EARL GREY MARMALADE SAISON ~ DOMINION BREWING

 

This saison was sampled on Draught at the 613 takeover, at the Only Café on the Danforth, Toronto.  The beer poured a hazy golden copper colour with a creamy white head, which left nice lacing.  The aroma contained citrus (especially orange) and spice (ginger, bergamot), peppercorns, ester-y saison yeasts, tea and some subtle malt notes.  The flavour begins with sweet malts, lots of orange flavour (it is brewed with fresh zested oranges), and spices.  Marmalade also makes an appearance giving a nice puckering contrast to the sweetness.  Hoppy bitterness, slightly astringent tea tannins, and citrus balance and finish the beer.  The carbonation is moderate the beer has a medium body.  This brew is packed with a variety of flavours, I again enjoyed this, but I could see how others may find this perfumy.    A very unique pint!

Dominion Brewery has brewed this beer with Bridgehead organic Earl Grey tea, and organic wheat grown and malted close to the Ottawa area.  It makes me happy that Dominion Brewery is working with local hop producers.  Ontario was once a great hop growing province, the spirit of which they are trying to bring back.

5.5% from Ottawa, Ontario IBU 21

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

CHOCOLATE ORANGE PORTER ~ TRAFALGAR

Chocolate Orange Porter is seasonally available during the winter months.  Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured a dark cola colour.  It has very little to no carbonation.  There was lots of sweet orange peel in the middle with a chocolaty aftertaste, after the malts.  The orange intensified as the beer warmed.    The orange peel favour slightly artificial, and sweet.  The beer tasted like a watery version of a “Terry’s Chocolate Orange.”  I was expecting something richer with greater body.  A little disappointed with this one.

5% from Oakville, Ontario

~ SAINT OF CIRCUMSTANCE ~

 COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING CO.

Collective Arts have the coolest labels, here is why, to quote their website, “We are a grassroots beer company fusing the craft of brewing with the inspired talents of emerging and seasoned artists, musicians, photographers & filmmakers. Our brewery is dedicated to promote artists and raise creative consciousness through the sociability of craft beer.”  I bought several Saint of Circumstance bottles and each one had a different label.  There is an open call to artists near and far to submit designs and they run off about 85 labels in each series.  They are on to Series 5 now.

Saint of Circumstance is a Blonde Ale infused with the zests of orange and lemon.  The citrus is highlighted with Citra, Amarillo and Sorachi Ace hops.

Both the nose and the taste have components of lemon, grapefruit, orange and a light malt.  The pleasant subtle bitterness at finish is perfect.  I really enjoyed this beer, great warm weather session beer.

4.7% from Waterloo, Ontario    19 IBU

 ~ ORANJEWEISSE ~ 

AMSTERDAM BREWERY

Made as a nod to Amsterdam’s Dutch heritage, it is a traditional unfiltered Wit beer.  The beer’s spicy and fruity flavours come from, un-malted wheat, orange peel, coriander and anise.

The hazy brew starts citrusy and moves to banana, subtle spice and yeast at the end. Crisp and refreshing, definitely a summer brew patio brew.  

5% from Toronto, Ontario       12 IBU
-beer 72-