tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-282426972011-11-14T00:16:29.862-07:00Drink reviews and recipes from all corners of the world.Katenoreply@blogger.comBlogger3011100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-89343723889338662832009-10-08T19:13:00.001-06:002009-10-09T07:23:30.540-06:00

Becherovka, a herbal spirit, is regarded by the Czechs as a national drink, a herbal remedy and an emetic. Regardless of that cautionary use, when I was offered a 'shot' (really, more like a highball glass) or Becherovka in a Prague beerhall, I went for it.Light yellow with a strong aroma of cinnamon. The traditional definition of the taste is cinnamon and kerosene. That's basically dead on,

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-38429475421566543612009-10-01T19:21:00.003-06:002009-10-02T09:06:56.816-06:00

Among all the bottles of dubious alcohol sold in Prague's tourist traps, Cannabis Vodka reigns supreme. The big ol' pot leaf on the bottle, the vodka bongs, and is that bud in the bottom of the bottle? Well, no, it's hempseed. They're going on the same level as the people who giggle at hemp rope. I mean, technically, yes, it is cannabis, but it's not the psychoactive part. Regardless, the

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-34406079934761460572009-09-22T10:05:00.000-06:002009-09-22T10:31:08.387-06:00

Krusovice was founded in 1517 as a royal brewery and is one of the oldest functioning breweries in the Czech Republic. Like many breweries in the area, it has been in and out of the hands of governments and private businesses for centuries.Light gold with a really dense white head. Grassy malts with a strong hoppy edge in the aroma. Less hops on the tongue, in fact, a really mild flavour overall.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-76538494561018516352009-09-19T09:50:00.002-06:002009-09-19T10:04:53.937-06:00

Goat beer...with history! Kozel has been brewed in the Czech Republic since the 19th century, though production had been stopped by the First World War and then the annexation of the Sudetenland by Nazi Germany in 1938. The brewery was then nationalized during the Communist era, and then returned to private hands after the Velvet Revolution, all while keeping the goat label.Medium pale with a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-33418162220787868822009-08-15T12:37:00.003-06:002009-08-15T12:42:55.530-06:00

I know, I know, I've been absolutely terrible about updating. I'm making it worse because I'm going on vacation. I'm going to Prague and Vienna for the rest of August, but to make up for my terrible work ethic, I'm going to unleash a glut of Czech and Austrian reviews when I get back.Just remember, it's a lot of hard work going out and trying all those drinks, but I'm doing it for you guys!

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-88540916810539150172009-08-02T15:21:00.000-06:002009-08-15T12:36:32.229-06:00

Halifax's Garrison Brewing hired a new brewmaster last year and has started putting out a wide variety of seasonal brews. While it seems more suited for winter, this summer Garrison has put out a barley wine.Deep dark cooper with touches of orange and a fizzy light tan head. Aroma of caramel malts, citrus, hops, grapefruit, and a touch of alcohol (it is 10.3%). Smooth flavour with a big punch of

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-78400579783706067302009-07-19T13:46:00.002-06:002009-07-19T13:59:55.229-06:00

Now, I'm not normally a cooler drinker, but after spending five hours driving through the Rockies in a convertible at 30C heat, I figured I needed something refreshing. Palm Bay is a new brand of cooler available in British Columbia in two flavours; grapefruit and pineapple mandarin. I could only find the former, but I am definitely intrigued by the sound of the latter.Hazy pastel pink,

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-25829667046199597312009-07-08T20:45:00.002-06:002009-07-08T21:13:38.996-06:00

961 is a very new, slightly petulant brewery from Lebanon. Founded during the 2006 Israel-Lebanese war, this North American-style microbrewery has expanded into designer brewpubs and large-scale distribution. I have no clue what the 961 stands for, the website, albeit slick, doesn't say.Pours very dark auburn with a huge light tan head. Big aroma of Saaz hops with some floral notes. Hoppy, quite

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-22930639555920014412009-07-04T18:11:00.001-06:002009-07-04T18:11:00.858-06:00

Lambics, a sour Belgian style of beer produced from wild yeasts, and terribly difficult to get a hold of in Canada. Sour is normally an 'off' flavour in beer, making a lambic a definite acquired taste. I was glad to find a bottle of a new lambic to try. (Due to monolithic government liquor stores in some provinces and less adventuresome palates in others, the variety of lambics available across

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-86420184576973918112009-07-01T11:59:00.000-06:002009-07-01T11:59:01.153-06:00

Happy Canada Day! In honour of my nation's birthday I plan to kick back on the patio, enjoy some good Canadian microbrew and most likely end up with a horrific sunburn regardless of a lathering of SPF 60. Wild Rose is a small but growing microbrewery in Calgary (with a lovely tasting room right next to the city's farmer's market) and has recently released a red wheat ale. I've never seen this

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-91859704355088398322009-06-24T21:04:00.003-06:002009-06-24T21:20:45.978-06:00

Amrut is a distillery from India, of all places! ('Amrut', like 'whiskey', means 'water of life'.) India is starting to break into the market with a good dose of home-grown whiskies. Amrut was made from Indian-grown barley, but the peat had to be imported from Scotland.Light golden in colour with a nose of liquorice, toffee, and hints of sweet citrus. Sweet honey flavour with pleasant oak notes.

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-15110572406982526012009-06-03T14:35:00.007-06:002009-06-30T21:36:03.586-06:00

Rockbottom Brewery is a brand new brewpub that opened here in Halifax underneath the great Your Father's Moustache bar. (Yes, this is one of those parts of the world where bars are stacked like masonry.) I popped into Rockbottom to get out of the sun and heat, enjoyed a fantastic Greek salad, then dug into a sample tray of their six beers.AlePours a very light gold with a bright white head. Mild

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-48143756779409074002009-05-26T15:18:00.004-06:002009-05-26T15:42:25.789-06:00

Normally I'm a microbrew drinker, but I've received a bunch of emails from readers asking for me to review more big name brands. By a turn of good luck, I managed to get my hands on a six pack of Budweiser's new beer, Bud Light Lime. This beer has been available in the States for a while, but it is only now (as of yesterday) being sold in Canada, partly due to a concerted Facebook effort to bring

Katenoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-53562456507287160172009-05-15T17:42:00.000-06:002009-05-25T16:42:19.148-06:00

I picked up this four pack of Belgian ales a while ago, stuck it in the fridge with all intents on getting into it that weekend. Unfortunately, exams came and I completely forgot this gem, hidden behind some local fruit wine. Now's the time to crack this puppy open and see what we have here!AmberDe Koninck's flagship beer. Pours a deep, hazy orange-amber with almost no head. Aroma of Saaz hops,

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-17568125658020923022009-04-30T17:35:00.000-06:002009-04-30T18:40:29.860-06:00

Cerveza Imperial is an adopted beer; originally brewed in Florida, it proved so popular in Costa Rica that the company uprooted and moved its main production to that nation from the States in 1924. It is widely known as a 'centralized' beer, although I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not.Pale yellow with a small foamy white head. Sweet light malts with a bit of grass in the aroma. Dry,

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-47064082687714665572009-04-15T17:55:00.000-06:002009-04-23T18:07:15.865-06:00

I've heard many, many good things about Dogfish Head, but I've had to make pilgrimages to the States every time I want to try their brews. While in Washington DC this spring, I stopped by a great little pub called Brickskeller that boasted over 1000 beers, including some of the best of America's microbrews, including this one.Raison D'Etre has an odd makeup for a beer; it's made with beet sugar,

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-54239630516429856202009-03-28T13:59:00.001-06:002009-03-29T13:13:25.606-06:00

To coincide with the DVD release of Quantum of Solace this week, Smirnoff has released a special set of James Bond recipes! Bond's vodka martinis have always been Smirnoff, and while I personally prefer stirred gin martinis, I am a huge James Bond fan, so I am all over this. Doesn't hurt that Daniel Craig is damn fine.And shucks, for the sake of authenticity, I'm using Smirnoff, but if you must,

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-39451820664941331902009-03-15T10:37:00.000-06:002009-03-27T11:03:56.522-06:00

Cachaça is an uniquely Brazilian spirit, closely related to rum (despite the label, it isn't actually rum). Like rum, cachaça comes from sugar cane, but while rum is from distilled molasses, cachaça is made straight from distilled sugar cane juice. Cachaça is rarely exported from Brazil, but now Cuca Fresca has started to bring this liquor into North America.I managed to get my hands on a bottle

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-54869996549441982272009-02-07T18:48:00.005-07:002009-02-07T20:36:42.421-07:00

I have a love-hate relationship with fruit beers. When they're good, they're good, and when they're bad, they're bad. I always feel like I'm taking a bit of a gamble with a new fruit beer, but Great Lakes has put out an orange peel infused beer (as well a seasonal chocolate orange batch), and I'm willing to take a risk. The brewery adds fresh oranges and peels into the wort before fermentation,

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-57652700748123852332009-01-12T18:33:00.003-07:002009-01-12T20:16:23.803-07:00

Ikon is a well-established Russian vodka that is finally starting to gain real popularity in North America. First distilled in 1862, Ikon not only survived but thrived after the Revolution and remains strong today. Turns out that this vodka is still craft-distilled in Russia in the same town where the distillery was first founded.Very clean nose with a hint of fresh pine needles. Silky smooth but

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-44398207966145273742009-01-07T15:14:00.000-07:002009-01-08T05:01:07.391-07:00

This bock comes from a small German-immigrant town in Texas. This beer was first brewed as a seasonal in 1913, making it an early example of a craft brew.Deep auburn with a large foamy off-white head. Caramel and light malts in the nose with a mild hoppy finish. Smooth but a bit light in terms of flavour, but some nicely balanced malts. Quite refreshing, this would make a great patio

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-13021860124154102152009-01-05T17:42:00.005-07:002009-05-25T16:45:28.735-06:00

Despite being one of the oldest wine regions in the world, Hungary has a very low international profile. Southeastern Europe grows many lesser-known varietals, including kekfrankos, a central European varietal (usually known as blaufränkisch).Deep ruby lights and nice legs. Spicy, plummy aroma but unfortunately has an mildly vinegary 'off' smell ringing the nose. Shockingly light mouthfeel, but

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-7951053023687127572008-12-30T20:03:00.004-07:002008-12-30T22:55:50.109-07:00

Nova Schin is a pilsner from Brazil, of all places! It comes from Brazil's largest independent brewery and is aggressively being promoted in the UK. They're also the brand that came up with the mildly controversial ads of heavily pregnant women enjoying their non-alcoholic version of the beer. I, not being with child, have the regular kind.Very light yellow with a small fizzy head. Small aroma of

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-4942560153099301942008-12-15T20:52:00.000-07:002008-12-27T21:11:43.818-07:00

Mexico, like many Central American countries, has always struck me as a staunch lager nation. I was quite pleased to dig up this ale from the oldest brewery in Baja California.Deep copper with a foamy light tan head. Floral but not overwhelming hops in the aroma with light citrus notes. Nice balance in the flavour between bitterness and sweetness, although the mouthfeel is quite light for an ale.

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1150614084693919592008-11-15T15:51:00.002-07:002008-12-27T20:52:15.104-07:00

Alberta Pure is a cheap-ish brand of vodka from my home province. This stuff comes in big, plastic bottles and has been used as a standard for underage teens in Calgary to spike their drinks for decades. Let's give it a go!Really astringent smell, like rubbing alcohol. Sweet nail polish remover flavour that at least is pretty smooth. Low grade. I tried mixing it with drinks, but the rubbing

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1157166335459738162008-10-08T20:45:00.000-06:002008-10-11T10:56:47.099-06:00

Dubonnet is a French wine apertif flavoured with all sorts of herbs and spices. Technically it's a vermouth, but instead of being a martini additive, it's drunk straight, on the rocks, or in lemonade.Poured a burgundy red with a sweet red wine aroma. Has a round, dessert wine flavour, but tastes a bit musty. I don't know what the spices are in it, but I'd rather take normal red wine over this. I

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-68330671518216058942008-09-22T16:18:00.004-06:002008-09-22T18:58:39.316-06:00

Well, you all know I like to indulge in a libation or two, but I'd like to share that I'm also a bit of a glutton I love cooking and good food! I'm starting up a parallel blog to Liquor Log featuring recipes and dining experiences. I'll see if I can work in some food-booze pairing crossovers. First up on the new blog is my favourite recipe for portobello and lemon risotto, followed by whatever

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-82714461116089901102008-09-16T17:16:00.002-06:002008-09-22T16:18:34.780-06:00

Fire Rock Pale Ale is a little gem that I found on a foray south of the border. Kona is a Hawaiian brewery that prides itself on using Hawaiian-grown ingredients when possible. I think the malt in this is local (I didn't know you could grow barley in tropical climates), and I'm really digging the label art.Deep orange gold with a big cream-coloured foamy head. Hoppy aroma with hints of pine

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1151791753360545592008-09-09T17:59:00.000-06:002008-09-09T20:53:23.535-06:00

Drambuie is one of those drinks that we always see in the liquor store of have a bottle in the back shelf of our liquor cabinet, but very rarely try. Drambuie is a type of scotch blended with honey and secret herbs.Drambuie actually has a pretty interesting history, it started when Prince Charles Edward Stuart fled from England to the Isle of Skye. He was harboured by Captain John Mackinnon. To

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-13684178453479959192008-08-23T21:46:00.003-06:002008-08-23T22:01:15.978-06:00

New Belgium is a Colorado microbrewery that makes Belgian-inspired beers with a North American slant. The recipe for this black ale comes from a Belgian manuscript dating to 1554, hence the name. I picked up a six-pack while south of the 49th Parallel and brought it back over the border; unfortunately, it is not available outside of the United States.Deep but clear dark mahogany, a bit like a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-82563195084957215822008-08-19T15:17:00.000-06:002008-08-21T17:12:22.013-06:00

This is a bit out a season, since this is meant to be a spiced Christmas mead, but I don't think I can wait half a year to try this. Alley Kat is a small Canadian microbrewery that has recently branched out into meads; this and a year-round raspberry mead. I'm always intrigued by mead, although sometimes it can run too sweet for my tastes.Light sparkly gold with no head and a bit of carbonation.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-81156439349184247512008-08-11T20:35:00.001-06:002009-07-19T14:22:49.282-06:00

It is an interesting but complete coincidence that I should dig up a Georgian wine at the same time that the nation itself is featured so heavily in the news. However, I won't get into my opinion on the war, I'm just here for the booze. Georgia doesn't export much of its wine to North America, but it is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world.Tsinandali is a blend of two relatively

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-17342051784933091992008-08-07T20:06:00.003-06:002008-08-09T20:29:40.318-06:00

The last of my Montana microbrews is a relatively new style to me; an amber lager. Bayern may be an American brewery, but it was founded by a Barvarian, and keeps close to its roots, including sticking faithfully to the Reinheitsgebot, the 1516 beer purity law that almost all German beers are subject to.Amber-gold with lots of carbonation and a big foamy off-white head. Sweet caramel malt aroma,

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-26014582075051978162008-08-04T15:24:00.004-06:002009-04-30T18:45:32.969-06:00

This beer commemorates one of Lewis and Clark's expeditions that brought them to the Sawtooth Creek, not far from the present-day brewery. I was intrigued by this beer since it is a blonde ale, but with rye added to the malt. Most rye ales are quite dark, so I feel the need to sample this exception to the rule.Deep gold with a hint of haze and a big foamy white head. Aroma of malty cereal with a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-83853441191549282882008-08-01T21:39:00.004-06:002008-08-02T13:49:15.296-06:00

Next up from my fridge full of microbrew from over the border is an unfiltered mandarin flavoured hefeweizen from Lang Creek. The founder of the brewery is an aviation buff, and the somewhat surreal label reflects this with rockets, biplanes, space shuttles, and an eagle all circling a mandarin orange.Hazy light orange with a foamy white head. Mild aroma with touches of yeast, banana esters, and

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-50759379052916309392008-07-29T20:44:00.005-06:002008-07-29T22:28:33.002-06:00

I think this goes on my list of least-appetizing sounding beer names, up there with Warthog and Buzzard Breath. The label, however, makes me hoot with laughter every time I look at it. The terribly rude sayings under the caps are great too.Deep brown with hints of caramel colour and a disappearing light tan head. Aroma of coffee malts with nice hoppy tones. Robust malt flavours of caramel, coffee

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1116175381090796552008-07-25T22:09:00.001-06:002008-07-28T22:21:57.061-06:00

This weekend I'm heading down across the border to a lovely little town called Bigfork, just south of Kalispell, Montana. While I'm there, I plan to enjoy some great plays at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, go zip about the lake, and most importantly, get my mitts on any of the myriad of microbrews available at a fraction of the price one would pay back in Canada.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-21443700642234114652008-07-20T18:11:00.003-06:002008-07-20T18:26:24.656-06:00

The Keg, a steakhouse chain here in Canada and parts of the States, has released a series of coolers modeled after their in-house cocktails. I'm not a big cooler drinker, but the four-pack was ridiculously cheap in the liquor store, so I snagged a pack. Clear with a greenish tinge. The aroma is somewhere between green apple candy and actual green apples. Starts candy-ish, but has a decent amount

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-37847649219362452042008-07-15T19:45:00.002-06:002008-07-16T19:30:22.898-06:00

This Australian wine-maker has embraced new non-bottle packaging; a tetra-pak! I know, I know, it doesn't look very classy, but it's a smart idea. It's cheaper for both the wine makers and the consumers as well as heck of a lot easier to ship (and doesn't run the risk of ending up corked). Thirsty Lizard is named after "Larry", a Thorny Devil lizard who has taken a liking to the cool barrels of

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-48868053281907493112008-07-14T15:09:00.002-06:002008-07-15T22:48:05.220-06:00

Brouwerij van Eecke has had a long and exciting history. Originally founded in the 1600s, this brewery has been destroyed and rebuilt at least twice (during the French Revolution and the Second World War). While not a Trappist brewery, it is monastic, and I think we all know my fatal weakness for abbey beers.Hazy, nearly opaque mahogany, with a deep red shining through and a small white foamy

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-46415024766407326582008-07-10T19:39:00.004-06:002008-07-15T22:48:32.381-06:00

I first came across WKD coolers in a pub in Edinburgh where bottles of it were served upside-down in an oversized glass with two other brands of coolers. A few of those giant cooler-cocktails and the University of Edinburgh's golf course started to seem more and more like a comfortable place to rest my head. WKD has now crossed the Atlantic, although I'm not sure if the terribly rude advertising

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-21757203475034182352008-07-04T17:09:00.001-06:002008-07-15T22:45:58.069-06:00

I've headed back to my home province just in time, for today is the opening day of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth; the Calgary Stampede! I've got my stetson and shitkickers on, I've gorged myself on a pancake breakfast and I've got my rodeo tickets in the back pocket of my jeans. Now, normally in this situation, I would review something local, but unfortunately there is an unusual dearth of

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-31992094791094185302008-07-03T18:44:00.001-06:002008-07-10T19:33:41.199-06:00

Buzzard Breath is another oddly named beer from Big Rock (see Grasshopper and Warthog) and only available at Buzzard's restaurant and the connecting Bottlescrew Bill's pub in Calgary, Alberta. It being rodeo season in Alberta, you can order a pint of this with a plate of prairie oysters, which if you know what they are, aren't as bad as you think. (If you don't know, you don't want to.) Buzzard

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-56183419048426769452008-07-02T20:17:00.001-06:002009-04-30T18:47:56.099-06:00

The Italians aren't particularly known for their beers, and what they do produce almost solely comes from northern, Alpine areas such as Lombardy. Regardless, they do export some beer, Moretti being the largest and best-known brand.Pours light orange with a good-sized fizzy white head. Light, slightly grainy aroma with hints of hops. Vaguely bitter flavour, rather light mouthfeel. This is a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-17590719364779975212008-06-28T17:08:00.000-06:002008-07-02T16:17:34.597-06:00

Navan is a relatively new flavoured cognac from Grand Marnier, made with black vanilla beans, the second most expensive spice in the world (the first being saffron). Grand Marnier has been expanding their lines for the past few years, ever since cognac came back into vogue through the unlikely world of gangster rap.Golden-orange, leaves long legs inside the glass. Rich aroma of vanilla and

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-45735002214583194012008-06-23T20:47:00.001-06:002008-06-23T22:47:13.093-06:00

Another brew from Oregon's largest microbrewery, this time a hefeweizen flavoured with ginger and coriander. This beer is dedicated to Mo and Dutch Niemi of Oregon, the great clam chowder pioneers.Pours golden-orange with a big foamy head. Yeasty, ester and hoppy aroma. Flavour was citrusy with good hoppy bitterness, but was a little too sweet and a little too light. Still a good beer, but Rogue

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1151443272958488672008-06-18T15:05:00.000-06:002008-06-18T15:28:13.558-06:00

I swear, I could probably live on just Trappist beers alone. Those monks sure know their brews. I don't know why, but Belgian Trappist monks just brew damn good beer. Divine will, maybe.Achel 8 Blond is a orange, semi-opaque colour with a foamy white head. Has a light, citrusy aroma and a strong hoppy, yeasty, weiss taste. Even though it's 8%, the alcohol is only as apparent as a normal beer.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1153703196003298222008-06-16T16:28:00.001-06:002008-06-16T16:28:00.657-06:00

Geez, alcopops galore! This one sounds really intriguing, it's a purple lemonade with blueberry and raspberry. Definitely never seen that one before.Woah, smells like gummy bears! You can definitely taste the artificial blueberry and raspberry, the lemonade base is pretty well completely drowned out. It's okay, but not great, like liquid candy. Great colour of drink, though. I've never seen a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-63857993544008348362008-06-12T15:06:00.000-06:002008-06-15T15:49:35.331-06:00

Many moons ago I reviewed Erdinger Weissbier and was absolutely blown away by it. It still remains one of my favourite beers of all time. So, of course, when I saw that Erdinger also makes a dunkel (German dark lager), I quickly snatched up a bottle and ran home to try it.Pours a rich dark mahogany with a huge foamy tan head. Light aroma of dark malts and fruit. Sweet malty flavour with hints of

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-14330374496316158322008-06-11T20:02:00.004-06:002009-02-07T20:38:39.053-07:00

When I bought this six-pack, I didn't really notice how...erm...petite the box was. But I did notice when I opened it and noticed just how small the bottles were. These little mites are a mere 222mL each! To top it off, the beer is only 4.2%, not exactly light beer, but not full strength either.Pours extremely light yellow, more like white grape juice in colour, with a very thin white head.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-45414275915225006212008-06-09T19:16:00.001-06:002008-06-15T15:46:44.762-06:00

Oh hell yes. Right around the corner in Old Havana from the Museum of Chocolate is the Museum of Rum. If that's not a great afternoon, I don't know what is. The museum is housed in a gorgeous 19th century building with a shady central courtyard. Unfortunately, since I had arrived alone, I was the only English-speaking tourist there, so I was given the option of sitting around and waiting for

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-67767300629554182342008-06-01T19:06:00.005-06:002008-06-14T03:56:53.926-06:00

Well, it's not so much a sample tray, since there were only two beers, but La Taberna de la Muralla is Havana's only brewpub, a joint Cuban-Austrian venture in Old Havana. The pub itself wasn't as air conditioned as I had hoped, but finding microbrew was well worth it. The fact that a full Imperial pint of beer (not a wimpy American pint) was only about two Canadian dollars helped.PielsenPours a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-17724752407090783442008-05-26T17:15:00.003-06:002008-06-01T17:56:53.824-06:00

Ah Cuba, the land that combines the alcohol-based insanity of the Caribbean with the just plain old insanity of a Communist country. Cuba sells rum...by the juice box! I picked up a box of this at a mall food court in Havana, and since it not only cost roughly one Canadian dollar but it also came with a straw, I figured it was probably some sort of mixed rum-based drink, so I decided to take a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-47900888420715205362008-05-23T13:35:00.003-06:002008-05-23T13:47:35.055-06:00

While I was in Cuba, I received an email inviting me to a little blogging contest run by Bombay Sapphire. The topic was "What does the spirit of exploration mean to me?" My entry is up today, and I would politely like to implore you all to please vote for me! I promise to post with greater regularity if you do!

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-79426217898481369182008-05-22T18:34:00.006-06:002009-07-19T14:21:28.828-06:00

Guayabita is an uniquely Cuban spirit, made from the dwarf guava (nana) fruit. The dwarf guava is actually a new-ish species, ostensibly bred to take up less space than larger guava cultivars. The fruit itself is not too different than regular guava, except that it only grows to be about the size of an apple. Of course, being Cuba, it wasn't too long before someone tried to ferment it into a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-15168198389515909272008-05-19T21:50:00.000-06:002008-05-21T10:06:08.510-06:00

Bucanero is one of Cuba's two major domestic beers, the other being a generic pale lager called Cristal (both made by the same nationalized brewery). Bucanero probably wins for "sexiest booze pirate", and is available mercifully ice-cold from vending machines around Havana for only about the equivalent of one Canadian dollar.Pours deep yellowy gold with a fizzy white head. Mildly grassy and

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-16842242118458717442008-05-16T12:25:00.000-06:002008-05-16T12:42:04.792-06:00

I've had trouble finding Havana Club's 7 year old rum in Canada, but it is available in full force in Cuba! I got to try a sample in the tasting room of the Museum of Rum (post about the museum to follow), as well as their three and five year rums.Deep, dark amber colour with an aroma of butterscotch, vanilla and molasses. A bit of spice on the tongue, along with creamy molasses and a hint of

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-52302665938760768712008-04-26T10:10:00.001-06:002008-04-25T18:46:48.784-06:00

Tomorrow I'm getting up at a truly ungodly hour (3 goddamn am) to get on an airplane, fly to Toronto, have an always-depressing airport breakfast at Tim Horton's, and fly due south to the beautiful island of Cuba. I'll be in Havana for two weeks or so, more if the Americans try to invade. While I'm there, aside from seeing the sights and probably getting a horrific sunburn despite SPF60 (I kid

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-61056970409417557312008-04-26T10:09:00.001-06:002008-07-15T23:07:58.658-06:00

The mojito is probably Cuba's most famous drink, a mercifully refreshing blend of mint, lime and rum, perfect of warding off heatstroke after walking along the Malecón or visiting the Museum of the Revolution in Batista's old palace. This drink has become very popular outside of the Caribbean in recent decades, but often ends up far more sweet that the original recipe intended. For the sake of

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-84309915274109033182008-04-25T20:53:00.000-06:002008-04-25T18:00:41.792-06:00

While in Montreal last month, I decided to hit some of the city's culinary highlights. After a as-good-if-not-better-than-sex Montreal smoked meat sandwich from Swartz's, I waded through the snowdrifts to hit the Dieu du Ciel brewpub. This little brewery has the reputation as one of the best microbreweries in Canada, if not North America. I only wish I could have tried more of their beers, but

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-53992664671208866382008-04-10T21:17:00.002-06:002009-02-07T20:42:05.705-07:00

Carib Lager is named after one of the two major Aboriginal peoples originating in the Caribbean (the other being the Tainos). The Caribs were sea-going warriors, and unlike the Tainos, they survived the devastation of Spanish settlement and occupation and eventually lent their name to the entire region. A decent percent of the Trinidadian population has some Carib ancestry, so it is not

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-71877209073238223042008-03-31T16:43:00.001-06:002008-04-18T22:06:12.025-06:00

Bison vodka! Well, this vodka may not have any actual bison in it, but it is flavoured with bison grass, also known as sweetgrass. It even has a blade of the grass in each bottle! This traditional style of vodka originates from Poland and was once banned in the United States because the United States likes to ban interesting booze bison grass may contain coumarin, which acts as an anti-coagulant

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-56227317170309156152008-02-21T18:27:00.003-07:002008-02-21T18:41:02.416-07:00

You know, you'd think with the good-sized Lebanese community in this neck of the woods that there'd be Lebanese beer (and wine) widely available, but this is honestly the first time I've seen a brew from Lebanon. Give'r, I say.Pours apple juice yellow with a bare ring of white foam. Grassy hay aroma with a hint of hops. Flavours of hay, hay, more hay, with a fruity aftertaste. It's not an

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-6774557225416155002008-02-16T18:10:00.001-07:002008-02-22T18:37:56.554-07:00

Why have I been taking so long to post recently, you may ask? Well, I've been working my way through both the most expensive and strongest six-pack I've ever come across. Six live, bottle fermented Belgian ales from Brouwerij Van Steenberge. I practically skipped home after I snagged this in the liquor store.Bornem DubbelDark, coffee-ish colour with deep red hues and a huge thick foamy tan head.

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1152246971830386612008-02-08T22:20:00.000-07:002008-02-08T22:43:11.033-07:00

I love the packaging for these little single shots! The cool twisted plastic shot glass shows off the green and gold liqueurs with a peel off lid. You can find these in liquor stores across Canada, and probably similar brands in the States or the UK. I decided to try the mix of sour green apple liqueur and butterscotch schnapps.Mmm! Smells like apple & butterscotch candy! Down it all in one go...

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-69528506848980792852008-02-03T16:55:00.001-07:002008-05-25T15:18:38.835-06:00

I've been looking to get my mitts on a bottle of this for a while. Not too many breweries make black lagers anymore, so when one that's almost literally in my backyard makes a run of them, I had to hunt a bottle down. Dark lagers, or Schwarzbiers, originated in Germany, and were actually the original style of lager, before lighter malts came into use a hundred years ago.After struggling with the

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-78261143663798054202008-01-20T17:58:00.000-07:002008-01-26T15:44:49.475-07:00

I like pilsners, and I like unfiltered beer. So when I find an unfiltered pilsner from Germany, I had to grab a bottle. I really like the label on this beer, it has a wonderful turn-of-the-century feel to it. It's also organic! Neat. The only real problem is that the website is completely in German.Hazy, straw-gold with small floating particles and a fizzy white head. Grassy, citrus aroma with a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-62940106751190511122008-01-10T20:08:00.001-07:002008-05-25T15:21:28.275-06:00

This seems to be a bit of a cash grab, I'm sure I could make 750ml of margaritas for less than 20 bucks, but then again, I'm also sure I'd be too lazy to actually make that many margaritas. Pre-made drinks are convenient, and Jose Cuervo isn't a terrible tequila on its own, so let's give this stuff a shot.Hazy yellow-green, strong semi-real lime aroma. Not overly sweet, tastes like real lime,

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-22581237113531231702008-01-01T16:16:00.000-07:002008-01-02T14:46:03.781-07:00

Okay, this is a bit late for Christmas, but the label wishes you a Merry Christmas AND a Happy New Year, so let's wrap up the holiday season with this brew. Every year for the past 33 years, Anchor Brewing had released a limited run of it's special holiday ale. Every year the recipe changes (as well as the tree on the label). I'd love to put a bottle away to compare with next year's brew, but I

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-49217914973283778102007-12-29T15:07:00.000-07:002007-12-29T15:39:21.723-07:00

Guess what I got for my birthday today? Beer! Always a welcome gift. Black Widow Dark Ale comes from Tin Whistle Brewing Company in British Columbia, a brewing company that I had been raving about after trying their excellent Peaches and Cream Ale and Killer Bee dark honey lager at the 2007 Canada Cup of Beer. I frankly didn't know they bottled their brews, but apparently you can only get them in

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-81423668891200485672007-12-23T16:28:00.000-07:002007-12-23T23:02:57.015-07:00

It's allllmost Christmas! (Oh boy oh boy) I've always liked to have either mimosa or just champagne on Christmas day itself, but let's make some seasonal cocktails to have once everyone has opened their presents.Christmas Pudding1 shot Drambuie5 shots stout or porter (when in doubt, go for Guinness)1 shot Southern ComfortCombine and serve in a red wine glass.Ginger Snap2 shots Advocaat3 shots

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-65115157086206382132007-12-21T16:31:00.000-07:002007-12-21T16:45:50.282-07:00

I'm a big fan of Weissbiers & Witbiers, and it's good to that the market isn't completely cornered by the Germans and the Belgians. Edelweiss' Snowfresh is from Austria and supposedly contains alpine herbs, although which ones I'm not sure.Pours a slightly hazy gold with a decent foamy off-white head. Aroma of citrus, banana esters, and yeast. Good strong banana ester flavour with a hint of lemon

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-90305907033255079972007-12-20T17:59:00.000-07:002007-12-20T18:11:02.799-07:00

I've always shied away from pale lagers, I'm an ale gal through and through, but when I saw a Greek lager on the shelf, I had to give it a shot. Mythos is Greece's second largest brewer and exports throughout Europe, North America and Australia.Pale gold with lots of carbonation and a small fizzy white head. Metallic, grassy aroma with hints of lightly burnt popcorn and grainy, boring, corny

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-28857663892943756792007-12-14T15:14:00.000-07:002007-12-14T12:52:46.945-07:00

Oooh my, I think I may have just found a perfect holiday beer. A brewery in the Niagara region (known not just for the falls but also for being one of the premium ice wine producers in the world) has released an ice-bock or eisbock. Eisbocks are made in through the same process as ice wines, through freeze distilling to condense the flavour and raise the alcohol level (this particular one is 8%).

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-65555469775804529872007-12-13T18:49:00.000-07:002007-12-13T16:04:39.881-07:00

Happy Lucia all! For the majority of you who don't know or care, today is St. Lucia's Day, the Swedish version of St. Patrick's Day! Normally today we sit around and eat saffron buns and drink spiced mulled wine called glögg and wear lit candles on our heads (while drinking), but unfortunately, I now live in a place with almost no Scandinavian community, and even worse, no IKEA. I haven't been

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-45644855853101489502007-12-10T14:01:00.000-07:002007-12-10T11:23:28.479-07:00

Bitter & Twisted is an award-winning blonde ale from Scotland's Harviestoun Brewery. The name is supposed to represent the beer's flavour profile, with a citrus flavour like that of a twist of lemon, but without any actual lemon added to it. The mouse on the bottle represents a mouse that lived in the old barn Harviestoun first used for a brewery. While cute, I hope that no rodents are still

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-40827051983479301472007-12-06T16:51:00.000-07:002007-12-06T13:09:42.423-07:00

Westmalle is one of the seven Trappist breweries in the world (six in Belgium, one in Germany), producing a Dubbel, a Tripel, and a rather rare Extra. I have only been able to find the Tripel in Canada, but from my previous experience with Trappist ales, I have very high hopes for this brew. Apparently this is the first beer to ever be called a tripel, first brewed in 1934. Remember, it's bottle

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-45848376105408353762007-12-01T17:22:00.000-07:002007-12-01T17:38:45.693-07:00

I certainly do love my sake, and I'm always tickled pink when I find a new kind. Ozeki is another offering from the recently emerged California sake industry. Unnervingly, a full 750ml bottle was less than the cheapest non-wino wine in the liquor store, so I'm feeling a little skeptical, but I'll give it a shot anyways.Crystal clear, acetone with banana hints in the aroma. Very smooth mouthfeel,

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-91578404042959065332007-11-26T16:47:00.000-07:002007-11-26T17:05:54.947-07:00

Halifax's Garrison Brewing Company has recently released a new brew, an unfiltered wheat ale. I'm a big sucker for wheat beers, so I had to give it a shot. So far it only comes in big 650ml bottles, though Garrison has started to make its six packs of regular sized bottles more common.Hazy light gold with small, quickly vanishing head. Decent wheat aroma, some sweet yeasty notes, but nothing too

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-76738566796448899562007-11-15T17:49:00.000-07:002007-11-26T16:45:04.249-07:00

I know using Mozart to sell chocolate liqueur (like using Chopin to sell vodka) is a ploy to make the product more classy, but with Mozart's possible severe alcoholism, I'm not sure he's the most appropriate figure to sell booze. Nonetheless, they do come in adorable little bottles that look like wrapped chocolates, so IMozart GoldWow, thick, almost syrupy. Milk chocolate colour, cocoa aroma with

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-29904525076795019182007-10-31T19:14:00.000-06:002007-10-31T19:31:03.208-06:00

C'est l'halloween! Hey! C'est l'halloween! Hey! *clap* Yes, not only is it time for half-remembered songs from grade four French class, it's time for Halloween brews! Well, alright, this one isn't actually a Halloween brew per se, it's to celebrate the Mayan Day of the Dead or All Soul's Day...tomorrow. But I figured I needed something to drink while ignoring trick-or-treaters and hogging all the

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-20629345721927665592007-10-20T19:56:00.000-06:002007-10-20T17:11:20.825-06:00

I finally found perry (cider made with pears instead of apples) here in Canada! It's English, of course, and with an eye-catching green and gray can. The website claims that it's the only authentic perry to be available in North America, although I'm sure there has to be someone making it properly on this continent.Pours nearly clear, like light white grape juice. The aroma is something between

Katenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-26764074395513291362007-10-07T16:05:00.000-06:002007-10-07T16:29:34.541-06:00

The days are starting to get shorter and colder, winter's coming and it's time to break out the stouts! Samuel Smith is Yorkshire's oldest brewery, and used to provide Imperial Stouts to Russian nobility back a hundred years ago.Deep mahogany, almost black and completely opaque with a small dark tan head. Rich chocolate aroma with tinges of barley and maple, has a lovely mouthfeel, very creamy

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-4508306312702375902007-09-01T05:11:00.000-06:002007-10-03T05:28:49.749-06:00

For all of September, I will be going on hiatus. I've been absolutely smothered in work and moving, but when that is sorted out I'll start blogging again. Liquor Log will be coming back sometime in October, and possibly another new blog, but Dear Lady Cooper will be on a more prolonged hiatus (I'm really just getting spam and really uninspired questions.)See you in October!

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1151886801164427662007-08-16T18:15:00.000-06:002007-08-16T15:40:06.353-06:00

Get it? Get it? Hahaha...Okay, I'm done. Jack In The Bock comes from Tree Brewing Company in Kewlona, B.C. This one is a special edition, so it's tricky to find.This bock is dark ruby with little head, sweet and malty aroma and taste. Lightly nutty and a little coffeeish. A bit bitter and not very complex, but still really good.I can only find it in big 650mL bottles with a creepy early 90's

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-48258237333479583902007-07-31T15:16:00.000-06:002007-08-11T03:19:31.059-06:00

A few weeks ago I was given the wonderful opportunity to attend the 2007 Canada Cup of Beer in Vancouver. Despite having to awake at 5:30 AM to get to Vancouver by ferry, it was certainly worth it! I arrived at the UBC's Thunderbird Stadium to row after row of beer vendors, an adorable miniature sample stein, and a media pass that mercifully let me into the shade of the VIP area. After a quick

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1157495292190783232007-07-15T22:38:00.001-06:002009-01-08T05:15:34.244-07:00

Before I first visited Nova Scotia, I thought Keith's only existed as an IPA. Turns out there's more versions than I thought, including the sadly discontinued (and tasty) Honey Brown and the surprisingly common Red Amber Ale.Pours amber with a small off-white head. Average malty aroma. Simple malty flavour, nothing too special. It's not bad, go for it when you've got a limited selection of macro

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1152948532151615752007-07-04T22:46:00.001-06:002008-06-14T04:28:18.031-06:00

I found this beer in a liquor store that had a solid wall of Shaftebury cases and two-fours. I had guessed that since it must be so popular, why not give it a go?! I got to try it as a sample too! Can't go wrong with free beer.It poured blonde with a strong hoppy aroma. Unfortunately the taste is a little watery, bitter (even a bit tart), and way too much carbonation. It's drinkable, but just.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1158201775318237272007-06-16T16:10:00.001-06:002008-02-22T19:02:23.364-07:00

Rickard's is Molson's foray into premium beers. While Rickard's Red is commonly available (and drinkable in a pinch), their new white beer, done in the style of Belgian witbiers, is only available in some cities around Canada. Still, a macrobrewery attempting something like a white is something I have to try.Pours a cloudy orange colour with a foamy white head. Has a plum and citrus aroma and a

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-29002441797636123592007-05-24T20:20:00.000-06:002007-05-24T21:26:02.411-06:00

Dos Lunas is a neat new start-up distillery from El Paso, Texas, that grows their agave over the border in Jalisco, the ancestral home of tequila. They have very generously sent me samples of their two tequilas, Silver and an aged Reposado. The bottles themselves are gorgeous, having won the gold for series packaging at the 2007 World Spirits Competition in San Francisco. Not to be outdone, both

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-6907842265043445902007-05-21T23:18:00.000-06:002007-11-30T21:57:12.376-07:00

Quick note, there are two kinds of absinthe. Parisian absinthe is the kind the louches (goes milky) when water is added, Czech absinthe is more bitter than Parisian and doesn't louche. Most recipes work well with either type, with the exception of the Traditional Serving Method. Some of these recipes come from the La Fée absinthe distillery in France.Traditional Serving MethodPour one part of

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-34049132494352953192007-05-19T23:52:00.000-06:002007-05-19T23:48:14.133-06:00

This is malt liquor? Oh. Guess that's why it was so cheap and had a screwcap, but it says beer/bière on the Canadian label. I'll confess, I bought this for the bottle. It's somewhere between a stubby and a grenade. Actually, seems this malt liquor is called "The Green Grenade" and is pretty popular in the States, although this is the first time I've seen it in Canada. Well, let's give it a

Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1151539434301012342007-05-18T20:04:00.000-06:002007-05-19T00:34:05.810-06:00

Gazela is basically a light wine, somewhat like a spritzer. I'm going to go out on a limb and peg it as a well-off 'baby boomer' drink. You know what I mean.Only 9%, the white is almost clear. Lightly carbonated with a fruity, grassy taste. It's definitely drinkable, and good with light meals or during the summer, but it's not really much of anything. Cheap though, and good for people that don't

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-76542008100556771472007-05-17T20:00:00.000-06:002007-05-26T12:08:10.894-06:00

I used to go to Salt Spring Island off the B.C. coast when I was a kid, and I loved how pretty the island was, as well as the wild berry patches. I'd jump at a chance to go there again, but I guess the closest I can get is with brews from the new-ish microbrewery on the island. I picked up the golden ale, which celebrates some of the folks that helped really turn the island into a lovely

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-54422262219427606482007-05-16T19:57:00.000-06:002007-05-18T23:50:24.326-06:00

Well, I'm out in British Columbia for work this summer, and since B.C. is a haven of microbreweries, I'll definitely sample what I can. As well in July in Vancouver is the Canada Cup of Beer, and I'm trying to get a ticket for it. Cheers!

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-86031113297153886722007-05-09T23:13:00.000-06:002007-05-09T23:30:16.268-06:00

Another brew from Canada's only microbrewery in the northern territories. (I know I'm Canadian because I spent minutes dithering over if "Arctic territories" was politically correct.) This time it's a fruit-flavoured wheat ale with cranberries, of all things. Don't see that too often, but it sounds good. Let's see how this goes.Pours a hazy golden-orange with a thick, fizzy white head. Some good

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1156577771991772712007-05-03T23:51:00.000-06:002007-05-03T23:51:40.684-06:00

Now, I know I normally go for wines from uncommon places or made from unique grapes/fruit, but I figure it's time to go for some good, solid French wine. Okay, really, I just pilfered this from my parents' house, but it was time for a change anyways. And plus, they're a bit of wine snobs, they won't mind if I pinch a bottle of moderate stuff. This is a 'vin de pays d'Oc', the third highest rating

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-47629899875023651212007-04-29T17:42:00.000-06:002007-04-29T18:11:12.161-06:00

Boris is a relatively new beer coming out of the Alsace region of France with both a regular strength lager and the Bold, which I picked up, at a thumping 8.6%. The labelling is all in the style of "rebellious leftist revolutionary anti-government anti-capitalism" Adbusters-type shill, although I get a bit cynical about that since this beer is distributed all around North America, while a

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-1159926978559988862007-04-27T11:53:00.000-06:002007-04-27T12:58:55.431-06:00

Mmm...scotch ale. Gotta love it. Scotch ale is beer that's been aged in scotch casks, giving it a scotch taste and usually a higher alcohol content. McEwan's follows this (it's a whopping 8%), and it just looks so Scottish, I have to try it.Pours a deep dark brown with a tan head. Sweet malty and oak aroma and a roasted, rolling, sweet but slightly bitter flavour with some warmth at the end. You

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28242697.post-58319665543722000202007-04-20T14:00:00.000-06:002007-04-20T11:36:57.289-06:00

A friend brought a bottle of this stuff in from China, Luzhou Laojiao Liquor (泸州老窖酒) is a rather strong (50%) traditional Chinese spirit. All I could get from the box in my extremely limited Chinese was that it's been around for about 400 years and is one of the oldest Chinese liquors still in production. Their website, while very snappy, doesn't have a functioning English button, so I'm left in

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