WEST COAST SESSION LAGER ~ LOCAL SEVEN, SWEETGRASS

The West Coast Session Lager is Local 7’s 2016 offering. Each year a number of independent Toronto Bars (Wurst, Auld Spot, Only Cafe, Bar Hop, Bryden's, Bar Volo, C'est What?, Griffin Pub) come up with a beer that only those establishments will offer on draught, (Lemon verbena saison and gose have been delicious past offerings). Brew master Sam Corbeil (usually at Sawdust City) came up with the recipe and designed the beer for ‘drinkin’ not thinkin,’ and Sweetgrass Brewing brews the beer. This years offering is a well-hopped session lager, with a touch of lime. Sampled on draught the beer poured a very pale slightly hazy, yellowish gold with a dense moderate white head, that slowly recedes and leaves generous lacing. The aroma contains lime, light malts, hay and bread, and citrusy hops. The taste is bright, refreshing and nicely balanced. Flavours include tropical fruit, citrus, resin, straw, subdued florals with a touch of brewed and caramel, finished with a light bitterness. The finish is clean and dry, with a slight lingering citrus. Very refreshing, easily sessionable, delicious!

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario

HOPS: Idaho 7, Sorachi Ace, and Centennial

SAWDUST CITY & NICKLE BROOK  

~11.05 IMPERIAL SAISON ~

Every year Sawdust City and Nickel Brook release a collaboration beer in honour of both their head brewers birthdays. This year Sam Corbeil and Rick Morrow teamed up to make 11.05 (the third birthday brew) which is an Imperial Saison. It is a limited time release and only available at the brewery’s stores. Sampled on draught, the beer pours a copper amber colour with little head. The aroma and flavour are packed with fruits, liquor, and citrus – the smell reminded me of the brandied fruit we always soaked overnight to bake into the Christmas cake. The beer was quite sweet and almost wine like. The citrus was evident (the beer contains five different fruits: orange, tangerine, lemon, grapefruit and lime) as was an overripe berry taste and a mild breadiness. Complex but remarkably easy drinking for 11.5%.

11.5% from Burlington and Gravenhurst, Ontario