I know, I promised to get this posted a while ago. But life intrudes, ya know?
While in the Vancouver/ Whistler area a little over a week ago, I had a chance to try several beers and wines that are worth sharing and recommending.
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| Just not this. Never this. |
I'm going to start off with an apology for the photography. Using an iPod with the horrible light in a hotel room is never a good mix for quality pictures.
As a start on beverages, I'll start with a nice wine.
Prospect Winery 'Rock Wren' 2010 Pinot Noir.
A very nice Pinot. Medium body, slight earthiness, forward fruits, and just the right amount of acid. It was a really good pinot, and I would buy this if they carried it locally.
Sticking with wine, this was another good find:
Quail's Gate 2009 Cabernet
Sauvignon. A big cab with dark fruit flavors, and a hint of vanilla and wood. This would be excellent paired up against a steak or venison.
Now, on to beer.
When ordering beer with some of the locals at restaurants or at events, a lot of them were drinking something that I pronounced as '
Cocaine', and was quickly corrected should be 'Co-ka-nee'
This was one of those 'cognative dissonance' moments. Working with and being friends with Canadians, I have always had the good natured ribbing about American beers being watery weak stuff. This beer was indistinguishable from Coors Light. Weak, watery, and is probably in every Canadian college student's dorm fridge.
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum:
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| Ahhhh... flavor |
Propeller Revolution Russian Imperial Stout. Very forward roasted malt and caramel flavors, with a nice hops bite and a clean finish with a hint of nuttiness. Very nice and drinkable. Another one that I wish I could get locally.
And sticking with the Dark Side:
Russel Brewing Rick August Russian Imperial Stout. This was really, really good. Poured a dark black with a thin lacey head, and has a strong molasses and rum scent. The scent carried into the taste with forward flavors of rum, molasses, cocoa, and licorice. Undertones of coffee, hops and a sweet finish. This would be a great afterdinner drink by a fire. I wish I had brought back a case of this beer.
If you are in the area, I hope this helps with some good beverage selections from some guy in central Texas.
I was VERY disappointed with Kokanee the last time I went up north. I seem to recall the beers of my Home And Native Land being better than that swill.
ReplyDeleteI, of course, blame it on the influx of Bud, Coors, et al in the last 20 years. :)
Molson Golden is worth it a taste if you want to stick with beers you can see through yet still have some roots in the Great White North
Molson Golden will always have a soft place in my heart. When I was 18 and visiting Canada my mom let me have a bottle. It was my first (legal) beer and the first beer that I actually liked. I still enjoy that beer!
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