Latest 5

Five of the latest beers I have reviewed.  A look at a few English and English style beers, a new lager from Flying Monkey's that was previously an ale, and an excellent Hopfenweisse from Quebec. Stout fans who find themselves the Fuller's Black Cab should give it a try, it's an exceptional beer and in shameless self promotion; on tap at BRU.  The Tailset Ginger Beer was really well crafted, beautiful balance between spice and beer. The Shawinigan Handshake a great example of craft beer at it's finest, revolutionary style and superbly well built.

Fuller's Black Cab Stout
500 mL bottle. Pours opaque black with a thin beige cap, dissipates quickly with little lacing. Nose is largely roasted malt, coffee, cocoa, licorice, a touch of strawberry and woodiness. Crisp and dry with only slight carbonation. Finish is slightly bitter with hop and roasted malt, with lingering fruity esters in the English style. A real treat of a stout, full flavor and low alcohol and beautifully harmonious.

Flying Monkey's Antigravity Lager
335 mL bottle. The lager version of their old Antigravity Ale. Pours clear and light yellow with a fine white head. Aroma is minimal, a touch of Eastern European hops in a floral, herbal touch but not much else. A slight hint of cereal sweetness, but it would surprise me to find that this contains any adjuncts. Clean, crisp and refreshing with no aftertaste. Mild and light bodied with full carbonation. not a bad lager by any stretch, just bland.

Fuller's Organic Honey Dew
500 mL bottle. Pours clear golden with a thin white head. Aromas of honey, biscuit, apricot and a touch of herb. A hint of honey sweetness, but otherwise fairly dry with only a touch of bittering hop. Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Not great, but certainly not bad.

Grand River Tailset Ginger Beer
500 mL bottle. Pours bronze with a foamy white head. Aroma is packed with ginger, lemongrass, herb and bready caramel malt. Imagine a very clean brown ale infused with ginger. Slightly sweet, but well balanced with ginger. Not much hop presence here, medium carbonation and body. Really enjoyed this beer, everything is very harmonious.

Le Trou du Diable Shawinigan Handshake
600 mL bottle. Pours a very cloudy peach nectar color with a splotchy white head. Leaves some serious lacing. Aromas of apricot, banana, baking bread and piney hop. Bone dry with a hint of yeasty tartness, bright and fragrant; full carbonation and light to medium body. A lingering fruitiness and hop bite on the tongue. Very good, dangerously drinkable.

As per usual:
http://www.ratebeer.com/user/169526/ratings/