RASPBEERY COCO LAIT ~ MUSKOKA

4.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario 25 IBU

Raspbeery Coco Lait the Moonlight Kettle offering for Febrewary. It is milk stout with chocolate and raspberry. Sampled on draught the stout poured an opaque deep brown black pour with a creamy beige head and some nice lacing. The aroma contained notes of raspberry, roasted malts, and chocolate. The taste was beautiful, the raspberries make an appearance but the brew still retains its ‘stoutness.’ Notes of raspberry and chocolate provides a nice contrast to the roasted malts. The carbonation is soft, providing a creamy mouth feel. I think this is nicely balanced stout, best drunk after dinner in lieu of a dessert. Well done Muskoka!

PB & C STOUT ~ MUSKOKA

PB and C stout is the last Moonlight Kettle of the 2016 series. It is billed as having a Rich chocolate in the body with real peanut powder added, and a slight roasted coffee finish. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a very dark brown with a thin beige head. The nose contained notes of dark chocolate, roasted malts, coffee and the slightest hint of peanut butter. The flavour followed, mostly coffee with dark chocolate. The peanut butter flavour was very buried, and I was really looking forward to the Peanut butter. There was a nice balance of sweetness with bitterness of the coffee and dark chocolate. The body was light and the mouthfeel was a little on the thin side. A pleasant stout, but left me wanting more peanut butter.

5.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario  31 IBU

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.

MOONLIGHT KETTLE BIERBUIK ~ MUSKOKA BREWERY

Bierbuik is Belgian strong dark ale. The name means beer belly in Dutch. Sampled on draught the beer poured a rich amber with garret highlights and a moderate off white head. The aroma was primarily biscuity malts and caramel, with a touch of fruitiness. The flavour has lovely caramel maltiness, with more subtle flavours of dried fruit (raisins, fig), plums and spicy Belgian yeast. The finish has a dry bitterness and the alcohol is remarkably well hidden. On a cold night these can catch up with you.

7.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario 28 IBU

MOONLIGHT KETTLE SUMMER SAISON ~ MUSKOKA BREWERY

This beer was the very first ‘Moonlight Kettle’ when the series started; it seems to be a rerelease of a popular ‘kettle’. Sampled on draught the beer poured a dark unfiltered gold- amber with a generous off dense white head and great lacing. The nose contained notes of spicy Belgian yeast, clove, tropical and citrus fruit, cereal grains and pepper. Though Muskoka has called this a summer saison, judging from the boozy ABV and the full-bodied taste, this seems more like autumn drinking to me. This is an amped up saison, lots of flavour – light caramel malts, peppery Belgian yeasts, fruit, earthiness, breads, clove and coriander. The body was medium and the carbonation was on the lively side of moderate. I really enjoyed this; it is nicely balanced, complex but approachable.

7% from Bracebridge, Ontario 31 IBU

MUSKOKA EQUINOX ~ MUSKOKA BREWERY

Muskoka Equinox is part of Muskoka’s Moonlight Kettle Series. It is American Pale Wheat ale brewed with Black cherries and Jim Beam bourbon soaked vanilla beans. Sampled on draught the beer pours a clear golden colour with a moderate creamy off white head. The nose contains sweet cherries, a touch of vanilla, dough bread. The taste follows as expected: doughy breadiness, black cherries, grass, and hints of vanilla. The cherries are not over done but do lend some sublime fruitiness. The carbonation was soft and the beer was medium-light bodied. A lovely refreshing fruit beer.

4.6 % from Bracebridge, Ontario 20 IBU

COOL AS A CUKE ~ MUSKOKA BREWERY

Cool as a Cuke is the latest offering in Muskoka Brewery’s ‘Moonlight Kettle’ series, that offers a new and unique beer each month. Cool as a cuke is an American Pale Ale brewed with cucumber and lemongrass. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a very light hazy yellow with a moderate white head. The head had great retention and left lovely lacing as it disappeared. The aroma contained lots of cucumber – with a touch of sweetness and a citrusy lemongrass. The taste has lots of florals, the lemongrass adds to the American hop bitterness, then is followed by clean crisp cucumber and subtle melon notes. This is quite refreshing and different – quite yummy!

4.7% from Guelph, Ontario 30 IBU

Malt: Canadian 2-Row Malt, Maris Otter, Wheat
Hops: Magnum, Cascade, Sorachi Ace

GOSE ‘ROUND ~ MUSKOKA

 This Gose is part of Muskoka Brewery's Moonlight Kettle Series. This series showcases an interesting and sometimes ‘off the beaten track’ brews. Sampled on draught the beer poured hazy light golden amber with a small off white head. The nose contains some citrus along with a touch of coriander and banana. The taste is quite lemony and tart with a hint of other citrus fruits. The salt (Himalayan Sea salt was used) is present but quite understated. I found this easy drinking and refreshing, but not as sour as I expected. The carbonation was lively and the body was light. A very pleasant summer brew.

11 IBU 4.5% from Bracebridge, Ontario

MUSCLES FROM BRUSSELS ~ MUSKOKA 

Muscles from Brussels is part of the Moonlight kettle series. The Moonlight Kettle series stems form their brewers rendezvous to develop new brews; the ones released are a select few from these rendezvous. Sampled on draught this poured an opaque orangey amber colour with a medium white head. Lots of Belgian yeast on the nose, along with floral hops, clove, banana, citrus and sweet malts. The beer is a bit of a hybrid – the child of a Belgian Ale and an American Pale Ale. The taste begin much like a Belgian ale, with the banana, sweet malts, light citrus and spice, but ends much more like an IPA, with a solid hoppy ending. Interesting combination. Enjoyed this one, I would get this again.

7.2 % from Bracebridge, Ontario 50 IBU

 ~MOONLIGHT KETTLE JUST PEACHY ~ 

MUSKOKA BREWERY

This Kölsch beer is part of Muskoka Brewing limited edition one-offs.  The nose is that of light peaches.  The peaches lend a very subtle sweetness to the beer, but are barely identifiable as flavour.  Beer is sweet and dry with a nice bitterness on the finish.

5%  from Bracebridge, Ontario   25 IBU
 -beer 94-