FARM TABLE: DUNKEL ~ BEAU’S

5.7% from VanKleek Hill, Ontario IBU 25

This Dunkel is the latest in Beau’s Farm Table Series. The farm table series is inspired by traditional brews from all over the world, and brewed to the classic style. Dunkel is a malt forward Bavarian brew. Sampled on draught this brew poured a mahogany colour with a generous off white foam. The head settles quickly leaving lovely sticky lacing around the glass. The nose contained bread crusts, roasted grain, light caramel with hints of chocolate, nuts and fruit, and leafy hops. The flavour follows with dark malts, caramel, hints of chocolate and fruit and floral leafy hops in the finish. This finish is clean and crisp. The body was medium and the carbonation was average.
Overall, a nice version of this traditional brew. Very enjoyable!
INGREDIENTS: Local spring water, organic barley malts, organic hops, brewer’s yeast.
MALTS: Munich, Caraunich, Acidulated, Caraaroma, Carafa (all organic)
HOPS: Organic Pacific Gem, Organic Triskel
YEAST: German Lager Yeast

DUNKEL CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK ~ MUSKOKA BREWERY

5.3% from Collingwood, Ontario 

15 IBU

This brew is the first of the Moonlight Kettle series for 2017. It is a Munich Dunkel with Black Cherry. The Moonlight Kettle Series are usually beers that have previously not been brewed, often done on collaboration with staff at Muskoka Brewery. Sampled on draught the beer poured a light bright copper-garnet colour (lighter than usual dunkels) with a cream coloured head that reduced to a cap and collar. The nose has notes of bread malts, caramel, lightly roasted Munich malts and the subtlest hint of fruit. The taste, which is a bit light, follows the nose with roasted malts, bread, caramel and a very slight cherry nuance. The carbonation was lazy and the body was medium to light. A smooth, very pleasant beer, but I would have liked a little more from the cherry.

SMITHHAVENS ~ DUNKELWEIZEN

Sampled from a bottle, this beer poured cloudy dark coppery amber with a generous beige head, which quickly reduced to a film, and left some scant lacing. The nose contained caramel, ripe stone fruit, some spice, grains and a slight vinous tart quality. The taste was lighter than expected with notes of caramel, malts, ripe fruit, clove, earthiness, subtle banana esters and a light sourness. The beer had grainy malty sweetness that was cut by the tartness. There was some lingering fruit in the aftertaste with no bitterness. The carbonation was gentle, and the body felt a little watery at time. I don’t know whether the slight sourness was intentional, I would like reserve judgment on this one, until I sample another. 

5.2% from Peterborough, Ontario IBU 12

SIDE LAUNCH ~ DARK LAGER

This dark lager was previously brewed as Denison’s Dunkel. Sampled on draught it pours a transparent coppery brown with a fluffy off white head. The head dissipated slowly to a ring, but only left scant lacing. The nose contained notes of caramel, dark fruit, toast, hay, earthy hops and roasted malts. The taste contained molasses, and treacle, roasted malts, minerals, and dark chocolate. The flavour was malt forward but not too sweet with a nice subtle balance of hop bitterness. The body is on the light side, the mouthfeel is smooth and the carbonation was moderate. This is an approachable beer – good in any season.

5.7 % from Collingwood, 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

WINTER WEISS MUSKOKA BREWERY 

Winter Weiss (Dunkelweiss) is Muskoka’s cool weather partner to their hot weather Summer Weiss. It is brewed seasonally as the name would suggest. Sampled from a tin the brew poured an unfiltered dark brown with ruby highlights and a generous cream coloured head. The head dissipated fairly quickly and left some lacing. The smells of a weiss beer were dominant with banana, clove and spice; sugary dark malt, dark fruit and bready grains were also evident. The taste was much like the nose with clove and banana and spice at the forefront, followed by caramel malts and grain and then and earthy notes. The carbonation was moderate, as was the body. The beer was intended to be a cross between the wheaty hefeweizen and a Munich Dunkel, A very satisfying cold weather brew.
5% from Bracebridge, Ontario IBU 12