SQUARE NAIL PALE ALE ~ PUBLICAN HOUSE

Square Nail is a West Coast style Pale ale. It was named after the hundreds of hand made 19th century square nails found during renovation of the brewery in Peterborough. Sampled on draught the beer poured a fairly clear coppery colour.with a finger of white head. The resilient head lasted a while before leaving lovely lacing on the glass and a foamy collar in the glass. Hops were predominant on the nose with notes of resin, floral/herbal and grapefruit (the brew was hopped with late additions of Cascade). The malts (brewed with Saskatchewan and Crystal malts) held their own too with plenty of biscuity, ready notes along with caramel and hints of orchard fruits. The full- flavoured palette is nicely balanced with bitter hops and caramel cereal malts, with floral/herbal and citrus on the finish. The body was on the heavy side for the style, the carbonation was subtle and the mouthfeel was creamy. Very pleasant, well crafted, I will return to this.

5.6% from Peterborough, Ontario

AMBER SOLACE ~ SMITHAVENS 

Smithaven’s has recently changed their name from Smithworks and in turn have renamed their Amber lager, or fest beir, Amber Solace. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a slightly hazy rich coppery amber colour with a generous beige head that disappeared quickly. The nose is quite light with subtle notes of grains, light orchard fruits, caramel, grass and malt. The taste is much better than the nose would suggest. Grains, caramel, toasted malts, fruit give was to a gentle bitterness. The carbonation was average and the mouthfeel was medium bodied and slightly creamy. Not a ‘spectacular’ beer but quite a drinkable Vienna Lager.

5.5% from Peterborough, Ontario 20 IBU

SMITHHAVENS ~ DUNKELWEIZEN

Sampled from a bottle, this beer poured cloudy dark coppery amber with a generous beige head, which quickly reduced to a film, and left some scant lacing. The nose contained caramel, ripe stone fruit, some spice, grains and a slight vinous tart quality. The taste was lighter than expected with notes of caramel, malts, ripe fruit, clove, earthiness, subtle banana esters and a light sourness. The beer had grainy malty sweetness that was cut by the tartness. There was some lingering fruit in the aftertaste with no bitterness. The carbonation was gentle, and the body felt a little watery at time. I don’t know whether the slight sourness was intentional, I would like reserve judgment on this one, until I sample another. 

5.2% from Peterborough, Ontario IBU 12

KELLERBIER ~ SMITHAVEN'S

(formerly SMITHWORKS)

Kellerbier or cellar beer is an unfiltered lager. Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured a cloudy golden yellow, with a two finger billowy white head that receded to a cap, leaving some nice lacing. The nose is mild with subtle noble hops and light cereal grain malts. The is a lovely effervescent stream of bubbles that give you a little bite off the top, followed by crackery cereal grains and dry floral/herbal hops. There is a very light sweetness complemented by some bitter citrus. The beer is medium bodied with prickly lively carbonation. The finish was off dry. This is quite a palatable and flavourful straightforward brew, I look forward to another.

5.2% from Peterborough, Ontario