, sometimes it's like I'm 12.



Polka Dot Awards 2015 #6 - Coast to Coastless

Jinx makes her feelings known about beer. She loves to watch me drink it.
As long as I have treats for her.

There are times in my life when I wish I could go back and smack myself around for stupid things. Dismissing the Flying Monkeys Brewery out of Barrie as a crazy pine tree obsessed beer maker was one of them.
When I turned forty a few years ago, my friends threw me a Roast and it was awesome. One of my cousins brought me Hoptical Illusion from these guys and I couldn't stomach it. Too bitter and piney I cried. So misinformed, so dumb. Oh the beers I've missed.

I no longer make that mistake and have actively sought to correct my mistakes. This brewery makes some really fine beers and is not afraid to push the boundaries in reimagining old styles. This year I bought Chocolate Manifesto and was blown away at how amazing it was. This beer was even better.

Coast to Coastless is a collaboration beer between four Canadian craft Brewers : Flying Monkeys, Trou Du Diable, Phillips Brewing and Garrison Brewing. I am just getting into these colab-beers and finding them fantastic.

Billed as an Imperial Extra Special Bitter, I was already drooling before I popped the top. I love that style of beer and getting a bigger, bolder version sounded awesome.

 Pours a beautiful amber colour with a thick foamy head. The toasted malty, bread, caramel explodes in.the first sip and keeps getting better. At 7.6 % ABV, it is a warming up the body beer for sure, but not boozy at all. It is like a warm fireplace that just makes you feel all cozy and right with the world. 

I really love  when a beer transcends what I expect into something beautiful. This one goes in that category.
 I managed to find another one and have added it to the queue for New Year's Eve. It is sure to remind me that giving someone a second chance is just as important as doing the same with a brewery! Run out to the LCBO and get one before they are gone, you wont be disappointed.
On the subject of the LCBO, do yourself a favour and download their App for your phone. It is great for finding this or any other brew with a keyword search. Easy to use and it helps locate the closest store to you with how much they have in stock and the cost.
Find out all about it here LCBO Phone App.
Cheers to Flying Monkeys and their inclusion in the Polkies. Well earned and this is one brewery I won't pass up again when I see something new from them.
Cups up b'yes!