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

AMSTERDAM ~ 3 SPEED LAGER

I heard an Amsterdam company rep saying this new lager was replacing their now defunct ‘416 local lager’, because it wasn’t selling anywhere but in the 416 (It is the original Toronto area code) Sampled from a tin, the lager poured a clear light straw yellow, with a thin white head. The nose was very mild but did contain notes of grass, pale malts and hops. The taste was very mild too but clean and straightforward - Crackery grains, a little sweetness and grassy hops. The carbonation was lively and lasted throughout the drink, and the body was on the light side, with a watery mouthfeel at times. The brew is pleasant enough, but innocuous. I would still much prefer to drink this over the macros, but light lagers aren’t really my thing. Refreshing beer on a hot day, but nothing special.

4.2% from Toronto, Ontario

Hops: Hallertau
Malts: Canadian Pilsner malt

DARK MATTER BLACK IPA ~ JUNCTION CRAFT BREWING

This type of beer is a relatively new style, first recognized by the American Brewers Association in 2010. It has several monikers: India Black Ale, American Black Ale, or Cascadian Dark Ale. The name, Cascadian, is from the Republic of Cascadia a fantasy country that would include parts of Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia. It is dark like a porter but hoppy like an IPA. Sampled from a tin, this brew poured a dark brown with a beige head. The aroma has lots of roasted malts, a little nuttiness, and a piny hop. The beer itself was bitter but not overly so; there were lots of hops on the tail end and aftertaste. The beer starts with lots of roasted dark malts, with a touch of dark chocolate and toasted nuts. Piny hoppiness finishes it off. It took seven different types of barley and four hops to make this brew – Chinook, Cascade, Palisade and Tetnager) This brew was not as heavy as some other Black IPAs I have had, it had a medium body and soft carbonation. I would definitely revisit this one.

7% from Toronto, Ontario 70 IBU

ARROGANT BASTARD ALE ~ ARROGANT BASTARD BREWING (STONE)

This was another really delicious brew from the RED, WHITE & BREW event at the Only Cafe in Toronto. Sampled on draught, this beer poured a reddish chestnut dark brown with a foamy beige head, which lasted. As the head receded, it left some spidery lacing. The bouquet was intense. Lots of hops were evident on the nose along with a dark caramel, chocolate, and subtler dark and tropical fruits, and a hop-earthiness. The taste is similar to the smell. This is beautifully balanced with the strong caramel malts playing off grapefruit citrus, floral hops. The finish long with bitter hops being followed by burnt sugar and caramel. The carbonation was moderate, the beer was on the full-bodied side of medium and the mouthfeel was a bit oily, and slick. This beer had a nice complexity and balance to it. Smooth and very tasty, I totally would buy this if spotted at the liquor store.
7.2 % Escondido, California

HAZELNUT BROWN NECTAR ~ ROGUE 

RED, WHITE & BREW ~ Rogue has finally had the opportunity to redeem itself to me. Previous to this the only Rogue I’d had had been a Voodoo Doughnut creation, and that went down the sink. Sampled on draught, this beer poured a slightly opaque reddish dark brown with an off white head. There was little retention and lacing. Hazelnuts dominate the aroma, but there are also notes of coffee, caramel, cocoa and sweet malts (kind of like Nutella in a beer). Huge syrupy hazel-nutty flavours hit you right off the bat. I found this brew very sweet, as praline, caramel, sweet malts and chocolate follow the nuttiness. A slight hop presence finishes the beer, but the aftertaste is all sweet hazelnut. The carbonation was in the medium low range and the body medium. The mouthfeel was smooth but seemed to coat the palette giving it a stickiness. This definitely was not a sink pour but not a session beer for me either. I felt like I was drinking dessert – a little too sweet for me.

11 Ingredients: Great Western 2-Row, Brown, Carastan 13/17, Crystal 70/80, Crystal 135/165, Beeston Pale, Chocolate Malts; Perle & Sterling Hops; Hazelnut Extract, Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.

6.2 % from Newport, Oregon 33 IBU

HENNEPIN SAISON ~ BREWERY OMMEGANG  

RED, WHITE & BREW ~ My local bar managed to secure 21 American micro/craft beer taps – or pretty close too it. I was excited to taste some of the brews I have often seen reviewed. Ommegang is a an American Brewer of Belgian ales. This saison is brewed with: Grains of paradise, ginger, coriander and sweet orange peel. This showstopper was sampled on draught. The poured a beautiful rich golden yellow, with a slight haze and a small white head. The nose contained scents of hay and orchard fruits, Belgian yeasts, peppery spice and citrus (lemon and orange). The taste is has slight malt sweetness with notes of fruit (apple, pear and citrus), spice (pepper and clove), bread, hay and funk. The finish is crisp dry and has a slight floral bitterness. The carbonation was moderate and slightly prickly. The mouthfeel was medium-full bodied. This was a fabulous introduction Ommegang brews and American craft beers. Loved this, wish it was more accessible.

7.7% Cooperstown, New York     24 IBU

BROOKLYN LAGER~BROOKLYN

RED, WHITE & BREW ~ New York in the 1800’s was a hub of brewing. Vienna style lager was a favourite among the locals. This beer is brewed in the Vienna style but has been dry hopped (a more English technique) to increase its aromatic qualities. Sampled on draught, this Lager poured a clear coppery amber colour with a good head. It had good retention and left some frothy lacing. The nose contained citrus, grainy malts, orange and other citrus peel and some floral hops. I found this beer to be on the sweet side. The beer starts with sweet malts and honey with citrus brightness and finishes with a herbal/floral taste followed by a slight toasty bitterness. The beer has medium-light body and slightly higher than average carbonation. Though a little sweet for me, I found this beer to be easily drinkable, smooth and refreshing, but lacked complexity.

5.2 % from Utica, New York 33 IBU

Malts: American Two-row Malts
Hops: Hallertauer Mittelfrueh, Vanguard and Cascade

HIBISCUS SAISON ~ ROYAL CITY

This tea infused saison was sampled on draught. The beer poured a slightly foggy golden colour with a pinkish hue; due to hibiscus tea leaves being added to the boil. There was very little head and no notable lacing. The nose contained lots of tart fruit, floral and citrus, with a hint of clove spice and Belgian yeast. The beer starts with a tart floral hibiscus character with fruit and lemon citrus. There are also grainy malts and a slight grassiness. The hibiscus permeates the whole brew not unlike a very mild Roseé de hibiscus from Dieu de Ciel. There is a slight hop bitterness to the finish as well as a spicy clove. The finish is clean and dry. The body was light and I found the carbonation to be a little lacking. This beer is nicely balanced and easy drinking, it would be easily sessionable. A fabulous quaff for hot weather.

4.8% from Guelph, Ontario 17 IBU

EQUILIBRIUM ESB ~ NICKEL BROOK 

Sampled on draught, this beer poured a hazy copper with a frothy white head. The head retention was average and it left spotty lacing as it disappeared. The subdued nose had biscuit malts with mild nuttiness, fruity yeasts, leafy hops and toffee. This ESB, as the name may suggest, was hoppier than I am used to in an ESB. Nickel Brook made a concerted effort to balance the sweet malts with a generous amount of hops, and have achieved a satisfying balance. The taste mostly follows the nose with grainy caramelly nutty malts, fruity yeast, an earthiness and a leafy English hops. The carbonation is moderate giving the beer a creamy mouthfeel and crisp finish. The body has a medium mouthfeel. Overall I very much enjoyed the balance in this beer, I can definitely see myself quaffing more.

5.5% from Burlington, Ontario IBUs: 43

BREW MOUNTAIN SMaSH (CENTENNIAL) ~ NORTHWINDS

Brew Mountain is a series of single hopped Pale Ales from Northwinds Brewery. Samples on Draught this beer poured a clear coppery golden colour with a white head and some lacing. The aroma contained lots of flowery hops. The beer had lots of citrus and fruitiness (apple possibly) to it, the hops were floral and citrusy but had no piney flavours. There were also notes of cereal and grains. There was a subtle near sweetness to this beer, the bitterness from the hop kicked in before the finish making the finish incredibly smooth and clean. The carbonation was moderate and the mouthfeel was a little on the thin side, making it a refreshing beverage. I really liked this one and have gone back to revisit it already. Most enjoyable!
5.5 % Collingwood, Ontario 29 IBU

BELGIAN BLOOD ORANGE PORTER ~ NORTHWINDS  & BRIMSTONE

This brew is collaboration between Northwinds Brewery and Brimstone Brewery, both with fine products of their own. Sampled on draught, the brew poured almost black, and let little light through it. It had a short-lived small off white head. Belgian yeasts, chocolate, orange and grapefruit and pine hops were all on the nose. The flavour was almost liqueur like. It reminded me of a Murphy’s Dark Chocolate orange that I have found in my stocking at Christmas time. The beer started with sweet orange followed by dark chocolate, roasted malts and sweet Belgian yeasts. It finished with a hop combination of bitter grapefruit and resiny pine. Nicely balanced, and very tasty! Bravo!

6% Collingwood, Ontario

SCREAMING BEAVER ~ BEAU’S

Sampled on draught…by surprise! At my local I ordered Mango Saison…the keg had been changed but not the tap label. Taking a big swig out of this one was a bit of a surprise for unsuspecting taste buds. Screamin’ Beaver #3 in Beau’s ‘Wild Oats’ series and is also a featured bottle in their best of Beau’s 2015 collection. It is an oak-aged Double IPA. It is influenced by both American and English IPA's; it is aggressively hopped like an American IPA, but still contains a malty sweetness at its centre like an English IPA. It weighs in at 9.9% ABV and 99 IBUs. The beer has been dry hopped and aged on oak staves. The beer poured medium amber with reddish hues (coppery colour) with a small amount of off white head, that stayed for quite a while and then left lovely lacing. The nose and the flavour of this beer had a nice complexity. The nose contained oak, grapefruit, brown sugar caramel, ripe tree fruit and cracker-like grains. The flavour also had grapefruit and orange rind, an earthy oakiness, caramel, and ripe fruit. Near the end a sweet complexity picked up along with hop bitterness. This beer did not taste like 99 IBUs nor did it taste like it was almost 10% alcohol. The beer had a medium- full-bodied mouthfeel, moderate carbonation and a creamy texture. Over all, complex, well balanced, but a sipper for sure.

9.9% from Vankleek Hills 99 IBU
Malts: Pale Ale, Munich, Caraform, Caramunich ( all organic)
Hops: Cascade, Pacific Gem, Challenger, Centennial (All Organic)
Yeast: : Dry English Ale
Other: Organic cane sugar, local spring water

CRANBERRY HOLIDAY HEFEWEIZEN ~ BIG RIG

Sampled on Draught. This one-off beer poured a murky light straw yellow with an apricot hue. It had a sizeable off white head. which dissipated to a cap and left lacy lace. It taste like summer to me. The nose and the taste were very typical of a hefeweizen … lots of banana, and clove and perhaps vanilla. The beer is not ‘cranberry-y” but the berries add a very subtle tartness and hint of fruit and give it a clean fruity finish. Sweet, light, refreshing.

5.5 % Kanata, Ontario 12 IBU

SQUEAL LIKE A PIG KENTUCKY SOUR MASH ~ OAST HOUSE

Sampled of draught, Squeal like Pig is made in the Kentucky Common Style (A.K.A. Dark Cream Common Beer, Cream Beer or Common Beer) According to wiki, Kentucky Common was a popular beer, in …you guessed it Kentucky from the 1850’s to prohibition. The brew was only fermented once and then sent out for sale on draught to be consumed fresh.
‘Squeal’ had been made with 30% corn and the rest malted barley, and then aged for six months in Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrels. The beer poured a medium tawny brown colour with little head. There was a ton of fruit on the nose, especially tart apples and grapes. The flavour was not beer-like at all. It was pleasantly sour, with lots of grape and fruit flavours and a wine like quality. The sweetness reminded me of sherry, there were also notes of figs and a touch of smoke. The finish was subtly malty with a hint of chocolate. The beer was well carbonated and had a medium mouthfeel. Great after a long day of Christmas shopping – I hope Oast House makes this one again.

6% from Niagara, Ontario 15 IBU

SAWDUST CITY ~ WINDING ROAD 

FOR 7 KM

Sampled on draught.  Winding Road for 7 km is a rye saison.  It pours a clear medium amber with a moderate white head.  The aroma contains citrus, especially orange, florals and spices.    It had wild notes to it and reminded me a bit of wine.  Taste is much the same florals and citrus, and citrus peel are in the forefront, but also contains saison yeast notes, rye, peppery spices and a refreshing sourness.  The finish was sweet.  I like the balance of the malts and yeast.  I would revisit this one. 

7% from Gravenhurst, Ontario

 

1606 ~ SAWDUST CITY

1606 is a limited edition beer marking the first anniversary of opening their very own brewery and taproom in Gravenhurst.   It is second in the breweries ‘wine wood series’ (originally called the big bottle series) and is their ‘Skinny Dipping” oatmeal stout, aged in Ontario red wine barrels for a year.  Additionally the stout was jacked up even more in the barrelling stage by adding raspberries to it throughout the year.   There are only 400 bottles made and kegs have been sent to select Ontario bars. 

Sampled on draught the beer poured almost black, with a subtle ruby hue and a beige head, which dissipated quickly.  The nose had lots of raspberry, malts, venous red wine, and maybe even a little oakiness.  The beer was quite complex.  It had lots of chocolate and roasted malt notes from the stout, but the raspberry and wine added a funky tartness.   The beer lacked a little carbonation, but definitely worth a try if you are near the brewery or your local is lucky enough to get a keg.

5.7% from Gravenhurst, Ontario 35 IBU

BEAU’S FARM TABLE HELLES ~ BEAU’S

Farm Table Helles is part of Beau’s ‘Farm Table Series’.  The series are inspired by traditional recipes and try to stay true to the style.   Helles lager is a Bavarian classic.  Brewed first in the late 19^th century Helles was Bavaria’s answer to Pils (Bavarian Pilsner) that was very popular at the time.  Similar in taste, Helles is less hoppy and with a richer maltiness and mouthfeel. 

Sampled from a 600mL bottle.  The beer pours a clear carbonated golden straw hue with a medium sized head, which lasts.  Bready malts, a grassy earthiness and mild hops are on the nose.  Flavour is a little bready at first, with soft malts and a clean and crisp finish.  A delicious drinkable sessionable lager.  Well done Beau’s!

4.7% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario   25 IBU

Malts: Pilsner, Carafoam, Acidulated (all organic)

Hops: Organic Perle, Organic Hersbrucker

GRANDSTAND ~ LEFT FIELD BREWERY

Grandstand is the newest offering from the Left Field Brewery, making its debut on August 31^st, 2015.  It is a hoppy wheat made up of 50% wheat with Simcoe, Citra and Centennial Hops.  It pours a rich cloudy gold and smells of grapefruit and other more subtle fruits.  The wheat gives it a crispness, but hops are the most dominant flavour.  I found this similar to American Pale Ale made with wheat instead of barley.  Very quaffable!

 

5.5% from (East) Toronto