Mikkeller K:rlek Pale Ale

More long distance drinking with Jackie. This time, we both wanted to continue the hoppy beers, so we decided to go with Mikkeller K:rlek Pale Ale.

After Cream Ale, and the unexpected hops in there, I was expecting great things from a beer that was supposed to be hoppy.

It poured out a cloudy IPA orange and smelled very hoppy. That’s where it ended. It tasted flat and bland. The hops that were used were kinda boring. Whatever they used in Cream Ale should have been used here too, just more of them.

Country of Origin:  Denmark
Alcohol Content: 5.5%
Sequence:  Third
Finished:  Yes
Vessel:  Glass by way of bottle

 

Refined Fool Joe Sent Me Milk Stout

Finally, I get to the first beer of 2015. It’s time to make a new Top 10 List.

Unfortunately, this beer will not be on it. It poured out black and heady. It smelled like stout with the smoke and the dark roasted malts, but it tasted way too sweet.

Yes, I know it’s a milk stout and they are supposed to be sweet, but this was VERY sweet. It did mellow out a little when it warmed up, but not enough to save it.

Country of Origin:  Canada
Alcohol Content:  5.2%
Sequence:  Second
Finished:  Yes
Vessel:  Glass by way of bottle

 

Lake of Bays Stitches Lager

Next in the Lake of Bays and NHL Alumni Association lineup is Stitches, named after Gary Cheevers and his famous mask.

Each stitch on there is where a puck hit him in the face. He wore this mask shortly after goalies started wearing masks, which would be unheard of these days. Those crazy old guys.

Stitches is an Oktoberfest beer and it has been in the fridge since about that time, waiting for Mark to come over, since we’ve shared all of the others. We finally got to it late into our Christmas gathering with the wife’s family.

It poured out dark brown and smelled malty, like it should. It tasted a little off. It was malty and sour. Not what you would expect from an Oktoberfest beer.

It really wasn’t that good.

Country of Origin: Canada
Alcohol Content:  8%
Sequence:  Twelfth
Finished:  Yes
Vessel:  Glass by way of bottle

 

Refined Fool Short Pier, Long Walk

Finally, we are getting around to the Refined Fool beers that I picked up at the beginning of November. They have been sitting in the fridge, taunting me for long enough.

I decided that during our Christmas with the wife’s family was a great time to do it. Mark was going to be here for a long time, and we had a lot of beer to get through.

This one is an IPA, so of course I was excited to see what they could do. The last one, Antique Peepshow, was a double that tasted “odd”. This one poured out a light amber colour and was full of spooge. It smelled like a great IPA, with the spice and hop zing that I love so much.

It started off tasting more like an IPA than their other IPA; Peepshow was earthy and grassy, Pier was all IPA-y and great.

Until I got to the bottom third. Then it went kinda flat.

Country of Origin:  Canada
Alcohol Content:  8.4%
Sequence:  First
Finished:  Yes
Vessel:  Glass by way of bottle