I have nothing to say. This is troublesome, as Victoria's eminent beer blogger, I should have lots to say. Perhaps I should substitute "eminent" with "only". Even Leapbeer is blogging about Victoria beers more than I am. Perhaps my articles are too short. Joe Wiebe's review of Central City's Imperial IPA was three times as long as mine. Making note to self: pull socks up, get off ass, do something.

In my defense, things have been quiet in the Victoria beer scene. Releases have been slight. Swan's does have the Tessier's Witbeir on tap, one of my favourites. Moon Under Water's summer hefe is not due out for a week or so. Lighthouse will have a new ale coming next week, whenever the caps arrive. Hoyne has a summer wheat beer (not hefe) with honey sourced withing walking distance.

There has not been any good news about beer/alcohol and health. Unless you count the Tim Stockwell media machine that says private BC liquor stores are killing us off. Mice got a bit of good press, demonstrating that they didn't get fat when given a rare nutrient found in beer.

Might as well fall back on an old formula; import beer review.

Ola Dubh 18 = 10/10

Ratebeer 3.84 99th percentile
Beer Advocate 93%

To smell this beer, is to understand the life of a Cooper. Roasted cocoa nibs, peat and ash aromas start the Pavlovian response. You don't sip this beer; it is more like chew. I don't mind a thick and full mouthfeel with abundant tastes of dark chocolate, pecans, whiskey, black berries and #2 HB pencils. Scotch vapours can sometimes fade, but Ola Dubh never leaves. The only downside to this beer is the bottle is too small. I would like to obtain a growler fill of this stuff! Look closely at the label. I want George's job: Master of Wood. 

Taste +5
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 8%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (simple and elegant labeling with great description of beer)

An impy stout matured in Speyside whisky casks. nuff said. BTW if you are quick enough: Veneto has North Coast 8 ball imperial stout on tap. Well worth the crazy parking!

Paradox Speyside (Brew Dog) = 9/10
Ratebeer 3.79 99th percentile
Beer Advocate 91%

The aroma gave only a faint warning of what was to come. Calm vanilla, sherry, peat and wood can't be too dangerous right? Wrong! BAM. A full-on glycerin slick sip burns the throat. Oddly easy drinking for 10%ABV. Name the cask flavour and it was there: bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, sherry, chewy coffee and port. The port and coffee didn't hang around for the linger.
I realize that this description is not long enough to full detail the awesomeness of this beer. Fatigue plays a major factor in brevity. 

Taste +5
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 10%
Value +1
Appearance +1

Other Imperial Stout reviews
Ten Fidy Imp Stout IN A CAN
Russian Gun Imperial Stout
Mikkeller Black Hole

Another beer from the EPIC Beer dinner #2. Actually it was the main attraction. Thanks to Dave for picking this up; I don't want to know how much he paid for it.

Sink the Bismark = 10/10

Ratebeer 3.38 87th percentile
Beer Advocate B

This thing smells corrosive, yet inviting. To say massive is an understatement; so much pine/pitch, alcohol, fruits and corn syrup. Even before the liquid touches your lips, the alcohol vapours burn your mouth. The flavours of licorice, roasted hops, caramel wrap your tongue in a warm blanket. It reminds me of a good Scotch. More like a mix of Scotch, IPA and Drambuie. It is quite sweet and surprisingly drinkable. My glass still smelled of pine-sol two weeks later.

Taste +5
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 41% not a typo
Value +1
Appearance +1 (brown bag FTW)

You either like the Innis and Gunn style or you don't. All of their beers are barrel aged, but the wood style varies. They usually share common flavour profiles.

Highland Cask Innis and Gunn = 7/10

Ratebeer 2.78 32nd percentile
Beer Advocate B-

The nose is classic I&G: sweet with vanilla, honey, butterscotch and fruits. This one had a mystery sweetness. I assume it was heather because the box said so; I will make a mental note to smell heather next time I see some. The flavour followed the nose and delivered sweet vanilla, wood, light peat, fireweed honey and a vague fruitiness. A creamy ending only left more vanilla and butterscotch. The I&G style is either on your love or loath list.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 7.1%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (Always have classic boxed packaging)

I&G Canadian Cask 2009
I&G Rum Cask and a health kick

I love science; it is even better when paired with binge drinking. Perhaps I should explain.. This study caught my eye the other day, "Acute alcohol tolerance on subjective intoxication and simulated driving performance in binge drinkers". It sounds like an ARC drinking and driving party (aka. PS3 and beers). In the June 2009 issue of Psychology or Addictive Behaviors, researchers gave college kids enough ethanol to mimic binge drinking and tested their performance on a simulated drive game. You can guess the results, they did poorly. Big shocker. But this was the shocking finding, regular binge drinkers felt less intoxicated and reported a greater willingness to drive than social drinkers. This is something the researchers labeled as acute alcohol tolerance. Here is how it works; when you drink your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises. This makes you feel intoxicated. When you stop drinking your BAC declines. Binge drinkers felt less intoxicated when their BAC was declining, even though their actual BAC was identical to a point when their BAC was increasing. In other words, they felt less drunk when they were sobering up even though they still had the same amount of alcohol floating through their veins. This is the kicker, binge drinkers drove worse when their BAC were declining compared to when it was increasing.
This is one the reasons why more binge drinkers tend to drive home. They perceived themselves to be OK to drive, but in fact their BAC may be above the legal limit. BTW each subject got $75 as compensation for getting loaded for free.

Rip Tide Stout - BrewDog

Ratebeer 3.59 91st percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4

For such a strong stout, the nose was oddly faint with roasted coffee and alcohol. But the taste made up for it; the brew was think and oily. A big moughtfeel revealed a bittersweet stout with burnt toast, roasted coffee and cocoa nibs. Upfront there was a slight taste of dark cherries.
Aftertaste +2

The long oily coating left burnt (not roasted) cocoa everywhere.

Alcohol Content +1 8%

It only left a little warmth.
Value +1

If you like a big stout, as I do, this will make your taste buds happy.
Ingame Enhancement +1

Death Aboard v7.0 is now available for L4D. It is the first map to challenge a player, without frustrating due to missing textures or unfinished parts. This is now the current map on Nightware4Dead.

Overall 9/10

This is one great Imperial Stout. It is big, thick and oily with burnt sweetness all around.

Drake Imperial Stout and Executive class guilt
Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
The Great Irish Stout Taste-off

Canadian Cask 2009 (Innis and Gunn)

Ratebeer 3.33 70th percentile
Beer Advocate B

This beer was brewery exclusively for Canada, using Canadian whiskey oak barrels.

Taste +4
Well now, this is something good. Massive nose of sherry, cherries, wood, vanilla and caramel. The taste is just like the nose but with added rye and fruit (raisin).

Aftertaste +1

Very smooth with a slight lingering of raisin and rye; quite dry.

Alcohol Content +1 7.1%

Oddly you cannot taste the ethanol, but you can feel the warmth and burn going down.

Value +1

Any special edition by Innis and Gunn is sure to please. At $5 for a 330ml bottle it is not cheap but worth it.

Ingame Enhancement 0

Nope did not play, did ask what I did either. I can't remember; this beer was finished some time in June.

Overall 7/10

I like a barrel aged beer, so this made my taste buds happy. Sadly it is a limited release, but I&G are always releasing something.

Other reviews
Innes and Gunn and the Health Kick
Ommegang Hennepin
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and a Love of Dogs

Wee Heavy (BelHaven)

Ratebeer 3.6 91st percentile
Beer Advocate A

Taste +4

The delightfully bitter and hoppy nose overplayed the caramel malt and wood hints. Oddly the bitterness was upfront; a little smoke with a little raisin added in. This quickly dissipated to reveal a generous dose of earthy, toffee malts. Yum!

Aftertaste +1

For a big first taste it surprisingly faded off to leave only the slightest of caramel sweetness and alcohol tingle.

Alcohol Content +1 6.5%

Yippee.

Value +1

It was a good Scotch Ale and at $3.55 for a 500ml bottle it is a great deal.

Ingame Enhancement 0

In a moment of weakness I almost bought Grid Defense on Steam. Then that little voice in the back of my head said, "must see sunshine, must see sunshine, your family loves you."
Overall 7/10

If you are a fan of the heavy Scotch style ales this is sure to please.
Swan's Scotch Ale

Tennent's Lager

Ratebeer 2.31 11th percentile
Beer Advocate C+

Taste +2

Very soft malts grace the tongue, but it is still lager like. You know the drill: grass, apricots and faint aromatic hops. It kinda reminders me of a premium Lucky Lager, only not as sweet.

Aftertaste +1

There was a dry, mild apricot aftertaste but it faded pretty quick.
Alcohol Content -1 4.4%

Value 0

It was very drinkable, but not exceptional.

Ingame Enhancement 0

This was enjoyed in the Penny Farthing Pub, with my buddy Donovan. I think he even bought. WOOT.

Overall 2/10

A nice drinkable, mass produced lager. The flavour was above average, but this does not entail an endorsement.