PIE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ~ BRIMSTONE BREWING

This saison, with a very long name is a collaboration between Brimstone Brewing Co. and Piskie Pie’s in St. Catherine’s. It is a one of limited edition brew. The saison was brewed using fresh pies in the mash and adding fresh strawberry and rhubarb in the secondary fermentation. Sampled on draught, the beer pours an opaque golden orange, with hints of pink. The nose contained biscuity grains, subtle strawberry and rhubarb. The delicious saison had lovely flavours. The biscuit malts mimicked a piecrust. The fruits were subtle but the sweet strawberry was perfectly complemented by tart rhubarb. The beer has a smooth, dry crisp finish with fruits lingering in the aftertaste. A most delicious brew – so good I had two and hope fully it will be on draught for a little longer.

5% from Ridgeway, Ontario 30 IBU

BRIMSTONE BREWING CO. ~ BELGIAN GOLDEN ALE

This is Brimstone’s 100th brew. In honour of that, they decided to let everyone around the brewery add a secret ingredient. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a deep reddish amber colour, with an off white head that left good lacing. The aroma contains, coriander, pepper, spicy/funky and fruity and floral esters. The taste is pretty boozy with lots going on – fruitiness, spice, slight tartness and sweet booziness. (I am actually going to have to revisit this one to get a clearer understanding of the flavours). The body was medium and the mouthfeel was slightly sticky. An interesting brew.
8.4% from Ridgeway, Ontario    30 IBU
Photo Courtesy of Brimstone Brewery

BRIMSTONE BREWING CO ~ LAST RIDE LOGANBERRY SAISON

Last Ride Loganberry Saison is a beer inspired by the once famous summer destination Crystal Beach Amusement Park. The park ran for more than one hundred years before shuttering in 1989. Crystal Beach served a legendary Loganberry drink, the flavour that inspired this brew. Logan berries are a cross between blackberries and raspberries. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy dull pinkish amber colour with a generous creamy head, that left lots of lacing before reducing to cap. Ripe berries, raspberry jam and a hint of rhubarb dance on the nose, along with saison spiciness, slight funk, and light toast. There is a pleasant balance of tartness and fruit flavour complementing a traditional saison. The berries lend a ripe fruit sweetness and tartness, and give it a slight astringency. There is some graininess at the back end along with saison spiciness (clove, coriander), before giving way to a mild hop. The carbonation is lively and refreshing. A great summer sipper; hope to see more of this one!

5.6% from Ridgeway, Ontario 24 IBU

UNDERCOVER BROTHER ~ BROTHERS AND BRIMSTONE BREWING

Undercover Brother is a collaboration between Ridgeway and Brothers brewing, it is a Golden Stout. It has a unique flavour and is definitely worth a try. The beer has been brewed with coffee, chai spice, lactose and chocolate. Sampled on draught the beer has an unfiltered golden blonde appearance with a small head. The nose contained hints of coffee, malts and chocolate and the UNEXPLAINABLE SMELL (I will mention later). I found this beer had really interesting flavours that morphed and changed as the pint disappeared. Chocolate and a rich earthiness were the first flavours I came across. Chai spice and caramel make an appearance, as does some tropical fruit near the end. The lactose lends a sweetness that lasts throughout. The finish is drying with hints of piny hops and warm tobacco. A truly unique brew, worth a try – and I have gone back for more.
6 % from Ridgeway, Ontario IBU 23

MYSTERY SMELL – Help – The finish of this beer has a unique taste. I have experienced this taste in a Black IPA and found it overpowering (and described as dusty garbage and rubber on second thought it may have a vegetable quality to it - possibly root vegetable like turnip?) This beer also contains hints of that flavour - what would a Golden stout and a Black IPA have in common? Any light anyone could share would be appreciated.

MIDNIGHT MASS CHICORY OATMEAL STOUT ~ BRIMSTONE 

STOUT WEEK - Brimstone is a small brewery in the Niagara region of Ontario and has done some pretty good beer in the past year. The brewery is in a church that had long lost its congregation; hence many of the beer names have a religious overtone. Sampled on draught this beer poured almost black with a deep khaki/dark tan head. The nose was dark roasted malts, fresh hops, and oatmeal, with hints of coffee, dried fruit and dark chocolate. The stout is quite full flavoured: coffee/chicory, chocolate, smoke all play their parts. The beer had a creamy texture and finished with a bitter dryness.

6.6% from Ridgeway, Ontario 35 IBU

HEAVENWEISSE ~ BRIMSTONE

HeavenWeisse is Brimstone’s version of a traditional Bavarian Hefeweizen (wheat beer). It pours a deeper golden than usual wheats with an unfiltered cloudiness.  Lots of clove and banana in the nose and the taste.  Finishes with faint bubblegum flavour.  Perfect on a hot day on the patio.

4.8% from Ridgeway, Ontario
-beer 95-