COFFEE TOP ~ HENDERSON’S BREWING

Coffee Top is not actually a beer but a beer cocktail, served at the Henderson’s Brewery.  The beer is Henderson’s Best, their flagship Amber Ale, served with a top of cold brewed coffee from Station Brewers.  Sampled at the brewery the beer cocktail was a clear amber colour with a generous frothy bone coloured head.  The amber ale and the coffee worked remarkably well together.   The sweetness from the malts and the hoppiness of the ale married nicely with the coffee.  Who knew?

4.8% from Toronto, Ontario   40 IBU

Coffee Top is the last in the row.  

POKÉ MANGO FIND YOURSELF (IDES OF AUGUST) ~ HENDERSON’S

Poké ManGo Find Yourself is Henderson’s Brewing seasonal for the month of August. The beer is a passion fruit and mango infused IPA. Sampled at the brewery, the beer poured bright golden orange amber with a thin white head. The aroma had some tropical fruit and a good hop bite with notes of tropical fruit and subtle pine (Comet, Bell and Nugget hops were used in the brewing). The beer has some subtle fruitiness and a little tartness, but the fruitiness is not easily identifiable as mango. The body was medium, carbonation moderate and the finish was clean with a good bitter hop kick. IPA’s are not my favourite style but I enjoyed this one very much. Another hit from Henderson’s.

4.8% from Toronto 50 IBU

FOOD TRUCK ~ HENDERSON'S BREWING

Food Truck is a blonde ale, brewed to go with a variety of food. It is meant to complement a meal, rather than compete with it, leaving the food in the spotlight. The beer is mild, easy drinking, thirst quenching and easily sessionable. Sampled on draught, at the brewery, the beer poured a clear light golden colour, with a moderate white head. The head lasted for a while before leaving some nice lacing as it receded. The nose contains bread crust, stone fruit and citrus, and some floral hop notes (Nugget and Ella hops). The flavour has a nice balance of light malts and light bitterness, with some stone and tropical fruit notes. The body was light and somewhat creamy and the carbonation was moderate. Very simple, very drinkable.
4.8 % From Toronto IBU 19

RADICLE WHEAT (IDES OF JULY) ~ HENDERSON’S BREWING

Radicle Wheat was Henderson’s limited edition brew for July 2016. It was brewed for Toronto’s 55th Annual Toronto Art Exhibition. The beer uses prairie wheat and Belgian yeast in its recipe. Sampled on draught the beer poured a cloudy golden straw colour. The aroma contained the typical hefe aromas of orange peel, banana and coriander. This was a very nice example of the style and with lots of fruits esters ands spicy Belgian yeast. There was lots of fruit and a subtle sweetness before a crisp tart finish. Very pleasant on a hot day.

5.2% From Toronto 20 IBU

BEST ~ HENDERSON’S

Move over, there is room for all; there is a new kid on the block. Henderson’s is a brand new brewery in Toronto; currently contract brewing while their new space in the Junction is completed. Henderson’s is an up start by Steve Himel and brewmaster Mark Benzaquen, two industry veterans. This interpretation of an ESB was sampled on Draught at the release party. The beer poured the most beautiful colour of deep amber with red highlights. The small off white head lingered and left some lacing. Lovely floral fragrant hops dominated the nose with subtle malts in the background. The beer is based on a traditional ESB recipe with the English hops removed and replaced by North American west coast hops (Amarillo, cascade and one other). The beer has also been late hopped and dry hopped. Needless to say the beer is quite hop forward for an ESB…more like the offspring of an English IPA and an ESB. This is a very sessional beer and I look forward to a broader release.
The beer is named after Robert Henderson, believed to be the first commercial brewer in what was then York, but now Toronto. The original Henderson’s brewery dates back to 1800 and was located at Clinton and Henderson Street, (where the Monarch Tavern now sits and was the location of the flagship’s beers release).

5% from Toronto, Ontario