HACKER –PSCHORR HEFE WEISSE ~ PAULANER GRUPPE

Temperatures are really warming up here, a nice hefe before dinner after work, hits the spot after a hard day. Sampled from a corked bottle this beer poured a cloudy (unfiltered) amber-golden colour, topped with dense off white creamy foam. The aroma has all the traditional wheat beer components: clove, banana, bubble gum, orange marmalade and fresh bread Flavour is milder than the nose containing banana, lots of spice including cloves, bubble gum, orange and citrus and sweet bread. The bitterness is very low and the finish is off-dry. The carbonation was soft, and the body was medium. This is a great example of a traditional hefe – excellent summer beer!

5.5 % From Munich, Germany

Brewed according to the Bavarian purity laws containing only hops, malt and water.
Malts: Brewing wheat grown in the Champagne region of France
Hops: Siegel hops from the Hallertau region outside of Munich

SIDE LAUNCH ~ DARK LAGER

This dark lager was previously brewed as Denison’s Dunkel. Sampled on draught it pours a transparent coppery brown with a fluffy off white head. The head dissipated slowly to a ring, but only left scant lacing. The nose contained notes of caramel, dark fruit, toast, hay, earthy hops and roasted malts. The taste contained molasses, and treacle, roasted malts, minerals, and dark chocolate. The flavour was malt forward but not too sweet with a nice subtle balance of hop bitterness. The body is on the light side, the mouthfeel is smooth and the carbonation was moderate. This is an approachable beer – good in any season.

5.7 % from Collingwood, Ontario

SCHÖFFERHOFER WEIZEN ~ BINDING BRAUEREI

Cracked open on a really hot day, this wheat beer, brewed in the Bavarian style was a welcome refresher. Sampled from a tin, the beer poured a hazy unfiltered (the live yeast is bottle conditioned) orange-gold with a cloudy white head. The head had good retention and left lacing as it receded. The aroma had a typical hefe notes, though a little subtler than others (clove, coriander, citrus, bananas, wheat, white bread). The taste is crisp and refreshing with the classic flavours of clove, banana, orange, wheat, a hint of herbals and yeasty spiciness. A touch of bitterness finishes it off. The depth of flavour, like the aroma, was gentler than other hefes. The body was on the light-medium side, the carbonation was moderate and the mouthfeel was somewhat creamy. This is a refreshing and very easy drinking beer, though it lacks a little depth.

5% from Frankfurt, Germany

SIDE LAUNCH - GERMANIC BOCK

This Germanic Bock (strong, dark German style lager) is part of the ‘Ships of Collingwood Series’ ~ somehow this pays homage to the last wooden ship built in the Collingwood Shipyards in 1899. Sampled on draught the beer poured a tawny amber colour with a frothy head. The nose contained lots of caramel, roasted malts (Munich malt was liberally used in brewing) and a very subtle dark fruit. The flavours follows as would be expected, lots of malty goodness, with enough hops to complement the malts. Caramel and berry fruitiness become more evident as the beer warms. The berries linger in the finish. A very nice offering.

6.1% from Collingwood, Ontario

WEST COAST SESSION LAGER ~ LOCAL SEVEN, SWEETGRASS

The West Coast Session Lager is Local 7’s 2016 offering. Each year a number of independent Toronto Bars (Wurst, Auld Spot, Only Cafe, Bar Hop, Bryden's, Bar Volo, C'est What?, Griffin Pub) come up with a beer that only those establishments will offer on draught, (Lemon verbena saison and gose have been delicious past offerings). Brew master Sam Corbeil (usually at Sawdust City) came up with the recipe and designed the beer for ‘drinkin’ not thinkin,’ and Sweetgrass Brewing brews the beer. This years offering is a well-hopped session lager, with a touch of lime. Sampled on draught the beer poured a very pale slightly hazy, yellowish gold with a dense moderate white head, that slowly recedes and leaves generous lacing. The aroma contains lime, light malts, hay and bread, and citrusy hops. The taste is bright, refreshing and nicely balanced. Flavours include tropical fruit, citrus, resin, straw, subdued florals with a touch of brewed and caramel, finished with a light bitterness. The finish is clean and dry, with a slight lingering citrus. Very refreshing, easily sessionable, delicious!

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario

HOPS: Idaho 7, Sorachi Ace, and Centennial

STONEHAMMER ~ DARK ALE

Sampled on draught this beer poured a clear dark brown with ruby highlights, and a good-sized tan head, which left some nice lacing. The aroma contained notes of dark fruit, nuts and caramel, cocoa and toasted malts. Earthy floral hops and hay are present but very subdued. The taste was quite nutty with hints of dark fruit, molasses, sweet malts, caramel and an earthiness. A mild hoppy bitterness finishes the beer. The mouthfeel was smooth and the carbonation was light. A lovely example of a classic British brown ale.

Guelph, Ontario 20 IBU 5%

GOLDEN ALE ~ EXCHANGE BREWERY

This beer is a real treat – I look forward to more from this brewery. This golden ale is made in the style of Belgian Ale. It is brewed with Belgian house yeast and aged in French oak barrels with . Sampled on draught the beer poured a golden yellow with a white head, which left fabulous lacing. The nose was as complex as the taste with notes of white wine, slight sourness, light fruits, and a little funk. The taste had plenty of white wine (from being aged in Chardonnay barrels), Belgian yeasts, subtle fruitiness, vanilla, oak, hay and grassy hops. Beautifully complex and nicely balanced.

Hops: Cascade and Mosaic.
7.6% from Niagara on the Lake      33 IBU

COOL AS A CUKE ~ MUSKOKA BREWERY

Cool as a Cuke is the latest offering in Muskoka Brewery’s ‘Moonlight Kettle’ series, that offers a new and unique beer each month. Cool as a cuke is an American Pale Ale brewed with cucumber and lemongrass. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a very light hazy yellow with a moderate white head. The head had great retention and left lovely lacing as it disappeared. The aroma contained lots of cucumber – with a touch of sweetness and a citrusy lemongrass. The taste has lots of florals, the lemongrass adds to the American hop bitterness, then is followed by clean crisp cucumber and subtle melon notes. This is quite refreshing and different – quite yummy!

4.7% from Guelph, Ontario 30 IBU

Malt: Canadian 2-Row Malt, Maris Otter, Wheat
Hops: Magnum, Cascade, Sorachi Ace

FORGOTTEN LAKE BLUEBERRY ALE ~ LAKE OF THE WOODS BREWING 

Lake of the Woods Brewing is one of Ontario’s northernmost breweries. This beer is made from a patch of wild northern blueberries. Sampled from a tin the beer poured deep hazy amber with pink highlights. A generous light pink head sat atop the beer and had good retention. The head left some lacing as it dissipated. The aroma is very mild, with notes of blueberries, and some cereal grains and caramel malt. The blueberry was very subtle, but did become slightly more pronounced as the beer warmed. The base was caramel malts and cereal grains, with a touch of maple. Earthy grassy hops close the deal. The mouthfeel was fizzy and the body was medium-light. The finish was slightly bitter, dry and a little boozy. Although I would have liked a little more of the wild blueberry flavor, this is a well-balanced pleasant brew.

7.5 % from Kenora, Ontario  IBU 13

Photo courtesy of Lake of the Woods Brewing

GROLSCH ~ GROLSCH 

BIERBROUWERJI N.V.

I drank these lots when I was younger but haven’t had one in years. I always loved the corked bottles – I even remember when they were porcelain- but this one was sampled from a tin. Sampled from a tin, the beer poured a clear golden straw colour with a moderate off white head. There was no lacing but lots of visible carbonation. Its smell was subtle, containing grainy malts, cereal and hay. The taste was light and contained notes of bread and cereal with a touch of caramel malt. A hint of lemon appears before light grassy hops rap things up. It has a crisp dry finish and a slight bitterness that lingers. The carbonation is moderate and the body is light. I would have this over an American or Canadian Macro any day, but overall, nothing to write home about.  Grolsch was founded in 1615 in Greoenlo. It was bought out by the deGroen family in 1895 – they held a large stake in the company until 2007. It now belongs to SABMiller Group.

5% from Enschede, Netherlands

YOUR BREWHOUSE OR MINE ~ MUSKOKA & BARRELHOUSE BREWING

“Your Brewhouse or Mine?” is a collaboration between Ontario’s Muskoka Brewery and California’s Barrelhouse Brewing. This beer is a tasty cranberry and clementine IPA. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear golden colour with an average white head that left leggy lacing as it receded. The nose included grassy hops. Subtle fruits and a faint smell of soft crumbly cheese. The beer itself was a lovely IPA, not too hoppy, with a good citrus bite at the end. The fruit was very subtle, especially the cranberry, it did however, lend a faint sweetness. More of the fruitiness came out as the beer warmed. The carbonation was lively and the been had a medium body. A really pleasant IPA, I would have liked a little more presence from the fruit.

7% from Bracebridge, Ontario 50 IBU

LE PAYSAN SAISON ~ NICKEL BROOK

Sampled on draught this beer poured a rich cloudy golden amber with a generous white head that left beautiful lacing. The nose contained fruity esters (especially peach), along with spicy Belgian yeasts, citrus and grassy hops. The flavour was slightly sweet with lots of fruity esters and citrus. A nice spiciness finish with herbal hops. The beer did lack of typical saison funk. The beer is well-carbonated and medium in body. A decent version of the style, refreshing and containing lots of flavour. A very pleasant saison.

5.7% from Burlington, Ontario

DOLCIS SUCCUBUS ~ LE TROU DE DIABLE

This brew is worth every penny and it isn’t cheap! Dolcis Succubus is an American Wild Ale that had been aged for up to twelve months in California white wine barrels made of oak. In addition to the aging the beer is brewed with wild yeasts (Brettanomyces), giving it lots of complexity, and hopped with new world hops. Sampled on draught the beer poured a rich hazy golden orange with a dense white head, that left lovely lacing. The nose had noes is luxurious and rich, containing notes of green apples, apricot, wildflower honey, hay, a little funk and vanilla. The taste was as complex as the nose containing apricot, pear and apple, citrus, floral undertones, subtle oak, sweet wine, delicate vanilla. The hops were subtle and the bitterness did not linger. The carbonation was on the soft side and the beer had a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. I would say this was on the full side of medium bodied. This is a rich, complex and beautifully balanced beer. A treat at any price! Well worth it!

7% from Shawinigan, Quebec

ÉPHÉMÈRE BLUET ~ UNIBROUE

I think Unibroue’s Ephemeres are a delicious summer offering. This year’s new release is bluet (blueberry). Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy salmon amber, with puffy pale pink head, which left some nice lacing as it slowly receded. The nose has lots of blueberries, reminiscent of a blueberry pie, with grainy-crackery malts, citrus and a subtle earthy Bready malts and yeastiness. The flavour contains lots of berry goodness without overdoing it. There is a moderate sweetness, blueberry and citrus all on the tongue. Spicy Belgian yeast is also evident. The finish is semi dry with a contains a very mild herbal hop, and some lingering sweetness. The carbonation is moderate and I would place the beer in the medium bodied range. A delicious fruity offering, I will be returning to this one for sure!

5.5% from Chambly, Quebec.

BATCH 4 CHERRY SAISON ~ INNOCENTE

Sampled on draught this brew poured a golden colour with a thin white head, which disappeared quickly. Hints of cherries were found on the nose along with white pepper, grainy fresh bread, and a little barnyard funk. The flavour contains very subtle fruits, piecrust malts, a hint of spice, bubble-gum, hay and a bit of funk. The finish had grassy hops and was slightly off-dry. I wish the cherry flavour had shone through more, and the bubble gum a little less.

5.9% from Waterloo, Ontario   20 IBU

SALTED PINEAPPLE PERRY ~ POMMIES

This seems to be a one off, made for Ontario Craft Cider week---too bad! Sampled on draught this perry poured a hazy pale lemony yellow. Lots of pineapple with a more subtle pear on the nose. The first sip is loaded with robust sweet tangy pineapple then a complement of subtle saltiness is present., giving it an almost nutty flavour. The cider itself is quite sweet and the finish is off dry. The sweet and salty are nicely balanced and the flavour seems to fill your mouth. I am not so much a cider person, but these gose and cider cross pollinations are to die for I hope to see more of this style appear.

6.2% from Caledon, Ontario

DUNKELBACH ~ SIDE LAUNCH 

Dunkelbach is a special edition brew that is being served at select bars during a Side Launch tap takeover. This beer is a dark lager aged in Syrah casks. Sampled on draught the beer poured a deep brown with deep garnet highlights, with a modest mocha coloured head. The nose had notes of tart berries, caramel malt, wood, and wine. The beer has lots of wine notes on the palette, sour dark malts, tart berry and wood are also evident in the flavour. I found the beer to be quite acidic, at times verging on vinegary. The body was medium and the carbonation was very soft. I much preferred the bourbon barrel aged version.

5.8% from Collingwood, Ontario 15 IBU

PARTY ALL THE TIME ~ BLOCK 3
Party all the Time is another hybrid of Belgian Ales and American Pale ale. it was advertised as a Belgian IPA. Sampled on draught the beer poured rich golden amber. The aroma was quite subtle with hints of Belgian yeasts. The flavour had dough yeasts, some bright lemongrass, and herbal notes. The hops are not overdone making this a very palatable brew.

6% from St. Jacob’s, Ontario

SAISON DU PARC ~ DIEU DE CIEL!

Saison Du Parc is a new summer offering form one of my favourite Quebecois breweries. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a very pale yellow (with hints of green) with a modest white head, which left great lacing. The nose contained lots of citrus (lemon and grapefruit) along with light grains, hay pepper, a little funk with a hint of sourness. The flavour followed with notes of light grains, grapefruit and lemon, hay, and sourness with a grassy hoppy bite. The finish was bitter and very dry at first though the initial bite of the hops dissipated a little as the beer progressed. The body is light and the carbonation is moderate. This is drinkable and refreshing but a little bold in the hops department for a saison. Not a disappointment but definitely not DDC’s best.

4.2% from Montreal, Quebec

WEST TORONTO WEIZEN ~ JUNCTION CRAFT BREWING

Sampled from a tin this hefeweizen poured a hazy golden straw colour with a good white head, which left some thin lacing. The nose had tonnes of banana and clove, with spice, lemony citrus and wheat. The flavour follows as expected, with lots of banana esters, fruitiness, spice and wheat. Subtle grassy hops finish it off. The beer was smooth, medium-light bodied, with soft carbonation. This is a pleasant example of the style, a good patio beer, but nothing spectacular.

5% from Toronto, Ontario 10 IBU

BARNYARD BELGIAN IPA ~ INDIE ALE HOUSE

This beer is a hybrid I have seen more and more of lately. It has the base of an American IPA and the spicy Belgian yeast. Rye malts have been used to give it some extra oomph. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy golden amber colour with a persistent off-white head, which left lovely lacing. The nose contained notes of spicy Belgian yeast, citrus and subtle herbals and florals. The flavour follows much as would be expected with Belgian yeast, spice, some citrus, mild malt, florals and grassy hops. It is a little hoppier than one would expect from the nose, but nicely balanced. The finish is a lingering moderate bitterness. The beer was medium bodied with average carbonation. The flavours of this brew work nicely together without one stealing the show. Pretty decent brew!

6% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 80-90
Ingredients: Belgian Yeast, Galaxy Hops, Rye Malt

MILL STREET ~ FRAMBOZEN

Mill Street Frambozen brewed using traditional Belgian methods. It is brewed with a Belgian yeast used for making wit beers and given a secondary fermentation with whole raspberries. Sampled on draught at the brewpub, the beer poured an intense garnet, purple topped with a pink head. The head lasted several minutes leaving good lacing as it disappeared. Fresh raspberries, with more subtle malts and bready grains, dominate the nose. The taste has tons of raspberry flavour – balanced between tartness and jammy sweetness. The base malt provides some nice complementary flavours. The carbonation is on the soft side (thebeer is naturally carbonated) giving the beer a slightly creamy mouth feel. The finish is semi dry with a lingering raspberry flavours. This is an easy drinking medium bodied fruit beer – great summer sipper.

5% from Toronto, Ontario

DRAM IN THE DARK ~ SIDE LAUNCH

Dram in the Dark seems to be a special edition made by Side Launch for a ‘tap-takeover’ for several bars in Toronto. The beer is a dark lager that has been aged in Jack Daniels casks. Sampled on draught, the beer poured dark brown with a modest tan head. The nose was woody and earthy with notes of caramel, a buried dark fruits. The beer was rich, sweet and slightly boozy. Notes of dark fruit and roasted malts were evident. The caramel sweetens as the beer warms. I have tried this several times; the first is when the small cask was tapped and then several days later. Interestingly the beer several days later had much more noticeable smoky and woody characteristics. This would be a lovely end of the night sipper. Really delicious, quite a treat - almost a dessert beer. 

6% from Collingwood, Ontario

DARK MATTER BLACK IPA ~ JUNCTION CRAFT BREWING

This type of beer is a relatively new style, first recognized by the American Brewers Association in 2010. It has several monikers: India Black Ale, American Black Ale, or Cascadian Dark Ale. The name, Cascadian, is from the Republic of Cascadia a fantasy country that would include parts of Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia. It is dark like a porter but hoppy like an IPA. Sampled from a tin, this brew poured a dark brown with a beige head. The aroma has lots of roasted malts, a little nuttiness, and a piny hop. The beer itself was bitter but not overly so; there were lots of hops on the tail end and aftertaste. The beer starts with lots of roasted dark malts, with a touch of dark chocolate and toasted nuts. Piny hoppiness finishes it off. It took seven different types of barley and four hops to make this brew – Chinook, Cascade, Palisade and Tetnager) This brew was not as heavy as some other Black IPAs I have had, it had a medium body and soft carbonation. I would definitely revisit this one.

7% from Toronto, Ontario 70 IBU

DOS EQUIS SPECIAL LAGER~ CERVECERÍA CUAUHTÉMOC MOCTEZUMA S.A. DE C.V. a.k.a. HEINEKEN

Sometimes your lovely kind neighbour offers you a beer when you have been in an un-air-conditioned room in sweltering weather for what seems like an eternity. It doesn’t taste like much, no hoppiness, not much malt, thin body, vaguely sweet – but it is cold and wet and appreciated.

4.45% Monterrey, Nuevo León Mexico 10 IBU

UNFILTERED STEAM WHISTLE  ~ STEAM WHISTLE BREWING

“Steam Whistle makes one thing really well” is the slogan Steam Whistle Brewing likes to live by, but there are actually a few variations of their Toronto Pilsner. If you are in Toronto and are having a tour of the Roundhouse Brewery there is always unfiltered Steam Whistle on draught. If you are really lucky, perhaps your tour guide will give you a sip from Tank 11 (I think), the brew-masters tank (a double hopped version). Unfiltered Steam Whistle has a slightly different flavour than its filtered counterpart. Sampled on draught it poured cloudy golden amber with a foamy white head, with average retention. Sweet cereal graininess, bread, and grassy hops are evident on the nose. I find the regular Steam Whistle to be very drinkable, but this one I prefer. I find the taste a little richer and slightly hoppier than the original. The taste has a little sweetness in the caramel malts at first followed by floral, grassy hops, with a soft yeasty-bready finish. The body was a medium with a creamy mouthfeel and lively carbonation . Apparently this is not considered a lager but a kellerbier. Keller bier or kellerbier translated to beer from the cellar, it is unfiltered (lagers are always filtered – who knew?) and naturally carbonated.


5% from Toronto, Ontario

BODY DUBBEL (TANK TEN) ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

Sampled on draught, this Belgian Dubbel Ale poured a hazy orangey copper mahogany colour with a persistent off white head, that left great lacing. The nose contained dark fruits, plums, raisin, Belgian yeast, and brown sugar. The beer is sweet up front with notes of dark fruits (plus, figs, raisins), and spicy grains, molasses and caramel, followed by peppery phenolic yeast. The bitterness of the grassy hops if soft, the carbonation is moderate and the body is in the medium range. There is a nice dialogue between the sweetness and the malts, but the beer lacks complexity. At times it seems a little thin for a dubbel. Quite enjoyable and good, but not outstanding.

6.3% from Etobicoke Toronto, Ontario IBU 18

GOSE ‘ROUND ~ MUSKOKA

 This Gose is part of Muskoka Brewery's Moonlight Kettle Series. This series showcases an interesting and sometimes ‘off the beaten track’ brews. Sampled on draught the beer poured hazy light golden amber with a small off white head. The nose contains some citrus along with a touch of coriander and banana. The taste is quite lemony and tart with a hint of other citrus fruits. The salt (Himalayan Sea salt was used) is present but quite understated. I found this easy drinking and refreshing, but not as sour as I expected. The carbonation was lively and the body was light. A very pleasant summer brew.

11 IBU 4.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario

CASSIS WIT ~ MILL STREET 

The Cassis wit is a new seasonal brew from Mill Street. Sampled on draught at the brewery, the beer poured a hazy pinkish-beige with a persistent frothy off white pinkish head, which left nice lacing. The nose was mostly cracker, wheat, and estery yeast with a slightly buried berry and black currant. The taste was much the same; bready malts are dominant with semi-sweet black currant and berry flavour in the middle. There were also notes of Belgian yeast spice, banana (typical of a hefe) and a strange sulfuriness. The beer ends with a hint of grassy floral hops and an abrupt finish. The beer had lively active carbonation and a light body. I found there fruit to be a little understated and would have preferred a little more tartness, that being said, this is quite a pleasant summer patio beer.

4.8% from Toronto 8.5 IBU

CINCO DE HABERNERO ~ BIG RIG

Cinco De Habanero is a one-off from Big Rig Brewery in Ottawa. It is a light lager brewed with Habanero peppers. Sampled on draught, the beer [poured a light golden colour with a tight white head. The nose contained subtle pepper spiciness along with typical lagery smells. The beer begins with a light refreshing clean lager, with light malt and subtle hops. The peers are found at the end, when a subtle kick of hotness finds the back of your throat. The finish has both black pepper and hot pepper spiciness along with an earthiness. The hotness is not overdone in fact it is a little understated, but adds a surprise at the end. I thought I’d just have one to try but ended up having several. This beer is surprisingly drinkable and interesting in a good way. The finish had some lingering spice but was otherwise dry. The carbonation was moderate and the beer was light bodied. Worth a try.

4% from Ottawa, Ontario