Resistance Dry-Hopped Lager

According to the 355mL can that houses Resistance Dry-Hopped Lager, a portion of the proceeds are “donated to organizations dedicated to fighting oppression worldwide”—a laudable sentiment, though one that would have a bit more significance if it identified what proportion of proceeds and which organizations.

Born in Toronto, Resistance comes from Muddy York Brewing Co. The beer, a 5.2% alcohol, 18 IBU lager, is billed as the baby brother of Gaslight Helles Lager (but in truth, I think this is the superior beer—my own little bro has long maintained that the junior sibling can outstrip the senior,  and here is the first evidence I’ve ever seen to confirm his wacky theory). It has a slightly hazy golden countenance and pours with a thin but durable disc of off-white suds. The brew is dry-hopped with Sorachi Ace hops which doubtlessly contributes to the bitter lemon aroma that permeates the nose. Crisp and pleasant, the beer has a summer-friendly mouthfeel and a flavour to match—grassy blended with a modestly hoppy citrus finish.

I like pale lagers well enough when the context suits (hot day, full sun, sweaty, task recently accomplished or still in progress). However, I’m primarily an ale addict, which makes dry-hopping a likely winner. Resistance has a nice hop component, though I’d have liked it to be kicked up another notch. A percentage just north of the standard five also goes a long way—that 0.2% is worth .5 in my rating. A more assertive front end would have pushed this li’l lager still higher, but alas.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.