ESB by Sea Change Brewing

I recently found out this blog ranks highly in search engine results for craft beer reviews so it seems the onus is on me to revive it. To that end, I'm going to start adding new reviews and looking for another contributor or two.

Today I'm reviewing ESB by Sea Change, a local Edmonton brewery. I purchased this as part of six pack of singles I assembled myself at Sip Liquor Market, a great little beer-focused shop not far from my home.

Is this an authentic attempt at an ESB or English Special Bitter? Read on and find out.

Appearance: ESB comes in a 473mL can. The packaging features a custom illustration very much in line with Sea Change's highly consistent design language. Once poured, I can see that this beer is much darker than I expected. I anticipated copper or amber and what I got is brown. Visually it reminds me of a British brown ale more akin to Newcastle than a quintessential English bitter. Head retention was little to none and there was no lacing left on the glass.

Aroma: This beer is really giving me brown ale vibes. It smells nutty and slightly chocolatey to me.

Taste: Have I mentioned how much this beer reminds me of a brown ale yet? The flavour profile skews sweet and malty. The nut and chocolate notes on the nose carry through to the taste and the bitterness I associate with English bitters just isn't there. Don't get me wrong—I don't expect a hop bomb and I'm fully aware of the difference between ESB and IPA. But this beer just doesn't meet my overall expectations for an English Special Bitter. There's also slight metallic tang hidden here—it doesn't bother me, but it is definitely there.

Mouthfeel: British brewers take a lighter approach to carbonating bitters and this beer aligns well with that.

Overall: What is this beer trying to be? I don't consider myself too much of a style purist but when a brewery puts out something called ESB, I expect an ESB. This is not that. To be fair, it's not a bad beer. It is an easy drinker. If this were marketed as a brown ale, I'd probably rate it a full point higher.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Classic IPA by Nokomis Craft Ales

This is a quick review of Classic IPA by Nokomis Craft Ales from Nokomis, Saskatchewan. Appearance: Classic IPA comes in a traditional 335mL can featuring clean and simple graphic design. The beer pours a little hazy but has a nice copper colour with head that lasts throughout the glass and leaves thick lacing. Aroma: I smell resinous pine and a touch of candy. Taste: Citrus, pine and just the right amount of sweetness. This is a really well balanced. Mouthfeel: Carbonation is slightly less than medium. Body is slightly fuller than average. Perfect for the style. Overall: It's rare to find such a prototypical example of a West Coast IPA released by a brewery that was founded in the last 10 years. I really enjoyed this beer, which is the first I have tasted and reviewed by this brewery. Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Do Stuff Together by Mikkeller

The core purpose of this blog is ostensibly the review of Canadian-made craft beer. But I will veer off-course from time-to-time. This review of an American-style beer brewed in Belgium by a Danish brewer is one of those times. There's a lot to like about Mikkeller . The homebrewer in me loves the story behind the company, from its homebrew roots, to its establishment as a virtual brewery, to its evolution into a global craft beer brand. The marketing professional in me loves the brewery's branding, focused as it is on the illustrative style of their talented art director, Keith Shore . And most importantly, as a fan of craft beer, I love that their output is universally pretty good. Mikkeller's beers are typically sold as singles, at least in Alberta. In fact, I don't believe I've ever come across a four- or six-pack of Mikkeller beer. Do Stuff Together is no different. This is a premium beer with a premium price of just under $10 for a single 473mL can. It is...

One Night by The Establishment Brewing Company and Ale Architect

Appearance: Packaged in a 473mL can featuring a minimalist geometric design inspired by both The Establishment Brewing Company and Ale Architect brands. Beer is yellow, opaque and resembles grapefruit or lemon juice. Head dissapates quickly to a thin film but continues to lace the glass. Aroma: It smells like grapefruit juice. Taste: Despite the appearance and aroma, this beer does not taste like grapefruit juice. Instead, it features the flavour of limes coupled with unidentified tropical fruit. There is also a hint of grass and a touch of tartness. This beer is undeniably delicious. Mouthfeel: There is a light touch to the carbonation which suits the style. The beer features the fluffy mouthfeel expected from a good hazy IPA. Overall: This is a winner. There's a lot to like: the lighter colour, the combination of citrus and tropical fruit flavours, and the perfect New England-style body. Find it and drink it. Rating: 4 out of 5.

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