Beer Tasting - Lambda by Bellwoods

Bellwoods is a relatively new brewpub, just recently celebrating their two year anniversary. The owners of the brewpub were previously brewers at the Amsterdam Brewery, so they are no strangers to the Toronto beer scene. Since opening their doors, they have focused heavily on putting as many beer styles in wood barrels as capacity would allow. Their limited release (~3000 bottles) of Lambda, a Brett Barrel-Aged Quad, is another one of those wood barrel experiments. To make this beer, they used a traditional Belgian Quad recipe and aged it in oak barrels for one year with Brettanomyces Lambicus. Brettanomyces (often referred to as Brett for short) is used to make Lambics in Belgium through spontaneous fermentation. If you're interested in reading a bit more about the use of Brett is brewing, I'd recommend Brettanomyces, a Funky Yeast, Makes Flavorful Beers from the New York Times.

I'll be following the five category format from beeradvocate.com: Appearance, Smell, Taste, Mouthfeel and Overall.  

Appearance: Pours a very dark ruby red. The head is light and bubbly and effervescence is prevalent to the eye.

Smell: Smells of cherries, grapes, red wine and sherry. The tartness from the Brett comes through in the noise prior to tasting. As a Lambic lover, I'd never tire from smelling this beer.

Taste: Initial caramel notes and heavy sweetness reminiscent of the many Belgian Quads I've had. Followed by a boozy kick of port and red wine flavours. The characteristics from the Brett come through at the end with cherry tartness that cuts the initial sweetness for a smoother finish. Unlike typical Lambics, I'm not left puckering from the tartness.

Mouthfeel: A bit heavy and syrupy on the tip of the tongue, but the effervescence hits with a tingle on the back of the tongue and throat.

Overall: I was excited to try this beer, as it was a mix of two beer styles that I really enjoy drinking (Belgian Quad & Lambic) and I don't recall trying the two styles infused into one beer before. I found it a bit confusing to my palate, perhaps because I had predetermined thoughts on how each style should taste separately. I still prefer the aspects that Brett brings to a beer when the mouthfeel is a bit lighter, but it's interesting experiencing what it does to bigger, fuller ABV beers like the 11% Lambda.

On a separate note, if you live in Toronto or are visiting Toronto this summer, heading to the Bellwoods brewpub for some beers on their patio is a must! It's located between Queen and Dundas on Ossington in a renovated autoshop. It's a really cool spot that is best seen and experienced on a hot summer's day with a cold beer.

Thanks for reading!