HELLER HIGHWATER ~ 

KICHESIPPI BEER CO.

What a cleaver name for a Helles lager! Sampled on draught, this Bavarian style lager poured a fairly clear golden amber colour with a sudsy white head that receded, and left a sheet at the top, and some lacing. The nose contained lots of earthy-bready-grains, honey-caramel malts, with floral and grassy hop notes. The taste too was very grain forward, with honey sweetness, bready malts, a slight pepperiness and a touch of lemon citrus. The grassy/floral hops at the end impart a slight bitterness and a crisp dryness. The body is medium and smooth, and the carbonation is on the soft side. I found this a very pleasant lager, but perhaps not a session beer, as the honey sweetness becomes a little cloying after the second pint.
Hops: German noble hops
Yeast: genuine Munich yeast

4.8% from Ottawa, Ontario IBUs: 19

DARTMOUTH COMMON ~ KICHESIPPI BREWING

Dartmouth Common is a Damphbier (translated from German – Steam beer). The style, which is hundreds of years old, was originally made in South East Bavaria. This style took off in the southern United States because the beer is warm fermented and California had a lack of refrigeration. The American version is known as a Steam Beer, or a California Common and is made with different yeast. Damphbier is traditionally made with all barley, but is fermented with a weissbier yeast, which gives it a slightly phenolic after taste. This beer was one is a series of “staff picks” at the Brewery and is a seasonal brew. The beer poured a deep slightly cloudy golden colour with an off white head, that left lacing. The nose was primarily grains and weissBeir yeast (clove and banana). The very mild taste has some banana and clove, citrus, florals and bready malts and a sweetness about it. The carbonation was low (characteristic of the style) and the hop was very mild. At times I found the mouthfeel a little thin and light. A nice interpretation of a steam beer, it would be very quaffable on a hot day.

5.1% from Ottawa, Ontario IBU 14