threecb
01-10-2004, 03:10 PM
Part 3 in the Toronto Series...
So, on Friday Jan 2nd, my wife woke up sick with flu symptoms and was pretty much down for the count. She tried to be a trooper, but shortly after we left the room we were back there and she was back to bed. While she slept I could see the Steam Whistle Brewing Co. from the hotel window, directly across from the CN tower. After making my wife as comfortable as possible, I lit out for a quick visit to SWB. Listen up, steveh, because it's a pilsner I'm talking about.
I'd read some things where other beer geeks trashed Steam Whistle because they only brew the Pilsner. But this ain't no macro pilsner! I went on the tour, which was well done, witty and informative. (Props to the gal hosting the tour -- Lynn, I think!?!) The owners of this brewery brew this pilsner with no adjuncts. They are trying to cut into the MolBat monopoly and apparently are doing well with this. They have a retro, 1950's marketing slant, including the use of silkscreened bottles made with a '50's ginger ale bottle mold. The bottle's are green (they know about brown v green) and the silkscreen design allows them to quickly recycle the empties. Also, they're thicker than standard bottles, so they get 5-6 times more use out of them than standards (up to 30 vs.5-6). OK, I'm running on here, but they impressed me. They've also apparently impressed Canada, since they are outgrowing their current brewhouse (they brew 7 days to keep up with demand). On NYE, when we were in C'est What, draft and bottled SW was outselling every other beer offered. With all this said here's what I thought of the beer:
Steam Whistle Pilsner: The beer is more of a Bavarian than a Czech pilsner, I'd say. After pouring with a bright white head that calms down quickly, this pale straw-colored brew yields a bready aroma, slightly sweet. Hops were very restrained throughout, with that breadiness coming through. The mouthfeel was thin-to-medium, appropriate for the style. I rather enjoyed this beer, and left with a six-pack, which I enjoyed in the hotel room over the next couple of days as my wife regained her strength. The bottled version holds up well against the draft. Well, done, I say, and may they spread throughout Canada and find their way into the US!
So, on Friday Jan 2nd, my wife woke up sick with flu symptoms and was pretty much down for the count. She tried to be a trooper, but shortly after we left the room we were back there and she was back to bed. While she slept I could see the Steam Whistle Brewing Co. from the hotel window, directly across from the CN tower. After making my wife as comfortable as possible, I lit out for a quick visit to SWB. Listen up, steveh, because it's a pilsner I'm talking about.
I'd read some things where other beer geeks trashed Steam Whistle because they only brew the Pilsner. But this ain't no macro pilsner! I went on the tour, which was well done, witty and informative. (Props to the gal hosting the tour -- Lynn, I think!?!) The owners of this brewery brew this pilsner with no adjuncts. They are trying to cut into the MolBat monopoly and apparently are doing well with this. They have a retro, 1950's marketing slant, including the use of silkscreened bottles made with a '50's ginger ale bottle mold. The bottle's are green (they know about brown v green) and the silkscreen design allows them to quickly recycle the empties. Also, they're thicker than standard bottles, so they get 5-6 times more use out of them than standards (up to 30 vs.5-6). OK, I'm running on here, but they impressed me. They've also apparently impressed Canada, since they are outgrowing their current brewhouse (they brew 7 days to keep up with demand). On NYE, when we were in C'est What, draft and bottled SW was outselling every other beer offered. With all this said here's what I thought of the beer:
Steam Whistle Pilsner: The beer is more of a Bavarian than a Czech pilsner, I'd say. After pouring with a bright white head that calms down quickly, this pale straw-colored brew yields a bready aroma, slightly sweet. Hops were very restrained throughout, with that breadiness coming through. The mouthfeel was thin-to-medium, appropriate for the style. I rather enjoyed this beer, and left with a six-pack, which I enjoyed in the hotel room over the next couple of days as my wife regained her strength. The bottled version holds up well against the draft. Well, done, I say, and may they spread throughout Canada and find their way into the US!