#031a: Canada Tour Brews (Unibroue, Silversmith, Sawdust City, Amsterdam, Double Trouble, Cameron's, etc) at The Loose Moose (Toronto, ON)

When on tour, try new beer...

Location: The Loose Moose (Toronto, ON, Canada)

The Story? Anytime I'm visiting another city/state/country, I have to take a dip in the local cuisine and drafts. If I have beer enthusiast with me, the effect is amplified. Our touring guitarist (and co-headliner), Cameron Wisch is very much "into" beer, having brewed his own for some time now, even including them in releases such as Zona Mexican's "Washed Up IPA" and Sirs "IPA For An Answer".

After a bust at The Beer Store on the Dundas St. West and having been duped into visiting Steam Whistle Brewing (I'm sorry... you're an independent brewery and you brew one beer and its a generic pilsner?) on recommendation of a clerk at said Beer Store, we finally ventured around some construction and stumbled upon The Loose Moose.

Cameron, the rest of the band, and I quickly threw down orders off the craft-Canada section of the menu. Thank goodness for 3 oz. samples, otherwise I would have show up at the show in a wheel barrow.

The Beer? 
Round 1:

Silversmith Black Lager | 5% ABV | Niagara-on-the-Lake

Very Smooth and toasty. Light mouthfeel with a pleasantly lingering finish and nice coffee on the nose. A good start. Year-found offering from Silversmith (only one of two beers they brew).

Sawdust City Golden Beach Ale (Belgian Ale) | 4.5% ABV | Gravenhurst, ON

Mmmm! Tons of citrus on the nose. Lemony, low carbonation, light on the tongue and tummy, and lightly hopped. One of the best of the bunch. I would order this any time, especially summer. A uniquely citrus, unspiced, clean take on the Belgian style. 

Amsterdam Boneshaker IPA | 7.1% ABV | Toronto, ON

Different. An English influenced IPA for sure. Almost still and tastes good a bit warmer - but isn't on cask. Medium body. Unfiltered, Amarillo hops and 7 malts. Drinkable, but not in a throw-it-back kind of way. Hops come off a muted and the malts are mild. Very reminiscent of last summer in northern England. 

Double Trouble Hops & Robbers IPA | 5.7% ABV | 50 IBUs | Guelph, ON

Brighter than the Amsterdam, tasting more like a session IPA. Very quenching with hints of lemon. Crisp. 

Cameron's RPA (Rye Pale Ale) | 6.6% ABV | Oakville, ON

Now we're talking. This one starts blurring the British/American IPA line, with floral notes on the nose and more pungent American hops. Grapefruit and lingering hops on the tongue, while still smooth - not sharp. Toasty, pepper notes in the finish. One of the best Ontario craft beers I've run across so far. 

Round 2:

Unibroue Blanche de Chambly (Belgium-style Witbier) | 5.0% ABV | Chambly, QC

VERY clean. Hints of coriander peak through along with orange peel, pepper, and yeast. A classic wit. Dry on the finish and not sweet at all. I really need to remember to dig through this brewery further... 

Lake of Bays Spark House (Red Ale) | 5.0% ABV | Baysville, ON

Nice and bitter. Prickly carbonation with plenty of lemon & grapefruit hits through the hops. Solid. 

Junction Craft Brewing ESB | 5.0% ABV | Toronto, ON

Toasty, smooth, and very English. A bit of bitterness, but the finish smooths it all out. 

Highlander Brew Co. (Scotch Ale) - not pictured

Clean and malty. Very wet up front. Given on recommendation from the bartender as an "Uncivilized version of Innis & Gunn" - apt.


Overall, a pretty straight forward variety of independent beers with a couple very nice surprises - Sawdust City Golden Beach Ale & Cameron's RPA were the winners here. The bar itself was wonderful - good spacing and lighting and the 3 bartenders who hosted us were friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. Thumbs up.