BLUEBERRY WHEAT ~ ELLICOTTVILLE BREWING CO.

I bought a 6 pack of this brew on a day trip to Buffalo. It is quite a novelty for me to walk into a drug store and walk out with beer. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a clear straw colour with a thick dense white head. The head receded to a surface collar and left some very nice lacing. The nose was subtle but did contain a healthy dose of blueberries with a touch of crackers wheat and a mild malt. The beer has a clean bready malt, with crackery wheat, a touch of lemon citrus and mild hop bitterness, the sweet blueberry appears and lingers a little in the aftertaste. The blueberry tastes like a fresh sweet summer pick and is not artificial at all. The mix of the graininess and blueberries almost reminded me a blueberry pie. The body was medium-light, and the carbonation was lively. The finish was dry with lingering berry sweetness. This is a very approachable summer refresher, it is just enough fruitiness, while remaining clean.
4.8% from Ellicottville, New York   11 IBU

Ingredients: Canadian 2 row barley, white wheat, noble German hops, blueberry 

HYGGE ~ SAWDUST CITY

Hygge is a limited edition season release from Sawdust City (to be released December 1st, 2016). It is a Belgian Tripel that has been kettle soured, fermented with a Belgian Monastery yeast strain and aged/conditioned over 600 lbs of black plums. Sampled on draught the beer poured a light cloudy orange with little head. Aroma is light and contains, spicy yeasts, plums, a touch of funk and alcohol. The flavour is not overly sour which allows the fruitiness to come through. Spicy Belgian yeasts are complemented by the plums and tartness. The alcohol was on the subtle side. The mouthfeel was on the thin side and the carbonation was rather flat. This is a tasty brew but would be better with more carbonation.
BTW Hygge is a Danish word meaning, loosely translated, cosy, warm atmosphere, enjoying the good things in life with those you care about.

7% from Gravenhurst, Ontario

Picture courtesy of Sawdust City Instagram

BLOOD OF CTHULHU (2016) ~ SAWDUST CITY BREWING

This season brew is a monster! Blood of Cthulhu has been rereleased for 2016 and is better than I remembered. The brew is an imperial stout that has been brewed with raspberries, cranberries and tart cherries, along with a ton of malt. Sampled from a pint on draught, this beer poured a deep ebony with a generous creamy dark tan head. The head had great retention and left beautiful lacing as it settled into a cap. The nose has lots of wasted and toasted malts, along with dark chocolate, and red berries. This beer was like a Black forest cake for adults, lots of chocolate and berry flavour, especially from the cherries. Mid palette the beer has a slightly acidic bite but finishes with a roasted bitterness and dark chocolate.. The body was medium full and the stout had a creamy thick mouthfeel. The carbonation was medium to soft. Be careful he 9% can creep up on you! A beautiful cold weather treat.

9.5% from Gravenhurst, Ontario

BASIL BEACH ~ SAWDUST CITY

Basil Beach is Sawdust City’s Golden Beach Pale ale brewed with fresh basil. It is a limited edition one-off. It was sampled on Sawdust City’s massive tap (25 taps and 5 kegs) takeover at the Only Cafe in Toronto. Sampled a pint, drawn from one of the kegs. The beer pours a hazy bright sunny gold with a small bubbly head. The nose contains citrusy lemon, grass, basil and floral hops. Taste follows as expected: citrusy and herbal hops, a little orchard, fruit, grass and a light basil, which became a little more pronounced as the beer warmed.The finish is a little astringent and bitter. The carbonation is active and lively.  

5% from Gravenhurst, Ontario IBU 25

WATER: pure Muskoka water
BARLEY /MALT: Canadian 2-row barley, wheat
HOPS: galaxy, mosaic, Sorachi ace, summit
YEAST California ale
OTHER: Basil

ETOILE DU NORD ~ BRASSERIE THIRIEZ

Etoile du Nord (North Star) is a blonde ale brewed with English East Kent Goldings hops. Sampled from a bottle, possibly near the end of its best before date. The beer poured a somewhat clear golden yellow with a white foamy head, which had good retention and left impressive lacing. Be careful on the pour to control the amount of particulates in your drink. The aroma contained lemony citrus, biscuit and light malts, stone fruit, hay, peppery yeasts, floral and grassy hops. The taste was a mix of sweet grainy malts and fruit, tart citrus, earth, grass, a touch of caramel, pepper, with a moderate herbal-floral hop bitterness. The finish if dry with a touch of bright citrus. A beautifully balanced brew. The beer was medium bodied with a slightly resinous mouth feel. The carbonation was average and fine. I really like the English hops in the beautifully balanced brew. Worth seeking out.

5.5% from Esquelbecq, France    45 IBU

STATESIDE SAISON ~ STILLWATER

Stateside Saison is billed as an “American Farmhouse Ale.” It is Belgian inspired and uses European malts and hops from New Zealand and the United States, and a classic farmhouse yeast. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a hazy bright coppery gold with an average sized off white head. The head settled quickly and left wispy lacing. The nose has fruity (berries, citrus and orchard fruits) and earthy notes, along with malts, bread, florals, a little funk and spice(clove and others),and a light Belgian yeast. The flavour follows the nose and is equally complex, containing notes of fruits (lemon, orchard fruit), pepper, clove, Belgian yeast, honey, sweet malts, grains, grass, and a touch of tartness. The mouthfeel was medium. The carbonation was average to lively. The finish has a slight hop bitterness with a little earthy dryness. This is a complex but balanced saison. I really enjoyed this well crafted brew and wish they were easier to find north of the Border.

6.8% From Baltimore, Maryland

L’AMBRÉE D’ESQUELBECQ ~ BRASSERIE THIRIEZ

This French beer is a bière de garde, literally translated, it means ‘beer to keep.’ It was traditionally made in the north of France in the winter and spring. This beer comes from the French countryside in Flanders. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a slightly hazy deep coppery amber with a dense off-white head. The head lasted a while before leaving impressive lace on the glass and settling into a ring. The nose had notes of grass and hay, funk, orchard fruits, caramel malts, noble hops and spice. The beer was nicely balanced with noble hop bitterness meshing with hearty grainy caramel malts. The nose mostly followed the nose with lots of fruit, caramel, and breadiness, with a touch of vinous sour at the end. There were also notes of wood and hay, and the spice was more pronounced that the nose let on. The body was light to medium with a creamy feel and the carbonation was pin point and average. To me this tasted like a combination of a Flanders Oud Bruin and a saison. A very nice ale, with some complexity, worth trying.

5.8% from Esquelbecq, France

CELLAR DOOR ~ STILLWATER ARTISANAL ALES

Cellar door is a beautifully complex farm house ale, brewed with German and pale malts, Citra and Sterling hops and white sage. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a hazy golden straw colour with a generous white head. The head had good retention before falling and leaving impressive lacing and setting into a ring around the glass. The nose had some beautiful complexity with tangerine and citrus, earthy funk, herbal notes and light pepper, wheat and sage. The flavour too had layers of fruit, a variety of citrus, earthiness, spicy yeast, floral notes, soft caramel sweetness breadiness, and grass . The finish had a balanced hop bitterness with a cleansing sage, tart citrus and peppery notes.s The body was medium and the carbonation was very lively, leaving a lots of effervescent on the palette. The brew has as slightly creamy feel with a crisp drying finish. I enjoyed this very much, I wish these were a little easier to find North of the border in Canada.

6.6% from Baltimore, Maryland, USA

AGAINST THE GRAIN LAGER ~ HIGH PARK BREWERY

Against the Grain is a light lager brewed in the German style, with a blend of malts and German and American malts. Sampled on drought the brew poured a clear golden amber with a small white head, which left some nice lacing. The nose is simple and straightforward, with lots of grainy biscuity goodness as well as some grassy hops. The flavour follows with a lovely balance of sweet malts and hops, very subtle orchard fruit, and a mild hop bitterness. The flavour was more than expected from a Euro style lager. The finish was clean and crisp and off-dry, and the carbonation was moderate. Very pleasant and easily sessionable.

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 19.8 

Photo Courtesy of High Park Brewery

FURLONG ~ INDIE ALE HOUSE

Furlong is Indie Ale House’s take on a traditional Franco-Belgian saison brewed with Brettanomyces. Sampled on draught the beer pours a cloudy light golden straw with a small white head. The aroma was tart and bright, containing notes of spice, lactic-sour, spice, funk, hay and unripe orchard fruit. The taste has lovely spice notes with a tart citrus. Bretty funk, spicy yeast, grains, fruit, straw and bread also make an appearance. The mouthfeel is fairly light and the carbonation is moderate. This is a refreshing brew, light, but layered. 

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU: 18
Key Ingredients: House blended yeast

DEVIL'S PALE ALE ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

The Devil’s Pale was first released in 2016 (allegedly conceived on 6.6.06) on and was the first seasonal from Great Lake Brewery. I have seen it billed as a Pale Ale, and an India Brown Ale. It is brewed with 6 malts and 4 hops, and was advertised at the brewery as having been made with 666 kilograms of malt, 6.66 kilograms of hops, and boiled for 66.6 minutes. Sampled on draught the pour was a deep rich mahogany with an average thick tan coloured head, which settled into a ring around the glass and left beautiful sticky lacing. The aroma had a melange of resinous piney hops followed by rich malt body, caramel and molasses, dark bread and an earthiness. Hops are the first flavour, followed by heavy roasted malts the followed by a distinct bitterness. The malts have a layered richness with notes of caramel, cocoa, nuttiness and molasses as do the hops with notes of pine resin, grapefruit and a touch of other fruits. The beer is hoppy from the first whiff to the bitter lingering aftertaste, but is beautifully balanced. The mouthfeel was smooth but slightly oily too. The finish was crisp and dry with lingering bitterness and alcohol. The body was medium-full and the carbonation was moderate.
Highly recommended, this is a solid beer.

6.66% from Toronto, Ontario

EDEL HELLES ~ AMSTERDAM

Edel Helles is a new offering from Amsterdam Brewery in Toronto. It is a cold aged German Helles style lager. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear golden apricot colour with an average white head. The nose was simple and contained, lots of grains, mild maltiness and a grassy floral hops. The flavour follows the nose with biscuity grains, subtle citrus and grassy notes - the finish had a pleasant hoppiness. The beer is smooth, crisp and quite sessionable. The body was average as was the carbonation. Very pleasent. By the way in German Edel means noble and is used to denote a beer made with premium ingredients. Hell or helles are the light hops grown in the south of Germany.

5.2% from Toronto, Ontario

ABSENT LANDLORD ~ COWBELL BREWING CO.

Absent Landlord is Cowbell’s interpretation of a new world Kölsch. It is brewed with German Kölsch Ale yeast and both old world and new world hops and malts. It is fermented warm and left unfiltered and unpasteurized. It is named for Henry Blyth, Esq. whom the town it is brewed is named for. In the mid 1800’s he bought most of the most of the town, sign unseen, and never made the voyage from Berkshire England to visit. Sampled from a tin the beer poured a slightly cloudy golden yellow with a thick foamy bone coloured head that left very little lacing. The mild nose had graininess, citrus, biscuity malts, a touch of spice and caramel, crackery notes and fruity yeasts (apple and peach). The flavour too is mellow and slightly on the sweet side, with notes of cereal grain, yeasts, orchard fruits, hay, citrus, and a touch of resiny herbal bitterness from the hops at the end. The mouthfeel was medium and the carbonation was on the lively side. The finish was drying. This is a nicely balanced clean and bright beer. A decent brew at a very reasonable price.

5.3% from Blyth, Ontario 18 IBU

CHOCOHOLIC (IXCOLATE) ~ BARNSTORMER BREWING

Chocoholic AKA IXCOLATE (ex-co-la-tee) is a collaboration with a local Belgian Chocolatier. It is a brown ale brewed with Ecuadorian cocoa nibs. Sampled on draught the ale poured a very opaque deep chestnut brown, with an average beige head. The head left some nice lacing as it receded into a ring around the top. The nose contained roasted malts, chocolate, and a hint of dark fruit. The flavour followed as expected: roasted malts, caramel, coffee, nuts and berries. The flavours were mild with a slight lingering milky chocolate. The body was light and had a creamy mouthfeel, and the carbonation was soft. A nice way to finish the evening, but to rich to have several.

5.2% from Barrie, Ontario 16 IBU

SAISON DE NUIT ~ COLLINGWOOD BREWERY

This brew is a black saison. Sampled from a tin, the beer poured a cloudy deep amber brown with an average off white head. The nose had notes of wheat malts, spicy yeast, caramel, roasted malts, dark fruit, and a touch of chocolate. It had a lovely maltiness to it along with dark fruit, cocoa, spice, clove and a slight citrus sourness. The finish was crisp and dry with a mild hop bitterness. The carbonation was lively and the mouthfeel was on the light side. I liked this and look forward to trying another. In a way it felt to new, I wonder what a little cellaring would do.

4.5% from Collingwood, Ontario   15 IBU

FICKLE MISTRESS ~ BLOCK 3

Fickle Mistress is a dry hopped kettle sour. It is fermented with lactobacillus and then dry hopped with Citra. Sampled on draught, this beer poured a hazy orange-gold colour, with a small white head that dissipated quickly. The nose had the lactic tartness along with tons of sour lemony citrus, tart fruit and citrusy hops. The taste follows the nose with lemony citrus, subtle bread malts, and citrus hops. The carbonation was lively and the finish was crisp and dry. Quite refreshing!
5.5% 20 IBU
Malts: Pilsner and Wheat
Hops: Simcoe, Citra and Columbus

VINTAGE ALE 2016 ~ COLLINGWOOD BREWERY

Vintage Ale (a golden harvest ale) seems to be an annual autumn tradition, this is its third release and according to the brewmaster, the best to date. The beer is made using local and all natural ingredients, including same-day fresh hops from Meaford, Ontario (Chinook and Cascade added after fermentation) and 60 kg per brew of local wild flower honey. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured an unfiltered hazy coppery amber with an average off-white frothy head. The head lasted a while before leaving nice lacing on the glass. The nose contained notes of caramel, honey, roasted malts, spicy herbals, bread, a little fruit and earthy hops. The flavour follows: bread and roasted malts, honey sweetness, spicy yeast, soft bitterness from earthy and leafy hops. The body was medium, carbonation was average and the mouthfeel was creamy and smooth. I thought the sweet and bitter were nicely balanced, and the warming alcohol is a reminder that cold nights to come.

6.9% from Collingwood, Ontario ABV  35 IBU

COUNTRY BUMPKIN ~ OAST HOUSE

Country Bumpkin is a seasonal offering from Niagara Last house featuring fresh pumpkin and acorn, butternut, and hubbard squash that have been roasted then mashed with the malt and a load of pumpkin pie spice that has been added in the boil. Sampled on draught the beer poured a fairly clear deep orangey amber with an average cream coloured head. The aroma was a pumpkin pie! - lots of baking spice (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves), pumpkin, and roasted malts. Taste follows as would b expected, spices up front, followed by pumpkin and then toasted malts giving it a crusty pumpkin pie impression. There is very little hop bitterness. The body was medium and the carbonation was average to soft. This is one of the nicer pumpkin beers I’ve had.

5.5% from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario 18 IBU

GO AHEAD ~ LEFT FIELD BREWERY

Go Ahead is a seasonal one off from Left Field Brewery. It is a rose with raspberry and hibiscus. Sampled on draught the beer poured a cloudy pink with an average white head. The nose contained lots of raspberry, hibiscus, and bright citrus. The beer was very flavourful: tart raspberry and floral hibiscus, and lemony citrus abound. The fruits and florals give way to a gentle saltiness and a little spice. The saltiness is noticeable but gentle as is the sourness. The carbonation was average and the body was on the full side of medium. I really liked this one, a nice melange of flavour.

4.8% from Toronto, Ontario   15 IBU

Photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery

MOSAIC GROVE SOUR ~ BENCH BREWING CO.

This is Bench brewery’s second sour offering. They are a relatively new brewery from Beamsville, Ontario on the Niagara escarpment. They are committed to using as many local ingredients as possible. Mosaic Grove is a dry hopped sour beer - the brewery released Citra Grove earlier this year - so I imagine these are each single hopped. Saison and brett yeast were used in the brewing process. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly cloudy pale golden yellow with a white head. The nose contained hops (citrus, pine, fruitiness), citrus and tart sour. The sourness is not a tastebud shredding pucker, and is complimented and contrasted by the dry hopped mosaic hops. Easily drinkable and quite refreshing - adult lemonade.
6% from Beamsville, Ontario 14 IBU

DOC PERDUE’S BOBCAT ~ COWBELL BREWING

Doc Perdue’s Cowbell is a West Coast Red Ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly opaque beautiful ruby amber with an average sized cream coloured head. The head left great lacing as it receded. The nose had loads of woodsy notes as well as hops, alcohol and some dark fruit. The flavour had a subtle sweetness to it that complimented the leafy hop bitterness. Notes of caramel, toasted malts, pine resin, oak and herbal hops were also present. The hop aromas and taste make me wonder if this had been dry hopped, or had some hop layering. This is my first beer from this brewery, I look forward to tasting other offerings. The beer is named after Blyth’s veterinarian from the late 1880’s who was known for keeping exotic animals and loving a drink. According the Cowbell’s website, “When once cut off for being over served at the local saloon, he marched home and returned with a bobcat on a leash, threatening to let it loose if he didn't get another drink.”

5.5% from Blyth, Ontario 30 IBU

20 POUNDS OF PUMPKIN ~ SAMUEL ADAMS

Again it is that time of year for pumpkin beer. According to Sam Adams, pumpkin was originally used in brewing to provide fermentable sugars, now it is just used for flavouring. 20 pounds of pumpkin went into each barrel of this brew. Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured a clear coppery brown colour with hints of ruby. The beer had a generous beige head, which stuck around briefly before settling into a cap, it left some whispy lacing as it receded. The nose, which is on the mild side has notes of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger, caramel and biscuity malts. The flavour is pretty smooth and not overly pumpkin or over spiced. The taste is much like the aroma with notes of pumpkin pie spices, pumpkin, caramel and sweet bread. The finish has a brown sugar sweetness to it that is matched by mild earthy hops and a dryness from the cinnamon. The body was on the thin side medium and the carbonation was soft. This is a highly drinkable pumpkin beer due to its restraint. Nice for a change, but not a session beer for me.

5.7% from Boston, Massachusetts

RIFLEMAN’S RATION ~ BLACK CREEK BREWERY

Rifleman’s ration is advertised as a Historic Beer of Canada made by Black Creek Brewery. The beer was originally brewed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. The beer is loosely based on a British Brown Ale that each soldier would have had daily ration for, an is brewed with local grains. The commercially available beer is not actually made at Black Creek (a pioneer village in North Toronto) but on contract with Trafalgar Ales and Meads. Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured clear reddish brown amber with a beige coloured head, that settled quickly into a ring around the glass, leaving nice lacing. The nose contained lots of roasted and toasted malts, caramel, mild leafy bitterness, maple sweetness, a hint of fruit, nuttiness, and a touch of smoke. The flavour follows as would be expected: malty, smoky, toasty, maple and brown sugar sweetness, nuts, hint of fruit and biscuits. The finish is slightly bitter with a grass English style hops. The carbonation is quite soft and still, the mouthfeel is smooth and the body is on the thin side. I think this would be very good on cask, with the warmer pour and the low carbonation. This is a quite drinkable, simple Brown Ale.

5% from Toronto, Ontario

INKHORN ~ FOLLY BREWING

According the the brewery this beer is a Belgian-dubbel inspired ale with a Brettanomyces Lambicus fermentation. Sampled on draught this brew pours a reddish brown with an average beige head. The nose is quite fruity with notes of fig, raisin, vinous grapes, tart fruit, sour cherry, earthiness, spice, caramel and bready malts. The taste follows the nose - beautiful sourness, chocolate, ripe dark fruit, spice, figs, bread malts, pepper, and some vinous notes. This has a beautiful complexity with lots of flavour swirling around, but the body still remains on the light side. The toasted malts give way to a slightly lingering tartness making this a remarkably refreshing beer. The carbonation was soft. I would say this brew is not a dubbel, but much more of a Flanders Red. I really enjoyed this one, flavours marry nicely.
HOPS: German Magnum, German Tradition
YEAST: Our House "George Blend”

MALT: Pilsner, Caramunich I, Melanoidin, Special W

6.5% from Toronto, Ontario

SÄGEMEHL STADT ~ SAWDUST CITY

It is that time of year again, days get shorter, nights get colder and beers get darker. Sägemehl Stadt is Sawdust City’s marzen/festbeir. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a clear dark amber, with a moderate blanket of cream coloured foam. The head didn’t stick around but did leave nice lacing as it receded. The nose had some floral and herbal notes along with malts, caramel, and toasted bread. The flavour is light with notes of caramel, toasted grain, tree fruit, mild nuttiness and light earthiness hop bitterness. This one is a little sweeter than others I have had, I would have preferred more leafy hop bitterness. Mouthfeel was on the thin side and the carbonation was lazy. Pleasant enough, bit just didn’t hit the mark for me.
5% from Gravenhurst, Ontario 30 IBU

MANGO LAGER ~ CHEETAH BREWERS INTERNATIONAL

I consumed this one while waiting for my Hakka take-out. I have never heard of them before, yet they are brewed locally. I believe they only sell to restaurants directly. Sampled from a tin, the beer poured a clear golden colour with a white head that quickly disappeared. No lacing was evident. The nose was predominantly mango. The taste too had mango at the forefront. The mango was sweet and had an artificial flavour to it, it reminded me of jello. It tasted more like a mango and beer soda than a beer brewed with mango. The mouthfeel was on the thin side and the carbonation was relaxed. I am not a fan of the artificial flavour but I could see how this may go well with a spicy Hakka or Indian dish.

5% from Toronto, Ontario

GOSE ~ COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING

Sampled from a tin, this beer poured an unfiltered hazy light straw yellow with a small white head, which left little lacing as it disappeared quickly. The nose was light and full of bright citrus (lemon, lime and orange), with crackery wheat malts, light tart sourness and a hint of coriander. The flavour follows the nose with the addition of mild saltiness and a touch of white pepper. There is very low hop bitterness, so the salt added a nice dryness to the finish. Salt and citrus linger a short while on the aftertaste. The gose has a spritzy mouthfeel with lots of active carbonation. I like the style, and this was no exception. What it lacks in complexity it almost makes up for in it’s refreshing qualities.
Hops: saaz
Flavour: coriander and pink Himalayan sea salt
Malts: 2 row, pilsner and wheat

5.2% from Hamilton, Ontario 12 IBU