West Coast Swing

West Coast Swing is a bombastic 7.2% west coast IPA from the sluggers at Left Field Brewery in Toronto. Sold in 355mL cans, the beer comes out clear and gold with a thin white head.

WCS has classic west coast aromatics—grapefruit, resin, and a healthy touch of pine. The flavour is similarly configured, with citrus and evergreen notes. The back end is bitter and the beer is undeniably boozy from start to finish.

A throwback to my favourite era of IPAs, West Coast Swing is big and bold. With lots to like and little to critique, this is a strong offering from Left Field.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.

Piña Power

An homage to the former Blue Jays’ slugging outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Piña Power is a pineapple IPA from Toronto’s Left Field Brewery. The 6.0% ale comes in 355mL cans and its ingredients list includes wheat, oats, and pineapple purée. The beer is hazy and orange, with a thin covering of white suds.

Piña Power has a subtle pineapple aroma, backed with a bit of citrus bitterness. The flavour is mild, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, and fruity.

The beer is a little thin for my tastes, but it’s otherwise agreeable. The deft touch on the pineapple purée is commendable, as fruited IPAs can run a little too heavy.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Allegheny Splash Tangerine Peach Float

Named in honour of baseballs hit into the river in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Splash Tangerine Peach Float is a 5% ale from the team at Left Field Brewery in Toronto. The beer comes in 355mL cans with a cute li’l drawing on the side. It’s brewed with peach and tangerine (I assume a purée) and lactose, along with wheat and oats. A.S. has a dull orange colour and pours with a thin layer of off-white head.

The Splash has a fruity aroma that has the sweetness of peach and the tang of yogurt. The flavour is a bit tart and it encompasses tangerine and peach notes, as well as a deft touch of vanilla sweetness.

This was a pretty quirky and enjoyable little brew—juicy and with big yogurt energy. I liked it quite a bit more than I expected to.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Fat Ma American Style Pilsner

 Looking like a true classic—clear and modestly carbonated under a fluffy white head—Fat Ma American Style Pilsner is a 5.8% lager from Birds Fly South Ale Project in Greenville, South Carolina. The beer comes in 473mL cans, according to which some of the proceeds “go directly to help our neighbors in need.” Cheers!

The beer has a honey sweet nose backed with an assertive grain bill and a healthy suggestion of hops (Sterling and Topaz). The flavour is initially sweet and grassy, but gradually builds to a hoppy and floral back end.

I’d have liked Fat Ma to be a bit more effervescent, but otherwise she was firing on all cylinders, delivering crisp refreshment and a flavourful bouquet.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.