LOL Sudbury

Smallbeer is currently in Sudbury, Ontario, locked up in a police station 14 hours a day in the name of research. I didn't anticipate too much in the way of blogging — not just because I'm busy — but because I've been warned that craft beer in Ontario is rare as rocking-horse shit. My brother-in-law is in Toronto, and with the exception of Bar Volo he's struggling for a decent pint.

What hope for Sudbury then?

Well, it's actually been pretty good. Mostly thanks to the Laughing Buddha. This unassuming pub/restaurant, overlooking the less-than-lovely CP Rail line, has one of the more diverse bottled-beer selections I've come across in Canada. Along with Samuel Smith's, Chimay (premiere at $12 a bomber can't be beaten) and other international big-name crafts, there's a deep selection of east-of-SK stuff.

-Grand River Brewing Curmudgeon IPA is a somewhat soapy, but sweet IPA, with middling hops and a lasting mineral bitterness. 
-Half Pints Little Scrapper delivers a more malty IPA. It's got a lingering aftertaste that retains a rich and bitter balance right through,
-Great Lakes Devils Pale Ale 666 is my favourite of the bunch. It might be a gimmicky concept, but this is a great dark ale with substantial hops — more so than many good IPAs. It's the Ontario equivalent of a Cascadian Dark, just a little less assertive. I'd have another.

Well, I'd better get back to work. I have a potential date with my first BA member tonight, so I better finish off and tart myself up a bit.