This collection is very preliminary and becoming closer and closer to being complete.

Early in 2011, long-time h2g2 researchers j_z_d and anhaga embarked on a perhaps ill-advised project to taste and make tasting notes on all the beers available from micro-breweries in their home, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The pairing of these two researchers is perhaps fortuitous: j_z_d's tastes tend toward the Belgian Trappist and the darker styles and flavoured beers while anhaga prefers the Pilsner end of the beer spectrum and respects the supremacy of the Reinheitsgebot, 'the Bavarian Purity Law'.

The project has been an eye opener. Although Edmonton in 2011 has only four micro-breweries -- Alley Kat, Amber's, Brewsters brew pub, and Yellowhead, a bewildering and ever changing variety of beers, ales and coolers are produced. Where possible, we hope to offer our own tasting notes to comparable Canadian and internationally familiar brands. The task we have set ourselves is perhaps Sisyphean, but we will make every effort to succeed.

Alley Kat Brewing Company

Alley Kat began brewing in the southern suburbs of the Old Strathcona area in 1994, making it the oldest surviving micro-brewery in the province and the fourth oldest surviving brewery. The Brewery has a stable main product line and an ever-changing and adventurous history of seasonal and speciality brews.

Old Deuteronomy

Barleywine, 11.4% ABV

The pour:

Pours-into tulip glass-a lovely clear lighter burgundy, moderate carbonation and not quite a pinky of head(a decent/good-sized 'ring')

Aroma:

Dark fruits(raisins, plums, figs), just a hint of toffee imho, a bit of maltiness and a slight whiff of alcohol.

Taste

Strangely not so much dark fruit. I got a very papaya-ish/tropical fruit taste. Then as that fades, a toffee and malt combination comes out. The malt however seems to dissipate almost immediately, leaving the toffee to stretch out with(I thought)an almost cream soda liquidity...quite nice! However, as it warms a bit-I started with it very close to room temperature-that lingering toffee effect vanishes. Very clean/smooth fruity finish. I'm only feeling the 11.4% alcohol content after repeated sips. Oh alright if I Must 'fess up, and a(5%)Garrison Nut Brown ale ...Garrison Brewing from Halifax Nova Scotia started sending a few of their products west early in the new year. In fact my Mixed 6 pack(Hopyard-dry hopped-Pale ale, Tall Ship Amber ale , Irish Red Ale, Raspberry Wheat Ale, Nut Brown ale and --the most impressive imho -- Martello stout )is stamped 'packed Jan. 18 2011'.

-- j_z_d

The Pour

Into a tulip glass. Half a pinky of head. Nicely dark, a rich red when held to the light. Very attractive.

The Aroma

I have a bit of a cold, but a fruity, malty aroma has no problem penetrating. A touch of cherry.

The Taste

Malt, chocolate, not much fruit. Very, very nice. A little cleansing hop bitterness on the finish.

This is definitely something to enjoy again, and likely more, after my cold clears up.

-- anhaga

Charlie Flint's Craft Brewed Organic Lager

'A crisp, blond lager hand-crafted with organic malts and sterling hops.'

The pour:

No head, light effervescence, Very light amber colour.

The Aroma:

Early hops. Old storm sewer pipe. Iron.

The Taste:

Essential lager. Unpretentious and simple. A good, clean bitterness in the finish. The undertones of old storm sewer and iron are unfortunate.

***

-- anhaga

I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with the Charlie Flint's myself(primarily due to the fact that it's a lager - not ordinarily one of my favourite styles). I found it though fairly decent representation of the style-quite unspectacular though-neither storm sewers or iron were at all noticeable. Perhaps it was at least partially the effect of the sunny afternoon on which I tried it - storm sewers being the furthest thing from my mind.

-- j_z_d

Another night, another taste

The pour:

Yellow with a touch of amber. little head, a little lacing.

The aroma:

To be polite: Sauvignon Blanc. Perhaps appropriate for a place named Alley Kat.

The taste:

Clean and smooth. very mild hopping. good body.

A pleasant enough lager for a hot summer afternoon or a Grey Cup party with friends with lots of nachos and a very large sandwich from Mr. Sub, but not remarkable.

****

-- anhaga

Amber

'Craft Brewed Brown Ale'

'A medium-bodied brown ale with caramel maltiness and just a hint of chocolate'

Notes on a tasting, March 1, 2011, after a long day spent driving about town trying to sort out one disaster after another and very much desiring access to a Somebody Else's Problem field.

Accompanied by a chunk of baguette with butter.

lovely dark amber colour and clarity

very little (no) head

slightly malty chocolatey aroma with an unpleasant metallic overtone.

first taste:

malt, touch of chocolate. slightly hoppy finish.

subsequent tastes:

pleasant, except for that metallic thing. A little thin as far as body goes. The slight effervescence and hoppiness makes for a pleasantly cleansing finish.

A satisfying but unremarkable brown ale.

***

second tasting, another night.

The pour:

no head. few bubbles. nice colour.

aroma.

A bit vinegary.

taste.

flat. malty. a touch of coffee.

Bubbles would have been a nice addition.

**

-- anhaga

Full Moon

'Craft Brewed Pale Ale'

'A classic dry-hopped pale ale with moderate hop bitterness -- one of Canada's finest.

5%

The Pour:

nice, small head with moderate endurance and lacing.
pleasant amber colour.

The Aroma:

Very strong smell of hops which overwhelms any other possible aromas.

The Taste:

This borders on an IPA rather than just a Pale Ale. The hop bitterness is very strong and very lingering.

good body.

Final notes:

If one wants a fairly strongly hopped somewhat dark Pale Ale, this one will satisfy. I find it far too hoppy to label it a Pale Ale, and, being at the usual 5% of Canadian beers, it could easily be, and probably should be labelled an IPA.

***(as a Pale Ale)

****(as an IPA)

-- anhaga

Aprikat

'Craft Brewed Beer Cooler'

'A delicate and unique wheat ale infused with the fresh taste of orchard picked apricots'

I think some context needs to be established in regard to the Aprikat. It was introduced as a 'cooler', as in cool beverage to provide some relief from the summer heat. And although we're not prone to equatorial heat waves in this part of the world, I think it suits the warmer weather when we Do get it. The Aprikat was certainly imho a decent Kristallweizen(filtered wheat ale ), certainly one of the better ones I've had. True the aroma was noticeably artificial as well as more peach than apricot. However I detected a hint of strawberry as well, and um, I have no fruit biases. Peaches and strawberries are appropriate summer fruit/berry in my opinion. So yes on that sunny afternoon in Churchill Square, it was also quite reasonable as a cooler...quite an adequate patio beer. Or perhaps something to sip on the deck at the lake as the sun begins its slow descent. No evocative or even vaguely scatological imagery here, I'll leave the final words(s)on Aprikat-and Alley Kat in general-to co-owner/brewmaster
Neil Herbst.

-- j_z_d

Tasted on a late winter (not early spring) relatively high-altitude Canadian winter in something perhaps a little other than a good mood. Not the best context for a 'Beer Cooler'.

I approach this one with trepidation. Not only do I find flavoured beers a bit of an annoying cheat, but: Is it a beer? Is it a cooler? Having said that, I very much like the taste of beer and I very much like apricots, so . . .

The Pour

Apricots fill the room. A nice light amber/dark straw colour. Sparkling, but no head.

The aroma

Not so much apricot as peach, a fruit I abhor only slightly less than grapefruit. Thing are not looking good. We're approaching peach cooler 1985 territory.

The taste

What is that?! There's a dominant tone which unaccountably makes me think of Bob the Builder! Is it Play-Doh? Pickled ginger from a 7-11 box of sushi? Three year old maraschino cherry? The bar of soap on the sink in a cheap Mexican hotel?

And sugar.

There is a sort of complexity here, but it is the complexity of sweat socks and rose petals in vinegar, of urine, blood, and excrement on a Medieval battle field, of bird dung and rowan berries steeped in green tea -- a complexity which puts me off absolutely.

concluding notes

Alley Kat has been producing this thing for years, so, it must be selling to someone and in respectable quantities, but I can't fathom it at all.

* (for managing to remain on the market)

-- anhaga

Alright, it's a month or so on, the weather is warmer, I've had a productive day and . . .

. . . the Aprikat isn't as bad as it seemed the last time.

It's still got an overwhelming peach flavour rather than apricot, but I can see it being very refreshing on a hot summer afternoon or even a summer evening as things begin to cool off.

Perhaps something was a little off with that first bottle I tried, and, in combination with my mood and the weather, Aprikat just didn't get a fair shake. All in all, a very worthy example of a fruity beer cooler.

****

-- anhaga

Early August now. I really didn't like it the first time I made notes, liked it a little better the second time . . . let's give it a third try.

The Pour

A half pinky of nice, slightly yellow head rapidly sinking to a ring. Distinct aroma of peach/apricot has filled the room.

The aroma

Very, very distinctly apricot when my nose huffs straight from the glass. A very full apricot scent, not `peachy at all. Rich and warm.

The taste

Apricot and bread dough. A breakfast or dessert pastry flavour. Very pleasant, completely unlike my earlier experience of Aprikat.

Certainly a beer-based cooler rather than a beer, but very enjoyable.

That first bottle must have been very flawed.

-- anhaga

Alligator Blackened Lager

5%. 341 ml.

The Pour:

Half a finger of reddish brown rapidly disappearing head. Very effervescent. Dark reddish brown colour when held up to the light.

The Aroma:

The aroma is strangely abscent. 'Watery' almost describes it. Perhaps a distant hint of roasted malt.

The Taste:

Sweet on the tip of the tongue, smooth, light malt and hop flavour. There is little roasted or toasted or smoky or in any sense 'blackened' about the flavour.

I remember well that the first time I tried Alligator, I very much liked it. This time, however, it leaves me a little cold. It is smooth and largely unojectionable, but fairly characterless. It's almost as though Alley Kat were trying to produce a smooth, easy drinking lager which could be secretly used by a young man without a taste for interesting beers to impress friends who are impressed by a man drinking a dark beer.

***

-- anhaga

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Ale

5.4%. 341 ml.

This beer was a Hallowe'en special which I remember really enjoying last October. Let's see how it holds up in mid-March . . .

The Pour:

Red/copper, a little head with quite good lacing.

The Aroma:

Cinnamon and cloves. Lovely!

The Taste:

The body is a little thin, but the taste is quite rich. Cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin, malt, perhaps a little hop bitterness at the end and, incongruously, cola. It may -- perhaps unfortunately -- drift a little toward a spiced rum and cola in overall sensation.

All in all, a pleasant Hallowe'en/harvest festival tipple, although it doesn't seem to work quite as well while waiting for an overdue Spring.

****

-- anhaga

15th Anniversary Ginger Beer

This anniversary special is a 5% ale with ginger root added both in the boil and in the conditioning. It comes in a 650 ml bottle.

The Pour:

A light amber colour with a modest head and slight lacing.

The Aroma:

Ginger. Very, very pleasant and warm ginger.

The Taste:

Very nice. Certainly not the modern soft-drink version of ginger beer. Dry and refreshing. My only small quibble, and it is very small, is that the body is a little thin. If this were a hot summer afternoon instead of a dark winter evening, the quibble would likely disappear.

*****

-- anhaga

The Pour:

Beautiful clear amber gold with two finger head which dissipates quickly, leaving noticeable 'ring'. Nice lacing, though it certainly isn't at all lasting.

Aroma:

Quite cleanly ginger imho(with a rather subliminal warming effect), a bit like-regionally prevalent-Canada Dry...just a slight hint of alcohol though. And some faint maltiness.

The Taste:

Nice refreshing ginger, perhaps not as "well-suited" to a winter evening as a summer afternoon(making me wish they had offered this at the annual Taste Of Edmonton in Churchill Square...I dare say even Sir Winston might've given his approval). Very nice clean finish with a bit of lingering ginger warmth.

-- j_z_d

15th Anniversary Cascadia Dark Ale

7.6%. 650ml.

Alley Kat refers to this as a black IPA.

The Pour:

A finger of head. Very dark brown.

The Aroma:

Hops. I have trouble finding anything but hops in this aroma.

The Taste:

Hops at the beginning with a tail of roasted malt and a little caramel in the finish. It's quite an interesting transition.

As a black IPA Cascadia is a tremendous success!

*****

-- anhaga

15th Anniversary Belgian Style Tripel

8.2%. 650ml.

The Pour:

Little head. A pleasant yellow/orange colour.

The Aroma:

Fruity. A little acid.

The Taste:

Malty and mildly sweet. Less fruity and acid than the aroma suggests.

A bit of a tang on the finish and perhaps a bit of pepper.

A very accessible and pleasant example of the style.

*****

-- anhaga

The pour-into tulip glass(having gently rotated the bottle):

Rather captivating bright gold with orange tinge, a strong three finger head(overly aggressive pour, erm)which diminishes to moderate-but 'good healthy'winkeye lacing. Some carbonation, though it seems to slow or thin out after a couple minutes.

The Aroma:

A subtle apple-type fruitiness, not really too much else.

The Taste:

Crisp and rather malty apple cider-ish flavour, mild acidic burn...a subtle spiciness near the end, preceding a clean finish. Stylistically decent and actually quite enjoyable, I had pretty much forgotten this one. Certainly brings out the tartness of the ginger in this Stilton with mango and ginger.

-- j_z_d

Bad Hare Day

7.8% 341 ml.

The pour:

a brilliant redish dark amber colour. Very small head.

The aroma:

I'm having trouble detecting anything, but I've still got a bad cold. I think there's something fruity there.

The taste:

Initially a typical strong ale taste and then a closing of fairly strong hop bitterness. But the hops are nowhere near as strong as I expected from either an IPA or Alley Kat. Usually Alley Kat is less restrained on the hopping, I find. This one is very pleasant.

*****

-- anhaga

Bad Hare Day

7.8% abv...no mention of ibu

The pour

Pours pleasantly gold with a distinct orange tinge, although it settles to a reddish orange. Finger of rather rapidly diminishing head.. Good(abundant)carbonation, that tapers though to minimal. Nice lacing and a good ring of tight off-white foam.

Aroma

Distinctly IPA-ish, malt, hoppy spice and a bit of roastiness.

Taste

Hmm..malt mingling with hops-the label claims 'a very hoppy double IPA', I'm Not getting the very hoppy...IPA maybe, certainly not double though. Pleasant enough drier finish(easy drinking I suppose)...yes finish.

-- j_z_d

Three Bears Oatmeal Stout

5%. 650 ml.

I poured myself an Alley Kat Three Bears Oatmeal stout . I think that as a locally brewed Oatmeal stout , it can be seen as somewhat of a feather in Alley Kat's cap!

The pour:

Distinctly stout -like, no mistaking it for anything else. Two finger beige head.

Aroma:

Subtle-at least I found it so-but when you inhale deeply it's a bit like you've opened a bag of Quaker rolled oats. Definite hints of chocolate, a slight bit of coffee and an undertone(barely perceptible)of malt.

Taste:

A rather unassuming malty smoothness blankets the tongue. An underlying doughiness which would be the oatmeal. The coffee and chocolate are there, but quite subtle. However I find a lingering unsweetened cocoa powder after-taste. Wonderful example of an Oatmeal stout imho. Neil really Must consider brewing this year-round!

-- j_z_d

The Pour:

About a finger of rapidly fading light brown head. Not being pumped with nitrogen nor floated with a widget, the head is nothing like the unattainable -- and artificial -- head of a can of Guinness, but, do we have it for the foam or for the flavour?

A good, wholesome dark brown colour. A bit red at the edges when held to a candle.

The Aroma:

Dark malt, coffee, a velvety touch of chocolate.

The Taste:

Dry. Good bitterness and astringency. Toasted malt. A touch of oats on the finish. Hops and strong roasted malt at the back of the mouth in the very end.

This is another very satisfying big bottle from Alley Kat. Ideal for a winter evening alone or with friends.

*****

-- anhaga

Single Star Tennessee Whiskey Barrel Aged Stout

Bit of background - the latest Alley Kat/Sherbrooke collaboration uses Alley Kat's Three Bears Oatmeal Stout as a base. It then undergoes two months of ageing in an original Jack Daniels whiskey barrel. The name Single Star was chosen as representative of the original Confederate flag during the American Civil War(which began 250 years ago yesterday, April 12, 1861. Oh yes, 6.8% abv.

The pour

Identical to the Three Bears needless to say. Good finger of tan head, that dissipates to half a finger of tight foam Some carbonation discernable. Nice thick/dense though transitory lacing.

Aroma

A bit of whiskey is the initial scent, yielding to a woody barrel character.. A second whiff brings distinct whiskey and alcohol...not Too much more. Perhaps a bit of dark fruit - think rum or brandy-soaked raisins.

The taste

A definite whiskey taste up front with a smooth alcohol presence-no 'burn' or warming. That fades to a chocolatey and somewhat vinous(a bit of that alcohol/raisin from the aroma)character. A pleasant clean finish, not all that dry. Wonderful! An improvement on a very decent/above average stout.

And actually, very nice indeed with this 49% Chocophilia Fleur de Sel bar from Kerstin's- it seems to highlight or accentuate the vinous quality!

But, on that same barrel-aged note(or as BrewDog states "specially selected Scottish Grain whisky casks" ), the BrewDog Paradox Grain, 10% abv

The pour

Quite a dark cola brown, light showing through at the base of the bowl. Minimal....oh, half a finger of head that fades to a ring of very tight-micro-bubbles-off white foam. Not much discernable carbonation. Fair bit of very transitory lacing.

Aroma

Very similar whiskey aroma...bit of cask/woodiness..hints of vinous dark fruit-figs, dates and raisins.

The taste

Quite fruity initially, almost(Almost) an apple juice taste, but with darker fruits in there as well. That fades or sgues into a vinous smoothness with a bit of alcohol noticeable. Nice clean drier finish...well done lads!

Hmm, alternate effect with the Fleur de Sel chocolate. The Paradox Grain seems to bring out or slightly ampplify the pinch of Maldon's sea salt in the chocolate...in a rather congruent and relatively natural way -quite unique really!

Single Star revisited(roughly a month after release)

Very faint aroma...woody and roasty with some malt coming through.

Taste is rather deliciously vinous, exhibiting almost sherry-like characteristics. Nice mix of raisin/date/red grape dark fruit with hints of vanilla and almost burnt caramel. For 6.8% very little alcohol evident(although it makes its presence known with repeated sips). A bit of roastiness comes out and leads to a very dry finish. Quite different from the fresh bottle!

-- j_z_d

Single Star

the pour

very dark, very little head, but it seems to be lasting.

the aroma

nice dark roasted malt aroma with a noticable hint of oak. A tiny touch of corn mash on a deep breath. A very nice, warm aroma.

the taste

initial taste very much oak and corn mash with the roasted malt on the finish.

At first I found the oak a little off-putting as I'm not much of a fan of oaked beers, but after a few sips I find the sourness of the whiskey to very well compliment the sweet roast of the malt and the oak serves as an interesting undertone.

A very satisfying example of a type which is not my favourite.

*****

-- anhaga

15th Anniversary Apple Wit

5.4%. 650 ml.

Alley Kat has replaced the traditional orange and coriander of wit beer with Granny Smith apples in this bottle-conditioned version.

The Pour:

Two and a half finger head. Good lacing. Yellow-gold with a touch of orange. Hazy, as is expected.

The Aroma:

Faint malt and hops superseded very rapidly by a very clear Granny Smith apple. A touch of the aroma of a crisp, snowy evening.

The Taste:

Initially malt and then a bit of a twist around the acid of the Granny Smith. Herbal overtones and a finish with a hint of the Trapist. A very complex experience in the mouth, with a physical grab at the sides of the back of the tongue from the apple and an earthy pungency in the finish. Very nice.

The choice of a Granny Smith apple seems odd when first considered, but it works magnificently. Five stars and I will certainly join Alley Kat 'in toasting apple orchards everywhere' as they ask on the label.

*****

-- anhaga

The pour-into tulip glass

A beautiful cloudy pale gold(perfect example of a bottle conditioned Belgian style pale/blonde beer}. Abundant carbonation - almost little funnel clouds of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass Nice sudsy three finger white head which dissipates very gradually. Rather marginal lacing.

Aroma:

Hmm, very subtle but definitely wheat, with hints of apple.

Taste:

Certainly a Wit(but rather than the traditional orange and coriander, Alley Kat has used only Granny Smith apples). Distinct green apple cider-ish notes...although I haven't had a good apple cider in ages. As I remember cider though. Hmm, very smooth and rather unremarkable finish. A bit one dimensional, I suspect my taste buds were expecting the cask-conditioned version I had at The Sugar Bowl last fall-good handful of cinnamon added to the cask. eureka A cinnamon stick!

-- j_z_d

(Guatemalan)Coffee Porter

(a winter/seasonal release)

The Pour:

Rich darker-than-most-colas colour(bit of reddish translusence, when held to the light), nice two and a half finger head. Wonderful/rather abundant lacing.

Aroma:

Rather earthy coffee , leading me to identify it as Antigua, roasty notes as well as a bit of malt.

Taste:

Full-bodied coffee , making me rethink the initial Antigua identification. Possibly a Huehuetenango, they're fuller-bodied(or a blend). And a slight maltiness rolling over the tongue. Very smooth clean finish(leaving my taste buds wondering where it went-it was just here ...another sip please!) I'm having it with a pork loin cutlet in a spicy mango curry sauce, nice earthy aftertaste-mixture of the pork and earthy characteristics of the coffee ...ooh, and an unexpected little burst of mango fruitiness!

wow As I finish the last few bites-the beer having reached room temperature, the extra chiles (little birds eye-type)are really making themselves irrefutably apparent. With my heat tolerance though, Just right!

-- j_z_d

Alley Kat Loaded Goat Maibock, 7.3%abv (650ml, their 'Big Bottle' series)

The pour

A beautiful orangey copper, moderate carbonation...nice white two finger head...only slight(rather transitory)lacing.

Aroma

Hmm, mainly malt and a bit of alcohol..faint hints of apple and pear.

Taste

Quite malty...not too much else coming though. A hint of apple...trying in vain to find more, the 7% abv evident with repeated sips. A decent but really quite lackluster beer imho. From the high of the Three Bears Oatmeal Stout, to a rather sobering low with the Maibock. Decent representation of the style, but not outstanding. That said, I think I'll have a brown ale .

Rogue Brewing(Oregon) Hazelnut Brown Nectar

6%abv(also 650ml/22oz bottle-standard for Rogue it seems...Very nice handpainted-it would seem-label)
http://www.rogue.com/beers/hazelnut-brown.php

The pour

Lovely cola brown, with well integrated-both large and smaller bubbles-off white head. Minimal carbonation evident. Nice dense lacing. Rereading that review of the Rogue Hazelnut Brown, I've left it essentially headless!laugh Actually a fairly aggressive and brief pour produced a big four finger head, that took awhile to settle.

Aroma

Some malt and distinct hints of hazelnut...just a hint of alcohol evident.

Taste

Initially malty, then hazelnut flavour rather gloriously breaks through, like the morning sun breaking through the clouds! And a pleasant blend of hazelnut and maltiness lingering a bit, into a nice drier finish. Another impressive Rogue beer...good things brewing in Oregon!ok

-- j_z_d

Alley Kat Loaded Goat Maibock

7.3% 650 ml

The Pour

Darker than I expected for a maibock. A rich, red/amber colour, almost like a rose wine -- and with about as much head as a rose. Definitely effervesent, but virtually no head. It also seems a little on the watery side as far as body goes.

The Aroma

I'm having trouble detecting much aroma at all. Because of the colour, I'm ex`pecting ras`pberries.

The Taste

Very smooth. A bit of spice, cloves and cinnamon. Very lightly hopped.

I find it a very pleasant drink, but I'm not sure with the faint hopping, the absent head, and the dark colour that it is particularly representative of the type.

-- anhaga

Alley Kat Brewberry Blueberry Ale

5%. 341ml.

The Pour:

A little bit hazy, yellow colour with a touch of orange. Little head.

The Aroma:

Blueberry(koolaid), a touch of malt beneath.

The Taste:

hmm. It tastes like a pale ale -- malt and minimal hops, but there's also another flavour which doesn't strike me as blueberry. hmm. What is it? (sip. Then sip again). I just can't put a name on it. It's not particularly fruity, and it's not particularly unpleasant, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with blueberries. It's more of a spice, herbal note, sort of analogous to Amber's' Pepperberry lager.

Not at all what I expected, but a sort of perplexingly pleasant surprise.

-- anhaga

Pumphouse Blueberry Ale

pour

small but `persistent head. Yellow and hazy.

aroma

Blueberries and a touch of malt.

taste

A nice maltiness and very good body, as an ale should have. The blueberry flavour is present and noticeable, but not dominant and certainly not overwhelming.

Again, this type is a summer time drink, but Pumphouse has managed to make a fruit beer that cannot be mistaken for a cooler.

*****

-- anhaga

Unity Brew

Unity Brew is the product of a gathering of brewmasters at Alley Kat's brewery in 2010. The masters from Calgary's
Brew Brothers Brewery,
Big Rock Brewery,
Wild Rose Brewery, Edmonton's Alley Kat, Amber's Brewing Company, Yellowhead Brewery, Brewsters Brewing Company, Banff's Banff Avenue Brewing Company, Jasper's ,
Jasper Brewing Company, Red Deer's Drummond Brewery, Canmore's Grizzly Paw Brewing, and Roughneck Brewing in Calmar came together to create a recipe and a beer to raise funds for the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Unity Brew is a 5% ABV Amber Ale available in 650 millilitre bottle ideal for sharing.

Emblazoned on the label, in large, friendly letters, are the words: 'Unity Brew was born from a need to give back, work together and make one great beer. Enjoy.'

The pour:

A nice, persistent head. Good lacing.

Clear, dark amber colour.

Aroma:

Malt and hops, neither overpowering.

The taste:

Rich, chocolatey, full-bodied, toasty malt.

Just enough hop bitterness on the finish to be properly balanced.

A very pleasant and satisfying ale.

And a very good cause.

*****

-- anhaga

Alley Kat Brewing Company/Sherbrooke Liquor Store

Sherbrooke Liquor Store in North West Edmonton carries a full line of wine, liquor and beer, but it's real reason for existing is beer: every kind of beer that can be found, but with an emphasis on Alberta beer and a very particular emphasis on Edmonton beer. Such is the devotion to local beer at Sherbrooke that their staff actively work with local brewers to create new products and put great energy into promoting those products.

For a number of years Alley Kat Brewing has been collaborating with Sherbrooke to produce limited edition products which are only available at Sherbrooke.

Mojo A'Peel

Dunkelweiss. 6.5%. 341ml.

Like pretty much all the Alley Kat/Sherbrooke collaborations, this one has a whimsical cartoon label, in this case an orange simian in a safari outfit and wearing a monocle is seen peeling a banana but inside there is an open and foaming bottle of beer. The background is a stereotypical African scene.

The list of ingredients reads: 'Malt, water, hops, yeast, vanilla extract, demerara sugar. "Yes, we have no bananas."'

The pour:

good but short-lived head, no lacing.
Cloudy, but that's as it should be for a dunkelweiss.
Medium brown colour with a hint of yellow.

There's nothing on the label about bottle fermentation, but there's a hell of a lot of sediment down there!

Aroma:

indefinite fruitiness.

malt.

the taste:

initially bland followed by quite distinct banana which fades very rapidly.

very pleasant mouth feel, big bubbles and good body.

concluding notes:

Another variation on Alley Kat's Weiss. I must say I get a little tired of taking a base beer and throwing a few flavouring agents into it and calling it something new, but this seems to be the trend at the moment. I'm a bit of a purist, really: I'd rather see the brewing artist rather than the flavouring stylist. I'm trying to imagine what sort of food this could comfortably accompany. Something summery, but not Mediterranean. Perhaps some sort of Latin American or Caribbean grilled seafood without two much heat, or perhaps something Ethiopian, Senegalese or North African. Maybe even a careful choice of Chinese or South Asian. Nothing European.

On it's own, it is not terribly remarkable, but as a food accompaniment, it might well shine. I will have to try another time.

***(solo)

Second try

Accompanying a dish of basa fillet poached in orange juice and salsa verde with Mexican rice.

Aroma:

indefinite fruitiness, malt, a bit of acid.

Taste:

pleasant maltiness followed quickly be strong banana.

Accompaniment:

This works very well. The strong flavours of the basa and the salsa balance well the orange juice and the banana and malt of the beer. This is a beer which very much benefits from and brings benefit to a strongly flavoured meal.

**** (with well matched food)

-- anhaga

The label is by longtime Flintstones animator Scott Shaw.

The pour

Very nice cola brown, dark amber highlights around the edges. Minimal head and decent lacing which fades reasonably quickly.

The Aroma

Hmm, I get only slight banana, some brown sugary sweetness and just a hint of vanilla. Very smooth/clean, if slightly lingering finish to the scent. Quite nice, if this is any indication of taste, I'm glad I've got 5 more bottles!

Taste

Rather roasty, with distinct hints of banana and sugary malt(not to mention a bit of vanilla). I suppose a bit of vanilla would fit in there nicely. Quite nice really! Very clean finish...really quite satisfying imho! Would certainly be great as a summer beer.

-- j_z_d

Sherbrooke Shamrock

Leprechaun on the label

'The style and charm of a Belgian Lager, but with a unique taste and colour all of it's own, Slainte!'

7.1% ABV

A green beer for St. Paddy's day, of course.

Tasted with a nice meal of pyrogies and beets. I used a Guinness glass to make it completely authentic.

The pour:

dayglo green, virtually no head.

Aroma:

generic lager. unremarkable and inoffensive.

Taste:

I find it tastes oddly. I think there is a dissonance between the expectation of mint and the lack of it.

As a beer, it's good, but not great. As something to quaff at a Paddy's Day party, it's ideal: bright green, high alcohol, and very drinkable.

***

-- anhaga

Chinese New Beer

I got over to Sherbrooke finally today and picked up a six pack of Chinese New Beer. It's a little less in your face than Alley Kat's Apple Wit, and the mandarin and coriander (or whatever is supposed to be there) is subtle to the point of near invisibility.

But, certainly far from unpleasant.

-- anhaga

KGB Russian Imperial Stout

10%. 650 ml.

This old fashioned Russian Imperial Stout is derived from the winning recipe from 2009's Aurora Brewing Challenge, a local homebrewing contest sponsored by the Edmonton Homebrewers' Guild. The KGB of the name of the beer derive, not from the old Soviet Secret Police, but from the first names of the recipe's creators, Kevin Zaychuck, Glen Hannah, and Bruce Sample. This collaboration between Edmonton's amateur brewers, Alley Kat, and Sherbrooke has repeatedly shown that, when it comes to quality, home brewers can quite happily compete head-to-head with the big companies.

The Pour:

It seems to pour very slowly, like it has immense body. Very little head. A little bit of lace. Very, very dark.

The Aroma:

Dark Roasted Malt. Very warm and attractive.

The Taste:

Very full bodied! Wonderful warm, caramelly roasted malt flavour, followed by a brief, strong rush of hop bitterness, then some sweetness, a final touch of hops and dark roast and fruit and then clean. Very, very nice! This is a big, big bottle of very, very strong niceness!

*****

-- anhaga

Alley Kat/Sherbrooke KGB Russian Imperial Stout

10% abv

The pour

An opaque darker-than-dark brown with a gradually settling/dissipating finger

of tan coloured head. Rather dense lacing, though it fades quickly, leaving a

nice ring and a thin cap of foam.

Aroma

Strange, unlike the other bottles I've had I get a primarily phenol/alcohol

aroma from this one. A bit of chocolate...chocolate more prominent on a second

sniff, Some hints of roastiness.

Taste (*raises glass*to you Jack ¹ )

Perhaps a reflection of the day I've had, although I think not. I'm getting a

subtly chocolatey alcohol warming more than anything else...sip on I say! Coffee

comes out a bit more as it warms, along with some vaguely herbal, and rather

medicinal notes. Very nice clean finish! Mmm, certainly underlines the nuttiness

of this Valrhona Palmira(Venezuelan)chocolate...nice little Amaretto-like

flavour burst in there!

-- j_z_d

Ochsner's 1905 Alberta Porter

I also got a pack of the Sherbrooke/Alley Kat 'Ochsner's 1905 Alberta Porter', and I've just poured a bottle . . .

Now this is a very nice porter! Just enough toasted maltiness without becoming cloyingly sweet. Just the enough hoppiness to make you sit up and take notice. And, amazingly, I detect a wormwood undertone! although the label says it only has water, malt, hops and yeast. This one is a real keeper, although I don't think it will be around long. And it's a recipe created by two of Edmonton's best homebrewers. A fine achievement.

Sorry the rest of you (apart from j_z_d) probably won't get to try it: as far as I can tell it is only available in one store in the world.

-- anhaga

Glenn Sherbrooke Strong Beer

12.2 % (hand written on the label) from barrel no. 1(hand written on the label). 341ml.

A muscular red headed and bearded shirtless gentleman in a red and white kilt with a maple leaf sporran and a red cape graces the label. It is basic strong ale which has been briefly aged in a used single malt whiskey barrel from Cape Breton's Glenora Distillery, the makers of Glen Breton, Canada's only single malt whiskey.

The 'Glenn' in the name has an asterisk and there's a little footnote reading 'We're taking the high road here' which is a reference to the kerfuffle Glen Breton went through with the Scottish Distillers Association over the term 'Glen'. I'm not sure that the extra 'n' will protect them.

The Pour:

Major head, but short-lived with minimal lacing. Dark brown and muddy.

The Aroma:

Oak, rye, alcohol, and oak again. I thought I caught a whiff of hops for a moment, but I'm not sure.

The Taste:

Sweet and malty for a moment and then . . . Oak. Fruity and sweet on the finish. Perhaps just a touch cloying.

I'm having trouble deciding about this one. I don't know whether I like it or dislike it. It strikes me as a bit gimmicky, and I'm not generally fond of oaked beers, but it's not unpleasant.

****

-- anhaga

The pour:

Dark cola brown, prominent carbonation. Good three finger head-rather aggressive

pour-which very gradually dissipates. Nice reasonably prominent lacing.

The Aroma:

Hmm, fairly subtle, but malty phenol.

The Taste:

Almost immediate-though it's not 'taste'-alcohol warming and pleasant malty 'presence', before fading to a clean finish. I can see myself picking up a few more of these! At 12.2% it should even age/cellar Quite well.

-- j_z_d

Chocolate Cherry Ostiarius

6.5%. 341 ml.

j_z_d, part of my afternoon outing was to accidentally drop into Sherbrooke again.

I picked up two more six packs of the Ochsner's porter as well as another of the Chinese New Beer and one of the Sherbrooke/Alley Kat collaboration (which I think you've mentioned) Chocolate Cherry Ostiarius. I'm having a taste of the last right now.

Again, I'm not much for flavoured beers, and, I'm really not partial to cherry, but I do like porters ('ostiarius' is Latin for 'porter', BTW). This one is, I think, a very nice winter beer. Despite the chocolate and cherry, it's not too sweet, which suits me very much. This one seems ideal as a start to a snowy evening in the kitchen (the snow outside, not in the kitchen ) spent chopping tomatoes, onions and freshly roasted poblanos for a salsa and then cucumbers and peppers and red onion for a Mediterranean salad and then assembling enchiladas (four fillings: chorizo, cheese, bean and chicken) to freeze for future meals. Coincidentally those are exactly the culinary plans I have tonight. Good thing I accidentally ended up at Sherbrooke.

I forgot to mention that the Chocolate Cherry Ostiarius has on its label in not terribly large, but friendly letters the words

'DI! ECCE HORA! UXOR MEA ME NECABIT!'

which, being translated is something like

'Oh Gods! Look at the time! My wife will kill me!'

Any beer that puts homely Latin on its label (and gets the vocative plural of 'Deus' correct) wins my affection.

-- anhaga

The pour

Pours a very nice cola brown with a two and a half finger 'soap sudsy' tan head that gradually fades to less than one finger. Nice though transitory lacing. Some carbonation discernable, nut not much.

Aroma

Quite subtle...hints of cherry syrup(like a sundae topping/milkshake flavouring), chocolate, some sugary sweetness as well as a bit of roastiness.

The taste

Very nice! I'm getting a bit of vanilla-like sweetness(fairly subtle) up front, transitioning to a malty chocolate taste. The cherry shyly-and subtly-pokes it's head out in the lingering aftertaste. Actually, the cherry flavour seems more prominent as it fades - I like that effect! Clean/smooth finish with just a slight alcohol flourish/'tickle'.. Excellent! I Must try to get another six bottles of this.

-- j_z_d

Van Helsings' All Natural Mouthwash

This beer's gimmick is a clove of garlic in the bottle. The one I tried was almost a year old; that fact should perhaps be taken into consideration.

The pour:

the clove of garlic slipped nicely into my glass. The colour is a light amber. no head, but satisfactory effervescence.

aroma:

garlic.

garlic.

perhaps a faint touch of malt.

Taste:

Surprisingly, not much garlic!

Impossible to decide if it's an ale or a very lightly hopped lager (I'm betting it's the latter. Alley Kat's Charlie Flints Lager as a base with garlic added.)

Certainly this is a novelty beer, but as such, it is very, very enjoyable.

***** (it succeeds very well at what it attempts)

-- anhaga

Amber's Brewing Company

Amber's has been brewing beer in an old soy sauce factory on the south east edge of Old Strathcona since 2007. They continue to produce a fairly narrow, but interesting range of bottled products and a wider range of products in kegs specific to particular bars and restaurants.

Sap Vampire Maple Lager

A fine head, good lacing

Appropriately red colour (vampire, blood), quite dark

A strong hint of maple in the nose.

Very maply flavour, quite sweet, but not to the point of cloying.

Personally, I wouldn't want a second one, but Amber's says it is their best seller.

***

-- anhaga

Sap Vampire Maple Lager

5.3%. 341 ml.

The pour

A lovely reddish mahogany(clear reddish orange when held to the light). Rather slight carbonation. A finger of head, which dissipates reasonably quickly, leaving the standard-or at least anticipated-ring. Decent but very transitory lacing.

Aroma:

Maple(distinct but not really overpowering sweetness)and subtle malt

Taste:

Mapley sweetness initially-Amber's had toned this down a bit-then I detect a bit of malt mingling with the maple. Leading to a very clean finish.`I hadn't had one of these in quite awhile, certainly good to get back to it. Not really Too exceptional, but a well-brewed and flavourful beer. Definitely easy drinking, I'd eagerly accept another if offered

-- j_z_d

Lunch Pail Ale

The Pour

Although often plagued by low carbonation in it's bottled beers, Amber's seems to have nailed this particular bottle. Not a huge head, but persistent bubbles and good effervescence.

the Aroma:

sweet maltiness

the Taste:

very good body, very malty with a touch of hops building to the end of the taste. A clean biting on the tongue afterwards.

This is a very satisfying Pale Ale. I particularly like the strong body and the clean finish.

*****

-- anhaga

The pour, from 341ml bottle

Beautiful clear gold with distinct orange tinge. Abundant carbonation, that gradually fades, but never disappears Nice finger(and a bit)of head that gradually fades to the expected ring. Only transitory/minimal lacing.

Aroma

Rather subtle, fairly distinct light hoppiness and a hint of malt.

Taste

Initially malt at the tip of the tongue before a bit of hop bitterness takes over. Quite a clean finish. The hops are quite subtle, I rather like this, very easy drinking ale.

-- j_z_d

Another evening with the Lunch Pail Ale

The pour

Two fingers head, great lacing, amber colour.

The aroma

Malt and floral notes.

The taste

Clean, clear malt. A tiny touch of hop bitterness, just enough to balance the lingering sweetness of the malt. Fresh and clean.

*****

-- anhaga

Kenmount Road Chocolate Stout

5.6%. 341 ml.

For trivia buffs, this beer is named for a street in St. John's Newfoundland, the home of Amber's original brewmaster.

The pour:

Very little head. Very little head. And it is transparent around the edges.

The Aroma:

Toasted malt. A touch of chocolate.

The Taste:

A touch acidic initially, which seems inappropriate. Distinct dark chocolate and toasted malt. But in body quite thin -- the watery appearance of the edges is apparent in the mouth feel.

I've been drinking Kenmount Road from it's inception and it doesn't quite seem the same as it was. Certainly it is expected that recipes will be refined with time, but I have the impression -- and it is only an impression -- that Kenmount Road has lost some of its body. I'm not sure whether the absent head is a function of that missing body or simply of that chronic under-carbonation problem I've mentioned above. In any case, Kenmount Road Chocolate Stout remains a very satisfying beer of its type. It does not, however, satisfy me as it once did.

****

-- anhaga

The pour

Wonderfully dark and stout-ish, a finger of tan head that dissipates quickly. Good but certainly not lingering lacing. No carbonation evident in the rather abysmal darkness.

Aroma

Subtle...some chocolate and a bit of malt(but just a hint). Hmm, another sniff reveals quite distinct roastiness.

Taste

Quite distinct chocolate and some maltiness. The chocolate isn't overpowering and fades to a malty subtlety. And slides seamlessly into a smooth finish. Really very enjoyable with this Italian Caffarel chocolate(57%min.). Not only do the two chocolates blend nicely, but the maltiness enhances the ground hazelnuts just a bit. Wonderful as a dessert-type beer!

-- j_z_d

Australian Mountain Pepper Berry Lager

Australian Mountain Pepper Berry Lager is flavoured with the berry of the Australian and Tasmanian plant Tasmannia lanceolata, which has a sweet and peppery flavour. Polygodial, the substance which provides the peppery flavour, is a surfactant which seems to act as an anti-foaming agent in Australian Mountain Pepper Berry Lager. Considering Amber's chronic under-carbonation problem, this feature of the flavouring agent is perhaps unfortunate

The pour:

Lots of bubbles, no head. The polygodial seems to have struck.

A dark straw colour. Very clear and attractive.

Aroma:

Remarkably absent. Perhaps a tiny, distant bit of pepper.

The taste:

Not so much pepper as eucalyptus. Malt and hops mildly. Clean and somehow woodsy.

The body is quite remarkable. Not syrupy or heavy, but very solid and strong. This is not an insipid, watery brew.

Final comments:

This is a very satisfying beer. I might prefer it as a straight lager, without hiding behind trendy flavouring agents. I think it could stand on its own very well as a traditional style.

*****

I decided to revisit the Mountain Pepperberry another evening.

The Pour:

No head. When held up to the light, no bubbles rising, right after pouring. The Amber's low carbonation problem seems to have struck again, and this is not the surfactant effect of the pepper berries.

The Aroma:

Peppery and fruity. Ginger.

The Taste:

Absolutely flat, from the bubble point of view. A bit of a peppery bite on the tongue, and a pleasant berry flavour. Almost cream soda.

This beer is interesting to a certain extent, although this bottle seems more like a beer cooler than an actual lager. And it desperately needs some carbonation.

***

-- anhaga

The pour

Very nice clear gold, abundant carbonation. Finger(and a bit)of gradually fading head. Nice foamy ring and nice but very short-lived lacing.

Aroma

Definite bit of blueberry, rather cherry-like, otherwise fairly lager-ish.

Taste

Initially Quite a clean taste, transitioning rather rapidly into a bit of bitterness that certainly isn't attributable to hops(although hops are probably lurking in the background). The slight bitterness morphs into a malty smoothness, that's rather lip smackingly tasty! Very smooth, clean finish. I hadn't had one of these in awhile, vaguely-just vaguely reminiscent of Quebec brewery Dieu du Ciel's Route des epices/Spice Route, a rye beer with black and green peppercorns. A subtler pepperiness here though.

Unexpected treat with the last few sips of the Pepperberry, I had purchased an Austrian Zotter Chocolate bar with a small percentage of Scotch Whisky-for flavouring purposes("Highland Harvest' in the 'hand-scooped' category). I assume it was the maltiness of the beer, that brought out an Ever-So-slight smoky, peaty whisp of flavour to do a sprightly jig across the taste buds! I don't know what reminded me that I still had a small piece of that- thanks Kerstin/Kerstin's Chocolates!

-- j_z_d

Grog

This probably shouldn't be in a collection of beer tasting notes, but . . .

Grog is Amber's 'Craft Cooler' (they used to make another one, but it has, sadly been discontinued). Grog is sometimes billed as a 'Colombian Lime Cooler' as Amber's imports Lime Juice from Colombia specifically for this mix. The rest is grain alcohol, water, sugar and a splash of rum.

Now, to open the bottle:

An immediate puff of lime aroma.

The drink itself is a cloudy greenish liquid, reminiscent in appearance of a good absinthe after the louche. There is a disturbing absence of bubbles.

The Taste:

There are no bubbles. This bottle is flat. I will, however, press on.

The flavour is a slightly bitter lime, pinching at the sides of the back of the tongue. It is quite dry, which seems right to me. Grog cleanses the palate for itself.

I detect not the slightest hint of any sort of rum.

The flavour is very pleasant, if a bit of a one trick pony.

Effervescence would have been a nice addition.

6%

*** (because the bubbles were missing)

-- anhaga

Amber's Grog (no, not ale, an Amber's product though), 6% ABV-a lime cooler

The pour

Cloudy and very pale green. Little in the way of carbonation.

Aroma

Relatively faint but distinctly lime with that citrus astringency. I detect some alcohol too.

Taste

Hmm a nice lime bitterness, softened by the alcohol-just my opinion, but there's almost a gin-like quality to it. Very clean finish. I can see myself going through a number of these during the summer months! Probably a rather alarming number in the near future.

-- j_z_d

Another evening, another Grog

The Pour>

pale greenish cloud. Bubbles this time.

The Aroma:

Lime.

The Taste:

Refreshing slightly sweet lime flavour with a pleasant effervesence.

This would be a wonderful refresher on a lazy afternoon or a pleasant sipper for an evening party.

*****

-- anhaga

Brewsters Brewing Company

Brewsters is a chain of brew pubs with locations in Edmonton, Calgary and Airdrie, Alberta and in Regina, Saskatchewan. The beer for the Edmonton locations is brewed at the Oliver Square location Downtown. A varying range of their products is available in 500 ml bottles from their locations.

Czech Pilsner

5% 500 ml

For my first experience of Brewsters, I chose their version of one of my favourite beers, the Pilsner.

The Pour:

Substantial head (three fingers). Good lacing. Very clear with a light amber colour, a little darker than might be expected from a pilsner.

The Aroma:

Fresh, mildly hoppy, a touch of summer grass.

The Taste:

Quite malty. I was expecting more hop in the initial taste, which is something I expect in a Pilsner. As I continue tasting, the hops in the nose become more prominent and then, magically, they come to the fore in the taste as well.

With a bit of smoked sausage (kielbasa and andouille) from Old Country Meats, this pilsner becomes magic.

This pilsner is a distinct success.

-- anhaga

(I might add somewhat of a rediscovery of the style for me)

5% ABV

The pour-actually, as served with my green chili bison burger:

Beautiful amber gold colour, rather minimal head and only slight carbonation.

Aroma

Rather clean with the requisite malt and some hops coming through.

Taste

Very clean and rather refreshing, it's been Quite awhile since I had a Pilsner-Too long it would seem. The underlying-if you could call it that- spiciness of the Saaz hops was great with the jalapeno pepper topped bison burger - the two separarte spicinesses really integrating fairly seamlessly(wonderful enhancement imho). The Pilsner, upon an isolated sip, had what I thought was a very clean/smooth finish. Of course I took time to savour the union of burger and beer, making for a long leisurely meal. The Pilsner even provided a subtle accompaniment to the pickle slice!

-- j_z_d

Shaughnessy Stout

(5% ABV)

Appearance

Dark opaque black. A two finger head when it was set on the table(and that dissipated reasonably quickly). Nice abundant lacing.

Aroma

Rather clean and somewhat roasty I thought.. Some hints of both chocolate and-to a lesser extent-maltiness. I also detected just a whiff of alcohol.

Taste

Smooth and creamy with a subtle roasted maltiness. Full bodied with a relaxed lingering finish, Very nice. It proved a wonderful compliment to my dessert(of sorts, the 50mg Truffini Double Dark Truffle chocolate bar I had bought earlier). It not only extracted the coconut flavour residing in the bit of coconut oil(listed in the ingredients). It also meshed/integrated nicely with the chocolate. My curiosity was aroused about what it might be like with Kerstin's Fleur de Sel-with sea salt or Mad Orange Pistachio-Madagasca chocolate with... Or perhaps Green and Black's Mayan Gold.

-- j_z_d

The pour

Almost no head. Dark, dark brown.

Aroma

Rich toasty malt

Taste

Malty sweetness at the beginning moving toward dark roasted malt and then a brief hop bitterness and then quite clean with only a lingering bit of toast in the finish.

Shaughnessy strikes me as moving in the neighbourhood of a chocolate stout. It's not quite as far into that neighbourhood as Amber's Kenmount Road, but it's on the same road.

****

-- anhaga

Bow Valley Brown Ale

5% ABV

Appearance

Reddish cola brown colour with a thinning rim of head when deposited on the table. Negligible lacing.

Aroma

A bit understated, but pleasantly malty...some roastiness evident too.

Taste

Initial flavour is roasty and malty, followed by a subtle chocolate sweetness. Clean finish with just a hint of lingering chocolate...a favourite of mine, of course! Makes me realize how much I've missed this one and how I could all-too-easily become a 'regular' customer at Brewsters.

-- j_z_d

This Brown Ale is named for the valley of the Bow River. The River has it's source at the foot of the Bow Glacier, which is part of the Wapta Icefield which stradles the Provincial boundary between Alberta and British Columbia. The River flows through the village of Lake Louise and the Town of Banff in Banff National Park, through the town of Canmore and the lands of the Stoney Nation and finally through the city of Calgary before joining the Oldman River to become the South Saskatchewan River. The term 'Bow Valley' usually refers to the upper waters from the Bow Glacier out into the foothills. The drawing on the label is a somewhat stylized view of the valley looking West into the mountains. The name of the river is a translation of the age-old Piikáni First Nation name Makhabn, meaning 'River or Place of the Bows. The banks of the river were a dependable and valuable source of materials for making bows.

The Pour:

A modest head, but nicely persistant. A beautiful, dark copper brown.

The Aroma:

Coffee and malt. A very pleasant and comforting aroma.

The Taste:

Very similar to the aroma, coffee and malt, with a touch of chocolate and a tiny almost peppery bite. Very smooth.

My only quibbles might be that it's a little thin and a little too smooth. It is very approachable, but perhaps a little pedestrian.

****

-- anhaga

Rig Pig Pale Ale

5%. 500 ml.

As is clear from the label's grubby looking roughneck with the huge pipe-wrench over his shoulder, Rig Pig bears the local colloquial name for workers in Alberta's oil drilling industry. The oil industry has been the principal engine of Alberta's economy since the middle of the last century.

The Pour:

A big head, clear, copper. Strong lacing.

The Aroma:

Big hop smell from the moment the bottle was opened. Hops all the way.

The Taste:

First sip is malty and quite dry. Quite Pleasant. No big hops in the first taste.

The hops come in a little more with subsequent sips, but they are not at all overwhelming.

This would be a fine accompaniment to food, whether a hearty dinner after a day working on the rigs, or more formal, lighter fare.

*****

-- anhaga

The pour

Lovely amber/gold, strong but quickly fading finger of head with fairly decent lacing.

The Aroma:

Fairly subtle/clean to my nose. Bit of malty phenol.

The Taste:

A rather resiny pseudo sweetness that fades to a somewhat lingering malty embrace. Rather exemplary finish with a lingering maltiness. Very nice!

-j_z_d

Another evening with the Rig Pig.

The pour

One finger head, nice lacing, amber colour.

The aroma

Hop bitterness. Hops at the end of the boil.

The taste

Not a lot of hop taste. clearly the hops were at the end of the boil, giving

aroma, rather than the strong flavour of the full boil. That having been said,

most of the flavour is the herbal tones of the hops, without much bitterness. A

very little malt flavour turns up as the glass progresses. In the end, I think

the lingering strong hop scent in the nose overwhelms the actual flavour in the

mouth. I would have enjoyed Rig Pig more with less dry hopping. It's

definitely a summertime brew, and it needs some strongly flavoured food to go

with it: chili and nachos, a big submarine sandwich with lots of jalapenos, or

even just a good big hot dog with everything.

This is definitely a beer to have with food, and, as such, it's a great success.

*****

-- anhaga

Gunther's Hefeweizen

5%. 500 ml.

Gunther's won 'Best Beer' at the 2008 Calgary International Beer Festival. Brewsters recommends it be served with a slice of lemon, something I was sadly lacking. I imagine it would be a very nice complement.

The Pour:

A finger of head, rapidly departing. A cloudy yellow brown.

The Aroma:

Indefinable fruit and malt. Yeast. It smells very homey, like mother's kitchen.

The Taste:

Light fruit, malt, yeast, a distant bit of banana and a touch of ginger in the finish.

A pleasant drink to savour of an evening in a comfortable chair with a good book.

****

-- anhaga

Brewsters Gunther's Hefeweizen

5% abv - 15 ibu

The pour

Gentle pour results in minimal head, little evidence of carbonation. A

cloudy(as it's unfiltered)golden yelow. Nice ring of tiny bubbles.

Aroma

Definitely a wheat beer. Malty yeasty...almost a bit of banana, some

clove.

Taste

Very much a Hefeweizen, clean and wheaty with spice and just a hint of malt

coming at the end, as well as some yeast characteristics(breadiness). A

reasonably clean finish...decent wheat ale. I prefer Dunkelweizens myself, but

this was ok, nothing special though.

-- j_z_d

Wild West Wheat Ale

5%. 500 ml.

The Pour:

Two and a half finger head. Clear Yellow.

The Aroma:

Wheaty. A field of wheat in summer.

The Taste:

Surprisingly fruity and slightly acid. Wheat in the middle. A very clean finish.

Wild West would be very refreshing on a hot Alberta summer afternoon.

*****

-- anhaga

Lanigan's Irish Ale

4.7% ABV. 500 ml.

The pour:

A lovely dark reddish brown, red beyond a doubt when held to the light. Finger and a half of head, which gradually dissipates but never quite disappears. Nice strong lacing.

The Aroma:

Sweet toffee with a hint of malt...possibly a bit of roastiness.

The taste:

Initially sweet though not overpoweringly so. That transitions quite seamlessly to a briefly lingering maltiness and a quick exit/smooth finish. An easy drinking ale, a rotating or occasional favourite of mine at Brewsters.

-- j_z_d

The Pour:

Nice big very light brown two finger head. A bright, coppery-red colour. Good lacing.

The Aroma:

Hoppy. A little malt. Not a very strong aroma at all.

The Taste:

Smooth. A touch of malt and white chocolate. A little hop bitterness on the finish.

On the whole a very smooth, unobtrusive, subtle, very pleasant drink, but without a great deal on which to remark apart from it's simple approachability.

****

-- anhaga

Flying Frog Lager

5% ABV

The pour:

A very clear brown with two fingers of head and significant lacing.

The Aroma:

I found it quite subtle...maybe some malt.

The Taste:

Hmm, I found a bit of subdued hops initially, which rolled into a bit of maltiness and then it's gone.(Rather abrupt finish.) Pleasant hop aftertaste but a bit too easy drinking for me,then again one man's meat...

-- j_z_d

The pour

Modest head, nice amber colour

The aroma

Inoffensive malt and hops. Nothing overwhelming.

The taste

Strong malt and light hops from the beginning. Very nice body in the mouth. Clean. Inoffensive. Refreshing and pleasant, but like most Brewsters items, not very challenging or remarkable. A Lager to have with a meal, perhaps, but not as any great complimentary accompaniment. Just something to wet a whistle.

****

-- anhaga

Farmer's Tan White Ale

Brewsters recommends it be served with a slice of orange, but I didn't have one about. This bottle accompanied breaded haddock fillets and chips and homemade malt vinegar (the product of an embarrassing home-brewing error).

The Pour:

A pretty, pale gold. Hazy, as a white ale should be. A finger or so of persistent head.

The Aroma:

Malt, citrus, a touch of unidentifiable spice, perhaps a bit peppery.

The Taste:

Citrus and spice. A slight sweetness. Very smooth. Very refreshing!

With the fish and chips, the ale is remarkable!

*****

-- anhaga

Hammerhead red ale

The pour:

half a finger of head. Very, very red.

The aroma:

Malt.

The taste:

Malt. A touch of spice. A little bit of sweetness and hops at the end.

Very smooth. Not much complexity. What might be called 'easy drinking'.

****

-- anhaga

Original Lager

5%. 500ml.

With a nice rice, black beans, and chicken sausage creole I threw together.

The Pour:

A finger or so of head. A clear straw yellow.

The Aroma:

Fresh. Hops. Very lagery.

The Taste:

Some malt. A good solid body. Clean, but completely lacking in complexity or interest.

This lager will be good as something to wash down my spicy meal, but it will add nothing -- and take nothing away. There is nothing particularly bad about it, but nothing remarkable.

***

-- anhaga

Blue Monk Extra Strong Barley Wine

9.9%. 500 ml

Blue Monk is a seasonal offering, only available from October to March.

The Pour:

A finger of quickly disappearing head with minimal lacing over a rich dark amber/copper. It's a very pretty piece in a tulip glass.

The Aroma:

Trappist fruitiness. Malt. But mostly fruit.

The Taste:

Hops at the front and then malt with hops lingering throughout. Less fruit on the first taste than I expected.

Second sip, a little more complexity, with spices of a peppery sort. Perhaps a touch of allspice.

As the glass goes down, the flavours mingle in a very satisfying and warming way.

Unlike many of Brewsters' offerings, which seem designed to appeal to the widest possible range of tastes while remaining within the bounds of the type, Blue Monk is satisfyingly challenging and very appropriate for the season of long nights. It would be very suitable with a well flavoured cheese board, perhaps some bits of smoked and/or pickled fish, or even shared in small glasses before dinner as an aperitif.

*****

-- anhaga

Brewsters Blue Monk Barleywine

9.9% abv - 100 ibu

The pour

Nice burgundy-ish mahogany colour with a two finger head. Bit cloudy, not

much carbonation evident. Nice dense, if short lived lacing.

Aroma

Dark fruit-primarily plums and red grapes, possibly a bit of black cherry-and

phenol.

Taste

Initial fruit flavour, then a maltiness seeps in, along with a bit of alcohol

bitterness. A hint of fruit lingers a bit, leading to a clean finish. I'm

tempted to age/cellar a bottle of this, along with (my current) Dieu du Ciel

Solstice d'Hiver/Winter Solstice, Aley Kat's Olde Deuteronomy and Winnipeg

brewery Half Pints' Burly Wine. At 9.9% it should age well.

-- j_z_d

River City Raspberry Ale

The drawing on the label is of one of the many beautiful views of Edmonton. This one is looking south-west from the Right Bank of the River, parallel to the distinctively blue Dawson Bridge, across the River and the quaint Riverdale neighbourhood toward Downtown, high on the thickly wooded Left Bank.

The Pour:

Light and golden with perhaps a touch of orange. About a finger of short-lived head.

The Aroma:

Raspberry.

The Taste:

Very clean, with only a hint of raspberry in the flavour. Not noticably malty or hoppy.

I think River City Raspberry Ale would perhaps fall into the catagory of beer cooler. When the strong raspberry aroma first hit me, I was expecting something similar to Alley Kat's Raspberry Mead, which is a malt and honey based brew with a strong raspberry flavour. River City is much more understated.

Another hot summer afternoon brew, inoffensive, but unremarkable.

**** (for succeeding at what it attempts)

-- anhaga

Blackfoot Blueberry Wheat Ale

Blackfoot Blueberry Wheat Ale is named for the Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsitapi, a political and military alliance of the Aapátohsipikáni, the Aamsskáápipikani, the Káínaa and the Siksika Nations of Southern Alberta and the U.S. state of Montana. The Confederacy is known for the fierceness of its warriors and an equally fierce loyalty to treaty obligations. Their generation long enmity with the Cree ended with a peace agreement in 1867 (commemorated by the Peace Cairn on the lands of the Hobbema Cree Nation) which holds to this day, and, despite intense pressure from other nations, racist treatment from European Canadians and the lethal neglect of treaty obligations by the Canadian Government, the Confederacy emphatically restated their devotion to the Crown during the North West Rebellion of 1885 and remained at peace. The Siksika Nation is now the caretaker of the Cluny Earthlodge Village and the Aapátohsipikáni Nation hosts visitors to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site.

The Pour:

The Aroma of blueberries filled the room as soon as the cap was popped. A pleasant yellow with perhaps just a hint of haze, perhaps from pectin in the berries. A substantial two finger head with good lacing.

The Aroma:

Blueberries, of course, with a touch of brown sugar.

The Taste:

Blueberry and a touch of malt. We are again in beer cooler territory rather than actual beer. It is pleasant, very approachable, very refreshing, and not at all challenging. Blackfoot Blueberry Wheat Beer says 'come to me with a handful of pemmican on a hot afternoon of chasing bison on foot and I'll help you relax and feel refreshed and probably quite sleepy.'

-- anhaga

Brewsters Blackfoot Blueberry Wheat Ale

5% abv - 17 ibu

The pour (clear whiff of blueberry upon opening the bottle)

Clear gold, ever-so-slight bluish tinge - this one's filtered. A finger of

quickly diminishing head. A bit of carbonation, although I noticed slightly more

just after pouring. Nice ring and 'cap' o tiny bubbles.

Aroma

Hmm, very subtle...but cherry-like blueberry, not that much else.

Taste

Oh very nice! A Krystalweizen for sure...Very subtle hint of blueberry! Malt

and breadiness come out near the end, I find the yeast-wheat/breadiness

lingering a bit. Otherwise a clean finish. Would be great on a sunny

patio*sigh*have to wait awhile for those circumstances though.

-- j_z_d

Terminator Doppelbock

(a limited-time or seasonal release)

7.2% abv

Appearance

A beautiful burgundy brown when my server Meghan brought it to the table. No actual head, a very tight ring of fine bubbles. I was quite impressed with the colour, so didn't really notice carbonation. A bit of very transitory lacing.

Aroma

Very nice, malt and dark fruit...a bit of roastiness.

Taste

Pleasant fruit flavour-darker fruit, raisins and prunes. Fuller bodied, with some carbonation evident. A hint of plum and a nice malty caress. Hmm and very faint undertones of banana bread. A drier finish, quite interesting. The fruit component was a nice complement to my pulled pork stromboli sandwich.

-- j_z_d

Yellowhead Brewery

Yellowhead Lager

5%. 500ml.

The Pour:

Golden amber, respectable long lasting head.

The Aroma:

Malt, hops, a touch of cinnamon.

The taste:

Clean. A bit of sweet at the mid-point. Light hop bitterness in the finish.

As the glass goes down, the hops come more to the fore, with a continued light spiceness. Very satisfying.

Yellowhead is a good, hearty old-fashioned Canadian style lager. The brewery only makes one beer, and it's a good one.

*****