GRAMMA’S STRAWBERRY RHUBARB ALE ~ OAST HOUSE

I love the seasonal summer brews made with fresh Ontario fruits. Gramma’s Strawberry and Rhubarb ale was sampled on draught. The beer poured a hazy orangey apricot colour with a small frothy bone coloured head. The head receded quickly leaving a cap and some lacing. The nose was subtle and simple: light strawberry and fruits, and a bready graininess. Taste follows the nose. The strawberry and rhubarb are not too over powering neither are they too subtle. There is a lovely fruity flavour mid sip, beginning with sweet strawberries, followed by a little rhubarb tartness and mild biscuit yeasts. The flavour is fresh and quenching. The body s medium-light and the carbonation was moderate. Love this one for summer patios! Thanks Oast!

4.8% from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

COLLECTIVE ARTS ~ HEFEWEIZEN

Collective Arts has released three seasonal brews including this hefeweizen, which is a fabulous example of the style!! Sampled on draught, the beer poured a rich hazy golden colour, with fizzy off white head. The head had lots of snap and crackle before receding and leaving scant amounts of lace. The nose contained tons of banana, some bubble gum, wheaty malts, clove, pepper and spiciness along with a faint orchard fruits. The flavour also had lots of banana, some sweet peach, sweet wheaty malt, cloves, yeasty spices and a little citrusy acidity. The body was medium-lights and the carbonation was fine and lively. A fine beer for a summer’s day, I look forward to trying their gose and saison.
5.5% 27 IBU Hamilton, Ontario
Hops: German Magnum hops
Malt: pilsner and wheat

ROCKWELL PILSNER ~ 

COLLINGWOOD BREWERY

Sampled on draught, Rockwell Pilsner - which is inspired by the great Czech pilsners, poured a clear golden colour with a small white head. The head receded quickly and left some scant lacing. The nose contained lots of cereals, grains and grassy hops; floral and fruit notes were present but very subtle. Taste follows: mild hops, crackery grains and malts. Sweet caramel and roasted malts emerged as the beer warmed. The finish is clean and crisp. The carbonation is average and the body is medium light. This is a simple but well crafted, very quaffable brew.

4.6% from Colllingwood, Ontario

DUNKELBACH ~ SIDE LAUNCH 

Dunkelbach is a special edition brew that is being served at select bars during a Side Launch tap takeover. This beer is a dark lager aged in Syrah casks. Sampled on draught the beer poured a deep brown with deep garnet highlights, with a modest mocha coloured head. The nose had notes of tart berries, caramel malt, wood, and wine. The beer has lots of wine notes on the palette, sour dark malts, tart berry and wood are also evident in the flavour. I found the beer to be quite acidic, at times verging on vinegary. The body was medium and the carbonation was very soft. I much preferred the bourbon barrel aged version.

5.8% from Collingwood, Ontario 15 IBU

SAISON DU PARC ~ DIEU DE CIEL!

Saison Du Parc is a new summer offering form one of my favourite Quebecois breweries. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a very pale yellow (with hints of green) with a modest white head, which left great lacing. The nose contained lots of citrus (lemon and grapefruit) along with light grains, hay pepper, a little funk with a hint of sourness. The flavour followed with notes of light grains, grapefruit and lemon, hay, and sourness with a grassy hoppy bite. The finish was bitter and very dry at first though the initial bite of the hops dissipated a little as the beer progressed. The body is light and the carbonation is moderate. This is drinkable and refreshing but a little bold in the hops department for a saison. Not a disappointment but definitely not DDC’s best.

4.2% from Montreal, Quebec

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