JUPILER ~ BRASSERIE PIEDBOEUF

5.2% from Jupille-sur-Meuse, Belgium

Julpiler is the Molson Canadian/Budwiser of Belgium. Sampled from a bottle on Konigsdag in Amsterdam, when everyone was walking around with travellers. The beer is a light Euro lager in style. It poured a clear golden colour with a thin white head, which did not stick around. The nose was very light and contained mostly grains. The taste is light with grassy, grainy notes along with some caramel and a bitter hop finish. The body is light and thin and the carbonation was average. There are so many better brews to drink than this in Belgium, though in a pinch it is way better than a Bud light.

BERGAMONSTER IMPERIAL WHEAT

7% from Stratford, Connecticut

Bergamonster is a seasonal release (June to August). It is an unfiltered Imperial wheat ale, made with Bergamot Orange peel, raw wheat and both old and new world hops. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a cloudy golden blonde with a thin white head. Cloves, spice alcohol, banana, lemon, yeasts, bergamot, coriander and floral tea were to be found on the nose. The beer was too sweet for my liking, and I could not get past the perfume like quality of the taste. It was quite sweet with banana, yeasty esters, citrus, coriander, bergamot and spice.  The body wad medium and the carbonation was average. Sorry Two Roads, this one isn’t for me.

YUZU ~ RADICAL ROAD BREWING CO.

5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 40

This brew is a pale ale brewed with yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit, also known as citrus junos). The yuzu was added in the fermenter to give it it’s citrusy tropical fruit flavour. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy light bright honey yellow, with a generous white head, and light lacing. The nose contains fruity hops and a hit of tropical yuzu, along with lime, tangerine and other citrus notes. The flavour has lots of yuzu orange, lime and citrus brightness. Grains follow the initial citrus followed by the tropical hops which are not bitter, but give the beer depth and balance. The body is light, carbonation moderate and the finish is smooth. A lovely quenching summer brew.

GENTSE STROP ~ BROUWERIJ ROMAN

6.9% from Ghent, Belgium

Gentse Strop was named an event in Ghent in 1540. At that time the people of Ghent refused to pay extra war tax so Keizer Karel V (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) rounded up notable citizens of Ghent and marched them around the city with a noose around their necks. The noose became a symbol of resistance against tyranny and the nickname of the citizen of Ghent (Gentenaars) are ‘stroppendragers’ (noose bearers). The beer is a Belgian Strong Blond ale that has been top fermented and then had a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Sampled in Ghent from a bottle, the beer poured a slightly cloudy coppery gold with a generous white head that lingered before racing and leaving good amount of lacing. The nose had notes of fruit - banana and some citrus, spice, malts, yeast phenols and esters, and a hint of hops. The palette has sweet malts, spices, yeast, citrus with a little hop bitterness at the end. The beer is medium bodied with average carbonation. A pleasant quaff.

GUAVA SOUR ~ ROUGE RIVER BREWING COMPANY

This brew is a kettle sour made with lots of guava puree (about a pound per gallon). Sampled on draught the beer poured a cloudy amber with a moderate white head that left good lacing. The nose contained guava and lots of tartness. The beer starts off with a touch of grave and other tropicals and finishes up with a refreshing sour citrusy kick. The body is medium light and the carbonation was moderate. This is one of the more successful kettle sours I have had. Quite a nice summer brew.

5% from Markham Ontario 3 IBU

Photo courtesy of Rouge River Brewing

PERSIAN LIME GOSE ~ TWO ROADS BREWING CO

4.5% from Stamford, Connecticut

Sampled at a tap takeover at my Toronto local. This brew is part of Two Roads Tanker Truck sour series (because it is soured in a tanker truck!) and is brewed with the juice from Persian limes (juice from a local juicery), flaked rye and salt. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly cloudy light straw yellow with a thin white head that recedes quickly. The aroma has notes of lime and citrus, wheat, and salt. The beer reminded me a little of a margarita. It begins with lots of tart lime, with a little malty sweetness and finishes with a touch of salt. I found this one east drinking, and delicious - an excellent quencher on a hot day. The body is light, and the carbonation was moderate. I really liked this one - good amount of tartness, and very refreshing.

GENSTE GRUUT BLONDE ~ GENTSE GRUUT STADSBROUWERIJ

This gruut (gruit) was sampled in Ghent where the beer is brewed in a microbrewery.It is advertised as a gently barleyed beer with a neutral, light and sweet flavour arrived at by using a special selection of herbs. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a hazy golden hue with a moderate white head which left lots of lacing. The nose contained notes of fruit, yeast, a sweetness, florals, herbs, spice with gentle malts. The taste was both sweet and bitter. Sweet fruit and yeast phenols with cereal malts and spice and with a bitter and finish The body is medium, the mouthfeel is slightly creamy and the carbonation is on the soft side. Nicely balanced mild blonde ale. Very drinkable.

5.5% from Ghent, Belgium

SKUMMKOPPE ~ TEXELS BIERBROUWERIJ

Skuummkoppe (foam head) is a dark wit beer brewed in the Netherlands. Sampled on draught in a cafe on Spaarndammerstraat, the beer poured a hazy amber with a dense cream coloured head, which left streaky lacing. The nose had notes of sweet malts, yeasts, and wheat with a light citrus, spice, floral and fruit notes. The flavour is not overpowering but has some nice notes of malt sweetness, wheat, bread, florals and subtle fruits, a little yeast and some banana esters. There is a little hop on the finish along with a some tartness happening mid sip. The finish is off-dry and the mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. The carbonation was on the soft side, and the body was on the medium end of light. Quite enjoyed this brew, and beer always tastes better when you are on holiday.

6% from Oudeschild, Texel, Netherlands

STATE OF MIND ~  COLLECTIVE ARTS

 State of Mind is a session IPA. It is packed with taste, but has a light body and a lower alcohol percentage. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a slightly cloudy yellow gold with a white head with good retention and lace. The nose has a ton tropical fruit, especially mango along with some pine resin, citrus. straw, grapefruit and crackery notes. The taste is hop forward, with grapefruit, grassy notes, tropical fruit, bready malts, pine bitterness at end. The body is medium-light and the carbonation is moderate with a crisp finish. This beer is remarkably full flavoured. A great summer sipper.

4.4% from Hamilton, Ontario 38 IBUs
Flavour Hops: Amarillo and Centennial
Aroma Hops: Amarillo and Centennial
Malt: Pale Ale, Crystal, Carafoam, Toasted Wheat Flakes

THE FACE OF TORONTO ( IDES OF MARCH) ~ HENDERSON

The Face of Toronto is Henderson’s Ides of March Beer, a one-off they do every month. It was made to celebrate Toronto’s birthday - many Torontian faces were used on the labels. The beer is a ‘truffle’ saison made with orange peel, cardamom, and chocolate. Sampled on draught the beer poured a dark ruby-brown (much like a porter) with a creamy beige head that lasted several minutes. The nose has notes of chocolate, and spice, with an earthiness and subtle fruits. The taste had notes of dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, spice, roasted malts, and fruit and florals. The beer has a medium full body, average carbonation and low bitterness on the finish. I enjoyed this one, a very interesting brew.

5.5 % from Toronto, Ontario