HANSEL AND BRETT’LE ~ FORKED RIVER

Hansel and Brett’le is a farmhouse ale that has been aged in Ontario VQA Chardonnay casks for a half a year. Sampled on draught the ale poured a hazy bright golden yellow, with an ample loose white head. The head sticks around for a while before receding into a cap and collar. The nose had lots of vinous notes, as well as lemony citrus, apple, oakiness, earthiness and subtle malt and funk. The taste contained sweet grains, a slight wortiness, lemony citrus, pretty tartness, apple cider, chardonnay and oak notes. There was a little funk on the end. The finish is crisp, clean and dry. The body was light and the carbonation was lively. I enjoyed this beer, nicely balanced, and all (the brett, the barrels…) is done in moderation. Very refreshing.
4.9% from London, Ontario

GRENDEL’S REVENGE ~

INDIE ALE HOUSE 

Grendel’s Revenge is part of the Fates & Furies Series and is a blend of an Old English Ale and a Flanders Sour Brown Ale. The beer is brewed with a house wild yeast strain and then aged in port, red wine and Medeira barrels for one to three years. Different vintages have been blended together for limited edition releases. I was lucky to have tried this on draught and have returned for several times to have some more. The ale pours a cloudy reddish amber brown colour with a small beige head, that left nice lacing. The nose is both sour and woody, with lots of vinous and dark fruity notes along with rich malt, spice, and other orchard fruits. The taste has a lovely complexity to it. It is rich, funky, tart and sweet. Again there are lots of wine and dried and fresh fruit notes on the palette, along with an oakiness, light spice, subtle brett and sweet malts. None of the flavours predominate. The beer is medium bodies with lazy carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel. The finish has a very mild bitterness with a long sour finish. Overall a beautiful beer.
8.5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 25—30
Key Ingredients: Dry English Ale Yeast

RITUAL MADNESS ~ INDIE ALE HOUSE

Ritual Madness, a Flanders Dark Red Ale,  is another offering in Indie Ale House’s Fates and Furies Series. It is a traditional Belgian Flanders barrelled on grape must in red wine barrels. The final product was blended to achieve the final product. Sampled on drought the beer poured a clear dark coppery-red cola colour with a small off-white head. The nose has some complexity with notes of tart berries, wood, leather, musty and lactic notes. The flavour is a balance of sour, tart fruitiness and rich malts. Notes of cherries, and dark fruit, wood, and wine are also evident. The finish has a lingering tanginess. The body is medium to full, the carbonation was slightly soft and the alcohol is well hidden. A beautiful example of the style!
8% from Toronto, Ontario 20 IBU
Key Ingredients: Flanders Yeast, Belgian Malts, Wine Barrels

Photo Courtesy Of Indie Ale House

GOLDEN CHARD ~ FORKED RIVER

Golden Chard is Forked Rivers Belgian Golden Ale (Golden Boy) that has been left to age in Southbrook Chardonnay barrels. Sampled on draught the beer poured a slightly cloudy pale golden hue with lots of effervescent fine bubbles and a small white head. The nose was quite tart with a little spice, notes of vinous grapes, cereal grains, and bretty funk also made an appearance. The taste was pleasantly soured but its aging - but not over done. The Chardonnay barrels lent a vinous quality and a little oakiness. The mouthfeel was a little buttery, and flavours did not disappoint. The carbonation was fine and lively and it had a medium body. The finish was clean and crisp. A complex little number, definitely worth a try.

6.2% from London, Ontario 15 IBU

Photo courtesy: Forked River 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

GOLDEN ALE ~ EXCHANGE BREWERY

This beer is a real treat – I look forward to more from this brewery. This golden ale is made in the style of Belgian Ale. It is brewed with Belgian house yeast and aged in French oak barrels with . Sampled on draught the beer poured a golden yellow with a white head, which left fabulous lacing. The nose was as complex as the taste with notes of white wine, slight sourness, light fruits, and a little funk. The taste had plenty of white wine (from being aged in Chardonnay barrels), Belgian yeasts, subtle fruitiness, vanilla, oak, hay and grassy hops. Beautifully complex and nicely balanced.

Hops: Cascade and Mosaic.
7.6% from Niagara on the Lake      33 IBU

DOLCIS SUCCUBUS ~ LE TROU DE DIABLE

This brew is worth every penny and it isn’t cheap! Dolcis Succubus is an American Wild Ale that had been aged for up to twelve months in California white wine barrels made of oak. In addition to the aging the beer is brewed with wild yeasts (Brettanomyces), giving it lots of complexity, and hopped with new world hops. Sampled on draught the beer poured a rich hazy golden orange with a dense white head, that left lovely lacing. The nose had noes is luxurious and rich, containing notes of green apples, apricot, wildflower honey, hay, a little funk and vanilla. The taste was as complex as the nose containing apricot, pear and apple, citrus, floral undertones, subtle oak, sweet wine, delicate vanilla. The hops were subtle and the bitterness did not linger. The carbonation was on the soft side and the beer had a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. I would say this was on the full side of medium bodied. This is a rich, complex and beautifully balanced beer. A treat at any price! Well worth it!

7% from Shawinigan, Quebec

DUNKELBACH ~ SIDE LAUNCH 

Dunkelbach is a special edition brew that is being served at select bars during a Side Launch tap takeover. This beer is a dark lager aged in Syrah casks. Sampled on draught the beer poured a deep brown with deep garnet highlights, with a modest mocha coloured head. The nose had notes of tart berries, caramel malt, wood, and wine. The beer has lots of wine notes on the palette, sour dark malts, tart berry and wood are also evident in the flavour. I found the beer to be quite acidic, at times verging on vinegary. The body was medium and the carbonation was very soft. I much preferred the bourbon barrel aged version.

5.8% from Collingwood, Ontario 15 IBU

SOFIE ~ GOOSE ISLAND

Labelled as a saison, Sofie is 80% new Belgian style saison and 20% aged in wine barrels with orange peel. Sampled from a 750 ml bottle this beer poured a bright, slightly hazy, straw yellow, with a moderate white head, which left some lacing as the foam fell. The nose is a little peppery, with Belgian yeast, slight citrus, barnyard funk, white wine, and coriander. – from the smell I thought the beer would be sweeter and darker. The taste profile is bright and refreshing with a certain amount of complexity. It is sweet to begin with lemon and orange flavours, followed by a mild pepperiness, wine, and a little wood from the barrels. The finish is dry and somewhat tart. The carbonation was effervescent and crisp. Easily quaffed, highly sessionable.

6.5% from Chicago, Illinois

CRUCIBLE ~ AMSTERDAM BREWERY

A Framboise that has been aged in Cabernet/Merlot Barrels for 8 mouths.  I have always thought that Amsterdam’s Framboise was excellent.  By aging it in wine barrels the beer takes on quite a a lot of the wine flavours and tannins, almost tasting like a sangria.  I enjoyed drinking this and went have been back for a few pints, however I do find the wine slightly overpowering and would like to taste a little more of the tartness of the raspberries. 

6.4%  from Toronto, Ontario
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