An article by Noah Forrest When entering Brasserie Bois Blanc, it feels warm, inviting, and best of all, like home. The town Of Hudson (45 minutes west of Montreal) carries that typical quaint little town vibe (alongside some extra shrubbery). I tend to love these small towns, with their extra attention to classic architecture, fun […]
September
01
Genèse: Dieu du Ciel!’s Brand New Apricot Tripel – A Beerism Exclusive
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Dieu du Ciel! has had one hell of a year, and I for one know this because lately I’ve written a stupid number of articles about them. I just can’t help myself! They keep releasing new beer after new beer, and I’m having a hard time keeping up! They’ve had […]
August
22
Le Trou du Diable Breaks the Wine-Barrel Mould With Three New Beers
posted by beerism
An Article by Noah Forrest It seems that the gap between wine and beer is starting to get smaller. Certainly, one will never become the other, nor should it. However, with the rising popularity of wine barrel aged beer – both in the classic sense and with this new era of vinous experimentation – there […]
August
12
Ceci N’est Pas une Gueuze 2016 vs 2015 – Verticals & Variants: Part 2
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest For readers who don’t speak French, the illustrious “Ceci N’est pas Une Gueuze” from Les Trois Mousquetaires translates into English as “This is not a Gueuze.” And by any “official” standard, it isn’t a Gueuze (I’ll explain why, shortly). This beer hit shelves for the first time last year, and […]
July
28
Dieu du Ciel “Gose” at it With Two New Beers! Get it! Get it!
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest 2016 certainly seems to be the year for new beers from Dieu du Ciel! At this point I’ve already written several articles showcasing the most recent offerings from one of the best breweries in the world; this post will be no different. So today, I’m going to talk about two […]
July
25
Beau’s All Natural Brewing Takes it up a Notch
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest For beer folks in Ontario, Beau’s all Natural Brewing has been a household name for some time now. I remember first going to the brewery about five years ago, where the retail store was the size of a closet and they had two beers to bring home with you. Now, […]
July
19
Micro-Brasserie Le Trou Du Diable Celebrates Ten Years with “X”
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest The world’s beer scene is in a state of hyperdrive. Quebec is no different. New breweries are popping up all the time, while the existing ones are expanding, fine-tuning their skills, and becoming far more experimental. Over the last few years, Les Trois Mousquetaires, Brasserie Dunham, and Le Castor have […]
July
13
Auberge Brouerie Sutton – Go Already, What Are You Waiting For?
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest The moment you walk into an establishment, you immediately get hit with a vibe. This feeling can be intense or subtle, uncomfortable or inviting, even boring or lively; but nevertheless, you always feel something. It’s a somewhat indescribable human feeling that seems to be important for sussing out an environment. […]
July
05
Les Trois Mousquetaires Kills it Again. This Time with “Barils D’exception”
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Last winter, Les Trois Mousquetaires released an epic beer called Baril Unique. Guess what? They are at it again! LTM regularly brews a Baltic porter — it’s rich, bold and delicious. Then, once a year they age this porter in a mix of bourbon and brandy barrels, blending them to create […]
June
23
Les Trois Mouquetaire’s IPA just won Mondial 2016 (At least in my Drunken Opinion)
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Once again Mondial de la Bière has come and gone. And guess what, I was actually there. That’s right, I left the house and drank beer with people other than my partner and two young children. Although brief, it was still nice to get out. Sadly, though, I don’t remember […]
June
15
The 2016 Dieu du Ciel! Summer Bottle Release is Here, and Beerism has you Covered
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest For the first time that I’m aware of, Microbrasserie Dieu du Ciel! is having a summer bottle release party! I, for one, am excited! With the exception of a couple of bigger beers, the line up generally consists of wild beers, sour blends, and fruited sexiness – or some combination of […]
June
09
Vox Populi’s Double Fruit Punch IPA – Yes, It’s Here!
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest I’ve been writing this blog for over four years now, and in that time I’ve seen a lot of progression within this industry. It could be breweries expanding to churn out more volume, brewers starting to create new and more innovative styles, or even fun collaborations. I really feel everything […]
June
07
Chronique de Mars: Basically a Beer-Geek’s Wet Dream
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Although I have written countless articles about Quebec craft beer, there are still so many breweries that I haven’t been able to talk about. One of the reasons is that many brew pubs don’t bottle their beers. I have a young family, I’m pretty much a home-body, and so I […]
June
02
Brasserie Auval: The Best New Quebec Brewery Keeps Getting Better
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Last year, Brasserie Auval hit the Quebec beer scene in almost covert fashion, launching three amazing but very limited beers. Once people got their hands on them, hype ensued. Now every time Auval puts bottles out, Montreal beer geeks scurry around town trying to find them, like a group of […]
May
30
How About a Little Fruited Beer to Kick Off the Summer? Well, Dieu du Ciel! Has You Covered
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Summer is that much closer, which means that beers are getting lighter, more refreshing, and in many cases, tart and sour. There is nothing quite like sitting in your yard or on a terrace, with the sun blazing down on you, while you drink a cold and refreshing beer. I […]
May
24
Verticals & Variants: Episode #1 – Dieu du Ciel!’s Solstice D’Hiver
posted by beerism
An Article by Noah Forrest For many beer geeks, part of the fun of buying beer is to collect bottles that are “ageable” and holding onto them for extended periods of time. Not only do we do this to see how they change and evolve over the years, but also so that we can compare […]
May
16
Brasserie Dunham Turns 5! An Interview with Partner Simon Gaudreault, and a Look at Six New Beers
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Not only is it time to rejoice simply because the month of May is upon us – which means the summer heat is imminent – but also because Brasserie Dunham‘s 5th anniversary spring bottle release party is landing this Saturday! Brasserie Dunham is already 5 years old! Happy birthday! For […]
May
09
Les Trois Mousquetaire’s New Take on Three Beers – An interview with Alex Ganivet-Boileau
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Most of the time it’s quite important for beers to remain consistent with every new batch. Customers know what they like, so constant change isn’t a good approach. And yet the craft-beer industry is largely about innovation, craftsmanship and experimentation. Good breweries and brewers need to keep up with the […]
May
02
Dieu du Ciel! Gives us Two Brand New Spring Beers to Session and Savour
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest One of the things I love the most about beer is how versatile it is. There is a beer for any and every occasion. There is also a beer for every season; in fact, there are many beers for any and all types of weather. In the darkest depths of […]
April
26
Great Lakes Brewery, Again! Octopus Wants to Fight Robohop
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Every few months — and sometimes not even that long — Mike Lackey and the team at Great Lakes Brewery drops another brilliantly canned IPA on the Ontario beer scene. In the past these Toronto releases were brewery-only, with limited availability. That’s still the case with some of their beers, […]
April
20
Tooth & Nail Brewing Company – Rediscovering the Basics with One of the Best Breweries in Ottawa
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Ottawa’s beer scene is growing quickly. New breweries and brewpubs are popping up all the time; some more notable than others, but most moving in the right direction. It’s also a great city for beer-buying. You have the LCBO releases; you can buy growlers, bottles and cans directly from many […]
April
13
Boréale Launches a New Project Called “Épisode”- Beerism Tastes the First in this Series and Interviews Brewmaster Gabriel Dulong
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest If you’re from Quebec, then you are familiar with Boréale. When I say “you,” I’m not referring to beer geeks; I’m talking about anyone who has ever set foot in a bar, restaurant or grocery store. Since I started drinking, long before the current craft-beer revolution, Boréale has always held […]
March
29
Immoralité is here! Dieu du Ciel!’s Latest and Most Anticipated Momentum of 2016
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest In the past I’ve talked a bit about the IPA scene in Quebec, and how three or four years ago you’d be hard pressed to find a hoppy beer in this province that was particularly exceptional. There were a few one-offs here and there that were solid, but even then […]
March
23
Le Castor’s Sanctuaire Variants – An Ode to Wine Barrel Aged Beer
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Aging beer in wine barrels is nothing new; Belgian lambic producers have been doing it for ages. However, with the rising cost of bourbon barrels and the surge in tart and funky beers, there are a lot more examples hitting the shelves these days. Moreover, the beer scene is exploding, encouraging […]
March
15
Brasserie Dunham Meets Sauternes: A New Take on Wine Barrel Aged Beer
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Okay, so here’s the deal – I’ve never actually tasted Sauternes. Every time this comes up in conversation, wine folk are like, “What? You’ve never had Sauternes? What’s wrong with you? You HAVE to try it!” I thought, ya ya, whatever. Then Brasserie Dunham goes and creates two new sexy […]
March
01
Great Lakes Brewery (GLB) – Enjoying a Few Beers From the Top Tier in Ontario’s Craft Beer Scene
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Just like in Quebec and most other provinces, Ontario’s beer scene is expanding more and more every month. New breweries and brew pubs are constantly being opened, some doing amazing things, and others, well, not so much. However, amongst all these new and older establishments, exists a brewery that has […]
February
22
Séries Impériale Does it Again – A Fantastic Barrel Aged Barleywine from Marché du Village
posted by beerism
An Article by Noah Forrest The folks at Marché du Village are at it again! This independent, super store of sorts – located right off the highway when driving through the Eastern Townships – just released their second installment in a series of big barrel aged beers called Séries Impérial. Last year they created “Scotch […]
February
17
Ottawa’s Winter BrewFest 2016 – Let’s See What the Capital has to Offer
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest Although being a relatively young craft beer town, Ottawa is starting to make a name for itself within the Canadian beer community. Like many cities at this point, their beer market is starting to get a bit flooded, and the number of breweries that are mediocre (or worse) are just […]
February
15
Talking Valentine’s Day Beers on CBC Montreal’s Radio Noon with Shawn Apel
posted by beerism
Click below to listen to the radio spot
February
04
Beerism examines “Mi-Figue Mi-Raisin” from La Memphré – An interview with brewer David Plasse
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest The Eastern Townships are essentially on their way to becoming the beer paradise of Quebec. Veterans such as Brasserie Dunham and Boquebiere have been pumping out beer for some time now, with Dunham climbing the ranks as one of the best breweries in Canada, and well, the world (recently making […]
February
02
Brasserie Dunham Meets Jester King – Unlikely Adjuncts That Really Work!
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest When I first started getting into the beer scene, I kept reading about “adjuncts.” At the beginning I had no idea what they were, but very quickly it became clear that whatever they were, they were bad! By perusing beer sites I was quickly informed that adjuncts are basically ingredients […]
January
26
A Bottle Guide to Dieu du Ciel!’s 2016 Anniversary Party – Beerism has the Scoop!
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest When any good brewery announces a bottle release party, the beer geek community gets excited. However, when Dieu du Ciel! announces one, the communal level of arousal seems to increase exponentially. Not only is there chatter amongst the Quebec beer folk, but enthusiasts from all over start scrambling to find […]
January
18
Beerism Goes to The Wild Shack – Home Brewing to the Next Level
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest As someone with an extremely young family, I simply don’t have much time to do anything recreational anymore. On the weekends, I used to decide between going out and partying, or staying in to relax. Now I need to decide between showering or eating, as I don’t have time for […]
January
12
Microbrasserie Le Castor: Grande Réserve, Then and Now – An Interview with Brewer Daniel Addey Jibb
posted by beerism
An Article by Noah Forrest Montreal winter is here, and it’s a cruel bastard. It hasn’t been around long, so I’ve yet to become a whiny, irritable mess. But don’t worry, I’ll get there. Negative 30 degree temperatures and a few giant snow storms can quickly turn anyone into a weather loathing lunatic. That being […]
December
31
Beerism does CBC Montreal’s Homerun with Brendan Kelly
posted by beerism
I joined Brendan Kelly on CBC’s Homerun to talk about beer in general, but also to discuss whether beer could replace wine at this dinner table. Click below to listen to the 5 minute interview!
December
30
Beerism’s Top 10 Quebec beers of 2015! After I Drank Them You’ll Never Believe What Happend Next!
posted by beerism
An article by Noah Forrest People love lists for some reason. We simply can’t resist them. We see links in our news feeds, like “top 10 celebrity couples children’s dogs” and we feverishly click on the URL as if we actually give a shit. I’m just as guilty as anyone, I click away on these […]
December
23
Beerism Does CBC Daybreak Montreal – Drinking Some Local Beer on the Radio with Ainslie MacLellan
posted by beerism
This morning I joined Ainslie MacLellan on CBC radio’s Daybreak Montreal. We cracked open Saison Brett from Les Trois Mousquetaires and Dubbel D’Hiver from Le Castor and talk about beer pairings for the holidays.
December
17
Beerism does Brasserie Auval – An Interview with Brewmaster Ben Couillard
posted by beerism
Every year, more and more breweries are popping up all over the world, and Quebec is no different. Usually, when a new brewery decides to open its doors and starts bottling (or canning), the line up is somewhat limited – generally offering about 2 to 4 varieties of styles. These styles tend to be pretty […]
December
07
Beerism Presents: T.J.’s Holiday Gift Guide for Craft Beer Lovers
posted by tjblinn
Confused as to what to get the craft beer lover in your life for Christmas this year? When it comes to the beer world, there’s even more obstacles than usual in finding the perfect gift. With all the competition, breweries are releasing more clever ways to get noticed with barrel-aged variants, limited edition experiments, and […]
December
01
Beerism Does LTM’s 1978 “Single Barrel” Baltic Porter – A Bourbon Barrel Older than Me!
posted by beerism
Have you ever received something that was so special that you didn’t know what to do with it? This can apply to a lot of things in life. Maybe someone brought you some rare saffron and now you have to decide what kind of dish to make with it, or perhaps you inherited a necklace […]
November
26
Beerism does Gueuze – An Ode to Lambic and a Critique of Those Who Love it
posted by beerism
I’m nervous about writing this article. Why? Well, because creating Gueuze is a very complex art that has a rich and extremely long history, dating back centuries. To do it justice, or at least in order to avoid making any blatant errors, one needs to do research and tread lightly – unless you are already […]
November
17
T.J. Does Pub BreWskey – Meet the Distinguished Charm of the Old Port’s New Favorite Place to be
posted by tjblinn
It’s always exciting for beer geeks to hear that a new bar has opened where microbrews are not only welcomed, but are part of the main attraction. The news becomes even more interesting when you also hear that the new watering hole lies outside the usual local spots. Most interested readers of this blog know […]
November
12
Beerism does Le Trou du Diable – Beautiful Bottles, Beautiful Beer, Beautiful Brewery
posted by beerism
Many of my articles revolve around the harder to find spectrum of craft beer. Once you start down the craft beer rabbit hole, more obscure and rarer offerings become your norm. Whether it’s through brewery releases, private imports, trading, traveling, or simply stalking Facebook beer store pages, I get my hands on a lot of […]
October
05
Beerism’s Bottle Guide to Brasserie Dunham’s 2015 Fall Bottle Release Party
posted by beerism
This Saturday, October 10th, Brasserie Dunham will be having yet another epic bottle release! As usual, it will take place at their sexy brewpub in the beautiful town of Dunham, Quebec (eastern townships of Montreal). I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Go! Brasserie Dunham October Bottle Release When: October 10th 2015 Time: 12:00 […]
August
26
Les Trois Mousquetaires’ Double IPA 2015 and Bavaroise! A Hopped Up Interview with Brewmaster Alex
posted by beerism
Every August, beer geeks from around Montreal head to the south shore and line up for something that they have been waiting for all year: Les Trois Mousquetaire‘s Double IPA bottle release. For the third year now, LTM has sold this DIPA exclusively at the brewery on one day only, selling out within a couple […]
August
18
Examining Le Castor’s “Farmhouse Houblon” – What Brewer Dan has to say about their funky endeavor(s)
posted by beerism
Microbrasserie Le Castor‘s “Farmhouse Houblon” is a hybrid beer of sorts. It’s a Belgian saison, whose primary fermentation is with saison yeast, but it’s then re-fermented with brettanomyces, and dry hopped like an IPA. I guess you can simply call it a hopped up wild Saison. On the label they explain that this beer was […]
August
04
Ceci n’est pas une Gueuze! An Interview with LTM’s Brewmaster Alex about his new Gueuze and his Barrel Program
posted by beerism
Something wild has been stirring in the dark recesses of Les Trois Mousquetaires brewery. It’s dank, musty, & sour, and it’s been living inside three sets of oak barrels for about 2 to 4 years. They have been keeping this a secret for quite sometime now in anticipation of next week’s release. That’s right, you […]
July
13
Another One for the Summer Calendar – T.J. does the Festival des Bières in Laval
posted by tjblinn
Friday – July 10 Sunday – July 12, 2015 – Centre De La Nature De Laval, Quebec, Canada The first edition of Festival des Bières de Laval was held this past week-end at the picturesque Laval Nature Center. Showcasing the Quebec craft beer scene, the event attracted 200 types of beer from 30 different breweries, […]
June
24
Beerism does CBC Daybreak Montreal, again! Summer Beers to drink for La Fête nationale du Québec
posted by beerism
I was invited to appear on CBC’s Daybreak Montreal again today for La Fête nationale du Québec in order to talk about some summer beers! With sours, sessions, and saisons gaining momentum, it made for an interesting chat. Click here to listen to the 8 minute interview!
June
13
Mondial de la bière 2015 – Finding the perfect beer for the perfect beer hater
posted by beerism
Mondial de la Biere is a yearly beer festival located in downtown Montreal. I met up with my good friend Paul Aflalo from from Edge of the City (an acclaimed podcast from the No More Radio network) for an interview, and some fun… The details of the event are as follows: Date: June 10 to […]
