Old Speckled Hen, Trois Pistoles, Weekly Specials

Hi Buglar fans!

Beer news coming next week.

From Greene King Brewery in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England comes Old Speckled Hen, a lovely pale ale (which has been on an extended hiatus from the SAQ shelves). The recipe dating back to 1711, was created by Morlande Brewery located at Abingdon Oxfordshire, We first observe an aroma of plums, a bright amber colour, and rich texture in the foam and the liquor itself. We taste the distinctive characteristics (due to a unique strain of yeast first used in 1896) sweet caramel with a prolonged after-taste of dry hops. The curiously named beer actually refers to an antique car (MG) which had spots on its paint from weather wear. It has 5.2 alcohol and retails at $4.55 per 500ml bottle, combing well with ham and veal.

Now we return to Quebec and a beer created by Unibroue (now owned by Sapporo) : Trois Pistols . The legend is that the devil, transforming into a giant black stallion, created a three steepled church as a guide for sailors and lost souls of the sea, and saved the troubled village. The beer is dark brown to black, with flavours of coffee, chocolate, and red fruit, mellowing into a pleasant after-taste reminiscent of old port wine. At 9% alcohol /vol., a 750-ml bottle should always be available, somewhere, at $4.50. Tasty with steaks, chops, and roasts, but you could save some to have with dark chocolate.

This weeks specials:

IGA -Tastes of Belgium, Tastes of the World, mixed packs $14.95 for 12 bottles.

MAXI – Alexander Keith’s, Beck’s and Rickard’s at $24.99 for24 bottles.

Savour slowly, The Bugler.

News and Views For a Holiday Weekend

Happy Easter/Passover, Bugler Bunnies!

First, in the news.  The Quebec government has, once again, chosen April Fool’s Day to raise the minimum prices on cases of 24, as follows:

Beers with 5%-6.1% alc. from 23.36 to 23.43;

Beers with 4.1-4.9% alc. from 22.52 to 22.58;

Beers with 4.0& alc. or less from 21.32 to 21.38; and

Cans (all brands & percentages) from24.32 to 24.39.

That having been said, why has Molson M (at 4.9%), never been advertised along with Labatt blue, Tremblay, etc…, at the midline price (22.58)?

Welcome now to Ardennes, Belgium. Chouffe Double IPA Tripel is likely the finest, most involved of all the “Chouffe” offerings. Made from Tomahawk, Amarillo & Saaz hops. Taste is bitter (through lemony, spicy tones), but overall pleasant & smooth. The depth & body is perfectly presented and thirst-quenching. This brew has 9% alc., light blond, cloudy colour, and white, fragrant roam. SAQ available at $8.40/750 ml. goes well with ham and mash potato.

After a few weeks of wanting to introduced my fans to this totally different double IPA, the stars aligned to have this beer on Easter weekend supper. Unfortunately, this “Amarillo-hops” double IPA is available in a limited edition only. It’s called La Vache Folle Amarillo Double IPA from Microbrewery Charlevoix, in Baie-St Paul. An amazing aroma of grapefruit, lime and sweet lemon feel comes out simply by smelling the top foam, after pouring. The taste follows through with the equal flavours of lime,grapefruit, balanced with a sweet bitterness. The colour is orange-yellow sparkling clear; with 9% alc. would pair well with many desserts-lemon meringue pie, fruit salads & raspberry tarts.

Signing off,

Swig Wisely

The Bugler

Another Two Fine Beers For Your Consideration

Dear Bugler fans,

Today we are travelling to Germany, at least for our first beer, Schneider Aventinus, manufactured in Kilheim, Bavaria, by Privat Weisbierbraueri, Georg Schneider and Sohn. It is presently headed by the sixth Georg, since 1982. The only time the director of the brewery was not a Georg, was when Mathilda, wife of the third Georg (who met with an untimely death) took over. She introduced this champagne yeast double bock. The taste is complex, well malted with a hint of plums, figs and raisins, along with cinnamon and cloves. In the end there is a dry peppery bite, concluding with an effervescent bubbly aftertaste. The colour is dark ruby, the foam is rich and off-white, and it contains 8% alcohol by volume. Available at SAQ outlets  for $3.30 per 500 ml bottle. Fine libation, it would pair well with uncompilicated pasta, sausages and fine medium cheeses.

Now back to Canada. We’ll be tasting a refreshing pub ale from McAuslan Brewery, Griffon Extra Pale Ale. Here’s a little bit of history. In 1989, convinced he could brew better products than he was being offered in local pubs, Peter McAuslan (currently president of the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal) established his own brewery, After winning many awards, including a platinum for his St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout at the World Beer Championship in 1994, his Extra Plae Ale won the gold medal at the World Beer Cup in 1996. Pleasantly mild with hops and malt dominating, the crispness of the body takes on a clear, golden yellow shine, with a clean white head. It has 5% alcohol by volume and would accompany homemade soups, chicken with rice and bries or camembert.

I Hope you will enjoy these and other fine beers soon.

Sincerely,

The Bugler

Addendum To This Week’s Post

The Bugler here.

All the beers mentioned (O’Hara’s, Golden Lion, Harp, Guinness) should go well with Irish (lamb) stew, of which there happens to be a recipe in this week’s WestEnd Times, with chef Peter Webster (Bouquet Garnier, Caterer).

The method used includes 1.5 pounds of bacon, and 6 pounds of lamb.

Yum!!!

-The Bugler

Samples and Specials For St. Patty’s

Hey there, Bugler Fans!

Well, here we are again, on the cusp of St Patrick’s celebrations. Let’s begin!

O’Hara’s Irish stout from Carlow, Ireland has a dark, opaque brown-black body with a beige head and the flavour of slightly burnt coffee “full-bodied and luxuriously smooth” (label). SAQ available, 4.3% alc. (500ml), a bit overpriced at $4.75. A good match with pork chops, steaks & bangers.

Next, we visit Lennoxville (My friend Stan), at the Golden Lion Brewing Co. His Irish Stout has many similarities to O’Hara’s in colour & taste; however, chocolate overtone dominates “the distinctive velvety texture”, created by the roasted barley and lively hops. Somewhat more effervescent, it swallows smoothly. At 4.8% alc.(500ml), this one would pleasantly  accompany lamb, strong cheddars and brie-style cheeses.

Now, back to the other side of the Atlantic, Dundalk, Ireland gives us the refreshing, golden Irish lager: Harp (in the 1980’s- the largest selling brew in the British isles). Its foam is creamy white, taste is only a bit bitter, well-rounded, with a little hoppy after taste. It has 5% alc. and comes in 330ml bottles (so I had to have two). You can picture the Irish and/or the Brits having this beer with their corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, or fish and chips.

Remember, if you a quaff a pint of Guinness,one should finish it in seven sips or gulps.

Timely specials: March 15^th-21^st

PA Supermarkets– Alexander Keith IPA (limited edition) 12.99/15 bottles!

Adonis– Beck’s and Stella Artois 12.95/12

Happy St Patrick’s day,

-The Bugler

Weekly Beer Specials Update

The Bulger here.

I thought it best to bring you beer specials on Thursday or Friday, to better enable you to take  advantage over the weekend.

Until March 17th.

IGA and Tradition Stores

Alexander Keith’s, Rickards and Sleeman: $12.99 for 12.

Catch you Sunday or Monday.

-The Bugler

This Week’s Beer News And Reviews

The Bugler here.

Has anyone noticed that Stella Artois has reduced their % alc. from  5.2 to 5.0 ?(not the kind of downsizing we can appreciate.)

This week’s reviews begin with Trois Mousquetaire’s Sticke Alt has beautiful amber colour, lasting foam (light beige) and slightly strong hop and malt odour. The taste is pronounced, but balanced bitterness. The idea of alt biers originated in Germany, possibly Dusseldorf. The label explains that when a brewer offers a “bolder-than-usual” Alt bier, only faithful patrons are let in on the secret (sticks in German). This beer has been crafted from Quebecois malts & Euro bean hops, 6% alc. ,750 ml for $4.99 at Atwater Fromagerie. Tasted with chicken breast and ham, the combinations were perfectly paired.

Now, we have “Derniere Mission” brewed by Maitre-Brasseurs in Laval, an English-style Blonde ale, with leanings towards Belgium lagers. The smells first emanating are mellow, sweet, and deliciously different from most beers we’re used to. I first tasted this wonderful elixir in December, and waited for it to re-appear patiently. Its colour is a golden yellow, but the head is white and dissipates quickly. The label is a story in itself, with its “Rambo-esque” portrait of a soldier holding an impressive weapon and rounds of bullets over his shoulder and around his waist. I’ve only been able to find this 500 ml bottle at Boni-Soir Peluso (Rachel/Iberville) at a devilish 6.66% alc. , its a bargain at $2.99 each.

Lastly, one of my all-time favourites, Fuller’s ESB (Extra Special Bitter) brewed in London, England, this light-brown award winner pale ale style brew was given a five-star rating by one of my idols, Michael Jackson (The one that was known as the beer hunter). Obviously, somewhat bitter, it still is smooth and well rounded (at one table I sat in on, everyone rated this beer at the highest level possible). At 5.9% alc., 500ml and $3.65 at most SAQ outlets it is always a winner.

This Week’s Beer Specials

Loblaw’s, Maxi & Provigo have Alexander Keith(I.P.A.) at $14.99 for 15 bottles (Limited edition packaging) until March 10^th.

P.A. Supermarkets have the 5 L Warsteiner barrel at $15.99 each; while the Atwater Market has the same at $14.99. While supplies last.

SAQ has Birea Moretti at $2.40/355ml (As part of their “Festivino” flyer until March 21^st.)

Keep swilling.

-The Bugler

Three More Interesting Beers Plus Weekly Specials

Hi, again, beer fans!

This week, we will visit three interesting beers, in their own rights:

First, a brew that was introduced at the Mondial last year -Rickard’s Dark, rich and flavourful, with a hint of maple syrup. The nose is sweet, with coffee – chocolate overtones. The foam is beige, which contrasts the deep maroon body. Taste is mild, (at 4.8% alc.) delicately balanced hops and malt, with a touch of bitterness I appreciate in libations. Food pairings: dark meats (turkey leg, steak, roast beast, game –deer, boar, rabbit, and brie cheese- as it was presented at the beer fest.

 Secondly, we go to Denmark for a Festbock from Faxe (Royal Unibrew). Stlightly stronger, more pronounced malt. The smell is more roasted hops, but still espresso-tinted. The foam is lighter, with dark brown liquid pleasure. At 7.7% alc., it actually is surprisingly kind to the palate. As for culinary duets, try pork chops (spiced), steaks, lamb and stronger cheddars, etc….

 Third, we will be trying an excellent Maibock by Trois Mousquetaires (Brossard). Part of their signature series, they cannot make a bad beer (something I have said about the Boston beer company-Samuel Adams- in the past) one not easy to understand: at 8% alc. why does this beer’s flavours combine to feel like you’re trying a common 5% ale (wait for the effect). The deceiving blond liquid with beautiful white head is a sweet, then bitter delight to the taste buds and will accompany chicken, white fish, seafood and mild cheeses.

 As usual, here are the beer specials updates:

– IGA – Unibroue 750 ml bottles $4.49/ each until April 14^th.

– Metro – has Alexander Keith & Rickard’s at $12.99/12 until March 3rd

– Maxi – matches Metro, but also, has Sleeman at the same price until March 3rd

 As a final note, congratulation to our Olympic hockey teams (men & women), for excellent results, as well as Canadian athletes overall- we are proud of their accomplishments.

 Stay thirsty,

-The Bugler

From Wine to Beer – France Surprises!

 

Beer:  Sant Erwann

Brewery:  Brasserie de Bretagne (France)

History:  Erwann (also known as Saint-Yves) was a lawyer, judge, head of monastery and brew master.

Label:  Very beautifully done, depicts Sant Erwann in lawyer apparel in a monastery like environment.

Alcohol by volume:  7%

Attributes:  7 centuries old, 7 cereals (grains)

Taste:  Pleasantly bitter, but mellow enough to balance.

Suggested meal pairings:  fish and most meats

Availability:  There may be 16 in Montreal at this moment.

Review:  One of the tastiest beers I’ve tried in 2009 may be in my humble opinion one of the best beers in 2009.

– The Bugler

Hoppy New Beer!

Here is an interesting new India Pale Ale I just discovered.

Name:  Hoppy I.P.A.

Brewery:  Brasseurs et Frères (Dunham,Quebec)

Label:  Depiction of a bleary-eyed hummingbird

Alcohol by volume: 6%

Taste: Pronounced taste of hops and good malty flavours.

Suggested meal pairings: Turkey, veal, pork and most game meats.

Review: A beautiful discovery!!

Photo courtesy of  www.labarik.com

– The Bugler