DOC PERDUE’S BOBCAT ~ COWBELL BREWING

Doc Perdue’s Cowbell is a West Coast Red Ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly opaque beautiful ruby amber with an average sized cream coloured head. The head left great lacing as it receded. The nose had loads of woodsy notes as well as hops, alcohol and some dark fruit. The flavour had a subtle sweetness to it that complimented the leafy hop bitterness. Notes of caramel, toasted malts, pine resin, oak and herbal hops were also present. The hop aromas and taste make me wonder if this had been dry hopped, or had some hop layering. This is my first beer from this brewery, I look forward to tasting other offerings. The beer is named after Blyth’s veterinarian from the late 1880’s who was known for keeping exotic animals and loving a drink. According the Cowbell’s website, “When once cut off for being over served at the local saloon, he marched home and returned with a bobcat on a leash, threatening to let it loose if he didn't get another drink.”

5.5% from Blyth, Ontario 30 IBU

100TH MERIDIAN ORGANIC AMBER LAGER ~ MILL STREET

100th Meridian is an amber lager made only with organic ingredients from west of the 100th meridian - (where the great plains begin). Beer always tastes better when you are at the ball game and the home team is winning in the post season (GO JAYS GO!) It was sampled at the ball park, so that means draught in a plastic cup. This beer poured a clear coppery amber colour with a white head that settled into a cap. The nose was quite mild, but notes of bready malts, fruity notes and earthy hay and leafy hops. Flavour had biscuit-bread notes, sweet grains and malts and caramel. The finish was clean and had a little leafy hop bitterness. The body was a little thin and the carbonation was soft. This beer is pretty standard, and very drinkable – a great ball-park beer!
5% from Toronto, Ontario 24 IBU
Hops: Bravo and Cascade

JUNCTION CRAFT BREWING ~ OLYMPIA LOOPING RED WHEAT ALE

Sampled from a bottle, Olympia Looping is a red wheat ale made with Red X malt (known for producing red fiery coloured brews). The beer poured a hazy deep amber-red-rust colour with a generous off white sudsy foam, which left a nice cap and some lacing. The nose is mild with some bubble gum, banana, mild spice and orchard and stone fruits. Tastes much like you would expect from a wheat beer, with a pleasant dry slightly bitter finish. The brew contained lots of off sweet tangy fruity flavours as well, making this quite a refreshing summer sipper. The beer was on the medium side of light in body and the carbonation was slightly soft. A decent sessionable summer drink. BTW “Olympia Looping” is the name of the largest portable steel roller coaster in the world, complete with five loops.

5.2 % from Toronto, Ontario IBU 18