CUPIDS WINGS HIBISCUS RED ALE ~ BARNSTORMER

6.9% from Barrie, Ontario 

 25 IBU

Cupid’s Wing was a special February Release from Barnstormer Brewing in Barrie. It is a red ale brewed with hibiscus. Sampled in draught the beer poured a rich brown colour with garnet hues and an off white head, which left streaky lacing as it receded. The nose had notes of molasses and malts, with aa subtle hibiscus floridness, coming through. There is lots going on here making the brew slightly muddled. Taste followed the nose: molasses, caramel, malts, red berries, a little tartness with an off dry very subtle floral hibiscus finish. Quite drinkable, just not stellar.

PROSTHETIC CONSCIENCE ~ REVEL

Occasionally I venture onto the cider taps at my local. This one came recommended. Prosthetic Conscience is a pretty perry (pear cider) with hibiscus. It has been fermented with ten strains of Brett and the hibiscus flowers were cold infused. Sampled on draught the perry was a stunning colour. It was cloudy and very opaque bright golden-peach colour with hints of pink. On the nose this was MASSIVELY funky - All I got was barnyard funk, the fruit was buried far beneath. The taste too was also massively funky. Lots of tart brett funkiness at the front, giving was to sweet pear at the end. I liked it while I was consuming it, but would not want anymore than a tulip glass full.

6.4% from Hamilton, Ontario

Photo Courtesy of Revel Facebook

GO AHEAD ~ LEFT FIELD BREWERY

Go Ahead is a seasonal one off from Left Field Brewery. It is a rose with raspberry and hibiscus. Sampled on draught the beer poured a cloudy pink with an average white head. The nose contained lots of raspberry, hibiscus, and bright citrus. The beer was very flavourful: tart raspberry and floral hibiscus, and lemony citrus abound. The fruits and florals give way to a gentle saltiness and a little spice. The saltiness is noticeable but gentle as is the sourness. The carbonation was average and the body was on the full side of medium. I really liked this one, a nice melange of flavour.

4.8% from Toronto, Ontario   15 IBU

Photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery

12 MINUTES TO DESTINY ~ 

FLYING MONKEYS

Sampled on draught this beer poured an intense ruby red with a soft brown undertone. The think bubbly head is pink. The nose is quite strong with hibiscus, raspberry and sweet fruits. Subtle notes of caramel malts, florals citrus and leafy hops are also present. The taste is intense fruity, sweet raspberry and citrus abound. It tastes like a raspberry soda accompanied by subtle malts, hints of citrus and rosewater also adds nuance. The brew is light bodied with crisp carbonation and a lingering fruit sweetness and astringency the finish. This went down like Kool-Aid. A refreshing summer drink, but not for those who don’t have a sweet tooth.
4.1% from Barrie, Ontario IBU 8

Malts: 2-row pale malt (Copeland and Metcalf)
Hops: Saaz (bittering and late hopping)
Other: Hibiscus flowers rose hips, fresh raspberry and orange peel.

HIBISCUS SAISON ~ ROYAL CITY

This tea infused saison was sampled on draught. The beer poured a slightly foggy golden colour with a pinkish hue; due to hibiscus tea leaves being added to the boil. There was very little head and no notable lacing. The nose contained lots of tart fruit, floral and citrus, with a hint of clove spice and Belgian yeast. The beer starts with a tart floral hibiscus character with fruit and lemon citrus. There are also grainy malts and a slight grassiness. The hibiscus permeates the whole brew not unlike a very mild Roseé de hibiscus from Dieu de Ciel. There is a slight hop bitterness to the finish as well as a spicy clove. The finish is clean and dry. The body was light and I found the carbonation to be a little lacking. This beer is nicely balanced and easy drinking, it would be easily sessionable. A fabulous quaff for hot weather.

4.8% from Guelph, Ontario 17 IBU

TYRANNOSAURUS GRUIT ~ BEAU’S 

In honour of Gruit day (February 1st) Beau’s has created this most interesting Gruit. Gruits are beers that date back before the Bavarian Purity acts that declared the only ingredients a beer could have was barley, hops, yeast and water. In a gruit herbs, spice and other botanicals are used as bittering agents and flavour. Gruits have many many flavour combinations depending on the foliage (terrior) that grows around the brewery.
This beer has been brewed once and is on a seasonal and limited release. Sampled on draught this beer poured an intense bright red (much like cranberry juice) with little head. The red come from the beets that this gruit was brewed with, along with hibiscus flowers. The nose is very light and contains beets and subtle floral notes. Beets dominated the initial taste of this beer, both lending their sweetness and their earthiness. I found the beet a little cloying at first, but getting beyond their initial flavour the subtle flavours of the hibiscus emerged. Though this beer contained spruce tips and juniper berries, I could not easily identify them. The brew was mild with a light mouth feel. Very different, not for everyone, but worth a taste.

5.8% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario IBU 17

Malts: Pale ale, Vienna, CaraRed, acidulated (all organic)
Hops: Organic magnum
Yeast: German ale
Other: Local spring water, organic beet powder, organic spruce tips, organic juniper berries, organic hibiscus flowers.

SOUR ALE WITH HIBISCUS ~ LEFT FIELD 

This sour is a one-off for Left Field Brewing and their first foray into making sour ale. They have used kettle souring techniques and added lactobacillus to create the tartness. Dried Hibiscus flowers were added to the boil to impart colour and berry, lemon and floral notes. Sampled on draught at the brewery, the ale poured a gorgeous rich pinkish-red colour. The nose has much lacto tartness, with subtle florals. The beer itself is quite sour, with subtle hibiscus and wheat. The mouthfeel is effervescent and quite refreshing. Though it is not a complex brew it is quite tasty and very refreshing. I hope that Left Field will continue to experiment!

4% from East End Toronto IBU 10
Photo courtesy of Left Field Brewery

ROSEE D’HIBISCUS ~ DIEU DE CIEL

Seasoned Wheat Beer.  Rosee d’Hibiscus starts off as a wheat beer, during the brewing process Hibiscus flowers are added giving the beer a lovely fragrance and a slight acidity.  It pours a rich pink, has a lovely tartness and a flavour all its own.  I often drink this as a refreshing summer beer.

5.9% from Montreal,Quebec
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