When it comes to favourites, Canadians have a few passions we like to talk about – hockey, our love of Tim Horton’s coffee (or Timmie’s as us locals call it), our beautiful natural spaces (Muskoka, anyone?) and beer. Or craft beer, to better describe it. After a long day of tending to the grapes in the Niagara Wine Region, producing hydroelectric energy along our many rivers or snowshoeing in Algonquin Park, it is nice to unwind with a beer produced right in our own backyard, in Ottawa, Ontario. The capital city of Canada is known for many things, like being the seat of our government, home to the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian War Museum and the Ottawa Senators hockey team; containing the Rideau Canal, the oldest operating canal system in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the place where craft beer is perfected at Big Rig Brewery.
“Founded in 2012, Big Rig Brewery is led by brewmaster Lon Ladell. With 20 years of experience, he expertly reinvents traditional styles and creatively crafts emerging ones. It’s no surprise the brewery has won numerous awards in a short span of time for its standout beer including New Brewery of the Year in Ontario (2013), 19 medals at the Ontario Brewing Awards and one gold medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards.”
When the end of the day comes, what do you reach for? A soda to soothe you after a long day? A water to while away the evening hours in front of the TV? Or tea to tempt sleep to come early? All of these beverages have their place but do you really want to celebrate the holidays with the same old drink you have every day? After a bit, even wine can get, well, wearisome. 
This year I want to challenge you to try something new and fun! Something you can’t get every day, but will soon wish you could. Ontario craft beers offer just that sort of excitement and longing, especially when you try a seasonal offering from Big Rig Brewery. The current favourite in my household is – wait for it…. Midnight Kissed My Cow! Yes, you are reading that correctly. This double chocolate milk stout has a healthy dose of Belgian cocoa and English chocolate malts in it. Coming in at 5.6% alc./vol it has just the right amount of creamy milk sugar to create a full, smooth, stout that perfectly balances sweet and roasty. Midnight Kissed My Cow is the perfect liquid refreshment to share with family on a chilly winter’s eve while you decorate for the holidays or to ring in the New Year with, but like all good things it is here for a limited time only. Make sure to pick some up at your local LCBO before the end of the year.
Here’s a suggestion: with all of the outdoor fun to be had right now, like the Santa Claus parades, strolling the neighborhood to check out the lights or even visiting neighbors to drop off some holiday cheer, try adding Midnight Kissed My Cow to your “thermos” instead of hot chocolate. I guarantee you will be warmed up in no time and enjoy the journey getting there just a bit moo, I mean more.
**UPDATED**
This giveaway has ended.
The Giveaway
How cool is this? One very lucky MapleMouseMama reader is going to win their own Big Rig Brewery Prize Pack containing a 4-pack of Midnight Kissed My Cow, Big Rig Brewery merchandise and a $25 LCBO Gift Card!! (Please note the prize may vary from the photo above. LCBO gift card is valid in Ontario only.) To be eligible to win just complete the Rafflecopter below with your qualifying answers. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents over the age of 19. Please read our giveaway rules before entering. Please note that with the busy holiday season there is no guarantee the prize will arrive before Christmas, but we will do our best! This giveaway will end on December 15th, 2016. Good luck!
With the great line up of craft beers to be found at Big Rig Brewery it is hard to pick just one. Have a look here and tell me which one sounds appealing to your taste buds. 
FT&PD
Suz
**Be sure to enter the many giveaways we have going on right now, including ones for cash!!
**For lots more great gift giving ideas, please check out the #MMMGiftGuide!
**Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Big Rig Brewery. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.
Big Boot sound pretty good but I think I will try Midnight Kissed My Cow. I love chocolate!
I think the gold lagered ale sounds like i would like it.
I would love the orange peel one, I love breakfast beers.
I think the Release the Hounds sounds great!
THE MIDNIGHT KISSED MY COW SOUNDS DELICIOUS
The Red Lagered Ale sounds like my kinda beer!
I would love the Red Lagered Ale.
The English Brown Ale sounds good!
The Midnight Kissed My Cow sounds good.
Midnight Kissed My Cow Double Chocolate Milk Stout sounds pretty amazing to me!!!
Release the Hounds sounds the best to me! Love craft brewing!
I zoomed right towards the Orange Peel Session IPA
I think the Orange Peel Session IPA sounds delicious!!
I would have to Alpha Bomb one my College son like a strong beer thanks
The Gold Lagered Ale sounds good to me.
The gold lager beer I’ve had it in Ottawa it’s good.
Midnight Kissed my Cow. Seriously, chocolate? I’m all in.
Red lagered ale sound amazing. I’m all in.
My hubby would like the Big Boot.
I think hubby would like the Red Lagered Ale! What a great variety!
Release The Hounds sounds good to me. I love a bold India Pale Ale
I think I would pick the Midnight Kissed By Cow, sounds like an interesting flavour.
I’d love to try their English Brown Ale – looks great!
The Alpha Bomb sounds great!
The Orange Peel Session IPA sounds sufficiently girly for me :0
I’d like to try Release The Hounds…It sounds bold and unique.
I think I would like Orange Peel Session IPA.
Alpha Bomb sounds good to me
I would pick the Red Lagered Ale.
I have GOT to try the Release the Hounds!
so many interesting blends hard to pick but I love me some chocolate so Midnight Kissed My Cow Double Chocolate Milk Stout sounds delish
The alpha bomb sounds interesting!
the big boot sounds good
The Red Lagered Ale sounds interesting.
The Midnight kissed my cow brew sounds really different and it would be interesting to try.
The Orange Peel Session IPA sounds great as does theBigBoot
The midnight kisssed my cow, it has belgian cocoa and chocolate barley – sounds like my mug of beer!
I would choose Alpha Bomb
I think I would like to try “Red Lager”, it sounds tasty and flavorful!
I would love to try the Midnight Kissed My Cow Double Chocolate Milk Stout! Sounds good!
Orange Peel Session sounds really nice!
Big boot!
Midnight Kissed My Cow. The name alone is intriguing! Who doesn’t live chocolate??
the red lagered ale sounds like my kind
The Midnight Kissed My Cow stout sounds delicious!
I’d like to try the The Red Lagered Ale .
Big boot!!
Release The Hounds sounds like an interesting brew.
The English Brown ale sounds really good.
I would love to try the Orange Peel IPA.
The Midnight Kissed my Cow sounds amazing!
The Midnight Kissed My Cow beer sounds good to me.
Big boot sounds great
Release the Hounds! The name it self wants me to try it!
Midnight kissed my cow sounds amazing!
Wow that’s a tough one but I’m pretty sure I would like the ” Big Boot”
Orange peel IPA sounds good.
Midnight kissed my cow…. how can you go wrong with that?
Release the Hounds!
Yum! Definitely the midnight kissed my cow. Like to try that one.
I would love to try the Orange Peel Session IPA
Alpha Bomb caught my eye right away!
They all sound great. I’d love to try the Midnight Kissed My Cow for sure those flavours sound interesting. The Big Boot is intriguing
I would love any of these beers! BUT, I would really love the Orange Peel Session IPA
i like Release the Hounds
We just went to the big rig restaurant in Ottawa last night. Great place. I am pregggo so I didn’t drink. Hubby had big rig gold and loved it
I’d love to try the Red Lagered Ale.
Red Lagered Ale sounds good
Midnight Kissed my Cow sounds amazing
Midnight Kissed My Cow
Midnight Kissed my Cow – if only because of the name
Big boot sounds good
would love the Red Lagered Ale
Orange Peel Session IPA sounds good!
i like the sound of the Alpha Bomb
English Brown Ale sounds good.
Red Lagered Ale looks good.
I would go for the Red Lagered Ale!
Appealing to my taste buds would be Midnight Kissed My Cow. Sounds really interesting…I’d like to try it.
I would love to try the Alpha Bomb. It sounds delicious!
being no stranger to Big Rig… their Black IPA and Gold are two of my favs!
The English Brown Ale sounds delightful.
Big Boot or Alpha Bomb! I’m so happy that people are finally starting to embrace beers that isn’t Bud, Blue or Molson Canadian! lol
Alpha Bomb sounds good!
the red laugered ale sounds good
I would try Release the Hounds first! What a great giveaway! I LOVE trying new beers!
Midnight Kissed my Cow sounds perfect for the season.
Orange peel session IPA sounds good
I am currently pregnant and miss Big Rig beer so much. Can’t wait until April to have a little drink again!
The Orange Peel Sessions IPA looks like it would be right up my alley!
Release The Hounds sounds good.
The Orange Peel Session IPA sounds great!
Big Boot sounds pretty tasty
Ohhh Midnight Kissed My Cow! Stout with chocolate milk? My two favourite things!
We discovered grapefruit beer this summer and just absolutely love it. That being said I’d love to try the orange peel session IPA.
The orange peel session IPA sounds very appealing.
Big Boot
Big Boot
I like Release the Hounds…would love to try it!
i would like to try their english brown ale.
I’d like to try Release the Hounds
I’d like to try the big boot.
I think the gold lagered ale sounds good!
the gold lagered ale
the orange peel session ipa please
I would try the Gold Lagered Ale first, but would gladly make my way through the entire list.
gold lagered ale please!
I think the Orange Peel Session IPA sounds good!
My husband and brother are beer connoisseurs. They’d love the Big Boot, Release the Hounds or any of them really!
Love supporting local (we’re in Ottawa).
Besos Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
I would love to try Release the Hounds.
Orange peel session IPA for me please
The BIG BOOT sounds delish. vanilla and banana- yes please!!!
The red lagered ale looks nice
I’d like to try the Alpha Bomb
I’d like the English Brown Ale
Gold Lagered Ale sounds like something we would like
Release the Hounds sounds intriguing.
The little peach sounds good
The Midnight Kissed My Cow sounds AMAZING
The Alpha Bomb sounds good to me!
I would like to try the Release the Hounds.
I think the Alpha Bomb sounds the most delicious (but I wouldn’t say no to any of them!)
Big Boot sounds interesting.
Orange Peel Session IPA sounds like it would be delicious!
Midnight kissed My [cow sounds like something I would like
I would love to try the Gold Lagered Ale
The Orange Peel Sessions IPA looks great
I like something a little milder so the Gold Lagered Ale sounds amazing!
Midnight kissed by a cow
The gold lagered ale or the orange peel one looks like one I would like to try!
I like the citrus beer and ales so Orange Peel Session IPA would be one that I would try
The orange peel one sounds appealing to me
Definitely Midnight Kissed My Cow. It sounds yummy and different.
I think I would like the English Brown Ale