Birra Moretti: Mediocrita Incarnata
Birra Moretti from Heineken Italia S.p.A. in Milan, Italy pours a clear, light golden colour with a soapy white head that burns off quickly, leaving a small film and collar behind as well as some spotty lacing. This European pale lager smells of corn, sweet barley malt and grassy hops with a very mild floral accent.
Beer Doesn't Get Much More Average than This
The taste is quite light, but has a definite malty sweetness, with a decent dryness to the finish that balances things out a bit. The lager is medium-bodied, moderately carbonated and a bit syrupy on the tongue. It’s refreshing and clean tasting for a moment, but dirty grain and corn tones take over the finish and aftertaste.
Spring Maple Belgian Blonde: Candi Chop
Spring Maple Belgian Blonde Ale from Lake of Bays Brewing Company in Baysville, Ontario pours a golden honey colour with light amber tinges, a moderate and soapy white head that settles as a stringy collar without leaving much lace at all. This maple-infused ale really doesn’t smell like maple at all, but has a rather odd blend of sour milk, butterscotch, shredded wheat, candi sugar, yeast and soapy hop aromas.
I Find More Caramel in Here than Maple
I simply can’t find maple in the taste of Spring Maple Belgian Blonde Ale either. I do get caramel-sweetened malts, yeast, freshly cut grain and graham cracker flavours, accented by floral and peppery hop tones. This ale is medium bodied with rather mild carbonation. There is a slightly creamy and yeasty character in the mouth, but I find it very syrupy overall. The finish is almost cloying and thick with caramel, then the aftertaste is tart, bordering on sour with a lemon oil tone. It goes from one extreme to the other and leaves my teeth feeling sticky.
Czechvar: This ‘var’s For You
Czechvar from Budějovický Budvar, n.p. in České Budějovice, Czech Republic is clear and golden coloured with a soapy white head that quickly settles as a wispy ring. This Bohemian pilsener smells of floral, soapy hops, backed by aromas of sweet malts and corn and accented by light grass and fruit tones.
This Beer is a Weiser Choice
Czechvar has a fairly crisp taste that is balanced between earth grains and syrupy malts and accented by a mild grape juice note. The pilsener is moderately carbonated and bodied with a faint yeasty tingle on the tongue. The finish is dry and earthy, while the aftertaste leaves a sharp, fruity and slightly metallic flavour behind.
Strong Patrick: Anything But a Heel
Strong Patrick from Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company in Vankleek Hill, Ontario is a honey tinged, rusty amber colour with a large and creamy tan head that sticks around as a collared film and leaves streaks of lace on your glass. This oak and partially barrel aged Irish red ale has aromas of toasted grains, vanilla, rye, lemon rind, alcohol, red berry and peat. Interestingly, the oak takes on a sweet, hickory-like character.
This Ale is an Easy Takedown
Strong Patrick has a very smooth taste. Honey-sweetened toasted grains create a muffin-like quality with chocolate, butter and berry accents contributing to encompassing warmth. Some citrus and pepper flavours are also noted, while a mellow yet sharp nibble of whiskey permeates the finish and lingers in the aftertaste. The ale is full-bodied with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is earthy and biscuit-like overall, but also has creamy and oily characteristics.
Stereovision: I Can Taste Colour
Stereovision from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery in Barrie, Ontario pours a deep, coppery amber colour with a frothy off-white head that leaves a fair amount of lace and is retained as a thick cap. This hopped-up American pale wheat ale has aromas of crystal malts, toasted wheat, lemon peel, clove, pepper, wildflower, honey and lychee.
There's an Outdoor Music Festival in My Mouth
The taste of Stereovision is mildly bitter, floral and slightly soapy, with notes of citrus rind, toasted wheat and tea biscuit. The ale has a thin body and mild carbonation, though the cap aids a creamy and slightly oily mouthfeel. The finish is dry and tart, with pepper, earth, metal and wheat coming through in the aftertaste.
The Bogfather: Swamp Thing
This Imperial gruit from Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company in Vankleek Hill, Ontario is a murky, steely dark brown colour with a frothy tan head that is retained as a thick collar and leaves spotty lacing. The Bogfather has a somewhat medicinal smell and cacophony of aromas that evolve as it warms, including raisin, hazelnut, sharp herbs, root beer, anise, bread crust and bubblegum.
It Came from The Alfred Bog
The taste of The Bogfather is just as complex. Flavours off chocolate, black licorice, toast, herbs, tart red berries and plum can all be detected. This beer is full bodied, with mild carbonation and a yeasty pop on the tongue. The finish is somewhat bitter and a bit salty, with lingering dark bread and bubblegum notes in the aftertaste.