I am an amateur in terms of beer. But this past year has been one of a great awakening. I’ve discovered new and exciting flavours that I didn’t know existed. I was always skeptical of the Light Beer obsession of most of my friends growing up and never liked what everyone was drinking. Molson Canadian just didn’t do it for me. In the last year I’ve discovered a plethora of new and exciting beers. Generally we hop over the border to grab beer from a great store in Port Huron called Ryan’s Party House. He’s got a great selection and will help you find what you are looking for. Pretty much everything there you cannot get in Canada, and the Beer Store here doesn’t hold anything worthwhile. So we’ve really been exploring the Michigan and American craft beer selection as of late. Hopefully we’ll get some better options here in Sarnia soon. I also got The Naked Pint for Christmas and just watched the Beer Wars documentary. So I’m being exposed to an entirely different world, and I’m quite enjoying it.
I’ve also brewed my first batch of beer myself. The first IPA will be cracked open in a few weeks.
So here is my list of my favourite beers that I had this past year, I won’t write anything about them because I’m not nearly sophisticated enough to explain anything worthwhile to you about them, So I’ll link you to the Beer Advocate page for that review if you want more information. This list is in no particular order
Orange Red Wine By Shorts Anniversary Ale 2009/2010
Millstreet Tankhouse (Toronto)
Publican House Square Nail Pale Ale (Peterborough)
My goal for 2011 is to have this list be at least half Canadian craft beers.
Tankhouse is definitely my “go to” beer.
Dude, Canada has some of the best (craft) beer in the world. I say this without a doubt. There is a fantastic pub around the corner from where we live that has some of the most delicious beer known to mankind (most of their beer is Ontario/Quebec craft). Next time you’re anywhere near Toronto it would be well worth a stop so call me. $5 pints on Monday!
Oh I’m aware, problem is I’m in Sarnia, our beer stores and liquor stores bring in nothing worthwhile, so our only option is the American one.
When you come to Sarnia, I expect a few pints of something awesome :)
Wait a second, there’s no good beer in Sarnia??? I need to seriously reconsider my options…
Don’t worry, a micro-brewery is in our 5 year plan.
I think a lot of people are into micro-brews because it’s cool to be into micro-brews (and not necessarily because of the quality of the beer).
I just want to drink my Belgian (or Quebec) beers. No micro-brewery comes close to the quality of that stuff (IMO, of course).
I love Dan….
Best reply ever “I think a lot of people are into micro-brews because it’s cool to be into micro-brews”
Nathan have you spoken to the actual LCBO? I know you can special order in alcohol that they regularly don;t carry.
They do it for stuff like wine and scotch so I don’t see why not for beer.
It’s worth a shot
I want to start a microbrew of my own and make my own beer not just be into other people’s microbrews. you are right that it probably won’t compare to the beautiful Quebec breweries, however, if it’s ours, it’s ours and that’s pretty sweet. all worries about being cool aside. you can help name the different batches, you know you want to.
Nathan, I’m enjoying these top posts. Not the usual blog fare.
San Diego was just named the top craft beer city in the U.S., so we’re blessed. Stone is my favorite, and my favs from them are the Russian Imperial Stout, Ruination IPA, Arrogant Bastard (I once wrote a piece comparing Jesus to this beer), and Levitation Ale.
I also just started brewing at home. My first batch is fermenting as we speak; a traditional English brown ale.
Keep it up.
Nathan – you are a beer snob. But it’s ok – I still like you.
gd
I tried winters ale from Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo and it tasted a lot like your beer except the aftertaste. So many you have potential after all :) now just to figure out how to get rid of that aftertaste eh?
I mean maybe