Gossamer Golden Ale

Half Acre Beer Company

Gossamer Golden Ale

(Specs) 4.2 ABV

Colour: light gold, with a hint of orange

Aroma: spicy, hoppy

Head: white, small amount

Initial Taste: spicy

Mouthfeel: medium body

Aftertaste: slightly bitter

Bow Bugger Amber Ale

On my last full day in Canada this year, I ended up heading to this great new craft beer hotspot in Calgary called Beer Revolution. With fantastic specials like $2 bavarian pretzels on Tuesdays, and $4 truffle fries on Wednesday as well as tapping a cask every Friday! In addition their food (though it is a bit pricey and pretty limited) it is really phenomenal and if I live in Calgary, I would definitely be here at least once a week.

I went on a Wednesday, so in addition to getting cheap truffle fries, their home brews were $1 off, and so I grabbed me a 12 oz pour of Beer Revolution Bow Bugger Amber Ale. As a beer, it wasn't anything fantastic but, since I knew that it was made less then 30ft away from me and because I was having such a great time, I would definitely drink it again.

Year: 2011

ABV: 5.4%

From: On Draft, and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: creamy, beige head, medium size

COLOUR: dark amber, translucent

SMELL: hoppy

TASTE:

(initial) initally hoppy

(body) good body, hops mellows out into a sweet rich taste

(aftertaste) slightly bitter

Grizzly Paw sampler (9 beer reviews in one!)

Today I headed back from Kicking Horse in BC, back to Calgary in Alberta. Along the way, we stopped for Lunch at the Grizzly Paw, a great little brewery and restaurant that we have eaten at before on this route. Usually I just get a pint of one of the local brews, but since I was feeling especially adventurous (and I am very conscious of how far under my 52 beer review goal I am at this late stage in the game) I decided to go for the all-inclusive sampler and decided to review 'em all.

Given that these were all draft pours into 3oz glasses, in addition to my standard of skipping how the "foam" section, these reviews are going to pretty short and sweet, ending with a thumbs up, down or middling from me.

Powder Hound Pilsner

Colour: Pale yellow, transparent

Taste: Light Body, tastes like a traditional pilsner, aftertaste of corn

Verdict: thumbs down

NOTE: Some people like really watery light bodies beers, this is for you, not me.

Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat

Colour: Pale amber, transparent

Taste: Light Body, slightly sweet, slight taste of grains, slightly aftertaste of sour

Verdict: thumbs middling

Beaver Tail Raspberry Ale

Colour: Pale amber, cloudy

Taste: Light Body, bitter, RASPBERRY!, aftertaste of raspberry lingers

Verdict: thumbs down

NOTE: I dislike raspberry, if you do, you'll love this beer

Rutting Elk Red

Colour: Brown-deep red, transparent

Taste: Medium body, note very hoppy, a good standard red ale

Verdict: thumbs up

Big Head Nut Brown

Colour: Dark brown, transparent

Taste: Medium Body, sweet, but not cloying (slightly dry), slightly sour aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs down

Mooseknuckle Coffee Stout

Colour: Black-deep red,

Taste: Rich medium body, slightly chocolately, coffee with a strong espresso aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs up

Indra Island IPA

Colour: Dark amber, cloudy

Taste: Medium body, bitter, VERY hoppy, bitter aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs down

NOTE: If you like hops, like a lot, a whole lot, you will love this, other wise, you've been warned

Unity Brew

Colour: Light amber, transparent

Taste: Medium Body, hoppy, bitter, dry,

Verdict: thumbs middling

NOTE: Though I wasn't the biggest fan of this brew, others at my table really loved it. Also it is worth noting that the name for this beer came from the fact that it a collaboration from 9 craft brewers in Alberta. This is the third year this special seasonal is being produced, and its proceeds go towards funding a great charities, all reasons enough on their own for you to give it a try

Mocha Porter

Colour: Black-deep brown,

Taste: Full Body, rich, very chocolate-y, sweet coffee, slightly bitter aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs up

NOTE: This beer is definitely not for quaffing down. From anywhere in its vicinity you can smell its intense chocolate-yness. It is a desert beer, clear and simple, and definitely a treat if you can find it.

Long Trail Centennial Red

Long Trail Centennial Red
(unfortunately the website is in flash, so you will have to click on beers, then brewmaster reserves)

This was actually the first beer that I picked pour from draft into a 32oz growler; this is something I have never seen before but apparently has become trendy. Basically, it means that a store (in New York try Whole Foods, Brew York City, and the New Beer Distributors will have 32oz or 64oz bottles available for purchase which can be filled from a rotating selection of taps. I didn't particularly like this brew specifically (which seems to be the case with most "Brewmaster's Selections" I try, but c'est la vie, the growler concept is definitely something I will look more into.

ABV: 7.9%
Available: Nov.-Jan. (why I got it in June, I have no idea)

SERVED:

(pint glass from 32oz growler)

COLOUR: dark red, slightly translucent, orange tint when there is little beer

FOAM: small white, almost creamy

SMELL: hoppy, bouquet of herbs

TASTE: smooth slightly herby (spicy) taste

blossoms into a medium bodied beer

aftertaste; bitter herby taste