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Local Guides
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CHESTERS
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by
Alexandra Bates
March 11 - 17, 2010 |
What kind of beer do you like? Stout, bitter, ale, or pilsner? Do you like hops? Do you like malt? Do you prefer a heavier beer, or something lighter? Do you like the brews of Belgium, England, France, and Germany? How about something more exotic, like beers from New Zealand, Singapore, or China? What about hard cider and barley wine? If you do know the answers to these questions, you’d probably enjoy a trip to Chester’s Beers of the World; they carry over 200 brews – not just beer – in cans and bottles. And if you don’t know the answers to these questions, maybe it’s time to find out. Every brew on the 34–page menu comes with a description to help you identify what you’re tasting, and the servers are there to help if you have questions. And if you’re not feeling adventurous, there’s always Molson Canadian on tap
The inside of Chester’s was done in the ‘70s, and not much has changed since. It’s long and narrow and dark, with an enormous wood bar befitting their massive drinks list. There are dark faux wood tables with green leather club chairs grouped around them, and booths with well–worn velvet upholstery. Green glass chandeliers and bulbs behind multicoloured stained glass provide the light. It’s comfortable, a good spot for a low–key pint.
When we visited, we picked a booth near the back of the pub and started our long consideration of the beer menu. I really like India pale ale, with its characteristic hoppy–fruitness, so I chose the Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, which is made in the U.S. and set me back $6.95 for a 355ml bottle. I know all the jokes about American beer, but there are some incredible microbrews from south of the border, and this IPA was pretty decent. It was very orangey with a spicy finish.
My guest ordered the Celebrator Doppelbock from Germany, but they were out of it, so our server suggested the Leute Bockbier instead ($9.95 for a 330ml bottle). This Belgian bock–style beer was dark in colour but light in flavour, with a decidedly sweet taste and a huge, frothy head. I was impressed to see that both of our brews were served in a glass that was appropriate for that specific brew: it must be hard to keep track of all of those glass styles.
After we were happily settled with our drinks, we focused on the small food menu. It’s pretty obvious that Chester’s are more focused on the drinks than the food. We decided to start with a pound of the chicken wings with medium sauce ($9.75), which were on the small side, although the taste was fine. They came with carrot and celery sticks with blue cheese dressing.
I had the Chester’s club ($10.75), lots of smoked chicken sandwich meat, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheddar cheese on white bread. It came with a side of thick–cut French fries and a bowl of creamy coleslaw. It was all nice and fresh.
My guest had one of the burgers, the Royal Canadian ($10.95). The thick, grilled patty was topped with cheddar and a slice of pemeal bacon and served up on a soft Kaiser bun. It came with the same sides as my plate.
Dessert came in the form of more beer, with both of us choosing richer, heavier brews. I had the Old Growler Porter ($12.75 for a 500ml bottle). The English know how to make a good porter: this dark beer was a delight, with a very strong chocolate–coffee aroma and flavour. It was a perfect beer–in–lieu–of–dessert. My guest ordered another bock, the Weltenburger Kloster Asam from Germany ($9.95 for a 500ml bottle). This dark beer was full–flavoured, with some sweetness and a clean finish that’s a common characteristic of bocks.
The food at Chester’s is fine, but their beer menu is where they truly shine, and their friendly serving staff can help you choose the right one for you. They’re open seven days a week for all your international beer needs.
[ALEXANDRA BATES]
CHESTER’S BEERS OF THE WORLD
HHI
60 King St. E, Hamilton
905.529.9568
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