WHY SO SIRIUS? ~ SEXTANT BREWING

Sextant is a new brewery, presently contract brewing in Toronto. I am going to review the draught I had, and look for a tinned version, because I suspect the keg I had may have been infected. I glanced at several reviews of this beer and my taste experience differs from those who have sampled it out of a tin. The beer is supposed to be an easy drinking session pale ale, that has been dry hopped giving it pine and citrus on the nose and slightly bitter finish. The pour was golden yellow with lots of visible carbonation. The nose was very mild, but perhaps a bit of tartness. To me this beer was almost sour and had a funky Brett-like quality. I wasn’t get much from the hops at all. Perhaps not a fair assessment – will look for a tinned version.

ABV: 4.8% IBU: 33

FLEMISH CAP ~ FOLLY BREWPUB

Flemish Cap is billed as an 'Old World Saison', brewed with Pilsner and wheat malts and using mixed fermentation in the brewing process.  Sampled on draught, the beer poured, a very slightly hazy golden straw, with a small dense white head. The nose had lots of lemon, a hint of tartness, a touch of peppery spice, grassiness and floral hops. The taste too, has lots of citrus, especially lemon, along with a little funk, grainy, earthy and herbal notes, a little sourness, minerals, and a tiny bit of peppery spiciness. The hops at the end are mild and somewhat floral. The mouthfeel was on the thin side and the carbonation was fizzy. Good but not amazing! Flavourful and refreshing.
4.5% from Toronto, Ontario

WHITE ~ BLACK BELLOWS

Black Bellow’s is a new brewery, presently contract brewing in Ontario beer hot spot, Collingwood. White, a Belgian-style wheat beer, is their debut offering. Sampled on draught the beer pour slightly hazy, bright yellow-gold, with a thin white head. Though the head was small, it did linger and left delicate lacing when it left. Lots of citrus on the nose along with wheat, coriander, hops and light fruit. The aroma has a slight pungency. The taste is a melange of slightly sour, tart, floral hops, spice, citrus and wheat malts. The mouthfeel is crisp and medium bodied. Carbonation was lively and refreshing. This is quite unlike other wheat beers and wits that I have had, a really pleasant summer brew none the less. Hope to see more from this brewery.

5% from Collingwood, Ontario 13 IBU

Photo Courtesy: Black Bellows Instagram

PERONI NASTRO AZZURO ~ BIRRA PERONI (owned by Asahi)

Peroni Nastro Azzuro is supposed to be the breweries premium Euro-lager. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured crystal clear straw yellow with a creamy white head, which lasted a few minutes. The head left no lacing as it dissipated. Lots of visible carbonation was present. Smell is pretty much generic Euro-lager – subtle bready malt and some floral hops and lagery yeast. There was also a slight sulphur odour. No surprise herein the taste – it taste’s like a light watery Euro lager. Malty at the start followed by slight metallic taste and then floral hop, that lingers in the aftertaste. A very simple taste profile with a clean finish. The body was light, the mouthfeel was watery, and the carbonation was quite lively. A little thin for my taste, but thirst quenching.

5.1% from Roma, Italy

CATALYST 

MK II ~ WEST AVENUE CIDER

Catalyst cider is a dry-hopped (with Santium), barrel fermented with Ontario Montmorency Cherries. Sampled on draught the cider pours bright amber – pink. The nose has lots of tart green apple smell along with a kriek like notes from the cherries. The taste has some complexity to it. The cider starts quite tart, slightly sour with a touch of funk followed by a definite hop presence and cherry at the tail end and in the aftertaste. There is a lovely balance between the elements of this cider: hoppiness - sweet and tart. The cider is Semi dry with lively carbonation. Another cider win!

6.5% from Flamborough, Ontario

Photo courtesty of West Avenue Instagram

WINDFALL ~ REVEL CIDER

Another brilliant offering form Revel Cider! Windfall is a apple cider made with Ontario Blackberry, wildflower honey and maple syrup and juniper berries. Sampled on draught, the cider poured a bright reddish pink hue – it looked almost like a rosé. A beautiful melange of flavours in this – the blue berry presence is not overpowering but does lend a beautiful flavour and colour to the cider. The juniper berries were very subtle. The finish is smooth and has a subtle honey sweetness to cut the tartness. Definitely order this – if you see it on draught!

6.4% from Hamilton, Ontario

Photo courtesy or Revel Cider

ABEL’S REVENGE ~ REVEL CIDER

As I have mentioned before in my posts, this seems to be a bumper year for ciders – some many creative and delicious new flavour combinations to try! Revel has released several fabulous ciders this year. Abel’s revenge is apple and pear scrumpy made with Ontario raspberries. Sampled on draught, it pours a lovely rich peachy-pink colour with visible effervescence. Lots of raspberry on the nose! There are lots of flavour happening here – at first very tart – but on second sip, some of the sweetness of the berries shines through. The Brett adds to the tartness and gives it a little funkiness. The finish is dry and tart. Very summery!

6.9% from Hamilton, Ontario

Photo Courtesy of Revel Cider

BRIMSTONE BREWING CO. ~ BELGIAN GOLDEN ALE

This is Brimstone’s 100th brew. In honour of that, they decided to let everyone around the brewery add a secret ingredient. Sampled on draught, the beer poured a deep reddish amber colour, with an off white head that left good lacing. The aroma contains, coriander, pepper, spicy/funky and fruity and floral esters. The taste is pretty boozy with lots going on – fruitiness, spice, slight tartness and sweet booziness. (I am actually going to have to revisit this one to get a clearer understanding of the flavours). The body was medium and the mouthfeel was slightly sticky. An interesting brew.
8.4% from Ridgeway, Ontario    30 IBU
Photo Courtesy of Brimstone Brewery

HEY DAY HEFEWEIZEN ~ GRANVILLE ISLAND

Sampled from a tin, this beer poured an opaque honey-amber colour with a generous white head. The head had good retention before fading into a cap and leaving some lacing. The nose was typical of a hefe with lots of clove, bready wheat and banana esters. There is also a subtle lemony citrus and peppery notes. There was not as much banana as I expected on the palette. Bready wheat, lemon and orange citrus are pronounced with sweet notes of pear and apple, clove and coriander are also present. The beer is light bodied, even a little watery at times, with average carbonation and a crisp off dry finish. Very refreshing, mild enough to have at breakfast, but nothing outstanding.

5% from Vancouver British Columbia IBU 15

SUNBURNT SAISON ~ BIG RIG

This is an interesting saison made with the addition of pink peppercorns (the mildest of the peppercorns) Sampled on draught the beer poured opaque yellow gold with cap of generous white foam. There was a subtle whiff of pepper on nose along with a little tropical fruit, apple and pear. The flavour was much as was expected - citrus, other fruits and bready grains, with a little pepper kick and light hops at the back end. The carbonation was lively, but the body was thin and watery at times. The finish was crisp and off-dry. Interesting - I would have liked more body and perhaps a little more peppery presence. 5% from Ottawa 25 IBU