Shack Common

Shacklands Brewing Co., is an up and coming brewery out of Toronto, Ontario. According to my bartender at the estimable Bar Hop, Shacklands is a one-man operation that brews out of the Junction Craft Brewery.

I had a pint of Shack Common on tap. At 5.5%., this cloudy brassy brown beer topped with a seemingly immortal off-white head is listed as a "California Common/North American IPA Hybrid".

Nose is fresh, with sweet, malty leanings and a healthy hop background. It's mouthfeel is pretty mellow, though there is ample flavour. Tastes starts faintly sweetly, with toasty malt leanings and then climbs the hop ladder for a modestly, but undeniably bitter finish.  

This proved to be a thoroughly hopped, ably flavourful take on the California common style. It's got some toasty malt qualities, loads of booze (for a CC), and a dry, earthy and bitter finish.

I'm definitely going to be keeping my eye out for Shacklands' beers.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.