Peanut butter love; Batman approved - the beer of 2019

I have written just one blog in 2019 that wasn't of the year-end variety, and that was back on January 20.

As far as beer goes, it's been a fantastic first quarter of 2019, so it hasn't been for lack of material - I've just been preoccupied with other matters. But with more than a dozen beers - most of them new to me - that have woken up both my palate and my creative juices, and four in particular that have kick-started my soul, I think I'm ready to write something.

The four beers that have stolen my heart this year come from four different breweries and, with one exception, came and went from my life faster than my Equifax credit score.

There is one that was still around as of this writing, and I did my best to finish the keg all by myself by pleading with Sarah and Shanice at my local not to sell it to anyone else.

Fairweather Brewing of Hamilton is quickly
developing a reputation as one of Ontario's
best breweries

Most likely not one of my best qualities, though Sarah just laughed and Shanice simply ignored me, so perhaps they found it endearing after all.

The keg is now (sadly) empty.

But before I start rhapsodizing about those four (or about the staff at Top Corner), I want to give a shout-out to a few other beers that dazzled me this year; further proof (if more was needed) that the beer scene in Ontario varies between stellar and exceptional, and is getting better every day.

There are some old favourites on the list, such Ghost Orchid from Bellwoods and Clutch from Redline, and there is a beer I've enjoyed only once or twice - hello, Fairweather's High Grade IPA - that is so impressive I am dumbfounded as to why it isn't a perennial IPA of the Year candidate in this blog. So good.

The controversial Flying Monkeys Sparklepuff Triple IPA is here too. With all that melon and peach flavour and the near total absence of booziness - almost unheard of for a 10 per cent beer - this would have been rated much higher if not for the floaties.

Bellwoods' Hafis Road location is my top spot
for beer whenever I'm in Toronto.
So many great beers...

Its detractors - there were many, and they were vocal - called it Sparklechunks. Apt.

Lots of new beers (to me) this year too. There were two new Wizard Wolf variations from Bellwoods - Citra & Columbus and Simcoe & Mosaic - and the legendary Hopslam from Michigan's Bell's Brewery also made its first ever appearance, thanks to the wonderful Beer Bro Paul.

Manantler delivered two top notch new beers this spring. Barley Brown, a magical Brown Ale, and Tunnel Vision, which might or might not be a replacement for last year's Beer of the year finalist Cascade Lollihop, were both in the house. My house.

Both are also still in the brewery fridge and as to that Cascade Lollihop thing, I haven't confirmed that nugget of intel with Brewery Owner Extraordinaire Matt as of yet. Hulk Smash, an IPA with awesome can art from fellow Bowmanville brewers Chronicle, also wowed me this spring and Null and Void from Ottawa's Dominion City Brewery (part of my first ever beer mail shipment), impressed me with its Triple IPA deliciousness.

But none of those beers - fantastic though they were - took my breath away like the four brews that I judged the best of the best of the first quarter of 2019.

Ottawa's best kept secret no longer

First up was a beer I discovered on a trip to the Hammer with my friend Shona in February. There were a bunch of beery highlights but a Pale Ale from Fairweather - fast becoming one of the province's best breweries - called Menagerie (Simcoe) absolutely blew me away. With a mango and tart citrus aroma and a ton of tropical fruit goodness, this was an absolutely lovely beer.

I didn't think that could be topped until a trip to Bellwoods' Hafis Road location a few weeks later, where I (re-)discovered Double Jutsu. Pineapple juice, ripe citrus and a resiny bitterness make this an instant Beer of the Year candidate. Too bad that by the time I made a return visit, and despite me begging Ashley (the coolest cat in the beer business) to find a bottle from her secret stash for me, it was sold out.

Lots of love on social media for this one, so I hope it returns soon.

The third brew in this phenomenal foursome was the gold medal winner from that Canada Post beer delivery, courtesy of my new friends at Dominion City.

A DIPA With Fruit - a Dominion City (Ottawa)
and Barncat (Cambridge) collaboration IIPA,
is very much Batman approved

The Ottawa brewers teamed up with Barncat Artisan Ales of Cambridge - who I visited last summer - to produce A DIPA With Fruit, an 8.5 per cent super juice bomb that was bursting with pineapple, mango and peach.

The first thing I thought of after the first sip was Holy Fruit Explosion, Batman, that was outstanding! Followed by the thought that Robin probably DID say something like, as there were a total of 359 Robin catchphrases - all beginning with "Holy..." - in that classic, campy late 60s television program that shaped the (warped) sense of humour of an entire generation.

The closest I got was "Holy astringent plum-like fruit," from the very last episode of the show's three-year run, and that is a good example of why Batman, and not Robin, is the brains of the Dynamic Duo. Seriously, Robin, astringent? Not in this beer; not when its brewed with plenty of pineapple and passion fruit puree.

Good thing we had Batman to set the Boy Wonder straight, in this brilliantly written exchange (it should have earned an Emmy) from Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires (1968):

Batman: Yes, I'm looking forward to Minerva's famous eggplant-jelly vitamin scalp massage.
Goon: Minerva thought you might pop into the Persimmon Pressurizer first.
Robin: Persimmon Pressurizer? Holy astringent plum-like fruit!
Batman: Only astringent until ripe, Robin.

No way I could find a beer to rival that (I thought) until I wandered into Top Corner a couple of days after that delicious delivery and saw Peanut Butter Godiva from 5 Paddles on tap. Peanut butter, huh? I have to try this, I said, dismissing several IPAs on the tap list that are usually my go-to pints.

Now I love peanut butter a lot and probably way more than the next guy, unless the next guy is named Dan B. and he is dreaming about this 8.5 per cent peanut butter and chocolate Imperial Stout on Untappd:

"I would risk my peanut allergy to try this," says Dan.

Mmmm...peanut butter

Dude, no. I was back at Top Corner nearly every day until this keg of Reese Peanut Butter Cup-in-a-glass was emptied, so I can appreciate the sacrifice you were prepared to make, but you are going to have to sit this one out.

Which sucks for you and I apologize for that, because this beer was fantastic!

Thick and creamy, with great dollops of peanut butter and hints of dark chocolate teasing my taste buds, right down to the last drop. Rich and decadent and delicious.

I never got a single bottle of this stuff, so I sure hope Spencer and the crew at 5 Paddles make more and soon.

'Tis the season of beer and I don't want it to end.

R.I.P. Joel Manning

Craft beer lost a legend yesterday with the passing of Joel Manning, a pioneer brewer at Amsterdam and later at Mill Street.

I never met him but several friends in the business have and all spoke glowingly of Joel as a friendly and genuine person and a wonderful brewer.

And to many, he was a friend.

A glass tip in your honour sir.