Welcome to my BBQ: have a dark, thick chocolatey Great Lakes porter

I know what you're going to be thinking at 5:01 this afternoon (or 3:01 if your bosses are awesome), when you're unleashed into the sunshine for three blissful days:

"Dude, MAY 2-4."

then:

"Bro, gotta get some beers."

(stop at beer store/lcbo)

then:

"Dude, lager city!"

then:

"Maybe something with limes in it?"

then:

"If I put them in the freezer the minute I get home, they'll be cold enough for my BBQ on Sunday, then it's time to C-H-I-L-L with my boyz/girlz and some tunes and some cold brews, y'all."

I'm here, obnoxious dude/dudette, to present to you an alternative scenario.

Follow the above steps, but stop right before "Dude, lager city." Don't say that, it's annoying.

Be at the lcbo. And do something that may sound absolutely ridiculous: Buy a Great Lakes Robust Porter. This is what it looks like:

Pretty, right? Gorgeous, even. That's one classy looking bottle.

Here's what I'm thinking: buy a bunch of your usual Ontario craft beers (that's what you usually buy, right?) Maybe a Muskoka Mad Tom, a great choice. Perhaps a Neustadt Lager (just don't freeze it). For sure some Amsterdam Boneshaker IPA (new to the lcbo, and I'll take more about it in my next post). Whatever your little heart desires.

Then, put a few Robust Porters in your overflowing basket.

But, bro, you ask? Why? It's chill outside weekend. I just want to sit in the sun with some lite brews.

There are a few reasons:

1. Because it's around now. And it's in limited quantities and it won't be around forever. DO NOT miss your chance at this seriously good beer. And buy a few extra, and store em for the fall, when the weather cools down.

2. Because it's rare that we get good, risk taking local beers like this at the lcbo. And if we collectively buy all these bottles quickly, it's sending a message to a) the breweries that there's a market for things that are outside the norm, and b) the lcbo, that local beers that are outside the norm will sell and to please allow us to have more.

Eventually, this weekend, at some point, unless it's the end of days, the sun will go down. And you'll still be sitting outside, but with a light jacket on. And, after a day outside drinking lagers, you'll be in the mood for something different. And that's when you'll remember. You'll go get the classy bottle of Robust Porter, and you'll fiddle your way with the wax. And you'll impress your friends with the classy bottle. And you'll pour yourself a responsibly sized glass. And you'll do the same for whichever friends are still hanging around. And you'll cheers to an awesome weekend, and to an awesome beer that hits just the spot once the sun goes down. There's a beer for every occasion, and this is that beer and that occasion. And don't say I'll buy it later, it won't be around later. Buy it now. Go. Go at lunch. Just go.

But, what does it taste like?

Great Lake 25th Anniversary Robust Porter

Briefly: Huge head. Pitch black colour. Smell of roast coffee and chocolate. Taste: Sharp taste. some bitter. chocolate and coffee.

If you want to read more about it, The Toronto Star's Josh Rubin had a nice piece on it here:
http://www.thestar.com/living/food/drinks/article/1178762--great-lakes-brewery-s-anniversary-brew-is-dark-and-aromatic-what-s-brewing

...And to find it, visit lcbo.ca and type in Robust Porter. It's the only one.

Summer Preview: Go local

Ahhhh.... the bland nondescript summerscape....

So the lcbo announced their summer release. And here it is...

Lindeman's Cuvee Rene / 5.5% / 355 ml / $6.45
Dieu du Ciel Rosée d'Hibiscus / 5.9% / 4 x 341 ml / $11.85
Phillips Ginger Beer / 5% / 650  ml/ $5.15
Schneider Nelson Sauvin / 6.9% / 750 ml / $8.95
Weihenstephan Kristallweissbier / 5.4% / 500 ml / $3.10
Ayinger Brau-Weisse / 5% / 500 ml / $3.45
Schneider Hopfen Weisse / 8.2% / 500 ml / $3.25
Birrificio del Ducato Nuova Mattina (New Morning) Saison / 5.8% / 330 ml / $4.15
Thornbridge Kipling South Pacific Pale Ale / 5.2% / 500 ml/ $4.75
Celt Golden Crafted Ale / 4.2% / 500 ml / $3.50
Fuller's Organic Honey Dew / 5% / 500 ml / $3.25
BrewDog Punk IPA / 6.2% / 330 ml/ $2.60
Shipyard Smashed Blueberry / 9% / 625 ml / $7.95

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this list. If you ask me, which you did by coming to this site, it's a GREAT list (yay!)... If you like German style wheat beers (meh!). CLOVES! BANANAS! WHEAT! EASY DRINKING! You can find out more about these individual beers by plugging in their names into beeradvocate.com.

I'm psyched about two of these: New Morning (a Saison at the lcbo. woot.) and Lindeman's Cuvee Rene. Otherwise, it's a pretty bland lineup, particularly after the last few stellar releases. That said, it IS summer, and people want to quaff* sessionable* beers in the sun. so let them have their wheat beer. I'll be saving my pennies for what I'm REALLY excited about: the slew of new Ontario craft beers that'll be hitting the lcbo shelves this summer. Why do I need German beer to quaff* my sessions* with, when Ontario is starting to have all I need. Plus: they're fresher. And even more Plus: They're NOT wheat beers. Hopefully, as more and more Ontario craft beers are available to us, the seasonal releases, which generally are from Germany, England, Belgium, etc (bee tee dubs: more from Belgium please, lcbo.), will serve to complement the local stuff. We're not there yet, but I sure hope we will be soon. Anyway, about the stuff I'm excited about:

Expected imminently:

Amsterdam Boneshaker IPA should be hitting the lcbo shelves this week. Note: This is one awesome IPA - one of the top available to us. I want. Bad. Hurry up, Mr. Boneshaker. (edit note: this beer started arriving at lcbos this week).

Great Lakes Robust Porter: I mentioned my excitement at this in a past post. I've heard it'll be out in the next few weeks. Waiting patiently... (edit note: this beer has started arriving at lcbos this week too, but in very limited quantities so hurry!)

Also expected at some point this summer:

Kensington's Augusta Ale - I've heard June...

Nickelbrook Naughty Neighbour Pale Ale - Not sure when...

Spearhead Hawaiian Pale Ale - I've heard Canade Day

Double Trouble's Hops & Robbers IPA - not sure

I'll write more about these in the future, closer to when they come out, but this is all just to say that, if you want some quaffing* sessions*, more and more, you'll be able to do it with great local beer this summer. Give them all a try. You may not end up liking them all, but you won't know unless you give them a shot, and these local craft breweries need to be supported. We're headed in the right direction, and that direction isn't from Europe to boat to Canada, it's from brewery to belly.

*I sincerely apologize for using the two most pretentious, annoying, non-sensical and overused words in beer geekdom: "quaff" and "sessionable." If you ever hear me say these words out loud, you reserve the right to dip your finger in my beer, and then poke me in the eye with it, and then call me a weiner one time. I'll use them on this site, however, because a) it's hilarious, and b) you can't reach my beer/eye through the internet.    

Picture this: Craft Beer heaven, plus the Only Cafe's Spring Beer Fest

Picture this:

Toronto.

Right now.

You're in a store, looking to buy a little bit of craft beer. The walls are stocked with rows and rows of local goodies.

You're having a few friends over this weekend and want to grab a selection of beer to knock their booties off.

Maybe you'll grab an Imperial Stout for your friend Ginger, you know she likes the style, but you can't decide between Amsterdam's Tempest or Sawdust City's Long Dark Voyage to Uranus or a Wellington Imperial Stout.

Most of your friends, like Atticus, Marnie and Blanket, like a good IPA. So do you. So you'll pick up a wide selection of those: some Cameron's Rye PA, some Amsterdam Boneshaker, some Sawdust City Lone Pine, some Great Lakes Karma Citra AND Lake Effect.

There's this one guy who's coming over, though, he really likes to get punched in the teeth with the hops. Like, really punched. Straight up IPA doesn't do it for Clovis, no it doesn't. Maybe good ol' "Cloves," as you like to call him goodnaturedly, would like a double IPA or three. Maybe you'll grab a sixer of Black Oak 10 Bitter Years for him-give him three, and save three for yourself.

Nice party, good time.

Stop.

Real talk: This store doesn't exist. These people don't exist. There was no party. There was no fun. I made it up.

But despite being a fake scenario, the beers were real. And they were but a few of the delicious craft beers Ontario's brewers are brewing that SHOULD be available to us all. (For more on my thoughts on that, see my last post).

All this to say that if you want to taste the best Ontario's craft brewers have to offer, there is no magical store (but please let there be soon!).

There is, however, the Only Cafe's Spring Beer Fest, which starts tonight. That's where the brewers will be, and they'll be giving samples of their wares (not necessarily the brewers or the beers I mentioned above. Again, I made that up).

So go, and support craft beer, and show 'em all your love and maybe someday soon, with enough support, you can invite Ginger and Atticus and Marnie and Blanket and, yes, even good old Cloves, over to your place. And they'll actually come, because they'll know you're well stocked with the good stuff. And then, my friends, you'll actually have friends besides me. 

For more on the Only Cafe's Spring Beer Fest, visit: theonlycafe.com

An Open Letter to Those Who Make Decisions on Such Things

To Whom In May Concern that Makes Decision on Such Things:

I write this letter to ask, nay beseech, you, on behalf of my taste buds, to loosen the government/beer store bi-nopoly on the sale of beer (heretofore referred to as "my precious.") In particular, my interests lie in growing the Ontario craft beer market, and having local wares more easily accessible.

I propose creating a tri-opoly with three featured players: the lcbo, which would import quality my precious from abroad, and the Beer Store which would mainly deal in "big beer." So far, not much has changed. But now pay attention here, this is the important part: The third opoly would be owned by Ontario's craft brewers themselves (a collective? a co-op?). They would share distribution and set up a series of shops throughout the province that would carry exclusively Ontario craft beer. The benefits of setting up this system are many, but here are a few:

• More business and wider distribution for the Craft brewers. This would help turn the little guy into the bigger guy. 
• Local is good.
• Fresh beer is good too.
• More choice for the consumer (me).
• The environment is good. Instead of hundreds of cars heading out to the country/outskirts of town to pick up their beer directly from the breweries, a few big trucks would deliver it to the stores.
• Maybe I wouldn't miss out on all the awesome limited quantity beers our brewers make because I can't get out to Etobicoke (cough cough 10 Bitter Years cough).
• It would push our outdated liquor laws further into the 20th century, and make us look much less lame to potential tourists.

There are more reasons than this, and more logical arguments too, but I have a full time job and a baby and I'm tired. Perhaps my loyal readers can help fill out this list? There's something that just doesn't sit right with me that it's easier to buy beer from germany than it is from a small brewery in Ontario. I feel much more pride pouring a beer from one of our great local breweries than I do a large brewery overseas. I have no ownership in that. 

I do feel ownership in Ontario's craft beer scene. Let's all work together to help me get my precious into my precious little hands (that last time, precious actually meant precious.)

Thank you very much,

Sincere Regards,

Brau

PS: When you do set up these little shops, please ensure one of them is in East York, a minimum of five blocks from my house. DM me for address details. 

ABOUT A BEER: Lone Pine IPA

The holy trinity: Beer glass, beer bottle, and beer reading

WHAT IS IT? An American India Pale Ale (IPA) with 6.5% alcohol.

WHO MAKES IT? Sawdust City Brewing Co, in Gravenhurst, Ontario.

WHERE CAN I FIND IT? You can find it if you're lucky. Unfortunately for us, this small brewery only brews in relatively small amounts (for now). So that means no lcbo, and no Beer Store. But when you see Sawdust City beer, know that it will be good.

A fresh shipment of Lone Pine recently was delivered to certain finer beer establishments. I can personally vouch for having seen or tried it at Wvrst, Morgan's on the Danforth, Bar Volo, and the Only Cafe. http://sawdustcitybeer.blogspot.ca/ has a complete map of the bars that carry it. Print it, fold it into 8, and keep it in your wallet, you never know when the mood might strike you.

WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE? I've written quite a bit about IPAs. This is one of those, but with an emphasis on the bitterness and the piney-ness. And by "an emphasis," I mean that the bitter slaps you right in the face. There's also some subtle (compared to the bitterness) citrus and bread, but they serve to complement the real stars: the pine and the bitterness.

WHEN SHOULD I DRINK THIS? Whenever you can find it. Sawdust City's beers are brewed in small batches and they come and go quickly.

WHAT ELSE?
The brewery makes a series of other beers that also come and go quickly, but Lone Pine is the first that they've made a second run of (this run was tweaked slightly to bring out the bitter. eep!). Long Dark Voyage to Uranus, their Russian Imperial Stout, is worth seeking out as well, though maybe it's not so much a patio sipper at 8.5%. And I might suggest shortening the name to LDV when in the presence of more respectable members of society.

If you follow me on the tweeter, you know that I have a bit of a mancrush on Sawdust City. They're the kind of brewery we need more of in Ontario, with a pioneering spirit and a taste for big flavours. Plus: they're flat out bad ass. These are beers that force this reclusive beer dad out of his nest and into the public, where danger lurks. And that's no small feat.