Forge & Fire Brewing Company

Amber Ale (Citra Hops)

and West Coast Pale Ale (Yakima Valley Hops)

Up for a brief comparison 2 brews from Forge & Fire Brewing Co., a Collective Arts Brewing project. First up, the Amber Ale: this is a nicely balanced, deeply copper coloured ale with a full, sweet malt bill with just enough hops to maintain a balanced ale. It is sweet to start with a refreshingly dry finish. A perfect full flavoured summer beer.

(WARNING: Beer geek info ahead) info from company website

5.0% ABV 38 IBUs Bittering Hop: Citra Aroma Hop: Citra Flavour Hop: Citra

Malt: Flaked Wheat, Red X, Flaked Oats Recommended Serving Glass: Nonic

Number 2 from Forge & Fire is their West Coast Pale Ale. This is a very refreshing, dark Blonde coloured Pale ale. Hazy, with a large fluffy head, the malt aroma id very light. The charm of this thirst quencher is in the moderately hoppy bouquet boasting resin and a host of citrus, notably grapefruit, orange and pineapple.

I say pick these up and enjoy! :^)

(WARNING: Beer geek info ahead) info from company website

5.0% ABV 38 IBUs Aroma Hop: Cascade, Citra, Centennial Malt: 2 Row, Flaked Oats, Carastan 33, Flaked Weat, Wheat Malt Recommended Serving Glass: Nonic

I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much from this can of beer when I picked it up from the LCBO shelf. Something about the label screamed, generic lager, at first glance. In fact, the label stated only that what was inside was “Beer”. No mention of ale or lager, just 5% abv “beer”. Could you get more generic than that. With a simple pub glass in hand, sitting outside on a lovely summer afternoon, I eased the 473mL can of “beer” out from it’s aluminum cylinder. To my surprise, a medium dark, amber coloured beer emerged. It’s interesting how package design can direct our expectations. I thought I was going to get some sort of flavourless hipster beer, perhaps akin to PBR. But this brews malt presented moderately robust complex notes of bread, a toasted nuttiness and a subtle, but sweet, hint of toffee, all gently hovering above the frothy, warm white head. A simple bouquet of grass and light spruce followed. The initial flavour had a light layering of sweet, acidic bitterness, but the acidic quality diminished out of sight in the finish, leaving only a pleasant bitter/sweet flavour lingering on the pallet. In the end, this can of beer, surpassed my expectations and reminded me to try not to judge a craft beer by it’s cover. ♦♦♦♦◊