NOSBEERATU ~ RAINHARD BREWING

Nosbeeratu is the newest beer offered by new start up Rainhard Brewing.  Their beers have been consistently great thus far.   The beer is seasonally brewed and is a Black IPA in the west coast style.  It is only available in growlers and on tap thus far.  The beer pours a very dark brown, almost black.  The nose has a beautiful roasted malt aroma with a little hint of smoke.   Great dark maltiness on the pallet too, with a medium bodied creamy mouth feel and balanced hop bitterness.  The hops (quite a complex array of hops – both wet and dry) give it a citrusy-pine taste and a dry finish.  Very drinkable!

Malt: 2-row, pale ale, carafa III, Munich, carawheat, rye
Hops: Galaxy & Centennial
Dry Hop: Galaxy, Citra, Centennial

6% from York (Toronto) Ontario     IBU 66

SAISON DU PUMP ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

Saison Du Pump is a pumpkin ale brewed with spice and Belgian Saison yeast.

Sampled on draught, it pours a hazy golden colour, with a tinge of orange.  It had a decent head, but the foam dissipated quickly.  Nose has lots of yeast, spice, a little malt and pumpkin.  The taste is very similar: lots of bready and yeast flavour with pumpkin, pumpkin spice (nutmeg and cloves) and a fall earthiness. A little sweetness mid drink and then finishes with a mild bitterness and a subtle spiciness.  An interesting marriage of two different styles and seasons - definitely worth a try.  A good unique beer.

5.2 %  from Etobicoke, Ontario

FALLEN IDOL ~ INDIE ALE HOUSE

Fallen Idol is a sour wit, made with rhubarb.  The beers pour an opaque gold with a hint of a peachy hue.  Lemon, herbal notes, and wheat dominate the nose, with a touch of sourness.  Taste is sweet wheat with lots of lemon and other citrus with herbals flavours, with a pleasant Brett-y/lactobacillus sourness.  The beer has some depth, really well done, highly drinkable, and thirst quenching.

The beer so far has only been made once and is available on draft.   “Fallen Idol” was actually made by accident, when rhubarb was added to their wit beer, it turned out really well and Indie Ale house will be attempting to recreate the accident

5%  from Toronto, Ontario    25 IBU
Key Ingredients: Lactobacillus, Rhubarb

~ SAINT OF CIRCUMSTANCE ~

 COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING CO.

Collective Arts have the coolest labels, here is why, to quote their website, “We are a grassroots beer company fusing the craft of brewing with the inspired talents of emerging and seasoned artists, musicians, photographers & filmmakers. Our brewery is dedicated to promote artists and raise creative consciousness through the sociability of craft beer.”  I bought several Saint of Circumstance bottles and each one had a different label.  There is an open call to artists near and far to submit designs and they run off about 85 labels in each series.  They are on to Series 5 now.

Saint of Circumstance is a Blonde Ale infused with the zests of orange and lemon.  The citrus is highlighted with Citra, Amarillo and Sorachi Ace hops.

Both the nose and the taste have components of lemon, grapefruit, orange and a light malt.  The pleasant subtle bitterness at finish is perfect.  I really enjoyed this beer, great warm weather session beer.

4.7% from Waterloo, Ontario    19 IBU

~MAD & NOISY HOP & WEIZEN ~ CREEMORE SPRINGS

“Mad and Noisy” seems to be an offshoot of Creemore Springs Brewing.  Creemore Springs was purchased by macro brewery Molson-Coors a number of years ago.  Someone has excellent lawyers, because from what I can tell Molson’s has taken a really hands off approach, letting Creemore Springs do there thing. (A hundred years behind their time) - there was no mention of Molson’s on the tin at all.

Both a German Weizen beer and American Pale Ale inspired the beer.   The mashups is supposed to blend the grapefruit flavours of the IPA with the bubble-gum and banana of a Weizen.

The beer was sampled out a tin.  It poured a hazy unfiltered pale yellow colour with a lasting white head.   The aroma contains citrus, bread dough, mild spice and banana.  Flavour begins with a little banana and bread, followed by citrus (especially lemon) and a very subtle spice (cloves?).  The beer finishes with a little hoppy bitterness.   An enjoyable light wheat beer, great for summer.

 

4.7%  Creemore, Ontario    17 IBU

PICK UP TRUCK PILSNER 

(formerly King Pilsner)

~ THORNBURY BEVERAGE COMPANY~

Pickup truck Pilsner is the re branded King Pilsner.  It is billed as ‘an authentic Czech-style Pils Lager brewed with only 100% imported Bohemian malts, Saaz hops and a true strain of Czech yeast.’

The beer pours a clear golden colour with a frothy white foam.  The nose contains bready sweetness, grass, hops and a little malt.  The beer is clean and crisp.  Malts begin with a sweet graininess, and the Saaz hops finish with a pleasant bitterness.   A good simple Czech-style pilsner - easy drinking, great Bar-b-q beverage on a hot summer day.

4.8% from Thornbury, Ontario