Bring on the Summer Sessions - Henderson Brewing Company

Who the hell knows what month it is anymore? I’ve been home for eight plus weeks, last weekend it was 20 degrees and sunny, this weekend it’s literally snowing. One thing that does feel at least somewhat seasonally appropriate is the return of spring and summer seasonal beers, and Toronto’s Henderson Brewing Company has two session beers hitting the shelves which can at least help us try to feel like time is still marching on at pace. Replacing their fall seasonal Export Stout and Vanilla Orchid Brown Ale are a new collab with Society of Beer Drinking Ladies, and a returning fan favourite from their Ides series!

Hazy Session IPA with Grapefruit & Lime

A collaboration with Society of Beer Drinking Ladies - 4%

Henderson’s third collaboration brew with SOBDL is a crushable session IPA with a citrusy twist of grapefruit and lime zest. It pours a cloudy straw colour with some light sediment. The aroma is pithy and bitter with grapefruit very evident. The mouthfeel, which is often my beef with session IPAs, is softer and less sharp than I often find them, which is quite well done. I tend to find that citrus bitterness naturally occurs quite strongly in session IPAs, so the addition of the grapefruit and lime zest makes it especially prominent here. The palate carries lots of grapefruit pith with a juicy spritz, leading to a clean, bitter finish. Overall it’s very easy drinking and refreshing.

Picnic

Table Beer with Meyer Lemon Zest - 3.5%

One of the great things about Henderson’s monthly experimental Ides series is that the beers that turn out to be fan favourites will often get brought back as longer seasonal releases, which is exactly what happened with Picnic, a table beer with Meyer lemon zest, originally the Ides of April 2018 brew. This is a light beer with a refreshing twist. It pours with a slightly cloudy golden colour, a thin body and medium carbonation. The lemon is subtle but gives it a nice citrusy zip and a slight bite of bitterness. There’s a mild bready component and subtle sweetness as well. It would be super refreshing on a hot summer day.

Both these summer crushers are now available at the LCBO and direct from the brewery, onsite or by delivery via their online bottle shop. Henderson is currently offering free home delivery in Toronto on orders over $50! Now if these refreshing beers could just bring the summer weather along with them we’ll be all set!

The pictured glassware with the timely phrase “We must stand alone… to win together!” features the artwork of Honest Ed’s artist, Wayne Reuben. The glass is also available for purchase, with all profits going to the Parkdale Community Foodbank.

Thanks very much to Michelle from Henderson for sending these seasonal brews my way!

Find Henderson online:

Nathan

Nathan is a craft beer enthusiast from Ottawa, ON. He is the Co-Founder of @TeamLactose, he’s passionate about travelling for beer and he loves talking about beer from Ontario, Quebec and beyond.

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