It’s February now. That means I survived Dry January, and I’m free to enjoy beer again. I’m not going to lie – I’m a lot more interested in wine at the moment, but cracking open a beer is a lot less of a commitment for me financially. To get me back into the swing of things, I thought I would recalibrate with a simple ale.
Enter Lunch Money Straight Up Ale from Hamilton’s Collective Arts Brewing. I was lured in by the artwork (it happens) and the reassuring shade of blue on the can. It has a lot of pilsner characteristics going for it, with a bit more flavour packed in. We popped into the brewery on Christmas Eve after exhausting our options in nearby Beamsville for wine touring, and we were happy to find the brewery on the Craft Beer Passport‘s recent Hamilton expansion. I don’t recall trying this beer at the brewery. I was lured in by the easy on the pocket $2.80 price tag at the LCBO, and a sense of nostalgia for my childhood, when a school lunch could be purchased for that price.
I’m not going to over think a beer that calls itself a Straight Up Ale. This beer had me craving summer, patios, and picnics. I’d definitely bring it with me to the Island for a session of afternoon lounging in the sun.
Appearance: Filtered, very pale yellow straw. Thin, quickly disappearing white head.
Aroma: Grain cereal, celery leaf, lemon rind.
Taste: Unsalted Premium Plus crackers. Minimal bitterness. Light and crisp on the palate, a lovely patio sipper.
Aftertaste: A slight lingering bitterness with tiny hints of vanilla. If this was a President’s Choice sauce, it would be Memories of Ale.
Food pairing: Uncomplicated flavours. Guacamole, avocado toast, chicken skewers. A good beer to pick up for the Super Bowl party for your friend who only drinks craft beer but is coming to your party and will whine about the selection no matter what you offer.
Overall: Balanced, simple. Tastes like a pilsner, marketed as an ale. I could hand this off to my father in law on a sunny Sunday afternoon and I am certain he’d enjoy it.
Shawna has visited vineyards in 8 countries on 3 continents, and has a knack for finding the hoppiest beers around. A dedicated Booze Hound, Shawna completed the Wine Specialist Certificate at George Brown College in 2018.
She can be found drinking alka-seltzer and coconut water in the morning.
Email: [email protected]
- The 8 Beers of Chanukah 2020 Night 8: Zane Lost His Avocado Bag Brut IPA by Refined Fool Brewing Company - December 17, 2020
- The 8 Beers of Chanukah 2020 Night 7: Roam Hazy IPA by Market Brewing Company - December 16, 2020
- The 8 Beers of Chanukah 2020 Night 6: Omnipollo Bianca Mango Gose - December 15, 2020