15 minutes, Go. In case you were under a rock somewhere, or using Google+ instead of Facebook, you might not have heard that Twa Dogs brewing is now operational. You might also know them as Victoria Caledonian Brewing and Distilling. I am more concerned about the beer, but rumour has it that the first running of the whiskey is quite tasty. Located in an unassuming warehous e off the Pat Bay, the interior is far more appealing than the exterior. Back to the beer, at this moment they have two beers on tap, a saison and a pale ale. The pale is - well pale - but solid and much better than average. I am currently drink the pale now in a rapidly emptying glass, must have a hole in it. The beer score is 6. Why 6? Because I only have 15 minutes, but trust me it is worthy of a glass fill. Saisons are always benchmarked against the exceptional Saison DuPont. Which is both good and bad. Bad is that few beers ever make the grade, but good in that we always drink a Dupont to refresh our palates. I never understand how this excellent beer is under $8. Dean did give me a quote about the beers, but I forgot to write it down. Something about beers are evolving with improvements and recipe refinements being made and if you drink more we will brew more. I should bring a pen and paper to interviews. In this beer reviewers uneducated assessment, this is a very, very solid first run.

DISCLAIMER: The head brewer, Dean McLeod, is a friend of mine according to my criteria. However, this never taints my reviews.

Mistress = 7/10 


The first sniff speaks of peppery yeasts and warm cereal. A hazy sip adds the chewy mouthfeel which oddly lacks effervescence. This highly quaffable mix of spicy hops, lemon pith with muesli glides over the tongue with ease. It's off dry linger fades away cleanly. Is it a Dupont, no. Will you be delighted to see this beer on a draught list, yes. I know I will be.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 6% 0
Value +1
Appearance +1

Glassware: Anything clean and Scottish

Food Pairings: Pan seared sable fish with lemon and tarragon glaze. For the veggies out there, try a fettuccine alfredo with diced shallots and lemon dressing

Cellar: Fresh is best

You know, I've had it up to here, with hybrid styles that add descriptive dashes. Wait.. you can't see the motion I just made with my hand, can you? Oh Bother, this is the reason why I do not work in radio. Nor TV for that matter. Nor do I correct grammar in English 101. There is this trend to add descriptive names to the same dang beer. Just you wait for the "Barrel aged-brett fermented-session strength-imperial-imperial-india-pale-ale-on-lees-dry hopped with Mosiac". That last bit was for you Brewtal Truth. It will take a wrap around label just to get the whole name on. As always, I digress. So why does the Hawaiian Shirt enigma rant about a beer at midnight? There are two reasons: Firstly, to inflate my basement dwelling ego. The second is to validate your own, basement dwelling ego. I had this beer lined up in my sights to rip it apart. Yes, it tastes like every other Phillips IPA. Yes, it is most likely another Phillips beer with a funky yeast added. We know this. But you know, it is not that bad. I can actually hear the blog followers clicking the unsubscribe button. This beer delivers everything we- well not all da we's - want to drink. A drinkable IPA, with hints of something tropical and hints of unique yeast. Enough of the Keepers Stout infused rant - what does the beer prick think of this beer?

Barnstormer Saison IPA (Phillips) = 7/10


As expected the nose starts off with tropical fruits and spicy yeasts, luckily not too phenolic. This bubbly brew delivers a light to medium punch of grains, light pit fruits, pears, apricots and passion fruit. The taste is almost session like until the fusel nail polish alcohols hit the back of your nose. Still, I liked it. Would I buy a second bottle? Ask me in person.



Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 7.2%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (reasonable description of flavours)

Glassware: Pick you fanciest glass and make sure it is clean.

Food Pairings: I suggest something dry, mildly spicy and with a hint of funk. How about seafood pasta with parmigiano shavings? Cheese pairing is either Grana Padano or Reggianito.

Cellar: Nope

It is already April and I have fallen behind in my reviews. Life is rough as Victoria's premier beer blogger. I might also mention only, beer blogger. This makes the premier part easy to claim

Andrew was busy for Victoria Beer Week, which was a great time. He released two beers: the Master Blaster Brett Saison and the Black Cygnet session black IPA. These are on tap and growler releases only. No preamble just review.

Master Blaster = 8/10


It is hard to go wrong with a fruity, spicy saison with the addition of brettanomyces. The nose was floral and tropical fruity from the hops and the brett character just dried that out and added a bit of funky orange peel. One can never have too much mango, dried pineapple or horse blanket. The Blaster was a little hoppy for a saison; I suppose the Northwest Style disclaimer in the name was enough of a warning. A spicy and tropical hop blast harmonized with the earthy and brett tart tang. There were some apricot and cracker malts along for the ride. It tasted a little thin but this was expected from the brett influence. The ending was short with cooling mangos. Very, very nice.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1
Value +1
Appearance +1

Glassware: Tulip

Food Pairings: Breaded or poached light seafood with a fruity sauce. I would choose a wild mushroom and risotto with lemon drizzle. The cheese would have to be something fresh goat.

Cellar: Can you cellar a growler?

Black Cygnet = 7/10

I really liked this beer, but I tend to like low ABV beers with lots of flavour. My growler still smells of powdered Nestle Quick and mixed citrus. The Cygnet was a very drinkable mix of weak coffee, dry chocolate, grapefruit, oranges and geraniums all in perfect balance.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0
Value +1
Appearance +1

Glassware: Whatever is clean

Food Pairings: Definitely something grilled and fatty. The cheese would be something cheddar and aged.

Most of us have heard rumblings of this new brewery in town called Category 12. They are on Keating Cross Road with a little tasting room and growler fill station. You can read all about them in Eat Magazine. There are currently two beers available, a saison and a black IPA. You can find kegs around Victoria, including this cool place called The Drake. So how do they taste?

Unsanctioned Saison = 6/10


It started off great. There was a slight spiciness that came from both hop and yeast. You could also detect a funky earth aroma with ginger. It was surprisingly hoppy with more of that spicy floral and earthiness. The malts got a little funny, perhaps a bit underattenuated. It tasted grainy, mushy and chewy, not crisp and dry as expected. Perhaps I was hoping for local Saison Dupont. Still, I would order another.

Taste +2
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 6.9%
Value +1
Appearance +1 good description of beer flavour, not keen on the word sessionable for a 6.9% beer

Glassware: Something clean. I would use a pokal tulip.

Food Pairings: Cheese would be a wash rind goat. Something light and spicy would go well. Perhaps lamb chops with a mildly spicy pepper glaze.

Cellar: nope

Disruption Black IPA = 9/10

I was getting a little worried until I tasted the Black IPA. This dark brew hits all the marks. A grapefruit citrus and piney hop aroma can be smelled one table over. It has a griping astringency that is partially kilned malts and partially hops. Imagine what a black IPA should taste like and this is it. Balanced parts of bittersweet chocolate, espresso, over done toast with marmalade and sweet grapefruit rind. Not over the top, but just right.


Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 6.7%
Value +1 delicious
Appearance +1 (a fitting description of flavour)

Glassware: A nice, big pint glass thank you.

Food Pairings: Something bold and roasted. A grilled portobello mushroom burger with blue cheese. As for the cheese, make it a well aged cheddar.

Cellar: Nope

I love stealth marketing. This beer just appeared before my eyes in some backwater CBAW. It wasn't really backwater, just Maude Hunters.This bottle was wedged next to all the releases you thought were sold out like Bird of Prey, Road Trip and Old Cellar Dweller. They even had a cask of Russell brewing on the bar. There was only a minor mention of this on the specials chalk board. My server never even mentioned it. Too bad, I would have liked to try it.
Anyways back to the beer. The farmhouse/saison style beer is a style where almost anything is appropriate. As long as you use some wheat and an appropriate yeast, things are good. Between fits of coughing, Dean elaborated on this beer, "[it was] brewered as a saison with as many bakery ingredients as we could through at it, including huge tubs of of rye sourdough starter made for us by Byron Fry. Sweet and a touch sour with a little rye spiciness, this one's for more general audience than a truly sour or bretty beer would be." Collaberations are great, especially with other craft food vendors like Fry's Red Wheat Bread. A beer with a sourdough starter and rye? What did this beer prick think?

Sauerteig = 8/10

You could tell there was some funky yeast action with the barnyard smell and the multitude of little bubbles that comprised the head. The nose also presented hints of athletes foot, wheat, peppery rye and lemons. My first impression of the sip was that this tastes rather like a Berliner Weisse. I tried to homebrew a Berliner Weisse once. The sauerteig tastes way better than my homebrew. Each sip is juicy and sweet with lemons, sourdough bread and Seville oranges. The ending gives a dry finish that speaks of rye. Did I mention the tart barnyard sourness that carries all the way through? It was not a mouth puckering sour; Mrs. Left4beer called it a beginner sour. Not an overly complex beer, but interesting enough to keep you coming back.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 7%ABV
Value +1
Appearance +1 (Boring label but good description of beer. Would have been nice if QR code linked to more information about beer)

Glassware: Tulip.

Food Pairings: I really wish there was some wash rind cheese in the fridge. A pasta with tonnes of pecorino cheese would be great.

Cellar: nope. Sour character might develop more.

I think things need to be spruced up around here. Readership is increasing, which is nice. Either that or more bots are subscribing to learn about beer. No one leaves any comments though. Barley Mowat gets lots of comments, especially when I post dumb stuff. Then again, his stuff is interesting and thought provoking. Here are the top five reasons why, I think, no one leaves comments on my blog. I also like making lists.

5. People just read the score I gave a beer and move on. Confirmation of one's palate is important.

4. No one actually reads my crappy blog. They just subscribed to be polite. I can't blame them. The layout is ugly, there are no pretty pictures and nothing else to click on.

3. My description of a beer is the definitive guide and should not be questioned. Highly unlikely.

2. Most - actually all - posts never leave room for debate or opinions. I drink, I comment, I provide food pairings. It is more of a lecture and not a forum for debate. There is no lingering question that needs to be answered. Which leads me to number 1.

1. ??? You fill in the number one reason below in the comment section below - yes there is one. Everyone hates an uncompleted list. True, this is a dirty trick but I'm OK with that.

Centennial Saison = 7/10

This is a very simple beer, but highly enjoyable. The saison part is bang on with dry citrus fruits, spicy yeast, slightly musty with a dry finish. Add to this the juicy tartness of apricots and we have a winner. It didn't linger very long, which only leaves you longing for more.

I can't find a photo of this beer, but VictoriaBeers.com has lots of pretty pictures.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 Didn't say, but it tastes around 6%
Value +1 its nice, very nice
Appearance +1 always tastes better in the brewpub

Glassware: Tulip.

Food Pairings: So this saison is sweet, fruity and slightly spicy. Indian dishes would be an ideal pairing. The fruity sweetness could act like chutney to help calm the spice, yet the spicy yeast would harmonize well. I bet you could use this beer in a reduction to glaze just about anything. Perhaps a spicy pound cake would be nice. It's effervescence could help lift the fat from any dish. Peking duck suits this option nicely.

Cellar: I don't think it was bottled, but if it was, it wouldn't cellar well anyways.

Without any fanfare, Vancouver Island Brewery released the Black Betty Saison. Normally, there is a media blitz with contests, brewery tastings and samples for local bloggers. The saison is normally a dry, lemony brew with a pronounced noble hop bitterness. Hops flavours are greater than expected due to restrained malt body. A high attenuation yeast will do that. This is also one of those beers that people like to flavour, along with stouts, lambics, wheat ales and porters. I have this disdain for flavoured porters, perhaps it is because I like porters and few local breweries make an unflavoured one. In this blogger's opinion, fruit flavoured beers are patio fare. But blackberries are a late harvest berry, fall has come early and this beer tastes great so its timing can be over looked. [VIB just announced an open house Sat. Oct 5th from 1-4pm with samples of Black Betty and the returning Storm Watcher Winter Lager]

Black Betty Saison = 6/10


There is reason to be cautious about smelling a berry flavoured beer. Often the nose is unbearably sweet. Luckily this is not the case with Black Betty. It is pleasantly blackberry with a hint of spice. This beer is not overly carbonated and the medium-light body ends with a slight sweet berry linger. Black Betty's flavour is as described, a nice balance of berry sweetness, cracker malts with a hint of spicy yeast character. This is not a flavour powerhouse but just a nice brew.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 6.3%
Value +1
Appearance +1


Glassware: Pick either a fluted Pilsener, elongated tulip or a white wine glass

Food Pairings: Restrained enough to go with any meal. Would go nicely with a fruit flan desert. The berry flavours will resonate and the carbonation and alcohol will lighten the heavy creaminess of the flan. A good cheese option would be a chevre mixed with berries. Even better, put that goat cheese on a mixed greens salad and toss with a berry vinaigrette.

Cellar: Nope, drink it fresh.

On Ratebeer this is labeled as a wild/soul ale. Yet the Driftwood label says "Farmhand" which usually refers to a Saison. However you pour this one, it's delicious. The Cuvee is really good but I think people might be disappointed. Sadly it does not live up to Driftwood uber-awesome release status. It is very unfair because this brew is excellent and complex, but it is not super delux. Singularity was frighteningly delectable and Old Cellar is the stuff of legends. Whenever someone mentions Belle Royal, I still salivate. It should be noted that this release uses locally grown and malted barley from Mike Doehnel. Two other local beers have used this barley: Philips Pail Ale and Spinnakers Happy New Beer.

Cuvee D'Hiver (Driftwood) = 7/10

Once you pull the cap the aromas just ooze out. The spicy, peppery yeasts hit one nostril, while the lemons and fruits get the other. Every sip is very effervescent with lots of carbonation that sandblast the palate from start to finish. Each sip is very peppery and a little tart but the sweetness of the lemons and pineapples are not lost. There is also a bit of straw/honey sweetness; luckily the Cuvee is not mouthpuckeringly dry like some saisons. All these zesty flavours sadly do not linger long.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 6.5%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (nice artwork and a glorious sunshine yellow pour)

Deckhand Saison (Lighthouse)
Moinettes Dupont
Pretty Things Jack D'Or

This beer is scaring me. What if I don't like it? I have met Dean the new brewer at Lighthouse and found him to be a very nice, and knowledgeable guy. What will I say to him if I don't like this beer? Stay calm, deep breaths: here we go.

Deckhand Saison = 9/10
Ratebeer 4/5 (1 rating - Thanks Capflu)
Beer Advocate nope

Oh what a relief, this is a good one. This nose is certainly a saison. It has everything you want: straw, barnyard, slight cloves, pepper and that unique Belgian yeast. Every sip provides a full spicy blast with supporting alcohol warmth. The tastes are hard to take in all at once. You need a long checklist to mark all the flavours: tart/sour wheat (check), peppery dryness (check), lemons (check), light pit fruits (check) and apricots (check). If you missed anything, it will revive itself in the long linger of peppery lemons and alcohol warmth.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 8%
Value +1 (I might buy again)
Appearance +1 (nice local artists work on bottle)

La Moneuse
Saison Dupont
Ommegang Hennepin

I can never resist a saison. My only wish was for a larger bottle.

Upright Brewing Seven = 6/10

Ratebeer 3.58 95th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

This is what I need; a big nose of lemon, citrus and spicy grass. Every gulp gives lemon tartness, dry oranges, spicy coriander and fabulous effervescence. Don't forget the tart yeast and wheat. Sadly the ending was dry, clean but slightly yeasty. Upright brewing I love you! Your saison is a tad below Dupont but above Brooklyn Local 1.

Taste +4
Aftertaste 0
Alcohol Content +1 8%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (nice label)

Saison Du Buff
Farmhand Ale
Saison Dupont

Saison du Buff

Pretty Things Jack D'or
label states 'American Saison'

Ratebeer 3.61 91st percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Taste +3

The nose was built on a lemon yeast, yeast and light fruit tartness with spices. The taste was the same. With lots of carbonation the mouthfeel was creamy with an abundance of tropical fruits, lemons and spices.

Aftertaste +2

It was slightly dry with a lemony tart, yeasty coating.

Alcohol Content +1 6.4%
Value 0

I know a good saison when I taste one. This was tasty but quite average; certainly not a good as a Dupont.
Ingame Enhancement 0

No gaming tonight, I just sat on the couch and watched my monthly hour of TV. According to Manswers, fishing is the sport most likely to kill you. I don't feel that I am missing out by not watching TV.

Overall 5/10

I was an average saison style; tart, lemony, yeast and tropical fruit. It takes a lot to get me excited about a beer; this wasn't it.

Moinettes Dupont
La Moneuse
Farmhand Ale (Driftwood)

Moinettes Dupont

Ratebeer 3.74 96th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Taste +4
This is a glorious Belgian Strong Ale. The nose is big with tart lemons, yeast, spices and grass. The alcohol tingle hits the tongue and provides an almost effervescent feel. There is so much going on with the spicy hops, the lemons, grasses, tart yeast and ripe light fruits. I think there were pears and apricots amongst those flavours. At the end the tart spicy bitterness snaps the tongue dry.

Aftertaste +2

The lingering spice, ripe fruits and alcohol burn never went away.

Alcohol Content +1 8.5%

It burned at the start; it burned at the end. The burn never seemed out of place.

Value +1

This was a great, strong ale. If you like your saisons, as I do, this is make your palate happy.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I love it when gamers suffer from the dreaded syndrome known as TMSPS (Too Much Spare Time Syndrome). They use this free time to make beautiful maps for Left 4 Dead. The fire and ice map is visually stunning. I found myself staring at the details and not fighting zombies.
Overall 9/10

This is a beautiful Belgian strong ale/saison. As I write this review up my mouth is watering. It was all there;spices from the hops, alcohol burn, effervescence, lemons, tart yeast and light fruits. This would make a perfect pairing with any meal, including breakfast cereal.

La Moneuse
Ommegang Hennepin
Farmhand Ale (Driftwood)

Saison Dupont

Ratebeer 3.81 98th percentile
Beer Advocate A-
Taste +4

Yum, wonderfully dry with lemon, tangerines and yeast. The mouthfeel is dry and creamy, if that is possible. Aromas of lemon and skunk cabbage (the nice herbal kind) fill the room. Don't forget about the earthiness and grainy bits.
Aftertaste +2

The finish is long and dry with a slight tartness. It reminds me of an under-sweetened lemon meringue.

Alcohol Content +1 6.5%

All this and booze too..Woot

Value +1

I have yet to try a saison that I have not liked.

Ingame Enhancement +1

L4D2 is still fresh and confusing. Another good night with the CDN clan and Meterman. The alcohol content lowers the twitching reflex.

Overall 9/10

Wonderfully tart, dry, earthy with citrus bonus points. I find it hard to keep my glass away from my face.

Driftwood Farmhand Ale
Le Merle
Ommegang Hennepin

La Moneuse
Saison

Ratebeer 3.75 96th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Taste +4
I love a good saison style; they are big, sweet, spicey and refreshing. This one smells like a good one with spicy yeast, apricots and dried apples. You must watch the bottle when you pour. There is so much head it creeps out of the bottle. Yum..The taste is sweet maraschino cherries, apricots and other light pit fruits. All around these flavours is that wonderful spicy yeast/hops mix. At the end of every sip it provides that towel snap to your tongue.

Aftertaste +1

The finish is dry, tart and very cider like. Green apples and spicy yeast linger not long enough.

Alcohol Content +1 8%

Be very careful with this one. It is very tasty.

Value +1

This was very good, tasty and the corked bottle gives a nice presentation. Perhaps best paired with something spicy.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I must stop using this criteria; it really has nothing to do with beer. Any suggestion or comments for a new category would be greatly appreciated. What did I do... Tonight no one was on the L4D server so I played with myself. Wait.. No I played by myself.

Overall 8/10

Simply delicious. It was sweet, spicy and strong.

Farmhand Ale (Driftwood)
Le Merle Saison
Ommegang Hennepin

Ommegang Hennepin

Ratebeer 3.68 94th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

The name really reveals nothing about the style; its a Belgian style saison.

Taste +4

The nose is a little hard to get past; skunk cabbage, yeast but yet still sweet. The pour gives a huge fluffy head that stays longer than your in-laws. Luckily the taste is better. You are graced with a medium feel, honey sweet brew, mixed with yeast, grains and slightly spicy nuts. Overall a very clean, effervescent drink.

Aftertaste +1

The corn, yeast and white bread sweetness quickly vanishes leaving nothing.
Alcohol Content +1 7.7%

Wow, one must be careful, this is a 750ml corked bomber. It would be wise to share this one.

Value 0

This one cost $7.50 US. It is a good saison, but not that good. North Coast Le Merle is a more reasonable choice.

Ingame Enhancement 0

I shared this brew with my Father in our hotel room at Disneyland. All things not conducive to violent on-line gaming.

Overall 6/10 Nice

It was a nice beer, but the price was a little steep.

Ratebeer 3.6 90th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

At first sniff you might think you have been taken to some tropical island. This brew serves up a huge frothy head, complete with fragrances of yeast, flowers, bread, pineapple and other tropical fruits. Even though the head fades quickly, the heavy carbonation remains. The taste is just like the nose; very citrus fruity, pineapple with bread/biscuits. It is very slightly hopped, but it is overpowered by the fruity malt sweetness. I don't think I have seen a beer this cloudy.
Aftertaste +1

It provides a very crisp, refreshing aftertaste. The residue is similar to green apples.

Alcohol Content +1 7.9%

The alcohol is not aggressive, but it does provide an effervescent feel.

Value +1

This was a wonderful Belgian style Saison, not French. I will get it again.

Ingame Enhancement +1

When we play singstar, many, many beers will vanish.

Overall 8/10 BOOM HEADSHOT

Not surprising, everything by North Coast is great. If you are looking for a lighter fruitier beer, this is the one. Rather like Fin Du Monde but less dark fruits.

Farmhand Ale (Driftwood)

Ratebeer 3.1 no percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +2

This is nice saison style brew. You are greeted with the standard yeasty malt nose with hints of citrus. The flavour is above average for a beer in the saison style. You can pick out pepper, citrus fruits and just the slightest of hops. It gives a little spicey mouth burn/tingle, but not too much.

Aftertaste +1

You are left with a pleasant yeast/malt sweetness that coats the mouth but fades quickly

Alcohol Content 0 5.5%

Value 0

It was nice but I wouldn't buy it again. It costs about $5 for 650ml.

Ingame Enhancement+1

There was much carnage thanks the Payback, Molson and Nightware. Perhaps I should find another leisure time activity.. Nah making zombie soup is still fun.

Overall 4/10

This beer was alright. It would be perfect for a summer time beer with a little spicey twist.