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

This is certainly true, alot/most of their brews Do tend to lack in complexity. Which did concern me for awhile...I suppose I just learned to accept them for what they are, which is regional & readily available. I can always pick up Belgian brews at either Sherbrooke or Keg'n'Cork, right?

and I can always pick up Pilsner Urquell at almost any liquor store in town.

I have to say, though, that I find China's Tsingtao to be a very respectable Pilsner style as well, and it is often to be found quite inexpensively.

Upon reflection, Yukon's Discovery Fireweed is somewhat reminiscent of Dieu du Ciel's Route d'Epices(the rye beer eith peppercorns)except that I don't believe the Discovery Fireweed is a rye beer.

I've added my notes on a second tasting of Amber's Grog, the Brewsters Irish Ale, and Glenn Sherbrooke. I've also added a wee introduction concerning the project, including a bit of an exposition of our differing preferences. Please correct me if I've misconstrued yours.

Alley Kat 15th Anniversary Ginger Beer, 5.0% ABV

Beatiful 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.

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.

I've added your Ginger Beer notes (and a link to Taste of Edmonton).

One of these days I'm going to print the whole blessed thing out and go over it with a red pen.

Something odd just happened. I added my review of the River City Raspberry Ale in which I measured the head with the common word for the littlest finger and the entry came back as having been hidden and referred to the moderators. I opened it up to edit it, changed that word to little finger, and the entry was passed with no problem

This is particularly odd as the apparently offending word is already in the entry.

Anyway, it seems to be up now with no problem.

Ah yes, I should've included that! Thanks!

Sherbrooke/Alley Kat Mojo A'Peel, 6.5% ABV(with label by longtime Flintstones aninator Scott Shaw).

The pour

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

Aroma

Hmm, I get only slight banana, some brown sugary sweetness & 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.

(I think we have been doing some simulposting.

Is that really who did the label for the Mojo thing?

I will try to get your Mojo notes in in a little while.

Brewsters Rig Pig Pale Ale, 5% ABV

The pour

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

Aroma

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

Taste

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

Slow down, already!

Your introduction is quite good Anhaga. My only minor addition would be-after the mention of Belgian Trappist>(and/or the darker styles)<. But as I say, it's minor & probably essentially inconsequential.

I'll add that in a moment.

I've just gotten up and looked at the news from Japan.

An acquaintance of mine, the former assistant brewmaster at Amber's, lives in Fukushima. He and his wife are okay so far, but:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/03/12/earthquake-japan-nuclear-explosion.html

Just saw an update from the friend in Fukushima: They've headed out of town be car, getting the jump on any evacuation order.

Hmm, I was a bit distracted by the quake/tsunami situation. I don't actually know anyone living there, but the one food blogger that I've linked to http://kelly.cybr.org is now teaching-I believe-on Okinawa.

My guy's teaching as well. As I understand it, some of his students work(ed) at the reactor.

Talk about the wrong place at the-at least potentially-wrong time.

Yukon Discovery - (Firweed)Honey ESB, 5.5%
-Fireweed being tbe territorial flower of the Yukon and fireweed honey a tangy treat-

The pour-from 341ml bottle

Pours a reddish amber reminiscent I suppose of older copper. Finger and a half of head, good carbonation. Slight lacing.

Aroma

Subtle honey sweetness, as well as spiciness and malty undertones.

Taste

Honey sweetness-noticable but not overpowering-leading into a rather distinct peppery bitterness(nice contrast), becoming maltier within seconds. The malt characteristics linger for a bit, fading to a clean finish A nice complement to the acidity of the tomato of my smoked salmon on a wholewheat bagelquite nice(to a lesser extent) with the smoked salmon as well, and actually quite harmonious with the bagel-the maltpairing nicely with the grainess. Wonderful version of an ESB imho.

Yukon Brewing(seasonal release)Porter

On tap actually

Lovely dark cola brown, head had already dissipated to a very significant ring of fine tight foam. Slight carbopnation discernable and pominent lacing.

Aroma

Hmm, subtle roasty characteristics and malt undertones.

Tasete

Initial taste of bittersweet/semisweet chocolate fading quickly to a smooth expansve and roasty maltiness. Slight/subtle hints of chocolate return just before a smooth clean finish. A touch more complexity would be nice, still I quite enjoyed a second pint as passersby outside in their heavy parkas dealt with the chilly March afternoon. Yukon Brewing's slogan(printed on their beer glasses)"beer worth freezin' for"seemed rather fitting.

I'll get to those later on. I've just come in from a nice afternoon at the Art Gallery. It was busy! Which is nice to see.

Gotta make some sort of dinner now.