On Friday we popped over to the Canal House to sample a couple of beers as part of the Colorado Craft Beer Week. They were featuring beers from the Odell Brewing Company, Left hand, and Oskar Blues. This was good news to me as some of new favourite beers are from the Odell Brewing Company.

90 Shilling by Odell Brewing Co.

My Colorado Craft Beer of choice was a bottle of the 90 Shilling from the Odell Brewing Co. They describe it thus; “We introduced 90 Shilling, our flagship beer, at our opening party in 1989. For a while, we’d been wondering what would happen if we lightened up the traditional Scottish ale? The result is an irresistibly smooth and delicious medium-bodied amber ale. The name 90 Shilling comes from the Scottish method of taxing beer. Only the highest quality beers were taxed 90 Shillings. A shilling was a British coin used from 1549 to 1982. We think you’ll find this original ale brilliantly refreshing, and worth every shilling.”

I used to drink quite a bit of the 70, 80, and 90 Shilling beers when I lived up in Aberdeen and this beer does bring back some good memories of those days when we supped a pint or too of heavy after a game of footy down the park. You do get a quite nutty flavour and a nice crisp finish. I am good at drinking the beer and paying for the beer but not so good at the descriptions. Other people have said that it has a bit of a caramel smell and flavour. I am not so sure.

Other Odells beer I have had recently in Nottingham included the rather good 5 Barrel Pale Ale which is described as having a ‘distinctive hop character‘  with ‘a fresh, lively flavour and aroma’, and the tasty Loose Leaf which was Named one of the Top New Brews of 2013 by Modern Brewery Age! “Layers of flavor, it’s fruity then it dries out then there is more fruit, and it leaves you with a nice taste,” said craft beer retailer Renzo Kian-Kubota. “I think it might be the easiest beer to drink that I’ve ever had.”

Well the beer is sorted so we just needed a little bit of food to help keep us going as we supped.

A spot of Food?

T

here were a few specials on for the Colorado Craft Beer week and we were torn between trying on of their Elk Burgers  for £9.95 or one of their Buffalo Steaks for £14.95. In the end it came down to a decision on the price point as that Colorado beer is not cheap! So we ordered the a couple of the Elk Burgers and took our seats with our Craft Beers next to the Canal Dock inside the main entrance

Elk Burger

I was very happy with my Elk Burger, it has a really nice flavour a little gamey and also a little bit on the sweet side. It is a bit like the Venison burgers that they sometimes sell here at the Canal House (It is a very similar meat so probably is the same burger). The toppings on this Jparticular sandwich are on point as well. A nice melted layer of Pepper jack cheese, and a slice of bacon. Now if I was being picky I might have liked to have had some crisp and crunchy American style bacon instead (a nice slice of streaky perhaps).

It is a rather good meaty burger, I hope that they are still selling this even after the Colorado Craft Beer week

 My Elk Burger with Fries and Side Salad

Now what I do like about all the Burgers and Sandwiches that they sell here at the Canal House is that they do give you a good decent simple salad on the plate. It is the sort of salad that I quite like to eat, a few assorted crisp bits of various types of lettuce, some tomato, and a bit of cucumber. Nothing flash, nothing fancy, and nothing scary, nice and simple! On the chips front they do well too, with just the right amount, not too many and not too few, and they actually taste nice as well. Now you might think that this was just a gimmick from the Canal House to sell some beers, but it is actually IS Colorado Craft Beer Week in Fort Collins Colorado. Now this is the kind of link up that I like on the beer front. Someone is paying attention to the World Beer Scene and I am liking that. Oh yes I most certainly am!

I am looking forwards to seeing what is next on the agenda!

The Canal house is at 48-52 Canal Street and is is easy walk from the Station Street Tram Stop (which is closest), you could also walk back from the Old Market Square stop quite easily as well. They are also on Facebook and Twitter