BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE ~ WEST AVENUE CIDER

West Avenue has no shortage of interesting and innovative ciders, along with some very good traditional ones. Bizarre Love Triangle was created using molasses, wintery spices and muscovado sugar and aged for a year in bourbon barrels. Sampled on draught the cider poured a slightly opaque rich golden amber. The flapper and the nose had complexity. The nose contained spices (cinnamon, cloves, etc) as well an a rich fruitiness along with the apples. The spice and the sweetness is cut by the tartness of the apples. A lovely woody nuttiness is evident from barrel aging. The cider is not heavily carbonated and has a lovely boozy warmth. A lovely winter bevvie!

7.2% from Flamborough, Ontario

Photo Courtesy of West Avenue Instagram

SILVER FERN ~ BEAU’S

Silver Fern is part of Beau’s Greener Futures Project and is usually only available to Beau’s beer Club members. It was a nice surprise to find it on draught at my local, thought it is a bit of a treat at $8 for 300 ml. The beer is Beau’s ‘Koru’ beer (a Belgian style pale and made using New Zealand nelson sauvin and rakau hops) aged in white wine barrels for four months. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly hazy dark golden colour with a dense white head. The aroma has a nice complexity to it: lemony citrus and tropical fruit mix with vinous and oaky woody notes from the barrel aging. More subtle notes of berries and nuts lie just underneath. The flavour is bright and fruity with a tart and slightly spicy peppery yeast. The mouthfeel was medium bodies, the carbonation was average and the finish was clean, refreshing and dry. The hops are nicely balanced with the brightness of the fruit and the oakiness. I really enjoyed this, it shows complexity but also restraint. I wish it were more available.
INGREDIENTS: Local spring water, organic barley malts, organic hops, brewer’s yeast.
6.3% from VanKleek Hills, Ontario