LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2015

DRINK  BEER

Hops are an accepted and almost de rigueur ingredient in beer, but what is less understood is how individual varieties differ in aroma and flavour. Thank goodness, then, for single-hop beers. H I P HOP S BY STEPHEN BEAUMONT  •  PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCE NOGUCHI

Less a category of brewing than an unusual subset of beers, single-hop brews span a wide array of styles and can range from light and quenching to rich and full-bodied. The best, however, serve as showcases for the attributes of specific hop varieties, from the citrusy scent of Cascade to the soft herbal notes of Vanguard and the gently spicy palate of Fuggle to the assertiveness of Centennial. Since many or even most single- hop beers are not billed as such, we’ve assembled a selection of Ontario craft examples to help guide your hoppy explorations.

BEAU’S FARM TABLE MÄRZEN

One of the trickier aspects of brewing is the crafting of a beer that is neither domi- nantly sweet nor bitter while also boasting gentle rather than aggressive aroma notes that allow both the malt and hops to shine. For this, Beau’s All-Natural Brewery employs the Perle hop in its take on a traditional Oktoberfest lager, Farm Table Märzen ( LCBO 250753, 600 mL, $4.75). Known for its multi-purpose com- bination of aroma and bittering qualities, Perle shines in the beer’s mildly spicy though malt-dominated nose and its crisp, toasty and vaguely nutty and earthy flavour, proving that hop notes can be the making of even a malty beer.

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