SQUEEZE PLAY ~LEFT FIELD

Squeeze Play is a small batch kettle sour ale, with blood oranges and Montmorency cherries. It is a one-off brew. Sampled on draught the beer poured a beautiful colour of warm pink, with a golden hue. The beer was almost clear and a moderate white head sat atop the pour. The nose had a tartness with the cherries being the predominant fruit. I have had this ben several times, the first time was the first pour of the keg. The first sample I had a nice light sourness, but also had a little wortiness and sulphur on the finish. Sampled a few days later, the sulphur finish had dissipated considerably. The fruit flavours are there, beginning with the cherry and finishing with the orange. The sour is mild due to the process of souring. Liked it more the second time I drank it. The body is light and the carbonation was on the active side. Simple, but refreshing.

Photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery
5.3% from Toronto, Ontario 8 IBU

BELGIAN BLOOD ORANGE PORTER ~ NORTHWINDS  & BRIMSTONE

This brew is collaboration between Northwinds Brewery and Brimstone Brewery, both with fine products of their own. Sampled on draught, the brew poured almost black, and let little light through it. It had a short-lived small off white head. Belgian yeasts, chocolate, orange and grapefruit and pine hops were all on the nose. The flavour was almost liqueur like. It reminded me of a Murphy’s Dark Chocolate orange that I have found in my stocking at Christmas time. The beer started with sweet orange followed by dark chocolate, roasted malts and sweet Belgian yeasts. It finished with a hop combination of bitter grapefruit and resiny pine. Nicely balanced, and very tasty! Bravo!

6% Collingwood, Ontario