Cranky Review

1688 Reviews

Nothing Broken Here

Nothing Broken Here

My first thought was tortured tastebuds from sampling not just as sipper but a paint stripper, resulting in a broken down palate.* Or maybe a paint splattered in pieces palette on the floor of a frustrated artist’s studio? But finally, not without some hesitation and...

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Hello Darkness My Old Friend

Hello Darkness My Old Friend

Hello darkness my old friend, I’m here for an elbow bend, Because this beer I'm slowly pouring, is the brew I’ll be scoring, A stout is the topic of this refrain, and what remains. Is a round of The Darkness.* What lies beyond the pale? ** If you guessed The Darkness...

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Savoir-Faire is Everywhere

Savoir-Faire is Everywhere

A French beer with a German name seems odd to me.* Why? Just in case you skipped history class that day, in the previous century the two countries had some relationship issues. I think they saw a counselor, or maybe that was a Chancellor?  "De l'eau a coulé sous les...

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C Señor

C Señor

In the forensic lab, breaking beakers, filling flasks and prepping the pipettes. Doing some cranky old calibrating and calculating of this cryptic craft quaff. Yes it’s another Nickel Brook Mystery Pack pint and after A and B it’s no mystery that this brew is Mystery...

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Forsooth Houndstooth!

Forsooth Houndstooth!

An Irish ale with a Scottish name. Houndstooth? I see a pattern developing here. The Scots and Irish were not always the best of neighbours. * Even today a dispute is brewing, that being Brew Dog challenging Guiness to a stout froth off. ** Heady times. The Eastbound...

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Re Fresh

Re Fresh

Fresh Prince (Willard Smith) age 57. Doug E Fresh (Douglas Davis) age 59, Mannie Fresh (Byron Otto Thomas) age 56, Maestro Fresh Wes (Wesley Williams for some Canadian content) age 57. * All these Freshes aren’t so fresh anymore, maybe in need of a refresh?  Still...

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IPA Mania

IPA Mania

There was the Tulip mania of 1634.* And Beatlemania of 1963. And the present-day megalomaniac that is our Editor. ** Some may even say that IPA’s are a mania in the brewing industry.*** Enter Willibald’s Mania, a triple IPA 10 percenter that will not only whet your...

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Bravery Rewarded

Bravery Rewarded

The craft beer industry for most brewers is largely a community endeavour. They cherish their mug club members, their local partners, and the communities they live and work in. Case in point are the fine folks at Fine Balance. One of their stated values is, and I...

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Is Sober Hockey Captain an Oxymoron?

Is Sober Hockey Captain an Oxymoron?

In most cases the hockey captain is sober before the game, and I know if the Leafs’ captain is getting drunk after a playoff game it’s not on champagne. Henderson offered us their best and when we were done with that we got their least, a zero IPA that was OK.  So...

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A Tome to Foam (The Fruit Farmers Make a Stand)

A Tome to Foam (The Fruit Farmers Make a Stand)

This poem is not a weighty tome, just a simple tome to foam, Something in Niagara’s amiss, the Maid of the Mist is missing her mist. Tell the poor lass what’s come to pass is it’s in my glass en masse. But not to worry we’re in no hurry, We won’t be late, there’s a...

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