The Brass Taps hosts a craft beer show
A night of beer samples, nachos, and “mmmm, that’s good,” took place at Brass Taps on Friday night during the Craft Beer Show. There were big names in the microbrewery scene, like Mill St. and SteamWhistle, as well as smaller names like Revell Cider Co., and Stone Hammer. Other companies, like Muskoka, Wellington, Old Tomorrow, and Nickelbrock, also had stations set up to allow happy beer aficionados and non-aficionados alike to drink the good drink.
My first taste was of the Guelph-based Revell Cider, Co. The company itself is very young – their first sale took place on the day before the craft show. Their cider flavour were subtle, allowing for a more traditional beer taste over an apple-juice flavour that lingers long after you take a sip (which I find is the case with many ciders). There was also a tropical hint that also accompanied the mild cider taste, which created a fantastic combination of fruity, arising from the apples, and earthy flavours, arising from the hops that produced a well-balanced cider.
The Brass Taps held their craft beer show last Friday and showcased some delicious brews.
The next beer that graced my sampling glass was Guelph-based Stone Hammer. Stone Hammer had a serious collection, which included their pilsner, dark ale, pale ale, light beer, oatmeal coffee stout, and a seasonal beer, maple red, which is brewed with maple syrup. I myself regretfully sampled the light beer, which, like most light beers, had a very subtle taste to it. In my opinion, many light beers taste diluted. My friend, in comparison, sampled their dark ale. It had a very rich flavour that could arguably rival Guinness for the dark beer spot in any beer-lover’s fridge. Then again, there is always room for both, and Stonehammer’s dark beer is an ale, making it a little lighter than a Guinness – which is a stout. Stonehammer’s dark ale, then, is a perfect drink to get your foot wet in the world of dark beers.
Next up was Muskoka’s Twice as Mad Tom. As an 8.9% beer, it was actually not as harsh as one would expect. If you are experienced with amber beers, this beer from Muskoka Brewery won’t taste too different, except that it is full of flavour. Although, that flavour is very bitter, arising from the hops, which is often a characteristic of red beers. Here’s a little beer flavour 101: when a beer has a sweet taste to it, it has more malt, and when it has a bitter taste to it, it is defined by its hops.
The final beer I tasted was also my biggest regret. It was Nickelbrock’s Bolshevik Bastard. Just the name sounds violent, and the taste truly matched the violence of the communist revolution with which the beer shares the name. It was an amber beer that was so bitter, that the after-taste lingered for a good 20 minutes after my last sip. But it was an experience nonetheless, and I would recommend it to anybody who’s adventurous enough to try it.
In the end, I seriously recommend anybody who prefers quality over quantity to choose craft beer next time they are at the LCBO or the bar. The taste is often better and certainly more unique. The companies are local, and often are organic. That is what is special about choosing local: you can take pride in Southern Ontario in every beer you drink, you can feel the love and passion put into every brew, and to be frank, you’re simply drinking tastier beer.