About The Beer!

Grand River Brewing 1913 Traditional

1913 Traditional

The 1913 Traditional is an golden colored, all-malt pale ale with subtle aroma and a mild, crisp, clean finish.

Galt Knife Old Style

Galt Knife Old Style

This deep gold lager is brewed in the style reminiscent of pre-prohibition beers that were brewed with full bodied malts yet retained a strong hop character in the finish. The pale malt forward beer presents a full bodied creamy taste at the beginning and finish with a complex and enjoyable hop bite. You will notice a strong, pronounced head on the beer after pouring it into your glass. The foam allows the beer to retain its freshness in the glass and provide a great amount of mouth feel that adds to the overall enjoyment and provides an added benefit to the beer you’re enjoying after a hard day’s work.

Hannenberg Pils

Hannenberg Pils

Brewed in the traditional German Pilsner Style, Hannenberg Pils has a clear pale golden blonde body, almost fruity malts and pointly refined hops. Balanced and very drinkable Pils with great flavor. Light biscuit malt body, mild clean crisp, hopping with minimal aftertaste.

Mill Race Mild

Mill Race Mild

Darkly coloured and rich in appearance, this mild ale is brewed in the traditional style of British mild beers that are disappearing even from the pubs of London, England. Grand River Brewing has revived this traditional style of beer that is deep in colour but doesn’t possess the harsh bitterness that many people associate with a darker beer. The pronounced creamy head welcomes you and is followed with a beautiful roasted barley flavour and a smooth creamy taste. This is a beer that just makes you want to have another and with being a mild, go right ahead. 3.5% ABV.

Plowman's Ale

Plowman’s Ale

This is a big, bold beer that is loaded with five types of hops but also backed up with a hearty grain that establishes balance and body. This deep copper coloured beer has beautiful spicy and a slight citrus hops note right from the start with a rounded malt finish accompanying the hop bitterness.

Immediately after pouring the beer, you will notice a full, rocky head form at the top of your glass that preserves all the flavour and allows the slow release of the hop focused aroma. As you drink and enjoy your beer you will notice the head take on a thick and rocky appearance as it creates some wonderful lacing down the side of your glass. All signs of a well made traditional style beer. 4.7% ABV

Seasonal

Curmudgeon IPA

Plowman's Anniversary Ale

Highballer Pumpkin Ale

Russian Gun Imperial Stout

Review

Joe and I had the opportunity to sample 3 Grand River Brewery offerings this past winter and we have to say, all around we’re very impressed! From a format, vision and marketing perspective, I have to give Grand River 5 stars. I love that they use a classic brown 500ml bottle, which is as close to a “real pint” as you’ll find in the market. I think their branding and minimalist labels successfully marries their traditional approach to brewing and local pub charm while catering to a modern craft beer market (Curmudgeon?). Finally, the fact that they manage to brew some flavorful beers while toning down the APV, aside from the Russian Gun with a 9% APV, makes all of the beers we’ve tried very enjoyable without being overpowering .

We sampled the Mill Race Mild, Plowman’s Ale and Russian Gun Imperial Stout.

Of the 3, my personal favorite was the Russian Gun. It was a very robust and flavorful beer. Dark brown in color with a blend of chocolate, burnt caramel and coffee aromas, it brought a lot to the table. Of course, it being so rich, I would say it is more of a sipping beer than a slammer. I spent my time rolling it in my mouth in an effort to detect all the notes and undertones as none stood out over the others. It is an extremely well balanced beer. The finish lingers a bit. The high alcohol was reigned in.

The Mill Race Mild was Joe’s pick and my second. A deceivingly dark chestnut ale, it possessed all of the flavor of a traditional English ale without the bitterness. A smooth, creamy, refreshing quaff – I could easily see myself having more than a few in a single sitting.

Plowman’s Ale is a very bold beer. With 5 types of hops, it is a rather bitter beer but not overly so. The malt and mild citrus and spice notes round out the taste and offset the bitterness. While it is a tad more hoppy than I prefer, and I’m not a fan of citrus, GRB managed, as they have in the other beers we’ve sampled, to strike a good balance and tone that I was able to enjoy. Again, there is a lot going on in this beer but somehow, the brewers managed to keep any one thing from becoming a distraction – unlike Muskoka Mad Tom IPA where the citrus note was simply too pervasive.

You can find Grand River Brewing here!

About The Beer!

Muskoka Cottage Brewery brews a selection of Cream Ale, Lager and IPA as well as a few seasonal treats.

Muskoka Cream Ale

Muskoka Cream Ale

First brewed in1996, our flagship Muskoka Cream Ale has since become a signature beer of the Muskoka region. Unmistakable with its rich amber colour and inviting floral tones, this laid-back English pub-style ale is smooth and easy-going. With a Cascade hoppiness and fuller body of flavour, this gold-medal winning Canadian Cream Ale is the quintessential taste of cottage country.

Muskoka Dark Ale

Muskoka Dark Ale

You won’t find an English-style brown ale quite like Muskoka Dark. Its bold colour, yet remarkably easy-going taste gives it a personality as unique as the region it’s from. Subtle undertones characteristic of its Dark Munich malt ease into hints of chocolate and caramel, making this gold-medal winning ale as inviting as it is distinct.

Muskoka Craft Lager

Muskoka Craft Lager

Like the region it’s from, our all-malt Muskoka Craft Lager is a getaway from the average. That’s because it’s carefully aged and handcrafted to be uniquely flavourful, yet remarkably easy-drinking. Made from North American hops and malt, and winner of Canadian Lager of the Year, this delicately balanced thirst quencher is the refreshing departure you’ve been waiting for.

Muskoka Mad Tom IPA

Mad Tom IPA

Inspired by late night stories around the fire, Muskoka Mad Tom will instantly grab your attention. Dry-hopped with Chinook and Centennial hops, this IPA has a vibrant aroma, depth of flavour, and crisp citrusy undertow like no other. So brace yourself, and crack one open for old Mad Tom. This is an awakening in craft beer that gets more enticing with every sip.

Seasonals

Muskoka Summer Weissbier

Muskoka Summer Weissbier

Seasonally brewed and available in limited quantities, Muskoka Summer Weiss (“vice”) is crafted with visions of summer in mind. Unfiltered and naturally hazy by design, the perfect balance of wheat, barley and subtle hopping makes this an intriguingly aromatic, flavourful and sessionable summer wheat beer. To release more flavour, agitate bottle slightly before opening.

Muskoka Harvest Ale

Muskoka Harvest Ale

Muskoka Harvest Ale is the pilgrim of Muskoka Brewery’s seasonal beer endeavours. Now in its second year, this Harvest Ale marks the end of the growing season and the process of gathering mature crops from the fields.

Brewed using a selection of premium local ingredients, this ale has a rich malt backbone and is dry hopped which contributes to a subtle grassy character reminiscent of the harvest.

Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout

Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout

The arrival of a Northern winter calls for a flavourful and warming seasonal brew. Our Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is a rich and sturdy stout brewed with roasted dark chocolate malts, real cocoa, a hint of vanilla and freshly harvested local cranberries. The increased alcohol content encourages sharing and savouring this special seasonal brew.

Review

Jo and I recently had a chance to sample two Muskoka Cottage Brewery offerings, the Mad Tom IPA and the Summer Weissbier. Before we dive into the review, it’s important to note that beer reviews are extremely subjective. Nose, aroma and flavor, tones, clarity, color, head and finish – these are all things that are common to a tasting but one can’t expect to share the same tastes in beverages or foods. We’re not connoisseurs! We are average guys who enjoy a good craft beer!

The first beer we tried was Muskoka Mad Tom IPA. We were expecting a lot from this beer because we’d heard good things. On the positive side, the beer had a nice clear amber color and a robust nose. On the down side, neither Jo nor I are into dessert beers or beers with, what we consider, too much fruit tones. And Mad Tom IPA definitely has strong citrus tones. Perhaps too much! We both agreed that it washed well but the citrus in the finish was a spoiler for us. Not to diminish the beer, as we’re sure many will enjoy it, but it was like drinking a very capable IPA with some Crystal Light Lemon flavor mixed in.

On a different note, the Muskoka Summer Weissbier turned out to be one of the best beers we’ve tried this Summer. The Summer Weiss is an unfiltered wheat beer with great character. A murky, honey colored quaff with soft tones and a pleasant, albeit lingering, finish, the subtle hop bitterness was offset by the smooth and creamy wheat – barley combination, striking a perfect balance.  It had a very mild bread note in the nose and nothing too bold on the palate. Very tasty. Very refreshing. An excellent beer all around!

About the beer!

Stratford Pilsner

Stratford Brewing Company’s signature beer is Stratford Pilsner. Brewed in traditional style using all-natural ingredients, Stratford Pilsner is as smooth and graceful as the swans floating down the Avon River. Golden amber, crisp, and always fresh, it’s a beer that you’ll enjoy anytime, any season.

“Not only is the beer all-natural and unpasteurized, it tastes great too! The rich golden colour is a promise of things to come; served ice cold, look for bright flavours of apricot, spice, lemon, and floral undertones. It is certainly crisp enough to enjoy on its own, ideally on a shady uptown patio, but it also has enough substance and weight to hold its own against food, especially the kind of local fare we have become accustomed to – high quality, fresh ingredients.” -States reviewers Judy Atchison & Alex Good

Stratford Pilsner is brewed in small batches by brewmaster Joseph Tuer. Using only the finest malt, yeast and hops and following traditional methods of brewing, SBC produces a first-class pilsner. Stratford Pilsner is brewed using Stratford water, which is drawn from deep rock wells that are cased in bedrock.

For more information:

http://www.stratfordbrewing.com/

http://www.northamericancraft.com/

Have you tried Stratford Pilsner? Leave us your review!

About the beer!

Black Oak Pale Ale

Black Oak Pale Ale – This beer is enjoyed by those who prefer both character and flavour to their beer. Black Oak Pale Ale is a cross between a traditional British Pale Ale and the modern American Pale Ale, and has been awarded several medals. Brewed using premium Canadian two row malt, three select specialty imported malts and lots of hops. Craft brewed with hard work and lots of attention to detail for a consistent, prestige quality beer.

Black Oak Nut Brown Ale

Black Oak Nut Brown Ale – Based on the traditional Nut Brown style, Black Oak’s award winning Nut Brown highlights the best features of this style of beer. Often referenced by local beer connoisseurs, and used in beer appreciation classes by local culinary institutions, with repeated appearance in magazines such Food & Drink. The Nut Browns accolades include being voted Best in it’s Class, accompanying a gold medal at The Canadian Brewing Awards in 2004.  It additionally received a medal at Gourmet Food & Wine Show. A favorite enjoyed in winter or year round, this satisfying and robust Nut Brown Ale will pleasantly surprise you.

For more information:

http://www.blackoakbeer.com/

http://www.northamericancraft.com/

Have you tried Black Oak beer? Leave us your review!

In addition, there are tons of great things going on up here in Northern Ontario and across Canada as far as festivals and events. Joe and I will be hosting our annual Redneck Rampage Backyard BBQ on the 16th and every year brings a new culinary treat as well as some new faces. This is our 4th year and the guest list has grown steadily from around 30 the first year to almost 80 this year. Our first Annual, dubbed “The Petrified Piggy” BBQ featured, as you might have guessed, a Cuban styled Pig Roast. We followed the great info provided here: http://cuban-christmas.com/pigroast.html

The second Annual, dubbed “Big Bastard Backyard BBQ” featured bacon explosions and bastard burgers. Holy smokes Batman!

Wish You Had A Bigger Mouth?

Last year for the “Call The Coroner” BBQ, we went all Southern US with chicken fried steak and jumbo southern chicken wings.

Harden your heart!

This year, we’re still scrambling for a feature dish and theme!

If you have any suggestions, we’d love to hear them! Of course, time is running out – the party’s on July 16th!

As far as beer is concerned, we’ve settled on our favorite quaff for the summer. Joe and I both agree that Steam Whistle Pilsner, brewed in an abandoned train station called “The Roundhouse” in Toronto, Ontario, has enough sophistication for most any beer lover’s palate, pairs well with BBQ’d meats and cheeses, all while being clear and light enough to see us through the occasional bender or slightly more frequent Fris-beer tournament.

...and so "Green" to boot!

If you haven’t yet tried Steam Whistle, get your ass in your car or insert your choice of transportation here , get thee to thy local beer or liquor store and head straight for the greens.

Do you have a Summer beer favorite? Let us know which and why!

Inspiriation comes in many forms!

My father always told me that anything worth doing is worth doing well and that a man should strive to live with integrity.
In life, as in beer drinking, one should take pride in one’s work and strive for excellence – always. This inspirational beer poster typifies that quintessential message.
Integrity! Be inspired!

Integrity

24 in. x 36 in.

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Hmmmm! Decisions...decisions!

I’ve gotta tell you…with options like these, as much as I love beer, I’m not all that thirsty anymore!

Everyman needs a space of his own. A man cave! Whether it’s a garage, corner in the basement, loft, shed or doghouse – that space should be unmolested by a woman’s touch. And, of course, it should be tastefully appointed.

This poster is as tasteful (yummy) as they come and features our favorite quaff: beer!
Beer Served

36 in. x 24 in.

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Ain't that the truth?

Only a true beer lover could understand the import of this poster’s message! So many beers…so little time!

Try as you might (and we’ve no doubt you’re trying…hard), you may never get to sample every single beer specimen out in the wild.

This classic beer poster should hang above your bar, beer fridge or cooler as a constant reminder that there is much work yet to be done. Courage, my man!

So Many Beers

24 in. x 36 in.

Buy This Allposters.com

If this theory is correct, than the first beer was of the Lambic variety, not Ale, as is often claimed. Of course, Ale beers would evolve along with bread making, as partially risen and baked bread (partially baked as to not kill off active yeast), would be left to soak and further ferment, creating sweet, porridge-like, brews that were typically sipped through reeds.

History Of Beer - Babylonia

Beer is referenced in ancient writings from Iraq as far back as 6000BC. It is also the first documented recipe, in the form of a song called “The Hymn To Ninkasi” from Ancient Sumeria. In China, a beer-like brew known as “kui” dates back to around 5000BC.  References to beer appear in Iran, Syria, Mesopotamia, Babylon and Egypt. Evidence suggests the Egyptians taught the Greeks how to brew beer, although, at the time, the Greeks were already astute at making wine and attempted to introduce viniculture everywhere they went. While it is likely that beer was developed independently across many cultures, from around 3500-300BC, we can begin to trace it’s migration through Asia, Europe and Africa.

The Introduction of Hops

It wasn’t until around 770AD, with the rise of Christianity, that beer brewing became a trade. In fact, Monasteries were among the first organized beer brewing facilities. Hops were introduced as a flavoring and preservative agent as early as the 9^th century although it wasn’t widely used until the Germans perfected the process around the 13^th century. The

Beer Hops

hopped beer, which lasted longer before spoiling, began to be exported and the Germans were also the first to develop medium sized brewing facilities which eventually also began to appearing in Holland and England.

An early distinction was that hopped varieties were called “beer” whereas unhopped varieties were called “ale”. Of course, as the use of hops became the norm, the word “ale” came to typify “strong” beer or beer with higher alcohol content.

Modern Beer

The Industrial Revolution brought about significant improvements and changes in the brewing process. The use of malt, the thermometer, the hydrometer, refrigeration, automatic bottling and, of course, pasteurization invented by Louis Pasteur in 1857, all contributed to modern beer brewing.

Automatic Bottling

Lager beer was developed in the 19^th century by Seydlmayr in Germany and, in turn, by Groll in Bavaria, to become the most widely brewed, distributed and consumed type of beer in the World. Today, Ale and Lager are the main types of beer, each with several sub types or varieties. There are also Lambic beers still brewed in Belgium and Mixed beers which borrow from both Ale and Lager to round out the 4 main types of beer.

This 3.6 cu. ft. freestanding beer refrigerator offers a temperature range of approximately mid 30s – mid 50s Fahrenheit that is managed with mechanical controls. This EdgeStar beverage cooler features 5 fully removable slide-out chrome wire shelves in all, including 2 shelves with 28 cans per shelf capacity, one 26 can shelf and one half size 6 can capacity shelf. An additional removable slide-out scalloped chrome shelf stores 5 standard 750 mL wine bottles. The EdgeStar 118 can beverage cooler is ideal for frequent entertaining.

*Flexible Beverage Storage:

A variety of adjustable shelves allows for the storage of both wine and beverages, including tall bottles and cans

*Powerful Compressor:

The compressor-based cooling system ensures optimum beer and beverage temperature

*Interior Lighting:

A manual light illuminates the beverage selection making it easier to find the right drink