Greetings from Belgium

Greetings from Belgium is a collab between Muskoka Brewery from Bracebridge, Ontario and Het Nest Brouwerij, a brewery from Turnhout, near Antwerp, Belgium. The beer is a Belgian-style golden strong ale—a member of Muskoka’s “Big World Small Batch” series—apparently the series’ inaugural release. It’s a 7.8% ale that comes in 473mL cans. The beer is gold in colour, largely clear, and pours with a thin white head.

GfB has aromatics that of describe is yeasty, spicy, and sweet, with baked apple notes. The beer is sweet from tape to tape, with apple and clove notes. I’d hazard that the beer actually manages to taste even stronger than its 7.8%—the booze manifests as a pretty substantial warm streak.

Honestly, this Belgian-style brew from Ontario’s cottage country does a fair approximation of a Belgian golden ale. It might not be as complex as the style calls for, but the flavour is pretty interesting, approachable, and not so strong as might turn off drinkers unfamiliar with the style.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Rush Canadian Golden Ale

 Awesomely, Rush Canadian Golden Ale, is a collab between Toronto’s Henderson Brewing Company and Rush, the iconic rock band. The beer comes in gold-coloured 473mL cans that say, around the rim, “Books are for tourists” and “Beer is for geniuses”. The beer contains 5.5% alcohol and it pours dull gold with a thick and durable off-white head.

RCGA has a soft and subtle aroma, with faint notes of baked apple, malt, and not a lot else. The flavour plays on those themes, but features quite a bit more depth. The apple elements are well represented, along with a touch of spice and some earth. The front end is quite sweet, while the finish has a dose of limited floral bitterness.

No idea what to expect when I cracked open the can, but I ended up really enjoying this little beer. The beer was quite rich, nuanced, and agreeable, with a decent percentage. Good stuff, if a bit sweet.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Goldie Boat English Golden Ale

Waiting for a big ol’ thunder storm to kick off on a sweltering Friday evening, I pried the cap off of 500mL bottle of Goldie Boat English Golden Ale from Toronto’s People’s Pint Brewing Co. The 5% ale proved to be a ruddy gold liquid with a short lived white head.

Goldie Boat had a malty, sweet, and metallic aroma, with bready notes. The flavour kicked off sweetly, displayed some enthusiastic malts, and withdrew into an ever-so-faint English ale bitterness (32 IBUs). Along the way, it was a bit coppery, too.

A decent English-style ale from an excellent Toronto suds manufacturer, Goldie Boat isn’t one of the best from People’s Pint, but it’s definitely good enough.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Magic Hour

Magic Hour is a “golden pale ale” from Toronto’s Saulter Street Brewery. It’s a 5% alcohol ale that comes in adorable 473mL cans adorned with an idyllic sunset beach scene. The beer is a lustrous golden colour that pours with a serious amount of carbonation and a fluffy white head.

To paraphrase the copy on the can, this is a British-inspired pale ale. It has a slightly resinous, citrus hops aroma and an agreeably well-rounded flavour that features dry, leafy bitterness and a whisper of sweet, nutty malt. As well, there is a faint coppery subtext.

Golden Hour is a simple, no frills beer, but it is executed with artistry. This is a thirst-quenching pale ale with considerable depth to be explored. I have pretty much only good things to say about this little ale. In a market sometimes drenched in blandly undistinguishable pale ales, it is refreshing to taste one so well made.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.

Red Mosquito Belgian Inspired Golden Ale

A hefty 8.2% alcohol carried Red Mosquito Belgian Inspired Golden Ale straight to my head. Brewed in Ottawa by Tooth and Nail Brewing and sold in 500mL bottles, Red Mosquito is a hazy golden brew. It has a thin and short-lived head, through which emerges a mild but intriguing aroma of yeast and fall fruit. The flavour is much more indicative of the elevated percentage than was the aroma, with pungent and boozy apple at the front end and an abbreviated, dry finish.

Given strength and hue, I anticipated an attempt at an Ontarian tripel, but the beer really was more of a strong ass golden ale—no where near the yeasty potency needed to riff on a tripel. However, as a strong ass golden ale, I thought Red Mosquito was pretty well executed. For a beer at >8%, I’d have liked it to be more flavourful, and certainly a bit more carbonated, but I found it to be a quirky and engaging bottle, and one that wasn’t too sweet. And the label bears mentioning: I think Tooth and Nail has some of Ontario’s best art, and this one, with newspaper, easy-chair and predatory bug, is a classic.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Northern Logger

Here’s the scene. A beautifully, sunny Saturday afternoon in June. The grill is lit and a pork chop is sizzling merrily. Our protagonist craves refreshment. But what? An IPA? Far too early in the day. A stout? Not with this weather. A saison? Not in the mood. No, this day called for a golden ale. Enter Northern Logger, a sunny ale (real missed opportunity on the “lager” puns there, guys) from the folks at Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. in Thunder Bay, Ontario. At 4.9% and 17 IBUs, this little brew has the mild stats to greet lunchtime without too much enthusiasm. It’s a pale golden brew with lots of fizz and a fluffy mop of white head.

Northern Logger (seriously, I bought this thinking it was a lager—I even got out a pilsner glass!) has a pleasantly dry hops aroma supplemented with a helping of grainy scents. Crisp and refreshing, the beer has some macro ale attributes, but delivers a decidedly “craft” flavour. Though mild, the deft use of (I’d say German-style) hops gives the beer a bit of moxie that its macro rivals can only pretend at.

That’s not to say that Northern Logger is an incredible beer, or even an interesting one. No, it’s bright and crisp, and just the thing for an early afternoon grill session, or a post-lawn mowing refresher. It’s not really much more than that, but it is definitely enjoyable.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Moosehead Anniversary Ale

From Saint John, New Brunswick comes Moosehead Anniversary Ale, a 5.7% alcohol ale brewed in honour of two sesquicentennials: that of Canada and of the Moosehead Brewery. The been comes in 473mL cans that feature a map of Canada.

The beer is a dull golden number, with a luscious off-white head. The aroma is grainy with some punchy farmyard elements. Anniversary Ale has a dry mouthfeel, with some fairly hoppy elements. Mostly, though, the flavour is grainy, with straw and wheat notes.

For a macro brewery, this golden ale has some decent chops. It’s not a remarkable offering by any stretch, but it does taste pretty good. Not particularly special, but without any notable off notes, Anniversary Ale is a modest, but tasty, effort.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Low Gear Sessionable Ale

Maclean's Ales from Hanover, Ontario can usually be counted on to deliver austere packaging, but the 473mL can of Low Gear Sessionable Ale was uncommonly vivid. The beer within was genuinely sessionable, at just 3.5%. Described as a golden ale, Low Gear was a clear, straw coloured brew with a fluffy white head.

The beer displayed a very grainy aroma, with a little tick of hops dryness. It's flavour proved grassy and mellow, with a pilsner quality, but the back end had a touch of pale ale hops. With a pretty substantial mouthfeel, this beer proved to taste a lot more robust than it's low alcohol pedigree.

Low Gear was an interesting number. It wasn't bright and citrusy like most of my fave session ales, but still flavourful and pleasingly. I'd have liked more hops, though. That cost them a bit.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

5:01 Golden Ale

5:01 Golden Ale is an homage to the end of the standard work day, or as it's described on the can, it "captures that satisfying moment when work stops and beer begins." It comes from Barrie, Ontario's Redline Brewhouse. According to the 473mL can, this brew contains a lean 4.2% alcohol and is made with a wheat.

5:01 is a cloudy orange-gold colour. It pours with a thin cover of eggshell head, through which wafts a mandarin orange aroma. The mouthfeel is disappointingly thin, though I guess that should be expected from a wheat ale with such a low percentage. Despite the uninspiring mouthfeel, the flavour left me feeling relatively impressed. It has a delicate orange blossom vibe that I like, and a subtle hops finish.

This beer is quite a bit better than I expected, as I'm often suspicious of both the amorphous "golden ale" category and any beer that has less than 5% alcohol. However, it is a refreshing and tasty low octane option. A more burly mouthfeel would have led to a stronger rating, as would a heavier hopping.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Sweetgrass Golden Ale

As far as I know, Sweetgrass Golden Ale is the only suds manufactured by Hamilton, Ontario's Sweetgrass Brewing Co. It's a clear, happy golden ale that pours with a sudsy cover of bright white head. At just 22 IBUs and 4.9%, this stuff won't blow you down with strength, but it isn't particularly anemic either.

Sweetgrass has a mellow, beery aroma that is chiefly malty and supplemented with some sweet corn notes and just a soft whisper of hops. The flavour is similarly constructed. It's malt-focused, with sweet grains and corn carrying the bulk of the weight and only a soupçon of hops to usher you out the door at the end. Though, it should be said that the finish takes on a slightly deeper character as the beer warms, going from "plain" to "pleasant".

This is a good enough beer. It's refreshing. It's crisp. It's fine. It isn't unique or remarkable. Not memorable. Not much of anything, really, except beer. A decent summer ale, though I hit it in November. I'll probably buy it again, but I'm in no rush. Perhaps when the weather turns.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Sultana Gold

Lake of the Woods Brewery is, according to their cans, Ontario's northernmost brewery. Situated in Kenora, they are the producer of Sultana Gold. Other than the golden 473mL can, what really drew me to this beer is its name--I know that Sultana is a type of raisin, but to me, it evokes images of the ill-fated steamship Sultana, a tragedy that, in my limited experience, many people seem unfamiliar with. But enough of the half-cooked history; on to the beer! Besides, according to the can, this stuff is actually named after a gold mine.

 

Sultana Gold is a blonde ale listed at 5%. It's a clear, healthy gold hue, and pours with a nice tipping of vivid white head. It's aroma is both grainy and tinny. As for flavour, grainy stalksaround the front end, but there is a half-hearted ambush of hops in the rear. The mouthfeel is crisp, but also vaguely buttery.

Lastly, the can features the number 14,522 with no explanation. My guess is that this represents a census population of Kenora, but who knows?

 

My final take on Sultana Gold is that it is a tasty, well-made, and entirely forgettable beer. That it won't stir my memory bank isn't meant as a detraction--it just indicates that the beer did its job adequately, without bells and whistles. Moreover, drinking this beer left me wanting more of Lake of the Woods offerings, so that's a positive takeaway.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

100% Brett Golden Ale

Another ale from the Torontonian Burdock Brewery gifted to me by R.H., 100% Brett Golden Ale was just what the name suggested, a golden ale fermented with Brettanomyces yeast. At 6.5%, it had some heft, but not too much to distract from flavour, and the Spartan label on the 500mL bottle was too plain to distract from anything.

The beer was a honey gold colour, faintly hazy, and topped with off-white suds. The funky wild yeast gave the beer a tangy, fruity aroma, alongside an earthy musk reminiscent of many Belgian beers. If the engaging nose was 100% Brett's best attribute, its disappointingly thing mouthfeel had to be its worst, at least as far as I'm concerned. Somewhere in between was the flavour, which was less tart and lively than the scent led me to expect, but which was still pretty funky and interesting. It finished dryly and quite pleasantly.

Burdock's 100% Brett Golden Ale was a mixed bag of a beer. Aromatic, inviting, thin, fruity, and alright are words that came to my mind as I was downing my glass.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Classic Ales Six Pack--Fortyniner

Fortyniner is listed as a "rich and golden craft ale". It's brewed by Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire, England. It contains a mild 4.9% alcohol and comes in a 500mL bottle. According to the label, Ringwood uses "lightweight bottles because they are better for the environment." I've actually heard the same justification for the use of extra heavy bottles.

This was a hazy dull gold ale topped with a substantial level of bright white head. It had a sweet, bakery-fresh aroma with brown sugar notes. My taste buds were treated to a mellow, malt-forward brew that spotlighted sweet, bready notes, toffee, and a slight fruit squeeze. There is a bit of bitterness on the back end, but not oodles.

Fortyniner is an enjoyable enough ale, though a bit more body, less sweetness, and a better-defined hop finish would all have made for a better one.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Classic Ales Six Pack--Cocker Hoop

Jennings Cocker Hoop is, according to its 500mL bottle, brewed at Castle Brewery, in the Lake District. The label also includes a definition of "cock-a-hoop" ("In very high spirits" or "Boastful"), and an explanation that the brewery is located on the banks of the River Cocker. Finally, the label declares that this golden pale ale is "Unabashedly cocky".

Cocker Hoop contains a very light 4.2% alcohol. Underneath a chubby cloud of loose, cream head, it is a slightly lazy, cheery golden ale. There is a crunchy, toastiness to the nose, as well as a suggestion of modest hop presence. It tastes of rich and dry cereal malts up front and closes with a lingering hop bitterness.

I found myself really enjoying this stuff. It has a toasty bitterness that I found appealing. Of course, a bit more alcohol would be nice, but the low percentage doesn't lead to a corresponding flavour deficit. A fine British ale.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

The Princess Wears Girl Pants

The Princess Wears Girl Pants is a curiously named brew out of Gravenhurst, Ontario. It's brewed by Sawdust City Brewing Co., though according to the bottle it's actually brewed and bottled by Etobikoke's Black Oak Brewing Co. The lime green label on the 650mL bottle invites the drinker to "enjoy this beer and remind yourself just how lucky you are!" This brew is billed as a "hoppy, Belgian inspired golden ale". It contains a chunky 9% alcohol, as well as 35 IBUs.

This dull, pale gold ale is hazy and poured with a very thick white head; though within a brief time, the head thinned to a manageable level. There is a very citrusy aroma with some tropical notes and a whiff of yeast. Like its quirky name, this beer has a decidedly unusual taste. It starts with heaps of fruit flavour--particularly grapefruit and passion fruit--delivered with a lively, though understated, yeast quality. The finish has a pretty fierce hop presence and is quite dry. The alcohol content is deceptive.

I expected this beer to have more of a Belgian tang, but I guess it does only claim to be "Belgian inspired". Fruitier than anticipated, this is a pretty fun beer. Easily one that I'd revisit.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Ghost River Golden Ale

From Memphis, Tennessee's Ghost River Brewing, Ghost River Golden Ale is a crystal clear, considerably carbonated, sunny gold beer that pours with a thick cloud of white head. It's sold in 12oz. bottles and the alcohol percentage isn't listed, nor is it listed on the website. However, I was able to glean that it has a mild 19 IBUs of bitterness.

There is a rich toasty grain aroma that I found very inviting. Flavour is grainy on the front end that I found to be a little wispy. However, a solid toasty and slightly bitter finish makes up fo the watery initial taste. Overall, there is a disappointing thin mouthfeel that increased drinkability, but lessened my enjoyment.

I'd have liked a bit more oomph, particularly on the front end. Still, I enjoyed this stuff pretty well. It was a gift from my partner's very thoughtful boss.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Bière du Boucanier-Golden Ale

Among the Bières du Boucanier, the Golden Ale is the heavy hitter.  It clocks in at a vicious 11% alcohol--this stuff tastes unabashedly strong and it will warm you up in a hurry! It has a yeasty, boozy aroma with some crisp apple notes. It pours a very cloudy dull gold colour, topped with a crazy cloud of thick white head.  Seriously, this stuff is so foamy that it was an ordeal to pour.

There is a nice combination of maltiness and sweetness in the flavour, with notes of apple. It seems weird to say for a beer with 11% alcohol, but I'd actually have liked a bit more flavour.  It tastes nice, but it could definitely have been more robust and full bodied. Also, the warm, boozy aftertaste could probably use a tad more hops.

Still, the Bière du Boucanier Golden Ale is an enjoyable, warm, and interesting beer. It's definitely worth a try.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Fin du Monde

Unibroue strikes again!  Fin du Monde is a lovely golden ale from Chambly, Quebec that I reviewed with my brother on Superbowl Sunday.  It contains a badass 9.0% alcohol. It's sold in 341mL bottles that have a beautiful label featuring a map of la Belle Province.

Fin du Monde has a cloudy, honey gold colour.  It has lots of carbonation and is topped by a thick white head.  It has a heavily yeasty aroma underscored with notes of sweet fruit.  It has a malty, yeasty sourdough flavour, with a nice dose of apricot. The aftertaste is malty but drops off quickly. The substantial alcohol content is barely discernible, but I was certainly aware of it after I stood up.

This is a great beer: bold, complex, and potent. Personally, I find it a touch too yeasty and too potent to make Fin du Monde an everyday beer, but it's wonderful once in a while.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.