Given the nature of this weekly column, it's probably obvious that I'm not the type of beer drinker who sticks with a single favourite brand. I usually have a bottle each of a dozen or so different beers in the fridge at any given time, and another box or two of others stashed in the closet. Even when I go out, I rarely have the same beer twice in a night, unless I'm at a pub where there's only one beer that I like on tap.
As a result, I often find myself giving short shrift to some beers that I really enjoy, but generally pass up in favour of grabbing something new. This is especially true of local beers that I tend to take for granted, figuring that they'll always be available, while this new seasonal release or import may only be around for a limited time.
I was recently reminded of this bad habit of mine while listening to the first episode of Bar Towel Radio, a new podcast produced and hosted by Cass Enright, owner of the local beer website The Bar Towel. The episode featured an interview with Ken Woods of Oakville's Black Oak Brewery, who mentioned that their Black Oak Pale Ale would be featured in a special Ontario Craft Brewers promotion at the LCBO this summer, and this made me realize that it had been months since I'd had one.
Well, that's not completely true, as I've had several pints of the "Hop Bomb" version that is sometimes available on cask around town. But it's been quite a while since I'd enjoyed the original version. So I hit my local Beer Store - a rare occurrence in itself, as I hate having to order my beer from a big board and have it delivered from the back room like some fast food restaurant - and picked up a sixer of the Pale Ale. The first bottle went down quickly with dinner after my warm walk home, and the second is being sipped more slowly as I type.
As the photo demonstrates, it has a beautiful golden hue with a good sized white head that leaves a fair bit of lacing on the glass as it recedes. The aroma is fresh and inviting, with a big hop presence, but with sweet malt to balance, and a faint woodiness. The body is a touch thin, but also crisp and lively - quite likely due to the addition of a bit of toasted wheat to the recipe - giving the beer a thirst-quenching edge. And the flavour follows the aroma closely: a good balance of sweet, honeyish malt and citric hops that linger deliciously in the finish.
Quite simply, Black Oak Pale Ale is just a really good beer. It's tasty and refreshing, it pairs well with food, and it's equally enjoyable on its own. It's also a good reminder that there are excellent brews being made in Ontario that deserve just as much attention as the heavily promoted imports and the more popular local beers like Steam Whistle and Mill Street. Those looking to restock the fridge sometime soon should consider grabbing a box of Black Oak Pale Ale, or their Nut Brown, or some other Ontario craft beer that they haven't had in a while, or even one that they've never had all. Some ideas on what to try can be found on the recently relaunched Ontario Craft Brewers website.
Thanks for the reminder to try something different; it's so easy to get set in a rut. We have the pleasure/challenge of living in a small town where craft beer tends to linger on the shelves or in the cold room too long before we buy it, so it's sometimes easier to go with a Steamy that you know is relatively fresh (the last ones we grabbed were stamped April). Thanks also for the tip on the Bar Towel podcast, I'll have to check that out!
Yeah, our retail options in Ontario certainly make it difficult to ensure you're getting beer in top (or even decent) condition.
On one hand, the LCBO puts much of their beer on unrefrigerated shelves under harsh lighting. On the other hand, the Beer Store keeps the beer cold, but stores it in the back room where you have no way of checking the production or "best before" dates (assuming they're even noted on the box/bottles/cans) before you make your purchase.
Then again, a lot of the liquor stores I've visited in the States have had their beer poorly stored and displayed as well, and I've found some seriously stale dated bottles. So I guess it's not just an Ontario thing.
Anyway, I hope you find something new you enjoy, or re-discover and old favourite.