I’ve been around the lake once or twice and did my fair share of gunnel bobbing as a kid. I hauled some of those fat bass-tards on a ten pound test into the old canoe. But I’m no white water warrior and never portaged, I’m just a catch and release canoeist, but I do know my way around a paddle.
After saying all that it looks like Old Man Mikkeller isn’t talking about an Algonquin Park outing, but some corporal punishment ala old Jasper Beardly. “Paddlin’ the school canoe, you better believe that’s a paddlin’.” *
Speaking of Mikkeller, they are a Danish company that is known as a phantom brewery. They have no brewery per se but contract their brewing out to local firms. This particular brew is” represented” (not brewed) by The Craft Brand Co. Dig a little deeper and it appears that some of the beers that TCB sell, such as Omnipollo, Kona, and Flying Dog are brewed locally by Brunswick Bierworks, a contract brewer. However this can says “Brewed in Niagara” and no one in the Niagara region seems to be taking the credit for this mystery brew.
So does this brew call for a paddlin’ or is it a double of distinction? A thick and chunky looking pour, shades of mango and pulp with some nice foam white water to paddle through. Very juicy aroma, the tropical juice on the nose overpowers anything else. For a thick looking brew it has quite a thin mouthfeel. Big time stone fruit juice and mild bitters on the aftertaste, it’s not really hoppy or boozy. After a few swigs a bit of malt funk showed up but the juice still reigns supreme. It’s relatively easy drinking for a high ABV double. Could have used some hoppiness to help paddle that back end.
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