BEST ~ HENDERSON’S

Move over, there is room for all; there is a new kid on the block. Henderson’s is a brand new brewery in Toronto; currently contract brewing while their new space in the Junction is completed. Henderson’s is an up start by Steve Himel and brewmaster Mark Benzaquen, two industry veterans. This interpretation of an ESB was sampled on Draught at the release party. The beer poured the most beautiful colour of deep amber with red highlights. The small off white head lingered and left some lacing. Lovely floral fragrant hops dominated the nose with subtle malts in the background. The beer is based on a traditional ESB recipe with the English hops removed and replaced by North American west coast hops (Amarillo, cascade and one other). The beer has also been late hopped and dry hopped. Needless to say the beer is quite hop forward for an ESB…more like the offspring of an English IPA and an ESB. This is a very sessional beer and I look forward to a broader release.
The beer is named after Robert Henderson, believed to be the first commercial brewer in what was then York, but now Toronto. The original Henderson’s brewery dates back to 1800 and was located at Clinton and Henderson Street, (where the Monarch Tavern now sits and was the location of the flagship’s beers release).

5% from Toronto, Ontario