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TAPAS, TAPS & TIDBITS


Food & Drink in Greater Hamilton

     In this month’s Tapas, Taps and Tidbits  I’ll review a couple of beers from our friends at Clifford and NickelBrook and grab some of Buffalo’s specialty in Burlington.

Artificial ParadiseArtificial Paradise

 

    In this cold weather, we often look for an escape, often tropical, to get us through the winter.   Well our good friends at Clifford Brewing can’t take you to paradise, but they can offer you an Artificial Paradise.  This beer is back and now’s your chance to have a little paradise in a can or glass.  ARTIFICAL PARADISE is not one of Clifford’s core brands but is one of the rotating seasonal beers.  It’s not a weak beer, coming in at 6.8% alcohol,  but dangerously doesn’t taste it. It is made with Citra, Amarillo and Galaxy Hops and is flavoured with passion fruit, grapefruit and orange which gives it a distinct tropical flavour and aroma.  Absolutely delicious.  When watching Rocket and The Renegades, a lady came up to me and asked me what I was drinking because it smelled great.  Damn straight!

Chilly TinsChilly Tins

     I swung by another local Taphouse, NickelBrook on Mainway,  to pick up some of my favourite light beer, Party Dad, and while there  I picked up a couple of their non-core beers to try, and both which I hadn’t yet sampled:  :  CHILLY TINS IPA and  BLACK LIGHT STOUT.  Chilly Tins is a New Zealand Style IPA,  something I’ve not had.  I’m not certain what makes it “New Zealand Style” (likely the hops), but it too was bursting with tropical flavours, with a strong citrus undertone.  Refreshing and delicious, and comes in at a light 4.5% alcohol.  I also tried their BLACK LIGHT ALL-NIGHT STOUT.
This is NickelBrook’s twist on a traditional English stout with flavours of coffee, molasses, milk chocolate, caramel and roasted nuts.  And like a traditional stout, is not overly strong, just 4.5% alcohol. I didn’t see this one on their website, so it may be near the end of its run.  Get some, only at the Taphouse on Mainway,  while you can.

Right Wingers Dry CajunRight Wingers Dry Cajun    And while I was in Burlington, I stopped by one of our distribution outlets for what are arguably the BEST WINGS IN BURLINGTON,   RIGHT WINGERS.  Located at the corner Of Guelph Line and Mountaingrove, it’s between Gator Ted’s and Canna Cabana (arguably their best location).  There are numerous wing places in Hamilton and Burlington and almost every pub has wings.  I’ve always loved the Fool and Flagon Wings and recently discovered some good ones at The IronHorse on Melvin.  But when I’m in Burlington, this is my go-to spot.   They make great pizza, with different combo options as usual, also delicious sides like their potato wedges.    I picked up a pound and a half of dry Cajun wings with veggies and blue cheese on the side.  Wings are wings, and like I said there are many good ones, but I’ve never had a bad wing at this place. The staff are friendly and the place is busy but well run.  So stop in and grab some wings, and maybe more, from Right Wingers in Burlington.

 - IW