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Why I Judge Craft Breweries on Their Pale Lagers
Why I Judge Craft Breweries on Their Pale Lagers Woven into the grand sonic fabric of the orchestra, the lone violin, oboe, or clarinet enjoys the protection of the ensemble. While consistent, substandard execution would be quite audible, a few indiscretions here and there would likely be lost in the crowd. The world of beer…
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With Beer, Freshness Matters.
With Beer, Freshness Matters. While wine may get better with age, and often does, beer, with very rare exceptions, does not. Barleywines, lambics, and some imperial or barrel aged stouts may certainly benefit from longer maturation times, but most beer is meant to be consumed fresh. The moment the can is sealed, or bottle capped, the…
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The Ten Rules of Beer Tasting
The Ten Rules of Beer Tasting
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For Whom the Bell Rings
For Whom the Bell Rings Bickford Brewing’s New Releases, an All Day Event, and a Great Cause It’s Saturday, and in what appears to be a rare display of kindness, the sun is shining. I’ve just walked into Bickford Brewing on Harbord Street for an all day event celebrating the release of Ring the Bell,…
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ICE COLD BEER! – Not So Fast
ICE COLD BEER! – Not So Fast Why serving temperature matters WIce cold beer might sound alluring, and I doubt anyone would salivate over “Luke warm beer!”, but the reality is that ice cold isn’t always ideal. Most fridges run around 3°C and most keg fridges run around the same. That’s 38°F, for those who…
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A Thirsty Trek through the Nation’s Capital: Ottawa’s Brewing Scene Part 1
A Thirsty Trek through the Nation’s Capital: Ottawa’s Brewing Scene Part 1 As a Toronto based beer writer, the hunt for new beers, breweries, and flavours is a never ending quest. The Ottawa region had been popping up on my radar lately, and with the constraints of distribution being what they are, a visit to…
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2025: A Beer in Review
2025: A Beer in Review My favorite three Ontario breweries for 2025. This year culminated in a lot, but likely not enough, visits to breweries and tap rooms. While I could probably list on fewer than three fingers the number of non-positive experiences, I could also regale you with all the lovely experiences in the…
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The Aroma Files #002: Pine
The Aroma Files #002: Pine “A classic West coast IPA with prominent notes of pine and resin”. Visually, it’s easy to reconcile right? Hop cone, pine cone. Conveniently, the chemistry isn’t overly vexing either. The pine aromas mainly come from a few terpenes and terpenoids which are present across hops, conifers and rosemary. The primary…
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Some Good AdWeiss
Some Good AdWeiss: A Guide to Weissbiers Every beer has a time and a place. For Weissbier, that time and place is any time, any place. It’s refreshing in the summer, delicious in the winter, and fits seamlessly in between. It has the uncanny ability to pair with almost any dish, making it the fallback…
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IPA and Curry, a Match Made in Hell
The Bitter Pain of Spice and (some) Beer Some classic pairings just make sense. Fish n’ chips with best bitter, steamed mussels and gueuze, bratwurst and pils. Not only do they work on a sensory level, but they are so culturally linked, they really are a natural fit. This simple beauty can lead us to…