Category Archives: Bière de Guarde

Mad Ear, Naked Bière de Garde – Trinity Brew

by Mike

From Trinity Brew in Colorado Springs, Colorado comes their “Mad Ear, Naked Bière de Garde” a saison aged on Brettanomyces. The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with lots of floaters and a tan head.  The aroma consists of yeast, brett, pepper, earth and some citrus.  The flavour is of saison yeast, brett, pepper, earth, citrus, citrus rind, resin and some sweetness.  The alcohol content comes in at 8.1% with an IBU of 35.  Not the best Bière de Garde or Saison that I have had but this was a very enjoyable beer and I look forward to trying more from the brewery.

Commercial Description: Grist: Barley, Oats +Rye, 35 IBUs of Styrian + Saaz, Mad Extended Boil for Mad Red Color, No Spices, Free-Rise Fermentation with Proprietary Yeast, Pair with Truffled Foie Gras, Cassoulet, Rosemary Lamb

Japanese Biere De Garde – Granville Island Brewing

by Mike

From Granville Island Brewing out of Vancouver comes their new “Japanese Biere De Garde” a new release in their 2017 Cellar Series.  The beer pours an orange colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of citrus, clove, Belgian yeast and floral hops.  The flavour is of lemon, citrus rind, pith, clove, pepper, mild pickles, earth, Belgian yeast and a hint of bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 9.5% with an IBU of 54.  Kevin Emms has come up with a really interesting beer here and I look forward to seeing what my second bottle does over time.  Granville Island Brewing is owned by Molson Coors.

Commercial Description:  East meets West in this rare farmhouse ale. Rice, Japanese Sorachi Ace, hops and Belgian saison yeasts create a heady mix of dill pickle, pepper and clove notes atop a strong, light ale body . Pair with chicken fettuccine pasta.

Biere De Garde – Niagra Oast House Brewers

by Mike

From Niagra Oast House Brewers located in Niagra on the Lake in Ontario comes their “Biere De Garde” part of their cork and cage Farmhouse Ale Collection.  The beer pours a deep cloudy reddish colour with a light brown head.  The aroma consists of mild roasted malts, toffee, spices, yeast and some dark fruits.  The flavour is of roasted malts, toffee and burnt caramel, dark fruits, spices, yeast and a possible hint of bubble gum in the finish but I could be wrong.  The alcohol content comes in at 7% and is quite carbonated and also has a dry finish.  This is my first ever exposure to this brewery and I would have to say that it was a great introduction.  Its not a style I know much about but I fully enjoyed this bottle.

Commercial Description:  This bottle conditioned farmhouse ale was brewed in the Northern French tradition using the freshest ingredients and Belgian yeasts.  The Biere De Garde is brewed to celebrate harvest and quench the thirst of the seasonal workers that make it happen each year.

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Reynard Bière de Garde – Strange Fellows Brewing

by Mike

From Strange Fellows Brewing Company in East Vancouver comes their “Reynard Bière de Garde” a French Style Saison.  The beer pours a straw yellow colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of malts, lemon, spices and yeast.  The flavour is of malts, big yeast notes, banana, lemon, citrus rind, some spices and mild hops bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.2%.

Commercial Description:  Life is nothing without sharing.  Laughter, a good story or even your favourite beer are all better in the company of others.  This is definitely the case with our Bière de Garde, a farmhouse ale from Northern France. Traditionally made in the winter or spring for the coming summer, our de Garde has a straw-like colour, slight spice and a dry finish.  It’s name literally means “beer for keeping” but why not share it with a friend?

Food Pairing as per brewery: Cheese

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