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.

RED DRAGON ~ COUNTY DURHAM BREWING

Red Dragon is an Irish Style Red Ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a light brown-copper colour with an off-white head. The head lasted a good log time leaving some nice lacing as it receded. The nose was very malt forward with notes of caramel, chocolate, biscuits, light fruitiness and some grassy British hops. Notes Caramel malts, some fruit and berries, slight lemoniness, chocolate, sweet grains and delicate grassy hops dance on your tastebuds. This is a rich beautiful balanced, smooth beer. The body is medium-full, the carbonation is medium-soft and the mouthfeel is creamy and lush. A very flavourful brew for low ABV, making it quite sessionable. A lovely brew from start to finish.

4.7% from Pickering, Ontario 

 35 IBU

FULL ORCHARD FARMHOUSE IPA ~ OAST HOUSE

6.1 % from Niagara on the Lake    70 IBU

Full orchard is a Farmhouse IPA, fermented with Brett and then barrel aged for one month. Sampled on draught it poured a Hazy golden orange with a small white head that quickly dissipated. The nose contained grapefruit and lemony citrus, tropical fruits, stone fruits and a light spice. The beer did not taste anything close to the 70 IBUs it boasts, though it did have a distinct happiness and bitterness. The flavour also included lots of tropical fruit and stone fruit, providing a great contrast and balance to the bitterness of the hops, and the funky brettiness. The body and carbonation were average. IPA’s are not my ‘go to’ beer usually but this one had some complexity and though it was a little astringent at times, I did enjoy the brew.

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.

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.

ICE HOLE PALE ALE ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

5% from Toronto Ontario 40 IBU

Ice Hole is an American Pale Ale is an part of the Project X series. What began as a brew for the staff of GLB has now become a release available from the liquor store and on draught at bars. Sampled on draught the beer pored a slightly hazy bright golden straw colour with a frothy white head. The nose had notes of lemon citrus, grass, pale malts, oregano? and dill (apparently from the Sorachi Ace hops). The taste follows with cereal grain, light malts and a bit of bitterness on the back end. The carbonation is on the soft side and the beer is medium-light in body. Quite drinkable, but not good enough to seek out.

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!

LA CLOCHE ~ STACK

6.9% from Sudbury, Ontario

La Cloche is a Belgian style pale ale. Sampled on draught, the beer pours a slightly hazed pale golden straw yellow with a moderate soapy whitish head. The head stuck around for a while before settling into a cap and collar, leaving some decent lacing. The nose contained cereal grains, wheat malts, citrus - lemon and orange i think, some orchard fruits, a touch of clove and banana, and some fruity easy esters. The flavour followed, with pale malts and orchard fruit (apple and apricot) being the more dominant flavours, and cloves, banana, lemon and some residual sugars in the background. The beer is both tart and sweet. The carbonation when poured was overactive but it did calm to a more moderate level after being left to sit for a little while. The body was medium and the mouthfeel has some creaminess. Overall a passable Belgian Pale, but I would have preferred a little less sweetness.

LEFT FIELD ~ MAGNUS FORCE

7.7% from Toronto, Ontario 30 IBU

Magnus Force is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a hazy golden colour with an average white head. The nose has lots of Belgian yeast, and sugar, a few floral and spice notes, and fruit (banana and light orchard fruits). The rich taste follows the nose to a tee. The body is medium, carbonation average and the finish has a real warming booziness. Overall quite a good Belgian strong ale, but would have preferred it to be a little less sweet. By the way all of Left Field’s names are baseball related, this is no exception. Magnus force is the force exerted on a quickly spinning ball, which causes it to veer from its original trajectory. Pitcher’s use it when throwing curve balls, sliders, fastballs, etc.

Photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery

YELLOW FLOWERS ~ FOLLY

5.1 % from Toronto, Ontario
Sampled on draught, Yellow Flowers is a tart blonde ale brewed with hallertau hops. The beer poured a slightly cloudy bright yellow with a loose foamy head. The nose has some pleasant tartness along with some citrus, funk and flowery notes. The beer’s taste has vinous notes along with notes of grassy hay, florals, and tart grapefruit and lemon. The body is light and the finish is crisp and clean and lightly sour - with a touch of hops. The sourness is not overdone. A very approachable sour.

Photo courtesy: Folly Instagram

TERRESTRIAL INDIA BROWN ALE ~ WELLINGTON BREWERY

5.9% from Guelph, Ontario

Terrestrial Brown Ale was originally brewed as A Well One-Off, to be a bridge between trend and tradition, it has now been Re-Booted. It is billed as an India Brown Ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear rich mahogany brown with an average foamy beige head, with good retention and nice lacing. The aroma had notes of roasted caramel, an earthiness, grainy malt, nuttiness, cocoa, citrus -leafy -floral- grassy hops ( a blend of five hops: Chinook, Cascade, Centennial, Sorachi Ace and Amarillo). The favour has some nice caramel malt sweetness alongside a plethora of hop flavours (leafy-citrus, floral, earthy). Notes of cereals, nuttiness, bread crusts, and subtle dark fruit, and perhaps a touch of cocoa are to be found too. A decent amount of hop bitterness is to be found on the finish. The body is average and the beer has a smooth creamy texture. Carbonation is pleasant and average. I quite liked this hoppy brown, a nice crossover.

RHYME & REASON ~ COLLECTIVE ARTS

Rhyme and Reason is an American Pale Ale, meant to be more sessional than an American IPA, it still holds the hops in the spotlight. Sampled from a tin the beer poured a cloudy bright golden orange with a generous tight white head, that left some fabulous lacing, after lingering for a good ten minutes plus. The aroma had lots of hops - citrus, earthy resiny pine, light malt caramel, and hints of tropical fruits. The flavour is a lovely balance of caramel malt sweetness (Crystal Carafoam and Wheat Flakes) paired with hop forward flavours of pine and grapefruit, with subtle tropical fruits, grass and citrus. The bitterness is present but not overpowering. The body was medium and the mouthfeel had a creaminess, but was also slightly oily. Carbonation was moderate, and the finish was off-dry and crisp, with a little lingering bitterness. This is a more complex brew than others in this style, with layers of flavours from the hop profile. Definitely worth a try.

Bittering Hops: German magnum
Flavour Hops: Citra and Centennial
Dry Hop: Citra, Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe
Malt: Pale Ale, Crystal, Carafoam, Toasted Wheat Flakes

5.7% from Hamilton, Ontario 55 IBU

GRENDEL’S REVENGE ~

INDIE ALE HOUSE 

Grendel’s Revenge is part of the Fates & Furies Series and is a blend of an Old English Ale and a Flanders Sour Brown Ale. The beer is brewed with a house wild yeast strain and then aged in port, red wine and Medeira barrels for one to three years. Different vintages have been blended together for limited edition releases. I was lucky to have tried this on draught and have returned for several times to have some more. The ale pours a cloudy reddish amber brown colour with a small beige head, that left nice lacing. The nose is both sour and woody, with lots of vinous and dark fruity notes along with rich malt, spice, and other orchard fruits. The taste has a lovely complexity to it. It is rich, funky, tart and sweet. Again there are lots of wine and dried and fresh fruit notes on the palette, along with an oakiness, light spice, subtle brett and sweet malts. None of the flavours predominate. The beer is medium bodies with lazy carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel. The finish has a very mild bitterness with a long sour finish. Overall a beautiful beer.
8.5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 25—30
Key Ingredients: Dry English Ale Yeast

PAVILION PALE ALE ~ MUDDY YORK

Pavilion is an American style pale ale. Sampled on draught it poured a clear golden hue with a small white head. The aroma contains some tropical fruits, bready malts, florals and some citrus hop bitterness. The balance is quite nicely done with some sweetness from the malts complemented by a moderate hop (cascade and centennial) bitterness. The body was medium as was the carbonation. The finish was clean with a decent bitterness. The beer is simple and delicious. I have not been disappointed by the quality of this brewers product yet. East York represent!

5.5% from Toronto, Ontario 35 IBU

BROWN ~ BLACK BELLOWS

Sampled on draught this Belgian brown ale poured a hazy medium brown with a minimal bone coloured head. I have seen it billed as both a dubbel and a brown ale, I would place this more in the brown ale category. It is a seasonal small batch release. The nose has lots of sweet toffee and caramel notes along with fruity esters. The taste also had lots of caramel richness along with plums, raisin, toasted malts, with hints of berry tartness and chocolate. The body was medium, the carbonation soft and the mouthfeel was creamy and smooth. Quite a pleasant quaff, worth trying.

6.5% from Collingwood, Ontario

Photo Courtesy of Black Bellows Facebook 

#1 AMERICAN WHEAT ALE ~ EXCHANGE BREWERY

Sampled on draught this ‘American Wheat Ale’ poured a golden yellow with a small white head, which did not last very long. The nose is straight forward and simple has a touch of wheat and hop fruitiness. The taste contains notes of biscuits, orchard fruits with stones, citrus, resin, a touch of pepper and sweet wheat malts. The balance is quite nice with slight malty sweetness and resiny hop finish. The body is medium as is the carbonation, with a piney dry finish. The wheat flavour is very light. A very nice pleasant session beer.
5.1% from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario
Hops: Cascade and Mosaic

UN KIWI EN EUROPE ~ STACK BREWING 

This beer is A Belgian imperial IPA, brewed with New Zealand Nelson Sauvin, and Calypso hops. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy bright amber orange with a modest off white head. The nose contained citrus, white wine, yeast and subtle light orchard fruits. The taste followed suit with lovely Belgian flavours along with cereal grains, grassy hops, citrus, light fruits and vinous notes. The body was medium, carbonation was average and the finish had a middling bitterness. I believe this was a test run for a future brew - test run successful!
7% from Sudbury, Ontario

VIENNA WHEAT ~ NEUSTADT SPRINGS BREWERY

Vienna wheat is a golden ale, as is either a seasonal brew or a one-off from Neustadt Springs. Sampled on draught the beer pours a cloudy deep amber with a generous cream head. The head leaves patchy lacing before reeding into a collar. The nose had notes of caramel malts, grains, and a distant earthiness. This was quite easy drinking, reminiscent of a Vienna lager. There is little evidence of ‘wheaty’ taste. Very pleasant, very sessional, very smooth, but a little innocuous.

5.5% from Neustadt, Ontario 18 IBU 

 

IPA ~ GRANITE BREWERY

Sampled on cask, this IPA poured a light golden-orange, with a finger of loose white head. As the head settles into a cap, it leaves some lacing. There are lots of English floral notes on the nose along with a little citrus, some orchard fruit, and light malts. The taste follows the nose with English floral hops, subtle sweetness, biscuits malts, subtle fruits and a light citrus. The brew was medium bodied, with soft fine carbonation. This straight-forward English IPA is quite sessional and easy drinking.

5% from Toronto, Ontario 40 IBU

LA FORMITABLE ~ BEAU’S B SIDE

La Formidable is a hybrid American-Belgian IPA, made with America style hops but retaining the fruity and spicy elements of a Belgian Ale yeasts. Beau’s B-side welcomes breweries from other places in the world produce fresh beer for the Canadian market. This is a collaboration with Gigantic Brewing Company from Portland, Oregon. The recipe was developed exclusively for a B-side brew by the brewmasters at Gigantic. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured an opaque coppery amber with lots of floating sentiment. It had a finger of white head, that left lacing as it receded. The nose contained notes of grapefruit, orange citrus, peppery yeasts, pine resin, subtle fruit and florals. The taste is balanced between bitterness of American hops and the fruitiness of a Belgian style ale. There is lots of grapefruit upfront, with spice, funk, floral, fruit, pine and an earthiness underneath. Bitterness lingers in the aftertaste. The beer is medium bodied, with a dry finish and soft carbonation. This is an interesting melange of the two styles.

6.9% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario