No preamble today, no education, just the facts. I actually might finish writing up a 33beers notebook soon. This is another Toronto special by Railway City Brewing.

Iron Spike Blonde Ale = 4/10

Ratebeer 2.73 28th percentile
Beer Advocate B-

This has more flavour than one would expect from a blonde ale. The nose had quite a bit of toffee, fruit and was slightly spicy. There was DMS aroma also, but it worked. The creamy and slightly astringent mouthfeel was just like the nose. It only added a bit of chewy bread and subdued spiciness. The aftertaste was short but nicely spicy with caramel. From the describtion it is not really sounding like a blonde ale.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content -1 4.3%
Value +1
Appearance 0

Pinkus Munster Alt
Golden Ale Salt Spring
Saint-Martin Blond

I can only imagine what everyone is thinking about me right now. There is a very good reason for me drinking this beer; I was under a great deal of pressure. The family was visiting Ontario Place for some quality time. In case anyone was wondering, it was a lot of fun for the six year old. Anyways, back to the beer. We stopped for lunch and there was nothing decent to drink on the menu: all macro brews. The Misses insisted that I get something, so I choose the Molson Export. It is something we can't get on the west coast.

Molson Export = 1/10
Ratebeer 2.33 13th percentile
Beer Advocate C+

Luckily this pale yellow swill was served ice cold so there was no nose. Yup its a macro: big tongue confusing carbonation hit was followed by a one-two punch of cheap honey and corn syrup. The slight citrus hop snap at the finish was the only reason this did not score a zero. No aftertaste.

Taste +2
Aftertaste 0
Alcohol Content -1 4.9%
Value 0
Appearance 0

Milwaukee's Best
Canadian Cold Shots
Molson Old Style Pilsner

Pinkus Munster Alt

Ratebeer 3.11 57th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +2

I picked this one up at Firefly because it boldly displayed an USDA organic sticker. I'm a sucker for organic beers. Apparently it is legit, they have the documentation to prove it. As for the beer, the nose is faint with caramel and light fruits. The nicely carbonated brew did give a residual fizzy mouthfeel, but not too much. It was a medium mouthfeel with grassy malts, faint fruits, ripe apricots, honey and lemons.

Aftertaste +1

The dry grassy malts faded slowly.

Alcohol Content 0 5.1%

Value 0

It was nice, but I wouldn't get it again.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Tonight was the first night of the BJCP study group. It was nice to be in a room full of people passionate about beer.

Overall 4/10

This was an another average golden/blonde ale. There was the vague fruits, grasses, and sweetness.

Saltspring Golden Ale
Saint-Martin Blond
Trappist Achel Blond

Fog Fighter (Spinnakers)
Belgian Blonde Ale

Ratebeer 3.29 58th percentile
Beer Advocate A- (2 reviews)

I went into Spinnakers to pick up my cask festival tickets and it didn't feel right to not try something. So I sat the downstairs bar and had a quick glass.

Taste +3

This brew had all the markers of a great Belgian blonde ale. The nose was very light of apricots, yeast and rock candy. After a strong snap of alcohol burn the flavours settled in. They were right on the money with canned peaches, apricots, rock candy and a faint spiciness.

Aftertaste +2

It was a sweet lingering that was barely on the good side, not sickly but almost there. This was nicely enhanced by the tart yeast spiciness.

Alcohol Content +1 8%

The ABV was not listed, but the friendly barkeep said it was over 8%.

Value 0

It was very nice, but I wouldn't get it again. This rating might be a little biased, I had tasted the Delirium earlier. The Delirium was a truly delicious Belgian blonde ale.

Ingame Enhancement 0

This category should be changed, I don't play that much anymore. Maybe I should just start gaming more.

Overall 6/10

This was a good, solid Belgian blonde ale. All the flavours were represented: rock candy, apricots, spicy yeasts and tart alcohol burn. I had not been fond of the beers from Spinnakers lately; all the styles just seemed lackluster and watery. This had recently changed. The Kolsch they had on tap was simply delicious, this Belgian was also good. I will have to visit this place more often.

Trappist Achel Blond
Saint-Martin Blond
Salt Spring Golden Ale

Golden Ale Salt Spring Island
American Blonde Ale

Ratebeer 2.85 29th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Taste +2

The nose is nutty with hints of digested fruits. Average taste of tart honey with a bitter snap at the end.

Aftertaste 0

It was clean and dry with a wisp of honey.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Value 0

If you like blonde/pale ales, this will be sure to please. I am just not a fan of this style

Ingame Enhancement 0

This was one of the brews at the Epic Tactical Nuclear Penguin tasting party.

Overall 2/10

It was pleasant drinking beer. The was just no excitement, but this is just the way it is with a blonde ale. Certainly a big step above the macro swill blonde ales.

Trappist Achel Blonde
Saint-Martin Blond

Saint-Martin Blond

Ratebeer 3.07 49th percentile
Beer Advocate B-

Taste +4

The picture does not give a fair image of the golden amber colour and fluffy head that this beer pours. Through the head there is a massive aroma of yeast, bread and oranges. The taste is no different, very light mouthfeel and a high carbonation carries that citrus and bread flavours everywhere. Just to make things more interesting you can also pick up honey, spicy hops and a lemony zest.

Aftertaste +1

Only the slightest of tartness at the end, very clean finish. There also was the quickly vanishing acidic flavours of bread and almonds.

Alcohol Content +1 7%

Value +1

I found this to be a very refreshing Belgian blonde ale.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Usually I get into trouble when I play L4D late into the night; this night the wife brought me Saxo.

Overall 8/10

Clean, crisp and citrusy, everything a big blonde Belgian should be.
Phillips Surly Blonde
Trappist Achel

Trappist Achel Blond beer

I had big hopes for this beer. It came highly recommended by the guy at Bottleworks. Or maybe he said don't take this swill it tastes like expensive camel piss. I forget.

Taste -2

Now I remember what he said. This beer was like drinking moonshine from your uncles garage. Except in this case your uncle threw in a few tablets of bubbly Eno to be funny. It was fizzy, bland and harsh tasting. There was a surprising lack of flavour.

Aftertaste -1

It was too fizzy and produced trucker like belches. You do NOT want to taste this beer twice. Aftertaste was rather like sawdust.

Alcohol content +1 8%

I felt that I was obligated to say something positive about this beer.

Value -1

You couldn't pay me to drink this again. I only drank it because I drove it 300miles. I should have driven it back.

Ingame Enhancement -1

Blech! I never played this night. I was too busy brushing my tongue.

Overall -4/10

I doubt zombies would drink this stuff. I might stock a bottle or two; it might be useful to scare off the undead. Perhaps I may have gotten a bad bottle or just don't like Belgian Blonde beers, because it got a high rating on beer advocate.