The Beer Wrangler™

Phillips Garrison Mash-Up Baltic Porter

The Beer Wrangler — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:17:50 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Recommended)

East and West united; Canada going forward as one, whether you are in the Maritimes or the West coast beer is a universal pleasure and one that has united two great Canadian craft breweries on opposite sides of the country.

What is Baltic Porter? It is a relatively modern name used to describe strong Porters brewed in Russia and the Baltic nations that copied strong porters and stouts brewed in Britain for export to those regions. One difference is that many of those breweries now use lager yeasts rather than the warm/top fermenting ale yeasts that brewers in Britain used. . . . → Read More: Phillips Garrison Mash-Up Baltic Porter

Ommegang Three Philosophers

The Beer Wrangler — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:29:12 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Recommended)

Ommegang Three Philosophers is a Belgian style quadrupel dark ale, blended with an authentic kriek (cherry lambic). It has a dark reddish brown colour and a loose head that disappears fairly quickly. This beer has a powerful flavour that saturates my mouth as soon as it enters. The thick caramel notes and cooked, dried fruit are the main players, and it overwhelms the subtle (or is it buried?) cherry from the kriek. There are sherry-like armoas and a winey finsh that give this a bitter-sweet note that is good for strong cheeses.

I was a bit disappointed with it as . . . → Read More: Ommegang Three Philosophers

Lost Coast Winterbraun

The Beer Wrangler — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:02:22 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Recommended)

The Lost Coast Winterbraun is a strong dark brown ale brewed especially for the winter months. The label sports a Picasso-esque snowboarder with skin the colour of this rich and deeply hued brew; the sweet, dark caramel and rye bread aromas that greet you are a comforting reminder of why we drink different beers when the nights draw in and there is a chill in the air.

The flavours are warming too, a hint of black treacle, roasted malt, baked dried fruit, and sweet caramel are all there and give this beer a cake-like appeal. This can be drunk with . . . → Read More: Lost Coast Winterbraun

Beers of British Columbia

Beer Learner — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:22:01 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Recommended)

Whether you’re a fan of BC craft beer, live in BC or just visiting, then this is a book for your collection. It is a dossier of brewpubs and microbreweries and covers fundamental information of a brewery’s offerings and sometimes with a bit of history is thrown in. If you can see past the clunky and inconsistent formatting, (this is a self published book) and get to the ‘meat and potatoes’, then you will really find a lot of great information from this guide. If you’re planning any beer related trip in British Columbia, this guide will likely motivate you to check out what’s . . . → Read More: Beers of British Columbia

Driftwood Twenty Pounder Double IPA

The Beer Wrangler — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:35:35 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Recommended)

Driftwood Brewery Twenty Pounder Double IPA comes with trademark fabulous graphic artwork on the label. At the very least they have raised the game when it comes to bottle labels! Happily this is not where the game raising ends. They have produced many of British Columbia’s (and canada’s for that matter) best craft brews. A double IPA (thanks for not using ‘Imperial’) has been keenly awaited by the craft beer fans of the West coast. Since the two IPAs that have been on the shelves – regular IPA Fat Tug and super seasonal Sartori Harvest have proved so popular, . . . → Read More: Driftwood Twenty Pounder Double IPA

Brewdog Trashy Blonde

The Beer Wrangler — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 05:11:25 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Recommended)

What makes a great Summer ale? Whether you call it a Blonde, a Golden or a Summer ale, the style has to refresh, not be too heavily flavoured, but definitely not bland. There also has to be a good level of (here I go – a word I hate!) drinkability. (I feel soooo dirty!) However a drinkable balanced golden coloured ale would only get a 3 tankard rating. A great beer has a certain something that inspires and delights, and as all beer connoisseurs know, when you come across it, you mark it down in your mind and . . . → Read More: Brewdog Trashy Blonde

Kona Brewing Oceanic Belgian Style Saison

The Beer Wrangler — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 05:44:35 +0000

Wrangler Rating:

(Recommended)

Kona Brewing’s Oceanic Organic Belgian Style Saison is brewed on the Big Island using Belgian yeast and organic ingredients. It has a medium gold colour and if you tip the whole bottle out, the small amount of yeast inside will give it a slightly cloudy appearance, with an aroma of spice and citrus. The flavour is a touch one dimensional, but has a nice crisp refreshing flavour with a citrus note. There is a hint of the coriander and dry spice on the finish and is pleasantly drinkable. This seemed to get better as it warmed up, so if . . . → Read More: Kona Brewing Oceanic Belgian Style Saison

Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat

The Beer Wrangler — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 06:30:06 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Recommended)

Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat is sold by the brewery as a ‘Belgian Wit’ but this is no ordinary Hoegaarden imitation that some breweries, large and small churn out in the summer. This could be the fruitiest wheat beer on the market with the vibrant orange colour of the liquid echoed by the flavour. Sweet tangerine dominates the palate with juicy blueberry notes there as well. With a touch of sweet spice and a balancing note of bitterness, this beer is a great summer refresher.

Although simple, I really enjoyed this beer and would definitely have this again on a hot afternoon.

Best . . . → Read More: Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat

Abbatiale Triple (Brasserie des Sources)

Brewlord — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:46:13 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Excellent)

Abbatiale Triple is brewed by Brasserie des Sources in St-Amand les Eaux in northern France, and scored gold medals at the Paris beer competition in 2006 and 2008; now let’s see how it scores with me!

The cool packaging is the first thing you notice when you approach the beer shelf at your favourite local specialty ‘beertique’. With a white ceramic bottle, cork and a cage it makes me want to investigate further. As I draw nearer the bright golden label reads ‘Abbatiale Triple Blonde, 7% ABV 50cl 6-12°c, refermented in bottle, delicately flavoured with juniper berries, a genuine recipe from the middle . . . → Read More: Abbatiale Triple (Brasserie des Sources)

Estrella Damm Inedit

Brewlord — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:47:00 +0000

Wrangler Rating: (Outstanding)

The Spanish term ‘Inedit’ which means ‘Never Been Done Before’ is the given name that graces the label of this delicious brew from Estrella Damm Brewery of Barcelona, Spain. A collaboration between the team at the critically acclaimed elBulli Restaurant and the Brewmasters at Estrella Damm, this beer claims to be the first crafted specifically to be served with food. A skillful blend of lager and wheat ale styles, it uses 100% natural ingredients with a combination of water, hops, wheat, and spices that has yielded a fantastically refreshing and drinkable beer.

The complex aroma with hints of coriander, clove, . . . → Read More: Estrella Damm Inedit