Review: Muskoka Brewery Legendary Oddity

Unfiltered Legendary Oddity

Today’s review is of an interesting Ontario brew from Muskoka Breweries LEGENDARY ODDITY (no…I’m not shouting). I had this interesting beverage a couple of years ago (it was still being shipped in bottles back then). Now we see it, as with most craft beer these days, in a 473mL can. Feel free to debate the pros and cons of craft cans almost yourselves if you wish. I will save my thoughts for another post. I also had the good fortune of sampling this on tap while having lunch in Napanee at the Waterfront River Pub and Terrace the other day.

Side note: the location is lovely, the Lamb burger was tasty, the service was great and they carry more than a dozen craft beers on tap.

Back to the review.

I was struck by how much this beer reminds me of a German beer called TAP6 Aventinus from Schneider-Weisse. When reading ingredients lists for each there appears to be very little to suggest these should taste similar. (Note to self: Drink more Aventinus and Oddity to be sure) 😉

Here’s the breakdown(WARNING: Beer Geek Info Ahead):

TAP6 Aventinus: Hops: Hallertauer Tradition and Magnum, Malt: 50 % wheat malt, 50 % barley malt from the region of Kelheim, Bottle and keg fermentation, IBU 16, 8.2 % vol. alc., Orig. gravity 18.5 %, Brewed since 1907

Legindary Oddity: Pure Muskoka Water, Heather Tips, Juniper Berries, Sweet Orange Peel Shavings, North American Malts, Noble Hops, Belgian Yeast and Belgian Candi Sugar. ABV: 7.1%

The Oddity has a quickly diminishing, bright white, fluffy head with a lovely light-medium copper colour. Though an unfiltered beer, I was surprised to find this quite clear. Lacking the hazy turbidity that is often found in an unfiltered ale. The aroma from the malt is lightly nutty, with toffee notes, brown sugar and nutmeg, and a hint of Hefeweizen inspired banana. The bouquet has a moderately noticeable spruce and flower quality. As we examine the taste profile, the Oddity begins moderately sweet with light acidity and bitterness. Moving towards the finish I find the  sweetness builds slightly, becoming moderately heavy, while acidity and bitterness remained the same. Mouthfeel is creamy on the palate, with a medium body, finishing with a light alcoholic note.

I think this is a great summer ale for someone looking for something a little different. So if you’re a bit tired of IPAs, Hefeweizen variations and Saison this spring and summer while on the patio see if they have the Legendary Oddity.♦♦♦♦◊

Review: Ayinger Weizenbock

Ayinger Weizenbock

Another May two four has come and gone, the weather was gorgeous, perhaps the nicest long weekend in many years. Now that we have discussed the weather (in truly stereotypically Canadian style) lets discus beer!

After enjoying a wide variety of beers this past weekend I would like to focus on a surprisingly tasty German Weizenbock that I had on the holiday Monday. Now I know you may baulk at the fact that I would have a German beer on the most Colonial holidays of holidays, if not a Canadian brew then why not an English brew, but before you have me tarred and feathered let me explain.

First point: there’s the fact the it is becoming increasingly difficult to find beer from anywhere other than Ontario at the LCBO these days (this is a point that requires a much longer rant, but that’s for another posting).  Second point: I am not a royalist and do not have the slightest interest in a family that as wealth and “power” simply for being born, under the delusional notion that a monarchy has a “divine right”, (sorry, another rant for another day and before you say anything, yes, I know the royal family has connections to Germany).

Alright, lets get on with the review.

Brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot purity law of 1516, German brewer, Ayinger, describes this Weizenbock as, “pale (helles), robust, spicy wheat ale, unfiltered”. The pale colour was a bit surprising to me because typicaly when I think of Bock beers they tend to be Traditional Bock, Dopplebock and Eisbock that tend to be dark in colour. I would describe this beer’s colour as medium to medium-dark golden, also hazy and unfiltered. It pored with a lovely fluffy, bright white head which gave the hazy golden beer below an overall “creamy” and appealing appearance once in the large pilsner glass. The malt aroma was quite light and had the scent of cereal and cloves, however, the sweet scent of ripe banana was very present. A moderate to heavy hop bouquet of flowers round out the scent profile. The taste is moderately sweet throughout with a light acidic and bitter. The body is medium to full. The mouth feel was lovely, thick and creamy, most enjoyable (and surprising).

I found this to be a wonderfully satsifying beer, perfect for the summer and I will be looking for more Weizenbock beers. ♦♦♦♦◊