I never wanted to stop searching for great porters, I just never figured I'd find one that's better than Samuel Smith's. And really the search for the best of any style will always be an ongoing for me. I think I may have overplayed the "crisis" bit in an effort to get some laughs. I really was trying to have some fun with the fact that that Fuller's had so unexpectedly and completely blown me away.

Honestly though I did truly believe as far as porters go that there were none better than Taddy Porter, but at the same time I revel in the fact that one does exist and that I had the satisfaction of drinking it. Who knows what great beers await discovery.

On to the drinks menu for today. Already had a bottle of Abita Jockamo IPA while getting dinner cooking. Whipping up a huge pot of seafood gumbo and decided to sub in some of that beer for the white wine I normally use. So far the "sampling" says major hit. Finished off the half bottle that didn't go in with the catfish, crawfish, alligator, and boudin sausage. Got to have a bottle of Abita Turbodog with it, maybe another Jockamo.

The rest of the drinks menu, Sixth Glass Quad, the bottle of Union Jack I found hiding at the back of the fridge, and I'm really curious about this Organic Chocolate Stout from Samuel Smith's. Might even crack open the Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest.

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They dont see a lot of Samuel Smith's down here. I do see Fuller's all over the place tho. I'll have to see if I can find the London Porter. Sounds like a beauty!

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I'm eager to find more beers from the Fuller's line. I shouldn't have been so surprised that it was that good. I mean Fuller's is just as English as Samuel Smith's and few can match the English for Porters. It's a signature beer for them, much like an ESB, IPA, or Imperial Stout.

If you do find it, by all means get some and enjoy, it's an absolute beauty. Rich, dark and complex they call it, rich, dark, and sexy I call it. Kinda like me, aside from the rich, dark, and sexy part. Oh wait I may get a visit from the guys at Founders, their Porter says dark, rich, and sexy on the label.

I may have to rethink my entire drinks menu, already called an audible and had the bottle of Green Flash Double Stout instead of Turbodog or Jockamo. All this talk of Fuller's is just more reason to rethink things.....

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not that victoria ever sees an actual winter...still

picked four new brews; Pyramid Snowcap, Lost Coast Winterbraun, Russell Naughty and Spiced Porter, Hoyne's Grattitude.

Russell is a vancouver brewery, http://www.russellbeer.com/, whose Blood Alley Bitter makes frequent visits to my beer fridge. I greatly enjoyed the Spiced Porter (cinnamon, all-spice, and nutmeg. aged on oak chips that provide a subtle vanilla flavour and aroma ). will return to the local beer store today and purchase whatever they still have of this great holiday offering. outstanding in all important grading cats; taste, taste, and more taste.

Hoyne is my lastest fav brewery, about a ten minute ride away from my home. they sell to the public w-s; http://hoynebrewing.ca/. Their IPA is my new local #1, edging out Phillips Hop Circle, and Driftwood's Fat Tug ( Canadian Gold Medalist ). Hoyne is a new brewery, though Sean Hoyne has been craft brewing locally for over twenty years. His beer has subtle power, quite refined flavour, makes great use of local resourses. Gratitude is a strong ale, great depth, great color. tons of taste. a departure from their hoppy norm, i'll have another.

reviews of the snowcap and winterbraun to follow "nfl sunday on the sofa with pints".

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c; b richards, ribiero, desharnias, zajac
lw; sedin, e kane, pacioretty, kunitz
rw; kessel, callaghan, cole, paranteau
d; chara, seabrook, souray, leddy, markov, s elliott
g; rinne, elliott
bench; garon, giguerre, hodgson, orpik, d roy
ir; nobody, yet

Pyramid Snowcap review; disappointing. strong brew, but lacks taste rewards. one note nose. boring.

Lost Coast Winterbraun; meh. another strong brew, some depth to the flavour profile. i'll drink the other bottle in the fridge, but not buy another.

both these beers suffer in comparison to Hoyne's Gratitude, and Russell's Spiced Porter, both of which are exceptional. if you have a chance to purchase either, take it, because both are very limited brews, and will disappear soon ( went to the local store yesterday to buy a case of the porter, and that was half their remaining stock ). i'll visit hoyne wednesday and hope to fill a couple growlers with the gratitude.

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dobber pro 2012-2013; campbell conference

c; b richards, ribiero, desharnias, zajac
lw; sedin, e kane, pacioretty, kunitz
rw; kessel, callaghan, cole, paranteau
d; chara, seabrook, souray, leddy, markov, s elliott
g; rinne, elliott
bench; garon, giguerre, hodgson, orpik, d roy
ir; nobody, yet

Nice work Spitball! Solid reviews. I couldn't agree more with you in regards to both. Pyramid's is a mess (as are almost all of their offerings) and I wasn't that impressed with the Lost Coast one either (though it is better than Pyramid's).

I'm down to the final 4 days before I am on the beer train again...I'll be sure to look for those 2 local offerings. Can't wait!

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C (4): Crosby, Roy, Stepan, O'Reilly
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If I recall correctly the head brewer for Hoynes used to be the head brewer at Canoe Club. Canoe's brews were usually solid so I'll have to get off my tail and try some Hoyne offerings.

It sucks that there are so few breweries in Victoria...

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Okay, so maybe nobody likes a cynic, but everybody f**king hates those perky optimists!

... and anyway, I make a damn good cynic.

Very few people get to study craft beer under one of the pioneers of the North American micro-brewery movement. Frank Appleton taught me what it means to make great beer, and I am truly grateful for that.

Frank and I set up the brewery in Victoria?s historic Swans Hotel in 1989. When he moved on to build other breweries, I took on the role of Brewmaster and began honing my craft.

In 1998, I founded the brewery at Canoe Brewpub. I brewed there for 13 years, focusing on developing award-winning beers and fostering a sense of community between brewers and beer enthusiasts. For me, it is community that really counts: getting together with fellow beer lovers, talking shop, sharing a few pints, and having some laughs. I bring this fundamental passion to every batch I brew.

?Make great beer,? Frank told me. ?The rest will follow.? While my understanding of the craft has matured over the years, Frank gave me the foundation I needed. I strive to create interesting and thoroughly enjoyable beer. Beer that looks good in the glass, feels good in the mouth, and lifts the spirit?and for that, I am proud.

*******

i've yet to try the devil's IPA. love the pale ale.

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dobber pro 2012-2013; campbell conference

c; b richards, ribiero, desharnias, zajac
lw; sedin, e kane, pacioretty, kunitz
rw; kessel, callaghan, cole, paranteau
d; chara, seabrook, souray, leddy, markov, s elliott
g; rinne, elliott
bench; garon, giguerre, hodgson, orpik, d roy
ir; nobody, yet

Well, that sounds like a strong sales pitch...

For the uninitiated I was kidding about the shortage of breweries in Vic, within 10 minutes of my house there are almost as many breweries as Tim Hortons.

Edit: Picked up a Hoyne's Devil's Dream IPA on the way home. Solid offering, not the palette wrecker that Fat Tug is, but a nice hit of hops nonetheless. Another good local ooption for sure.

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Okay, so maybe nobody likes a cynic, but everybody f**king hates those perky optimists!

... and anyway, I make a damn good cynic.

I couldn't help noticing we are coming up on a dual celebration. Dec. 21st is only ten days away and marks one year since this thread started and the end of the world......what shitty timing.

Any body planning to hoist a glass of La Fin Du Monde at midnight to toast the end of the world? And what will you be drinking in toast to this thread as it passes the one year milestone? I'm thinking London Porter or Trois Pistoles.

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