LCBO Food & Drink Early Summer 2018

BEER  BACK TO BASICS

ICE COLD North American lagers, light lagers 5 MINUTES Wheat beer, Kölsch, craft lagers, gose, Berliner weisse, cream ales, Blonde ales, Czech and German pilsners, fruit beers 10MINUTES Pale, amber and brown ales, session IPAs, California commons, Flanders reds 15 MINUTES Saisons, bocks, IPAs, stouts, porters, Belgian golden strong ales, Don’t crack it yet! Give your brew a few minutes out of the fridge to warm and let flavours open up. Belgian dubbels and tripels 20MINUTES Double IPAs, imperial stouts and porters, Belgian dark strong ales, dopplebocks, barleywines SIMPLE TEMPERATURE GUIDE

LA TRAPPE TRIPEL LCBO 413575, 750 mL, $8.10

BEST WITH STEAK

PERFECT VARIETY Instead of grabbing a sixer for your next soiree, try this crowd-pleasing selection.

Party time? Stock these four styles and you’re guaranteed to please beer nerds and newbies alike. Outlaw Brew Co’s kölsch, 21 Lagered Ale ( LCBO 507913, 473 mL, $2.95), is so easy-drinking that even light beer fans will dig it, but its delicate profile will keep craft beer enthusiasts happy. Wheat beers are a hot weather staple, and Black Bellows White , a Belgian-style wit,

( LCBO 517805, 473 mL, $3.35), is spicy, fruity and refreshing. IPAs keep hopheads happy, especially if they’re loaded with juicy tropical fruit notes like Collective Arts Ransack the Universe ( LCBO 450312, 473 mL, $3.45). And a wild ale, like Duchesse de Bourgogne ( LCBO 492769, 330 mL, $3.00) will have oenophile friends marvelling over its acidity and black cherry notes.

LOOK FOR ABVs THAT ARE 5% OR UNDER

STRAIGHT FROM THE COOLER North American lagers are typically re- freshing beers with notes of crackery malt and grassy hops. European Lagers, like Grolsch Premium Lager ( LCBO 535294, 500 mL, $2.45) are bubbly, light-bodied and crisp, making them the best brews to throw on ice and serve at an outdoor party on a hot night.

THE PERFECT GLASS: STEMMED TULIP The stemmed tulip is the only beer glass you need. Its tapered mid- section enhances aroma, while the flared lip supports foam and makes for easy sipping. The bulbous bottom can be cupped to warm up higher alcohol brews, or hold it by the stem to keep cream ales and session IPAs cool and crisp.

98  FOOD & DRI NK EARLY SUMMER 2018