h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That sounds interesting. Where did you find it? The stout section at Sherbrooke?


My nieghbourlady is an elementary school teacher in the French school board. This year her principal decided that a good staff bonding exercise before classes started would be a day spent canoeing on the North Saskatchewan. She's a little phobic of water. Without thinking of it, the same day I bought a six pack of Maudite from Chambly. As I was about to head out for the evening neighbourhood minimeet I made the conection between her day, the beer, and what she likely muttered about her Principal -- and brought her a bottle.

She's not a drinker at all, and very slight, so when she finally opens the stuff and has a taste, I want to be there to watch.

Okay bear with me, this is from memory as I had no notepad.

Wild Rose Brewing Alberta Crude Oatmeal Stout(on tap)

Appearance

Darker chocolate brown with two finger cascading medium tan micro-foam(think Guinness)head. Dense gradually fading lacing.

Aroma

Malty but with grainy overtones...hints of chocolate & medium roast earthy coffee.

Taste

Taste is rather grainy-barley, bit of wheat? & oats-upfront...bit of malt & a hint of chocolate. Giving way to an earthy, (almost savoury imho) molasses character. Subtle hints of chocolate emerge before a smooth drier finish. On the heavier side of medium bodied, creamy silky mouthfeel. A unique stout in my opinion-certainly on first impression. But a very good locally-produced one!

Yes I had phoned Sherbrooke, because I hadn't specifically noticed it before. But you Know Sherbrooke...most likely too many other distractions(of the liquid variety).


Canoeing, Maudite....

Wild Rose does it in bottles, right?

Actually until relatively recently it was only available in the taproom at the brewery. So perhaps this's a good sign...though I don't know if it's in bottles yet(I'm hoping it will be before too long).

Another beer scene I've been peeking into(drinking vicariously ), so to speak, is the South African one. Courtesy of a mention/link on reddit/beer.

http://suip.tumblr.com (suip I'm assuming being cheers in Afrikaan-sp?)

I've got a friend in South Africa . . .



It seems like South Africa is coming up more and more lately . . . the South African place on Calgary Trail . . . South African Beer . . .

Remember the days of the embargo?

ah yes...

South African wine was attractive contraband . . .



Now, it's just wine.

I just noticed something on the Facebook page of Jim Gibbon, owner of Amber's: http://www.facebook.com/jim.gibbon1


'French Quarter Black and Tan Smoked Chipotle Beer'






This has gone too far!

Gone too far, yesbut got my attention, yes Indeed! I had been harbouring a growing curiosity to try Mikkeller's Texas Ranger , a chipotle porter(since seeing the Beer Geek Nation review in early to mid June). Still no sign of it on Sherbrooke shelves though.

But, staying with beer & keeping Jim's Maritime roots in mind...

Longay to go for a pub crawl...but then again, one h-e-double hockey sticks of a lot of pubs between here & Halifax too.

http://vueweekly.com/dish/story/canadas_beer_capital/

That's what I get for absent-mindedly correcting a typo-just tried to insert a space, ie. 'Long way...' while on the phone!

Not that I have illusions about single-handedly saving the planet(certainly not via my current rate of beer consumption)...I do however definitely plan to buy more canned ales, such as the Big Rock Warthog, Cannery's Naramata Nut Brown & Anarchist Amber-not to mention their IPA, Wellington's Hockley Dark, etc. Must try Central City's Red Racer IPA, that's canned.

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/life-style/booze/save-the-planet-buy-a-can-of-beer-4170/

On the other hand . . .



'There are environmental impacts associated with each stage of aluminum production, from extraction to processing. The major environmental impact of refining and smelting is greenhouse gas emissions. These gases result from both the electrical consumption of smelters and the byproducts of processing. The greenhouse gases resulting from primary production include perfluorocarbons (PFC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), fluoride, sulfur dioxide (S02), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Of these gases, PFC's resulting from the smelting process are the most potent. Primary aluminum production is the leading source of perfluorocarbon emissions in the United States. PAH emissions result from the manufacture of anodes for smelters and during the electrolytic process. Sulfur dioxide and sodium fluoride are emitted from smelters and electrical plants. SO2 is one of the primary precursors of acid rain. CO2 emissions occur during smelting and result from the consumption of carbon anodes and from PFC emissions. '

http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/1013.html



But then, a can of beer has a little more beer in it than the average bottle, so, in the long run, you won't need as many.

Granville Island Brewing

Robson Street Hefeweizen
341ml/5%


I'll not use the lemon wedge the label suggets . . .



The Pour:

A nice big head over hazy amber.


The Aroma:

Bananas filled the room when the cap was popped. Nose in glass there's a maltiness and a fainter banana and even a touch of cherry.

The Taste:

Banana again, fairly strong on the finish. And the cherry. But I'm feeling a sort of underlying weakness in the mouth, perhaps because it's a little thin (watery?) in the body department, or perhaps because the flavour is mostly overtones with little underneath.

Perhaps with a slice of lemon . . . or, with the proper food pairing.

But, pretty darn nice.

One of our recent cooler evenings persuaded me to uncork-ok a faux cork-my bottle of Mikkeller's Black Cognac Edition... simply (however I should elaborate, shouldn't I?)

Mikkeller Black Cognac Edition-aged 3 months in cognac barrels, 375ml bottle 17.5%abv

The pour

Fairly relaxed pour yields an opaque darker-than-dark stout. A two finger reasonably quickly subsiding medium tan head(yes on a 17.5% brew). No apparent or easily discernable carbonation. Impressive lacing.

Aroma

Deliciously sweet rather vinous aroma. Substantial cognac and a hint of vanilla. Some alcohol of course. Dark fruits and a bit of anise/fennel(licorice).

Taste

Wonderful cognac-like first impression. I say 'cognac-like' because there're hints of graininess, bittersweet chocolate and dark roast coffee. That gives way to a brandy-soaked-raisin fruitiness with a nice caramely undertone. Heavier medium body and substantial rather creamy mouthfeel. The level of carbonation is just about right and the alcohol is welll-hidden for 17%. Smooth dry finish. Must try to get another bottle for...Feb. or March. Quite likely the best Mikkeller I've tried!

Latest in Alley Kat's Big Bottle series, Red Double IPA 650ml bottle, 7.5%abv(100+ ibu)

Pour

Moderate pour yields a clear darker gold/bronze ale. Good three finger pillowy tight white head...ample carbonation. Nice dense lacing

Aroma

Toffee-iish malt with an unmistakable piney citrus hop character.

Taste

Well integrated malt, hops and yeast(or is it a bready quality of the malt?) roll over the tongue....malt fading about mid-palate leaving bready piney hops. Reasonably smooth dry ffinish. Slightly heavier-than-medium bodied mouthfeel...bit of creaminess. Quiite nice!

*jumps up and down to get her jazzman's attention*

Hello hunny!!!

Can you please email me?

You addresses don't seem to be working


Sorry for jumping into this thread... I will now jump out


lil xx

I suspect I still have your addy somewh...wait, something's coming to mind...blast, lost it!