• BEER •
Beer
T
he Ontario Craft Brewers sent along several beers for the GoodLife tasting panel to enjoy. The selection ranged from refreshingly crisp to too-hoppy-for-most-palettes. Of the more than a dozen beers (all available at the LCBO), we found our Top 5, but several others are worth mentioning: To be consumed at room temperature, Black Creek Pale Ale (Black Creek Brewery; Toronto) is a malty English interpretation of the pale ale
style. Lots of caramel and toffee backed up with an appropriate hit of bitterness. (Rating: 3.5 out of 5). The dry hops blended with a malty flavour brings you back for more Black Oak Pale Ale (Black Oak Brewing Co.; Toronto). The perfect blend between a British and American pale ale. (Rating: 3 out 5). The pale golden Stone Hammer Pilsner (F&M Brewery; Guelph) is less hoppy than many pilsners, playing as a refreshing summer drink but lacking the depth pilsner lovers would look for. (Rating: 3 out of 5)
for the season
1
2
3
Curious Parrot Mill St. Brewery, Toronto
Smashbomb Atomic IPA Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, Barrie
Mill Race Mild Grand River Brewing, Cambridge
Lug•Tread Lagered Ale Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company, Vankleek Hill
Mad Tom IPA Muskoka Brewery, Bracebridge
A brilliantly clear ale, with a deep golden colour. It pours with a soft off-white head that hangs around. The aroma is full of tropical fruits and citrus, with just a hint of pine. The key word here is balance: up front it has lots of fruity sweetness, followed by a pronounced but not overwhelming bitterness. The malt offers a subtle note of toasted bread. It’s a perfect fullflavoured, refreshing beer to enjoy on a hot summer afternoon.
An India Pale Ale on supersonic speed! This amber, overly bitter and citrusy IPA pulls no punches with its intense mustiness. The unique Citra hops offer subtle fruity aromas. The website calls this beer a “happy accident” resulting from founder and brewer Peter Chiodo’s “cockamamie experiments with Burst Hopping,” which casts hops at every stage of the brewing process. The hops stay with you to the bitterly satisfying end.
As its name suggests, Mill Race Mild offers a toneddown take on a traditional dark beer, striking a good balance between creaminess and bitterness, with the latter less pronounced than in many darks. It pours a deep brown with traces of deep red and a thin but creamy, tan-coloured head. Its flavour is full but not filling, with a smooth, nutty taste complemented by hints of chocolate and caramel. A dark that is more summery than many.
This beer begins its life top fermented like an ale, then it’s cold aged like a lager. This combination produces a golden ale that’s lightly sharp with a smooth, dry crispness. Made naturally in the German style, with certified organic malts and hops, the taste is extremely clean, leaving an enjoyable lingering finish in the mouth with hints of fruit.
If you are looking for an India Pale Ale that will fill your mouth with hops, then Mad Tom IPA is your beer. Made with Chinook and Centennial Hops this beer – at 6.4 per cent – is rich in flavour, with a citrusy undertow that will satisfy your IPA craving every time. On the other hand, the bitter taste might be a little too much for some beer drinkers. Like the label states ‘...So brace yourself, and crack one open for old Mad Tom.’
Pairing suggestions: Hamburger or sausage grilled on the barbecue
Pairing suggestions: Curries, peppery and blue cheeses, spicy appetizers
Pairing suggestion: Burgers or grilled beef
Rating: 4 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5
30 | GoodLife | July § August 2013
Rating: 4 out of 5
4
Pairing suggestions: Asian food, chicken, seafood, fish and nutty light cheeses
5
Pairing suggestions: Spicy curry, mature cheddar cheese, roast pork and anything from the barbecue Rating: 4 out of 5