Three years ago, if you had asked me about Amsterdam Brewing, I would have talked about their excellent quality, their awesome staff, and the (large) part they played in my journey into craft beer. I would not have talked about their cutting edge brews, pushing the culture of brewing in the city. Great Lakes Brewery, yes; Dieu du Ciel! too (though not in our city), but not Amsterdam. They made solid beers, but nothing really crazy. Things like Goedemorgen weren’t even on the horizon, as far as I knew.
A lot has changed in 3 years.
The likes of Great Lakes are still doing amazing brews and putting out a crazy range of styles, having been major movers and shakers in the trend so that we now see places like Bellwoods getting line-ups on Tuesdays in the summer, and Volo launching their own nano brewery. We see Left Field Brewery launch with an oatmeal brown ale as their flagship, and nary a lager or lawn-mower beer in sight. But now, running full-out, right in the front of the pack with the top dogs, is Amsterdam. A brand new brewery in a neighbourhood that is changing for the better (we’ve heard that before, right Mill Street, Steam Whistle, Bellwoods, et al?). A brewpub in a KILLER location opening this summer. And Iain McOustra brewing on a pilot system, and filling a mountain of barrels from distillers and wineries with epic brews. Amsterdam has even started an “Adventure Brews” series of beers, featuring different and interesting beers exploring styles and history, and trying out new things. It is an exciting time to be a beer drinker in Toronto, and I’m so lucky to be able to be in the midst of it, drinking some phenomenal beers, and getting to encourage other people to do the same. Okay, “phenomenal” exhausted my hyper-positive adjective stock, so it’s time to drink beer.
Goedemorgen Belgian-style Golden Ale — Amsterdam Brewing Co. — Aged in Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay Barrels
From a 650ml Adventure Series bottle, Goedemorgen pours a slightly hazy amber that glimmers gold at the edges. 1/2″ of dense head drops to a thick ring and bit of fuzzy head in the middle of the glass. A Belgian-style golden ale that was aged for one year in a Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay barrel, the aroma is fascinating, immediately fruity and vinous. Peaches and apricots, grass, white wine grapes, oak and a hint of sour cherries. Malts are sweet and grainy, just a touch of candy sugar. I think I’m getting some spices, but it’s hard to say through the big juicy and sweet nose. Taste is even more complex and lovely. Immediately there is a big shot of white wine and oak. It’s funny, because I know that it was in a Chardonnay barrel, but it tastes more like a Sauvignon Blanc, with tart tree fruits, ranging from peaches to apricots to tart cherries, and even a touch of sour apples. I’m guessing the fruitiness is from the brettanomyces. It’s very bright and lively. Malts are still present, and are sweet enough to keep the sharp fruits in check. There is definitely some spice now, likely from both the Belgian yeast, and also the Styrian Goldings hops I just read are present. (I love Styrian Goldings, but never would have picked them out of this mix). Mouthfeel is lively and bright, with a great prickly medium carbonation. You would never guess, even as it warms, that you are drinking a 10%abv beer. Finish is tart and dry, with traces of the sweet malts echoing. An amazing brew, and one that I will definitely be buying more of. At 10% with active yeast in the bottle, this is a beer that will age well.
Cheers to Iain and the team at Amsterdam. If these are the kinds of things we can expect at the brewpub, then I’m scared to think of how hard it will be to get a table…..
Buy Goedemorgen Belgian Golden Ale
Like all the adventure series, it’s worth the trip to 45 Esandar Dr in Leaside! Bottles will be available at the retail store. But here’s a new twist: It will also be available at the Brewpub! Yes, that won’t be open till around June, but this release is a big one, and there will be some bottles at the retail space down there, and on the bottle list in the bar.
Drink it With
Well, I’m definitely going to have some with mussels more than once this spring… And it will go with anything you think a nice Chard or Sauv Blanc would go with: Grilled fish, beautiful summer vegetable salads, and cheese. Like the epic tart goat’s sheep’s cheese I was eating it with last night, as always (it seems), from my friends at Monforte Dairy (thanks for the edit, it’s their Black Sheep). Actually, if the brewpub formed a partnership with Monforte, and let me sling my hammock on the patio, I could live there for the summer.
About The Brewery
The Amsterdam Brewing Company is an independently owned and operated craft brewery that is deeply rooted in the city of Toronto. A pioneer of the craft beer revolution in 1986 and initially called the Amsterdam Brasserie and Brew Pub, The Amsterdam was the first of its kind in Toronto to offer patrons hand crafted lagers and ales that were brewed ‘in-house’. Today they brew over ten different beers including their flagship lager – Amsterdam Natural Blonde, the award winning Big Wheel Deluxe Amber, Boneshaker IPA and multiple year-round and seasonal brews. The Amsterdam Brewing Company uses only traditional brewing methods and their beers are made with four all natural ingredients – malt, hops, yeast, and water. All beers are GMO-free, without preservatives, and never heat pasteurized.
About Adventure Brews Series
For our Adventure Brews Series, we reflect on our history as a brewpub turned brewery and continue that passion for authenticity. These brews are designed to take you on an adventure in taste. Small batch brewing of unexplored styles including barrel aged, sours, wild yeast, herbs and fruit… We invite you to explore beer that is artisinal, experimental, local and truly urban.
To learn more about the Amsterdam Brewing Company visit www.amsterdambeer.com or Become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/amsterdambeer and follow on Twitter www.twitter.com/amsterdambeer
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