YUZU ~ RADICAL ROAD BREWING CO.

5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 40

This brew is a pale ale brewed with yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit, also known as citrus junos). The yuzu was added in the fermenter to give it it’s citrusy tropical fruit flavour. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy light bright honey yellow, with a generous white head, and light lacing. The nose contains fruity hops and a hit of tropical yuzu, along with lime, tangerine and other citrus notes. The flavour has lots of yuzu orange, lime and citrus brightness. Grains follow the initial citrus followed by the tropical hops which are not bitter, but give the beer depth and balance. The body is light, carbonation moderate and the finish is smooth. A lovely quenching summer brew.

GUAVA SOUR ~ ROUGE RIVER BREWING COMPANY

This brew is a kettle sour made with lots of guava puree (about a pound per gallon). Sampled on draught the beer poured a cloudy amber with a moderate white head that left good lacing. The nose contained guava and lots of tartness. The beer starts off with a touch of grave and other tropicals and finishes up with a refreshing sour citrusy kick. The body is medium light and the carbonation was moderate. This is one of the more successful kettle sours I have had. Quite a nice summer brew.

5% from Markham Ontario 3 IBU

Photo courtesy of Rouge River Brewing

STATE OF MIND ~  COLLECTIVE ARTS

 State of Mind is a session IPA. It is packed with taste, but has a light body and a lower alcohol percentage. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a slightly cloudy yellow gold with a white head with good retention and lace. The nose has a ton tropical fruit, especially mango along with some pine resin, citrus. straw, grapefruit and crackery notes. The taste is hop forward, with grapefruit, grassy notes, tropical fruit, bready malts, pine bitterness at end. The body is medium-light and the carbonation is moderate with a crisp finish. This beer is remarkably full flavoured. A great summer sipper.

4.4% from Hamilton, Ontario 38 IBUs
Flavour Hops: Amarillo and Centennial
Aroma Hops: Amarillo and Centennial
Malt: Pale Ale, Crystal, Carafoam, Toasted Wheat Flakes

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

IPA #2 ~ COLLECTIVE ARTS

7.1% from Hamilton, Ontario 80 IBU

Collective Arts IPA series showcases different combinations of hops, this one uses Mosaic, Simcoe and Waimea hops. Sampled from a tin, the beer pours a hazy golden orange colour with a large off white head,. The retention is quite long and leaves abundant spidery lace on the glass. The nose contains lots of tropical fruit (mango, pineapple, papaya, citrus), earthiness, florals, and resinous piney hops. This beautifully balanced brew also contains a plethora of tropical fruit flavours, followed by a wallop of citrus and piney hops with a lovely rich malt backbone. The carbonation is very active, the beer is full bodied and has a slightly creamy texture. The finish is dry with a slightly lingering bitterness. The beer is bold and has a lovely complexity. Really enjoyed this one! Recommended.
Hops: Mosaic, Simcoe, and Waimea
Malt: Pilsner, 2-Row, Oats, Flaked Oats, Flaked Wheat.

BUZZ ALDRIN ~ BARNSTORMER BREWING

Buzz Aldrin is part of Barnstormers sour series and was a seasonal release. The beer is flavoured with peach. Sampled on draught, the brew poured a slightly hazy golden yellow with a thin white head. The nose is very mild with a little sourness, a tiny bit of funk and very light peaches. The taste has a lingering sour, with a light but detectable tart peach taste. It is not as peachy as I would have expected. Not bad, a nice summer sour.

3.8% from Barrie, Ontario IBU 15

CANADIAN SHIELD BERRIES ~ KW CIDER

6.2% from Waterloo, Ontario

Canadian Shield is a cider made from the berries available growing on the Canadian Shield including: Blueberries, Cranberries, Currants, Raspberries and Strawberries. Sampled on draught this cider poured a clear beautiful rose colour with tawny hues. The nose contained a plethora of berry notes with the strawberries and raspberries at the forefront. The lovely refreshing flavour is both tart and sweet with a huge hit of berry goodness. There is a nice complexity as the tartness of some berries balance with the sweet juiciness of others. The finish is slightly tart, but there are no lingering aftertastes. A beautiful summer drink.

BALL’S FALLS ~ BENCH BREWING

4.5% from Beamsville, Ontario 30 IBU

Ball’s Fall is a session IPA. It is names after a historic waterfall in the Twenty Mile Valley. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear pale golden colour with a lasting generous thick head, which left nice lacing. The nose is fresh and contained notes of lemony and grapefruit citrus, toasted cereal grain, tropical fruit and peaches. The taste is clean with , cereal grains, citrus notes and some subtle fruity sweetness. The finish has a citrus and a little pine hop bitterness. The body is medium-light and the carbonation is lively. There is quite a lot of flavour for a low alcohol beer. Very sessional and rather tasty.

KESTRAL IN A COALMINE ~ WELLINGTON BREWERY

75 IBU 

6.5% from Guelph, Ontario

Sampled on draught, Kestral in a Coalmine is a Belgian IPA. The brew combines the juicy hop forwardness of an American IPA with the spicy qualities of Belgian yeasts. The beer poured a cloudy yellow gold with a moderate off white head.
Belgian IPA. The aroma contained spicy Belgian yeast notes, with citrus, floral and resinous hops. The flavour had some notes of Belgian yeasts along with big juicy hops, a moderate malt backbone, citrus and other tropical fruits and some white pepper spice. This is not usually a style that I would gravitate to, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. The brew also merited 3rd place at the Great Ontario-Hopped Craft Beer Competition.

4X4 ~ STACK BREWING

10.5% from Sudbury, Ontario
4 x 4 is a Belgian style quad. It is rich in taste and high in alcohol. Sampled on draught the beer poured a fairly clear brown with ruby and amber highlights and a moderate light brown head. The head left lovely lacing as it receded down the sides of the glass into a cap and collar. The nose had lots of rich malts, caramel, fruit bread, and dried fruit, spice and some subtle yeast and molasses. The palette had notes of plums, dark fruit, treacle, estery banana bread, with subtle spice and yeast. The flavour is quite sweet, with a touch of bitterness at the finish, along with warming alcohol. The body is on the full side and the carbonation was soft. Overall, quite palatable but lacking in some complexity.

20 MILE FARMHOUSE ALE ~ BENCH BREWING

5.3% from Beamsville, Ontario 

 IBU 27

This Brew is named after Twenty Mile Creek that runs through Twenty Valley. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy golden colour with a generous white head. The head had good retention and left some lacing as it disappeared. The nose contained some peppery spice, fruit, citrus, pale malts, yeast esters and a grassy earthiness. The taste follows the nose. There is lots of fruits, citrus, yeast notes, peppery spice and pale malts. The hops were a little amped up for a Farmhouse ale giving it a bitter but smooth and dry finish. The beer had medium carbonation and a fun flavoured medium body. Overall quite good, but I prefer my saisons to be a little less bitter.

Yeast: Old World Saison Blend
Kettle Hops : Ella & Enigma
Malts: Bohemium Pilsner, Canadian 2-row and wheat.

WINTER LAGER ~ WELLINGTON 

6.8% from Guelph, Ontario
This winter lager is a helles bock. Sampled on draught the beer poured a very lightly hazed deep golden-orange with a small white head. As the head dissipated, small wispy lacing remained on the glass. The aroma has notes of grainy malts, light caramel, subtle fruit, and earthiness and herbal earthy hops. The flavour followed as expected from the nose (bready malts, caramel, noble hops). The beer had a slightly warming booziness not the finish. The body was medium (on the heavier side) and the carbonation was moderate. Very pleasant.

PASS THE DUBBEL ~ STACK

8% from Sudbury, Ontario
This dubbed was to be had on draught at the Stack Tap take over. The brew was the winner of the 2017 Northern Ontario Microbrew Contest. The beer poured a hazy brown colour with a small off white head., which left some lacing as it receded. The nose was typical of a double with some bread malts, caramel , sweet Belgian yeasts, subtle fruit and an earthiness. The taste follows, again with bread malts, caramel, plums and fruit and candi sugar. The finish had low bitterness and a slight sweetness. Overall a nicely done example of the style.

CUPIDS WINGS HIBISCUS RED ALE ~ BARNSTORMER

6.9% from Barrie, Ontario 

 25 IBU

Cupid’s Wing was a special February Release from Barnstormer Brewing in Barrie. It is a red ale brewed with hibiscus. Sampled in draught the beer poured a rich brown colour with garnet hues and an off white head, which left streaky lacing as it receded. The nose had notes of molasses and malts, with aa subtle hibiscus floridness, coming through. There is lots going on here making the brew slightly muddled. Taste followed the nose: molasses, caramel, malts, red berries, a little tartness with an off dry very subtle floral hibiscus finish. Quite drinkable, just not stellar.

HARRY PORTER AND THE COMPLICATED COFFEE ORDER ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

6.5% from Toronto, Ontario 16 IBU

Another delicious riff on the Harry Porter brew. This porter features a small amount of Scotch Bonnet pepper, vanilla, cinnamon and Station Cold Brew coffee. The pour was an opaque black with glints of brown, with a mocha coloured head. The head settled into a cap leaving a ring around the glass. Aromas of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and roasted malts abound. The flavour follows with rich coffee, chocolate and vanilla, a little heat is noted at the end from the Scotch Bonnet peppers, along with some woody notes. The finish has a low bitterness and is quite smooth. The body is medium as is the carbonation. A beautiful brew!

HAWAIIAN UPPERCUT ~ STACK

7% from Sudbury, Ontario

Hawaiian Uppercut is a Belgian style pale golden ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a lightly hazy beautiful light golden straw yellow colour with a generous white head. The headed good retention and did leave some impressive lacing. The aroma had a ton of tropical fruit; lots of pineapple, citrus (lemon, and clementines, orange, grapefruit), light vinous notes. Belgian yeasts, and a slight resiny note. The beer is only brewed with four ingredients, it is hard to believe those four packed so much fruit flavour. The flavour is slightly sour and which compliments all the sweet flavours of the tropical fruits and citrus. Belgian yeasts appear mid sip and the finish has a nice citrus/leafy hop bitterness. The alcohol is well hidden - there is no alcohol astringency nor is their much evidence of malts. The mouthfeel was full and creamy and the carbonation was moderate. I really enjoyed this! Well done Stack!

LOCK MONSTER ~ BEAU’S & TOOTH AND NAIL

5.7% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario 30 IBU

Lock Monster is a collaboration between Beau’s and Tooth and Nail Brewing out of Ottawa. It is the third in a series of collaborations celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday. A portion of the proceeds of these brews support charity (this one goes to Children’s Hospitals of Eastern Ontario) The brew is a fairly traditional Extra Special Bitter. Sampled on draught the beer pours a slightly opaque coppery colour with an off-white foamy head, with some nice lacing. Citrus, apricot, caramel and biscuity malts round out the nose of this traditional brew. The flavour is nicely balanced with malt sweetness and light hop bitterness. The flavour is on the mellow side with notes of toffee, fruit and light citrus, biscuity malts, contrasting with an old world hop bitterness. Some oakiness is present in the aftertaste. The carbonation was moderate.on this medium bodied brew. Overall very drinkable and a pleasant example of this style.

INGREDIENTS: Local spring water, organic barley malts, organic hops, brewer’s yeast.
MALTS: Pale Ale, Caramel 60, Acidulated, Caraaroma (all organic)
HOPS: Organic Goldings, Organic Fuggles
YEAST: English Ale Yeast

HIGHER DIMENSION ~ NICKEL BROOK 

7.5% from Burlington, Ontario

Higher Dimension comes out of Nickel Brook’s Funk Lab. It is a dry-hopped Belgian Amber ale with brett. It is also a collaboration with VQH farms - who are Canadian Hop farmers, and breeders. Sampled on draught the beer poured a murky orange brown with a generous sudsy white head. Some tropical fruit, florals, toffee, dark bread, spice, funk and a touch of rubber on the nose. Those flavours are found in this muddled mixture too. Caramel malts mix with grapefruit and other tropical fruits, with bretty barnyard and a little spice. There is a lot going here, bitter and sour and sweet. The finish has a bitter bite, the carbonation was average and the brew was medium bodied. An interesting experiment but this one misses the mark for me, however it raises awareness of a great cause.

DEAD STICK STOUT ~ BARNSTORMER

5.9% from Barrie, Ontario 24 IBU

Dead Stick is a milk stout. Sampled on draught the beer poured an opaque brown-black pour, with a lasting creamy dense beige head. Lacing was on the thin side. The nose was a melange of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, fruit and some sweetness. The flavour followed suit, with lactic sweetness, coffee, chocolate, roasted malts and a little hop bitterness at the end. The body was medium with a creamy mouthfeel and low carbonation. A smooth stout. Quite drinkable, I would order this again.

SQUEEZE PLAY ~LEFT FIELD

Squeeze Play is a small batch kettle sour ale, with blood oranges and Montmorency cherries. It is a one-off brew. Sampled on draught the beer poured a beautiful colour of warm pink, with a golden hue. The beer was almost clear and a moderate white head sat atop the pour. The nose had a tartness with the cherries being the predominant fruit. I have had this ben several times, the first time was the first pour of the keg. The first sample I had a nice light sourness, but also had a little wortiness and sulphur on the finish. Sampled a few days later, the sulphur finish had dissipated considerably. The fruit flavours are there, beginning with the cherry and finishing with the orange. The sour is mild due to the process of souring. Liked it more the second time I drank it. The body is light and the carbonation was on the active side. Simple, but refreshing.

Photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery
5.3% from Toronto, Ontario 8 IBU