Back To The Future

Beer Wars is now available for the masses of North America. In Canada, the film is available to rent On Demand through Digital Cable and Satellite providers Rogers Cable, Cogeco, Videotron, Sasktel and Shaw as of February 1st, 2010. A documentary of David versus Goliath, except this time David's got a lot of friends, and the use of social networking such as blogs, facebook, twitter, etc to keep everyone updated on every stone thrown at the widow of the big bully breweries.

We are leaping into a new decade with guts, glory, and more technology than any of us could ever know what to do with (iPad, anyone?). Suddenly the little guys are using these resources in a creative way to gain some ground and influence the mainstream masses. This movie created some stir when it was first being screened, though these people were generally beer geeks. Now, this is going to be put in front of the faces of those who should see it.

The Beer Wars website posted the question "What do you think this launch means for craft beer?"

I think this launch is going to really stimulate the market. I see Canada really stepping up the game and playing against the grain of the "safe" market. It's a reminder that we are smarter than corporations think we are. We have the resources, we have the talented brewers, so why are we "10 years behind" the American craft beer industry? I see this launch as motivation for Canadian brewers and Canadian drinkers to experiment, try something different and start paving the way for a world of better craft beer.

Personally, I hope this movie translates well for the Canadian audience. It's not to continuously compare ourselves to the U.S. However, why not close the gap and use our resources well.

What could this mean for craft beer, and Canadian craft beer specifically?

The Local Watering Hole

Where do you go on any other night of the week? The night when you just need to get out, feel a piece of comfort, have a pint (or two), some good food, and great company. It's amazing how pub culture can really equate to a community depending on your local. A person becomes a "regular"... some more regular than others (possibly becoming known as "the local" but if you see me that much then it's obvious that you have no reason to judge me).

Truly, the idea of going to a pub around the corner near your home, simply knowing you will run into someone you know and if you don't, sitting at the bar will bring up conversation with a new stranger you may get to know in the future.

This sort of thing can only happen at certain places with certain people, and The Victory Cafe does it for me. It's very near by my pace of residence, the beer selection is amazing ( please note the rotating selection on hand pump cask ), a long bar lined with Christmas lights all year round, stucco walls, wood panel booths, local art and photography on the walls, chalkboard menus, reasonable prices, great service and only moments away from bar-stool conversation.

Everyone should have this sort of place and it could be anywhere. Where is it for you?

This is not the idea that you should only have one pub to go to, but one you go to because you know, you understand, everyone knows, everyone understands that this is your living room away from home and someone else as well(and most likely the Leafs will be losing... once again), so show respect.

Is pub culture lost these days? Do people really need a reason like music, a birthday, work social, etc to go to a bar / pub?

Can we always have a neighbourhood pub that has a nice selection of local beer on tap? May they have delicious food on the menu as well?

Weekly specials and a rotating tap to keep things fresh and new? Please and thanks.

Where do you go for this feeling? What is it that defines your favourite near by pub? Granted, I have a few pubs I enjoy that I do not live near and I manage to frequent, but comfort is allowed to be close to home and further away as well.

Also, I'll just make a mention that there are local gems brewing. This is a good year brewing, this is a good year for beer, keep your eyes, ears, tongue, and nose peeled for lots of fantastic things to come.

Suspense.

Cheers!

Hipsters and The Market

Now, I know most my music going friends are not too picky about the beer they pick up, they just want something that tastes familiar, is marketed (if at all) lower than the major brand "lite" varieties (and get's "the job done"). Though, get this...when you pay more almost a dollar more for a 344ml bottle of beer for the same generic (corn filled) beer on tap poured into a pint glass. Short pour argument aside you you which is the better deal (a gin and tonic!).

When there is no menu or price list, is it up to the bar tender to inform the customer of the price difference or that there is a "promotion" on said beer?

Is it trendier to drink out of a bottle? Does it matter that people see what you are drinking?

Maybe the "hipsters" have spoiled it for the rest of us... bless their souls for buying up everything and anything that is retro. But, leave the PBR and 50 for Dad after he finished mowing the lawn and don't charge someone 200% mark up on it without good serive, thank you very much. Oh, and if you some how get away with this don't expect a tip when you short pour (even if it is the most generous thing a bar tender can do) and give me attitude about what they are allowed to do and even complain if tips are not large enough for their wallet.

Someone needs to really pour their hearts out for the craft beer market and throw it into these bars where hipsters and music lovers go. We all know the push for local, craft, and bold (not over-powering) for everything else in the market. The age group between 19 - 25 is a market that can think for themselves, they are educated in everything else, why does beer fall so far behind for most people? Why would people rather support the local coffee shop, their local cafe, restaurant, etc but not a local beer?

Why, people, why?

Will it take a huge marketing campaign or just the "coolest" looking guy on the block going to the pub and asking for something fresh, local, of quality, flavourful, in a nice clean glass, and served with a smile before it takes off in Canada?

Bière et Compagnie

Beer, cheese and chocolate. Need I say more? Perhaps the phrase "stick a fork in me, 'cause I'm done!"

A huge thanks to Ralph, Bar Volo, Julia from Cheese Culture, Michael from Chocosol, and HMH Negotiants for putting off a wonderful event. Presentation, education, good company, and a cozy atmosphere on a drizzly Sunday afternoon. It was indeed a great way to spend the day, indulging in new (to Ontario) beers and cheeses from Quebec and fine chocolates from Toronto to really fulfill the idea of richness on the palate.

Put the wine down and pick up a beer because that is going to go better with cheese, any cheese, but these pairings were out of this world. Even if the suggested pairing didn't fit your palate you were able to mix and match to find something you liked.

Julia Rogers provided great commentary, insight on the cheeses and why she believed each beer suited the cheese. A great wealth of knowledge, and even if every palate is different, I will forevermore take her suggestions and accept that she is correct.

The afternoon started with Dominus Vobiscum Blance from Microbrasserie Charlevoix paired with a Peppercorn Raclette from Fromagerie Station. This was a great mild introduction to warm the palate of things to come. A huge floral camomile, citrus, rose hips, wheat, fruit, cloves, yeast and a nice crisp, dry finishing beer to go with a soft but assertive snappy peppercorn cheese.

Second was Rosée d'Hibisus from Dieu du Ciel! with Chèvre Noir from Fromagerie Tornevent. A spicy floral beer with sweetness that bites in similar ways as a fine red wine softened by a goat cheese to subdue the flavours of the beer but enhance the flavours of the cheese.

Dominus Vobiscum Triple from Microbrasserie Charlevoix was a fine match for a 5-year old cheddar from Fromagerie St. Albert. I may have been left with the yeasty bottoms, but it's always nice to know how a yeast strain tastes (and I like this one). A very warming beer, big tropical fruit esters in the nose, pineapple, bananas, a warm dry finish with little residual sugars to take away from the spicy hops that were elevated by the cheese. This cheese would go well with absolutely anything.

The ever popular Aphrodisiaque from Dieu Du Ciel! and it's cocoa, vanilla, smoked notes that cross from nose to tongue blended straight into Le 1608, a raw Canadienne cow milk cheese from Laiterie Charlevoix. A simple pair. Neither flavour dominated the other. Two great things in harmony.

Does anyone remember Fizz candy? Well, I was quickly reminded after sticking my nose in the Impériale Weizen Grande Cuvée from Les Trois Mousquestaires. This beer is bold, complex, borderline complicated: buckwheat honey, citrus that tangos with the tropics, a herbal smokey body that's chewy (yes, chewy) and alcoholic. I could write an essay on all the senses this beer rolls over. Then add a Cabriole goat cheese from Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser. Let's just say, two complicated things work well sometimes. This cheese was described as something "born in a cabbage patch," stinky, earthy, creamy, bold... very bold. The effect of this pairing was similar to adding wasabi to sushi. It opened my sinuses and brought a tear to my eye. That is beauty, my friends.

To top everything off, introduce a beer that recently has won my heart after a recent trip to Quebec: the Imperial Baltic Porter from Les Trois Mousquetaires. This is a "Wow!" beer. One to say it's a porter will raise a few eye brows, then tell them it's a lager, then tell them it's a 10%abv beer. Huge cocoa nose, sweet molasses raisins, plums, dark red cherries, smoked beachwood, with a very rich body, full on the palate, some salty lingerings, prunes, cherries, sweet but not too sweet, dry but not too dry... just beautiful... (and I think another tear came to my eye). Why would you want to put any other flavour on your tongue after a sip of this? ... Unless you were to pair it with Ciel de Charlevoix, a raw blue cheese from Affinage Maurice Dufour. Anyone tell you about that new flavour sensation "umami?" This cheese is just as complex and beautiful as the beer. This cheese is aggressive and so is the beer. Fight fire with fire and you have a fine finish that ended surprisingly soft.

Maybe that wasn't the end, because there were many fine chocolates with vanilla, chilli's, pure cocoa nibs, and one awesome cocoa salt, and I may stand corrected that it had similar qualities to beets and hibiscus (cool). Pass the salt, and could I have fries (or frites) with that? Michael was a fantastic speaker, a wealth of knowledge and knew more about vanilla, cocoa, and innuendoes related to the topics at hand.

Again, a great event for those wanting a pleasant treat, education, cozy atmosphere, and great company on a Sunday afternoon.

It's awesome to see more events like this pop up around the city. The craft beer movement is really working. The smaller local scene really does have the upper hand by pairing with friends in the food and beverage industry to market, pair, and educate the population on what can really set senses off. Fine beer, cheese and food doesn't have to be scary, big or daunting. It really can be simple, or it can be complex and complicated (if you so desire). A topic also brought up by Garrett Oliver at the Rhino's beer dinner, mentioned in The Great Canadian Pubs and Beer blog.

Enjoy.

Cheers,

-b

New and Old: Baltika No. 6

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. It amazes me to think that beer and numbers always remind me of my tour in Russia back in 2007 playing timpani for a chamber orchestra. A trip I will never forget and I often think it's a huge reason I got into being a beer geek. Being from a place with little choice in beverages to a place where there was one brand alone that had a selection of beers numbered 0 - 10 along side a few other beers thrown in there. Well, doesn't that seem like a challenge? Ten days in Russia and ten numbers. Okay! So I never got through all of them, as some were seasonal, out of production, or simply unavailable at the vendors and markets I went to.

This brewery being the Baltika Breweries, based in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is the largest brewery in Eastern Europe with 85% of it's shares owned by Baltic Beverages Holdings (controlled by the Carlsberg Group).

Production started in 1990 and quickly grew to leading the way for the Russian beer market, not to mention one of the top leaders in all of Europe. Some may claim it's the "pride of Russia", but the economic growth of this company would make any business savvy person give a thumbs up.

Well, being a bit of a collector and a sucker for a souvenir, I had brought a few numbers back with me, No. 4 (original) with rye malt, No. 6 a baltic porter, and No.8 an unfiltered wheat beer (and a few bottles of vodka..."when in Rome..."). All but the No. 6 was gone. I had been saving it for a moment of reflection upon one of my favourite trips to date.

The LCBO was gracious enough to supply a nice Baltika Gift Pack containing the No. 5, No. 7 and (TA-DAH!) No.6 along with a nice branded glass. This presented me the ability to do a nice side by side. What Russia tasted like fresh in 2007 and what Russia tasted like in Canada now that it's 2010.

2007 - Pours an opaque black, brown hue in the light around the edges. A decent clarity and a mocha cream head that dissipates very quickly and clings to the sides of the glass.

The aroma is very boozy, plums, ripe strawberries and currents. Subtle notes of oak, toast, caramel and nice roasted malt balancing the sweetness.

The taste brings flavours of of cocoa, ripe red plums from the aroma, brandy and a rich cream. It has a slight tartness and tones of raisins and cherries. The roasted flavours have been dominated by the alcohol. Very little hop profile at all.

It has a thin body, lower carbonation, very silky, with a sweet liquor-like residual sugar lingering.

This has aged very well. It tastes nothing like I remember. It's like a roasted "weak" strong ale. I'd put this next to the fire (if I had a fireplace) with a bowl of raisins and almonds while watching the hockey game.

2009 - Pours opaque black with a thick creamy white head with great head retention that laces and lasts ( until the very last sip).

The aroma is smokey, hints of hickory, cocoa and a little sweet vanilla hiding in there somewhere. There are a few fruit esters in there from the warming alcohol, but not enough to really pinpoint.

Caramel sweet dominate malt, roasted cocoa, smokey and toasty, and various dried fruits (raisins and dates). Balanced well with the roasted malt and noble hop presence. A touch of brandy flavour stays on the tongue.

The body is full and creamy, moderate carbonation, the residual sugars do not last long, it really has a lager presence with a crisp dry finish.

This seems more like what I first tasted. I think this is a very nice baltic porter.

It is amazing what two years can do to a beer and how they stimulate my memories now. Russia was a fantastic time where I had many experience that will never be forgotten. To be able to taste a memory the way it would have been fresh and taste the lingering, aged memory and compare... that is a great thing.

Would those times be remembered and thought of so highly if they happened today? maybe not, but I'm glad they happened when they did.

And for your listening pleasure, Russian dub! I was lucky enough to see a great Russian reggae group, Dr. I-Bolit and the Tribal Roots.

Bartle's Big Busy Day

It's hard to tell whether or not to blame it on the turn of the year and more so the decade. However, I cannot remember the last time I was this motivated to make the most of every day. In the past 24 hours I have laid down drum tracks (two takes, thank you very much!) for a new band project, slept, woke up early, made breakfast, had coffee and dug deep into Pete Brown's book, Hops and Glory, called the parents back home as they are gearing up for a trip down south, went to the gym (HEY! Even little guys need to exercise sometimes), got groceries, made lunch, did laundry, cleaned, swept, mopped, bottled my baby (Bartle's Broken Hearted Ale: an IPA at 6.4%ABV and ~80+IBU), practiced rudiments, and now I'm here writing away.

How good is it to make resolutions and stick to them? Even if they don't last all that long, it feel good to be on top of things for the time being. Anyone else have a New Years resolution or goal they actually kept?

While the new year is still new and fresh I figured it was time to check out the Brew Dog's Punk IPA. "Beer for Punks" is a good slogan, though in my opinion it's beer for people. Everyday people. Even the everyday people that really love good beer. They put a "twist" on a classic style that indeed proved itself worthy on it's major voyage from Britain to India.

My review: From the bottle with best before date 11/10/10 it pours a pale golden straw with a snow white cap. Quite similar to a pineapple soda, but with head. The nose is full of pineapple, mangoes, kiwi fruit, clementines, some backing of grassy and mild pine notes.

This beer is boldly fronted with a lager like cider sweetness, caramel notes, biscuit and quickly followed by a very bitter backbone reminding me of hay barrels and pine. Though, remaining on the sweet side with every initial sip, the lingering bitterness is very pleasant. The mouthfeel shows carbonation to be a little high, it has a nice dry palate with a few residual sugars lingering around. It's pale, crisp, and clean. Very drinkable, and with the exception of the brilliant tropical punk-punch nose, it does resemble the style.

When tasting a beer that may not be complicated yet shows a lot of personality, it get's me excited about a brewery and the other beer they have on the line-up. Maybe one of these days I'll find myself close enough to latch on to a sip of Brew Dog's Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

Tactical Nuclear Penguin from BrewDog on Vimeo.

I'll do my best to drink it in style.

Cheers,

- b

Cheers To A New Year!

Here we are. Another day, another year, and another decade down the hatch. 2009 has been an adventure. It was a blur to say the least and it really is hard to focus on any point that really stands out. I find it hard to go through 365 days and find even a few that made the whole year worth while. Everyday is worth while in my books. All I can say is that it was a good year. Lot's of music, touring, brewing, meeting a lot of great people, studies, books, beer, food, ups and downs. It was full of life changing experiences. My eyes have opened to many new things, and I have revisited some old things (how did I live without cheese?).

This decade seemed to hang it's hat on the ideas of reflection. There has been a lot of looking to the past and building upon those things we left behind years ago. This could be a slingshot effect, pull back and then snap into the future. Hey, maybe we'll be flying around like the Jetsons in the next few years.

I notice a lot of extremes in the trends of the food and beverage industry. For example, everywhere you go you see local and organic restaurants sitting next to a "new" greasy spoon diner. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Stop into the "organic" joint for some raw dehydrated kale or head down the block for pulled pork and a side of poutine. Choice is a good thing.

Choice in beer has been getting better as well. Ontario has opened up it's arms to some big brews and it's given brewers freedom to make beer outside of the safe playing field of light fizzy flavoured soda-like beers. Black Oak's 10 Bitter Years is a great example of something that the market has been needing for quite sometime. A cheers with 10 Bitter Years in a glass was surely a good choice to ring out of one decade and into another. I hope the future brings changes in the beer market so that the smaller Canadian breweries can compete with the big guys.

We are already seeing brew pubs and new craft breweries opening up left, right and centre. Duggan's and The 3 Brewers both in the downtown core. Not to mention a lot of great one off beers. One can think back on the tie dye booth at beer fest from Great Lakes Brewery and the attention it received. Hey! The beers were great too. One step back with tie die and twenty steps forward with twenty varieties of cask ales to sample. The rise of cask in Canada would be great to see in the future. Keep it real! word! Volo really took a step up this year with the Cask Days event. How could one go wrong at an event like this? These are the things that will take the eyes off of the big breweries and lime related travesties that plagued billboards this summer and fall. Also, note that Niagara College has a brewing program opening in the fall. No need to travel around the world to learn the craft.

Anyone who produces a quality product would love to think that product could sell itself. Certainly, word of mouth does help. I'd like to see more marketing for smaller craft brewers. To target the younger beer drinking population. The youth of today just might have a few screws loose, but they don't seem to be afraid to try new things or re-visit old fads (someone please bring back hypercolour shirts). If you've ever noticed some people being so picky over food, shouldn't they be picky about beer too? If you notice people trying all of these new experimental foods, why not experiment with different beer?

So a toast to the future and the exciting things it may bring or bring back. Flock of Seagulls hair cuts might come back, we might all have flying cars and play golf on the moon, who knows, I won't hold my breath, but it wouldn't surprise me either. For now my wish list is going to be for bands that focus on music (not image or lack there of), more cask ales made accessible, good onion rings at a pub, less big branding, more simple [comfort] local (organic) foods and for Lee's Palace to put the graffiti back up because as of now it looks like a giant stainless steel easy bake oven housing a burrito joint.

Ch-ch-changes!

Cheers,

- Bartle