Unusualness

One of the qualifications of this column seems to be how different or unusual a beer is. The Floreffe Triple Abbey Beer qualifies with its thick, white, long-lasting foam and orangey-gold body, which at first is clear and see-through, then becomes opaque and cloudy as the foam dissipates. The odours of hops and barley malt and yeast pre-dominate, but the taste is sweet, with cane sugar content balancing the bitter hoppy flavours. At 7.5% alcohol, and $6.30/750 ml bottle, it is SAQ available. Originating in Quenast, Brebant Wallon, Belgium, it is produced by Brasserie Lefebvre. Went well with sole fillets in scallion-dill sauce with mushrooms.

Another peculiarly interesting beer is the Fuller’s London Porter, brewed by Fuller, Smith And Turner (Griffin Brewery), London, England. Its rich, creamy beige head covers the dark brown-black liquid beautifully. Aromas of coffee and chocolate astound pleasantly, with an absorbing complex similarity in the mouth. $3.65/500ml bottle, and 5.4% alc. , it is found at SAQ stores. The label points out “this historic style (porter) makes a fine after-dinner drink” and could accompany devil’s food desserts, as well as steaks and roasts.

In beer news, next week-end brings us the popular Chambly Beer Festival (Festival de Bières et Saveurs) – Friday, September 2nd to Monday, September 6th,2010 (Labour day). Weather permitting, this is one of the most beautiful sites to appreciate nature, food, and fine brews, in the back drop of the flowing Richelieu river and the “Fort de Chambly”. Hope to see you there!!

Beer specials- August 30th to September 5th, 2010:

PA Supermarkets –Sleeman and Stella Artois-$12.99/12.

Adonis Supermarkets – Heineken – $13.95 for 12.

Pleasant libations.

The Bugler

(Beer Ambassador)

Honey I Drunk The Suds!

This week, we will be reviewing two distinct beers with common roots, originally brewed by the monks of the Floreffe monastery. They are both branded Barbãr and have honey content, which counterbalances or nullifies any bitterness. The labels depict an African fertility goddess, wielding a small spear and a decorative shield.

The first, Barbãr Bok is brewed by the Lefebvre Brasserie in Quenast, Brabant Wallon (since 1876). A strong (8% alcohol) brown ale containing 2.5% honey, the ingredients are: water, barley malt, wheat, honey, hops, sugar, bitter oranges curacaos, coriander and yeast. On pouring, one can admire the dark brown liquid, along with a long-lasting brown-beige head. The aromas confirm the existence of spices, fruit, and sweet, rounded malt, with the first sip collaborating beautifully. The natural combination of aforementioned fresh flavours is SAQ available, (most Montreal outlets have confirmed inventory) at $2.75/330ml bottle. Easily accompanies roast beef, steaks, chops or ribs.

The second is Barbãr Honey Pale Ale, brewed under license by Les Brasseurs R.J. Inc., located in the plateau area of Montreal. Also strong in alcohol (7.8%), the colour – a cloudy yellow-orange blonde with a quickly dissipating cloudy white head, all-encompassing to a sweet-spicy nose and a delicate balance of tart fruit & sweet-orange elixir. Available in 660 ml bottle (probably least expensive at $9.99 for 3 at fromagerie Atwater). Great with shrimp, coquilles and chicken breast. The blonde beer is also available in a mixed 8-pack from the SAQ at $25.25- although the Barbãr is an 8%, 330ml bottle.

Beer news: Labatt Blue & Labatt Blue Light, for export to the USA, will be produced by Molson, as of January 2011… the 17^th Anniversary Beer from Unibroue won an award at the International Beer Awards in London,England. The brewery is considering replicating the recipe in a future offering (we hope!)

Beer specials: August 23rd-29th: Adonis – Beck’s and Stella Artois –$ 12.99 for 12.

Happy quaffing.

The Bugler

(beer ambassador)

Hard To Find, But Worth The Hunt

Today we focus on a couple of beers that are, as the title suggests, hard to find, but worth the hunt.

But first, beer news – Quebec City will play host to their first “Festibière de Québec” next week-end (Thursday, August 19th – Sunday, August 22nd, 2010). There will be approximately 50 microbreweries and agents, as well as food producers and distributors. Admission will be free and the site, near the Quebec City old port market, is scheduled to be open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily.

Now, for our first libation, the Charlevoix Microbreweries in Baie-St.-Paul, Québec presents us with another product in their “Vache Folle” label-  the Herkules Double IPA. Made from a newly refined exclusive German hop (Herkules), it provides a unique flavour combination and a complex nose. Golden liquid finally appears when the thick white froth dissipates. Lemon lime tones tickle the nasal passages, leaving way to tastes of flavourful malt & hops, with an after taste of pine resin and caramel-orange bittersweetness. Strong as its name suggests at 9% alcohol, a few specialty outlets still have some 500ml bottles at anywhere between $4.69 to$5.99. Not an everyday beer, connoisseurs will appreciate it as an “off the beaten path” revelation. Will do fine accompanying summer salads with feta, spinach, and campari tomatoes, etc…

The second tasting involves another Québec Microbrewery- Multi-brasse in Tingwick. The Belle Hélène is a marvellous pear beer that uses natural juice, with no artificial aromas or additives. Clear, blonde, and pale-orange body is revealed quickly, as the foam disappears rapidly, upon pouring. The immediate result of sniffing the hovering clouds above the beer mug is a fruity sweetness, not unlike mulled apple cider, with just a hint of cinnamon. The most delightful surprise is in the tasting- a moderate sugariness, though not cloyingly so, it is so well-rounded that it drinks itself, and leaves a subtle pear after-taste. At 8% alcohol, it can be priced between $3.99 and $5.49, depending on the dépanneur. Would pair well with pork roasts or chops, and could be used as a “digestif”, along with light fruit desserts.

Pleasant quaffing,

The Bugler

(Beer ambassador)

This Week’s Beer Specials

Beer specials for the week.

August 9th to 15th:

PA Supermarkets: Pabst Blue Ribbon – $5.88 for 6 355ml cans;

Adonis: Heineken and Stella Artois – $13.99 for 12.

August 12th to 18th:

IGA and Tradition: Alexander Keith’s, Beck’s and Rickard’s – $24.99 for 24;

Maxi: Carlsberg and Sapporo – $16.99 for 12 bottles or cans;

Loblaws and Provigo:  Hek, President’s Choice Dry – $12.99 for 12, and Alexander Keith’s, Boréale, Moosehead, Rickard’s and Sleeman – $14.99 for 12;

Inter-Marché: Tremblay – $22.58 for 24.

Enjoy.

The Bugler

 

Québec Beer Day To Feature Microbreweries

Next Saturday (August 14th, 2010) is the date for the second annual Québec Beer Day. Celebrations, featuring our favourite local brews, will be taking place throughout the province. In Montreal, many specialty outlets (dépanneurs and microbrewery pubs), will be taking part in the festivities-most notably Atwater Market’s Fromagerie, Paluso’s Bonisoir on Rachel, and novelties will be involved at several locations. Bière et Plaisirs newspaper is a good place to check out further information, even on the internet.

In keeping with the theme of Quebec micros, we will be reviewing two beers, one brand new offering from Trois Mousquétaires in Brossard, Oktoberfest 2010, and a stalwart of the local beer scene, Cheval Blanc.

The Oktoberfest des Québecois is about to celebrate its fifth year of existence, with each year having had a new, specially prepared beer. This year’s festival will take place from September 10th to 12th, in Mascouche. The Oktoberfest Lager, in the signature series from Trois Mousquétaires is a non-filtered rousse (red), featuring “a harmonious blend of malts from Québec and hops from Germany’s best regions that offers flavours of caramel, fresh cereals, and delicate floral hop bitterness.” Its colour is clear red amber and the foam is creamy beige. Somewhat light in alcohol percentage (4.1%) and in 750 ml bottles, it should be priced between $4.99 and $5.99. It doesn’t disappoint. The taste buds or nasal passages, pairing well with the sausages, sauerkraut, & cheeses that Oktoberfest tend to offer.

In 1987, the Cheval Blanc Brew Pub was the first in Montreal to obtain a permit to brew on its premises. Rumour has it that the creators of the Cheval Blanc idea were being facetious in the name, trying to differentiate from the black horse ale, from the 1950’s. “La Blanche” (Cheval Blanc) is “a finely-bubbled beer made from wheat and barley. Like the traditional Belgian ‘White’, it is refreshing, light, and slightly fruity.” Its body is a very light, topped with a tightly bubbled, cloudy white head. Citrus aromas dominate, at first, with spices (coriander, ginger, and cinnamon) breaking through, as sipping begins, the palate confirms the nose’s assumptions, with orange and lemon rind balancing the tartness of granny smith apple flavour with sweet spiciness, to complete, total refreshment. At 5% alc. & available in 12 oz & 660 ml bottles, it is available at most dépanneurs and major supermarkets. Very summery, easy drinking “nutter” beer; after one, you tend to want a “nutter” (Mirella Amato). Would be appreciated with fish, seafood in cream sauce, salads, and pastas.

Savour and enjoy life,

The Bugler (beer ambassador)

Beer Specials August 5th to 11th

Here are this week’s specials for Montreal.

IGA and Tradition: Belle Guelle – $13.99 for 12.

Maxi: Alexander Keith’s, Beck’s, Moosehead, Rickards: $24.99 for 24.

Inter-Marché: Moosehead and St-Ambroise – $14.99 for 12.

Esposito: Unibroue – $4.49 for 750 ml bottle.

The Bugler

Friends We Meet Along The Way

Founded in 2008 in Griffintown, Brasseurs de Montreal may be a baby by comparison to other local microbreweries, but may have taken giant steps in producing numerous, diverse, first quality beers. Denise and Marc-André, along with an expert team have stretched their output to eight bottled and probably 10-12 brews available on tap.

La Rebelle Québecoise has been my favourite of their bottled products for several reasons; it can be described as an edgy, pure malt, with a strong, but refined character. The taste is smooth, but complete, with subtle nuances of toffee clove and other spices. A dark red-amber robe, with a soft white foam, allows the aromas of caramel & spice to present themselves amply. At 6.5% alc. /vol. And in 12 oz bottles, it can be found in most specialty depanneurs, as well as large supermarkets. I can see this going with strong cheeses, oriental stir-fries and spicier soups or stews. The label features a three-masted sailing vessel on waves approaching the tiers of an ancient castle, along with a pair of beautiful fascinating eyes (belonging to Annie Dufresne, a lovely, talented model, actress, singer and dancer, who devoted some of her time entertaining Canadian armed forces troops in Afghanistan, etc…)

Another person, who I consider a friend, is Peter McAuslan, who founded his brewery in 1989. He is the president of the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal and devotes time and financial support to many charities, as well as the sports and music scenes in and around Montreal. The St. Ambroise Frambroise is a raspberry ale, brewed just once a year, as a unique summertime treat. It has a magnificent ruby-brownish colour and a light beige head, refreshingly revealing the charms of its bouquet raspberry, blackberry, delicate fruit and hops & malt. This follows a similar process in the mouth: well-balanced fruit (derived from red raspberry juice concentrate) and hops, tingle the palate with effervescence ending with a bittersweet after-taste at 5% alcohol and in 12 oz bottles, it pairs easily with light salads, creamy cheeses, and even fruit-based desserts.

Beer special- August 2nd-8th, 2010:

Adonis– Beck’s, $11.99/12

Drink in and enjoy life,

The Bugler

Beer friend and ambassador