The final beer of this year’s isolation-inspired 8 Beers of Chanukah is brought to you by clever packaging and a name that made me snag this beer by Refined Fool Brewing Co. from Sarnia, ON. A Brut IPA weighing in at a hefty 7.6% ABV, I nearly burned the apartment down after 2 sips when I went to light my Chanukah candles. Zane Lost His Avocado Bag spoke to my millennial identity, as well as my role of bringing guacamole to my in-laws for family events in previous years. Last year I couldn’t find any ripe avocados (or any at all to be honest) for Christmas lunch at one of the sets of in-laws, and of course, as a millennial, I cannot afford to buy a house because I happen to enjoy avocado toast. Spoiler alert, that’s not why I can’t afford property, and this year has been a particularly good year for avocados. I guess they aren’t getting groped until they bruise at the supermarket anymore.
Enter Zane Lost His Avocado Bag, a Brut IPA that retails for $3.50 per tall can at the LCBO. The Brut IPA is a relatively newer style that has been around for approximately 3 years, and it’s a style I haven’t tried much of thus far. The style itself is known for being loaded with hop aromas and character, without a heavy bitterness on the palate. In fact, it’s a dry style of beer reminiscent of champagne on the palate, but anytime I see the word “dry” to describe a beer my brain immediately jumps to sipping Molson Dry in the early 2000s in my native Montreal and watching the Habs play. Brut IPAs are meant to be drank fresh, and I’m glad to announce that this one only spent 2 weeks in our fridge. Considering my propensity to hoard beer well beyond its drink by date, this is a huge accomplishment. I’ll cheer to that, and to the end of Chanukah. If you cannot find it at the LCBO, Refined Fool Brewing is offering free local delivery in the Sarnia area 0on purchases over $75, or $15 shipping across Ontario. Shipping is free if you spend at least $125. I am a fan of their pun-filled beer names.
Appearance: Pale golden straw colour with lots of small effervescent bubbles, long-lasting frothy white head.
Aroma: Citrus peel, freshly made pasta.
Taste: Surprisingly sweet on the front of the palate, the highly carbonated beer takes over the full sensation when drinking it.
Aftertaste: Very dry finish, almost no aftertaste.
Food pairing: Ricotta cheese blintzes with smoked salmon. Brunch foods. Eggs benny.
Overall: I don’t have a lot of Brut IPAs to compare this too, but it had a nice clean palate that reminded me of a more aromatic lager. I’d definitely have this one again.
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