BEAU’S ~ IRON SHIRT

6.8% from Vankleek Hill, Ontario

Iron Shirt was a Beau’s Fe’brew’ary release. It is a collaboration with Montreal’s Brasserie et Distillerie Oshlag. The collaboration, one among many, is a celebration of Canada’a 150th birthday. The beer is a pale ale brewed with ice wine vidal grapes that has been aged on oak spirals that have been soaked in Oshlag’s hopped vodka. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy bright yellow gold with a good white head. The lasted a while before leaving scant lacing on the glass. The nose had bright citrusy notes, along with grape, apple (and orchard fruits), malts, a hint of resin and a touch of oak. The flavour is crisp with notes of grapes, fruit, woodsiness, malt and a balanced citrus and pine hop bitterness. The finish is dry with some lingering bitterness. The body is medium and the carbonation was average to lively. An interesting brew.

FARM TABLE: DUNKEL ~ BEAU’S

5.7% from VanKleek Hill, Ontario IBU 25

This Dunkel is the latest in Beau’s Farm Table Series. The farm table series is inspired by traditional brews from all over the world, and brewed to the classic style. Dunkel is a malt forward Bavarian brew. Sampled on draught this brew poured a mahogany colour with a generous off white foam. The head settles quickly leaving lovely sticky lacing around the glass. The nose contained bread crusts, roasted grain, light caramel with hints of chocolate, nuts and fruit, and leafy hops. The flavour follows with dark malts, caramel, hints of chocolate and fruit and floral leafy hops in the finish. This finish is clean and crisp. The body was medium and the carbonation was average.
Overall, a nice version of this traditional brew. Very enjoyable!
INGREDIENTS: Local spring water, organic barley malts, organic hops, brewer’s yeast.
MALTS: Munich, Caraunich, Acidulated, Caraaroma, Carafa (all organic)
HOPS: Organic Pacific Gem, Organic Triskel
YEAST: German Lager Yeast

BUENOS DIAS ~ BEAU'S

Buenos Dias is the latest offering in Beau’s Gruit Series – though it does contain hops. It is brewed with organic lime juice, orange and lime peel, and sea salt (sounds like a gruit-gose baby to me) Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a hazy pale straw colour with a small white foamy head. The head settled quickly but lively carbonation stuck around. The gentle nose contained notes of citrus – the lime being more dominant than the orange), with subtle spice. This beer is really refreshing – the lovely lime is accented with a slight saltiness at the end – just like a margarita. There is some subtle spice and grains and malts tucked in there too. The finish is clean and dry and the mouthfeel is slightly creamy. Really enjoyed this beer – great summer refresher!!! Will pick up a few more bottles of the for sure!

4.5% from Vankleek Hill, Ontario

PATERSBIER ~ BEAU’S

Patersbier is the next instalment of Beau’s Farm table series. This series are brewed true to the original style. Patersbier (Father’s Beer) is Belgian style ale, traditionally brewed by monks. The beer was originally made by monks, and is lower in alcohol that a dubbel or tripel. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a hazy straw colour with a dense white head, which left nice lacing. The nose is light but does contain sweet malts, florals, light grains and fruit and some phenolic spice. The taste has honeyed malts followed by peppery yeasty notes, and subtle floral hop bitterness. The finish is crisp with a little dusty dryness. The beer is quite light bodied and carbonation is soft. Quite drinkable and pleasant, but not spectacular.
Malts: Pilsner, carafoam, acidulated (all organic)
Hops: Organic magnum, organic aramis
Yeast: Abbey Ale Yeast

4.7% from Vankleek Hill, Ontario 22 IBU

FARM TABLE IPA - BEAU’S

This IPA is the latest in Beau’s farm table series. This series are brewed close to the classic style. This farm table was formerly known as Beaver River I.P. Eh? Sampled on draught the beer poured an unfiltered coppery golden with a good sized off white head. The aroma had lots of floral-piny hops, with light citrus, a grainy breadiness and a touch of caramel. The taste was fruity and bitter. It contained tropical fruit (orange and grapefruit), citrus, with biscuity malts, a wee bit of caramel and a resinous piny floral hop at the end. I found it to be hoppier than a British I.P.A. but less so then some of the aggressively hopped American I.P.A’s. (the beer was dry-hopped during brewing). This is a well-balanced beer; its assertive hops are beautifully balanced with the malt. The finish has a lingering bitterness. This beer is on the light side of medium bodied and is moderately carbonated. A very decent I.P.A.
6% from Van Kleek Hill, Ontario IBU 60

MALTS: Pale Ale, Munich, Carafoam, Caramel 20L, Caramel 60 (all organic)
HOPS: Magnum, Pacific Gem, Cascade (all organic)

ORIGINAL GRUIT ~ BEAU'S

This beer is part of Beau’s Gruit series, began in 2015. Gruits date back many years, long before the Bavarian Purity Act that declared that beer can only be brewed with four ingredients (water, yeast, malt and hops) and were popular when hops were unavailable or taxed too heavily. Gruits are brewed using a variety of herbs and plants to replace the dominant hop flavours of the beer. This gruit contains three popular historical ingredients: bog myrtle, yarrow and Labrador tea. Labrador tea is the common name for three plants in the Heath family that are used to make herbal tea. This tea is well known to the Inuit and Athabascan Peoples. Sampled from a bottle, this brew poured a clear intense gold with an apricot hue, with a small foamy off white head. The aroma had fruity and herbal notes, along with malts, herbs and spice. The flavours were a nice balance of citrus and fruit, herbal and floral notes and grainy malts. This is a much subtler gruit than their Bog water, which features myrtle much more predominantly. The finish features tannins from the teas and a slight bitterness. The mouthfeel was medium bodied and carbonation was moderate. I look forward to other herbal experiments and new versions in this series.
6.3 % From VanKleek Hills, Ontario

INGREDIENTS: Local Spring Water, Organic Malts, Wild-harvested Labrador Tea, Organic Bog Myrtle, Organic Hops, Organic Yarrow, Brewer’s Yeast.
MALTS: Pilsner, Vienna, Carahell, Carafoam, Acidulated (All organic)
HOPS: Perle (Organic)
YEAST: German Ale Yeast

EMBITTERMINT ~ BEAU'S

Embittermint is the second beer created for Fe’brew’ary, which features a different beer each week. It is an IPA brewed with lemon grass and peppermint and spearmint, and uses floral hops for a more delicate finish. It is Number 62 in Beau’s Wild Oats series. I was quite curious about this beer, and upon entering my local, I asked, How bizarre is this one? I was pleased when both the manager and bartender both sung its praises. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a hazy light golden colour with a white cap. Orange, florals, lemon, and mashed mint danced on the nose. The 70 IBU was really well hidden and the beer didn’t have all that much bitterness. The beer starts with lots of citrus, both lemon and orange, this turns into beautiful floral hops at the end, along with the sensation of cooling mint. This odd pair is remarkably smooth and refreshing. I will go back and have another; I just hope it lasts until the end of the week.

Malts: Pale ale, carahell, carafoam, acidulated (all organic)
Hops Organic crystal, organic WGV (Whitbread-Golding Variety)
Yeast: Dry British ale
Other: Local spring water, organic lemon balm, organic spearmint, organic peppermint.
6.7% from Vankleek Hills 60 IBU