AMBER ALE ~ HOCKLEY VALLEY 

5.2% from Hockley Valley, Ontario

Sampled from a tin, this amber ale poured a clear reddish coppery amber with a moderate cream head. The foam didn’t stick around and settled into a small collar, leaving some lacing. The nose was fairly mild with notes of caramel, grains and grass, floral English hops, earthiness, light citrus and perhaps the subtlest bit of chocolate. The taste is malt forward and follows the nose. There are notes of caramel sweetness, spice, biscuits, toasted grains, and leafy bitter hops in the finish. The carbonation was moderate and the body was on the light side of medium. This is a very sessional beer. Easy to drink, flavourful but nothing out of the ordinary.

HURRY HARD ~ TRIPLE BOGEY BREWING

I have to admit, I picked this up as a joke for a friend who is both a fan of beer and curling. More on that later. Sampled from a can this amber lager poured a deep brownish amber with an effervescent resilient generous cream coloured head. As it receded it left some patchy lace before settling into a cap. The nose had caramel malts, a nuttiness and bready cereal grains. The taste follows as would be expected - simple, malty and pleasant to drink. The body was light, carbonation average and the mouthfeel was a little watery at times. Overall not a bad beer, but not a great one either, sessionable and smooth, but lacks complexity.
I found the marketing by this company more complex than the beer. Triple Bogey Brewing, located somewhere in Toronto, has tinned two beers geared at specific sports - Triple Bogey for golf of course and Hurry Hard for curling. Their first beer was not brewed by them, but was another beer from another micro brewer, rebranded and marketed specifically for the golf course. I wonder what this one actually is.

5% from Toronto, Ontario    25 IBU

DOC PERDUE’S BOBCAT ~ COWBELL BREWING

Doc Perdue’s Cowbell is a West Coast Red Ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly opaque beautiful ruby amber with an average sized cream coloured head. The head left great lacing as it receded. The nose had loads of woodsy notes as well as hops, alcohol and some dark fruit. The flavour had a subtle sweetness to it that complimented the leafy hop bitterness. Notes of caramel, toasted malts, pine resin, oak and herbal hops were also present. The hop aromas and taste make me wonder if this had been dry hopped, or had some hop layering. This is my first beer from this brewery, I look forward to tasting other offerings. The beer is named after Blyth’s veterinarian from the late 1880’s who was known for keeping exotic animals and loving a drink. According the Cowbell’s website, “When once cut off for being over served at the local saloon, he marched home and returned with a bobcat on a leash, threatening to let it loose if he didn't get another drink.”

5.5% from Blyth, Ontario 30 IBU

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

100TH MERIDIAN ORGANIC AMBER LAGER ~ MILL STREET

100th Meridian is an amber lager made only with organic ingredients from west of the 100th meridian - (where the great plains begin). Beer always tastes better when you are at the ball game and the home team is winning in the post season (GO JAYS GO!) It was sampled at the ball park, so that means draught in a plastic cup. This beer poured a clear coppery amber colour with a white head that settled into a cap. The nose was quite mild, but notes of bready malts, fruity notes and earthy hay and leafy hops. Flavour had biscuit-bread notes, sweet grains and malts and caramel. The finish was clean and had a little leafy hop bitterness. The body was a little thin and the carbonation was soft. This beer is pretty standard, and very drinkable – a great ball-park beer!
5% from Toronto, Ontario 24 IBU
Hops: Bravo and Cascade

  COFFEE TOP ~ HENDERSON’S BREWING

Coffee Top is not actually a beer but a beer cocktail, served at the Henderson’s Brewery.  The beer is Henderson’s Best, their flagship Amber Ale, served with a top of cold brewed coffee from Station Brewers.  Sampled at the brewery the beer cocktail was a clear amber colour with a generous frothy bone coloured head.  The amber ale and the coffee worked remarkably well together.   The sweetness from the malts and the hoppiness of the ale married nicely with the coffee.  Who knew?

4.8% from Toronto, Ontario   40 IBU

Coffee Top is the last in the row.  

JUBILEE AMBER LAGER formerly KING VIENNA LAGER ~ THORNBURY BEVERAGE CO.

Sampled on Draught. It is brewed in the style of a Vienna Lager, using classic European brewing methods and including Vienna hops and European Malts. This beer poured a clear deep amber colour with orange hues. It was well carbonated with a creamy off white head, which left lacing. The nose contained sweet malts, caramel, biscuity grain, earthy hops and perhaps a touch of fruit. The taste begins with sweet bready malts, with caramel overtones. Mid taste has an earthiness about it and the beer ends with a gentle drying floral hop. The beer is simple but well crafted and easily sessionable.

4.8% Thornbury, Ontario

Malts: Vienna
Hops: German Hallertauer, Czech Saaz