Beer review: Weizenbock

Weizenbock (dark wheat ale)

I rarely get seduced by packaging, but I do have to admit it does have an effect on me. The series of beer from "les Trois Mousquetaires"  have gotten me to pay attention to their wares, more than thrice.

This specific brew took me fo a bit of a loop. The fact is there are very rare opportunities to match a beer and dessert. Though I hear great things about a real beer float, I've yet to try one myself.

So here we are with this brew that has very distinct overtones of caramel, maple and ripe fruit (bananas!). I wasn't ready for this.

As a matter of fact I should probably have finished an evening with this, but instead started my afternoon with it. Since the die was already cast I went with it.

it was a mixed class affair since the only thing that came to mind to mix this up with was kind of a cheesy (no, literally...) chex mix snack. And I got to tell you, it worked out.

It is kind of similar in the experience as having a nice port after dinner... but before.

Anyhow I don't want to "rave" about it, but I did enjoy it. Quite a bit in fact.

At a almost wine-level of 10.5% Alc/Vol it is quite intense. And with it's dessert-y quality it can take you by surprise. At least it's taste did for me. Try some after a meal or an afternoon snack. It is at least as good as it's packaging leads you to expect.

4.5 burps out of five!

Brew review: Nixal (Amber)

Nixal

This was no ordinary brew. As a Canadian, there's always a sense of pride in me when a product of maple has any measure of success.

Since it is malted and brewed with methods that are all very similar to the ones used for beer, you could easily mistake it for another ambered ale. But almost half way through your first throatful that distinct maple flavour will hit you.

To the credit of the people crafting this nectar (Maison Rupicole) the balance of maple flavour is perfectly balanced as not to rise above anyone's tolerance. (unless you simply dislike maple flavour)

This one chimes in at 9% alc/vol and it's light colour and flavour might fool you into overindulging. I recommend pacing yourself. Your taste buds and your head will thank me in the morning. 

Beer Review: La vie de Château

La vie de Chateau

This was a pleasant surprise. A beer with a slight rum taste.

I can see myself enjoying this one, on a warm summer evening sitting next to a small campfire while roasting pieces of cheddar on a stick.

At 7%  alc/vol it's almost a light delight, by my standards. Never does this beverage let itself be rough on the palate. Even the rum taste is rather subtle, all to it's favour.

Nice one to have handy.

 

Brew Review: Vin d'Orge

Le Vin d'Orge.

It labels itself as the adult's candied apple coating (barley sugar).  

It's promise of a different flavour and a 8.6% alc/vol. Enticed me into trying it and I have to say 'Meh. 

Usually when something has gone to market this intensely, it has already a certain measure of success. However I cannot share the interest there is in this drink. 

Don't get me wrong it's worth the try, if not for it's novelty it is a very smooth drink. Almost soft drink-like.

You may like it.

Beer review: L'intrigante. The new IPA on the block

The new IPA on the block

A good friend of mine, enticed me into trying this lovely Saint Arnould IPA and boy what a treat it was. It is without a shadow of a doubt the most savorous ale in it's class.

Simply put if you wanted to show the subtle delight that an IPA has to offer this is the one to find. 

At à smooth 8% alc/vol this is not to be taken lightly and in that regards it just might be considered treacherous.

Lovely treacherousness. Get yours tonight!

Reaction Nouvelles 11 Septembre 2014

http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2014/09/11/station-longueuil-le-quai-deborde-en-heure-de-pointe

«On remarque qu'à cette station les clients se dispersent peu sur le quai et demeurent à l'entrée des tourniquets», a constaté une porte-parole de la STM, Amélie Régis.

Ce que le/la journaliste ou Mme Régis négligent de mentionner, c'est que depuis près de 3 mois, il n'y avait plus qu'un corridor et deux escaliers pour circuler entre le quai d'arrivée à Montréal, de Longueuil et l'échange à Berri avec les autres lignes de métro.

Alors les gens se sont adaptés à embarquer dans "la" section de train qui débouche sur le corridor, pour éviter de se ramasser dans ce goulot d'étranglement ridicule.

Il est important de noter qu'avec les moyens de pressions que les employés font et le manque d'orientation vers "doubler les efforts la nuit pour avancer les travaux", afin d’accommoder les clients le jour (parce que rappelons-le, on le paye ou on le subventionne le service qu'on le prenne ou non) les usagers du métro se sentent déjà très accommodants.

Allez n'importe où ailleurs dans le monde et les clients sont sacrés. On fait tous les efforts pour garder une continuité du service.

Au Québec, on bloque une voie sur une artère principale, à 9h A.M., pour installer des panneaux publicitaires pour les élections. Bravo!

Et comme M. Vézina l'a soumis, ce n'est pas de leur faute, les usagers si les tourniquets sont à un point central et ne permettent pas la distribution des usagers.

Pour l'avoir vécu, tout le système de métro n'a aucune considération pour une population grandissante. Les goulots d'étranglement, ça fait partie de son design! Toute la rame de métro, à habituellement deux sorties, près des extrémités, ou on circule souvent que deux par deux.

L'attaché de presse du métro lance librement des chiffres :

Celle-ci a ajouté que le nombre de trains qui circulent sur la ligne jaune a augmenté de 25 % depuis le début du mois et que le service se situe au même niveau qu’à la rentrée de 2013.

Ce 25% de plus, est-ce distribué sur toute la journée ou juste l'heure de pointe?

Elle omet de mentionner aussi que la population de Longueuil et la popularité de cette banlieue a explosée.

Les derniers chiffres que nous offrent Statistique Canada, portent à croire que la population de Longueuil à augmenté d'a peu près 2800 d'habitants à chaque année.

Ou est l'ajustement annuel? Y a t'on pensé?

Non, on préfère tasser les clients jusqu'à ce que leur ADN se mélange par osmose!

Finalement, en 15 ans de circulation en Métro je l'ai constaté: déjà et seulement cette année, c'est arrivé, a plus de trois reprises, où le quai était complètement saturé. Il a même fallu laisser passer deux trains, à un certain moment, avant de pouvoir monter dans n'importe quel wagon. Le quai est souvent complètement saturé le matin. Il s'agit de s'y rendre pour le voir.

Je regrette, cet article a été mal recherché et c'est de l'encre presque gratuitement versé sur du papier. Où est la réflexion, la vérification et le fond de l'histoire?

Et ils appellent ça du journalisme.

News Reaction 26 of September 2014

About 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-s-sun-media-boycott-called-short-sighted-1.2777074

"It's sending the wrong sort of signal about the type of government [the Liberals] would want to run if they were elected," says Christopher Waddell, an associate professor at Carleton University's school of journalism and communication.

On the contrary sir, it sends exactly the right signal.

It is not because Mr Trudeau chose a public and political life that it gives any media outlet a license for slander or the politicization of his entire family's history.

There has to be a line drawn, on what is a public servant's private life is open for public discussion or not. These are tactics usually reserved for two-bit-grocery-isle-tabloids and some of us are glad that Mr. Trudeau is in a position to say "enough" and have the clout to make it stick.

There is a general trend in society to use every pretext of freedom [of speech] to capitalize without an ounce of reflection or responsibility, let alone "imputability."

If I was going to invent a new swear word, that would be it: "imputable". People rarely own up to their own mistakes or responsibilities. But that's for another blog.

We already have a Prime Minister that hides as much as he can from actual public policy making. And that is a problem. Harper's private life, honestly we [shouldn't] give a flying fig about it and rightly so.

Why Justin Trudeau's family history is "fair game"?  And why is his reactions are any indications of what kind of government he would be part of? That is sheer academic speculation, a fishing trip for attention and for spilling more ink on the matter.

I say congratulations Mr. Trudeau for having a spine and not hiding it. Let them know when someone oversteps their bounds.