BATCH 4 CHERRY SAISON ~ INNOCENTE

Sampled on draught this brew poured a golden colour with a thin white head, which disappeared quickly. Hints of cherries were found on the nose along with white pepper, grainy fresh bread, and a little barnyard funk. The flavour contains very subtle fruits, piecrust malts, a hint of spice, bubble-gum, hay and a bit of funk. The finish had grassy hops and was slightly off-dry. I wish the cherry flavour had shone through more, and the bubble gum a little less.

5.9% from Waterloo, Ontario   20 IBU

WATERLOO 1815 ~ INNOCENTE

Waterloo 1815 was originally brewed or the anniversary of Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.  Innocente has rereleased the rye saison again this year. The brew contains ingredients from the seven armies that defeated Napoleon. Sampled on draught the beer poured an opaque deep burnt orange colour with a sudsy yellowish-white head that had good retention. Both the colour and the taste had greater depth compared to a ‘regular’ saison. The nose contained toasted bread, some orange and other fruit flavours, yeasty spice, and a whiff of sulphur. Ribbons of streaming carbonation floated to the top. The taste contained spicy biscuity malts (the rye is noticeable), Belgian yeasts, lemon and pepper. The finish was mildly bitter and drying on the palette. A tasty brew.

5.7% from Waterloo, Ontario IBU: 20

INNOCENTE ~ PUGATORY 

Purgatory is a new beer from Innocente, and it is a new beer concoction: Black cream ale. It is a collaboration with ‘Beer Town Public House' (several bars in the Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, Ontario) Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a deep brown-black, with a generous off- white head. Aroma was pleasant with grains, dark toasted malts, fruity hops and perhaps a hint of liquorice. The flavour was somewhat mild, but had a pleasant coffee and roasted malt taste. An earthiness and mild hops follow with a dry finish. The mouth feel was light but creamy. Interesting but just all right.

4.3% from Waterloo, Ontario 16 IBU

COYOTE HOLE with JUNIPER ~ INNOCENTE BREWING

Sampled on cask, it is a special edition brewed with Juniper berries. Coyote Hole is a California Common in style. Traditionally California Common’s (also known as Steam Beer*) are brewed with yeast that works well at higher temperatures. The beer originated in California in the early 1800’s where refrigeration was a great luxury, so beer was cooled using shallow fermenters, and yeast that worked at a higher temperature was necessary. The beer poured dark amber with ruby hues, with a small head. The nose contained a boozy aroma, dark berries, bread and biscuits, some woodiness and a bit of spice. Taste had red berries, citrus, roasted malts, bready graininess, earthiness and perhaps a touch of spice. The sweetness was counteracted by a pleasant bitterness (but not hoppy) at the end. This beer reminded me of an ESB. A very nice complexity in flavour.

5.1 % 25 IBU from Waterloo, Ontario

SOUTHERN JUSTICE ~ INNOCENTE

Southern Justice is a limited edition one-off.  The brewery made 600 bottles that were sold only at the brewery store, which sold out very quickly.  Select bars were lucky enough to get a cask.  The beer is a saison that has been aged in Jack Daniels Bourbon casks for 6 months with Ontario peaches (from Herrles farm).  Sampled on draught, the beer poured a translucent honey amber with a small white head.  Peaches and whisky are all over the nose.   This beer is incredible, beautifully made and balanced.  The whiskey makes a smoky appearance but does not overpower the delicate flavours of the saison.  Sweet peaches also make an appearance, but compliment rather than compete with the whisky.  The beer does not taste as boozy as it is, not knowing what the alcohol content was, I would have guessed around 6%.  This one is a sipper for sure.  An exquisitely balanced brew. 

 

10.5% from Waterloo, Ontario