When I say I really like beer, I really like beer. I don’t just like beer a little bit, I love everything about the taste and I vastly respect art of brewing. I was raised on beer from a very young age when I first stole my father’s can of Foster’s off the kitchen table at the age of 3. During the same incident I snatched our neighbour’s cigarette, but luckily only one of these vices stuck. I think it’s because one of these things was bitter, cold and delicious, whereas the other was hot, burned and made me hack and convulse wildly.

Beer to me is the perfect drink. It brings people of all most walks of life together and acts as an incredible social lubricant. I believe over the years I have grown to appreciate beers from across the globe and spectrum. While I sincerely love a brilliant craft beer above anything, I would never turn down a chilled glass originating from any of the larger breweries either. I’m a beer lover, not a beer snob.

A large challenge since I moved to Toronto has been finding some unique beers. I’ll be the first to admit that my current LCBO has a very poor beer selection and I have yet to find a fabled “Beer Store” I’ve been told so much about. I’ll admit that I was absolutely spoiled in Vancouver; I was around the corner from one of the largest liquor stores and I was a block away from the best private liquor store I hath ever lay mine eyes upon: Viti Cold Beer and Wine.

So far I have encountered some very good Ontario beers! Creemore Springs has an excellent “UrBock,” Steam Whistle Brewing has a very solid and refreshing pilsner, and Mill St Brewery has some incredibly delicious crafts such as their Tankhouse Ale and Organic Lager, although I hear their Vanilla Porter is unbelievable. I’m still on the lookout for other great breweries though, in particular I’m dying for a hopped-up IPA, so please let me know of any of your favourites!

All of this beer talk really got me thinking about my favourite beers of all time. Without further adieu, here are my top five beers of all time that I recommend you track down and jump on. They are delicious and your world will not be the same after you locate them.

5. Phillips Brewery – Draught Dodger – Victoria, BC

To me, this beer is the Great White Whale of the beer kingdom. On a quest for sustenance during one of my early poker games, this beer appeared without any warning bearing an extremely artsy colourful label and brilliant pun for a title. I was only ever to pick up a couple cases of Draught Dodger before it just vanished off the shelves never to be found again. Draught Dodger was one of the smoothest ale’s I have ever poured down my throat. A maple cream ale using some of the richest maple syrup I have ever consumed (in beer form). If I recall the bottle said it used a special crystallized maple syrup, but I’ll never remember for sure. As far as I’m concerned the bottle could have said it used crystallized nectar from Olympus. It pains me to put this on my list knowing I’ll never try it again; heck I only know I didn’t imagine it because Beer Advocate has it listed with the only trace of the label on the internet. It’s a damn shame, I’d pour this stuff all over waffles if given the opportunity. The only cream ale I’ve ever fallen in love with. For a strong honorable mention from Phillips Brewery instead let me recommend their Longboat Chocolate Porter. It’s dessert in a glass with it’s incredibly strong chocolate notes; HIGHLY recommend.

4. Lost Coast Brewery – Tangerine Wheat Ale – Humboldt County, CA

When I was backpacking through Europe I fell in love with Orangina. You may know Orangina as the incredibly delicious carbonated orange flavoured mineral water that comes in rounded, stylized bottles and filled with pulp. It is incredibly refreshing and oh-so flavourful. Lost Coast Brewery’s Tangerine Wheat Ale is the Orangina of the beer world. It is the perfect summer beer! It’s incredibly thirst-quenching and perfect for lounging around your backyard in the hot sun. The tangerine flavour is so strong you may almost forget that this wheat beer is actually beer. Make sure you track this winner down come July and August.

3. Sacramento Brewing Company – India Pale Ale – Sacramento, CA

This is actually a little heartbreaking for me. Sacramento Brewing Company actually closed their doors this past fall. Sac Brewing had some incredibly sophisticated flavours and brews, however in my opinion, none so refined as their India Pale Ale.

I am a huge American/Northwest IPA fan and it is without question, my favourite style of beer. I have taken in plunge in many, many IPA’s. Typically they are extremely hoppy (I’ve been told over-hopped by some, is that even possible?!?) and this hoppiness gives a very deep crispiness or bitter flavour. I find them extremely refreshing. Sacramento Brewing Company had my favourite IPA to date with some fantastic labelling to match.

It will be missed; R.I.P. Sac Brewing.

2. Dogfish Head Brewery – Raison D’Etre – Milton, DE

I do love me a good pun and Dogfish Head definitely delivers. Raison D’Etre is a really complex brew that gets it delicious flavours and mahogany colour from a combination of beet sugar and green raisins! Get it? Raison D’Etre has raisins in it! Honestly a very delicious beer, however I have only found it available a handful of times. Maybe it’s just that popular and delicious!

I can’t really compare Raison D’Etre to many other beers. It reminds me of a plummier version of Vancouver Island Brewery’s Hermannator (a strong 10% ice bock that drinks like a milkshake). Raison D’Etre may require another tasting to stay on my top 5 list but each time I’ve had it thus far it definitely has earned it’s spot on this list. Check it out and let me know what you think below.

1. Granville Island Brewing – Lions Winter Ale – Vancouver, BC

My number 1 was an incredibly easy choice. Granville Island Brewing’s Lions Winter Ale is a damn near perfect beer. I can drink hundreds of these and it just seems to get better every year. GIB’s Winter Ale is known for it’s incredibly delicious vanilla flavour. Refreshing, crisp and only available between October and March. I love this beer so much it’s one of the few things outside friends and family I miss from Vancouver.

My first foray into Lions Winter Ale was not very good; truth be told my friends and all all thought the batch was “off.” However, I came back the next year, and gave it another chance. I’ve never looked back, this beer has had me purchase case after case and pitcher after pitcher, every years since.

Winter Ale is a perfect beer in my opinion. A beer that’s darker in colour, but not too heavy. It continuously calls me back for more with it’s very flavourful sweetness. It’s great for a weekend afternoon or dessert! If you ever find yourself in Vancouver during the mild winter months, do yourself a favour and pick some up.

There you have it, my favourite five beers! The list might change, but it’s been pretty consistent the last 12 months. What are you favourite beers?