OVER THE BORDER PORTER ~ BRIMSTONE BREWING X COMMUNITY BEER WORKS

Over the Border Porter is collaboration between Brimstone on the Ontario side and Community Beer Works from the New York side. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a dark cola colour with a small off white head. Brimstone brought their maple syrup and Community Beer Works contributed plumwood-smoked malts from New York Craft Malt. Both brewed simultaneously from their side of the border. The nose had lots of roasted toasty malts, molasses, hints of maple, burnt crust, with a touch of smoke. The flavour followed much as expected, lots of rich roasted malts. A touch of smoke and some maple sweetness complement the hops at the back end. Both the smoke and the maple were done in moderation – well done! The body was on the full side of medium, and the carbonation was moderate. A very delicious autumn offering, just in time for Thanksgiving.

5.5 % from Ridgeway, Ontario and Buffalo, New York

photo: Brimstone Instagram

PIE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ~ BRIMSTONE BREWING

This saison, with a very long name is a collaboration between Brimstone Brewing Co. and Piskie Pie’s in St. Catherine’s. It is a one of limited edition brew. The saison was brewed using fresh pies in the mash and adding fresh strawberry and rhubarb in the secondary fermentation. Sampled on draught, the beer pours an opaque golden orange, with hints of pink. The nose contained biscuity grains, subtle strawberry and rhubarb. The delicious saison had lovely flavours. The biscuit malts mimicked a piecrust. The fruits were subtle but the sweet strawberry was perfectly complemented by tart rhubarb. The beer has a smooth, dry crisp finish with fruits lingering in the aftertaste. A most delicious brew – so good I had two and hope fully it will be on draught for a little longer.

5% from Ridgeway, Ontario 30 IBU

BRIMSTONE BREWING CO ~ LAST RIDE LOGANBERRY SAISON

Last Ride Loganberry Saison is a beer inspired by the once famous summer destination Crystal Beach Amusement Park. The park ran for more than one hundred years before shuttering in 1989. Crystal Beach served a legendary Loganberry drink, the flavour that inspired this brew. Logan berries are a cross between blackberries and raspberries. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy dull pinkish amber colour with a generous creamy head, that left lots of lacing before reducing to cap. Ripe berries, raspberry jam and a hint of rhubarb dance on the nose, along with saison spiciness, slight funk, and light toast. There is a pleasant balance of tartness and fruit flavour complementing a traditional saison. The berries lend a ripe fruit sweetness and tartness, and give it a slight astringency. There is some graininess at the back end along with saison spiciness (clove, coriander), before giving way to a mild hop. The carbonation is lively and refreshing. A great summer sipper; hope to see more of this one!

5.6% from Ridgeway, Ontario 24 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

MIDNIGHT MASS CHICORY OATMEAL STOUT ~ BRIMSTONE 

STOUT WEEK - Brimstone is a small brewery in the Niagara region of Ontario and has done some pretty good beer in the past year. The brewery is in a church that had long lost its congregation; hence many of the beer names have a religious overtone. Sampled on draught this beer poured almost black with a deep khaki/dark tan head. The nose was dark roasted malts, fresh hops, and oatmeal, with hints of coffee, dried fruit and dark chocolate. The stout is quite full flavoured: coffee/chicory, chocolate, smoke all play their parts. The beer had a creamy texture and finished with a bitter dryness.

6.6% from Ridgeway, Ontario 35 IBU

HEAVENWEISSE ~ BRIMSTONE

HeavenWeisse is Brimstone’s version of a traditional Bavarian Hefeweizen (wheat beer). It pours a deeper golden than usual wheats with an unfiltered cloudiness.  Lots of clove and banana in the nose and the taste.  Finishes with faint bubblegum flavour.  Perfect on a hot day on the patio.

4.8% from Ridgeway, Ontario
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