MORALITÉ ~ DIEU DE CIEL! & THE ALCHEMIST BREWERY

Moralité is an IPA, created in collaboration between Quebec’s Dieu de Ciel! and Vermont’s, The Alchemist Brewery. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a slightly hazy golden amber with a generous frothy off white head, that left lots of lacing. The nose is bursting with hops and tropical fruit (pineapple, papaya, mango). Notes of resinous pine, citrus (lemon, orange and grapefruit), bready grains, caramel, earthiness, and yeast also make appearances. The flavour follows the complexity of the nose. Pine, grapefruit, caramel, fruitiness (citrus & tropical), floral, grass, combined with a slight sweetness swirl and party on my palette. The finish is somewhat dry with a lasting bitterness. The body is medium-full and the texture is creamy and smooth. The carbonation was on the soft side. It is rare that I have a beer from DDC that I don’t enjoy, this was no exception. Quite quaffable for such a high IBU and ABV. I loved the complex flavours and the balance between the bitterness, sweet fruitiness and the malts. Bravo!

6.9% from St. Jerome, Quebec & Waterbury, Vermont, USA 100 IBU
Hops: Simcoe, Citra and Centennial

OVER THE BORDER PORTER ~ BRIMSTONE BREWING X COMMUNITY BEER WORKS

Over the Border Porter is collaboration between Brimstone on the Ontario side and Community Beer Works from the New York side. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a dark cola colour with a small off white head. Brimstone brought their maple syrup and Community Beer Works contributed plumwood-smoked malts from New York Craft Malt. Both brewed simultaneously from their side of the border. The nose had lots of roasted toasty malts, molasses, hints of maple, burnt crust, with a touch of smoke. The flavour followed much as expected, lots of rich roasted malts. A touch of smoke and some maple sweetness complement the hops at the back end. Both the smoke and the maple were done in moderation – well done! The body was on the full side of medium, and the carbonation was moderate. A very delicious autumn offering, just in time for Thanksgiving.

5.5 % from Ridgeway, Ontario and Buffalo, New York

photo: Brimstone Instagram

SAISON DANS LA MAISON ~ MUSKOKA & LE TROU DE DIABLE

This saison is another in a series of anniversary collaborations and one-off beers marking Muskoka’s 30th birthday. This was a collaboration with Quebec’s Trou du Diable and is a saison brewed with guava. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy unfiltered golden straw colour with a thin white head, that reduced to a ring. The aroma contained lots of citrus, with some fruity esters, sweet malts, spice and grassy/floral hops. This was a decent saison, but I got very little of the guava, until a touch in the finish. It was light and fruity, with subtle notes of tropical fruit, tart citrus, floral hops. The beer was light and crisp, with little sweetness. Quite decent!

6.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario & Shawinigan, Quebec

PIE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ~ BRIMSTONE BREWING

This saison, with a very long name is a collaboration between Brimstone Brewing Co. and Piskie Pie’s in St. Catherine’s. It is a one of limited edition brew. The saison was brewed using fresh pies in the mash and adding fresh strawberry and rhubarb in the secondary fermentation. Sampled on draught, the beer pours an opaque golden orange, with hints of pink. The nose contained biscuity grains, subtle strawberry and rhubarb. The delicious saison had lovely flavours. The biscuit malts mimicked a piecrust. The fruits were subtle but the sweet strawberry was perfectly complemented by tart rhubarb. The beer has a smooth, dry crisp finish with fruits lingering in the aftertaste. A most delicious brew – so good I had two and hope fully it will be on draught for a little longer.

5% from Ridgeway, Ontario 30 IBU

CROSS BORDER CITRUS PORTER ~ MUSKOKA & ELLICOTTVILLE

Muskoka Brewery celebrates it’s 20 year anniversary this year, as part of their special year they have released more Moonlight Kettles than ever before and are working on four collaborations with other North American micro breweries. This porter is a collaboration with Ellicottville Brewing Company in New York State. Sampled on draft this beer poured an opaque dark brown with a thin slightly beige head. Dark malts, molasses, burnt toast and citrus and citra appear on the nose. The flavour is also very roasty – with notes of dark roasted malts, citrus, citra hops, chocolate, and herbs. The body is medium-light and the mouthfeel is slick. This wasn’t as porter-y as I thought it would be – almost reminiscent of a Black IPA. Surprisingly fresh and possibly sessionable for a dark brew. Overall a nice mélange of flavour, worth trying.

4.5% from Collingwood, Ontario 33 IBU

YOUR BREWHOUSE OR MINE ~ MUSKOKA & BARRELHOUSE BREWING

“Your Brewhouse or Mine?” is a collaboration between Ontario’s Muskoka Brewery and California’s Barrelhouse Brewing. This beer is a tasty cranberry and clementine IPA. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear golden colour with an average white head that left leggy lacing as it receded. The nose included grassy hops. Subtle fruits and a faint smell of soft crumbly cheese. The beer itself was a lovely IPA, not too hoppy, with a good citrus bite at the end. The fruit was very subtle, especially the cranberry, it did however, lend a faint sweetness. More of the fruitiness came out as the beer warmed. The carbonation was lively and the been had a medium body. A really pleasant IPA, I would have liked a little more presence from the fruit.

7% from Bracebridge, Ontario 50 IBU

MALUS-HUMULUS ~ CIDER GLB & WEST AVENUE CIDERY

Malus-Humulus is the collaboration effort with Great Lakes Brewery and West Avenue Cider. It is a cider that has been dry hopped with citra and mosaic hops. Sampled on draught, it pours a golden colour with lots of carbonation. The nose has fresh apples with good dose of piny and citrusy hops. The hops cut the sweetness of the cider, adding another layer of flavour, but not distracting from the apples. It begins sweet, followed by a little bitterness and finishes with tart acidity of the cider. This is quite delicious! The name of the collaborative beverage comes from the Latin names for hops (Humulus) and orchard apples (Malus).

6.9% Hamilton & Toronto, Ontario

Picture: West Avenue Instagram

ODYSSEY RUSTIC LAGER ~ STEAM WHISTLE PILOT SYSTEM WITH THE ONLY CAFÉ

I think this beer is terrific, but I am a little biased as I had a hand in brewing. This beer is a collaboration with The Only Café, Toronto and Steam Whistle Brewing. This beer was brewed at Steam Whistle Brewery at the Roundhouse, with Brew master Erica on their Pilot system – a small-scale tank that yields about 2 kegs. It is a Farmhouse ale with a lagered finish, and include small amounts of rooibos and blood orange & pink peppercorn teas, added at flameout. The brewing experience was a pleasure and most interesting. Sampled from a Growler the beer pours an unfiltered murky beige colour, with a small off white head. Up front you can taste the farmhouse grains, but the saaz and centennial hops give it a kick at the end, and the tea adds aromatics and a little astringency. Though there are many things happening in the beer, not one seems to overpower or compete with the other. It has a nice complexity but is still easy drinking.
5.4% from Toronto, Ontario