These brews will make you glad you bought local

Following the May 22 check-in with some of the locals in the craft beer industry on the general state of affairs — including Barn Hammer Brewing Co. (celebrating 10 years today at 595 Wall St.), Good Neighbour Brewing Co. (who recently opened a beer shop in South Osborne at 683 Osborne St.) and the Quality Inn Beer Store (685 Weatherdon Ave., who do a killer job supporting all local breweries) — here’s a roundup of a half-dozen local seasonal brews, most of which are light, fun, fresh and fruit-infused, and are the perfect way to usher in warmer weather.

All are available at the brewery at which they were produced as well as Liquor Marts and beer vendors that choose to carry them. Chill these half-dozen brews down and enjoy as the mercury climbs into shorts and T-shirt weather…

The Nonsuch Blush Radler (Winnipeg — $4.00/473ml can) is medium straw in appearance and hazy, a radler infused with peach and passionfruit concentrates.

Aromatically, it’s no surprise it comes loaded with tropical and stone fruit notes along with flaked oats, light malt and subtle wheat notes.

It’s off-dry, light-bodied and juicy, with plenty of peach and passionfruit flavours delivered with plenty of ripeness, with secondary malt and barley notes, light acidity and, at a very modest 3.5 per cent alcohol, brings just the right finish for a summer sipper. 3.5/5

From Brandon, the Section 6 Brewing Co. Watermelon Wheat Ale (Brandon — $4.99/473ml can) is pale gold in appearance and slightly hazy, with can art by Weiming Zhao called “Rowing Into Assiniboine Sunset” (and a brew featuring “lots of watermelons!”).

A mix of fresh watermelon and bright wheat aromas comes with hints of banana candy and fleshy pear aromatically; on the light-plus bodied, off-dry palate the melon notes take centre stage, with secondary wheat notes, virtually no bitterness and, at 5.5 per cent alcohol, a modest finish. 3/5

Proceeds from every can of the Good Neighbour Brewing Co. A League of Her Own Peach Pale Ale (Winnipeg — $4.49/473ml can) go towards Girls Forward, which invests in initiatives to get girls into sport.

The beer’s pale gold and modestly hazy in appearance, with big, bold peach/peach candy notes bursting from the glass alongside more modest aromas of lemon zest and a chalky component.

It’s light-bodied, dry and racy, with the tart peach and lemon zest notes braced by modest acidity, bright effervescence and finishing with a modest 4.9 per cent alcohol. Lively, refreshing, and for a good cause — well done. 4/5

The Little Brown Jug Peach Tea Wheat Ale (Winnipeg — $4.69/473ml can) is a collaboration with Amsterdam Tea Room, infused with an African breakfast black tea and peach flavour.

It’s medium straw and hazy in appearance and brings a compelling blend of ripe peach, tannic black tea, fresh malt and subtle bitter hops.

On the off-dry, light-plus bodied palate, the bright peach notes are front and centre followed closely by black tea, white pepper and herbal notes.

With five per cent alcohol on the finish, it has just the right amount of length. 3.5/5

A big-time warm-weather sipper, the Sookram’s Brewing Co. Pink Slip Lemonade Sour (Winnipeg — $4.75/473ml can) is medium salmon-pink in appearance and loaded with tart lemon, grapefruit pith, a saline note and hints of herbal/grassy components.

It’s dry, light-bodied and racy, with bright, tart citrus components front and centre, a great core of acidity providing length and intensity, secondary saline/herbal notes and, at five per cent alcohol, a finish that’s just right.

All the fun of a summer lemonade with no ice cubes required — enjoy on the first days of warm summer weather. 4/5

Last but certainly not least, the Barn Hammer Brewing Co. Cumulus Hazy IPA (Winnipeg — $5.37/473ml can) is pale gold in appearance and quite cloudy (obviously), delivering ripe pineapple and mango aromas along with bright grassy and malty notes and some subtle oats.

It’s medium-bodied and mainly dry, with the tropical fruit coming with malt and oat notes, subtle hops, somewhat softer, more modest carbonation and, at 6.1 per cent alcohol, a welcome, warming finish. 4/5

No matter what your preferred style of beer, be sure to buy local — with tariffs, the cost of living, the rising cost of oil and more, the people making beer in your neighbourhood/city/province need your support now more than ever.

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