Try It: Cameron’s Beer

I am sooo not into reviewing beer.

Thankfully, I happen to live with an ale enthusiast; my husband, who is known to crack open a bottle as he rocks our little guy to sleep, was all too happy to give Cameron’s Beer a try. A true craft brewery located in Oakville, Cameron’s has been passionately brewing all natural ales, and lagers since 1997.

My husband had the pleasure of trying five (5) of Cameron’s beers – the Cream Ale, Lager, Auburn Ale, Dark 266 and their newest, the Dopplebock. Now in the interest of my largely female audience who may have  already started to check out of this conversation, I will say this:

HE FREAKIN’ LOVES CAMERON’S BEER AND THINKS YOU SHOULD ALL TRY IT AT LEAST ONCE.

In fact, since trying it for the first time a few weeks ago, it’s the only beer my husband has purchased – which is actually quite the compliment, as I’m used to seeing empty boxes of at least 6-8 different brands.

So here we go… a guest post from the ol’ hubby, chatting about why he loves Cameron’s:

I consider myself a neutral beer drinker, not favoring any particular brand. Throughout the last 10 years I’ve tried a number of different beers from all over the world. Whether its a trip to the bier markt in Toronto, or a weekly trip to the beer store, I can say with great confidence I have enjoyed most of the reputable brands out there – as well as a few you’ll never find in the mainstream. I do have favorites though, including a mix of lager and dark/pale ales. Most recently, you might catch me with a case of Sapporo or Lowenbrau.

I was pleasantly surprised with Cameron’s selection. I can honestly say that I have never “loved” all of the particular blends of a single name; although I favour Rickards Red, I’m not so much a fan of the white or dark at all. However, I’m really digging all of Cameron’s offerings.

Cameron’s can compete with the best brands. Here is a breakdown of the various flavors. (Keep in mind there are no preservatives so drink up!)

Cream Ale – Not being a fan of traditional cream ales or similar types of of blends, I would buy this again. “Hailed at its launch in 1997 by Toronto Life as the Best New beer of the Year, this elegant gold ale is crisp and refreshing. Brewed with Canadian six-row barley and specialty hops from the UK you will taste understated hop notes carefully balanced by a fruity backbone.”

Auburn Ale – This is a complex ale thanks to the tons of citrus hops. It was a different taste experience for me, but I can see myself enjoying this beer again. “Deliciously complex, this west coast style ale uses “tons” of citrus aromatic American hops. Watch for a generous hop nose, smooth maltiness followed by a deep dry smooth hoppy finish.”

Dark Ale – My favorite! Look out Keiths and Rickards – don’t be afraid of the dark! It is exceptionally smooth and sublime; the kind of beer you can just keep drinking. “The dark lager has the deliciousness of a North American Lager with the complexity of a dark ale… watch for hints of chocolate, coffee and raisins.”

Lager – Another excellent beer, the taste reminds me of summer. It is also incredibly smooth and happens to be the beer I have been exclusively enjoying for the last four weeks. Even the guy at The Beer Store was surprised that I kept coming back for the same one! “Winner of the Gold Medal at the 2010 US Open Beer Championships, besting over 300 competitors.”

My dream would be for Cameron’s to have a mixed 20 or 24-pack so everyone can appreciate the consistency among all the blends. They are all equally tasty!

Here’s a quick video of a LIVE taste test of the new Dopplebock!