Wednesday, November 23, 2011

You were perfect hosts. & I luv goofy @ElizabethLouter: @thewinebaron Thx 4 visitin @MuskokaBrewery Happy 2 have ...

You were perfect hosts. & I luv goofy @ElizabethLouter: @thewinebaron Thx 4 visitin @MuskokaBrewery Happy 2 have you. I mighta ruined your photos by bein goofy!

More on visit to Muskoka Brewery. Venture off the beaten path with me as I talk to the brewers & taste the beers of this exciting company.

I drove up to Bracebridge a couple of days ago to visit Muskoka Brewery. One thing that's immediately evident is the laid-back style of the people. Founder Gary McMullen and his team were sitting at a big oak table walking through their business plan. They immediately jumped up and greeted me warmly and offered to taste beer. It was quickly evident that these fine folks are focused, business savvy, fun-loving, and passionate about their products...

The Beers

Muskoka Craft Lager
 A clean and crisp lager. Gold medal winner. Approachable and drinkable.

 

Cream Ale
 Their first beer, and the flagship product. Brewed with cascade hops. Amber colour, floral notes. Smooth and laid-back in the English pub style.

Dark Ale

  This southern English style brown ale is at the light end of the Porter spectrum. It's a bronze medal winner and has lots of personality.
Mad Tom IPA
 A 6.4 % beer made with dry hops. Born this year! Nice citrus notes but not too bitter, excellent balance of aroma, bitterness and malt body. Silver medal winner.

Harvest Ale
 750 ml. A British style pale ale, 6.4%, dry hopped to allow aromas to come out. Seasonal, so get it now, or wait til next harvest.

Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout
 This 8% beauty is also in a 750 ml bottle. Featuring ingredients from the cranberry marsh nearby and cocoa nibs. It's a very nice dessert beer.

About 1/3 of their beer is sold to restaurants in kegs, 2/3 in bottles and cans to the public.

James Brewer

Angel Nero d'Avola organic red wine from Sicily. Excellent value in LCBO at 9.95.

Angel

Angel Nero d'Avola is a lovely red organic that delivers a charming and interesting wine experience. Excellent with red sauce pasta.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Porter & Stout r grt 4 Winter! Warming. RT @BlackCreekBeer: Black Creek Pale Ale finished 4 the season, but fear ...

Porter & Stout r grt 4 Winter! Warming. RT @BlackCreekBeer: Black Creek Pale Ale finished 4 the season, but fear not! ...Porter & Stout will keep you warm this winter!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Visitin @muskokabrewery tastin range of amazing lagers & ales. Gary McMullen & team r growin a world class brewery!

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Visitin @muskokabrewery tastin range of amazing lagers & ales. Gary McMullen & team r growin a world class brewery!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Enjoyed my visit to Dora Keogh's Art Exhibition. Lively, colourful, expressive...

DORA ART

It was a great weekend. Not only the birthday party of my dearest, but also a chance to visit the Art Exhibition of Dora Keogh.

 

When I first saw Dora's paintings about a year ago, I admired the lively colour and vitality. Now, a year later, I'm enjoying how much she's grown as an artist. The new works exude a view of her environment with even more aplomb.

 

She's got an additional technique happening too: ink and watercolour wash. These smaller works have a picasso-esque style that is quite endearing. They possess life. They're joyous.

 

Thanks to Dora and John for a lovely afternoon! Keep on creating!

http://www.dorakeogh.com

Friday, November 4, 2011

Tenuta Moraia IL Pacchia Maremma Toscana, best wine I tasted at Italian wine show

P91

Admittedly, I managed to get to only about 10% of the wines at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on Monday. But within those parameters, this is one of the 2 best wines I sampled at the show. The other was a Barolo. This one is a Toscana superstar...

Tenuta Moraia IL Pacchia Maremma Toscana 2009

A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, the wine is an enticingly dark beauty in a premium bottle and sporting an attractive label. Her sensuality exudes aromas and flavours of currants, berries, dark chocolate, coffee and spice, enveloped in a silky smooth body. The firm tannins proclaim this is a serious wine, and that certainly bears out in the big and lingering finish.

This wine will be available from Wine Lovers agency.