Strong Patrick – Beau’s All Natural Brewing


From Beau’s All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill Ontario comes their “Strong Patrick” an Irish-style Red Ale.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a beige head.  The aroma consists of mild roasted malts, caramel, hint of chocolate and sweetness.  The flavour is of chocolate, caramel, earth, mild roasted malts, hint of oak and whiskey and sweetness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.7% with an IBU of 24.  Not all Irish-style Red Ales are made the same but this one is definitely a really enjoyable sipper.

Commercial Description:  Strong Patrick is a bold rendition of an Irish-style red ale. Brewed stronger than most, it is luscious and malty, with toasty caramel and coffee. A portion of the ale has been aged in Jameson® Irish Whiskey casks, then reintroduced to add a rich accent of wood and warmth to this year’s blend.

Food Pairing as per brewery:  Traditional style lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, firm goat cheese, warm corned beef with steamed root vegetables, gingerbread with applesauce, shortbread.

Midway ISA – Goose Island Beer Company


From Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago Illinois comes their “Midway India Session Ale”.  The beer pours an orange colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of mild tropical fruit, melon and some sweetness.  The flavour is of mild tropical fruits, melon, herbal and low bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 4.6% with an IBU of 30.  Much like many ISA’s I wish this beer had some malt presence but it was pretty tasty.

Commercial Description:  Paying tribute to the city we call home, Midway IPA is sessionable and refreshing, or as we like to refer to it – easy drinking. With a lower ABV, balanced IBU’s, and a tropical fruit aroma, make Midway your new go-to, have more than one, easy drinking IPA.

Cabalier Blue Blueberry IPA – Beau’s All Natural Brewing


From Beau’s All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill Ontario comes their “Cabalier Blue” Blueberry IPA. The beer pours very red with some floaties and a light reddish head. The aroma consists of Blueberries, herbal and grassy hops and some grain.  The flavour is of blueberries, mild tropical fruits, some bready malts, herbal and grassy hops with some hops bitterness in the finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 6%  with an IBU of 50.  Leave it to Beau’s All Natural Brewing to come up with a really interesting blend of flavours!

Commercial Description:  Built on the foundation of a generously hopped I.P.A., Cavalier Bleu blends the citrusy aromas of organic New Zealand hop varieties with the fruity flavours found in American Azacca and German Mandarina Bavaria hops. Topping it off is an infusion of organic blueberry juice made from wild Québec blueberries.

Food pairing as per brewery:  Venison steak with a blueberry reduction, blueberry cheesecake, beemster cheese.

Gin & Lime Pilsner – Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks


From Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks in Richmond comes their “Gin & Lime Pilsner” a tasting room favorite that is now in cans.  This Pilsner is infused with Unruly Gin from Wayward Distillation House in Courtenay BC.  The beer pours a mildly hazy straw colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of tons of lime, some grain and a mild gin finish.  The flavour is of lime, grain, mild juniper berries from the gin and basically no bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.3% with an IBU of 25.  Not being a Pilsner or lager fan in general let me say this beer is very smooth and refreshing and I could crush a ton of them.

 

Juicy Tropical Hopped Sour – Old Yale Brewing


From Chilliwack’s Old Yale Brewing comes their “Juicy Tropical Hopped Sour”.  The beer pours an orange colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of tropical fruits, semi sweet notes and tartness.  The flavour is of tropical fruit, tartness, grain and some sweetness.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.5%.  This would be an amazing brew for a summer patio.  Lets hope this one sticks around.