This week is officially ‘Ontario Craft Beer‘ week, with literally hundreds of beer events happening across Ontario, promoted by local breweries, bars and the Ontario Craft Brewers Association.
In Toronto, it seems that there are new brewpubs and breweries sprouting up every couple of months now. This evolution of breweries in Toronto means it is exciting times for the local craft beer lover!
A Glass of Spearhead Hawaiian Pale Ale at Smokeless Joe in Toronto
If that isn’t enough, more new breweries, like Sawdust City in Huntsville, are showing up around the province.
The best part about this influx of new breweries is that willing or not, established breweries in Toronto and Ontario are upping their game to meet the demand for new styles and flavourful beers.
Amsterdam Brewery – One Toronto Brewery producing One-Off and Seasonal-Release Beers
Flying Monkeys is a great example of this. Their re-branding quickly launched them to fandom amongst craft beer lovers a few years ago and their Smashbomb Atomic IPA helped fuel the local hop craze. But Black Oak has 10 Bitter Years, Great Lakes has Karma Citra and Amsterdam has Boneshaker IPA. They’re all pumping out special beers at a near constant rate; plus these are just a few examples of local breweries upping their game.
The most promising thing is that a number of these special beers are turning into regular releases at the LCBO, as the awareness of and interest in craft beer has become more mainstream. With enough demand, it seems almost any style of beer has a chance of succeeding in Ontario, and specifically, Toronto these days.
All in all, it is going to be a great summer for beer lovers in Ontario. If you want to know more about some of the newest local beers and breweries, check out the links above and enjoy Ontario Craft Beer Week!
Delirium Tremens, a tasty beer from Belgium that gave me my first taste of what it may have been like during prohibition.
You see, here in Ontario, Canada we can’t go to the local corner store or grocery store to pick up some wine or beer. We can only buy direct from shops controlled by the wineries or breweries themselves, or via the LCBO – the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
Bottles of Delirium Tremens and Delirium Nocturnum, from Belgium
I don’t really have a problem with that. Our selection is pretty good, albeit tightly controlled. But, this control has led to many brewers refusing to export their beers to us – too much paperwork, too costly to have bilingual labels or new packaging, not worth their time.
About Delirium Tremens
This is a potent, yet tasty Belgian strong ale. It’s spicy, sweet and yeasty with a bit of banana and fruits to it. One of my all-time favourite brews if you get it crisp and fresh.
About Delirium Nocturnum
This darker counterpart to Tremens has a caramel, sugar and fig taste to it. Quite different but equally tasty. A real shame that people who appreciate good beers can’t buy bottles of either of these in Ontario.
What does Prohibition have to do with Delirium?
These are both great beers, which should be available to anyone who appreciates the complexities of Belgian ales. Which brings me to the point of this post…many years ago, Delirium Tremens was banned from sale by the LCBO.
It had been approved for sale but shortly after someone complained about the name of the beer. Apparently the name ‘Delirium’ was going to make people want to get drunk. Perhaps the pink elephants and crocodiles on the bottles didn’t help either.
Do these beers make you Delirious?
Despite it being banned and pulled off the shelves, I found a way to get my hands on some…this is how my prohibition-like experience went down:
– After learning the beer had been pulled from sale, I was disappointed I hadn’t gone out sooner to grab some, as it is an award-winning, top-ranked beer.
– I learned from some secret contacts that the LCBO was stashing all the remaining bottles in a back room near their Lake shore warehouse.
– Venturing to this special location, I got myself to the beer area and quietly (so as not to arise suspicion) asked the worker for 6 bottles of Delirium.
– Playing coy, or not part of the secret society, he said he had no idea what I was talking about. Hmm.
– I asked again, for some Delirium Tremens, and suggested he go check the back room for me. He returned a few minutes later, empty handed. Hmm.
– He takes me over to the Special Services desk, and advises one of his superiors that I have asked for something that doesn’t exist.
– This new worker asks what I seek and flips through the pages of some secret ledger, eventually declaring that it does not exist and I can look for myself.
– Leafing through this booklet of all products for sale I find no mention of Delirium Tremens. Seems that the LCBO was smarter than Al Capone.
– Then a svelt young lady walks by, she seems to be the boss of the boss. She has obviously been watching me the whole time as she is part of the secret society.
– “You want some Delirium?”, she asks me. “Yes, 6 bottles”, I say.
– She calls a new guy over, Jimmy, and sends him to the mysterious back room again, he returns with my 6 deliriously good-looking bottles of beer.
– The sub-boss comments that it’s not even in the book. Svelt lady says “I know. But if they ask for it by name, they can have it.”
Moments later I have my bottles secured and am on my way home with some banned beers. Did I proceed to get drunk on these crazy, dangerous beers? No, of course not – I savoured them and saved them to enjoy over the coming months.
You can find Delirium Tremens on tap at many bars around Toronto and Ontario now, but still not in bottles at the LCBO – I had to buy my recent bottles in the US. The importer is pushing for it to get listed again, but chances look slim.
Hop Juice, a Double IPA from Left Coast Brewing Company
Big on citrus and hops aroma, this is a classic West Coast IPA, but doubled up on intensity.
Clocking in slightly under 10% ABV, this big bottle was a hefty hopper, but quite enjoyable from start to finish.
Nothing made it stand out as unique – aroma, taste and look were all quite common. Slightly murky, light orange in appearance it had a very clingy head when poured. Even after sitting for a long time, the head still hung around.
The amount of pine and bitterness in this beer matches well with the powerful aroma, so you know before your first sip that this is going to be a solid beer.
As the hopping frog on the bottle indicates, it is intensely hoppy, having been dry-hopped for two weeks. In total five kinds of hops help create this artwork of beer that is a great example of what the double IPA style had traditionally tasted like.
Ask me which country makes the best beer in the world and I have to say Belgium. The tripel beer is just one of many great styles that originate from that small, beer-loving nation.
So, what is a tripel beer, you ask?
Tripels originate from Belgium and are very strong beers, typically around 8-12%. Despite their high alcohol, a well crafted tripel/triple beer hides it well. They’re generally a light-medium yellow or golden colour with a dense and creamy head.
Belgian Tripels: Some of the Best Beers in the World
Tripel beers tend to be brewed with extra malt and are known to be very aromatic beers. They have a complex aroma and flavour profile ranging from sweet yeast to spicy fruits to bitter hops, but generally always finish dry.
This list of tripel beers includes nine superb tripels, many of which are ranked among the best in the world. Starting off the list at #10 is what I’d call a mediocre Belgian tripel, just to prove the point that not every beer made in Belgium is world-class.
#10 – Ename Tripel from Brouwerij Roman in Oudenaarde, Belgium
Ename Tripel from Oudenaarde, Belgium
A tripel I had never heard of before. It pours with a white head that fades away fairly quickly but retains a lacy stickiness.
Smell is classic spicy and bitter yeast. Quite light in colour – typical for a tripel.
Taste is nice, there are spices and a bit of fruits mixing together, but nothing overly discernible. As a Tripel from Belgium it has all the right characteristics, but is somewhat dull without a unique or stand out aroma or taste.
It’s average for the style. Don’t get me wrong I fully enjoyed it, it just isn’t a show stopper.
Still far better than flavourless macro beers, perhaps a decent transition beer for someone getting into different beer styles.
#9 – Scaldis Triple Blonde Ale from Dubuisson in Pipaix, Belgium
Scaldis Triple Blonde Ale from Pipaix, Belgium
Light, hazy yellow in colour it looks like a typical tripel, but wow this one packs a wallop of fruity aroma!
It’s a bit floral but big on fruit, smelling of sour grapefruits, lemons and bananas. It’s perhaps the most powerful aroma I’ve experienced with a Belgian tripel beer.
The head is lasting and clingy and once you try this big smelling beer you get a sourness of citrus and a blast of breadiness with some sweet, lingering pomegranate-like flavour. The yeast starts to show up after the bitterness, soaking through your taste buds and creating a nice, different twist on the usual bitter-sweet balance of tripel beers.
I really enjoyed this beer for being different than others in it’s style, but overall there was some underlying bitterness to it that just didn’t suit my personal preferences. Very well done and I’d be happy to drink again, but it won’t be the first (or second) Belgian tripel I’d choose.
#8 – St. Feuillien Triple from Brasserie St-Feuillien / Friart in Le Roeulx, Belgium
St. Feuillien Triple from Le Roeulx, Belgium
An insanely sendimental beer. Sendimental? Yes, as in the amount of yeast sediment in this big bottle was more than any other tripel I’ve seen. I’m usually one to swirl and pour in the sediment, but in this case it was too much so I kept it in the bottle.
A medium yellow colour on this tripel, it has a very long-lasting head with a pleasing, strong spicy aroma of coriander, with some citrus undertones.
Taste wise it had a rough edge on it, with an almost extreme upfront bitterness. That zesty, peppery kick mellowed out with some more bread and yeasty flavours afterwards.
Definitely a complex collection of smells and tastes with this well done tripel, just a bit too harsh to be my favourite. Will have to try it again with more ageing.
#7 – Dulle Teve (Mad Bitch) Tripel from De Dolle Brouwers in Diksmuide, Belgium
Dulle Teve 10º (Mad Bitch) Tripel from Diksmuide, Belgium
More orange brown in colour than the typical tripel yellow orange colouration, this is a very cloudy beer, courtesy of the yeasty sediment poured out from the bottle.
An off white head didn’t last long and this beer had the most acidic aroma of the tripels on this list.
Letting it settle and warm…this tastes more bready and lemony than the Scaldis. Lots of yeast and mixed spices too, a complex and cloudy beer.
Also the booziest tasting tripel on this entire list, so definitely a slow sipper of a beer. I wouldn’t recommend this as an introductory beer to the tripel style.
#6 – Affligem Tripel from Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt in Opwijk, Belgium
Affligem Tripel from Opwijk, Belgium
A beautiful golden sunset colour of a beer, it really is amazing the variety of colouring and aromas that even this one style of beer has.
Definitely not the spiciest triple beer from Belgium, Affligem pours with a small head that maintains a thin layer until you’re done drinking.
There is a spicy aroma, mixed with some sweetness, like banana, but it is very light. One of the least aromatic tripels I’ve sampled, quite surprising how little aroma there was actually. With some effort, you can pick up a peppery note to this Belgian tripel on both aroma and taste.
Taste is quite grainy before changing to a malt sweetness. Not a ton of yeast in this one, which has a lingering sweetness before a dry finish.
Extremely smooth for a tripel. Nothing stands out in particular, for good or bad, a fine example of a Belgian tripel beer.
#5 – St. Bernardus Tripel from St. Bernard Brouwerij in Watou, Belgium
St. Bernardus Tripel from Watou, Belgium
A murky orange haze as you pour this beer. The colour is a bit darker than your typical tripel and the amount of head is less than expected.
Any head that forms from this St. Bernardus tripel is quickly dissipated as it is surprisingly carbonated.
An almost fruity wheat beer aroma comes off of this, with a bit of oranges and coriander. Although taste is very much yeast and a fine balance between sweet and sour spices.
Very aromatic and gives a great lingering flavour, slightly tangy. An enjoyable tripel full of complexity that offers a different aroma than other tripels.
A frothy white, clingy head tops off this beer once poured. The Chimay tripel is yellow-orange in colour, appearing nicely translucent with subtle carbonation.
This Chimay smells fresh and yeasty, a very refreshing aroma.
There is a ginger and bubbly spice taste that balances well with the Belgian malt and yeast.
A great tripel that remains mostly subdued on flavour, but asserts itself enough to let you know you’re drinking a quality strong Belgian beer.
The drink-ability of this beer is scary, high marks all around.
#3 – Gouden Carolus Tripel from Brouwerij Het Anker in Mechelen, Belgium
Gouden Carolus Tripel from Mechelen, Belgium
First time I’ve tried this beer (ignoring some hazy nights from Belgium).
Very classic tripel aroma, extreme flowery, herbal, fresh apricots smell that helps hide the alcohol.
Big white head poured into a glass of mostly clear yellow beer. Only slightly opaque, this tripel isn’t as cloudy as some others.
The head is extremely clingy, still sticky when the beer is nearly done 30 minutes later.
Tastes very smooth for a tripel, there is some resiny and sour taste in the dry finish, but sweet upfront. Overall a bit spicy….without the strong yeast profile that some tripels can have. Great smell, great taste, one of my top tripels now.
#2 – Westmalle Tripel from Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle in Malle, Belgium
Westmalle Tripel from Malle, Belgium
The first Belgian tripel that I ever had at home, more than a decade ago. It is also the first tripel I enjoyed when I was in Belgium.
It remains a thoroughly enjoyable beer either young, or with a few years of aging. A bit of a sentimental favourite you could say, it has a great golden haze to it, just translucent enough to appreciate the slight carbonation.
The pour creates a soapy, thick white head that never seems to fade away. The beer pops with banana and yeast aromas, accompanied by some hidden spiciness.
A flavourful, floral beer of medium sweetness, Westmalle fades to a yeasty finish with some lingering bitterness. Great mix of flavours to match the aroma.
#1 – Tripel Karmeliet from Brouwerij Bosteels in Buggenhout, Belgium
Tripel Karmeliet from Buggenhout, Belgium
This is an explosive beer. Never having had a big corked bottle of Karmeliet before I didn’t quite expect so much action.
Upon opening, the bottle foamed up, spilling everywhere, filling an entire glass with head. A very lively beer!
After a few minutes to settle and a top up, it was time to enjoy. This was light in colour, similar to Chimay, but with a more intense spicy and citrus aroma perhaps cloves, maybe lemon zest, very complex.
Taste is big spice and coriander, bordering on a sour edge at times, very nice. The alcohol is present, but very well hidden on this easy drinking tripel.
Limiting this list to 10 was difficult, as I had to leave out some Belgian tripels that I thoroughly enjoy, such as Floreffe. Additionally, there are many Canadian and US brewers who produce solid tripel-style beers, such as La Fin du Monde from Unibroue. Perhaps I’ll share a non-Belgian tripels list one day in the future.
Christmas season is one of my favourite times of the year as a beer lover. Many breweries produce special seasonal winter beers and export gift packs of their regular beers that may not normally be available.
To celebrate the season I’ve cracked open my Maredsous 3-pack of beers, brewed in Belgium by Duvel Moortgat (yes, the same brewery that makes Duvel.)
The Maredsous 6, Maredsous 8 and Maredsous 10 in all their Glory
As a collector of beer glassware, I enjoy that the people at Duvel Moortgat have varied the glassware included with their holiday gift pack over the years. Fittingly I now have three different Maredsous glasses to match with the three different beers we can get here during Christmas time.
So Merry ‘Maredsous-mas’ – I hope you have enjoyed some great beers over the holiday season this year!
Maredsous 6 ‘Blonde’
Appetizer time. This is a Belgian Ale style beer of light orange colour, the lightest of these three. It poured with more carbonation than I expected, with a constant amount of bubbles helping to create a fluffy, white head.
Very Belgian aroma of yeast, orange and sweet citrus smells. A very welcoming aroma that is complemented nicely by the taste. It wasn’t anything overly complex, but simply balanced. Taste was somewhat sweet and fresh with a possible pineapple twist. A great beer by most standards, but only slightly above average by Belgian ale standards.
Maredsous 8 ‘Brune’
This is an Abbey Dubbel beer and if the Maredsous 6 was the appetizer this is the main course.
It is typically darkish, pouring deep brown in colour and with very little carbonation, this was the flattest of the three Maredsous beers. An off-white head lies atop this one, buoyed by big bubbles. It is a bold beer of varying smells and flavours.
Mostly caramel and somewhat figgy on smell, the taste is nutty with a more subdued caramel. That sweetness then blends into a spicy, smooth, fig-raisin flavour transition. Very nice and enjoyable from start to finish. This is the kind of beer that makes you appreciate the term that beer is a ‘meal in a glass’. If you ate all of the smells and flavours of this beer, you’d be gorging yourself on a buffet meal.
Maredsous 10 ‘Tripel’
Weighing in at 10% alcohol, this Abbey Tripel is a great way to finish off the trio. Dessert time I suppose, as this beer is best savoured slowly.
In terms of looks this falls in the middle, with a deep golden honey colour. It is a lively beer though, pouring with a big, dense head that lasts longer than the dubbel or blonde.
Classically Belgian on aroma, it surprises on taste. The aroma is big yeast and a wet battle of sweetness vs. bitterness. The alcohol comes into play here somewhat, not allowing the smells to break through as much as the dubbel.
Taste is a slightly bitter citrus if such thing can exist. It has a zip to it that is tangy, but not sour or sweet. Likely the alcohol is balancing out the sugary sweetness, or perhaps my taste buds are zoning out near the end of this session! Well done beer. I always enjoy Belgians that drink well without being obviously sweet or bitter. They have a unique way of finding balance between the two ends of the spectrum and this beer does it well.
The final verdict on Maredsous was that I enjoyed the dubbel most, closely followed by the tripel.
