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

IDES OF FEBRUARY (THE HENDERSON CUP) ~ HENDERSON BREWING

7% from Toronto, Ontario 60 IBU

The ides series are a one-off brews. This one is named the Henderson Cup because the brewery put out a contest to home brewers. The winner of the best beer would win $1000 dollars and an opportunity to brew it on a large scale for release. This black IPA with raspberries, made by Ed Hitchcock, took home the cup this year. Ed’s winning beer was a raspberry lambic, but in the name of time, a black IPA was created to incapsulate the spirit if his beer, that wouldn’t take as long to ferment. The beer pours an opaque very dark brown - almost black with a generous beige-khaki head. Lots of dark roasted malts, some raspberry and a variety of hops on the nose. The flavours had notes of chocolate, coffee, and raspberry - kind of like a bitter Black Forest Cake. The taste starts off semi sweet and finishes on with a bitter end. I really liked this, it works.