FRAMBOISE ~ EXCHANGE BREWERY

This is another impressive beer from the Exchange Brewery. This is their interpretation of a traditional Belgian Pale Ale with raspberries. It was brewed with coriander seeds, aged for at least 3 months in French oak barrels (from Pearl Morissette Winery in Jordan) on a bed of fresh picked Niagara on the Lake raspberries (from Quiet Acres farm). Sampled on draught the beer poured a hazy reddish-pink hue with a small white head. The aroma is primarily fresh summery raspberries with a subtle laziness from the barrel aging. The raspberry notes are not overstated. The sweetness of the berries complements their tartness and subtle woodiness from the aging. The body is medium as is the carbonation and the finish is tart and off dry. This is a limited edition beer, so pick it up at the brewery or sample on draught when you can. A delish fruit beer.
7.6% (draft); 8% (bottle-conditioned) from Niagara on the Lake

Hops: Fuggle, Hallertau, and Saaz

Picture courtesy of the Exchange Brewery

YOUR BREWHOUSE OR MINE ~ MUSKOKA & BARRELHOUSE BREWING

“Your Brewhouse or Mine?” is a collaboration between Ontario’s Muskoka Brewery and California’s Barrelhouse Brewing. This beer is a tasty cranberry and clementine IPA. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear golden colour with an average white head that left leggy lacing as it receded. The nose included grassy hops. Subtle fruits and a faint smell of soft crumbly cheese. The beer itself was a lovely IPA, not too hoppy, with a good citrus bite at the end. The fruit was very subtle, especially the cranberry, it did however, lend a faint sweetness. More of the fruitiness came out as the beer warmed. The carbonation was lively and the been had a medium body. A really pleasant IPA, I would have liked a little more presence from the fruit.

7% from Bracebridge, Ontario 50 IBU

ÉPHÉMÈRE BLUET ~ UNIBROUE

I think Unibroue’s Ephemeres are a delicious summer offering. This year’s new release is bluet (blueberry). Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy salmon amber, with puffy pale pink head, which left some nice lacing as it slowly receded. The nose has lots of blueberries, reminiscent of a blueberry pie, with grainy-crackery malts, citrus and a subtle earthy Bready malts and yeastiness. The flavour contains lots of berry goodness without overdoing it. There is a moderate sweetness, blueberry and citrus all on the tongue. Spicy Belgian yeast is also evident. The finish is semi dry with a contains a very mild herbal hop, and some lingering sweetness. The carbonation is moderate and I would place the beer in the medium bodied range. A delicious fruity offering, I will be returning to this one for sure!

5.5% from Chambly, Quebec.

BATCH 4 CHERRY SAISON ~ INNOCENTE

Sampled on draught this brew poured a golden colour with a thin white head, which disappeared quickly. Hints of cherries were found on the nose along with white pepper, grainy fresh bread, and a little barnyard funk. The flavour contains very subtle fruits, piecrust malts, a hint of spice, bubble-gum, hay and a bit of funk. The finish had grassy hops and was slightly off-dry. I wish the cherry flavour had shone through more, and the bubble gum a little less.

5.9% from Waterloo, Ontario   20 IBU

CASSIS WIT ~ MILL STREET 

The Cassis wit is a new seasonal brew from Mill Street. Sampled on draught at the brewery, the beer poured a hazy pinkish-beige with a persistent frothy off white pinkish head, which left nice lacing. The nose was mostly cracker, wheat, and estery yeast with a slightly buried berry and black currant. The taste was much the same; bready malts are dominant with semi-sweet black currant and berry flavour in the middle. There were also notes of Belgian yeast spice, banana (typical of a hefe) and a strange sulfuriness. The beer ends with a hint of grassy floral hops and an abrupt finish. The beer had lively active carbonation and a light body. I found there fruit to be a little understated and would have preferred a little more tartness, that being said, this is quite a pleasant summer patio beer.

4.8% from Toronto 8.5 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

 ~IT TAKES TWO TO MANGO ~ 

INDIE ALE HOUSE

A Mango Saison.  Available only in the summer. Fruity and pleasant.  The mango was very subtle, with a trace on the finish. Very mild, nice refreshing brew, I expected more mango, or spice, or….

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario
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