International Beer Day is celebrated on August 5! Not only is it a day to celebrate one of our favourite drinks, but it’s also a time to celebrate those responsible for brewing beer and serving up those pints.
We love celebrating the Sarnia-Lambton brewery scene. With seven breweries and nearly 100 different types of beer, you can throw yourself one heck of a celebration. With so many great beers to choose from, we decided to ask around the #local virtual office and share some of our favourite local brews. When we couldn’t land on just one, we decided to share a few from each type of beer.
Ales
Using a warm fermentation process, ales are known for their sweet, full-bodied, and fruity tastes.
Imperial City Brew House’s Goodbye Gravity Cream Ale pays tribute to Sarnia native, Commander Chris Hadfield. ICBH tells us that “the vanilla addition contributes to a creamy mouth-feel, leading to velvety after-tones and finish”, but we just say it’s delicious.
Image courtesy of Imperial City Brew House Facebook page.
Formally known as Troll Toll, Cabin Jeans Cream Ale from Refined Fool is one of the craft beers that started it all in Sarnia. Described as a “refreshing and flavourful comfort beer”, Cabin Jeans can be enjoyed in many ways, whether on your patio, your boat, or at your cabin - jeans are optional.
IPAs
Indian Pale Ale (IPA) is a sub-category of ales that is known for its much hoppier taste. The added hops help preserve the ale, which made them easier for long-distance transportation.
The Eye Opener Double IPA from Two Waters Brewing Co. in Corunna brings together one of our favourite local businesses, with one of our favourite types of beer. This American style IPA has huge hoppy highs & deep malty depths with a high ABV to match.
Now, this is the type of milkshake that will bring everyone to your yard - the Milkshake IPA from Imperial City Brew House. Juicy, tropical flavours like mango, coconut and vanilla complement the hoppy flavour. And to top it off? A little sugar for a sweet, smooth finish.
The most surprising thing about the name of this beer is that it took so long for Zane to be featured on a can from Refined Fool. Zane Lost His Avocado Bag has “a light body, high carbonation, low hop bitterness, and dry finish”. If you like IPA’s, this champagne-like beer needs to be in your next pint or retail order.
Lagers
Lagers are the most commonly consumed and commercially available beer on the market. Brewed using cold fermentation and fancy yeasts that like those chilly temps, lagers come in pale, amber, and dark.
Historically, lagers were a well-known beer in Germany, so it stands to reason that Big Family Brewing Company would be serving up a great German-style lager at their Beirgareten. The Barvarian is “dry bodied and fuller flavoured with hints of floral and sweet pear”. If you’re looking for a local lager - you may want to start here!
The Light Lager by Imperial City Brew House is a sweet lager, with a malty taste thanks to the addition of Pilsner malts. ICBH filters this beer to be crystal clear with a smooth and refreshing flavour.
Crop Tour by Stonepicker Brewing Company is another great local light lager. SPBC brews this up with their palest malts, making it an excellent choice after a hard day's work.
Image courtesy of Stone Picker Brewing Company's Facebook page
Stouts & Porters
Porters are well-hopped beers that use brown malt which creates that signature dark appearance. The popularity of porters led brewers to create a variety of strengths, including “stout porters”...you know where this is heading. Today, the history of the two is so intermingled, that all that remains to differentiate the two is the type of malts used. Porters use dark malted barley, while stouts use unmalted roasted barley or black malt. But we know for certain they are both dark, and delicious and Sarnia-Lambton has some great ones.
The Nut Buster Peanut Butter Porter from River Run Brew Co. is packed with the flavour and aroma of a peanut butter cup. The smell alone will hit you with the nostalgia of Halloween gone by where it was just you, a batman costume and a pile of Reese’s cups.
The namesake, Black Gold Smoked Porter from Black Gold Brewery does not mess around. The porter features “[Black Gold’s] unique blend of smoked and roasted malts to create a one-of-a-kind experience.” And it would only make sense for this decadent beer to resemble the other black gold, crude oil.
If you want to get fancy with your stouts, Shirtless at the Kremlin - Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout from Refined Fool is the way to go. Barrel-aged for 4 months, this beer features notes of roasted coffee, malt sweetness, and a noticeable boozy warmth.
Wheat Beer
The lighter side of beer drinking. Wheat beers are brewed with significantly more wheat to malted barley ratios, resulting in a lighter flavour, great for featuring other fruity profiles like citrus and berries.
When it comes to wheat beers, Refined Fool has got two out-of-this-world contenders. Canatara Berliner Weisse and Pinky Brewster Raspberry Wheat Ale both offer a wonderful dry finish wheat beer, making them easy to drink and incredibly refreshing.
