Summer is here; if any season is beer season, this is it. Our local brewers are out in full force and, while I would love to tell you about all the fabulous beers of summer, there are just too many to cover. So, this time around, I’ll offer my thoughts on two that I enjoyed during the recent Canada Day long weekend. Cheers!
Phillips Brewing
Rifflandabrau Lager
5% ABV
6 x 355 ml cans
3.5/5
Even though September is still a couple of months away, Phillips wants you to start thinking about the great event known as Rifflandia. Every year since the local music festival started, Phillips has brewed a special seasonal just for the occasion. For the first several years it was a pilsner, but they decided to change things up the last few years. Last year it was a lemon hefeweizen; this year, Phillips is releasing Rifflandabrau Lager to celebrate 10 years of Rifflandia. They are releasing it early—in cans, to boot—but are only making 10,000 of them. I enjoyed this beer; it’s a nice, clean lager. It smells sweet and grainy, it tastes very crisp and clean, and it will pair with just about anything. While not overly complex, it doesn’t need to be just for the summer; this one is good for when you just want a cold brew to have with your friends while you relax and enjoy the weather, whatever it may be.
Category 12 Brewing
Hiatus Summer Farmhouse Ale
5% ABV
650ml bottle
4/5
Category 12 has really made something different and delicious with this one. Brewed with cucumber and lemon, this farmhouse ale is zesty and refreshing. It smells a bit floral and maybe a bit astringent. It pours a nice cloudy blonde and is lightly fizzy with a frothy head. You can taste the citrus upfront, along with some spice, but what’s really interesting here is how the cucumber shines through on the back end. It’s really refreshing and not overwhelming. This is a flavour combination that works well in a pitcher of chilled water, but you wouldn’t think it would work well in a beer; sure enough, it does. I shared this with my wife at a barbecue and we were happy as high tide. Speaking of shellfish, this would work well with oysters or scallops on the grill. Summer is here!