One of the best parts of spring returning, is the return of the dozens of farmer’s markets around Toronto. Nothing is better than wandering around, seeing neighbours, and meeting the people who grow your produce. I take my kids to St Lawrence Market most Saturday mornings, but through the summer month, I alternate weekly, and we go to the Leslieville one Sunday around noon. We’re still a few weeks away from the start of the season (Leslieville starts May 26th), but I’m already excited for the first offerings of the year; the ramps, mushrooms, spring onions, spring blooms and early herbs and greens. Through a good amount of preserving, we are able to eat local food most of the year, but there is nothing better than that fresh-from-the-fields taste. Rinsing actual soil off the roots of the onions and ramps. The way fresh spring flowers waft their aroma through the house. And it is in that spirit, that Amsterdam Brewing is launching their Market Pale Ale. A rock solid pale, made with quality ingredients. It won’t be available in bottles or cans, via a store near you. Mainly because they want it to be fresh. Hella fresh. Market fresh. So you will only find it around the GTA on draught, and in growlers from the brewery. Nice and fresh.
Amsterdam Brewing Co. Market Pale Ale
From a swing-top growler, Amsterdam Market Pale Ale pours a hazy orange/brown, with a fuzzy 1″ head that drops to a pretty thick layer of foam that lasts most of the glass. Aroma is big pine hops. Resinous and a little astringent. There is some citrus to it as well, touching on lemon peel. There are some biscuit-sweet malts in there too, but the hops are the main feature. Taste is engaging from the moment it touches your tongue. Big bitter hops, still piney and now a little tannic. The malts subtly slide in still biscuity and with a touch of toast. There is something quite English to the malt profile, but the finish is all hops again. More citrus on the back-end, still with big juicy pine, and just a hint of earth. Quite clean finish for an ale. The mouthfeel is definitely on the light side of medium, with a beautiful carbonation. Such a great session beer; I look forward to getting through a bunch of these this summer!
Cheers to my friends over at Amsterdam!
Buy Market Pale Ale
Well, like I said, this one won’t be available in bottles/cans. The good news is, Amsterdam has great representation in bars across the city, so expect to see it around a lot starting this spring. And as if you needed another reason, use it as an excuse to go to the brewery at 45 Esander Dr in Leaside. They do free tours every Saturday from 12-5pm.
Drink It With
Mmmmm, well, the nice hops call for something spicy, but it needs to be a warm-months choice, so here you go: Pulled Pork, but serve it with a really spicy sauce. And maybe kick up the rub on the meat. If you’re like me, and still have some dehydrated hot peppers from last summer, grind them in there and “kick it up a notch”, to resurrect a dead phrase. Cheese might be tricky, but I always like a funky farmhouse cheddar with a good hoppy ale. While my friends at Monforte Dairy usually have the funkier stuff later in the year, it would be worth asking, because you never know what’s tucked away in their coolers.
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.
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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