Combat Wombat

Every once in a while, Ontario’s liquor control authority will import an interesting American brew, but often the product seems to be old by the time it gets to me, the thirsty consumer. By way of example, I submit the adorably named Combat Wombat from Newport, Oregon’s Rogue Ales. Purchased by me in late August, the production date listed on the bottle is the Ides of March. Of course, if I weren’t such a hypocrite, I’d vote with my dollars and refuse to buy the sub-optimally fresh, six-month old sour IPA; however, the chance at a 650mL bottle of a novel 7.2%, 49 IBU ale brewed with lactose, wheat, oats, blood orange and grapefruit was too much to pass up on principle. Farts.

The beer, billed as a sour, Northeast-Style IPA, poured hazily, with a copper-orange cast and a thick bristle of suds that faded pretty quickly to an off-white tonsure. As well, there was a bit more sediment in the bottom of my glass than I’d have preferred. Huge sour and citrus elements characterize the aroma. Flavour-wise, there are notes of sour candy, tart grapefruit, and some juicy field berry notes. Bitterness, balanced against sweet and sour, made up the finish.

Despite the 7.2% weight, I found myself fairly guzzling this stuff—the lactose-enhanced mouthfeel and candy elements made me gulp thirstily. I really enjoyed the flavour, though it was at times a bit too candied. I’d have liked the assertive sourness of the aroma to carry through a bit more into taste. As well, a stronger carbonation game might have elevated my enjoyment to the next plateau (this might be attributable to the beer’s venerability; however, Ontarian scarcity of this particular brew may make that suspicion hard to confirm). All told, I’m glad I bought the stuff—I just wish I could have a crack at a fresher batch.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Bellwoods' Sour IPA w/Lactose

As yet too new to be properly named and labeled, I just picked up a 500mL bottle of “Sour IPA w/Lactose” from the industrious brewers at Toronto’s Bellwoods Brewery. I’m already nearly through with the “lactose/milkshake IPA” trend, but Bellwoods seldom delivers a bad batch of anything, so I figured I should investigate their take.

The beer I bought was an opaque, milky orange-gold. A 7% alcohol offering, it poured with a rapidly vanishing layer of sudsy white head. The beer had a compellingly tangy fragrance; tart with exotic fruit notes and a liberal dose of funky yeast. Acidic orange and mango notes were vividly represented in the front end, alongside some boozy sweetness, while the finish was fruity and tart, with a slightly underdeveloped bitterness closing the door.

All things considered, Bellwoods’ Sour IPA w/Lactose was a pretty enjoyable ale, but one that could have benefitted from a heavier mittful of hops, and a slightly less sweet opening salvo. At 7%, the strength is perfect, and the sourness of this beer was rowdy without being raucous.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.