BLUEBERRY WHEAT ~ ELLICOTTVILLE BREWING CO.

I bought a 6 pack of this brew on a day trip to Buffalo. It is quite a novelty for me to walk into a drug store and walk out with beer. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a clear straw colour with a thick dense white head. The head receded to a surface collar and left some very nice lacing. The nose was subtle but did contain a healthy dose of blueberries with a touch of crackers wheat and a mild malt. The beer has a clean bready malt, with crackery wheat, a touch of lemon citrus and mild hop bitterness, the sweet blueberry appears and lingers a little in the aftertaste. The blueberry tastes like a fresh sweet summer pick and is not artificial at all. The mix of the graininess and blueberries almost reminded me a blueberry pie. The body was medium-light, and the carbonation was lively. The finish was dry with lingering berry sweetness. This is a very approachable summer refresher, it is just enough fruitiness, while remaining clean.
4.8% from Ellicottville, New York   11 IBU

Ingredients: Canadian 2 row barley, white wheat, noble German hops, blueberry 

HYGGE ~ SAWDUST CITY

Hygge is a limited edition season release from Sawdust City (to be released December 1st, 2016). It is a Belgian Tripel that has been kettle soured, fermented with a Belgian Monastery yeast strain and aged/conditioned over 600 lbs of black plums. Sampled on draught the beer poured a light cloudy orange with little head. Aroma is light and contains, spicy yeasts, plums, a touch of funk and alcohol. The flavour is not overly sour which allows the fruitiness to come through. Spicy Belgian yeasts are complemented by the plums and tartness. The alcohol was on the subtle side. The mouthfeel was on the thin side and the carbonation was rather flat. This is a tasty brew but would be better with more carbonation.
BTW Hygge is a Danish word meaning, loosely translated, cosy, warm atmosphere, enjoying the good things in life with those you care about.

7% from Gravenhurst, Ontario

Picture courtesy of Sawdust City Instagram

BLOOD OF CTHULHU (2016) ~ SAWDUST CITY BREWING

This season brew is a monster! Blood of Cthulhu has been rereleased for 2016 and is better than I remembered. The brew is an imperial stout that has been brewed with raspberries, cranberries and tart cherries, along with a ton of malt. Sampled from a pint on draught, this beer poured a deep ebony with a generous creamy dark tan head. The head had great retention and left beautiful lacing as it settled into a cap. The nose has lots of wasted and toasted malts, along with dark chocolate, and red berries. This beer was like a Black forest cake for adults, lots of chocolate and berry flavour, especially from the cherries. Mid palette the beer has a slightly acidic bite but finishes with a roasted bitterness and dark chocolate.. The body was medium full and the stout had a creamy thick mouthfeel. The carbonation was medium to soft. Be careful he 9% can creep up on you! A beautiful cold weather treat.

9.5% from Gravenhurst, Ontario

BASIL BEACH ~ SAWDUST CITY

Basil Beach is Sawdust City’s Golden Beach Pale ale brewed with fresh basil. It is a limited edition one-off. It was sampled on Sawdust City’s massive tap (25 taps and 5 kegs) takeover at the Only Cafe in Toronto. Sampled a pint, drawn from one of the kegs. The beer pours a hazy bright sunny gold with a small bubbly head. The nose contains citrusy lemon, grass, basil and floral hops. Taste follows as expected: citrusy and herbal hops, a little orchard, fruit, grass and a light basil, which became a little more pronounced as the beer warmed.The finish is a little astringent and bitter. The carbonation is active and lively.  

5% from Gravenhurst, Ontario IBU 25

WATER: pure Muskoka water
BARLEY /MALT: Canadian 2-row barley, wheat
HOPS: galaxy, mosaic, Sorachi ace, summit
YEAST California ale
OTHER: Basil

ETOILE DU NORD ~ BRASSERIE THIRIEZ

Etoile du Nord (North Star) is a blonde ale brewed with English East Kent Goldings hops. Sampled from a bottle, possibly near the end of its best before date. The beer poured a somewhat clear golden yellow with a white foamy head, which had good retention and left impressive lacing. Be careful on the pour to control the amount of particulates in your drink. The aroma contained lemony citrus, biscuit and light malts, stone fruit, hay, peppery yeasts, floral and grassy hops. The taste was a mix of sweet grainy malts and fruit, tart citrus, earth, grass, a touch of caramel, pepper, with a moderate herbal-floral hop bitterness. The finish if dry with a touch of bright citrus. A beautifully balanced brew. The beer was medium bodied with a slightly resinous mouth feel. The carbonation was average and fine. I really like the English hops in the beautifully balanced brew. Worth seeking out.

5.5% from Esquelbecq, France    45 IBU

STATESIDE SAISON ~ STILLWATER

Stateside Saison is billed as an “American Farmhouse Ale.” It is Belgian inspired and uses European malts and hops from New Zealand and the United States, and a classic farmhouse yeast. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a hazy bright coppery gold with an average sized off white head. The head settled quickly and left wispy lacing. The nose has fruity (berries, citrus and orchard fruits) and earthy notes, along with malts, bread, florals, a little funk and spice(clove and others),and a light Belgian yeast. The flavour follows the nose and is equally complex, containing notes of fruits (lemon, orchard fruit), pepper, clove, Belgian yeast, honey, sweet malts, grains, grass, and a touch of tartness. The mouthfeel was medium. The carbonation was average to lively. The finish has a slight hop bitterness with a little earthy dryness. This is a complex but balanced saison. I really enjoyed this well crafted brew and wish they were easier to find north of the Border.

6.8% From Baltimore, Maryland

L’AMBRÉE D’ESQUELBECQ ~ BRASSERIE THIRIEZ

This French beer is a bière de garde, literally translated, it means ‘beer to keep.’ It was traditionally made in the north of France in the winter and spring. This beer comes from the French countryside in Flanders. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a slightly hazy deep coppery amber with a dense off-white head. The head lasted a while before leaving impressive lace on the glass and settling into a ring. The nose had notes of grass and hay, funk, orchard fruits, caramel malts, noble hops and spice. The beer was nicely balanced with noble hop bitterness meshing with hearty grainy caramel malts. The nose mostly followed the nose with lots of fruit, caramel, and breadiness, with a touch of vinous sour at the end. There were also notes of wood and hay, and the spice was more pronounced that the nose let on. The body was light to medium with a creamy feel and the carbonation was pin point and average. To me this tasted like a combination of a Flanders Oud Bruin and a saison. A very nice ale, with some complexity, worth trying.

5.8% from Esquelbecq, France

CELLAR DOOR ~ STILLWATER ARTISANAL ALES

Cellar door is a beautifully complex farm house ale, brewed with German and pale malts, Citra and Sterling hops and white sage. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a hazy golden straw colour with a generous white head. The head had good retention before falling and leaving impressive lacing and setting into a ring around the glass. The nose had some beautiful complexity with tangerine and citrus, earthy funk, herbal notes and light pepper, wheat and sage. The flavour too had layers of fruit, a variety of citrus, earthiness, spicy yeast, floral notes, soft caramel sweetness breadiness, and grass . The finish had a balanced hop bitterness with a cleansing sage, tart citrus and peppery notes.s The body was medium and the carbonation was very lively, leaving a lots of effervescent on the palette. The brew has as slightly creamy feel with a crisp drying finish. I enjoyed this very much, I wish these were a little easier to find North of the border in Canada.

6.6% from Baltimore, Maryland, USA

AGAINST THE GRAIN LAGER ~ HIGH PARK BREWERY

Against the Grain is a light lager brewed in the German style, with a blend of malts and German and American malts. Sampled on drought the brew poured a clear golden amber with a small white head, which left some nice lacing. The nose is simple and straightforward, with lots of grainy biscuity goodness as well as some grassy hops. The flavour follows with a lovely balance of sweet malts and hops, very subtle orchard fruit, and a mild hop bitterness. The flavour was more than expected from a Euro style lager. The finish was clean and crisp and off-dry, and the carbonation was moderate. Very pleasant and easily sessionable.

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU 19.8 

Photo Courtesy of High Park Brewery

FURLONG ~ INDIE ALE HOUSE

Furlong is Indie Ale House’s take on a traditional Franco-Belgian saison brewed with Brettanomyces. Sampled on draught the beer pours a cloudy light golden straw with a small white head. The aroma was tart and bright, containing notes of spice, lactic-sour, spice, funk, hay and unripe orchard fruit. The taste has lovely spice notes with a tart citrus. Bretty funk, spicy yeast, grains, fruit, straw and bread also make an appearance. The mouthfeel is fairly light and the carbonation is moderate. This is a refreshing brew, light, but layered. 

4.5% from Toronto, Ontario IBU: 18
Key Ingredients: House blended yeast