Today we covered The Old Triangle, Maxwell’s Plum, and The Loose Cannon.

In order, these are: An Irish Pub, an English Pub, and a Scottish Pub.  Kind of funny, but we ran the gamut today.

First, the Old Triangle was our lunch time destination … and we hung out through the traditional music session.  Pretty low key, nice music, and a nice selection of beers.  I settled on the Rickard’s Red Ale … basically a Molson Canadian product.  This beer was pleasant enough and met my requirements for a lunch time treat…I was still thinking about that Garrison Imperial IPA from yesterday.  This could qualify as a sessionable beer.  I had the Shepherd’s Pie … couldn’t help myself–Irish place, you know.

After lunch, we went to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (worth a visit) and sang some Sea Shanties and then went to the Oldest Public Gardens in North America.  On our way back down toward our hotel we walked by Maxwell’s Plum and decided to stop in for a sample.  I had a six-piece sampler and tried several more of the local brewery products … still focused on that Garrison Brewery (by the way, when we went by there today it wasn’t open yet, darn it).  Love those little sampler glasses … LOL!

After walking around town a little more, we ended up at the Loose Cannon.  We decided to stay there for the evening, have a little dinner (fish/chips) and competed in the pub quiz … we didn’t quite win! 🙂

Unfortunately, I didn’t try the Scotch Ale — I had a Guinness … not sure what I was thinking … maybe next time!

Beer Mentor

Today I’m in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  My daughter and I traveled here to see her off on a semester at sea excursion.  It also gave me an excuse to visit more pubs in Canada!  I’ve got about 10 places on my list to visit and only a few days to get there …

They are: 1) The Red Stag (Alexander Keith’s Brewery), 2) The Old Triangle, 3) The Split Crow, 4) The Lower Deck, 5) Garrison Brewing, 6) Pogue Fado’s, 7) Your Father’s Moustache, 8) The Loose Cannon, 9) Maxwell’s Plum, and 10) Hart & Thistle.

Today we put a pretty good dent in the list and hit #1s 1, 3, and 4.  Alexander Keith’s is the oldest operating brewery in North America (since 1820). Yuengling’s is the U.S.’s oldest started in 1829.    We took the tour (see the pics) which is well worth it if you make it to Halifax.  It lasts about 1 hour, they put on a nice show in period costumes, AND you get to sample the beer … a plus!

We then went over to the Red Stag Inn for today’s beer: Keith’s IPA.  As I usually enjoy a very hoppy IPA I had a small problem with this beer — I just didn’t feel an “umph” from the hops.  However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a drinkable IPA … I had some hop bitterness and wouldn’t turn this beer away if offered to me.  Especially drinking it at the Red Stag, right on premises.  It was a satisfying beer to start my trip to Halifax.

We also ate dinner at the Red Stag (late lunch actually) … and I highly recommend their Fish and Chips!  Next on the agenda was a short walk over to the Split Crow. This place opened in 1749 and was named the Spread Eagle from the Double Eagle on the German Flag.  It became known to locals as the Split Crow.  I had the best beer of the day here: a Garrison Brewing Imperial IPA.  An excellent beer–it won a Gold Medal at the 2010 World Beer championships … well-deserving. Ok, I’ve changed my mind — this one is the beer of the day!  Look forward to visiting their brewery tomorrow.

From the Split Crow we walked over to the Lower Deck and got there in time to enjoy a few more cold ones and listen to the live band playing — excellent music, great venue, and then called it an evening!  Tomorrow should be just as much fun!

Beer Mentor

First — Happy Birthday son!  My son is 20 today … too bad for him … only one more year before he can join me in my past time … if he so chooses! LOL!

It’s only appropriate then that today’s beer is Avery‘s White Rascal.  Both he and I have been called rascals before.    It doesn’t hurt my feelings … I kind of like being a rascal; of course, I meant the second definition — a mischievous person.  ha ha!

On to the beer–this is another in the line of Witbiers.  I like witbiers and this is no exception.  I think they’ve captured the essence wonderfully and I could drink this one all day long.  Yum.

Beer Mentor

Today’s brew comes from Breckenridge Brewery in  … I’ve been drinking their beers since 2002 when I lived in Colorado Springs.  They’ve kept their quality very high and continue to make innovative beers.  Today’s beer is their Small Batch 471 (double IPA).

As soon as you open this beer and pour it you get that great hoppy nose … you definitely get the Fuggles, Simcoe, Chinook hops right in the face … but the flavor is well-balanced … the malt balances well with the hops which balance well with the alcohol.

This is an all-around excellent beer.

Beer Mentor

This beer is a new one on me … We were shopping over at Total Wine AND MORE when my daughter saw this one and recommended we try it–Marshmellow.

This beer comes from Oxfordshire Ales, a microbrewery in England.  Their specialty is brewing “real ales” … and they do a very good job of it.

As expected from a “real ale,” this one was a little lower in carbonation.  The taste was very nice, the lower alcohol content made this a very easy drinking beer.  I would recommend it to anyone wanting a nice British Ale.

Beer Mentor

I really enjoy Bell’s Brewery’s Beers (there’s a tongue twister for ya!)

From previous post you will read that my friend and I ran into Larry Bell at the 2009 Philly Beer Week.  I saw him again a couple of weeks later at RFD in Washington DC tapping his Oberon beer for the summer season.

He was (and I presume still is) very easy going and willing to sit and talk about life, beer, and everything.  His brewery used to be called Kalamazoo Brewing … he changed the name in 2002, but he’s still making really good beers.   The one I had tonight was the Java Stout.  Wow!  The coffee just jumps right out at you in this one. If you have a spicy burger or a nice steak and you want to enjoy it with a beer this would be the one.  It really complimented the burgers I threw on the grill.

Enjoy,

Beer Mentor

Today is an off-kilter beer from an off-kilter company.  Left Hand Brewing.  Ever since I sampled the Left Hand beer at the Great American Beer Fest in 2003, I’ve been a big fan.  Today’s beer is a relatively new one from them … the 400 pound monkey.

This beer is an English-style IPA (seems a lot like what I define as an East-Coast IPA).  The hops are prevalent in this beer.  It’s well-balanced though and makes it a pleasure to drink.

The only problem I have with any IPA that doesn’t go over the top with the hops is that it leaves me craving more hops.  So I end up bringing out an even more hopped up beer then the last one.  If I want subtle from a beer, I don’t pick an IPA … so I’m not sure why anyone would want to try and make a subtle IPA.  Oh well, the joy of trying new creations — that’s why I love American Craft Brewers!

Beer Mentor

Today I moved away from the IPAs … I’ve been on a long kick with them … but I think it’s just because I’m catching up from my six months away from them.  Plus, I really like IPAs.  Oh well.  Another of my favorite styles is the Saison.  I was at Whole Foods today and ran across this beer.   My daughter collects bottle caps so we were looking at beers from that perspective.  The Heavy Seas brewery has a pretty cool bottle cap…especially if you like pirates, which she does.  Then I looked at the Bottle: Red Sky at Night. I couldn’t tell what this beer was until I looked closer.  As soon as I saw it was a Saison, I got a sixer.  ha ha!

If you are really observant, you’ll see that this is poured in a Schneider-Weisse Beer glass — I’d just enjoyed an Aventinus before trying this Saison.  That may have clouded my judgement a little.  This was a decent Saison … once I was halfway through with it, the flavor of the Saison really started coming through … that subtle wheat … nice mouthfeel.  Yes, I will drink the rest of my six-pack, unless my daughter beats me to it! LOL!

Beer Mentor

Today I tried a beer from a newer brewery: Mikkeller.  This brewery has only been around since 2006 … a couple of homebrewers in Denmark that decided to open their own brewery.  Homebrewing is a common starting point for many of today’s craft brewers…thank goodness!  I believe homebrewing really gives these craft brewers the right perspective in starting out and then developing as a brewer.

This brewery has been experimenting with single hops in a beer.  This version is the Nugget hop.  Since I grow the nugget hop and will be using it in my next brew, I thought I’d give this one a try.   It is a very nice IPA. The Nugget Hops work throughout … nice bittering/flavor and a good aroma.

Even without having brewed with my nugget hops, I’m excited to make my next IPA.  I will have to keep my eyes open for some more of these Mikkeller brews.

Enjoy,

Beer Mentor