Despite what homebrew fanatics might try to tell you, brewing beer is a tricky business. Not just because it requires some fairly specialised equipment, but also because there is a lot of knowledge, training and less tangible skill that is required of the brewer. For instance, lots of people make English style ales, so why do the ones that Ron Keefe and Paul Dickey make taste so much better than most? This brings us to the topic of conversation tonight: Weisse beers. Michael Hancock’s Denison’s Weisse is killer, and is *still* the top rated German-style Hefeweisen on ratebeer.com. Mike Lackey is producing some brews, like Miami Weisse, that are amazing marraiges of wheat characteristics and massive American hops. There are brewers that make some very drinkable weisses, but they are sort of becoming the Merlot’s of the beer world; everybody wants to make one, because they are beers for people who don’t like beer (which I heartily disagree with), but not a lot of brewers have “the touch” to balance the wheat and barley in a way that makes you say “Wow”. Muskoka has been putting out some immensely wonderful seasonal beers, so what will this latest seasonal bring?
Summer Weisse - Muskoka Cottage Brewery
From a lovely 750ml swing-top bottle (glad to see you guys fixed the gasket issues) with a vintage date, the beer pours a a cloudy golden honey colour. Nice foamy weisse head drops to a moderate film and ring fairly quickly. Aroma is a classic, heaps of citrus and yeasty spices, cinnamon and ginger, the classic bit of banana. Just wonderful. Taste is bright and refreshing, banana and citrus, more cinnamon and ginger and also a touch of clove. Wow. Finish is very clean, a hint of hop, which helps dry out the juicy citrus pop on the palate. Beer is downright creamy on the tongue, silky and delicate, with what I would define as having micro-carbonation. Just goes down hugely easily, I’m having trouble writing this, because I just want to keep drinking it. This is going to be a beer I reach for frequently this summer. Amazing beer at a killer price, possibly the best bang for your buck at the LCBO right now. I have to admit, I wonder if this is the same recipe as the Muskoka Hefe-Weisse in the tallboy from years gone by. I thought that was a pleasant weisse, but this is just incredible. Another excellent seasonal release from the crew up at Muskoka.
Cheers guys, see you this summer!
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