Detour — Muskoka Brewery

So if you read my post yesterday, about Spearhead’s excellent India White Ale, you will know I’m not 100% okay with the over-use of the word “India” in terms of beer-style naming. India Pale Ale, in its American and English formats, is great. I’m okay with the Imperial/Double IPA too. But things get a little silly. As noted yesterday, India White Ale gives a rough idea of what you’re about to drink, but it could also have been called American Wheat. Detour, from Muskoka Brewery, is called a Session IPA. Which is to say, “like an IPA, but with low alcohol and lighter body”. These beers (and yes, there are more than just Detour) actually clock in below Pale Ales. They do need *some* name to identify them, and IPAs are popular and easy to relate to. So I get it. Following in the US/UK Pale Ale and US/UK IPA (and US/UK RIS for that matter), I would like to have seen these beers called an American Bitter, but I digress. Again, getting hung-up on naming conventions in beer is not what I’m here to do (which isn’t to say that those aren’t important conversations to have). I’m here to chew bubblegum and review beer. And I’m all out of bubblegum.

Detour — Muskoka Brewery

From a 341ml bottle, Detour pours a slightly hazy gold, with hints of copper in the centre. There is a bit of sediment in this bottle, though I’ve had others where that wasn’t the case. Either way, it’s normal in an unfiltered beer like this; don’t worry about it. About 2″ of loose head drops to a thick ring that leave a bit of lace on the glass.  Aroma is hoppy, nice juicy tropical hops. There’s a touch of pineapple to it, as well as citrus. There is just a bit of sweetness from the grains, that almost is cane sugar-sweet. Taste is exactly like the nose, tropical hops, showing more pineapple on the palate, notable crisp bitterness, and just a bit of slightly sweet grains. Finish is bright and bitter, but not bitingly dry. Body is quite light, with a nice gentle carbonation. This is exactly what most people think of when they think “session IPA”, and there is no doubt you could easily pop more than a few of these, especially sitting on a dock in Muskoka.

Cheers Muskoka! I will be enjoying more than a few of these this summer!

Buy Detour

Available at Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge, at the LCBO (#375345), The Beer Store (http://www.thebeerstore.ca/beers/muskoka-detour-ipa) and at great bars around the GTA and cottage country.

Drink It With

Grilled corn on the cob, covered with lime juice and garam masala. If you’ve never tried this, you really ought to. Rather than taking the sweet corn and adding richness (butter) and salt, you add tartness (lime) and fragrant spices. And it’s magic. And the sweetness and citrus would go well with Detour, and the spices would add depth and complexity. For cheese, something rich but not over the top, maybe a emmanthaler?

About The Brewery

Founders Gary McMullen and Kirk Evans kicked the doors of Muskoka Brewery open in June of 1996. What started as a very small and dedicated team has quickly grown to a passionate band of craft beer lovers over 60 strong.

In short, we have a passion for great craft beer and we hope you get a chance to try it and enjoy it.
http://www.muskokabrewery.com/