Detox and Retox - Yoga On Tap at the Ottawa Winter Brewfest

A lot of people practice yoga in order to free their minds from the distractions that normally occupy it; a lot of people drink beer for the same reason. Yoga classes followed by a pint of beer have become a hot new pairing at breweries throughout the city and the country. While you may think the beer would offset any of yoga's positive effects, sipping a pint may have more health advantages than you think, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Cereal Science. And who doesn't like a cold one after working your muscles hard? I first heard of the trend when I saw one of my favourite craft breweries, Dominion City Brewing, hosted YOGA ON TAP last year, that featured a session that offered an all levels accessible yoga class, followed by a tour of the brewery and some beer tasting. It was too late for me to attend that event, but I managed to get into the session happening at the sold-out Winter Brewfest at Lansdowne Park today. It was -28 Celsius leaving the house this morning, with a windchill of way too cold to be out if you don't have to. I thought I could warm myself up on the frigid walk from my parking spot to the Horticulture Building by convincing myself I was attending a hot yoga class but it didn't help. Once I registered and started to defrost, I made my way to the front to set up. I'd say there were about 30-35 people in attendance, with more women than men, about a five-to-one ratio. Our instructor, Ashley, soon welcomed us to the class and won everyone over with her enthusiastic attitude, and the announcement that she was cool with people drinking beer while she led us through the routine. Her approach to the class was it was just her inviting us in to join her as she drank beer while she practised yoga, and that life is a gift that we should all enjoy. I appreciated the commitment to work-life balance, but I would need to take more yoga classes to get the full benefits of it. I was too busy getting my body into the proper form, and worrying if my breathing was correct to get any of the mental or spiritual aspects. But by the end of the session, I was relaxed enough to enjoy some beer. Ashley then led everyone through a beer tasting, and her knowledge of beer is on par with her knowledge of yoga. The standout of the samplings offered was the Unf stout from local brewers whiprsnapr, full of dark chocolate, black cherry, and espresso flavours. With a focus on one's well being, and one's community, YOGA ON TAP was a good time for everyone, whether you come out for the yoga or for the beer.

Led astray by Alexander Keith

I thought I knew what an India pale ale was when I tasted my first Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale back in the late nineties. I remember liking both the citrusy smell and the slight bitterness of the beverage, and it replaced Molson Canadian as my go-to beer when I went to either the bar or the Beer Store. Even after it was discovered the annoying Scotsman used in an ad campaign liked kiddie porn almost as much as he liked his ale, the popularity of Keith's continued to soar, with it now being available in the U.S. after being a Canadian exclusive for centuries. But as the saying goes, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Not only is Alexander Keith's not the best India pale ale on the market, it turns out that it isn't even a true India pale ale.

As beer nerds are quick to point out, a proper IPA has a higher alcohol content, is a lot more bitter due to the higher level of hops, and is fruitier in smell, and heavier in body than what you get in Alexander Keith's. Labatt, who owns Alexander Keith’s in Halifax, haven't brewed a strong-tasting ale since the days of  Prohibition, and Keith’s brew master emeritus doesn't feel there is a need to change the long-standing brand. And why should he; as their slogan used say, those who like Keith's, like it a lot. And I still like Keith's quite a bit. I'm not planning to throw out my membership in the Order of the Stag, and I give Alexander Keith all the credit in the world for being a better brewmaster than Samuel Adams ever was (turns out he was more interested in American independence than he was in making beer). But after a recent visit to the LCBO where I bought a random sampling of IPAs, I found a couple of ales that I'll be more than happy to drink over the course of the summer. If you have a chance, have a taste of the following, and feel free to let me know what you think, and if there's an IPA out there that I should be drinking, let me know.

Updated: 12-26-2016

• Amsterdam Boneshaker IPA
• Beaus Beaver River IP Eh
• Beaus Gigantic: La Formidable^*
• Beyond the Pale Aromatherapy
• Great Lakes Brewing Audrey Hopburn
• Great Lakes Brewing Karma Citra^*
• Great Lakes Brewing RoboHop
• Great Lakes Brewing THRUST!^*
• Hop City HopBot IPA
• Hops and Robbers Extra Delicious IPA
• Le Castor Yakima IPA
• Leo's Early Breakfast IPA^*
• Muskoka Brewery Mad Tom IPA
• Nickel Brook Headstock IPA 
• Red Racer India Pale Ale
• Stone Delicious IPA^*

^* Personal favourite