Tag Archives: leafy hops

Zombie Repellant Ale 2 (ZRA2) – Category 12 Brewing

by Mike

From Victoria’s Category 12 Brewing comes their “Zombie Repellant Ale 2″ or ZRA2.  This beer is their answer to the Pumpkin ale as they do not seem to like them.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, toffee, dark fruity notes, candied sugar, earth and some floral hops.  The flavour is of Belgian yeast, spices, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, citrus, candied sugar, citrus rind, resin and some leafy hops.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.8% with an IBU of 24.  This Anti-Pumpkin beer is really tasty and I will have to get some more of it.

Commercial Description:   Our 2017 ZRA 2 is a Belgian-inspired red ale with a fruit forward aroma, full body and hints of spice from both our Belgian yeast and aromatic hop selections.  In the middle of the night, when all evidence of light has faded, that’s when they come. Be vigilant, be prepared. The throngs of pumpkin beer loving hoards can’t keep you from what you really want… Zombie Repellant Ale. Our ZRA will increase your resolve to fight through the zombie hoards.  Guaranteed to contain no pumpkin.

Farm Table: Patersbier – Beau’s All Natural Brewing

by Mike

From Beau’s All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill Ontario comes their “Farm Table: Patersbier”.  The beer pours a mildly cloudy golden colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of grainy malts, yeast, earth and citrus.  The flavour is of bready and grainy malts, yeast, citrusy lemon, herbal and leafy hops and mild bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 4.7% and an IBU of 22.  This session ale has quite a bit of flavour and is nice to see as so many really don’t.

Commercial Description:  Beau’s Farm Table Series are sessionable beers inspired by tradition and brewed true to a classic style. Patersbier is a refreshing Belgian-style ale, both bright and cloudy at once. This subtly sweet and floral beer makes a great companion to a spring afternoon in the backyard; or for a summer evening as the sun sets and the ninth inning wraps up.

Food Pairing as per brewery:  Hot & sour soup with chicken and tofu; chicken braised with Patersbier, grain mustard & herbs with spaetzle; Nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice); bloomy rind brie-style cheeses.

 

White Raven India Pale Ale – Bench Creek Brewing

by Mike

From Bench Creek Brewing out of very rural Alberta (Yellowhead Country) near Edson comes their “White Raven India Pale Ale”.  The beer pours a deep cloudy amber orange colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of floral hops, herbal, citrus, malts and a mildly dank finish.  The flavour is of caramel, toffee, bready malts, juicy hops, citrus, mango and other fruits, bitterness, herbal and leafy hops.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.5% with an IBU of 72.  This is a great IPA that any lover of the style would enjoy.

Commercial Description: Sightings of the white raven in the wild are so rare that many people don’t even believe it exists. Others know better. Experiencing something that unique is hard to forget and it instills a sense of optimism to come across a creation that’s one-of-a-kind, coasting through life on its own, in its own way. The irony of this conflict is that the white raven is a natural mediator – the wise old bird would advise both sides to stick a pine cone in it and simply enjoy the beer.  Our White Raven India Pale Ale is a distinctive, very hop forward blend with huge aromatics of orange, grapefruit, passion fruit and mango with a touch of pine. The signature flavours of Munich and crystal malts contribute a complex toffee-caramel backbone that nicely balances the bitterness from the hops. It finishes slightly dry with lingering citrus and a tropical impression that tells you this robust beer would pair well with blackened fish, roasted duck, and even spiced coffee cake.

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Honkers Ale – Goose Island Beer Company

by Mike

From Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago Illinois comes their “Honkers Ale”.  The Canadian batches are being contract brewed across Canada keeping the beer fresher.  The beer pours an amber colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of sweet fruits, bready and what malts, toffee and some grassy hops.  The flavour is of bread, wheat, biscuit, toffee, nuts, orange peel, fruit and a leafy hops with little bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 4.3% with an IBU of 30 making this a great beer to session.  Weirdly enough I prefer the bottled version of this beer over tap versions I have had.  I could see this being a great beer to sip on a patio for hours.

Commercial Description:  Inspired by visits to English country pubs, Honker’s Ale combines a fruity hop aroma with a rich malt middle to create a perfectly balanced beer. Immensely drinkable, Honker’s Ale is not only the beer you can trust but one you’ll look forward to time and again.

Food Pairing as per brewery:  Burgers, Fish and Chips, Camembert, English Cheddar.

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Once again my Goose Island beer arrived in an amazing package.  I removed all the straw filling before I left my work as it got everywhere last time so the photos show an altered packaging but you get the idea!