Beers of the Week – Mill Street Sampler Six-Pack

Once or twice a year, I try and tag along with some friends who make regular beer runs down to Buffalo to stock up on stuff that isn't available in Ontario. Hitting spots like Premier Gourmet and Consumer's Beverages, we fill the trunk with an assortment of US craft beers and imports, chosen from a selection that dwarfs what the LCBO and Beer Store have to offer in both quality and quantity.

While we might grab a six-pack of a particular favourite, the aim of these jaunts is usually to buy and try as many different beers as possible, so one thing that we usually keep an eye out for are the mixed sampler packs that are available from a good number of US breweries. While the beers might not all be hits, these packs are still a great way to taste a variety of beers, and to get a better idea of what a brewery has to offer beyond their one or two most popular products.

Whether for financial reasons or the red tape involved in getting LCBO approval, very few Ontario breweries have offered similar packages. In fact, none come to mind aside from the "party packs" available from the large breweries. However, the success of the Ontario Craft Brewers Discovery Pack has shown that Ontario's beer drinkers are interested in getting some variety in their purchases, and it looks like at least one local brewery has taken heed of this, as Mill Street is launching their own sampler pack at the LCBO this week.

Cutely dubbed a "Mini Brewpub Sampler", the stylishly designed six-pack includes one of each of Mill Street's five regular bottled beers - Tankhouse Ale, Organic Lager, Stock Ale, Belgian Wit and Coffee Porter - along with a bottle of their Pilsner, a beer normally available only at the brewpub in the Distillery District. While some of them have become ubiquitous at bars and restaurants around town, it's likely that all but the most loyal Mill Street fans will be unfamiliar with at least of couple of these beers, so the pack offers a good opportunity to taste a variety of the brewery's wares, and a few different beer styles as well.

Those planning to taste their way through the sixer in a single session will probably want to start with the Organic Lager and Stock Ale. Both are light golden brews with simple, well-balanced flavours that will appeal to even novice beer drinkers. The Lager is the crisper of the two, with a subtle hop bitterness in the finish, while the Stock Ale has a slightly sweeter flavour and a creamier body.

From there, the Pilsner and Wit are a good pair to move on to. The Pilsner is a very solid example of the European classic, with a bright golden colour, snow white head, and a good balance of sweet malt and herbal, grassy hops in the aroma and flavour. The Wit is similarly true to style, with a pale and cloudy appearance, and flavours of coriander and citrus. Both are excellent refreshers as the weather gets warmer.

Tankhouse Ale probably needs little introduction, as it seems like every second bar in Toronto has it on tap nowadays, but I'm certainly not complaining as it's consistently one of the best local beers being brewed in the area. Pouring a dark copper-amber colour, this is a very aromatic and flavourful beer, combining notes of cocoa and toasted grain from the roasted malts with the zing of citrus and spice from the Cascade hops that are used in abundance. This is not a beer for everyone, but for those of us who like it, it's become a standby at some of our favourite watering holes.

Finally, we come to the rich and roasty Coffee Porter, a beer that intimidates many with its almost-black body and robust flavour profile. The inclusion of coffee in the recipe also strikes some as strange, but the rich flavour of the java is actually a perfect match for the dark roasted malt, combining to create a complex flavour that is both pleasantly sweet and mildly bitter. While dark beers are often viewed as being more suited for the colder weather, this beer is a surprisingly excellent match for grilled meat, making it a fine beverage for summer BBQs.

One more thought in closing: When it comes to beer, brand loyalty is bullshit. Buying case after case of the same beer is sad and boring. Most people wouldn't eat the exact same food for every meal, so why drink the same beer? It may be a cliché, but variety really is the spice of life. And when it comes to exploring variety in beer, the various Mill Street brews are a fine place to start.