MUSKOKA EQUINOX ~ MUSKOKA BREWERY

Muskoka Equinox is part of Muskoka’s Moonlight Kettle Series. It is American Pale Wheat ale brewed with Black cherries and Jim Beam bourbon soaked vanilla beans. Sampled on draught the beer pours a clear golden colour with a moderate creamy off white head. The nose contains sweet cherries, a touch of vanilla, dough bread. The taste follows as expected: doughy breadiness, black cherries, grass, and hints of vanilla. The cherries are not over done but do lend some sublime fruitiness. The carbonation was soft and the beer was medium-light bodied. A lovely refreshing fruit beer.

4.6 % from Bracebridge, Ontario 20 IBU

ROASTED WALNUT BOURBON AGED PORTER ~ OAST HOUSE

When I walked into my local, the Bartender, ran over and told me I couldn’t order until I had tried this one. She remembered that I liked my porters and this was a new addition to the taps. Sampled on draught, this porter was one boozy treat! The beer poured very dark brown with a small off white head. There was tons of bourbon on the nose, along with roasted malts, subtle nuttiness, vanilla and coffee. The taste was incredibly full flavoured and rich. Chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit give way to a subtle nuttiness, barrel oakiness, and caramel sweetness mid sip. The malt backbone emerges into a hoppy finish followed by an aftertaste of bourbon. The bitterness is perfect in this porter and compliments the vanilla and bourbon notes. Thought this porter is already high in alcohol (7.2%) I think it tastes even boozier. The walnuts this porter was made with are all from the Niagara on the Lake region and were toasted in house.

7.2 % from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

PHOTO : OAST HOUSE INSTAGRAM