STE. MARY’S AXE ~ CANADIAN BEST BETTER

Ste. Mary’s Axe is a brand new brewery in Toronto. Canadian Best Bitter is the premier offering. The beer is touted as being a traditional English bitter brewed with ‘modern’ hops (brewed with 6 malts and 6 varieties of both American and English hops). Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear coppery amber with a generous loose white head. The nose contained a variety of hop aromas (citrus, herbal, earthy and resiny) as well as caramel, fruit and bread crusts. The mouthfeel was quite drying at first followed some malt sweetness, and a ton of tropical fruit and peach. The beer is happier than a usual English bitter. The finish was dry and crisp. The beer was medium bodied with average carbonation. Not your average bitter, but really pleasant none-the-less. Loved all the tropical fruit - a great first offering.
4.6% from Toronto, Ontario   32 IBU

MUDDY BEAGLE ESB ~ MUDDY YORK BREWING

I have been pretty impressed with some of the offerings from this Brewery. Muddy Beagle is an ESB and part of their Commonwealth series. The Commonwealth Series are all collaborations with other breweries or restaurants or in this case a home brewer. This ESB was developed in collaboration with home brewer David Green and named after his puppy. Green, originally from England, developed this beer looking for a taste of home and entered into the “People’s Pint Event” which earned him the opportunity to brew with Muddy York. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy amber colour with a moderate bone coloured head. Caramel malts begin the nose followed by with roasted grains, an earthiness and hops. The flavour followed the profile of the nose with a rich malty caramel flavour to begin along with roasted grains and a good dose of hops at the end. The body was medium and the carbonation was moderate. Really enjoyed this, another winner form Muddy York.

5.5 % from Toronto 40 IBU

 ~HONKER'S ALE ENGLISH BITTER ~ 

GOOSE ISLAND

It was really nice to discover Goose Island at a baseball game. (By the way the Jay’s won)  When you are paying $11.50 a beer I really do not want to drink Coor’s, or Canadian domestics.  This was a great little find, albeit quite expensive.  An enjoyable beer, very quaffable. The sweet malts with satisfying but not aggressive hop bitterness compliment each other.  Not super special but a pleasant session beer, perfect for a game on a very hot day.

Hops: Pilgrim, Styrian, Golding Celeia   

Malts: 2 Row, Caramel, Wheat, Roasted Barley

4.3% from Chicago, Illinois       IBU 30
-beer 99-