Living
Crafty brews
We’re in the midst of a beer renaissance. Over the
past decade, the craft beer industry in this province has
worked tirelessly to transform the image of this beverage
– from lowbrow swill to the incredibly versatile and refined drink that it can be when made with care and creativity. Specialty bottles, one-off brews, and experimental
ingredients are now the norm, not the exception, raising its sophistication and enjoyment to that of wine. So,
this summer when you’re hosting guests at your al fresco
soirée, or when you’re out on the town, know you can grab
a provincial brew that will taste a heck of lot better than
anything you had growing up. We give you a great place
to start with five Ontario beers to try now.
Muskoka Brewery
The brew Detour
For the afternoon Somehow the folks up in Muskoka
found a way to create a lighter beer (this guy weighs in at 4.3
per cent) without stripping it of flavour and body. It ends with
a nice hop bang and won’t take you out of commission before
dinner, so go ahead a grab another.
Sawdust city brewing co.
The brew The Princess Wears Girlpants
For dinner Head brewer Sam Corbeil names this big,
bold beer – his take on a Belgian Golden Ale that comes in at
a warming nine per cent – after two of his friends. The nick-
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names may be hard to get your head around, but your mouth
and its tastebuds will thank you for following our advice on
this one. The fragrance is floral, and it’s quite hoppy, but the
Belgian yeast helps create incredible balance.
Wellington Brewery
The brew Chocolate Milk Stout
For dessert Rich, dark, and creamy, this bottle pairs perfectly with late-night sweets. Brewed with milk sugar (lactose) and a dose of cocoa, Wellington crafts something
decadent to enjoy during the cooler evenings of the summer.
Beau’s all natural brewing company
The brew MaddAddamites NooBroo
For bedtime Curl up with a Margaret Atwood read while
you sip on this before calling it a night. Made in collaboration with novelists Atwood and Graeme Gibson (her husband), this gruit ale – a style of beer that doesn’t use hops
– incorporates herbs and botanicals and was inspired
by MaddAddam, Atwood’s latest. It will be released on
draught initially, with the possibility of popping up at the
LCBO later this year.
spearhead brewery
The brew Hawaiian Style Pale Ale
For the beach Spearhead puts an island twist on this
West Coast pale ale that put them on the map. Their
“Beer Without Boundaries” motto guides their every
step: this unfiltered beer features pineapple juice, adding
a tropical flavour to its zestiness. —Travis Persaud
14-06-03 7:07 PM
Living
Beer cocktails are becoming increasingly popular. They’re a
fun way to sample different styles and to see how beer interacts
with other types of beverages. Here, master cicerone, or beer
sommelier, Mirella Amato shares beer cocktails from her first
book, Beerology: Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Beer …
Even More (Appetite by Random House). —TP
cucumber pils This
summery cocktail, left,
brings together the fresh
flavours of cucumber
and lime with herbal notes from
both gin and pilsner. The resulting combination of flavours
takes the refreshing nature of
pilsner to a whole new level.
1½–inch thick slices of peeled
cucumber
1 tsp granulated sugar
½ tsp lime juice (juice of
half a lime)
½ oz gin
2½ oz pilsner or lager
Cucumber wheel for garnish
Cut cucumber slices into
thin strips. Muddle cucumber, sugar and lime juice at
the bottom of an 8-ounce
(240 ml) rocks glass. Add
gin and stir. Half-fill the
glass with ice. Gently pour
in pilsner and garnish with
cucumber wheel.
italiano
Inspired by the classic Camparibased Americano cocktail, this
drink turns the tables, spicing
up a classic American style
of beer and taking it into traditional Italian cocktail territory.
½ oz ruby port
1 oz Campari
1 oz orange juice
Dash Angostura Bitters
5 oz American pale ale
Grapefruit twist for
garnish
Fill a 12-ounce (355 ml) highball glass with 1/2 cup (125 ml)
crushed ice. Add port, Campari,
orange juice, bitters and beer;
stir gently. Garnish with a
grapefruit twist.
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Excerpted from Beerology by Mirella Amato. Copyright © 2014 by Mirella Amato. Excerpted with
permission of Appetite, a division of Random House of Canada Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mix it up
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14-06-03 7:35 PM