REVOLUTION #3: DRY HOPPED SOUR ~ RAINHARD BREWING

4.8% from Toronto, Ontario

Revolution #3 is the latest release in Rainhard’s Revolution series. The series is made up of one-offs and experimental concoctions. Revolution #3 is a dry hopped sour saison. Pilsner and wheat malts were used, in the brewing process. the beer was kettle soured with seven different Lactobacillus strains and fermented with Escarpment lab’s ‘new world saison with Brettonomyces’ yeast. The dry hopping was done with citra. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy golden orange with a smallish white head. The aroma had fresh citra hops, stone fruit, some grains, florals, and a touch of funk. The beer was pleasantly sour but not overly so. Their were lots of tart citrus flavours, along with sweet grains, stone fruit and a touch of barnyard. The finish was fresh dry and crisp, with a brightness from the city. Very refreshing and not overdone.

LEFT FIELD ~ FOURTH ANNIVERSARY SAISON

Left Field has produced another strong saison for their fourth anniversary brew. The beer is brewed avec French Saison Yeast and dry- hopped with Summer and El Dorado hops.  Sampled on draught, the beer poured a hazy light golden with a generous white head that left beautiful lacing. The nose had notes of lemon, grains, fruit, floral, hops and an earthinesss. The taste had notes of light orchard fruits, especially pear, but also grapes, lemon and perhaps a touch of sweet melon. Vinous notes, light white pepper, spicy yeast and dry-hop presence round out the flavour. The carbonation was lively and the body was medium. The finish is dry, with some lingering citrus. A very nice sipper.

7.6% from Toronto , Ontario

photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery

CREATIVE DIFFERENCES ~ HALO 

Creative differences is a dry hopped pale ale. Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy orange amber with a generous reliant pillowy white head, that left lacing before settling into a cap. The aroma contained lots of tropical fruit - mango , papaya and passionfruit, orange along with other fruity notes. The taste too has lots of juicy fruit sweetness, especially orange and other tropicals at the forefront. This is followed by a caramel malt backbone and finishes with a slightly resiny New World hop. The mouthfeel was medium bodied with average carbonation and a slightly fruity subtly bitter finish. Very delicious, worth checking out.
5.8% from Toronto, Ontario 22 IBU
Malts Pale Ale, Carafoam, Crystal Light, Flaked Oats
Hops Magnum, Columbus, Pacifica, Simcoe, Orbit, Centennial
Yeast London III Ale

SCRUMPKIN ~ WEST AVENUE CIDER

Sampled on draught.  Scrumpkin is a wild pumpkin cider made with wild and brett yeasts, and is dry hopped.  It pours a light murky yellow with a minimal head.  It is pleasantly funky-sour , but very little pumpkin was discernable.  Begins with lots of fruit flavour and a little spice and ends dry. Very enjoyable, especially if you like a sour, like me.

6.2% from Hamilton, Ontario

SETTING SUN AMERILLO DRY HOP SAISON ~ RAINHARD BREWING CO.

Setting Sun is a dry-hopped, single hopped saison.  It pours a light amber colour.  Nose contains notes of hoppy citrus, lemon and bread.  Taste is a mix of citrus lemon, breadiness and a very subtle sweetness.   The bitterness for the Amerillo Hops gives some bite at the end.  Very drinkable but not spectacular.

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario  30 IBU