LCBO Food & Drink Spring 2025

JUICED UP

When brewers add fruit to beer, it’s important to think about how best to incorporate it. In most cases, the fruit is processed into juice or a purée in order to make it easy to blend in. Not only does that add flavour, but the colour of the beer will change depending on the kind and volume of fruit being used. In this case, we’re looking at sweeter expressions. The Sweeter Side of Fruit Beer

Railway City Orange Creamsic-Ale (LCBO 479030, 473 mL, $3.75) is a take on the classic frozen treat. In addition to freshly zested oranges, Railway City emulates the creamy iced centre by adding oats for a luscious texture and vanilla to ensure a hit of flavour. It’s just missing the stick! Broadhead Blueberry Blonde (LCBO 467324, 473 mL, $3.75) features the subtle aroma and delicately sweet flavour of blueberries in the brewery’s blonde ale, which balances slight tannin with hop bitterness. It’s a bit reminiscent of blueberry pancakes. Brock Street Mango Tango Hazy IPA (LCBO 31721, 473 mL, $3.65) fea tures mango expressed in two ways. The hops in the hazy IPA are reminiscent of mango and other tropical fruits, but the addition of mango purée really pushes the aroma through the roof while deliv ering a creamy texture. KLB Raspberry Wheat (LCBO 142349, 473 mL, $3.65), an Ontario classic for decades, is currently brewed in Peter borough by The Publican House. It takes on an amber hue from the raspberry extract that complements the lightly tart, wheaty body. Früli Strawberry Beer (LCBO 380923, 4 pk, $17.00) is a deceptively complex Belgian White with additions of orange peel and coriander layered beneath the strawberry juice that gives the beer its vibrant red hue and light pink foam. It’s a pure expression of strawberries suitable for any time of year.

EASY BEER GRANITA Because fruit beers tend to be low in alcohol, they freeze surprisingly well. For a simple iced treat, pour a single fruit beer onto a rimmed baking sheet (or small metal baking pan) and place it in the freezer, scraping the surface periodically with a fork to create fluffy ice shavings. Serve with the seasonal fruit of your choice as a garnish.

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———————— SPRING 2025