59: Black Tusk Ale

I intended to open this beer for the opening of the Canada games, seeing as this beer was brewed in that general area. Ended up being in Eugene during the opening ceremonies, and it’s just as well. A trip to Vancouver in fall 2008 didn’t impress me much with Canadian brewing, and I probably would have made a bunch of “stoned brewer” jokes after seeing the giant splifs featured so prominently in the opening ceremony. I even loaded up a mixed case of beer at the liquor store on the way home, and each bottle I opened in the ensuing weeks was a disappointment, despite the large number of breweries surveyed.

I think my disappointment is at least in part due to the English brewing tradition that so many Canadian brewers seem to pay homage to. I have no problem with low-alcohol, sessionable beers, but I do insist on flavor. This beer, like so many I sampled, seems to be intended to play a supporting role to a bland meal, and just doesn’t stand on its own. The Canadians would do well to take a lesson from Shaun White in the coming years: go big or stay home.

Beer Name: Black Tusk Ale
Brewer: Whistler Brewing Company
Price: N/A
Sampled: February 28, 2010
Rating: 1/5
Notes: Man, I wanted to be surprised by this beer, but it was as I expected: light on flavor, forgettable. Initial metal tang, sour aftertaste.
ABV: 5% abv
IBU: N/A
OG N/A
TG N/A
Serving Type: Bottle.