October 1st
Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Co.
Brew: Rayon Vert
Where: California, USA
Alcohol by Volume: 7.0%
Why: If Green Flash were founded in historical Belgium, Rayon Vert would have been our flagship brew. A bold layering of hops finds balance from traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces finishes the beer, adding a delightful effervescence, dryness and continuously evolving character. Pairs especially well with Thai cuisine, tangy cheeses (Edam, Feta) and fish.
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August 28th
Brewery: Dieu Du Ceil!
Brew: Rosee d’Hibiscus
Where: Saint-Jérôme, Quebec
Alcohol by Volume: 5.9%
Why: Its sunset pinky-orange colour, derived from hibiscus flowers, is reason enough to pour it. Almost wine-like floral aromas waft from the glass. Soft bubbles caress the mouth, a first impression of sourness giving way to tangerine, followed by a long, pleasantly bitter herbal finish. A multi-faceted beauty that would be great with Thai or Cantonese dishes.
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August 21st
‘Cuvee Rene’
Brouwerij Lindemans
Gueuze
5%
Flanders, Belgium
Cuvée René is exceedingly dry, tart and lightly acidic. It has a bit of cider character accented by lemon zest. It’s funky and a bit white wine-like. On the first sip, the sourness seems potent, but it becomes much less noticeable as you continue to sip. It’s a remarkably refreshing beer and goes great with food, especially with something like a funky blue cheese.
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August 14th
‘First Bavarian Pale Ale’