Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

In honour of my favourite day of the year, here are two splendid beers from the Emerald Isle.

Harp Premium Irish Lager (Ireland) 5.0%

Malty and a little bitter for a lager. A nicely non-bland taste that doesn't take away from its refreshing-ness. A gold colour with a full head, I kind of expected it to have a few more characteristic of a red beer based on the name and its lineage.

O'Hara's Irish Stout - Carlow Brewing (Ireland) 4.3%

This stout is black and for all intents and purposes opaque in a glass. A velvety smooth head and well carbonated. Smells deliciously smoky as if delicious wood was being roasted in dark chocolate. The taste is nicely bitter, roasty and more of coffee than dark chocolate but there is an earthy blend of both. One of the most expensive beers in the import aisle but well worth it. A delicious Irish Stout, sooo much better than the infinitely more famous Guinness, it's no wonder O'Hara's Irish Stout has won numerous awards in international competition. You'll be glad it comes in a 500 ml bottle because there is plenty to savour - it also has a beautiful bottle cap.

Tartan Ale (2012) - Alexander Keith's (Canada - Nova Scotia - Halifax)

Tartan Ale 2012 - Alexander Keith's (Canada - Nova Scotia - Halifax) 6.1%

As promised on their website in 2011, Alexander Keith's Tartan Ale was a work in progress. I am very pleased to once again find Tartan Ale in the beer aisle in 2012. I think the 2012 version is even better than I remember so I've decided to review it again.

Alexander Keith's Tartan Ale is quite sweet, with a touch of caramel; it has a subtle hops backing and is full of roasty red tones. It is somewhat bitter and at times I taste some hints of coffee. Overall it is complicated and interesting but well balanced and still very drinkable. Tartan Ale is a red tinted gold colour in a glass and, in my opinion, far and away the best beer Keith's makes.

Argentina's Favourite

Quilmes (Argentina) 4.9%

An interesting lager, bitter and malty sure but also some subtle fruity tones & musty sweetness. Quite good for an international lager. Not the easiest thing to find in North America but it's everywhere in Argentina; as popular as the label claims.

La Fin du Monde - Unibroue (Canada - Quebec)

La Fin du Monde - Unibroue (Canada - Quebec) 9.0%


A delectable spice filled floral aroma, matched by an amazing flavour. Strongly sweet, yeasty, bitter with powerful notes of citrus, pear, coriander. This product of Quebec tastes like a true Tripel from the abbeys of Belgium. To think, it's taken me so long to try this one!! La Fin du Monde is a little thicker on the toungue than some but really beautifully crafted and has a truly amazing mix of flavours not to mention the fact that it's cheaper by volume than any Tripel you can buy from Belgium. I'm definitely going to be picking up La Fin Du Monde again and again.

Spruce Beer - Garrison Brewing (Canada - Nova Scotia - Halifax)

Spruce Beer - Garrison Brewing (Canada - Nova Scotia - Halifax) 7.5%

Garrison's Spruce Beer is a dark brown that appears to be almost a burnt crimson colour when viewed in a certain light. The aroma is quite predictably sprucey but sprucey like a spruce tree not like a sprucey hops but it is a strong dark maple flavour with hints of smoke that greats you on the first sip and lingers into the aftertaste. It must be the mix of molasses and caramel malt that becomes what I am tasting as maple and smoke.

The spruce flavour is from actual spruce and fir tips that are used in the brewing, which I have to say is pretty fantastic. Garrison claims this is North America's oldest beer style and tells its story on the label. The use of pieces of trees is far-out and yet authentic because if there is one thing the east coast of Canada has it's lots of trees.

Fairly sweet but also quite bitter, this is a thoroughly interesting and complex beer. It a must-try for beer drinkers and history buffs alike, and it's a seasonal so don't delay: get out there and try it.