PHIL'S BEER BAR

Quatre-Centième

2012-02-09T16:12:00.001-05:00

Quatre-Centième (7.5%): a strong pale ale from Canada. This is a strong ale from the venerable Quebec brewery Unibroue (by now you should know I'm a big fan of theirs).

Pours a troubled light golden liquid.
Great citrus aroma with a touch of sugary grape.
Flavor is lemon-like with a subtle touch of spice.
After taste is fairly acid, citrus-like with notes of apricots.
Good buzz.
Bottle/label is a bit tame by Unibroue standards.

Verdict: a great ale, highly recommended.

Grade:A

LABATT BLUE DRY 8.1

2012-02-06T00:42:00.002-05:00

Labatt Blue Dry 8.1 (8.1%): a malt liquor from Canada. For some reason I was pretty sure I had reviewed this already (see the review for the 6.1 % variant here). Anyways I was in the mood for a 40, .... yes I'm a gangsta.

Pours a fairly light golden liquid. Carbonation is pretty high.
Has a slight cereal aroma.
Definitely has that Canadian "metal taste".
Sweat corn-like aftertaste (not disgusting I must say).
Mega buzz , but hey it's quite normal with such a high ABV.
I don't know about that bottle design/label. Looks okay I guess.

Verdict: better than the 6.1% variant. Decent for that particular style.

Grade: B-

Unknown Russian Beer

2012-01-09T05:01:00.001-05:00

I recently got this Russian lager as a gift but since I can't read those funny Cyrillic scripts I'm afraid I can't review it. It was fairly decent, tasted like a German pilsner. Deserves a B-.

Bavaria 0.0%

2012-01-06T23:22:00.000-05:00

Bavaria 0.0% (0%): a non-alcoholic beer from the Netherlands. I guess we're gonna have to start the new year on a low note. This is a 0% alcohol beer from the well-known Dutch brewery Bavaria.

Pours a pee-like golden liquid.
Smells like .... rotten veggies!
Tastes like cornflakes and ....rotten veggies!
Aftertaste reminds me of cheap artificial sweetener.
No buzz, well that's quite normal.
The can doesn't look too bad?

Verdict: non alcoholic beer isn't a good concept to begin with ... but this one is truly AWFUL!

Grade: F

Happy New Beer 2012

2012-01-01T00:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers,

Phil's Beer Bar wishes you all a Happy New Beer ... errr New Year 2012!

Les 3 Brasseurs Bière de Noël

2011-12-29T21:56:00.002-05:00

Les 3 Brasseurs Bière de Noël (7.2%): a strong amber ale from Canada. This is a seasonal brew available around Christmas time at Canadian locations of the French pub chain "Les 3 Brasseurs".

Pours a medium amber liquid.
Has a strong grape aroma.
Surprisingly: flavor is very thin. It's basically like drinking water. hum hum ...
Aftertaste has a slight touch of honey-like sweetness.
Weak buzz.
At least I got a cool beermat out of this! (see below).

Verdict: this was quite disappointing. It won't kill you but I can't recommend this (way too thin, especially for the style).

Grade: C-

A cool beermat provided with this beer

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-15T14:30:00.000-05:00

Harpoon IPA

2011-12-01T10:36:00.000-05:00

Harpoon IPA (5.9%): an IPA from the US. Had this one on tap at a restaurant in Boston.

Pours a nice orange-gold liquid.
Aroma is fruity, a bit raspberry-like.
Flavor is also fruity with notes of peach, raspberry and citrus.
Aftertaste is fairly bitter with a touch of caramel.
Maybe I was tired ... but I had a mega buzz out of this.
I like the artsy, colorful label/bottle.

Verdict: very solid American IPA. Recommended.

Grade:A-

St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale

2011-11-21T00:09:00.000-05:00

St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale (5%): a fruit beer from Canada. This is an apricot-flavored white ale from the well-known Montreal brewery 'McAuslan Brewing'.

Pours a nice orange/golden liquid.
It does smell like .... apricot.
Flavor is a very agreeable mix of peach, apricot and orange.
Aftertaste is nutty and roasted.
Good buzz.
I'm feeling this orange variant of the St-Ambroise label.

Verdict: this one was delicious. I need more!

Grade: A+

Sleeman Red Ale

2011-11-20T14:23:00.000-05:00

Sleeman Red Ale (5.5%): an amber ale from Canada . Also sold as "Sleeman Rousse" in Quebec.

Pours a nice medium amber liquid.
No aroma.
Tastes like cardboard .... with a slight hint of nuts.
Aftertaste is also "cardboardy".
Fairly good buzz.
The beautiful color goes well with the transparent bottle.

Verdict: pretty bad flavor. Avoid.

Grade: D

Coronita

2011-11-13T00:02:00.000-05:00

Another example of "smaller is better" marketing tactic: Mexican giant Modelo is selling its worldwide famous Corona beer in 7 oz (20.7 cl) bottles. The smaller bottles are marketed under the "Coronita" name.

The small Coronita bottle next to a 12 oz bottle.

Molson Dry Cold Shots 6.5

2011-11-12T18:34:00.001-05:00

Molson Dry Cold Shots 6.5 (6.5%): a malt liquor from Canada. Because youngsters love Redbull and other energy drinks, Canadian giant Molson had the "great idea" of selling Molson Dry 6.5 in tiny 250 ml (8 oz) cans.Wow how silly is this? But I must admit the can is cute.

Pours a pale golden liquid.
Smells like grain (rice).
As expected taste is metallic.
Aftertaste is sweet with hints of rice and molasses.
Good buzz.
Like I said previously: can looks pretty good.

Verdict: Average brew (but amazing marketing?).

Grade:C+

The can by itself

The can next to 12 oz beer bottle

Gavroche

2011-11-03T03:09:00.001-04:00

Gavroche (8.5%): a strong ale from France. Made by Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre in Northern France (3 Monts, Bière Nouvelle), Gavroche is an amber bière de garde (beer of keeping). This brew takes its name from the fictional character in the Victor Hugo novel 'Les Misérables'.

Pours a very nice pale amber liquid.
Has a strong grape flavor.
The complex flavor is woody, earthy and nutty.
Aftertaste is fairly sweet with notes of grapes and citrus.
Smooth buzz.
Label is stylish and quite distinctive.

Verdict: an original yet delicious strong ale. Highly recommended.

Grade:A

Trois Pistoles

2011-10-28T23:03:00.000-04:00

Trois Pistoles (9%): a strong dark ale from Canada. Another well-known strong ale from the Chambly,Quebec brewery Unibroue.

Pours a dark amber liquid.
Aroma is definitely fruity: I "detect" banana and grapes.
Flavor is quite complex with hints of caramel, grapes, tangerines and seltzers.
Aftertaste is sweet (vanilla and cinnamon).
Strong but smooth buzz.
You gotta love the horse with wings on the label.

Verdict: Delicious! Definitely a world-class brew.

Grade: A

Inside Phil's Beer Bar part 2

2011-10-27T19:12:00.000-04:00

Back to the Phil's Beer Bar laboratory!

Labatt Wildcat Lager

2011-10-21T03:26:00.000-04:00

Labatt Wildcat Lager (4.9%): an adjunct lager from Canada. Wildcat Lager is a budget/cheap brew from Canadian giant Labatt. I bought a 40oz at the local supermarket (for some reason I was really attracted to the bottle).

Pours a very pale piss-like golden liquid.
Smells somewhat like metal. Does that make sense?
Sweet flavor, reminds me of vitamin C tablets.
You definitely feel the adjuncts in the aftertaste (rice).
Weak buzz.
The bottle/label is really nice. Props to the graphic designers who created a wicked creature.

Verdict: It won't kill you but definitely not enjoyable. I mean .... who really wants to drink a beer that tastes like vitamins?

Grade:D

Valentins Weißbier

2011-10-18T22:57:00.001-04:00

Valentins Weißbier (5.3%): a white ale from Germany. Found this Hefeweizen style white ale at my local liquor store.

Pours a pale yellowish troubled liquid.
Strong lemon aroma.
Thin standard wheat flavor.
Aftertaste reminds me of anise.
Decent buzz.
I like the golden can, is that Jesus on the label?

Verdict: It's drinkable but quite forgettable. Not really worth it.

Grade: C

Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Natürtrub

2011-10-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Natürtrub (5.5%): a white ale from Germany. This is a famous weissbier; found that bottle at my local liquor store.

Pours a beautiful troubled orange-like liquid.
Slight lemon aroma.
Flavor is rather thin, somewhat citrus-like (mostly orange).
Agreeable nutty/caramel aftertaste.
Smooth buzz.
Boring bottle.

Verdict: a solid white beer. However it's too thin to be considered a classic (sorry beer snobs!).

Grade:B

Grimbergen Dubbel

2011-10-11T00:02:00.000-04:00

Grimbergen Dubbel (6.5%): a strong ale from Belgium. This is a double ale from the well-known Belgian brand.

Pours a dark brown/purple liquid. Beautiful color I must say.
Smells absolutely nothing.
Taste is definitely fruity with hints of red grapes and dates.
Aftertaste is also fruity with a slight caramel touch.
Smooth buzz.
As always with Grimbergen: awesome bottle/label.

Verdict: a solid ale, would have rated higher had it have an aroma.

Grade:B

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

2011-10-10T01:53:00.000-04:00

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale (5%): a brown Ale from the UK. This one is a famous English ale, had to try it.

Pours a light amber liquid.
Nutty aroma.
Flavor is slightly hoppy with hints of dark chocolate, coffee and nuts.
Aftertaste is earthy, fairly bitter.
Buzz is okay, fairly smooth.
Very elegant old school bottle.

Verdict: Very solid brew. Recommended.

Grade:B+

Abbaye Des Rocs Brune

2011-10-04T00:42:00.000-04:00

Abbaye Des Rocs Brune (9%): a strong dark ale from Belgium. I found this one at the local liquor store, never heard of it before.

Pours a troubled dark amber liquid.
Agreeable aroma with hints of grapes and nuts.
Nice complex flavor : red grapes, seltzers and caramel.
Aftertaste is reminiscent of dry fruits such as dates.
Mega yet smooth buzz.
Boring bottle/label, but who cares?

Verdict: this dark ale was smooth, intense and original at the same time. What more can you ask for?

Grade:A

Midnight Sun Espresso Stout

2011-09-27T01:09:00.000-04:00

Midnight Sun Espresso Stout (6.1%): a strong stout from Canada. So this stout's from .... Yukon, Canada! It's flavored with ground coffee.

Pours a dark brown liquid (hey it's a stout!).
Smells like artificial coffee... cream included!
Taste is bitter, smokey and fairly metallic overall.
Aftertaste is sweet, somewhat white-wine like!
Gave me a slight headache. But yea I got a mega buzz out of this.
At least the label ROCKS! You gotta love the bird with the coffee bean in his mouth.

Verdict: it's an interesting concept (stout + coffee has been done before though) BUT err... this isn't a very good beer to say the least.

Grade:D

Éphémère Cassis / Black Currant

2011-09-22T19:00:00.000-04:00

Éphémère Cassis / Black Currant (5.5%): a fruit beer from Canada. This is my second black currant flavored ale after Lindemans Cassis.

Pours a beautiful pink-orange liquid. Truly awesome.
Agreeable fruity aroma. I "feel" black currants, grapes and grapefruits.
Taste is bitter, quite citrus-like.
Aftertaste is more sugary (think sweet oranges). I also detect a slight wheat aftertaste.
Smooth buzz.
Nice bottle/label.

Verdict: an excellent fruit beer. Highly recommended.

Grade:A

Carling Black Label

2011-09-20T15:06:00.006-04:00

Carling Black Label (5%): an adjunct lager from Canada. Carling is well-known brand within the English-speaking world. The brewery traces its roots to London, Ontario and is now part of the Molson Coors empire. Black label is without a doubt the brand's flagship product.

Pours a pale blond liquid.
Aroma is somewhat nutty.
Thin flavor with slights hints of peach.
You definitely feel the adjuncts in the aftertaste (corn and rice mostly).
Buzz is okay.
The elegant label/bottle is a piece of art.

Verdict: an inoffensive lager. Is it worth it? probably not ... but it won't kill you.

Grade:C

Don't forget to check out this classic commercial:

Alexander Keith's Premium White

2011-09-16T22:43:00.000-04:00

Alexander Keith's Premium White (5%): a white beer from Canada. This is a white ale flavored with orange essence and spices.

Pours a light golden, slightly troubled liquid.
Aroma is lemonish.
Has a strong unrefined lemon flavor.
Aftertaste is sweet, almost rice-like.
Buzz is okay.
White label is boring.

Verdict: this was passable. It feels more like a Corona or Bud Light Lime than your typical witbier.

Grade:C+

Boréale Noire

2011-09-07T17:05:00.000-04:00

Boréale Noire (5.5%): a stout from Quebec, Canada. Needless to say I've been pretty disappointed with the Boréale brand so far. The "Blonde" gave me a headache; the "Blanche" (white) was errr .... quite chemical. But like I said before I'm a very forgiving beer finder and decided to try the brand's stout.

Pours a deep brown liquid; nice beige foam.
Very nice dark chocolate aroma with hints of grapes.
Delicious dark chocolate taste.
Aftertaste is somewhat seltzer-like. There is also a secondary caramel aftertaste.
Smooth buzz, I felt good.
The darker standard bottle looks quite elegant.

Verdict: this was a pleasant surprise. Highly recommended stout.

Grade: A

Les 3 Brasseurs Beermat

2011-09-04T22:32:00.000-04:00

Got this neat Les 3 Brasseurs beermat at one of their locations on St Catherine Street in Montreal.

Rickard's Dark Beermat

2011-09-01T00:31:00.000-04:00

Got these cool French-language Rickard's Dark beermats at a suburban Montreal restaurant.

Griffon Rousse

2011-08-07T23:45:00.000-04:00

Griffon Rousse (4.5%): an amber ale from Canada. From the makers of St-Ambroise Pale Ale (Montreal's McAuslan Brewing).

Pours a nice chestnut brown liquid.
The aroma is slightly caramel-like.
Flavor is metallic/seltzer-like but rather thin.
Aftertaste is earthy, almost woody.
Good buzz despite low ABV.
I like the cool creature on the label.

Verdict: a decent brew, unfortunately it's a bit too thin.

Grade:B-

Molson Canadian 67 Sublime

2011-08-02T02:11:00.002-04:00

Molson Canadian 67 Sublime(3%): a light lager from Canada. Molson ,like most large breweries, is jealous of Corona's success so it feels the need to offer light lagers flavored with lime/lemon. 67 stands for 67 calories.

Pours a very light golden liquid.
Citrus smell, not shocking.
Taste is faint with notes of artificial lemon juice.
Aftertaste is also very chemical-like ... it's hard to describe.
Surprisingly gives a slight buzz and no headache.
The bottle is alright I suppose.

Verdict: that brew won't kill you but you'll wish you invested in a pack of Bud Light Lime or Corona instead.

Grade:D

Don't forget to check out this commercial:

Barbãr Bok

2011-07-31T19:53:00.000-04:00

Barbãr Bok (8%): a strong dark ale from Belgium. This is a strong dark ale flavored with honey.

Pours a nice dark brown liquid.
Awesome floral aroma! Reminds me of Jasmin and Violette.
Taste is sugary and caramel like. There's a weird chemical feel to it.
Aftertaste is slightly earthy.
Weak buzz for ABV.
Bottle is nice, love the fonts on the label.

Verdict: despite the very nice aroma, I cannot recommend this brew. The artificial flavor is a big turn off. Below average.

Grade:C-

Rickard's Blonde

2011-07-17T17:50:00.000-04:00

Rickard's Blonde (5%): a lager from Canada. Rickard's Blonde is a new addition to the brewery owned by Molson. According to Molson, this is a classic pilsner lager.

Pours a light golden liquid.
Smells nothing.
Taste is thin, I detect a tiny bit of nuttiness.
Aftertaste is ... weird, kind of onion-like.
Okay buzz.
The golden can is fairly nice, really shinny.

Verdict: too thin and weird aftertaste ... but won't kill you. Not worth it.

Grade:D+

Corne Du Diable

2011-06-26T15:45:00.000-04:00

Corne Du Diable (6.5%): a strong IPA from Canada. Another ale from the Montreal brewery Dieu du ciel. According to the brewer, this is a modern interpretation of the IPA style. Whatever that means.

Pours a nice orangy liquid.
Smells like a mango!
Taste is caramel-like with hints of citrus.
Aftertaste is ... guess what ... mango-like! There are also notes of apricot. Exquisite!
Good Buzz.
Great label. I like that evil character.

Verdict: this is hardly an IPA. But who cares? It really reminds me of strong fruity Belgian ales. Delicious!

Grade:A

Rosée D'hibiscus

2011-06-23T18:47:00.000-04:00

Rosée D'hibiscus (5.9%): a white ale from Canada. The Dieu du Ciel Brewery from Montreal is known for its orginal brews. Rosée D'hibiscus is no exception. While most wheat beers are flavored with citrus, this one uses hibiscus, a highly aromatic flower.

Pours a nice troubled rose liquid.
Nice floral aroma: rose, Violette.
Taste is sweet, very similar to the smell.
Aftertaste is more acid. You can definitely feel the citrus.
Good buzz.
Very nice label.

Verdict: original beer yet very solid. Highly recommended.

Grade:A-

18th Mondial De La Biere Montreal 2011 Review

2011-06-18T00:23:00.003-04:00

So I went to the Mondial De La Biere (International Beer Fair) in Montreal which took place June 8-12. The atmosphere was just crazy! The Place Bonaventure exhibition halls were packed with drunk French Canadians who clearly came to have a good time. Anyways, I was a bit disappointed with the exhibitors (way too many industrial breweries with fancy booths .... I mean who cares about Heineken, Molson and Labatt at a beer fair?). Still there were quite a few small and medium-sized Quebec breweries with interesting products. I was particularly impressed by 'Dieu du Ciel' and its funky coffee stout and hibiscus wheat ale.
All in all it was a good event.

Le Cheval Blanc Blanche

2011-06-08T23:15:00.003-04:00

Le Cheval Blanc Blanche (5%): a white ale from Canada. From the makers of the excellent Coup de Grisou, here's the Le Cheval Blanc Blanche: a Quebec witbier.

Pours a beautiful troubled pale liquid.
Smells slightly lemon-like.
Awesome acid taste with hints of seltzers and wheat.
The aftertaste is smooth and fairly sweet. Honey and citrus comes to mind.
Smooth buzz.
As far as the bottle goes ... I've never been a big fan of horses!

Verdict: an excellent choice if you're into white beer.

Grade:A

Rickard's Dark

2011-06-07T22:02:00.001-04:00

Rickard's Dark (4.8%): a porter from Canada. Let me see, I tried Rickard's Red and White, now it's time for the darker ... you've guessed it: Rickard's Dark. This porter is brewed with maple syrup? Why? To make it more Canadian?

Pours a dark brown Coca-Cola-like liquid.
Smells nothing.
Flavor is thin, especially for the style: some maltiness and caramel.
Aftertaste is light as well. It's slightly sweet, caramel-like.
Weak buzz.
Boring bottle.

Verdict: a thin inoffensive brew. Won't kill you but quite bland.

Grade:C+

Éphémère Apple

2011-06-05T01:20:00.000-04:00

Éphémère Apple (5.5%): a fruit beer from Canada. Quebec's Unibroue offers a line of seasonal fruit beers called Éphémère (Ephemeral: literally lasting only one day). I tried the apple variant since ... I like apples?

Pours a slightly troubled golden liquid.
Smells like apple.
Flavor is dry, almost smoky. I really didn't expect that.
Aftertaste is fruity (guess what: hints of green apples. And honey/cinnamon).
Good buzz. I feel happy now.
Nice bottle. Apples and fairies ...

Verdict: a pleasant surprise.

Grade:A-

La Chouffe

2011-06-01T00:11:00.000-04:00

La Chouffe (8%): a strong pale ale from Belgium. This is a well-known strong ale from the Mecca of Beer aka Belgium.

Pours a clear pale golden liquid.
Has a slight cinnamon smell.
Flavor is quite complex: pepper, cinnamon, citrus, apple.
Aftertaste is rather fruity: sour apples come to mind.
Buzz is fairly mild for ABV.
Cool bottle. Garden gnomes!!! lol

Verdict: very solid brew ... the peppery taste isn't for everyone though (not the easiest beer to drink).

Grade:B+

Labatt Porter

2011-05-31T00:15:00.000-04:00

Labatt Porter (5%): a Porter from Canada. Hey beer lovers, wanna know the difference between Porters and Stouts? Well it's pretty much the same thing. Porters use crystal malts given them a slight caramel flavor while Stouts tend to be dryer. Back to our topic: I was browsing the local supermarket for brews (you know one of my favorite activities) and found this very elegant old school bottle saying Labatt Porter.

Pours a jet black liquid.
Smells definitely like dark chocolate.
Flavor is kind of thin for the style. Hints of caramel, dark chocolate.
Aftertaste reminds me of milk-chocolate and medium roast coffee.
Fairly weak buzz.
That bottle/label = pure elegance.

Verdict: I liked it despite the relative thinness.

Grade:B

Alexander Keith's Dark Ale

2011-05-30T01:43:00.000-04:00

Alexander Keith's Dark Ale (4.1%): a dark ale from Canada. Once in a while I like to try darker ales, you know me: I'm all for diversity!

Pours a dark brown liquid a la Coke, generous brown foam.
Smells somewhat like anise.
Nice intense dark chocolate flavor.
The aftertaste is buttery, biscuit-like like with hints of coffee.
Good buzz for ABV.
I like the Alexander Keith's logo on that black can.

Verdict: very solid dark ale. Recommended.

Grade:B+

Lindemans Cassis

2011-05-28T00:21:00.000-04:00

Lindemans Cassis (4%): a lambic beer from Belgium. This is a blackcurrant-flavored lambic (beer with spontaneous yeasts). I tried Lindemans Faro last year and it SUCKED! So why did I buy this? Well basically my girl is a blackcurrant lover and as you can imagine she "forced" me to buy.

Pours a purple liquid. Looks like red wine sort of.
Smells like some earthy wine.
Flavor has hints of blackcurrant but is quite reminiscent of sour red grapes.
Aftertaste is ... quite vinegar-like.
Weak buzz but hey it's 4%.
Funny bottle ... is that vinegar?

Verdict: the flavor is alright but the aftertaste .... yuck!

Grade:D+

UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen

2011-05-27T22:03:00.000-04:00

UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen (5.1%): a white ale from the US. This is a raspberry-flavored white beer from the Harpoon brewery. After trying UFO White (I was fairly disappointed), I HAD to give another chance to this line of beers.

Pours an orange-pinkish liquid.
Smells like .... rasperry!
Tastes like ... raspberry syrup.
Aftertaste is sweet, sugar-like.
Good Buzz.
Classy bottle

Not a bad brew, just not complex enough ... again I'm disappointed.

Grade:C+

Anchor Steam Beer

2011-05-27T03:38:00.000-04:00

Anchor Steam Beer (4.9%): a steam beer from the US. During the American old west, because of extreme temperatures, it was pretty much impossible to make lager beer (which requires cool temperatures) so "cowboy brewers" had an idea: using lager yeasts at warmer ale temperatures. Today this particular style is commonly referred as California Common or steam beer, Anchor being the most popular brand.

Pours a nice light amber liquid.
Smell is caramel-like.
Flavor is quite malty with hints of caramel.I detect seltzers too.
Aftertaste is earthy.
Good buzz for ABV.
Cool bottle.

Verdict: a solid brew.

Grade:B

UFO White

2011-05-25T01:28:00.000-04:00

UFO White (4.8%): a white ale from the US. I was vacationing in Boston and couldn't resist trying beers. UFO White is produced by the venerable Harpoon Brewery (which is based in Massachusetts).

Pours a nice troubled orangy liquid.
Smells like orange.
Flavors is definitely orange-like (was to be expected).
Aftertaste is sweet, slightly malty ... feels like soda sort of.
Weak buzz.
Nice bottle.

Verdict: flavor is not bad but lacks complexity. It's a bit like an alcoholic version of Fanta.

Grade:C+

Molson M

2011-05-17T18:56:00.004-04:00

Molson M (4.9%): an adjunct lager from Canada. Molson M is the first "Micro-carbonated" lager in the world. Oh man, beer marketeers are so uninspired these days.

Pours a medium yellow liquid.
Smells slightly fruity (apricots!!).
Flavor is fruity with hints of apricots, citrus and peach.
Aftertaste is citrus-like.
Good buzz for ABV.
Classy bottle/label.

Verdict: a solid lager.

Grade:B

Don't forget to check out this TV commercial:

Blonde de Chambly

2011-05-17T00:39:00.000-04:00

Blonde de Chambly (5%): a farmhouse ale from Canada. Unibroue is well-known for its strong ales, but the brewery also produces beers with more modest ABV's such as the seasonal 'Blonde de Chambly' (yup there are blond girls on the label !).

Pours a nice yellow troubled liquid.
Smells like wheat and citrus.
As expected, flavor is quite citrus-like, fairly acid.
Aftertaste is slightly spicey, curry-like with earthy undertones.
Good buzz for ABV.
Fairly nice chicks on the bottle.

Verdict: a nice brew.

Grade:A-

Sleeman Silver Creek Lager

2011-05-14T19:41:00.002-04:00

Sleeman Silver Creek Lager (5%): an adjunct lager from Canada. I had this at a bar in Montreal.

Pours a transparent golden liquid.
Smells nothing.
Tastes like your standard cheap lager: thin with minimal bitterness.
Aftertaste is slightly metallic.
Gave me a slight headache. Bad buzz.

Verdict: mediocre.

Grade:D

La Messagère

2011-04-30T01:13:00.000-04:00

La Messagère (4.7%): a gluten-free pale ale from Canada. Last time I tried a gluten-free beer (Moulin Des Moines Biere Sans Gluten), it wasn't a pleasant experience to say the least. La Messagère is brewed by the Nouvelle France Microbrasserie in Quebec and is made with rice and buckwheat.

Pours a ... wait that brew is completely clear!!!
Smells nothing.
Is that beer or ... flat diluted ginger ale? Very thin flavor.
Aftertaste is kind of chemical, reminds me of aspartame.
No buzz.
Cheap bottle.

Verdict: not beer, more of a bad alcopop. Not worth it.

Grade:D

St-Ambroise Pale Ale

2011-04-29T23:31:00.000-04:00

St-Ambroise Pale Ale (5%): a pale ale from Canada. St Ambroise is a popular brand of ales in Quebec, so I definitely had to try their most popular brew.

Pours a pale-medium orangy liquid.
Smells slightly fruity (citrus smell).
Nice fruity flavor with hints of bitter orange, lime.
Aftertaste is very-peach like, almost floral.
Good buzz for ABV.
Nice bottle (cool monster on label).

Verdict: a very nice pale ale. Recommended.

Grade:A-

Labatt 50

2011-04-27T20:32:00.002-04:00

Labatt 50 (5%): a pale ale from Canada. Labatt 50 is quite legendary in Canada. The name refers to the 50 year partnership (back in 1950) between John and Hugh Labatt, grandsons of founder John K. Labatt. It was the highest selling beer in Canuck country until 1979 (damn lagers! just kidding).

Pours a basic gold liquid.
Smells slightly fruity (apricots).
Flavor is quite smooth with hints of apricots and citrus.
The aftertaste is slightly bitter (think of bitter oranges).
Good buzz for ABV.
Can is a tad boring?

Verdict: a very solid ale. Pleasant surprise.

Grade:A-

Don't forget to check out this old school TV commercial:

Smithwick's

2011-04-26T22:05:00.000-04:00

Smithwick's (5%): an amber ale from Ireland. Smithwick's a red/amber ale by the famous Irish brewery Guinness.

Pours a nice dark red liquid.
No smell.
Taste is somewhat thin with nice hints of coffee, dark chocolate and anise.
Aftertaste is slight yet somewhat earthy, coffee-like.
Slight buzz.
I'm not a big fan of the bottle. Too dark.

Verdict: a good brew, I would have given an A if it wasn't for the lightness.

Grade:B+

Don't forget to check out this funny TV ad:

Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre Bière Nouvelle

2011-04-24T21:40:00.000-04:00

Brasserie Saint-Sylvestre Bière Nouvelle (8%): a strong ale from France. From the makers of the well-known 3 Monts, Bière Nouvelle is a medium body Biere de Garde (Keeping Beer).

Pours a nice medium amber liquid.
Smells bitter.
Flavor is bitter with hints of orange.
Aftertaste is malty/caramel-like.
Buzz is not that strong for ABV.
Boring bottle.

Verdict: a fairly solid bière de garde.

Grade:B-

Beck's

2011-04-20T22:39:00.002-04:00

Beck's (5%): a pale lager from Germany. Beck's is a popular German lager.

Pours a very pale golden liquid.
Smells slightly grainy.
Taste is rather thin with hints curry-like spice and nuts.
Aftertaste is ... almost non-existant.
Bad buzz ... gave me a mild headache.
Boring bottle.

Verdict: mediocre.

Grade:D+

Don't forget to check out this commercial (cool boat!):

Rickard's Red

2011-04-19T18:43:00.000-04:00

Rickard's Red (5.2%): an amber ale from Canada. Not too long ago I tried Rickard's White and thought it was excellent. If you follow the blog on a regular basis you know I'm a big fan of ambers, hence I had to try Rickard's Red.

Pours a beautiful red liquid, yes it's really red!
Smells somewhat fruity, kind of grape-like.
Flavor is rather thin with some bitterness and malt.
Aftertaste is agreeable, reminds me of dry fruits like dates.
Weak buzz.
Boring can.

Verdict: a fairly solid amber ale. Unfortunately it's too thin.

Grade:B-

Don De Dieu

2011-04-14T22:38:00.003-04:00

Don De Dieu (9%): a triple white ale from Canada. Quebec's Unibroue offers this strong wheat beer (Don De Dieu means "Gift of God" in French).

Pours a medium orange liquid. The foam is generous and ...wild!
Smells fruity, grapes come to mind.
Flavor is fairly complex with hints of anise, grapes and figs.
Aftertaste is caramel-like.
Medium buzz which is surprising for a 9% brew.
Nice label/bottle (cool ship!).

Verdict: a solid strong white.

Grade:B

Alexander Keith's Red Amber Ale

2011-04-13T01:31:00.001-04:00

Alexander Keith's Red Amber Ale (5%): an amber ale from Canada. I tried Alexander Keith's IPA last summer when I was vacationing in Toronto; now it's time to review Alex's Amber.

Pours a dark reddish liquid.
Smell is slightly sweet.
Flavor is slightly bitter and caramel-like.
Aftertaste is kind of weird. Liquid rice comes to mind.
Weak buzz.
Boring can?

Verdict: average, not really worth it.

Grade:C+

Benelux Gaïa

2011-04-11T23:04:00.003-04:00

Benelux Gaïa (5%): a white ale from Canada. I tried another brew at Benelux, the well-known Montreal microbrewery near McGill University: Gaïa, a wheat beer.

Pours a spectacular troubled yellow liquid, It's really really yellow.
Smells like oysters! I'm not kidding.
The dry flavor is not bad. There is a strong wheat tone to it.
The aftertaste is slightly fruity: hints of lemon and peach.
Buzz is alright for ABV.

Verdict: if it wasn't for the fishy smell, I would have given a much better grade.

Grade:C

For more information you can check this fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2224329508#!/group.php?gid=2224329508

Benelux Armada

2011-04-10T21:17:00.003-04:00

Benelux Armada (6.8%): a strong brown ale from Canada. Benelux is a popular microbrewery near McGill University in Montreal, it's always packed but today was an exception so I decided to go there (sorry no picture of the brew).

Pours a dark brown liquid.
Smells a bit like anise.
Interesting flavor with hints of dark chocolate, mint and anise.
Aftertaste is strong and earthy, quite coffee-like.
Strong buzz.

Verdict: an excellent choice if you're into strong darker ales and happen to be in Montreal.

Grade:A

For more info please visit this fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2224329508#!/group.php?gid=2224329508

Blanche de Chambly

2011-04-09T23:32:00.001-04:00

Blanche de Chambly (5%): a white ale from Canada. This is a wheat beer from Unibroue, the famous Chambly,Quebec brewery; hence the name.

Pours a nice troubled dark yellow liquid.
Smells really citrusy.
Flavor is quite acid with hints of lemon and lime.
The aftertaste is slightly spicy (mostly orange peel and coriander flavors).
Buzz is slight but agreeable.
Unibroue bottles/labels are always cool!

Very: a very solid white. Recommended.

Grade:B+

Boréale Blanche

2011-04-08T01:01:00.000-04:00

Boréale Blanche (4.2%): an organic white ale from Canada. I'm a very forgiving person so I gave another chance to Boréale, a brand of organic ales from Quebec. I REALLY disliked their Blonde, that's for sure.

Pours a slightly cloudy pale yellow liquid.
Smells nothing.
This brew has a strong ginger flavor...it's like drinking flat ginger ale lol.
The aftertaste is mild, reminds me of chemical floral flavors/smells (Airwick?).
Slight buzz.

Verdict: it's not disgusting, won't give you a headache ... but hardly tastes like beer. Not worth it.

Grade:C-

Coup De Grisou

2011-04-03T00:18:00.000-04:00

Coup De Grisou (5%): a white beer from Canada. From the makers of 'Belle Gueule', this is a wheat beer flavored with coriander and orange peel. Had this on-tap.

Pours a nice troubled golden liquid.
Smells citrusy.
Flavor is slightly bitter with hints of lemon.
Aftertaste is quite sweet with hints of orange and apricot.
Good buzz for ABV.
Weird label, isn't it?

Verdict: an excellent white. Highly recommended.

Grade:A+

Maudite

2011-04-02T01:19:00.000-04:00

Maudite (8%): a strong dark ale from Canada. 'Maudite' (French for "cursed") is another well-known strong ale from Unibroue the famous Chambly,Quebec brewery (see La Fin du Monde). Had this on-tap at a bar in Montreal.

Pours a dark amber liquid.
No smell.
Flavor is caramel-like with hints of chestnuts.
Aftertaste is quite fruity: grapes and apples mostly.
Mega buzz.
I like the evil character on the label.

Verdict: a great dark ale. Loved the complex aroma.

Grade:A

Newcastle Brown Ale

2011-03-26T20:00:00.000-04:00

Newcastle Brown Ale (4.7%): a brown ale from the UK. Newcastle is a well-known specialty brand owned by Dutch giant Heineken. However, the brews are still produced in England. Newcastle Brown Ale has achieved somewhat of a cult status in the US (I can't recall going to a supermarket in Boston and NOT seeing the bottles/cans with the famous star).

Pours a ... medium/dark amber liquid, I wouldn't call that 'brown' at all.
Smells fruity, kind of grape-like.
Flavor is really thin for a darker brew. I detect some grapes, a tiny bit of anise ... and not much else!
Aftertaste is a bit metallic.
Good buzz, especially considering the low ABV.
Of course the can is classic.

Not a bad brew, just too watery.

Grade:B-

Rickard's White

2011-03-20T18:59:00.000-04:00

Rickard's White (5.4%): a white ale from Canada. Rickard's is a brand of specialty brews owned by Molson.

Pours a beautiful deep cloudy orange liquid.
Smells slightly citrusy.
Initial flavor is quite acid with hints of orange and lemon; a wheat aroma come slightly later.
Aftertaste is very floral (Rose/Violette).
Good buzz for ABV.
Boring can? Who cares tho?

Verdict: a good surprise! The complex flavor is irresistible.

Grade:A

Molson Export Ale

2011-03-19T00:56:00.004-04:00

Molson Export Ale (5%): a pale ale from Canada. This is one of the best-known beers from Canada.

Pours a pale transparent golden liquid.
Smells slightly fruity.
Very clean dry taste with a slight hint of grapes.
Aftertaste is quite grainy, reminds me of unsweetened cornflakes.
Slight buzz.
Cool can, feeling the no-nonsense design.

Verdict: an unspectacular yet solid ale.

Grade:B

Want more info? Check this fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/molsonexport

Also don't forget to check out this (funny) commercial:

Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds L'Amère Veilleuse

2011-03-17T11:01:00.001-04:00

Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds L'Amère Veilleuse (6%): a strong amber ale from Canada. A strong amber from Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds, the Chambly,Quebec microbrewery.

Pours a nice medium amber liquid.
Has a nice floral smell.
Flavor is extremely bitter, it reminds me of unmixed Martini bitters.
The aftertaste is really interesting: mint, rose and anise.
Good buzz.

Verdict: If you're into hoppy ales, this one's a good choice.

Grade:A-

For more info, please check the brewery's official website:
http://www.bedondaine.com/EN/accueil.html

Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds Sainte Nitouche

2011-03-16T13:14:00.001-04:00

Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds Sainte Nitouche (5%): a lager from Canada. A golden lager from the Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds microbrewery located in Chambly,Quebec.

Pours a nice medium golden liquid. Appearance is slightly troubled.
Slight bitter smell.
Flavor is rather sweet with hints of sugared cereals and peach.
Aftertaste is quite dry, almost rice-like.

Verdict: a solid brew with lots of character.

Grade:B

For more info please check the brewery's official website:

http://www.bedondaine.com/EN/accueil.html

Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds brewery and beer museum

2011-03-15T12:45:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I visited the 'Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds' microbrewery and beer museum in Chambly,Quebec (about 25 km south east of Montreal). A truly awesome place! The brewery serves a home-made selection of lagers, ales and stouts (I tried a golden lager and a very hoppy ale; definitely good stuff). Perhaps the best part was the "museum": 26,000 bottles and other beer-related items on display throughout the bar!

The brewery's storefront.


The brewery's founder and a portion of the massive beer bottle collection.

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale

2011-03-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale (4.3%): an amber ale from Ireland. This brew has many avid fans, why? Because it's cool to drink Irish beer? It's from the makers of the famous Guinness? Or maybe it's the ball inside the can? Anyways I had to try it.

Pours a weird green/beige liquid.
Smells nothing.
Flavor is almost non-existent, I detect a tiny bit of nuts and caramel.
No aftertaste.
Refreshing ...like water!
No buzz, at 4.3% that's not very surprising.
Can is boring at best.

Verdict: not a bad brew, just too watery.

Grade:C

Les 3 Brasseurs Stout

2011-03-13T10:50:00.000-04:00

Les 3 Brasseurs Stout (5.6%): a stout from Canada. This is a seasonal brew from the French Pub chain "Les 3 Brasseurs"; it is only brewed and served at their Canadian locations around St Patrick's Day.

Pours a very dark brown liquid.
Smells bitter with hints of caramel.
Flavor is fairly bitter with a slight hint of caramel.
After taste is quite smooth (hints of vanilla).
Good buzz.

Verdict: a solid stout.

Grade:B+

La Fin Du Monde

2011-03-11T20:49:00.002-05:00

La Fin Du Monde (9%): a Tripel Ale from Canada. La Fin du Monde (The end of the world in French) is often mentioned as Canada's best brew. Produced in Quebec by passionate Belgian beer lovers, it has won many international prizes.

Pours a cloudy orange liquid.
Smells slightly bitter, I detect some anise.
Awesome complex flavor with hints of anise, licorice, peach, citrus.
Extremely smooth and drinkable, especially considering the ABV.
Mega buzz.
Classic bottle and label (the name itself makes me want to purchase this).

Verdict: Classic brew! Nuff said...

Grade: A+

Les 3 Brasseurs Equinoxe

2011-03-10T06:42:00.001-05:00

Les 3 Brasseurs Equinoxe (6.2%): a strong amber ale from France. I just moved to Montreal, Canada and the first thing I did was going to Les 3 Brasseurs pub (which originated in Northern France). I noticed they had a seasonal ale called "Equinoxe" I never tried before (looks like the brew pictured on the right).

Pours a beautiful bronze liquid.
Smells slightly fruity.
The complex bitter-sweet flavor is really nice: hints of dark chocolate, grapes, apples.
Good buzz.

Verdict: an excellent choice if you're into ambers.

Grade:A-

Maltesse Blonde

2011-03-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

Maltesse Blonde (7.7%): a strong ale from France. This is a fairly rare French strong ale.

Pours a beautiful troubled medium amber liquid.
Smells bitter.
Immediate taste is very bitter like a strong coffee, a plum favor appears slightly later.
After taste is also bitter with hints of coffee and dark chocolate.
Buzz is moderate for ABV, on the other hand it's quite easy to drink.
Bottle design is not bad.

Verdict: this one has a lot of character. One piece of advice: drink this at room temperature (or a tad colder) in order to mitigate the bitterness. All in all it's a solid brew.

Grade:B

PIETRA

2011-03-03T18:09:00.001-05:00

Pietra (6%): a strong amber lager from France. This strong chestnut-flavored lager comes from the Corsica Island in the Mediterranean sea; it's a fairly well-know specialty beer in France.

Pours a nice medium-amber liquid.
Smells bitter.
Very bitter taste, reminiscent of ... raw chestnuts!
The aftertaste is awful: hints of vitamin C powder and cough syrup.
Not sure about the buzz ... I didn't drink enough to really tell.
Boring bottle.

Verdict: it's a bad brew for sure!

Grade:D-

Vivat Triple

2011-03-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

Vivat Triple (8.3%): a triple ale from France. The pottery-style bottle caught my eye! I had a good feeling about it.

Pours a beautiful cloudy golden liquid.
Smells flowery mostly rose.
The flavor is quite dry almost smoky.
The after-taste is very flowery: hints of rose, violette. There is also a fruity sensation that comes later: mostly lemon and peach.
Mega Buzz.
Again the original bottle is just superb.

Verdict: a world-class strong ale with a unique complex flavor. Highly recommended.

Grade:A+

Ackels Forte 8.0

2011-02-25T23:01:00.000-05:00

Ackels Forte 8.0 (8%): a strong lager from France. An extra strong lager from Alsace (near the German border).I cannot recall why I bought this ... oh yeah I remember now: I manage a beer blog and constantly need to find new brews.

Pours a light golden liquid.
Smells ...nothing I guess.
Weird licorice flavor with hints of ... rotten veggies.
Gave me a headache.
Forget about the buzz, I could barely take a couple of sips.

Verdict: Really bad, of course you should avoid this.

Grade:F

Email Contact

2011-02-24T11:09:00.002-05:00

Wanna request beer reviews? Or give suggestions? You can now contact Phil directly by email: admin@philbeerbar.info .

Phil's Beer Bar has moved!

2011-02-22T18:59:00.001-05:00

Phil's Beer Bar has moved to http://www.philbeerbar.info . The shorter URL is easier to remember and the .info extension is perfect since we're an informational blog. PBB has grown tremendously since its inception and now competes with the biggest beer websites/blogs for both mainstream and specialty brew searches. The audience is truly global (I believe all countries in the world are represented) and THAT makes me happy since it might help people to discover and read about beers they've never heard before. Anyways, stayed tuned ...more reviews are coming soon.

Sincerely,

Phil

Grain D'Orge Cuvée 1898

2011-02-19T21:50:00.000-05:00

Grain D'Orge Cuvée 1898 (8.5%): a strong ale from France. This is a Bière de Garde (keeping ale) from northern France.

Pours a light golden liquid.
Smells bitter.
Superb contrast between the very dry taste and the sweet fruity aftertaste (hints of papaya, pineapple, honey, pear).
Mega buzz.

Verdict: one of the best brews I've tried so far.

Grade:A+

Dagsbier Blonde Pur Malt

2011-02-16T18:22:00.000-05:00

Dagsbier Blonde Pur Malt (4.2%): a lager from Germany. I bought this at a metro station in Paris.

Pours a light golden liquid with generous foam.
Smells grainy.
Tastes like bitter water.
Curiously buzz wasn't that weak.

Verdict: an inoffensive watery brew.

Grade: C-

Grimbergen Blanche

2011-02-14T19:10:00.000-05:00

Grimbergen Blanche (6%): a strong white ale from Belgium. Grimbergen is a popular Belgian ale brand and naturally it offers a white. This is the strongest white I've had so far by the way.

Pours a very troubled gold liquid.
Smells citrusy.
Awesome complex acid flavor with hints of citrus, peach, almonds, caramel.
Good buzz.
Very nice bottle.

Verdict: a world class white!

Grade:A+

George Killian's Bière Rousse

2011-02-13T17:42:00.000-05:00

George Killian's Bière Rousse (6.5%): a strong amber ale from France. George Killian's Bière Rousse is the French version of George Killian's Irish Red. Contrary to the US version, GK Biere Rousse is still produced as an ale.

Pours a beautiful orange liquid.
Smells like bitter chocolate.
Smokey flavor with hints of chocolate, quinine, biscuit.
Aftertaste is quite bitter, I can feel the quinine mostly.
Highly drinkable.
Good buzz.

An interesting brew with lots of character.

Grade: A-

Estribos

2011-02-11T23:57:00.000-05:00

Estribos (5.9%): a beer mixed drink from France. This is a so-called Tequila flavored malt beverage made for the Carrefour hypermarket chain. By the way I got this as a gift, er ... thanks dad!

Pours a weird orange-greenish liquid.
Tastes like ... chemical orange/kiwi fruity beer, yup that's a pretty accurate description..
Weird smoky yet metallic aftertaste.
The can is nice?

Hm ... you'd better stay away from this.

Grade:F

Saint Landelin La Divine

2011-02-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

Saint Landelin La Divine (8.5%): a strong ale from France. This is a "Bière de Garde" (beer of keeping) from Northern France.

Pours a medium golden liquid.
Smells fruity.
Awesome complex acid fruity flavor with hints of apples,pears and caramel.
Good Buzz.
Easy to drink despite high ABV.
Very nice bottle.

Verdict: a world class brew. I need more!

Grade:A+

Schlappeseppel Pilsner

2011-02-03T16:20:00.000-05:00

Schlappeseppel Pilsner (5.1%): a pilsner lager from Germany. I got this as a gift.

Pours a very light golden liquid.
Smells nothing.
Light earthy flavor.Where are the hops?
Almost zero buzz.
Nice bottle?

Verdict: an inoffensive lager yet not worth it.

Grade:C

CH'TI BLANCHE

2011-02-01T17:33:00.001-05:00

CH'TI Blanche (4.5%): a white beer from France. Brasserie Castelain is well-known for its CH'TI strong blond ale but also offers a white.

Pours an hazy orange liquid.
Smells spicy, orange-like.
Flavor is quite bitter for a white with hints of caramel and citrus.
Weak buzz but hey ABV is 4.5%.
Classic bottle/label.

It's a fairly solid white, perhaps a tad too bitter for the style.

Grade:B-

Crest Super Premium Lager

2011-01-28T18:07:00.001-05:00

Crest Super Premium Lager (8.4%): a strong pale lager from the UK. I was intrigued by the shiny blue can,that's all I can say really.

Pours a light golden liquid.
Smells nothing.
Flavor is very light for a strong brew, it's basically like a light beer. I detect some hops, yup "some".
Weak buzz for ABV.
Beautiful can.

It's a strong lager with light beer properties, kind of useless.

Grade:C-

Spéciale Noël Grain d'Orge

2011-01-25T12:58:00.000-05:00

Spéciale Noël Grain d'Orge (6.4%): a strong amber keeping ale from France. This is one of these so called Christmas beers.

Pours a beautiful medium amber liquid.
Smells bitter.
Interesting flavor: hints of orange, cinnamon, caramel.
Disgusting metallic/petrol like aftertaste.

If it wasn't for the decent flavor, I would have given an F.

Grade:D

YEBISU PREMIUM

2011-01-23T21:57:00.000-05:00

Yebisu Premium (5%): a lager from Japan. I found this all malt lager at my local supermarket (they had a Japan promo day).

Pours a fairly light golden liquid.
Very dry metallic taste with hints of seltzers.
Bad bad metallic bum beer aftertaste (was to be expected).
Nice bottle?

Verdict: mediocre.

Grade:D+

Ackels Pur Malt

2011-01-21T19:35:00.000-05:00

Ackels Pur Malt (4.5%): a pale lager from Eastern France. Brewed in Alsace near the German border, Ackels Pur Malt is a regular strength pure malt lager.

Pours a light golden liquid.
Flavor is light with some bitterness and hints of anise.
Good buzz.
Refreshing and well-balanced.

An unspectacular but solid lager.

Grade:B-

BAVARIA

2011-01-18T17:54:00.000-05:00

Bavaria (5%): a lager from the Netherlands. While Bavaria is mostly known for its famous 8.6, the brewery also offers a regular strength lager. Time for the review.

Pours a light transparent golden liquid.
Smells nothing.
Very light chemical taste, I don't really know how to describe it.
Bad bum beer aftertaste.
Gave me a slight headache.

Verdict: pretty bad.

Grade:D-

3 MONTS

2011-01-15T13:02:00.000-05:00

3 Monts (8.5%): a keeping beer (bière de garde)from Northern France. This is a well known strong pale ale from French Flanders.

The cork cap has some kind of weird metal stabilizer.
Pours a pale golden liquid with a generous amount of foam.
Very dry flavor with hints of curry, carrots, nuts, anise.
Good buzz.
Beautiful bottle.

Verdict: a very solid brew.

Grade:B+

Carrefour Bière Bio

2011-01-13T14:36:00.000-05:00

Carrefour Bière Bio (6%): an organic strong amber ale from Northern France. This is a new beer offered by the French hypermarket chain Carrefour. Brewed in the mecca of French beer (Pas de Calais region, near the Belgium border), it's also sold as "Vieux Lille Ambrée".

Pours an orange-carrot amber liquid.
Smells fruity.
Awesome complex flavor with hints of orange, apricot, dry fruits, nuts, licorice, anise.
Aftertaste is very fruity and agreeable.
Good buzz.
Easy to drink and refreshing.
Bottle is a bit boring?

Verdict: this is a gem!

Grade:A+

Trappistes Rochefort 8

2011-01-11T14:45:00.001-05:00

Trappistes Rochefort 8 (9.2%): a strong dark ale from Belgium. This is a fairly rare authentic Trappist product.

Pours a beautiful dark amber liquid.
Awesome fruity smell!
The bitter-sweet flavor is so complex it's hard to describe; hints of : grapes, grapefruit, nuts, figs.
After taste is very delicate and fruity.
Mega Buzz! A strong but mellow buzz I shall say.
Classic bottle.

We need more beers like this!

Grade: A+

Don't forget to check out this fan page:
http://users.telenet.be/gerritvdb/rochefort/English/RochefortIndex.htm

And this Michael Jackson's (aka The Beer Hunter) article on the St Remy Abbey, the producer of Trappistes Rochefort:
http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000019.html

Åbro Arton56

2011-01-09T13:57:00.000-05:00

Åbro Arton56 (5.2%): a pale lager from Sweden. I got this as a gift.

Pours a very light transparent golden liquid.
Smells like strong detergents.
Tastes like bitter caramel and kitchen detergent!
Truly undrinkable so can't say about buzz.
Nice bottle?

Avoid this !

Grade:F

Boomerang Stronglime

2011-01-06T20:19:00.000-05:00

Boomerang Stronglime (5.9%): a beer mixed drink from France. Boomerang was originally created by Canadian giant Labatt in the 1990's. In 2003, Boomerang was launched in France in a modified lemon-flavored version to compete against other "malternatives" such as Smirnoff Ice.

Pours a beautiful pale green liquid.
Tastes like bitter lemon and quinine.
Good buzz.
Nice Bottle.

A decent beer mixed drink.

Grade:B-

St. Bernardus Prior 8

2011-01-05T17:24:00.001-05:00

St. Bernardus Prior 8 (8%): a strong dubbel (double) ale from Belgium. I found this at a "gourmet" market in downtown Paris, was intrigued by the bottle.

Pours a dark brown liquid. Generous foam.
Smells bitter.
Tastes like liquid rubber with hints of .... rotten veggies.
Bad rubber aftertaste.
The monk on the bottle looks perverted!

Verdict: This thing is awful! YUCK!

Grade:F

JUDAS

2011-01-03T17:31:00.000-05:00

Judas (8.5%): a strong pale ale from Belgium. Most beer connoisseurs know Duvel (the Devil), now meet another strong pale ale named Judas (yea the controversial biblical person).

Pours a medium golden liquid with a generous foam.
Smells ... nothing !
Very malty flavor with hints of caramel and ...carrots! Where are the hops?
Weak buzz for ABV.
Beautiful bottle.

Verdict: drinkable but not worth it. Tastes very much like an average malt liquor.

Grade:C-

Happy New Year from Phil's Beer Bar!

2011-01-01T03:17:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers,

Phil's Beer Bar wishes you a HAPPY NEW BEER ...hm YEAR!