ABBEY’S ADVICE (ABBEY SINGLE) ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

This is one of the brews in celebration of Great Lakes Brewery 30th anniversary. It is an Abbey single. Sampled on draught the beer poured an opaque coppery red with a generous beige head. The head had great retention before receding to a cap leaving some lacing. The aroma was comprised of sweet caramel, plums, apricot, and other orchard fruits, dried berries and dried fruit. The flavour had a lovely sweetness, perfect for an after dinner sipper. Flavours of caramel, orchard and dried fruits about, with some light spicy Belgian ale characteristics. The finish is clean, body was medium light and the carbonation was moderate. A lovely light Belgian style beer.

HALO ~ SHAPESHIFTER

6.2% from Toronto, Ontario 17 IBU

Shapeshifter is a dry-hopped sour IPA. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a hazy bright pale yellow with an average pillowy off-white head. The nose had a fresh lemony aroma with some pine and tart tropical fruit. The beer is moderately sour, with lots of lemon, tart fruit, grapefruit, some grainy sweetness, pine and a lingering bitterness on the finish. The body is medium- light and the carbonation was moderate. This is an interesting mash-up - a melange of contrasting flavours. Found this to be refreshing and very palatable.

STE. MARY’S AXE ~ CANADIAN BEST BETTER

Ste. Mary’s Axe is a brand new brewery in Toronto. Canadian Best Bitter is the premier offering. The beer is touted as being a traditional English bitter brewed with ‘modern’ hops (brewed with 6 malts and 6 varieties of both American and English hops). Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear coppery amber with a generous loose white head. The nose contained a variety of hop aromas (citrus, herbal, earthy and resiny) as well as caramel, fruit and bread crusts. The mouthfeel was quite drying at first followed some malt sweetness, and a ton of tropical fruit and peach. The beer is happier than a usual English bitter. The finish was dry and crisp. The beer was medium bodied with average carbonation. Not your average bitter, but really pleasant none-the-less. Loved all the tropical fruit - a great first offering.
4.6% from Toronto, Ontario   32 IBU

BEAU’S ~ BLOOD SIMPLE

5.3% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario

Blood Simple is another release for Beau’s Fe’brew’ary and ‘Wild Oats’ series. It is a witbier brewed with organic California blood oranges juice and peel and organic Peruvian cacao beans. Blood Simple takes the traditional citrus and spice in Belgian witbiers to a whole new level. I could drink this all the time - it is like drinking a beer mimosa. Sampled on draught the beer pours a hazy apricot gold colour with a modest white head. The nose has lots of orange, some lemon, wheat, and a hint of cacao. Zesty blood orange juice is the first on the palette, followed by lemon citrus, a little spice, and malts. The cocao does not make an appearance until the after taste. The body was medium, carbonation was lively and mouthfeel had a creaminess to it. I really enjoyed this and returned to have a pint several times before it ran out. Delicious!

REVOLUTION #3: DRY HOPPED SOUR ~ RAINHARD BREWING

4.8% from Toronto, Ontario

Revolution #3 is the latest release in Rainhard’s Revolution series. The series is made up of one-offs and experimental concoctions. Revolution #3 is a dry hopped sour saison. Pilsner and wheat malts were used, in the brewing process. the beer was kettle soured with seven different Lactobacillus strains and fermented with Escarpment lab’s ‘new world saison with Brettonomyces’ yeast. The dry hopping was done with citra. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy golden orange with a smallish white head. The aroma had fresh citra hops, stone fruit, some grains, florals, and a touch of funk. The beer was pleasantly sour but not overly so. Their were lots of tart citrus flavours, along with sweet grains, stone fruit and a touch of barnyard. The finish was fresh dry and crisp, with a brightness from the city. Very refreshing and not overdone.

BEAU’S ~ IRON SHIRT

6.8% from Vankleek Hill, Ontario

Iron Shirt was a Beau’s Fe’brew’ary release. It is a collaboration with Montreal’s Brasserie et Distillerie Oshlag. The collaboration, one among many, is a celebration of Canada’a 150th birthday. The beer is a pale ale brewed with ice wine vidal grapes that has been aged on oak spirals that have been soaked in Oshlag’s hopped vodka. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy bright yellow gold with a good white head. The lasted a while before leaving scant lacing on the glass. The nose had bright citrusy notes, along with grape, apple (and orchard fruits), malts, a hint of resin and a touch of oak. The flavour is crisp with notes of grapes, fruit, woodsiness, malt and a balanced citrus and pine hop bitterness. The finish is dry with some lingering bitterness. The body is medium and the carbonation was average to lively. An interesting brew.

LEFT FIELD ~ FOURTH ANNIVERSARY SAISON

Left Field has produced another strong saison for their fourth anniversary brew. The beer is brewed avec French Saison Yeast and dry- hopped with Summer and El Dorado hops.  Sampled on draught, the beer poured a hazy light golden with a generous white head that left beautiful lacing. The nose had notes of lemon, grains, fruit, floral, hops and an earthinesss. The taste had notes of light orchard fruits, especially pear, but also grapes, lemon and perhaps a touch of sweet melon. Vinous notes, light white pepper, spicy yeast and dry-hop presence round out the flavour. The carbonation was lively and the body was medium. The finish is dry, with some lingering citrus. A very nice sipper.

7.6% from Toronto , Ontario

photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery

PROPHETS & NOMADS ~ COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING

Prophets and Nomads is a slightly sour gose. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clearing bright golden colour with a thin white head. The nose has lots of tart lemony citrus, as well as a graininess and some mineral notes. The taste was sour and refreshing; lots of lemon as well as lactic notes, and a fruity sweet malt. The salt on the finish is quite subtle. The body was light and the carbonation was average. Refreshing and straight forward. 

4.5% from Hamilton, Ontario 12 IBU

EARL GREY PORTER ~ ROYAL CITY

Sampled on draught this brew poured a dark opaque mahogany with a small beige head. The aroma had lots of Earl Grey tea and the small of bergamot flowers. There were also aromas of caramel , tea, hints of chocolate and dark fruit. The taste too had lots of fragrant Earl Grey tea with roast caramel malts, and a little citrus. I do like Earl Grey, and liked this but would have liked the malts to be a little more pronounced. The tea and citrus rind stay with you in the aftertaste. The body was light-medium, the mouthfeel was a little thin and the carbonation was soft. I found this quite drinkable and the lightness made it refreshing in a way.

5% Guelph, Ontario   20 IBU

Photo courtesy of Royal City Brewing

LEFT FIELD ~ MAGNUS FORCE

7.7% from Toronto, Ontario 30 IBU

Magnus Force is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a hazy golden colour with an average white head. The nose has lots of Belgian yeast, and sugar, a few floral and spice notes, and fruit (banana and light orchard fruits). The rich taste follows the nose to a tee. The body is medium, carbonation average and the finish has a real warming booziness. Overall quite a good Belgian strong ale, but would have preferred it to be a little less sweet. By the way all of Left Field’s names are baseball related, this is no exception. Magnus force is the force exerted on a quickly spinning ball, which causes it to veer from its original trajectory. Pitcher’s use it when throwing curve balls, sliders, fastballs, etc.

Photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery

ICHIBAN (ICHIBAN SHIBORI) ~ KIRIN

Kirin Ichiban Shibori is advertised as brewed with only hops, water and malt, and only using thing the first press off the wort. Sampled from a tin at my local ramen restaurant, the beer poured a clear light golden yellow with a thick white head, that lasted a while. The nose was very mild, but did have light notes of grains, sweet bread, herbals and a hint of sulphur. Like the nose flavour is super mild with a little malt sweetness, cereal, slight metallic taste, and whisper of grassy hop bitterness. The body is light, carbonation active and the finish is somewhat dry, with a little lingering bitterness. This in not comparable to micro brews, which I would take any day. Cold, wet and very mild, it was a good companion to my spicy ramen broth.

&FLANDERS RED ~ EXCHANGE

Flanders Red is yet another in the exchange breweries delicious sours. Sampled on draught the beer poured a deep opaque coppery colour with a generous beige-white loose head. The nose was vinous and tart, with some subtle fruit. The taste was not as sour as expected, but rich none the less. Notes of tart orchard fruits, tannins and oak added complexity. The finish had an off dry oakiness. The body was medium and the carbonation was moderate. Quite a pleasant version of the this Traditional Belgian West Flanders ale.
7% from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

EVENT HORIZEN ~ HALO

This interesting brew is a Stout with Sarsaparilla, one of the main flavours of root beer. Sampled on draught, the beer poured an opaque very dark ebony with a thin mocha beige head. The nose had notes of chocolate, sweet sarsaparilla, dark malts , and perhaps a bit of vanilla. Chocolate, caramel sweetness, herbal sarsaparilla, roasted malts and coffee round out the taste. It is like drinking a creamy root beer. I prefer this to the ‘hard’ root beers that I have sampled. I will admit, root beer is my guilty pleasure, so I really liked this one, but sparingly. It has a medium to full body, and average carbonation. This is a whimsical brew, recommended to root beer lovers.
Malts: Maris Otter, Flaked Barley, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Flaked Oats, Crystal Dark, Black
Hops: Northern Brewer, Willamette
Yeast: London III Ale
6% from Toronto, Ontario 30 IBU

Photo courtesy of Halo Brewing

HANSEL AND BRETT’LE ~ FORKED RIVER

Hansel and Brett’le is a farmhouse ale that has been aged in Ontario VQA Chardonnay casks for a half a year. Sampled on draught the ale poured a hazy bright golden yellow, with an ample loose white head. The head sticks around for a while before receding into a cap and collar. The nose had lots of vinous notes, as well as lemony citrus, apple, oakiness, earthiness and subtle malt and funk. The taste contained sweet grains, a slight wortiness, lemony citrus, pretty tartness, apple cider, chardonnay and oak notes. There was a little funk on the end. The finish is crisp, clean and dry. The body was light and the carbonation was lively. I enjoyed this beer, nicely balanced, and all (the brett, the barrels…) is done in moderation. Very refreshing.
4.9% from London, Ontario

FARM TABLE: DUNKEL ~ BEAU’S

5.7% from VanKleek Hill, Ontario IBU 25

This Dunkel is the latest in Beau’s Farm Table Series. The farm table series is inspired by traditional brews from all over the world, and brewed to the classic style. Dunkel is a malt forward Bavarian brew. Sampled on draught this brew poured a mahogany colour with a generous off white foam. The head settles quickly leaving lovely sticky lacing around the glass. The nose contained bread crusts, roasted grain, light caramel with hints of chocolate, nuts and fruit, and leafy hops. The flavour follows with dark malts, caramel, hints of chocolate and fruit and floral leafy hops in the finish. This finish is clean and crisp. The body was medium and the carbonation was average.
Overall, a nice version of this traditional brew. Very enjoyable!
INGREDIENTS: Local spring water, organic barley malts, organic hops, brewer’s yeast.
MALTS: Munich, Caraunich, Acidulated, Caraaroma, Carafa (all organic)
HOPS: Organic Pacific Gem, Organic Triskel
YEAST: German Lager Yeast

AMBER ALE ~ HOCKLEY VALLEY 

5.2% from Hockley Valley, Ontario

Sampled from a tin, this amber ale poured a clear reddish coppery amber with a moderate cream head. The foam didn’t stick around and settled into a small collar, leaving some lacing. The nose was fairly mild with notes of caramel, grains and grass, floral English hops, earthiness, light citrus and perhaps the subtlest bit of chocolate. The taste is malt forward and follows the nose. There are notes of caramel sweetness, spice, biscuits, toasted grains, and leafy bitter hops in the finish. The carbonation was moderate and the body was on the light side of medium. This is a very sessional beer. Easy to drink, flavourful but nothing out of the ordinary.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHERRY STOUT ~ BLACK OAK

5.8% from Toronto (Etobicoke), Ontario

Sampled on draught, this stout poured an opaque black-brown with a small-beige head, that didn’t stick around, but did recede into a cap and collar and left impressive lacing. The nose contained notes of chocolate, roasted malts, sweetness, smoke and a tiny bit of tart fresh cherry. The flavour has lots of cocoa and chocolate along with roasted malts, lactic sweetness and a hint of cherry and smoke. The finish has some hop bitterness along with more of the cherry.The stout is medium bodied, with medium-soft carbonation, and a smooth creamy mouthfeel. This stout is not too heavy, or too bitter, or too sweet or too fruity - just enough of everything. A very pleasant after dinner sipper.

BARRELSHED No.1 ~ SHAWN & ED BREWING

6.5% from Dundas, Ontario 

49 IBU

Sampled on draught, the beer poured a amber-ruby colour with a moderate white head. The nose had American hops in the front with more floral, herbal English hops in the background, biscuits grains and caramel are also present. The beer is fairly easy drinking and follows the profile of the aroma: American hops giving it citrus, pine, grapefruit and fruity notes and the English hops lending a more herbal flavour. Hints of caramel, and fruitiness are also present. There is very subtle indication that this was barrel aged in the finish, with a tiny bit of oakiness and wine, otherwise the finish is balanced with a little residual sweetness and hop bitterness. Pleasant enough, could use more time in the barrel.

TRICERATOPS TRIPEL ~ BEAU’S

9% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario

Triceratops is a triple gruit was made for the 5th annual International Gruit Day day and Beau’s Fe’brew’ary. This gruit is a marriage between a Belgian style triple and a great, which were flavoured with a variety of botanicals. This one includes bog myrtle, lavender and heather flowers. Sampled on draught this brew poured a hazy orangey yellow with a modest light white head. The head stuck around before settling into a cap and leaving lacing behind. The nose is quite floral with hints of fruity Belgian yeast. Notes of grass, lemon, lavender, pepper, fruit and grains are present. The flavour is a melange of spicy, fruity, herbal, sweet, floral, earthy and lightly bitter. The finish is off dry and has a warming boozy quality. The beer was medium bodied with moderate carbonation. This is an interesting hybrid recommended to the adventurous.