Heritage Black Currant Rye Beer (Lager)

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Missed it last year, and this year it is at 5.5% ABV. Written Solstice Series 2006, Winter Solstice Mooney's Bay. Pours a clean rich copper colour with a slight red hue. Off-white (almost pink) creamy head dissipates at a decent pace, and leaves nice dirty lacing all around. A surface of foam stays on the brew (the whole time). Very lightly carbonated. Aromas of roasted malts and the fruit is lightly hidden in the background. Creamy mouthfeel. The taste is sweet, but not overly, with a nice bitter finish. Both blend well in the aftertaste. I cannot stop thinking about grapefruits, as this is the fruit I smell and taste. I guess it is the bitterness and the fruit mix. Quite pleasant, will make it a rendez-vous every year.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

This beer has been totlly retooled in 2007 and deserves a re rate Pours an darker copper red with shimmering ruby high lights..tight pored 1 finger caps lasts well and laces the glass. Sweet aromas are gone and in their place this brew gives spicey malty tones with tart berry fruit under tones. Flavor is typical of Rye beers upfront; grainy-spicey then the fruity tones kick in but NOT over powering nor sweet...tart berry and citrus hops meld well in the center and the finish is clean spicy-fruity bitter-tart and clean. Very drinkable in this state and recommended a top flight fruit ale...actually now one of the better ones in the Ontario market

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep reddish color ale with a medium off-white head with minimal retention. Aroma of black currant chemically reproduced syrup. Taste is also dominated by this syrup with a weird mix of malt (rye?). Body is thin and carbonation is very low. A new low for this brewery?