Roi des Oies: Holiday Dinner Pary

The Saturday between Christmas and New Years, Jean and I hosted a holiday supper with some friends. We were in charge of the bird and we wanted to try something different, so inspired by a traditional English holiday meal we made a goose. It was our first time trying goose let alone making it; we first set off to make a beer braised goose but settled with a citrus, all-spice, and honey goose recipe from English chef Gordon Ramsay.

Specialty Beer Shops: Bières Etc. Second Anniversary/ Christmas Special

Looking for a gift for the beer lover in your life, dig your car out from under the snow bank and get to Bières etc. they have a great selection of Quebec Microbrews along with beer glasses and artisanal food products that will make any beer lover happy on Christmas day. 

Specialty Beer Shops: Depanneur Simon Anthony (Le Paradis de la Biere)

On a cold Saturday morning in November, Adri and I woke up with the intention of visiting a specialty beer store. We bring you "Le Paradis de la Biere", Depanneur Simon Anthony. This quaint depanneur is located on Beaubien corner Lanaudiere, across the street from Poutine Ville. This was our first time walking into "Le Paradis de la Biere" and it was quite an intense experience. When I first walked through the doors I said to myself that this was a pretty decent setup, a lot of bottles, nice tall shelving units, narrow, but long rows. But, I did not see any refrigerating units, I thought that was strange. They could not possibly call themselves "Le Paradis de la Biere" without an awesome selection. Then Adri popped out of a hole in the wall and said, "Hey, there is another room back here". So, I walked into the other room, smaller than the other, but loaded with fridges, and a wonderful row built upon overstock cases of Le Castor and Unibrou, amongst others. 

Vienna: BrewPubs

A surprise stop in our European beer tour. 

We arrived in Vienna not expecting much from their beer scene, we were so focused on our two main beer destinations, Munich and Prague, that Vienna kind of fell to the way side. The information online is sort of lacking, but nonetheless we found some good places to enjoy a pint. Our favorite beer site ratebeer.com always has helpful info on where to find a good beer when in a foreign land. During the day we enjoyed Vienna's famous UNESCO Heritage Viennoiseries but we made time for a  couple stop offs at local brewpubs in the evening.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour!

 

You may have never heard of the town of Pilsen in the Czech Republic, but I know for sure that you are familiar with their famous export: Pilsner Urquell. They have been brewing beer here since 1842 and they are the original pale lager.  The popularity of this crystal clear beer led to the towns name being co-opted as a style moniker, Pilsner. Today, most big commercial beer brands base their recipe on the original Pilsner, but please do not compare the two.

Specialty Beer Shops: Tabagie Ranger

Tabagie Ranger is one of those unexpected gems. The exterior facade screams Molson, but when you step foot inside you are treated to a sizable assortment of Quebec microbrews. It was here that I bought my first microbrew six pack, "L'Accomodante" by Dunham, and my first big beer -- Big Ten not included --, "Porter Baltique" by Les Trois Mousquetaires. I cannot quiet remember when I started to frequent Tabagie Ranger, but I first noticed it when we started to hang out on Beaubien St. near Molson Park and the sign in the window, "Spécialité, Microbrasserie, Bieres du Quebec" sparked my curiosity. 

Prague: Bars!!

 

What is there to say about Prague? Before our trip we knew that it was one of the most well preserved and beautiful medieval cities in Europe, it had a pretty good night scene, and that the Czech are the biggest beer drinkers in the world. Now we didn't go to Prague to try their everyday beer, which in itself is very good, but we went there in search of the very best they have to offer. I found this awesome site, Beer Connoisseur that is full of the best spots to get a "pivo", Czech for beer. This site is so informative that I should just stop writing now...but I'm just too excited to share my own experience with you all! 

Munich: Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall

The day after our Oktoberfest experience we spent the rainy afternoon wandering around the central parts of Munich. We landed upon the famous Hofbrauhaus, but seeing as we had spent the day before downing their wonderful litres of beer we just sneaked inside to check out the interior and the "Vominator" (if you guessed a vessel made for patrons who have overindulged, you guessed Right!).

Specialty Beer Shops: Depanneur Lalime

Following our visit to Depanneur A.S. we walked along St-Laurent boulevard, under the overpass separating the Plateau from Rosemont - Petit-Patrie, and towards the shiny, metallic sign indicating Depanneur Lalime. They have been around for a while, though very recently they updated the facade of the building (yelp has an old photo with which you can contrast the new and old facade) and added signs announcing that they now carry microbrews - our reason for the visit. As we entered we were surprised that they not only carried beer and other related products, they also carry canned goods, and have a kitchen where they make pies (meat mostly).

Munich: Lowenbrau Beer Hall

Our second night in Munich we headed to Lowenbrau after a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, an amazing work of architecture and a great day trip from Munich. But if you are thinking about going just consider the two hour train, plus short bus ride, because it will eat up most of your day. The small town, where the castle is located is called Hohenschwangau, and has the most beautiful Alpine lake I have ever seen (this being the first one I had ever seen). We would have liked to stay a while in the town of Füssen where the train station is situated, maybe find a beer garden, but seeing as we had to catch the last train to Munich we had to make a run for it!

Specialty Beer Shops: Depanneur A.S.

On a beautiful Saturday morning we took a nice walk on St-Laurent street around the Mile-End neighbourhood of Montreal. Our first destination was Dépanneur A.S. a corner store which we would often pass by after some late night bagels at Fairmount, but never really found ourselves around the area during the daytime. We were always intrigued by the very nice and well displayed artisanal beer signage. That Saturday we finally had a chance to stop in and get a good look at what Depanneur A.S. is all about.  

Munich: Augustiner Beer Hall

When we arrived at the Augustiner Beer Hall we were disappointed to see the place packed with no place to sit. But, we suppose that that was to be expected only a couple short days away from the beginning of Oktoberfest. After doing the rounds a couple of times desperately looking for a spot we finally nestled up next to some travelers from Australia. They had been travelling around Europe for 6 months and on a whim made their way to Munich for the festival.

Brew Day: Vanilla Wulfgang Stout!!

Welcome to another awesome Brew Day adventure. A friend of mine commissioned us to make him a vanilla stout. Of course, we could not refuse. We developed a recipe based on a few criteria: vanilla, stout... voila. Well, he wanted the stout to be sweet and have the aroma/flavour of vanilla. So we did have a couple of factors to figure out i.e. how thick to make the mash, and mash temperature. Let us not forget the ingredients, hopping schedule, vanilla additions, primary, secondary, bottling, and most importantly the tasting. It is a little bit past one month since the day this brew was conceived, we definitely do not expect it to last much longer... it is a wonderful beer! The beer was named after my friend, who became my brewing partner for this collaborative brew. 

Munich Beer Gardens

Arriving in Munich from Vienna at 3 p.m. we quickly settled into our hotel room and headed straight to the Englischer Garten (English Gardens) to catch some beer drinking in the park before the sunset. I had first heard about beer gardens from Jean who had been during his first trip to Germany with high school. It seemed that people from my parent's generation all seemed to be familiar with the term, apparently they used to be popular in Montreal in the 70's. Though in Montreal today we have some good choices for enjoying a beer outdoors like the St-Ambroise Terrace situated behind their brewery along the picturesque Lachine Canal and the huge terrace behind St-Sulpice on St-Denis - just don't go there if you are expecting great beer.

Specialty Beer Shops: Le Bièrologue

The next stop on our beer journey is Le Bièrologue, located a couple blocks north-east of Bières Etc. on the corner of Ontario street and avenue Letourneux. And, a short walk from Marché Maisonneuve - an historical public space and symbol of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Le Bièrologue opened their doors in 2012; further evidence of the growing popularity of Quebecois artisanal beer. Though, we do not think any more evidence is required...Both of these beer shops are located in the eastern section of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. That is enough for the geography lesson, onward to the shop itself.

Specialty Beer Shops: Bières etc.

On a Saturday morning we decided to explore the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve area, in the eastern part of Montreal where we found a great neighbourhood beer store, situated near the corner of Saint Catherine street and Avenue Desjardins. The shop is called Bières etc. the name says it all. This specialty beer store is owned and operated by Mme. Brigitte Couture, who opened up shop "en 2011 pour faire la promotion de bières québécoises auprès des résidents d’Hochelaga-Maisonneuve"....That would be us! That morning we got to meet her and talk beer!

Brew Day: Belgian Golden Ale with a Twist!!

We just cannot get enough beer over here so we just keep making more and more and more.... We would like to welcome you all back for another brew day. On this day we will be brewing a Belgian Golden Ale with Chamomile and Juniper berries. Here we go!

OKTOBERFEST!!!!!!!

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit.
- See more at: http://www.oktoberfest-songs.com/ein-prosit-lyrics.html#sthash.IS2Y9qNq.dpuf

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit.
- See more at: http://www.oktoberfest-songs.com/ein-prosit-lyrics.html#sthash.IS2Y9qNq.dpuf

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit.
- See more at: http://www.oktoberfest-songs.com/ein-prosit-lyrics.html#sthash.IS2Y9qNq.dpuf

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit.
- See more at: http://www.oktoberfest-songs.com/ein-prosit-lyrics.html#sthash.IS2Y9qNq.dpu

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit.
- See more at: http://www.oktoberfest-songs.com/ein-prosit-lyrics.html#sthash.IS2Y9qNq.dpuf

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit.
- See more at: http://www.oktoberfest-songs.com/ein-prosit-lyrics.html#sthash.IS2Y9qNq.dpuf

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
der Gemütlichkeit

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
der Gemütlichkeit!

The end of September will forever bring back nostalgic memories from our time in Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest 2012. Our trip comprised of two and a half weeks visiting Budapest, Vienna, Munich, and Prague, with Oktoberfest being the main highlight. For anyone who loves beer this is the beer festival of all beer festivals, although not showcasing a great variety of beer but rather highlighting the pride that Bavarians have for their golden beverage - perfected over centuries.Truly a work of art.

Beer Festivals: Oktoberfest des Québécois 2013 edition

Another weekend pilgrimage to the outskirt's of Montreal to taste Quebec's finest craft beer. The Oktoberfest des Québécois held in Repentigny every year to pay homage to the mother of all beer festivals, Munich's own Oktoberfest. 

Beer Festivals: 12e édition Bières et Saveurs de Chambly

Off to Brouhaha on a sunny Sunday afternoon to hop on the Broue-Bus for a good ol' fashion yellow bus ride to the Bières et Saveurs de Chambly, a beer festival held to celebrate the best of Quebec micro brews. There were 33 craft beer tents, meat on a stick, and lots of fried good stuff. Most of the brewers have done a beer festival or two but there were some welcomed newcomers like Jukebox, brewed right here in Montreal.

Brew Day: Dark Wheat IPA with Anise & Lavender!!

A dark wheat IPA with anise and lavender, who would have thought....to be honest we do not know where this idea came from. Well, that is only half true. The choice of herbs was inspired by one of our walks through the Jean-Talon market, however the beer style i.e. dark wheat IPA was quite random. This beer was our second batch of the summer. Summer brewing can be difficult, given that the cellar is warmer than it should be, and water temperature from the faucets is higher than we want it to be, all of which leads to higher fermentation temperatures. That is not to say that there are no solutions out there, there are, but at this point we had yet to implement any. On this particular day we decided to brew outdoors, it was a beautiful day for brewing. Now let the brewing begin!

HomeBrew Shop: La Chope à Barrock

Today we bring you deeper into the world of homebrewing by introducing you to our favourite homebrew shop, La Chope à Barrock. We have been homebrewing for almost three years now, and it is thanks to Stephane Laroch - proprietor of  La Chope à Barrock - for his guidance that we made it this far.

Specialty Beer Shops: Le Marché des Saveurs du Québec

Our next destination in the Specialty Beer Shops tour is Le Marché des Saveurs du Québec, situated within the Jean-Talon market only a few steps away from La Grange du Marché. As the name suggests, their focus is on all things Quebec and artisanal. They offer various products from oils, ice creams, cheeses, jams, honeys, to cream liquors, wines, and beers. There craft beer selection is in no way vast, but it is carefully selected, and they have the added benefit of having opened their doors in 2000. Thirteen years of customer loyalty and distributor loyalty, as Microbrasserie de l'Île d’Orléans' products are only available at this location within the Jean-Talon market, gives them an edge.

Specialty Beer Shops: La Grange du Marché

Over the past three to four years there has been significant growth in the MicroBrew scene. Both, in terms of small breweries and brewpubs, but more specifically in regard to the amount of specialty shops dealing exclusively in the sale of microbrews. In this article we will discuss one in particular: La Grange du Marché, situated within the Jean-Talon market. La Grange du Marché is going on there one year anniversary as of this September.

Henlopen City Oyster House!

Rehoboth Beach Trip: Part 3 

 

This photo of Henlopen City Oyster House is courtesy of TripAdvisor

We found Henlopen City Oyster House while doing a little pre-voyage research on Tripadvisor, it was ranked #2 best restaurant in Rehoboth and the word "oyster" in the name convinced us we had to go. We knew we were in for some good oysters and other seafood but we didn't expect to find a carefully selected list of locally brewed beers and excellent imported bottles; most notably a local favorite here in Montreal, Dieu du Ciel. It seems that Delawareans take a lot of pride in the craftbeer that is being produced right in their backyards, seeing as Dogfish Head helped to put them on the North American beer map. 

EPF!: Secondary and Bottling

Secondary carboy with dry hopped EPF!, you can see the dissolved Helga hop residue around the upper part of the carboy.

Hi Home Brew Fans!

We are back and ready to tell you all about our secondary and bottling experience. The transfer of beer into a secondary carboy is pretty straightforward but nonetheless a crucial step in adding tones of character to the beer. Secondary is done to get the beer off the yeast bed, for various reasons, as well as to add the hops -- a process that is called dry hopping. As I mentioned in the last post we dry hopped with Helga pellets (50g). The pellets are much more economical but like everything else in life they don't compare to the non-processed stuff i.e. whole leaf hops.

Dogfish Head Brewery Tour!!

The day after we arrived in Delaware we had reservations for a tour of the Dogfish Head brewery in Milton, about a 30 minute drive from Rehoboth. We could not be more excited for this tour. Firstly, we have the chance to visit one of the most iconic breweries. Secondly, Dogfish Head!!!! 

Brew Day: EPF!

Brew day, a very charged afternoon of sterilizing, boiling, cooling, and cleaning. It had been a little while since our last brew day, in fact, since February. We started off a little rusty and we had some cob webs to shake off the equipment. We always seem to forget the steps after a couple months of not brewing, only normal though. On this brew day we are going to brew an American Pale Ale, dry hopped in secondary with helga - for more info check out Hops.com.au. This will be an all grain batch, only our fifth to date. Let us begin!

There is no distance I wouldn't go for beer.

Last week we ventured down south to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to visit one of my favorite and most respected microbreweries (craft breweries as they are referred to in the States) Dogfish Head.

If you are already into microbrews then I don’t need to further elaborate but for those of you who may be new to the world of beer check out their website link above.They not only make some of the most creative beers out there but their corporate culture is way ahead of their time.