THE FACE OF TORONTO ( IDES OF MARCH) ~ HENDERSON

The Face of Toronto is Henderson’s Ides of March Beer, a one-off they do every month. It was made to celebrate Toronto’s birthday - many Torontian faces were used on the labels. The beer is a ‘truffle’ saison made with orange peel, cardamom, and chocolate. Sampled on draught the beer poured a dark ruby-brown (much like a porter) with a creamy beige head that lasted several minutes. The nose has notes of chocolate, and spice, with an earthiness and subtle fruits. The taste had notes of dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, spice, roasted malts, and fruit and florals. The beer has a medium full body, average carbonation and low bitterness on the finish. I enjoyed this one, a very interesting brew.

5.5 % from Toronto, Ontario

CHERRY CHOCOLATE STOUT ~ STACK

6.9% from Sudbury, Ontario

This stout is brewed with organic cocao nibs and cherries Sampled on draught this stour poured almost black with a generous beige head. The aroma had notes of dark chocolate, charred malts, and cherry. The flavour was slightly tart with lots of dark roasted malts, chocolate and cherry. The finish had a bitter charred quality to it. Unlike other chocolate fruit stouts, this one retains more of its stout qualities. The mouthfeel was medium and the carbonation was quite soft. Nicely balanced, not over done, very pleasant.

RASPBEERY COCO LAIT ~ MUSKOKA

4.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario 25 IBU

Raspbeery Coco Lait the Moonlight Kettle offering for Febrewary. It is milk stout with chocolate and raspberry. Sampled on draught the stout poured an opaque deep brown black pour with a creamy beige head and some nice lacing. The aroma contained notes of raspberry, roasted malts, and chocolate. The taste was beautiful, the raspberries make an appearance but the brew still retains its ‘stoutness.’ Notes of raspberry and chocolate provides a nice contrast to the roasted malts. The carbonation is soft, providing a creamy mouth feel. I think this is nicely balanced stout, best drunk after dinner in lieu of a dessert. Well done Muskoka!

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHERRY STOUT ~ BLACK OAK

5.8% from Toronto (Etobicoke), Ontario

Sampled on draught, this stout poured an opaque black-brown with a small-beige head, that didn’t stick around, but did recede into a cap and collar and left impressive lacing. The nose contained notes of chocolate, roasted malts, sweetness, smoke and a tiny bit of tart fresh cherry. The flavour has lots of cocoa and chocolate along with roasted malts, lactic sweetness and a hint of cherry and smoke. The finish has some hop bitterness along with more of the cherry.The stout is medium bodied, with medium-soft carbonation, and a smooth creamy mouthfeel. This stout is not too heavy, or too bitter, or too sweet or too fruity - just enough of everything. A very pleasant after dinner sipper.

PB & C STOUT ~ MUSKOKA

PB and C stout is the last Moonlight Kettle of the 2016 series. It is billed as having a Rich chocolate in the body with real peanut powder added, and a slight roasted coffee finish. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a very dark brown with a thin beige head. The nose contained notes of dark chocolate, roasted malts, coffee and the slightest hint of peanut butter. The flavour followed, mostly coffee with dark chocolate. The peanut butter flavour was very buried, and I was really looking forward to the Peanut butter. There was a nice balance of sweetness with bitterness of the coffee and dark chocolate. The body was light and the mouthfeel was a little on the thin side. A pleasant stout, but left me wanting more peanut butter.

5.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario  31 IBU

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY STOUT ~ MUSKOKA

STOUT WEEK - This imperial stout was a seasonal offering from Muskoka. I love Muskoka’s Chocolate Cranberry Stout, it seem like they are expanding their fruit stout repertoire.
Sampled hand-pulled on cask. This beer poured an opaque almost black with ruby highlights. There was a small beige bubbly head that fades. Raspberry and chocolate danced on a boozy sherry like nose. The flavour had raspberry notes, with dark roosted malts, and chocolate. The beer was neither hoppy nor grainy. It was a beautiful dessert in a glass without being sweet or cloying. The beer had a smooth mouthfeel and was average bodied. A beautiful way to end the night.
8% from Collingwood, Ontario  25 IBU

CHOCOLATE ORANGE PORTER ~ TRAFALGAR

Chocolate Orange Porter is seasonally available during the winter months.  Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured a dark cola colour.  It has very little to no carbonation.  There was lots of sweet orange peel in the middle with a chocolaty aftertaste, after the malts.  The orange intensified as the beer warmed.    The orange peel favour slightly artificial, and sweet.  The beer tasted like a watery version of a “Terry’s Chocolate Orange.”  I was expecting something richer with greater body.  A little disappointed with this one.

5% from Oakville, Ontario

CUCKOO FOR COCOA HUSKS ~ WELLINGTON

This Chocolate Porter is a Welly Re-Boot. Originally made as a Welly one-off they have revisited and remade this delicious Christmassy beverage. Sampled on draught, the beer poured almost black with a tinge of red, with a tan head, that left some lacing. Nose contained lots of chocolate, roasted malts, coffee with hints of berries buried in the background. Roasted malts and dark chocolate (cocoa nibs were added directly to the mash) first dominated the flavour, with a subtle sweetness and perhaps even a soupçon of vanilla. The acidity adds a liqueur like quality to the brew. Finish has a gentle bitterness. Nicely balanced, very quaffable! Label created by cartoonist Jay Stevens.

6% from Guelph, Ontario

YOUNG’S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ~ STOUT CHARLES WELLS BREWERY

Young’s is the UK’s largest privately owned brewery.  They make a number of beers and their name is on 200+ tied houses.  They have been brewing as a family owned business for 130 years.  Though they are a big production they are still considered a microbrewery. 

The bottle poured a very dark brown with a slight ruby hue.  The nose had notes of dark chocolate, coffee and a touch of vanilla.  The beer smelled boozier than it actually is.  The beer, which is brewed with real chocolate and chocolate essence among other things, (“Pale Ale and Crystal malt, Chocolate Malt, a special blend of sugars, Fuggle and Golding hops) was not as richly chocolaty as I was anticipating.  The chocolate taste was minimal at first but became more predominant as the beer warmed.   I was expecting the beer to have a creamier mouth feel and be more full bodied.  It was nicely bittered and had a dry finish.  Not disappointing but not the best chocolate stout I have had either. 

5.2% from Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

WINTERBEARD ~ MUSKOKA

Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout.  Made with chocolate malts, dark chocolate and fresh local cranberries.  

Pours very dark brown, almost black with red highlights.  Nose is very chocolatey, with subtle cranberry.  The creamy beer introduces as chocolate with the tart cranberries singing in the finish.  Very smooth and velvety - a winter gem! (Only available between November and February)

 8% from Granvenhurst, Ontario   25 IBU
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