We recently stopped at Burdock Brewery with a friend who had just moved back to Toronto and was out of date on the beer scene, and a friend visiting from Melbourne, Australia. They were both avid beer geeks and I needed to step up my game as the resident Boozehound. We took them on a boozy tour of the west end, stopping at Rainhard Brewing, Toronto Distillery, Junction Craft Brewing, and Indie Ale House in one very boozy day. We ended our evening at Burdock Brewery for easy access to public transit at the end, a lovely patio, and hopes of catching the lunar eclipse. The clouds did not cooperate, but we had ample beer, so we were happy.
The bottle shop at Burdock Brewery is now open, a welcome addition to the Dufferin and Bloor area. We snagged a 500 ml bottle of the Brett Farmhouse Saison clocking in at 6% ABV (out of stock at the moment but available in the tap room) for $7 to save for a rainy day. I think a few bottles went back to Australia with my friend Sandy as well.
Farmhouse Saisons are not my go to beer choice, but I’ve been willing to give them a try ever since Stephen Beaumont encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and “try the saison”. It is a style that has seen a huge resurgence over the last 2 years in the Ontario beer scene, but I still find it a hit or miss style. We sampled it in oversized wine/beer glasses that we borrowed got from Bar Volo.
Appearance: Deep straw yellow with a lasting snowy white head. Unfiltered.
Aroma: Tart and peppery aroma with lemon zest, very funky from the brett yeast. Definite barnyard aroma. Could also be the dog aroma in the room – notice the 75 lb poodle in the photo? Did you just go back and check the photo?
Taste: Acidic on the palate, more lemon. Barnyard flavours from the yeast. Possibly some pineapple?
Aftertaste: Sour aftertaste, fades to orange peel and disappears.
Overall: A pretty solid saison. I would pair it with a smoked salmon and arugula salad.
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]
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