HANSEL AND BRETT’LE ~ FORKED RIVER

Hansel and Brett’le is a farmhouse ale that has been aged in Ontario VQA Chardonnay casks for a half a year. Sampled on draught the ale poured a hazy bright golden yellow, with an ample loose white head. The head sticks around for a while before receding into a cap and collar. The nose had lots of vinous notes, as well as lemony citrus, apple, oakiness, earthiness and subtle malt and funk. The taste contained sweet grains, a slight wortiness, lemony citrus, pretty tartness, apple cider, chardonnay and oak notes. There was a little funk on the end. The finish is crisp, clean and dry. The body was light and the carbonation was lively. I enjoyed this beer, nicely balanced, and all (the brett, the barrels…) is done in moderation. Very refreshing.
4.9% from London, Ontario

ABATTOIR ~ BLOOD BROTHERS BREWING

8% from Toronto, Ontario
Abattoir is a brett farmhouse saison. Sampled on draught the beer poured a bright apricot hue with minimal head. The nose has notes of bubblegum, barnyard funk, orchard fruit and spice. The beer is pleasantly sour, with spice up front, followed by grassy hay, grains, lots of fresh orchard fruits and brett. The alcohol is well hidden. The body is on the thin side (which is unfortunate as such a flavourful complex beer needed a heavier body). Carbonation was average and the finish was crisp and quite dry. Despite being on the thin side, I liked this and look forward to future endeavours of the Blood Brothers.

INKHORN ~ FOLLY BREWING

According the the brewery this beer is a Belgian-dubbel inspired ale with a Brettanomyces Lambicus fermentation. Sampled on draught this brew pours a reddish brown with an average beige head. The nose is quite fruity with notes of fig, raisin, vinous grapes, tart fruit, sour cherry, earthiness, spice, caramel and bready malts. The taste follows the nose - beautiful sourness, chocolate, ripe dark fruit, spice, figs, bread malts, pepper, and some vinous notes. This has a beautiful complexity with lots of flavour swirling around, but the body still remains on the light side. The toasted malts give way to a slightly lingering tartness making this a remarkably refreshing beer. The carbonation was soft. I would say this brew is not a dubbel, but much more of a Flanders Red. I really enjoyed this one, flavours marry nicely.
HOPS: German Magnum, German Tradition
YEAST: Our House "George Blend”

MALT: Pilsner, Caramunich I, Melanoidin, Special W

6.5% from Toronto, Ontario

LIMBERLOST FARMHOUSE ALE ~ SAWDUST CITY BREWING

Limberlost Beer is a wild Ontario Farmhouse/saison. Much of this brew was can conditioned – which sold out almost immediately, only being sold at the brewery. I was lucky enough to sample from one of a very few kegs. The beer pours a cloudy bright golden orange with a small frothy white head that left some lacing. The nose has is a little tart with notes of brett-y funkiness, lemon, herbal notes, tart stone fruit, very subtle and straw. The flavour begins with a wash of tartness; notes of brett, light citrus, tart fruit, cereal grains, very subtle pepper and conifers follow. The tartness is not overpowering, and sweet grains become more apparent as the beer warms. The body is medium light, with a smooth texture and effervescent sparkling carbonation. It is a very interesting, drinkable and refreshing beer.
The beer is brewed with a strain of yeast harvested from the Muskoka area. Sawdust City brewer and Escapement yeast labs collected a variety of yeasts from the Limberlost Forest and wildlife Reserve (near Huntsville, Ontario). Samples were returned to the lab where much testing and brewing occurred to find an alcohol resistant, viable, reliable and tasty strand. Local hops were also used in this brew.
I really liked this one, and look forward to future brews. Recommended.
6.1% from Gravenhurst, Ontario 15 IBU

IMPOSTER SYNDROME ~ FOLLY

Imposter syndrome is a Farmhouse IPA. It has been hopped up with Comet and Sorachi Ace hops and brewed with Brettanomyces Claussenii (one of Folly’s own fermentation culture) Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy light golden yellow, with a touch or coppery orange. It sported a generous white head with good retention before receding and leaving scant lacing. The nose contained some barnyard funk, sweet malts, bread, a slight tartness, lemon and grapefruit citrus, stone and tropical fruit, piny hops. The flavour contains crusty bread, bretty funk, subtle sweetness, peppery spice, orange rind, tropical fruit, and mild tartness. The finish has a lovely hop kick with notes of pine and grapefruit.  The beer is medium bodied with average carbonation. The finish is quite dry, but leaves little aftertaste. I really enjoyed the complexity of the fruit, hops and yeast in this one!
HOPS: German Magnum, American Sorachi Ace and Comet
YEAST: House Light Blend
MALTS: Pilsner, Munich I, Carafoam, Caramunich I, Carahell
6.2% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 35

INTERLOPER ~ INDIE ALE HOUSE

Interloper was a collaboration brew, created for Toronto Beer Week 2016 - so it is a limited edition. It is a barrel aged and blended non-traditional saison/farmhouse ale. The brewery describes it as “a complex, a mixture of cultural influences and tastes, balancing a rich flavour while being approachable for everyone.” – just like Toronto. Sampled on draught the pour was a hazy golden colour with a moderate white head, with great staying power. The nose contained some barnyard funk, grains, pale malts, tropical fruits and touch of wood from barrelling. Flavour also had funk, tropical fruits, grains, citrus and a touch of wine and the barrel. A little bitterness at the end finished the deal. The body was moderate as was the carbonation. Too bad, this one isn’t going to linger, Yum!

6.1% from Toronto, Ontario