Timber Crib Pale Ale:
We've been brewing this beer for many years and it's still going strong!
The Ottawa River was the easiest way of transporting logs from the Ottawa Valley to Quebec, using timber cribs or rafts. Huge logs were squared in the bush and then assembled into cribs, on the river. Each crib would consist of about 25-30 logs. Then the cribs, up to 100 of them, were then joined together into a long raft. These rafts were where the lumbermen lived during their long journey down the river to Quebec City. These trips could take 1 or more months depending on many factors including the size of the rafts, weather, etc.
Cant Hook IPA:
A cant hook is a traditional logging tool with a wooden handle and a metal hook at one end. They are used for handling and moving logs.
Whippletree Extra Pale Ale:
A whippletree is a swinging wooden crossbar that is attached to the traces of a horse to pull logs, plow, carriage, etc.
Big Pine IPA:
Not much to say about this one, except our Pines are big.
A crosscut saw is designed for making cuts horizontally through a log. They can be used for cutting either standing trees (felling saw) or already downed trees (buck saw).
Deacon Seat Hefeweizen:
A deacon seat was a half log bench running the length of the bunkhouse. It is rumoured to get it's name from the travelling deacons who would use the bench to preach to the lumbermen.
Saison Des Chutes:
In some parts of the Ottawa River, rapid or falls would hinder the progress of the timber cribs. The crews built slides or chutes for the logs to travel through in order to continue their journey downriver. One of the more famous chutes was the Chutes Coulonge in western Quebec, not far from our location.
Big Pine IPA:
Not much to say about this one, except our Pines are big.
Pointer Boat Porter:
Pointer boats were designed by John Cockburn and built in Pembroke, ON from the1850s to the late 1960's. They were used in the logging trade on the Ottawa River and helped the loggers guide their timbers down the Ottawa River. These long boats were famous for their ability to travel in very shallow water because of it's flat bottom. The pointer boats were double ended so it didn't matter which way the boat was facing and the men could still do the job at hand. They could carry up to 8 men and still only need 5" of water.
Valley Blu:
Just the name for our Blueberry Wheat.
Crooked Pine IPA:
A variation on our Big Pine IPA with different dry hops.
Little Trees Little Beer:
This is a low alcohol beer at 2.5% so we thought it should have a little name.
Spile Driver Maple IIPA:
A spile is a small spout used to take the sap from a Maple Tree. They are now generally made of metal or plastic and are hammered into the tree after the hole has been drilled. A bucket hangs off them to catch the sap dripping from the tree.
Shack Maple Brown Ale:
The Sugar Shack is where the Maple Syrup is made. mmm...maple syrup.
Mhailpe Maple Irish Red:
Mhailpe is the Gaelic (Irish/Scottish) word for maple.
Belgian Waffle (Maple Belgian Strong Ale):
This is a Belgian strong ale made with maple sap.
Matrimonial(kāk) Stout
Our favourite dessert is Matrimonial Cake. Where we grew up (in Saskatchewan) this is what we called date squares. We believed if we could make a beer that tasted like that, we'd would win life. So far, so good.
