Squire Scotch Ale: A Gentleman’s Affair
Squire Scotch Ale from The Cannery Brewing Company in Penticton, British Columbia pours a deep, golden-amber colour with a frothy off-white head that leaves moderate lacing and settles as a thin film and collar. Aromas of peat moss, light but sharp caramel malts, musty wood and smoke come through, along with a warm floral hop character.
This Wee Heavy is a Wee Bit Light and For Me that is a Good Thing
Squire Scotch Ale has a thick, butterscotch-like malt flavour with a strong wood character and a grassy hop accent that brings crispness with it. This beer is nicely balanced and not bitingly sweet like many Scotch ales. A full body and mild carbonation contribute to a creamy and somewhat syrupy mouthfeel. The finish has a mild bitterness while peat and smoke linger in the heavy aftertaste.
Boneshaker: Mess Around With Me
Boneshaker from Amsterdam Brewing Company Limited in Toronto, Ontario pours a hazy caramel-amber colour with light sediment suspended throughout the glass. A thick and frothy white head leaves thick lacing as it settles into a slim collar and cap. The aroma of this American IPA can best be described in two words: Boom! Hops! Thick tangerine, mango and pineapple tones are countered by a warm honey-caramel body and a sharp, piny bite.
Suspended Sediment Creates a Lively Mouthfeel
The taste of Boneshaker certainly does not lack bitterness. Citrus fruit rind, lemongrass and raw grain flavours are strong and meaty and set against an equally sturdy and toasty caramel malt backing. The ale is full-bodied with a mild carbonation. The sediment creates a lot of life on the tongue before a viscose oiliness coats the back of the tongue and throat. The finish is bitter and a strong citrus tone remains throughout the aftertaste.
Hops and Robbers: Steal This Beer
Hops and Robbers from Double Trouble Brewing Company in Guelph, Ontario pours a beautiful golden colour with amber tinges. Its large and frothy white head gets retained as a foamy collar and leaves minor lacing. The beer doesn’t smell like a typical Ontario brewed American IPA. It has more of a toasted grain character with citrus and berry tones in the background as well as hints of pineapple and banana after warming.
A Toasty, Grainy Character Sets this Beer Apart
The taste of Hops and Robbers has a slightly sweet, toasted caramel malt character with subtle berry, grape and citrus notes, along with a nicely-balanced bitterness from dry-hopping. The beer is crisp on the front of the tongue then gives way to a sturdy bread-like sensation with a nice oiliness before finishing dry. The oily character remains in the aftertaste and the toasted character really lingers.
Green Tea Ale: Steeped in Summer
This flavoured light ale from the Great Lakes Brewery in Toronto, Ontario pours a hazy, mango juice-like orange colour with a frothy white head that falls to a collared film while leaving a fair amount of lace behind. Green Tea Ale has a very mild, yet earthy aroma. It smells like wet grains primarily with a honey-like sweetness and a light citrus tone. The smell of brewed green tea really comes through after warming a bit.
The Infusion of Tea Imparts a Nice Dryness
Green Tea Ale tastes like toasted malt, green tea and rice; again with a honey-like sweetness. It's quite crisp and refreshing, not at all too sweet and the ale develops subtle berry and floral notes as it warms. The mouthfeel thin-bodied with just enough carbonation to give it some life on the tongue and the finish is quite dry.
Red Racer IPA: Takes the Checkered Flag
Red Racer IPA from the Central City Brewing Company in Surrey, British Columbia pours a clear, golden tinged copper-amber colour with a moderate, tan-coloured head that sticks around as a thin collar while leaving a light amount of fine lacing. This hop-laden American IPA has a very rich and bright aroma. It has lots of tropical fruit smells, like mango and pineapple, as well as grapefruit, pine and even a hint of cherry. Fresh grains, creamed honey and a nice lightly toasted wheat smell make up the backing.
I Grab as Much of this Beer as I Can Every Time I See It
The taste of Red Racer IPA has a bread-like malt tone to start before a crisp grapefruit citrus taste punches the palate. A buttery caramel comes through on the tongue and the finish has an assertive, but under control bitterness. The beer has a fairly thin mouthfeel and a mild prickly sensation from the long lasting collar. It gets quite oily on the back of the tongue and a fruity tartness lingers in the aftertaste just enough to make you want another sip.
Nickel Brook Headstock IPA: The Freak Out Tent is That Way
Nickel Brook Headstock IPA from the Better Bitters Brewing Company in Burlington, Ontario pours a hazy, rusty amber colour with a medium-sized tan coloured head that is retained for a while as a frothy colour. There is spotty lacing and small grains of yeast sediment are visible. This American IPA has a thick, syrupy aroma with citrus and berry tones in the forefront and a sturdy caramel malt base with a pine accent and a subtle spicy note.
Go Ahead, Drink the Brown Stuff
The taste of Nickel Brook Headstock IPA is similar to the smell, with bright citrus and red berry tones taking the lead and backed by toasty, bready malts with a hint of caramel. There is a nice balance of sweetness in the taste and a solid bitterness in the finish. The ale is full-bodied with a relatively mild carbonation. It is very creamy on the tongue with a lingering oily sensation and flavours of lemon zest, pine and a peppery spice in the aftertaste.