Elora Grand Lager

Elora Grand Lager is a product of Trafalgar Ales & Meads out of Oakville, Ontario. This "dry-hopped" lager comes in a 473mL can, and clocks in at 5% alcohol. According to the can, Elora is an alternative to "watery domestic lagers".

It pours a hazy straw colour with lots of carbonation and a long-lasting white head. It has a grassy aroma buttressed with some citrus notes. There's a light malt taste on the front end, with some solid bitterness bringing up the rear. There are citrus notes of grapefruit and orange alongside some grainy sweetness.

Elora Grand is quite a nice spin on the pale lager. I particularly appreciate the extra hop bombast and the surprising complexity. It's flavourful, but still drinkable and refreshing. I'd like a bit more clarity, but that's a really minor beef with an otherwise great brew.  I'd definitely buy this one again.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Dragoon's Breath Pale Ale

Another brew offered by Kingston, Ontario's Kingston Brewing Company, the Dragoon's Breath Pale Ale is a highly sessionable brew. I had a pint on tap at the brew pub. It's brewed on contract by the McAuslan Brewery in Montreal. It's listed at 4.5% alcohol, which makes it easy to drink.

It's a clear, copper-coloured offering with very little head. It has a very mild malt aroma. It moves from malty to bitter. Caramel notes give way to a coppery bitter finish. In addition, there's a little bit of an understated peach note lurking in the background.

It's perhaps a touch thin, but very drinkable. I'm pretty sure that I could make a barrel full disappear in a blink. If you find yourself in Kingston, this is a brew worth tracking down.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Dragon's Breath Original Real Ale

Dragon's Breath comes from the Kingston Brewing Company, out of Kingston, Ontario. I enjoyed a pint of this tasty cask conditioned ale on tap at the brewpub. It's listed at 6% alcohol and arrived a darkish copper colour crowned, just a mite hazy, with a thick layer of creamy off-white foam.

D.B. has a mild, malty aroma with some brown sugar sweetness. It has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. It tastes mild, and moves from malty to bitter.  There are brown sugar and caramel notes.

Dragon's Breath is none too shabby, but I'd like a bit more flavour, particularly on the bitter side of the equation. It's pleasantly easy drinking, and I dig the 6% alcohol.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

(Note: I took a photo, but it was too dark in the bar. It's pretty much inscrutable.)

Wind & Sail Dark Ale

Wind & Sail Dark Ale is another entry from Picton, Ontario's Barley Days Brewery. I had a 341mL bottle at a pizza joint during a weekend escape to Kingston with my love. The bottle features a reproduced oil painting of a clipper ship (though it's hard to tell from my terrible photograph). W&S comes in at 5% alcohol. It pours a dark brown with reddish highlights and is topped with  thin and quickly dissipating cream head. It has an aroma of brown sugar and molasses.  The flavour is roasted, with some molasses and muted notes of cacao. It finishes with some decent bitterness.

This was a pretty tasty dark ale.  It left me thirsty for more.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Okocim Premium Pils

Okocim Premium Pils is brewed by Okocim Brewers, out of Brzesko, Poland. It's sold in 500mL cans and contains a slightly above average 5.5% alcohol. It's a crystal clear golden straw coloured brew, loaded with carbonation, and topped with a white cloud of head. The head starts pretty fluffy, but fades quickly.

The Premium Pils smells of straw and grass. It's a grainy, grassy brew, with a nice bitter edge near the finish. It's this edge that helps Okocim distinguish itself from the glut of pale lagers out there. It isn't quite as crisp or refreshing as some other pilsners, but it's got character. I also like the slightly elevated booze content.

I'd like a bit better head retention, but that's hardly a dealbreaker. Otherwise, this is an interesting little lager that's well worth your trouble.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Jubilation Winter Warmer

Jubilation Winter Warmer is produced by the good people of Grand River Brewing, out of Cambridge, Ontario. Sold in 500mL bottles, Jubi clocks in at a muscular 7% alcohol. It pours a considerably cloudy golden-red colour, topped with a thin but persistent layer of cream-coloured head. It has just a slight amount of carbonation.

Jubi smells sweet, boozy, and spiced. It's very festive. It's very full-bodied, with some fruit notes, lots of malt character, and a not insubstantial level of bitterness. The label calls it "Ale brewed with spices and orange." I initially had a tough time picking out the orange flavour, but it's definitely there--the rind adds to the bitterness. The aftertaste, spiced and bitter, lingers for a while.

Shame on me for drinking a winter warmer on a warm evening in May, but it really hit the spot. I'd like a bit more spice notes, and possibly some caramel notes, but this is a pretty nice brew. It's interesting and robust.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

A. Le Coq Premium

A. Le Coq Premium is an awesomely named pale lager made by the brewery of the same name (minus the Premium). It comes all the way from Tartu, Estonia. Sold in nice looking 500mL bottles, A. Le Coq contains a slightly anemic 4.7% alcohol. It pours a clear, pale straw colour, considerable carbonation, and a quickly fading white head. It has a grassy, grainy aroma. It's pleasingly crisp, with very little aftertaste. The flavour is grainy, with a slight smack of bitterness for balance.

This is a great warm weather beer--the kind of brew that I'd like to cool down with after an afternoon of yard work. It's refreshing, crisp, and uncomplicated.  Personally, I'd like a bit more nuance to it to round out the taste, but it's still pretty good stuff.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Weihenstephaner Vitus

Weihenstephaner Vitus is a weizenbock (wheat bock) that hails from Freising, Germany, where it's brewed by Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan. It's sold in 500mL bottles, and contains a laudable 7.7% alcohol. It pours a cloudy, yellow-orange colour, topped with a white head that just won't quit. It has a moderate amount of carbonation.

W.V. has a bready aroma that features a bit of citrus sourness. That aroma is well represented in the flavour, which is bready with orange and lemon notes. There are also some gentle spice notes that round out the flavour. The aftertaste has some bitter notes, coupled with continued yeastiness.

For a beer containing 7.7% alcohol, Vitus is extremely easy-drinking. The boozy taste is barely detectable, which makes this a dangerous brew for drinking more than one. I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Black Creek Pale Ale

The Black Creek Historic Brewery, from Toronto, Ontario, is the source of Black Creek Pale Ale. BCPA comes in a 341mL bottle and clocks in at 5% alcohol. It pours a cloudy, brownish orange colour, and is topped with a lovely cream head that has excellent retention.

BCPA has an aroma that blends floral hops with a twist of citrus and a pinch of caramel. The flavour has some caramel notes, but bitter is clearly boss--this is a full bodied pale ale, with hops to spare. The only thing I'm not wild about is the aftertaste, which, in my opinion, has a somewhat flat note. Still, BCPA is a really enjoyable beer. It's well worth trying.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Upper Canada Lager

When I visit the United States, I'm always blown away by the availability of cheap suds in supermarkets and convenience stores. In Canada, the days of the sub-$10 six pack are nearing extinction.  However, in Ontario at least, there remain a handful of value brands that are reasonably-priced and acceptably made.

Guelph, Ontario is home to the Upper Canada Brewing Co., makers of the Upper Canada Lager. U.C.L. is one of the last bastions cheap beer in the province, retailing at around $9 for six 341mL bottles. It clocks in at the standard 5% alcohol, pours a clear straw colour, and features lots of carbonation and a froth of brilliant white head. The aroma is grassy and grainy, as one expects from a pale lager. It has a flavour that is grainy and quite malty. A wisp of bitterness and ever-so-slight citrus notes make this a value brew worth considering.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Dos Equis Ambar

Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma of Monterray, Mexico, makes Dos Equis Ambar, a fine, well-balanced amber brew. It's sold in 355mL bottles and contains 4.6% alcohol. It pours a clear amber colour with an off-white head and moderate carbonation.

D.E.A. has a fairly malty aroma. It has pleasing notes of caramel. Flavour-wise, it has a malty, caramel body with just a hint of bitterness to tie it all together.  It's a nice, even-keeled brew that should appeal to a wide variety of beer drinkers. It's suitable for all occasions.  Still, a bit more booze wouldn't go amiss.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Muskoka Cream Ale

My eye remains trained on Bracebridge, Ontario's Muskoka Brewery for another post.  This time, I'm looking at their Muskoka Cream Ale. This offering comes in 355mL bottles and clocks in at 5% alcohol. It's a clear, honey-coloured brew with an off-white head. It features a mild, grassy aroma that contains a hint of sweetness. The flavour is crisp and clean with some toastiness nestled in among the notes of grain.

Muskoka Cream Ale is a fine brew for regular quaffing.  In my opinion, it's one of the better examples of the style coming out of Ontario.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Muskoka Dark Ale

Another entry from Bracebridge, Ontario's Muskoka Brewery, the Muskoka Dark Ale pours a deep brown with a reddish gleam and a lusty tan head. It comes in 473mL cans, and has an alcohol content of 5%. The aroma is sweet, with caramel and molasses as the dominant notes.  It's a malt forward ale with notes of caramel and biscuit. There was also a slight burst of tartness that felt a bit out of place, but was oddly enjoyable. A hint of bitterness closes the door.

The can told me to expect chocolate, but I didn't taste it at first. By the end of my pint, I knew exactly what they were talking about. There is a faint chocolaty undertone.

Muskoka Dark is a tasty brew. It's very attractive and has an interesting flavour. There's a lot going on--it's pretty nuanced.  I've really been enjoying the whole Muskoka line of beers.  This one isn't quite up to the outstanding level of their Mad Tom I.P.A., but it's pretty enjoyable.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Stiegl

Stiegl is a clear, golden straw coloured lager that hails from Salzburg, Austria. It's brewed by the Stieglbrauerei zu Saltzburg and clocks in at 4.9% alcohol. The brew comes in an awesome, iconic red and cream coloured 500mL can. It has considerable carbination and a fluffy white head.

The aroma is very grainy and grassy. There's a fairly nice balance between grainy malts and a mild bitterness. There are sweet grass notes. Stiegl is a genuinely easy-drinking brew. Put two or three cans in front of me, and they'll disappear at an unreasonable rate.

The flavour won't blow you away, but it's very reliable. And the aesthetically pleasing packaging helps this beer find its way into my fridge pretty frequently.


Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Black Creek Stout

This stout comes from the Black Creek Historic Brewery in Toronto, Ontario. Sold in 500mL bottles, Black Creek Stout has an alcohol content of 5%. It pours a very dark brown with ruby streaks, though without much head.

The bottle tells me that the stout is brewed with chocolate wheat. It has an aroma of molasses with mild chocolaty character. There isn't a big presence in the initial flavour, but there is a robust bitter finish. There are chocolate notes alongside the classic stout molasses flavour.

It's not a bad effort from a brewery that has the admirable objective of brewing beers that were enjoyed in the 19th century.  I'd like a bit more body in a stout, and I'd definitely like to see a thicker head on the top of my pint (though a second, more vigorous pour yielded a bit more tan head). Certainly worth a try.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.