A couple seasonals

Better get yo ass off the couch and out the door to try a couple of damn fine brews before they disappear ('till next year). First up is the spring seasonal from Muskoka Brewing. They previously offered two standout seasonals...the Fall Harvest Ale and the Winter Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. Their summer offering, the Summer Weissbier, does not disappoint. As is the case with most wheat beers, it's slightly hazy, and a nice golden colour. I could pick up on a slight scent of cloves mixed in with the wheat/malt aroma. The cloves are present in the flavour, which is a nice balance of wheat, malt and hops. The flavour is slightly citrusy, and doesn't have that sour aftertaste present in some wheat beers. It also comes in a nice re-usable 750ml swing top bottle.

Perfect for sippin' on a hot summer day.

Next up is the spring offering from everyone's favourite Ottawa area brewery, Beau's. They serve up an IPA, which they have dubbed the Beaver River I.P.Eh. Traditionally, an IPA has more hops than a typical ale. Way back in the day, additional hops were added as a preservative to the beer of British soldiers, to ensure the beer arrived ready for drinkin' after the long voyage to India. The alcohol content was also jacked up (alcohol acts as a preservative), and to do so, extra malt had to be added, thereby giving the beer more flavour. So how does the I.P.Eh stand up. Let me say that I've tried some very hoppy beers, which  also tend to have a very long, bitter aftertaste. The Beau's is a strong hoppy beer, but does not have a lingering after taste, which makes it that much more enjoyable. The strong flavour needs to be balanced with food of equal strength. The Beau's site suggests spicy Mexican or Indian food, wild game or strong cheeses.

An excellent IPA, true to the original (unlike Keith's....)