Old Flame Brewing Rocks Their Red
I was contacted by an Old Flame Brewing Co. rep (who goes by “Big Red”) offering me a sample of beer to review. Naturally, I accepted. But when I was offered a choice between their ‘Blonde’, ‘Brunette’, and ‘Red’, I opted against my natural inclination…
What’s a ‘Wine’? V: When to Send Back a Bottle
When you order a bottle of wine at a restaurant, the accompanying ceremony can seem a bit silly and unnecessary. You are presented with a small sample to swirl, smell, sip, and – inevitably – affirm as, “Excellent, thank you.” What’s the point? I mean,…
Muskoka’s Winterweiss Will Warm You Up
There was a time in my life I thought Weiss beers were for spring and summer. While essentially untrue, there is some foundation for this belief. Many Weiss beers are light, fruity and easy drinking, making them a natural partner of sun-warmed docks everywhere….
A Dram of The Dalmore 15
I’m never one to refuse scotch, especially when that scotch is promised to be a 15 year old single malt. So when my Aunt opted to bring me a sample of her recently-purchased The Dalmore 15, I enthusiastically accepted (thanks again Paulette!) This Highland scotch…
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound: A Love Story
Some wines you drink because they taste amazing. Some wines you drink for the nostalgia value – there’s a special memory or association attached to it. And sometimes, there’s that magic combination of both, something I’m pleased to have found in the wonderful Mulderbosch…
Why Mill Street’s Sale is Bad for Craft Beer
Last Friday, Toronto brewery and craft beer icon Mill Street was bought by Labatt brewery. In a series of meek tweets, Mill Street scrambled to build a case for the sale, claiming it was “a partnership which will help [them] grow.” While the general consensus among…
Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey: Bringing Refinement to Rye
Straight rye whiskeys are incredibly popular right now, and if you’ve hopped aboard the bandwagon, Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky is one you’re definitely not going to want to miss. In spite of its high ABV (50%) it is so easily sippable it seems a shame…
Bear Flag Smooth Red Is Solid Throughout
The use of “smooth” right in the title immediately had me worried. Smooth is the ultimate booze buzzword, which more often than not means “we didn’t even taste it, but we could likely justify it as smooth.” Nonetheless, once again, I was suckered in by…
Behind the Beer: Kevin Freer of Wellington Brewery Talks Brewing and Podcasting
I “met” Kevin Freer through a chance encounter on Reddit. I was posting my review of Arch Brewing’s Dinner Jacket, (contract brewed at Wellington Brewery) and he commented noting it was a challenging brew. Being a huge Welly fan, I leapt at the chance to interview…
Knob Creek 9 Year Small Batch is BIG Bourbon
I’m an outspoken advocate for big, beefy bourbons. Sure, I can appreciate the more reserved pleasures of a bourbon like Four Roses Small Batch, but I find myself tending towards the muscular, loud flavours of Elijah Craig. Needless to say, I was excited to finally review the notoriously…