Holy Smoke: Another void filled in Ontario beer

Things are happening quickly in Ontario beer. Things are accelerating. Each month--each week even--my year-of-Ontario-beer challenge is turning from "I have to drink Ontario beer for a whole year??" into "I get to drink Ontario beer for a whole year!!"

There's much on the horizon that I'm interested in, much happening this week even, but that's for a different post. 

This post is meant to tout another hole filled in our scene: Church-Key's Holy Smoke has hit the lcbo. Until now, we've been very underserved in the Scotch Ale department (A dark, sweet ale) AND in the Smoke beer department (think charcoal BBQ.... mmmm.....). Holy Smoke is a sort of hybrid of the two-A scotch ale using peat smoked malts.

I know a lot of people who don't like smoke beer, but I like it a lot. Be warned, though: this 6.2% ale is NOT a session beer. There's a lot going on and it can tire out the palate, so I recommend splitting the 650 ml bottle with a friend. Unless you're the kind of person who can pound back scotch all night long, then be my guest. 

Count this ridiculously handsome beer blogger happy to see this addition at the lcbo. Give it a chance.

Prayers answered... Storm's a brewin'... (Amsterdam Tempest)

So far, this whole "I'll only drink Ontario craft beer for a whole year" thing has been pretty tasty. I've spent a lot of time on the Gardiner, driving to Great Lakes (for some Deliverance, Ernie Wit and Saison du Pump-all awesome) and to Black Oak (for some 10 Bitter Years and some Oaktoberfest-also real good).

And I think that's what life will be like this year. After all, the good stuff you usually have to get from brewery itself.

So I was overjoyed to hear that Amsterdam Tempest, an imperial stout I've been dying to try for ages but haven't been able to get my hands on, is being released next Monday, October 22. And not only that, it'll be in the lcbo (in limited quantities). From what I've heard, it's the best imperial stout in Ontario, and seems to be right down my mouth puckering 100 IBU alley.

I was so happy to hear the news that I cracked into the dwindling supply of imperial stouts that remain in my cellar. If I can get my hands on a few of these bad boys, my ontario craft winter won't be so barren after all.