Dave’s Affordable Dortmunder

 Dave’s Affordable Dortmunder is a 5.5%, 35 IBU German-style Dortmund export lager built in Gravenhurst, Ontario by the Sawdust City Brewing Co. The beer, DAD, is clearly a winking acknowledgment of the world’s most popular Dortmunder, DAB. It’s sold in 473mL cans and is built with a pair of hops (Perle and Saaz) and a pair of malts (Raven Floor Malted Pilsner and Munton’s Northern Spring Pale).

DAD is a clear golden lager with a shock of white suds. It has a sweet, cereal aroma. The flavour delivers grassy sweetness, a slash of metallic notes, and a floral, noble hop that introduces a little bit of pepperiness to the back end.

I always enjoy a good Dortmunder, and DAD is certainly that. A cheeky little lager executed nicely.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Mystery Beer C

 Nickel Brook Brewing Co.’s Mystery Beer C is a light beer, at just 3.5%—I’d call it a micro IPA—brewed with oats and wheat. C is a hazy pale golden beer with a fluffy white head that comes in 473mL cans. The beer hails from Burlington, Ontario.

C has a bright, citrus aroma with a pineapple subtext. The flavour actually really surprised me, with much more tropical notes than the aroma led me to expect. These are highlighted by passion fruit, melon, pineapple, and a dusting of coconut. Also worth mentioning is that, for just 3.5%, the beer has a pretty notable texture—smooth, but not thin.

I don’t typically love micro IPAs, so I cracked C fully expecting to be underwhelmed. And I was way wrong. This session-friendly brew has considerable flavour and decent texture, behind a decent aroma. I’d most definitely buy a case of this stuff for summer chores or all day drinking.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.