The Ten : 2023

 

  The Return of The Ten is all about the most memorable pints I've had from the last year...to put it in it's most simple terms. 

  It's not just about the highest rated beers, that's more about style notes, composition and flavour. The Ten transcends just that simple construct and represents something more intangible and harder to define. It's about the experience the beer delivers, the time and space it occupies in your life when you find it, and the pure joy you feel when that first sip hit your lips. It is about how you can recall it, even months or years later, how you can sense it is deeper than a pint or two. Alone or with friends, beer can be so much more than just a way to relax or decompress. It is social lubricant for some, courage for others, a sense of quiet contemplation and joyous realization can be found at the most unexpected of times. The Ten is about so much more than what is in our glasses, it is about taking a snapshot of life at a point of happiness and finding that it lasts forever because it's impact goes beyond just the contents of a can or bottle.

  To me, The Ten represents the very best of everything beer can be. Far beyond what I will ever understand, writing and talking about the pints I have everyday has changed me as a person. It has seen me through perhaps the most difficult time in my life, a decade of struggle and triumph, where I am still trying to both understand what happened and make a path to a future where I can be better than I am today. It is about paying homage to things that bring me joy, cause me to pause and listen to the quiet part of my mind that wishes for nothing more than peace and love in a world bent on destroying that in us all. It is about tapping the core of who I am and letting the beer bring it out, to stand up and find something to cheer about and be thankful that I crossed paths with. Stepping away from it, taking the long look back and knowing that I have these 10 moments shining bright for me whenever I need them most.

 

10. Great Lakes Brewery Premium Lager (August 12th)

  There is always a time when the only thing you want is a beer that tastes like a damn beer. A lager is, to me, one of the simplest yet most complex beers to both brew and talk about. It leaves no room for error, nowhere to hide and trying to describe such a delicate balance is always a tough one. 

  Great Lakes makes this all seem so easy....genius.

  Their Premium Lager is not just an amazingly low priced option at $50 for a Two-four, it is a most excellent example of the patience, effort and dedication to the style, a refreshing and crisp lager that delivers all you need, when you need it and never relents in quality. 

  Highly recommend to have on hand always, not just because you may have someone visiting who doesn't like anything adventurous, but because it is truly one of the finest lagers in the land and there are days when that is exactly what you need in your life.

What I said then:

Good deal, great Lager!

Great Lakes Brewery 5% Premium Lager brings a lovely beer that tastes like a damn beer to the party and at only $50 for a 24 of tall boys, it's a no-brainer to have this in your fridge all year round. It's just a solid pint, simple grainy malt back, light citrus and grass notes, bitter as it should be, refreshing and on point 

The tunes are loud, the beer is flowing, and Saturday night is just beginning! Cheers! 5/5 (Pure Lager Gold!)

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/WX-H4czPNMQ?si=CH9fYObqNZZrh_pU

9. Bellwoods Brewery Quadruple Ratclops Quadruple IPA (January 27th)

  There are some really big memories in my beer life that I will carry with me until they turn out the taproom lights. Things I've been able to do, places I've visited and of course, beers I've drank. For me, Bellwoods Brewery will always be a huge part of what drove me to do what I do to this day when it comes to talking about beer. They have been mythical almost since I started this weird trip around the hops and continue to deliver amazing things every time I get them back here. 

  From my first trip to their flagship Ossington location and that very first sip of Roman Candle to the mixed fermentation experiments and ridiculously huge IPAs and barrel aged stouts, it has been a joy to experience it and never lose that initial awe at what they bring every time. This Quad IPA took me to new heights in early 2023 and despite that 11.5% ABV, it was just as smooth and fully integrated as any regular IPA. It was a tropical fruit salad medley that seemed more sublime with every sip and continued my love of all things Bellwoods. A beer for the ages and a reminder that boldness is always a good choice.

What I said then :

\Because I could not resist....

Bellwoods Brewery 11.5% Quadruple Ratclops Quadruple IPA dropped yesterday, and you knew I was gonna order it because of course I was. Big fan of Triple Ratclops from the summer, this behemoth one-upper has juiced up mango, pineapple, lemon, lime and a danky dank back with a little heat, but oh so damn smooth....it's gonna get me in trouble when I pop the top on number two....beauty! Cheers! 4.8/5

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/xIF5PeuHJKI?si=5yzdNz7E1hnI1HsM

8. Clifford Brewing Nitro Porter (March 9th)

  One of the best things to happen when it comes to local beer is when Brad Clifford decided to open his brewery about 10 minutes from my house. I had long been a fan of his no nonsense, to-style brewing process and having it available even closer to home was a blessing for this hometown supporting beer guy.  The award winning Porter has been a staple in this house for years and when they released this Nitro version in early March, I fell in love all over again with this dark beauty. Bringing that silky smooth feel to an already rich pint, the pour hard part and watching the cascade flow brought fun to a day that needed it. It strikes me as odd that we don't have more fun beers like this, a little out of the ordinary and still maintaining that incredibly high standard all Clifford beers must meet. Having this made my day and I still love watching those bubbles slide up into a rich, silky smooth head. 

Brilliant.

What I said then : 

Got that smooth feeling on a sunny Thursday afternoon thanks to Clifford Brewing Nitro Porter! The classic, award winning 5.5% Porter is made even better, if that's possible, with the addition of the Nitro. Big chocolate notes, coffee, and roasty notes hut in a richer, fuller body. It's absolutely a brilliant idea to Jack up this already amazing pint. Get some now, it won't last long! Cheers! 4.8/5

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/ik9skbATIDQ?si=Omq1-cEu8inzCWXR

7. Anderson Craft Ales 3X IPA (April 18th)

  There are few breweries I trust more than Anderson Craft Ales. They label their beers exactly what they are in the most straightforward way possible and then deliver on that promise with grace and style. So when I saw this bold 3x Triple IPA hit their online offerings, I had to have it. I called it an intelligent beer, a big, bold and bitter pint that finds all the best things about West Coasts IPAs and jacks it all the way up. These beers are so easy to over do and tasting Anderson shows that it can be done right, but must be done with care and precision. Integrating all aspects of the flavour, malt and texture is as much science as magic and they did that here. A truly memorable moment in a year that was hurtling toward more change for me. I always have room for Anderson in my fridge, they have been nothing less than world class since the very beginning.

What I said then :

For almost 7 years, I have been an unabashed fan of all things Anderson Craft Ales.

While they may not pour often here in my glass, whenever I encounter them, I am blown away by the quality and attention to detail this London Brewery puts into every beer they release. When I saw they were dropping a Triple IPA... you know I wasn't missing this...

The 10.8% 3x IPA is one of the finest I've found in all my years. It is bold, hopped up, and boozy in all the right ways. The body is smooth  and full, barely containing the bright citrus pith and resinous pine, a bitter finish that grabs your attention and never let's go, lingering warm, a work of art from first sip to last. It has the hallmarks of classic American West Coast IPAs, it is unafraid to be what it is, aggressive but balanced in all things, it is something to behold. It is not to be missed, tying past and present to a future of pure bliss...

Cheers! 5/5

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/l-9-yNajcc0?si=ZOx6iEMClNKdLfcI

6. Barncat Artisan Ales Barrel-aged Rat Queen Imperial Stout (December 5th)

  This one was a bittersweet moment and gave me pause as I said goodbye to one of the best breweries in Ontario in 2023. Having been self employed for many years myself, this beautifully crafted Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial stout let me simply contemplate part of that life journey I took and the years that have followed. Matt and Jeremy made some complex beers, from weird mixed fermentation to some of the juiciest IPAs you could imagine, but for me, this final Barncat pint also let me let go of some of the deep anger I was holding for myself for my perceived failure in life and business. Even as I have seemingly found the right job at the right time, past darkness always lurks and holds me back. I discovered some peace after deep diving and slow sipping this final Rat Queen, I let a little of that past go, finding solace in a rich experience with some folks who had found that same dream coming to an end. 

  Whatever the circumstance, the memory of this and many other great beers will carry their name long past their end.

What I said then : 

Tonight was a bittersweet one as Beer Advent Day 5 finds the 11.5% 2021 Barncat Artisan Ales Barrel-aged Rat Queen Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout hit my glass and with it I say goodbye to them and ponder my own days of self employment and that loss a decade ago. While the story of Barncat ending this year is a sad moment for great beer, being able to say goodbye properly with this behemoth is a fitting send off to a year that continues to see dreams come to an end across the province and beyond. Being a small business owner is never easy, I did it for 14 years and let me tell you, when it came to an end after years of struggle, it was almost a relief, but the bills still had to get paid and onward I went, deep into the darkness that surrounded me for years until I started resurfacing and now find a happy moment where I feel finally free...it's been a trip.

The beer proves worthy of the Barncat legacy, rich and heavy with huge chocolate vanilla and oak, warming boozy Bourbon, and lingering roasted malt notes that never leave you. It's huge, I'm slow sipping as much as I can, savouring the final drop and being thankful for all that was from this amazing brewery. Cheers! 5/5

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/J0u8kPQe9Mc?si=7JU19yDnFrmxuXDq

5. Meuse Brewing 2022 Tripel (March 3rd)

  I've always said that we should let beer make the day special and when Instagram pal Craft Beer Days reached out about helping him promote Tripel Day (March 3rd), I said absolutely, sign me up. He sent along a 4 pack of Ontario Tripels and one took my breath away and deserves all the praise I can give.

 Meuse is one of the most underrated breweries in the province, cranking out some incredible Belgian style beers every year with an eye to making these complex beers more accessible to the world. It is local beer made by a couple who cares about quality, using local ingredients whenever possible and chasing a dream that results in great things finding our glass every time. 

  This Tripel was the shining moment on this day, it still resonates almost a year later as the standout in a very well made up crowd. To be able to deliver such a high level ode to this style is no small feat and it reminds me of all those Belgian beers that forever changed my view on what beer could be. Meuse has been on The Ten before and I have no doubt that you will see them here again and again as the years pass, their work speaks for itself and I shall sing their praises as long as I have the voice to do so. 

What I said then : 

Every day may be a good day for a Tripel, but today, we get to celebrate this Belgian Style, and I'm all in!

Shout out to Craft Beer Days for the beer and the new shirt, #TripelDay hits its stride with the 9.0% Meuse Brewing Tripel, an effervescent addition to a wonderful day! Balanced through and through, clove and banana, bubblegum and citrus, peppery Coriander on the finish. Brilliance! #InternationalTripelDay is a beautiful thing! Cheers! 4.8/5

Video Review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/ks6iuyE8vYA?si=TpR4o_Nr16TofEhW

4. Third Moon Brewing Time Lords Doppelbock (February 2nd)

  To be completely truthful, this list could have been The Third Moon Ten and it still would have been near impossible to just pick 10. Out of the 133 beers they released in 2023, I was lucky enough to try 68 of them and there wasn't a single miss to be had. From Quintuiple IPAs to Pilsners, NEIPAs to huge Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts and everything in-between, Third Moon continued to shine brightly in everything they touched, a truly remarkable run from anyone in Ontario. It's only called hype if you can't deliver and they just kept amping up the level of their commitment to their loyal fans with each passing week. 

  But, having said that, it is this lager, from February, that I kept coming back to every time. The richness, the overwhelming sense of time that I felt from the very beginning of this one set up the rest of the year and all that came out of this Milton brewery. It showcased the depth of what Third Moon was and is capable of and forever etched into my mind this wonderful day.

What I said then : 

It's the Doppelbockiest!

Third Moon Beer Past Lords 9.2% Doppelbock is yet another example of how this Milton Brewery is beyond gold when it comes to any style you can throw at them...seriously...sweet baby jebus...

Big and rich, a thick rye breadiness, caramel and toffee, dark fruit, bitter but smooth, bold but balanced,  it's a helluva pint of awesome! 

Cheers! 4.8/5

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/hfKKl9If3_4?si=YzKlbKwU2kBjzN3Y

3. Barrel Heart Brewing Oubliette of Staves Aged Saison (March 27th)

  A lot of times, a new brewery needs some time to get their legs under them, work out all the kinks in the system and establish their identity and cement the quality of their offerings.

Barrel Heart Brewing in Ancaster needed none of that, instead rocketing out of the gate with their initial offerings and taking my day to new heights. This Aged Saison was like something out of a dream, a funky, beautiful dream. Complex Brett yeast brings nuance and adding the barrel aging lends some depth of character to an intense and emotional beer. It impacted me, the subtleness of each note coming together in a work of art writ bottled beer. It almost feels like each bottle would be it's own event and it gave me such deep experience that took me to another realm with ever sip. Spectacular stuff, I can still taste it like it was the first time. 

What I said then : 

This is transcendent....there is something real sublime, yet enticing is happening here...

Barrel Heart Brewing Oubliette of Staves is a 6.6% Aged Saison that serves as my introduction to the latest Brewery to open up here in the Hammer. Located in Ancaster, they focus solely on Barrel Aged beers, saisons to be more clear, and this is spectacular. It has that funk, but in a balanced, nuanced piece of pure art. Citrus, hay, spice, and oak come out, but I feel I do not do justice to what I'm experiencing. I'll take Ontario beer toe to toe with the world, and Barrel Heart is definitely another notch in that growing list of next level experience beers we have around us. 

Cheers! 5/5

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/oXVAIb152Dw?si=vsET7UnxiMjxZZNV

2. Third Moon Brewing, Sawdust City Brewing & Beertown Lone Tree West Coast IPA (March 30th)

  The anticipation of this 2nd collaboration between two of my favourite breweries and the Beertown restaurant chain was pretty high after their first one, Bone Pine, came out in late 2022. This collaboration and mash up of Third Moon's Bone Tree and Sawdust City's Lone Pine was a most auspicious idea that deserved all the love and more. The first iteration was excellent, the second, Lone Tree, was a slice of heaven, sublimely supreme all through the summer. It stuck around a lot longer than anticipated and I found myself grabbing another 4 or 8 pack every time I went to Third Moon, where it was brewed. It was such a wonderfully assertive beer, leaving no note unturned in search of perfection. It got better every time I tried it and the surprise of finding it so many times continued to take every day up another level.

What I said then :

The long wait is over, and the second collab between Third Moon Brewing, Sawdust City , and Beertown Public House is here, and it is glorious! Lone Tree is the 6.5% West Coast IPA that completes the mash up of Lone Pine and Bone Tree. This one drives that big, pithy citrus of Third Moon's flagship with the solid malt bill of Sawdust's legendary pint. Orange, melon, peach, and pine, bitter and hitting all the best spots in my brain. This is something you don't want to miss, you can find it on tap at Beertown as well, and you can get a flight with both collabs and the 2 core beers if you want a real treat. Cheers! 4.8/5

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/j1AyxhDKyqs?si=_itUVFiQS0ZfCQb6

1. Sawdust City Brewing Two Pad Stack Double West Coast IPA (November 12th)

  Was there any doubt?

  One of the best experiences in beer I've ever had was when Sawdust City Brewing came down to visit the Grotto oh so many years ago, cementing a friendship that continues to grow every time we head north and visit our pals in Gravenhurst. They make some of the best beers in the country and no style is too much for them to tackle and release with great anticipation and reception. 

  In 2022, we did a virtual collab of the first version of Two Pad Stack, as the lockdowns kept us home when it needed to be brewed. We did get to go up for canning day and enjoyed many pints when the beer finally hit the fridges at Sawdust City, but the 2023 version was on a whole other level and this memory will carry me to my final days.

  Sam Corbeil, Brewmaster, contacted me in late summer with the outrageous surprise that not only did they want o have us up for brew day on Two Pad 2.0, but that this time, our beer would be available across the province at the LCBO. My name on the back of the label and all, this old goalie was realizing a dream come true, double large. 

 The actual brew day was a whirlwind of activity and conversation. After finishing adding copious amounts of hops to the kettle, we were treated to an amazing meal from the Sawdust City kitchens and several staller cellar pulls as Sam regaled us with tales and the discussions flowed into the afternoon. It was a bucket list moment and when the beer was finally ready for release in  early November, it became something I'll never forget. Seeing my name on a beer in the wilds of the Ontario liquor store...priceless. 

\So, for all that and a 9% Double West Coast IPA that just makes you feel like you won the Stanley Cup, Sawdust City Two Pad Stack tops The Ten for 2023.

What I said then : 

Dreams can come true.

Whether you're a 14 year old house league goalie winning his only championship or a 50 year old beer drinking fan getting his name on a beer in the LCBO... big league stuff...haha.

Two Pad Stack West Coast IIPA returns and this 9% collab between @sawdustcitybeer and this guy is even better than last year. 

Hopped with Simcoe, Citra, Chinook, and Nectaron, this is a throwback to the big old hopped up IPAs we all fell in love with. Orange and grapefruit citrus pith, passionfruit, dank, resinous earthy pine with that Simcoe spice coming through the big malt back that brings a honey like feel to this slow sipping dream come true. It's gonna be in the fridge at the LC soon. If you can't wait, you can get it at The Sawdust City Saloon in Gravenhurst or delivered to your home now. My eternal thanks to my Sawdust family, this is beyond everything I ever thought possible. Forever a member of that northern fam...

Cheers! 5/5 (It feels like perfection every damn sip!)

Video review on YouTube : https://youtu.be/8F_RQwCx7Ys?si=NWPCWv3TJ7B5ZN95

  There you have it, The Ten of 2023. It wasn't easy whittling over 550 beers down to just this list, there were more than 50 that could have been inserted here and not been out of place. For me, it was great to return to writing and examining all that the previous year had to offer, hopefully inspiring me to bring more stories and commentary this year after a long time spent in the wilderness.

  Thank you for all your support, Polk loves ya!

Polk

January 14th, 2024

The 2019 Polkies - The List

  I used to stretch out my favourite beers of the year for days on end. By style, from dark and roasty to light and fruity, it was a labour of love and while I will still tell you what my favourites of each style were for 2019, I'll do it in one shot, right here and right now.
Let's go exploring!

Beer that tastes like a Damn Beer - Lagers, Pilsners
Lagers
1. Merit Brewing No Limit Dry American Lager
2. Wellington Brewery Helles Lager
3. Collective Arts Audio/Visual Lager
4. Great lakes Brewery Humber Helles Lager
5. Merit Brewing Wrong Tree Extra Lager

Pilsners
1. Fairweather Brewing Donna Pils
2. Tooth and Nail Brewing Vim and Vigor Pilsner
3. Anderson Craft Ales Summer Pilsner
4. Left Field Brewery Glorioso Italian style Pilsner
5. Barncat Artisan Ales Motueka Pilsner

Come to the Dark Side, we have Beer - Porters and Stouts
Porters
1. Clifford Brewing Porter
2. Great lakes Brewery Harry Porter and the Bourbon soaked Vanilla Bean
3. Collective Arts Brewing Stranger than Fiction
4. Big Rig Brewing Tales from the Patch Pumpkin Porter
5. Oskar Blues Death by Coconut

Barrel Aged Porters
1. Collective Arts Brewing 2019 Imperial Porter
2. Fairweather Brewing 2018 Wishing Well
3. Clifford Brewing 2019 Imperial Porter
4. Shacklands 2019 Brewing Belgian Porter
5. Collective Arts Brewing 2018 Imperial Porter

Stouts
1. Fairweather Brewing Madrugador
2. Merit Brewing Continental Breakfast
3. 5 Paddles Brewing Grim Reaper
4. Fairweather Brewing small hours
5. Calaboogie Brewing Brown Cow

Imperial Stouts
1. Wellington Brewery Imperial Russian Stout
2. Bellwoods Brewing Black Liquids Vol 2
3. Nickel Brook Brewing Bolshevik Bastard
4. Sawdust City Brewing Blood of Cthulhu
5. 5 Paddles Brewing Peanut Butter Godiva

Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts
1. Nickel Brook Brewing 2016 Kentucky Bastard (Bourbon)
2. Amsterdam Brewing 2018 Double Tempest (Whiskey)
3. Muddy York 2019 Inkwell (Cognac)
4. Left Field Brewery Blackburne (Bourbon)
5. Nickel Brook Brewing 2019 Café Del Bastardo (Bourbon)

All things good and hoppy - Pale ales, IPAs, DIPAs and more
Pale Ales
1. Fairweather Brewing Menagerie El Dorado
2. Great Lakes Brewery Canuck
3. Bench Brewing Jordan Harbour
4. Black Lab Brewing Sitting Pretty
5. Beau's All Natural Brewing Countdown

IPAs
1. Fairweather Brewing High Grade
2. Merit Brewing Young Rival
3. Badlands Brewing Marma
4. Great Lakes Brewing Karma Citra
5. Nickel Brook Brewing Headstock

DIPAs
1. Badlands Brewing August w/Galaxy and Sabro
2. Fairweather Brewing melange
3. Sawdust City Brewing Super Juicin'
4. Nickel Brook Brewing Brett IIPA
5. Dominion City Brewing/Sawdust City Brewing Numerals

TIPAs
 1. Barncat Artisan Ales Triple the Juice

Brut IPAs
1. Anderson Craft Ales Brut IPA
2. Nickel Brook Brewing In this Corner
3. Muskoka Brewery Rose Cheeks
4. Collective Arts Brewing IPA No 9
5. Shacklands Brewing Brut to the Head

Milkshake IPAs
1. Merit Brewing Weekends for Breakfast
2. Left Field Brewery WHIP
3. Bellwoods Brewing Pineapple Coconut Witchshark
4. Merit Brewing Cali Creamsicle
5. Stonehooker Brewing Mae West

NEIPAs
1. Great Lakes Brewery Thrust!...An IPA
2. Sawdust City Brewing Juicin'
3. Muddy York Brewing Working Hard Mosaic El Dorado
4. Great Lakes Brewery Furthermore...You forgot to mention Bigfoor
5. Nickel Brook Brewing Wicked Awesome

Belgian IPAs
1. Stonehooker Brewing Three Sheets
2. Shacklands Brewing Farmhouse IPA
3. Fairweather Brewing White Mystic
4. Black Bellows Brewing Himalaya
5. Beau's All Natural Brewing Wag the Wolf

Black IPAs
1. Great Lakes Brewing Apocalypse Later
2. Rainhard Brewing Nosebeeratu
3. Dominion City Brewing Melodie Noir
4. Barncat Artisan Ales Shadow Realm
5. Big Rig Brewing Release the Hounds

Session IPAs
1. Fairweather Brewing Forever Eva
2. Royal City Brewing Exhibition
3. Nickel Brook Brewing Lost in Orbit
4. Collective Arts Brewing Hazy State
5. Muddy York Brewing Switchboard

Sour IPAs
1. Fairweather Brewing Fairy Floss
2. Sawdust City Brewing The Morning of our Lives
3. Fairweather Brewing Window Seat
4. Shacklands Brewing Cosmic Trigger
5. Nickel Brook Brewing Zap!

Tart Puckers - Sour Ales
1. Fairweather Brewing beki (Mint/Raspberry)
2. Merit Brewing The Other Side
3. Collective Arts Brewing Blueberry Sour with cocoa nibs
4. Nickel Brook Brewing Uncertainty Principle No 4
5. Fairweather Brewing Gummy Venus

Farmhouse for Life - Saisons
1. Shacklands Brewing Saison Davenport
2. Sawdust City Brewing There's No Way of Knowing
3. Fairweather Brewing Aviary
4. Bench Brewing Henry
5. Sawdust City Brewing Princess Wears Girl Pants

Malty goodness - Red Ales
1. Sawdust City Brewing I, The Mountain and The Leprechaun
2. Royal City Brewing Remebrance
3. Cowbell Brewing Doc Perdue's Bobcat
4. Bobcaygeon Dockside
5. Cassel Brewing Lil Red Ale


The best of the Rest, styles that I had less than 5 examples of in 2019.
Berliner Weisse - Nickel Brook Brewing Passionfruit Uber
Best Bitter - Wellington Brewery Arkell
Black Lager - Silversmith Brewing The Black Lager
Blonde Ale - Collective Arts Brewing Lunch Money
Bock - Goodlot Farmstead Brewing Bock
Brown Ale - Wellington Brewery Good Buddy
Dark Ale - Goodlot Farmstead Brewing Dark Ale
Dubbel - Chimay Red
Dunkel - Stonehooker Brewing Dunk Tank
ESB - Beau's All Natural Brewing ESB
Belgian Golden Strong Ale - Clifford Brewing Marigold
Gose - Merit Brewing What Dreams may Come
Pumpkin Ale - Great Lakes Brewery Pumpkin Ale
Quad - Rochefort 10
Radler - Beau's All Natural Brewing Radler
Rye IPA - Redline Brewhouse Rainbow in the Dark
Tripel - Sawdust City/Nickel Brook Brewing 2016 11.05
Vienna Lager - Clifford Brewing Vienna
Wheat Ale - Sandwich Brewing Prairie Sunshine


Over 700 beers reviewed, these are my favourites. Next up, my annual countdown of The Ten, the 10 most memorable beers of 2019.

Cheers!
Polk

Golden Tap 2019 - A Polk Preview

It's all about the beer, the people who make it, drink it and love it and the places where we go to enjoy it. It is time for the only democratic, publicly voted beer awards in Ontario and I am stoked to see some changes and updates to this years Golden Tap Awards (click to go vote!) ((Vote Polk 2019)) categories. winning last year as Ontario's Best Beer Writer will long remain a highlight of my time spent in craft beer and was a truly special moment for a guy who had long since given up hope of writing about anything, let alone having people read and enjoy it. This year, The Bar Towel (Cass Enright) has tweaked the Golden Taps to better reflect the changing landscape of Ontario craft beer and I thought this would be the right time to delve into those changes and maybe help spread the word a little further so everyone can have their say and make their vote count.
Going down the list, their are so many amazing choices for each category and I have no doubt that the winners in each will be worthy of their fans support. In the end, it all comes down to real people writing in the names of their favourite people and places and that is the highest honour I can think of.
Off we go...

1. Best Brewery
  This one will break your heart eight times before you finally type in your answer. Serious consideration goes to your regular stops, the places you go to frequently because of proximity or sheer love. The other choices are those places you may have never actually set foot inside but you have either found their beer at an LCBO, had it delivered via Canada Post or maybe a beer saint brought you something so good, you can't get it out of your head. Choose wisely, your vote could be the one to send your favourite straight to the top. Want to help ensure a spot on the podium for your pick? Get your friends involved, launch a campaign, write a witty slogan!
2. Best Beer
  You thought Best Brewery was hard? Oh man, this one almost made me cry. One beer out of the thousands we pour into our glasses each year? Dang...I'm not going to lie, I wavered back and forth over 5 or 6 different beers of various styles and even after I picked one, I felt like I was choosing my favourite child. But choose we must and this one could be a one-off, seasonal or regular release core beer. Have your say, pick a beer and encourage others to join your cause!
3. Best Beer Bar or Restaurant
  As someone who infrequently goes out to eat or drink, this one was hard for me. There are a lot of really good and well curated tap and bottle lists out there that could be paired with wonderful food as well, you know where you like to go and this is your chance to get the word out about your hidden gems. The social aspect of food and beer should not be discounted as part of the overall experience of enjoying a pint, vote your heart.
4. Best Taproom/Brewpub
  This is another tough choice for anyone who has spent time in most of Ontario's breweries. They each have their charms, great beer and often people who bring out the best in all of us. I have found in my travels that the people working in a brewery's taproom can be a huge part of your loving or hating a certain beer. The personality of each brewery is defined as much by what they make as by the people who pour your pint and ring up your purchases. This award reflects that as much as the ambiance, beer and visual setup of each place you visit. Love one place so much that you can't wait to get back? Get the word out and get people to Vote!
5. Food Award
  While I am not a big proponent of beer and food pairings, I like my beer as a stand alone experience, there are some damn fine options when it comes to eating at Ontario Craft breweries. From full scale kitchen and dining rooms to rotating food trucks to simple dishes that bring out subtle nuances in the beer, there is a cornucopia of stuff just waiting for us when we walk out the door. Stuff your face and get the word out to Vote!
6. Marketing Award
  With the growth of social media and the rise in popularity of craft beer, it makes sense to examine the marketing and communication between brewery and consumer. I like this one and as a voracious devourer and commenter on craft beer social media, I can tell you that some are way more involved and entertaining than others. Other factors such as packaging, advertising and events will weigh heavy into your decision, so pour a beer and ponder if the medium is indeed the message.
7. Retail Award
  I mean, we all gotta buy beer and we love dropping in on the breweries to do it. Think about your retail experience? Is the staff engaged, organized and passionate? Or are they punching a clock, doing the bare minimum and going home? Beer matters but the retail store may be the most important contact a brewer has with a consumer.
8./9.10. New Brewery/Bar/Beer
  I'll put these three together because they require a little thought from us. What was new since September of last year? What bar gave you the best selection, service, food and beer in its first year? What new Brewery stood out among the plethora of openings in the last year? And perhaps most difficult of all, what beer stood tall among the rest of all the new and shiny things from the last 12 months? Vote with your heart and head!
11. Beer Personality
  Okay. I'll admit I really like this change from Best Beer Writer, even though I am the final winner, reigning Champion and Golden Tap Highlander in that category. The written blogs and reviews are not the sole form of communication anymore. Few are published writers and most of us who do write do so for the love of beer, working full time and squeezing out a few things when we have time in a busy life. The rise on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter has delivered some shining examples of great accounts and people who help promote great beer, try to fix the problems we see or just have fun with their pictures and words. Many brewery folks themselves are pretty damn engaging online and in real life and with this change, the Golden Tap awards open up the world to a whole bunch of possibilities.
Do I want to win? Umm, Vote Polk 2019!!!, Hell yeah, I love awards, they make me feel shiny! But at the end of it all, its about working together to keep this train moving forward, opening up new avenues and exposing people of all stripes to what this community can be. I have my favourite people and next week I will give you a deeper look at who they are and why I think you could vote for any one of them.

So there you go, vote and let your voice be heard...much love to Cass for all.the hard work he does making this happen!
Cheers! 
Polk

2018 Polkies - The Ten

 

To You. Love Polk

What makes a beer memorable?

  Is it the contents contained within?

  The texture, taste and overall balance or sticking to it's style?
  Is it the experience of where, when and with whom you drink it?

  Is it indeed a combination of all of that and a little more, the genuine love and appreciation for the ever changing world of craft beer around us and what it has brought to our lives.

  For the last 3 plus years I have written about what I am drinking and feeling every day on Instagram and with the addition of this blog, Pints with Polk on YouTube and my very active Twitter feed, there isn't much you don't know about me and who I am. I bring my life to you with the scars and experience of a man who went down the rabbit hole of mindlessly drinking macro beers in pursuit of something better. I did that for most of my adult life and when I finally discovered Craft Beer, everything changed. I regained my voice, my life and my love of the art simply writing about things. As we gather today on the final day of 2018, I want to look back at the 10 Most Memorable Beers of the year with an eye to finding the joy and love those great beers brought to me. They may not be the top rated beers or the whales we all seek out in our journeys, but they are the ones that stand out in my mind, that make smile and bring me back to that first sip and what they gave me since then. It is an exploration of more than just beer, it is a look at how each one of them changed the narrative or enhanced it in the last 12 months. I love them all for different reasons and I will try to convey that to you. It isn't just about how they taste, it has become much more than that.
10. Clifford Brewing Artificial Paradise IPA

  When Brad Clifford told me in 2017 that he would be finally opening a brick and mortar brewery in Hamilton's East End, I was overjoyed. When he finally opened the doors later that year and it was only 10 minutes from my house, I was in love. Making some of the best beer in the province already with the contract brewed Porter and Pinball Wizard APA, having a place to call his own and control every aspect of the process brought even more fine things to my Clifford Tulip as the year went on.
  But it isn't just that his first IPA, the 7.1% Artificial Paradise, was a beautifully crafted beer; it was the people at the brewery who made it and each stop we made in 2018 so much fun. It is very much a home away from home for so many of us and it is due to the friendly and joyful nature of the entire team at Clifford Brewing.
  So while I definitely hope you can come to Hamilton and get some of this and the other fine Ontario Craft beer being made here, I want you to be also able to experience the authentic and lovely place Clifford has become. This beer represents that commitment to creating new and amazing things for us to try and that is worthy of a spot in any Top Ten List.
YouTube Video Review
9. Grain and Grit Beer Co. In the Palms IPA

  It has become a common theme for me to associate not just the beer to the brewer's personal style but to also attribute the personality of the brewery to the experience of drinking it. Having a good time when you stop in at a brewery enhances not only your perception of their beer but gives you an insight into their philosophy and often their views on the wider world around us. Being a guy who talks about beer a lot, it is always a pleasure when I find something from a place filled with people I love that I can share with the highest of regard. Grain and Grit have been making decent beer with some forays into good from the beginning but the release of their In the Palms IPA, they finally found their footing and took off from there. A beautiful beer that I returned to buy anytime they released a new batch, it rounded out a portfolio of easy drinking and lower ABV beers that had been their hallmark from the beginning. As a guy who loves a hoppy beer, this combined with their outstanding Light Ray Session IPA had me giddy. All that put together with their work at making the Hamilton community as a whole a better place through various initiatives and an honest to goodness happy and joy filled brewery where the folks who work their give a damn, makes this beer an easy addition to my list.

  Grain and Grit continues to grow and impress every time I stop by but it is more than just beer, it is the people who make every sip a little better than the last.
YouTube Video review
8. Collective Arts Brewing IPA No. 5

  Sticking close to home early in the countdown and we turn now to the OG Hamilton Craft Brewer who had a year filled with a lot of ups, some downs and a whole lot of excitement. The early 2018 January release of Collective Arts Brewing IPA No. 5 set a high bar for the coming 12 months with it's big and juicy NEIPA body and tropical Citra and Simcoe Hops. A massive hit that inspired the #Keep5Alive hashtag on Twitter when it went away, it has returned in a different form with the late in the year release of Surround Sound DIPA. This was but a preview of a year that saw them throw a great beer festival (Liquid Arts), release a juicy milkshake IPA that pushed the boundaries of juice and beer and the unfortunate follow up to No. 5, the much maligned IPA No. 6. Redemption came with the aforementioned Surround sound and the next two IPA numbered releases and as the year closed, we could look back on an abundance of collaboration beers with brewers from around the globe, a plethora of world class releases and some of the finest folks a Polk can know.
  They may not always hit the mark but IPA No. 5 was the kind of beer that inspired a fanatical following and gave us a glimpse into what Collective was up to right off the bat. I have no doubt that 2019 will bring us some very interesting times as they begin to solidify and continue to be leaders when it comes to pushing the boundaries of what we love when it comes to this now legendary Hamilton institution.
 YouTube Video Review

7. Great Lakes Brewery Octopus Wants to Fight

  Long a favourite of Hop Heads everywhere, the news that GLB was making this 6,2% hoppy beauty available year round was a shot of lightening in the dark. As the best IPA, in my opinion, in 2018, it isn't just the tropical, dank and citrusy pithiness of this always fine IPA that meant the most to me. Although it sure as hell didn't hurt. It is a combination of the genius of Mike Lackey and the almost fanatical way they guard their Fresh GLB promise. Always on the lookout to make sure no beer is left too long, they are making it very difficult to not have this one in the fridge constantly. 
  As a long time friend of Polk, I adore the team at GLB for their commitment to not just beer, but the bigger community around them. Constantly doing good work for charity and craft beer at large with collabs helping to bring together folks who love great beer and company, they remain not only a leader in the Ontario Craft beer world but make a huge difference in the lives of those around them. Always and forever a part of what makes this fun for me and you, a salute and thank you to GLB.
YouTube Video Review

6. Barncat Artisan Ales Double the Juice DIPA

  It took me far too long to get out and visit the hottest nano brewery in Ontario but to be honest, their hours of operation are always a little bit problematic for a guy who works most weekends. Barncat is located in the growing hot craft beer spot out in Cambridge and are open just 9 hours a week. 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Hard to get to but I'll be damned if they aren't making some of the most sought after IPAs, stouts and barrel aged stuff in the country, let alone Ontario.
  Small batch is what they are and with the exception of one canning run of Triple Simcoe, they only sell their hoppy gems like Double the Juice by the growler, hoping to get you to drink fresh and enjoy the hazy, tropical and dank juicy contents as they intended it. I enjoyed 2 litres of this 8.3% beauty in mid November but I can still taste it now. Subsequent but sporadic visits have yielded even more top notch beer and while I do so wish they would ramp up production and grow to be able to be open a little more, I also know that part of what makes them so special is exactly what makes it hard to get them. Always a pleasure to hang out for a little bit and talk about the state of beer around Ontario with the guys, I am always going to sing the praises of good beer made by good folks and this is just that. I wish for even more trips in 2019 to Barncat and know that I am making that a priority from the start. They have captured something special and I need more of that kind of joy in my life.
YouTube Video review



5. Merit Brewing One for Us Brut IPA

  If you are a fan of exploring beer and having fun while doing it, then you need to come to Hamilton and make Merit Brewing on James street a stop. From funky and unique barrel beers to dank IPAs and everything in between, Spinney has been creating a larger and larger portfolio of amazing creations and with Tej and the rest of the team crafting a taproom experience on par with anything we've had, you are in for a treat.
  Often on the forefront of trying new things, like back in May when Merit was the first to bring the dry and effervescent Brut IPA to Canada with the release of the 5.9% One for Us. A soft body with lots of tropical citrus, the dry and lingering dank finish, this first foray was followed by others as they experimented with just how to use this unique beer style and create something new and better each time. While we enjoy going to Merit for a bite to eat from their excellent kitchen and perhaps a pint or two, it is their willingness to try new things, work with local producers of wine and other things and the various community events that they plan to help out their neighbourhood that makes me smile anytime I hear people are coming to town to visit them.
  Where will this style of beer evolve to? It has seen many other breweries already take a shot and with mixed results to be sure. But the fact that Merit was first and continued to tweak and pursue something no one else doing speaks volumes for their love of beer. Bravo to all of this!
YouTube Video Review

4. Dominion City Brewing Buck a Beer Blonde Ale

  When the Ontario PC party won the provincial election and made their promise of reducing the floor price on beer to $1 (from $1.25) and then proceeded to gut many of the social and educational programs to help those less fortunate or different than them under the guise of saving money, I was not quiet. I wrote about why Buck a Beer wasn't about beer (read it here) and I did what I could to call out the 2(!) Ontario breweries that decided to participate in this bread and circuses stunt. Dominion City Brewing from Ottawa went even further and that is why their Buck-a-Beer Blonde Ale makes The Ten this year.

  Home to so many beautifully crafted IPAs and others, Sunsplit NEIPA is quite amazing, Dominion has reached out to the province by offering home delivery and believe me they have fans everywhere, including here at The Manor. This beer in particular is a solid performing Blonde but it is the fact that they thumbed their nose at the often racist comments made by premier ford and his minions about refugees that makes this outstanding. A dollar from every pint sold went to a charity in the Capital region that helped resettle Syrian refugees and to the credit of Ontario craft beer drinkers, it was gone almost as fast as it hit the fridge and taps at Dominion. To take such a negative thing and spin it into a helpful and most Canadian way of welcoming the world to join us made me happy to support the cause. They recognized the need for someone to step up and say "No" to racism, bullying and xenophobia of all sorts and while I haven't been back to Ottawa in a long time, we have made a return trip a priority for the new year.

  For being right and standing up for those who need help, Dominion City not only belongs in The Ten, they earned it with their hearts.
YouTube Video Review

3. Oast House Brewers Grandma's Strawberry Rhubarb Ale

  A beer I had 2 years ago and missed last year came roaring back into my life and my only problem was that I didn't buy more when I had the chance. Oast House Brewers in Niagara on the Lake releases this 4.8% seasonal ale once a year and only in Growler fills. When I saw it had come out, I feared I would once again miss it as I was working all weekend and wouldn't be able to get there until the following Tuesday. Watching one of my friends pick up almost a dozen growler fills had that fear go up even more but he reassured me that it should last through the week. A hurried message later that weekend told me to make it my first stop on my day off as it was going faster than anticipated and when I awoke on that July day, I was off and running, ice and cooler ready to go. Why I only bought 1 growler still haunts me to this day as this fruit beer takes the cake for hitting the mark on unique and delightful flavours. It was literally like drinking a piece of pie as the rhubarb and strawberry melded into a biscuity graham cracker note on the finish. We emptied the contents as we floated around the pool and it was an extraordinary day because of it.

  For being such a short lived beer and perhaps that is part of its appeal, I could not imagine remembering the very best and most memorable moments of 2018 without this beer. Next year I will be bringing far. far more home with me and maybe I can share it with more people to help spread the love.
YouTube Video Review

2. Fairweather Brewing Fortune and Glory DIPA

  When Fairweather brewing opened their doors in 2017, I was impressed from the get go with the high quality and sheer genius of what was coming out of this west end Hamilton brewery. That continued into 2018 as I was able to get my hands on 29 different releases from them and not one was rated below a 4/5 with 8 hitting the high water mark of 4.5/5. This was one of those and without a doubt the highest praise is deserved for this dank, juicy and tropical gem of an Imperial IPA. At 8.5%, it is no crusher and every time I bought a bottle it got better and better...which is hard to do considering it was so damn amazing to start with. It was softly bitter with such citrus you'd think you were on an island somewhere with nothing to do but enjoy your life. It took me away from my troubles every single time and for that and all of the other amazing beers, I salute Fairweather with this spot in The Ten.
  As an aside, a stop into the brewery is a must for anyone who comes to Hamilton. They are my number one recommendation and believe me when I say you'll want to stick around and enjoy the fine folks who work there, their passion and joy make it even better. I am a fan of everything from the surprise Pilsner of the year (Donna) to the bright and shiny Beki, a sour lemonade ale that was simply divine. Next year is almost here and with it I am sure we will see even more out of Fairweather.
YouTube Video Review
1. Sawdust City Brewing Juicin'

  While I may put Sawdust City Brewing's Juicin' NEIPA at the top of my list this year, it could honestly be a dozen different beers from this Gravenhurst, Ontario brewery. They have long been a favourite of mine with the big old slow sipping Stouts (LDV, Blood of Chtuhlu and Titania), bitter and Piney IPAs (Lone and Twin Pine) and straight up classic Ontario craft beers (Golden Beach and Little Norway). Toss in a barrel aged and funky bunch (ODB or Limberlost, anyone) and a Sour Beer fest on Canada Day that is a must stop and you have a complete and authentic legend. While this softly bitter, multiple award winning NEIPA is full of tropical citrus and peach, dank pine and a finish that leaves you wanting just one more sip, it is from their visit to The Grotto on August 20th that I must make Sawdust City my Most Memorable Beer and Moment of 2018.

A real group of beauties right here!

  Unknown to me, Sam and his team had been in contact with Lady Polk for a while about coming down for a visit and as the day got closer, all I knew is that we had to clean up the house because we were having company. I had no clue that it would be two carloads of some of the best people in Ontario Craft beer, all the food for a BBQ and two coolers full of Sawdust City Beer. When they pulled into the driveway and I saw all these people spill out into the driveway I was stunned to say the least. When the Man himself hauled a cooler of beer out of the Sawdust van, I was done. It was an emotionally uplifting experience to spend a few hours trading beer stories, hanging out in The Grotto and even going live on Instagram drinking the 2016 ODB in The Crease. Floating in a pool with one of my favourite brewmasters drinking beer and talking about life is by far and away the best moment of 2018 and I will treasure the memory always.

I still can't believe this happened

  So for that day and so many other great things that Sawdust does for the larger community of craft beer drinkers and their various charitable brews and events, I am proud and happy to place them atop The Ten for 2018. The beer is on par with the excellent people who make it and if you can't find it close to you, order online or even better, head out on the road and drop in at the Brewery, you will be glad you did.

Sawdust for days

  That is a wrap my friends except for one more thing...

Thank You.

  Thank you for all of your support in the last 3 years, especially for everyone who voted for me when I won the 2018 Best Beer Writer in Ontario at the Golden Tap Awards in September. I love to hear your stories and share in your highs and lows as we navigate this life. I write like no one will read it, but I am grateful and humbled when you do. I couldn't imagine not doing this and I truly wouldn't have grown and changed without you. My eternal thanks to the breweries and the people that work at them for their kindness and passion and of course, to Kathryn (Lady Polk), who is by my side for all of this and slow sipping the best life we could live.

My pal Sam!

Happy New Year and let's bring on 2019!!

Cheers!

Polk

Stay sexy, My Friends!

 

2018 Polkies - 'Thar be Hops! (Pale Ales and IPAs)

 While we love to dabble in other styles and many of us are fans of this dark or that sour, the overwhelming majority of craft beer drinkers I know are unabashed and loudly self proclaimed Hop Heads. Hazy, juicy, tropical, piney, dry, resinous and citrusy describe in one degree or another what we love and with that in mind I head into today's post still torn about the amazing and world class beers that didn't make the cut of my Top 5 in the following 8 categories. It is almost like when we talk about the Canadian Olympic Hockey team being able to field two world class teams, the top 15 in almost all of these categories are really damn great beers and no doubt would top anyone's list. I'll spare you the rehash of "notes of grapefruit, orange and pine, etc." in describing them as best I can and instead try to evoke just what made them so memorable and why they stood out.
  Hold onto your Spiegelaus, it's about to get Hoppy in here!


Pale Ales
1. Merit Brewing Step to the Right

  While the line between Pale ale and IPA is a bit of finessing no matter who you are, this dank and tropical one from Merit blew me away late one night in August. It was a big and juicy with an attention grabbing texture. I may be biased but damn if Hamilton isn't home to some of the finest breweries in the province. Merit brings so much to the table when it comes to the community as well and that makes them one of the best as far as I'm concerned. If this comes back, I'm buying a 12 pack because I missed it moments after I had my last sip and I don't feel that often.
2. Bellwoods Brewery Jutsu

 Last years top pale Ale slips a spot but that has little to do with the revamped Jutsu and a little more with Merit's ascendance. Still a big and bitter citrusy treat, it has become a little more dank and juicy and I am all kinds of okay with that. I imagine this will be a big seller online as the more people in Ontario can now experience the genius of Bellwoods through their home delivery option.
3. Great Lakes Brewery Canuck
4. Amsterdam Brewing Cruiser
5. Blood Brothers Brewing Blood Light


Session IPAs


1. Fairweather Brewing foreva eva

  Little can be said that hasn't already been about the year Hamilton's own Fairweather Brewing had. This September release was bang on what a session IPA should be. Loads of pithy citrus, dank pine and body made this easily feel like a 9% Double IPA and it came in at half that ABV. Outstanding is not enough praise but damn it really was.
2. Grain and Grit Beer Co. Light Ray

  From way back in February comes a beer that caught my eye and my heart. A 4.5 %, 80 IBU session beer that drank like the big boys with a loaded citrus and stone fruit body. It was the best beer I had found from G and G, starting a trend that saw them hit high water marks throughout the year. Hope to see it again and this time I will be loading up!
3. Great Lakes Brewery Sunnyside
4. Nickel Brook Brewing Lost in Orbit
5. Collective Arts Brewing State of Mind


IPAs
1. Great Lakes Brewery Octopus Wants to Fight

  Like a message from the heavens came the announcement that GLB would be making the 6.2%, 88 IBU Octo available year round and the ground shook as Ontario Hop Heads applauded and cheered! Given GLB's penchant for fanatical freshness and of course, the hop forward mind of Mike Lackey, we knew this would be a fantastic new everyday option for our homes. The big and juicy tropical notes meet a touch of the dank and to the skies we go with joy. I only wish I was an octopus so I could have 8 pints on the go at once!
2. Fairweather Brewing High Grade

 A slight tweak to the recipe made this Fairweather core IPA a damn near perfect beer as 2018 rode along. Touching up the dank, juicy beauty with a deft hand meant multiple trips required back for more as this beer kept needing to be in my glass. Taking a detour from the grapefruit and pine to add mango and melon made this one a must have for anyone who loves 'em bold and bitter.
3. Left Field Brewery Prospect Simcoe
4. Merit Brewing Young Rival
5. Clifford Brewing Artificial Paradise


Imperial IPAs
1. Fairweather Brewing Fortune and Glory

 Prestige. Pride. Power. This 8.5% juicy, tropical and dank hop juggernaut was a revelation when it hit my glass in the latter half of the year. So much citrus, pithy and dank with light pepper notes, it went down quickly and I bought more everytime I returned to Fairweather. They have found the key to true happiness and it resides in this bottle, one glorious sip at a damn time.
In the category I love the most, it was a close race and this beer made the case for all the honour it receives.
2. Barncat Artisan Ales Double the Juice

  I don't know if you're supposed to drink the whole 2 litre growler of Barncat Double the Juice when you get home from work but I did it. I couldn't resist its juicy, tropical citrus and dankness...it is second but by the slimmest of margins. If I lived closer I would be there every weekend and as it is, 2019 will find me making more trips to this amazing nano brewery that has everyone who tries their creations stunned and awed.
3. Bellwoods Brewery Mylarshark
4. Rainhard Brewing Revolution No. 8
5. Rouge River Brewing The Dankster King


Black IPAs
1. Great Lakes Brewery Apocalypse Later

  Like a king returning from battle, this big and boozy 10.5%, 100+IBU strides into Polk Manor with a swagger that is very well deserved. Roasty, bitter citrus pith and pine make this a damn slow sipper of the highest order and the one beer I cannot see dropping from top spot year after year. Perhaps it was my expanding palate but in 2018, Apocalypse was even better, bigger and bolder than before! I patiently wait it's return.
2. Muddy York Brewing Frogman

The early months of the year are always filled with dark and roasty treats and with the release of the 8.0%, 60 IBU Frogman, legendary brewer Jeff Manol of Muddy York crafted something wonderful. Bright and tropical with a solid dark chocolate backbone, it warmed me to the core on a chilly March day and resonates to this day. Look for it to return and if it does, you'll be able to order it online and join the hop madness!
3. Shillow Brewing Bitter Waitress
4. Great Lakes Brewery Black Hole of Eden
5. Manantler Brewing Death's Tar


New England Style IPAs
1. Sawdust City Brewing Juicin'

  Putting aside the fact that the Team from Sawdust showed up here at The Grotto for an amazing evening in August, I have been in love with Juicin' since the moment I first tried it a year and a half ago. It topped my list last year as favourite IPA and now takes the crown in the first ever NEIPA category. So many great beers, but this peach, citrus and smooth bodied, softly bitter beauty remains at the top of my list and will be once again returning to my glass when it hits the shop in Gravenhurst in 2019. Hard to knock of the beast when it's this damn good. A must order online when you see it!
2. Dominion City Sunsplit

  I have the feeling that I need to go visit the capital region of Canada soon as Dominion continues to impress with both their amazing beers like this legendary and on point Sunsplit and their community works. More on the latter tomorrow but for now suffice it to say this tangerine, peach and mango slow sipper was enjoyed many times thanks to friends and my own mail order and if you see it out again in 2019, make that bet and get your own, sent direct and fresh!
3. Left Field Brewery Greenwood
4. Collective Arts Brewing IPA No. 5
5. Nickel Brook Brewing Wicked Awesome


Belgian IPAs
1. Fairweather Brewing Ipso Facto

  Sensing a pattern? Fairweather released hit after hit in 2018 and it came as a shock when this 7.5% Belgian style beauty dropped in September. All the fruity spice of that Belgian yeast with the citrus shining bright. It was a peppery, fruity gem that takes the top spot in one of the toughest categories for me to decide.
2. Elora Brewing Wandering Monk

  A literal unexpected find in early January when I stopped in at a different LCBO, this 8.0% slow sipper of a Belgian from Elora Brewing was just what I wanted and didn't know existed. Pithy, spicy and full of zest, it made the choice for top spot hard and it did it from almost a year ago. I need to try this again.
3. Great Lakes Brewery Audrey Hopburn
4. New Limburg Brewing Belgian IPA
5. Brimstone Brewing A Mountie and a Buffalo walk into a Bar


Milkshake IPAs
1. Left Field Brewery WHIP Pina Colada

  I don't know if it is properly classified but I'm calling 'em as I see 'em. Lactose, pineapple, coconut and a smooth bodied 6.0% gave me joy in late July and I was sold all the way. I've never seen coconut done quite so right in a beer and damn if Left Field doesn't keep making me smile anytime I get something new from them. It was most amazing!
2. Great Lakes Brewery Grimace's Tears

 When I first had this late last year, it didn't grab my attention. The release later in the summer of 2018 was a damn sight to behold as they really nailed the recipe and the balance between the strawberry, vanilla and lactose sweetness was near perfect. Both of my cans disappeared in a single sitting and I look forward to it returning in 2019...I hope.
3. Merit Brewing Breakfast?
4. Collective Arts Brewing Liquid Arts Fest
5. Merit Brewing Till Then


  There you have it my friends, all my hoppy dreams came true and more in 2018 and I wasn't joking when I said I could produce 2 separate lists and be happy with the second picks just as much as these. There is no shortage to the creativity and sheer genius in many of these beers and I am stoked to see where we go in 2019!
  Come back tomorrow morning for My Least Favourite beers of the year and then later in the day for My Top 10 Most Memorable Beers of the year!


  As always, I thank you  for your support and look forward to seeing which Pale Ales and IPAs you felt were Top of the Hops for you in 2018!


Cheers!
Polk