St. John's Wort

Beery Musings And Amusing Beers

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The Background When you get right down to it, the job of a critic is to tell you whether something is good or bad. Most of the time, I’m able to convey that information in prose. I don’t often use numeric ratings because that has always struck me as inutile. […]

Review: The Wild Beer Co. Ninkasi

July 18, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

One of the best things that Michael Jackson ever did was give the world Belgian Beer. Not the Belgians, of course. They already had Belgian Beer. I’m pretty sure that the Dutch and the French were aware of it as well. What Michael Jackson managed to do was invest Trappist […]

Stift Engelszell Gregorius Trappistenbier

July 14, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

If you approach on foot from Dohme Ave, the aroma outside the Muddy York Brewing Company is actually that of baking cookies. Located in the same neighbourhood as O’Connor Bowl and the Peek Freans factory (and perhaps more importantly the factory outlet store for those of you interested in attaining […]

Visit: Muddy York Brewing Company

July 8, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

The Background Underdog’s Brewhouse is located in Oshawa and has been in business since some point last year. I know this because I’ve frequently seen them at festivals. They are unmistakeable with their bright yellow signage. Owned by Jeff and Eric Dornan, they seem to have taken the Steam Whistle […]

Review: Underdog’s All or Nothing Hopfenweisse

July 3, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

(Disclaimer: CAMH has provided data for this piece, but their representative would like me to point out that that is the sum total of their contribution. Opinions expressed are mine and should not be taken to reflect on CAMH.) Last month, as I was sitting here writing book proposals, the […]

Fun With Numbers: Illicit Substances Edition

July 1, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

The Background When you think of contract brewers in Ontario, you typically think of those companies that are launching into the market with a single product in an attempt to become a saleable commodity before they acquire expertise, ability, judgment, equipment or any damned thing other than a bank loan. […]

Review: Bush Pilot Pengo Pally

June 25, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

The Background Lake of Bays has had a fairly eventful five years. When you consider that they launched in 2010 and are now selling their beer in the United States, they must be doing pretty well. They have somehow managed to get five core products into the LCBO and a […]

Review: Lake of Bays Cheli’s Pale Ale

June 23, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

On Sunday, I got out to the Jester on Yonge for a sampling event for the Bobcaygeon Brewery. It’s been at Yonge and St. Clair for about as long as I can remember, but currently they’re going through something of a resurgence. The owners have had the place for 15 […]

OCB Week: The Jester On Yonge and Thoughts on Opening ...

June 17, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

The second floor of Tequila Bookworm on Queen Street West is a good location for a tap takeover. For one thing, in order to be able to attend such an event, you have to know about its existence. You’d be forgiven for bypassing it completely on the way into the […]

Review: The Collingwood Brewery

June 12, 2015 in Uncategorized by admin

This is how big the craft beer movement has grown internationally: The 800th anniversary of the issuance of the Magna Carta, which takes place later this month, is being commemorated by a beer. It’s hard to imagine a brewery more suited to produce it than the Windsor & Eton Brewery. […]

The Magna Carta and Beer

June 9, 2015 in Shameless Plugs by admin