Thirsty Thursday 5/12-5/18/16

As usual, I like to try new things when I go out or am in a drinking mood. I tend to fall back on old favourites when at parties, when I’m not feeling great, or when I’m simply relaxing. This week was a mix of both new and old.

Thursday, May 12

Nothing.

Friday, May 13

I had a pretty annoying night at work, but Jason wanted to go out when he came to pick me up.We were thinking about starting at Flagship Brewery, but they close early. Instead we walked the couple of blocks to Craft House.

Craft House is a really awesome bar/restaurant. They serve creative BBQ and have a fantastic beer selection. They have also started serving liquor since the last time I’ve been there. It was a super sticky/muggy night, so I opted to start the night with some ciders.

Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider is one of my favourite ciders. The first time I ever had it, it was on draft at Craft House. They no longer offer it on draft, but they do have it in bottles.

Appearance: clear reddish purple

Aroma: blackberry, pear

Taste: tart, blackberry, pear

Feel: smooth, easy to drink, light body, low carbonation

Overall: I love this stuff. It’s very straight forward.

Wolffer No. 139 Dry Rose Cider is something I’ve never heard of before I saw it on the beer menu, so I knew I had to try it.

Appearance: clear light pink

Aroma: apple, floral

Taste: follows aroma, strawberry, tart

Feel: crisp, medium carbonation

Overall: At 6.9%, this is one of the higher ABV ciders I’ve had, but you don’t taste it. This was quite a lovely, fruity cider.

Jason really wanted to go to Hop Shoppe since he’s currently obsessed. It’s about a mile between Craft House and Hop Shoppe and the muggy weather totally destroyed my hair during the walk. I was so ready for something light and cold by the time we got there. It was very loud and the lights were turned up high, which was quite weird.

After looking over the draft list, Jason asked for a taste of DuClaw Dirty Little Freak.

Appearance: hazy brown, tan head

Aroma: toasty, coconut

Taste: very sweet, coconut, chocolate, caramel, slightly metallic towards the end

Feel: low/medium body, medium carbonation

Overall: I’m not really a fan. I don’t think there is one coconut beer I’ve tried so far and enjoyed.

I ended up ordering a Free Will Kriek Lambic. Very shortly after I ordered, the bartender pretty much kicked everyone out. Unless we missed last call, I find that kind of rude and it was only around 1:30am.

Appearance: hazy, bright pink

Aroma: sour cherry, slightly funky

Taste: sour cherry, sweet, tart, tangy, slight yoghurt, grains, funky, slightly musty

Feel: medium body and carbonation

Overall: I really liked this beer. I’ve been mildly upset with my sour beer choices lately, but this put me back on the right track. I will be drinking this again.

Saturday, May 14

I love when we get something new on draft that we haven’t had before. We tend to keep the same products on the German taps and repeat things on the craft taps. Our newest addition is River Horse Roly Poly Pils.

Appearance: gold with a thick, lasting white head

Aroma: bready, herbal, light citrus

Taste: follows aroma, the herbal hops stand out but don’t overpower, cereal, light corn

Feel: smooth, low carbonation, light bodied

Overall: I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not a huge fan of pilsner style beers and although this beer isn’t a great example of the style, it was quite nice.

After work, Jason picked me up and decided we were going to join his friends Chris, Tim and Steve at Buffalo Wild Wings. I’ve only been to BWW twice before and it was relatively quiet both times. There was a fight on Saturday night and the restaurant was so loud! Luckily the fight was over very quickly, (one hit), and it started to die down. I ordered a Henry’s Hard Orange Soda, but they were out and I settled for an Angry Orchard. I didn’t take a picture and also don’t really feel the need to go into detail on such a basic option.

Sunday, May 15

One of the Sunday bartenders gave up his shift and I was asked if I wanted to take his place. I now work a double shift every other Sunday. I don’t really drink while working unless I’m sampling something new on draft. After the dining room closed, there was a bottle of Blue Moon Belgian White sitting in the ice from a customer misunderstanding earlier in day. Rather than let it go to waste, I drink it while being pressured by some of our regulars to have a drink. I also had a small glass of Ballast Point Pineapple Sculpin. I really can’t get over how good it is.

Monday, May 16

Monday was my day to bring in beer for our unofficial Monday night beer club. I chose some thing I’ve had sitting in the fridge for a bit.

Greg wanted to start with the Almanac Golden Gate Gose.

Appearance: golden orange

Aroma: citrus, spice, yeasty

Taste: funky, sour, slightly salty, spices (coriander?), light grain

Feel: high carbonation, tons of very small bubbles that stick to the inside of your mouth, refreshing, light bodied

Overall: Why did I leave this alone for so long?! I was very happy with this beer. I wish this was slightly saltier, but overall it’s a really nice beer.

The second beer we split was Maine Red Wheelbarrow.

Appearance: dark copper/red

Aroma: biscuit, bready, hoppy, herbal, light citrus

Taste: bread, caramel, citrus hops, light chocolate, bitter towards the end

Feel: smooth, light/medium bodied, light carbonation

Overall: I thought it to be quite hoppy for a red ale. This beer was quite tasty.

Our last beer of the night was Baxter Ceremony, a session IPA brewed and flavoured with green tea.

Appearance: hazy yellow, large white head

Aroma: floral, resin, tropical fruit, slightly grassy, slightly herbal

Taste: slightly floral, quite fruity, earthy green tea finish

Feel: medium body, medium carbonation

Overall: It wasn’t bad. I think the brewers did a nice job incorporating the tea. This beer is retired.

Tuesday, May 17

Jason is in grad school and Tuesday has been his late day this semester. He goes to work at 7am and isn’t home until around 11pm. It’s the perfect day for me to do whatever I like. This week I decided to finally finish season 6 of Downton Abbey and get some more beer out of my house.

I started with Episode 6 and Harlem Renaissance Wit.

Appearance: hazy dark yellow/light copper, quickly dissipating white head

Aroma: orange, wheat

Taste: slightly hoppy, very heavy coriander, light orange peel, sweet bread

Feel: medium carbonation, light body

Overall: I wasn’t impressed. The coriander overpowers the other flavours.

Episode 7 and Spiked Seltzer Cape Cod Cranberry.

Appearance: clear, club soda

Aroma: vodka, medicinal cranberry

Taste: cranberry vodka in club soda

Feel: light body, medium/high carbonation

Overall: I’ve had this before. It’s quick and easy to pop open if you don’t feel like making a drink. Not my favourite of the flavours offered, but not the worst one.

Episode 8 and White Birch Blueberry Berliner Weisse.

Appearance: hazy pale yellow, small white head that melts quickly

Aroma: blueberry muffin, light lemon, sour

Taste: just like a sour blueberry muffin, unripe blueberry, tart, sour, slightly sweet, wheat, slight lactose creaminess

Feel: light bodied, crisp, moderate carbonation

Overall: This is the third Berliner Weisse I’ve had from White Birch. I like their raspberry better than the blueberry, but this is a fantastic beer.

Episode 9 was the two hour season finale which means two drinks!

Stoudts Pumpkin Fest

Appearance: golden amber, long lasting white head

Aroma: malty pumpkin

Taste: very pumpkin pie, cinnamon, lightly roasted malts, sweet, spice

Feel: lively carbonation, light/medium body

Overall: THIS BEER. This was everything I was looking for in a pumpkin beer in Fall 2015 and never found. It has the perfect amount of pumpkin pie spice and sweetness mixed with a nice rich malty Oktoberfest taste. One of the best pumpkin beers I’ve had and I’ve had a lot!