Apple and papaya scents mark the nose of this straw-hued, bubbly cider. A fruit-forward tipple with lush apple and a bit of funky papaya, soft tannins and applesauce and melon on the finish. An interesting and complex off-dry cider from an up-and-coming maker.
Complex sweet and slightly sour scents combine with hints of gaminess and traces of subtle spice. Shows some delicacy on the palate despite the relatively high alcohol. Subtle orangey and spicy flavours suggest pairing with Oriental foods.
A sought-after Double IPA is the only beer that Waterbury, Vermont’s Alchemist Brewery makes. Every week when a new batch is released (distribution is limited to a 20-mile radius around Waterbury), long lineups of devotees, often driving in from out-of-state, snag a case or two. Canadians often get their hands on this from beer-loving friends who manage to bring a handful home. Made with a signature house yeast, this unique brew is famous for its rustic character and elegant hopping. The swallow has notes of mint, candy necklace, florals and an oily hop character with a straw-and-burlap thing happening at the finish. If you manage to grab one, indulge by pairing with foie gras.
Belgian-inspired and brewed with traditional spices, this strong brew appears reddish brown in the glass, with fruity and rich malty aromas backed by hoppy and lightly spicy background scents. Sweet fruit, malt and chocolate flavours come with gentle, bottle-fermented carbonation and fruit-cake spiciness and lightly dry bitter grip on the finish.
This peach-coloured, hazy brew topped with a fluffy white head is perfect for hot summer days. A wheat/blueberry beer, the nose boasts dried blueberries and cherry cough drops. The first sip starts out mildly citrusy and acidic, moving to a sweet blueberry centre that lasts until the finish. Soft and creamy with bubbly carbonation, this is a great beer with light, fresh cheeses like chèvres.
Made with newer hop varietals Citra, El Dorado and Sorachi Ace, the nose of this Session IPA erupts with notes of mango, tropical fruit and pine. The ale’s hue is apple-juice yellow and unfiltered. A wave of orange and grapefruit backed by prickly pine flavours comes with the first sip, but finishes with hints of soft grain and sweeter pear and pineapple. Bolder, more bitter hop notes are showcased up front, before sweeter, fruitier flavours finish things off — making for a fun interplay of bittersweet on the tongue. Plenty of carbonation combined with judicious hopping that prickly mouthfeel and the bubbles help to boost the ale's lighter body. Great with spicy, herbal Thai or Mexican fare.
Invented to slake the thirst of German cyclists, this classic, low-alcohol blend of beer and juice is usually made with grapefruit. But Toronto’s Amsterdam Brewing Company uses a blend of blood orange and grapefruit juice, adds a citrusy house soda for an extra spritzy mouthfeel, and zests more blood oranges in-house, adding it at the last second in the brewing process for maximum zip. The formula makes for an ultra-refreshing beer spritzer, with a citrus aroma that pops.