A feel-good bundle of new brews, rewards

Torque Brewing Whoa Nellie Amber Ale (Winnipeg — $4.25/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Deep copper in colour and clear, this brew was made in conjunction with the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies, is named after Nellie McClung and is infused with rooibos tea from Cornelia Bean. The vanilla and earthy notes from the tea show well, with subtle underlying malty notes also coming through. It’s mainly dry and medium-bodied, with the vanilla and black tea notes showing well, very little bitterness and a moderate finish at 5.5 per cent alcohol. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Canadian Women’s Foundation. A brew worthy of the cause and its namesake. 4/5

Half Pints Brewing Co. Noche Mexican-Style Dark Lager (Winnipeg — $4.09/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Cola-ish brown in colour, this dark lager offers fun Tootsie Roll, mocha and roasted malt notes aromatically, with little in the way of bitterness. It’s medium bodied and dry, with the caramel, Tootsie Roll and dark malt notes adding a chewy component to a brew that’s a lot of fun. The hops are very subtle, and the five per cent alcohol makes this an easy-drinking brew that’s ideal for fiestas in cooler temps. 3.5/5

Rendezvous Brewery & Taproom Underwood IPA (Morden — $4.59/473ml cans, brewery and select beer vendors)

Pale gold in colour and slightly hazy, Morden’s Rendezvous has started rolling out their beer in cans to the local Liquor Marts and some vendors, although this IPA is seemingly only available at select vendors (and the brewery). There’s plenty of citrus and pine here aromatically, with stone fruit and resin notes coming in the background. It’s dry and brings subtle bitterness; the hops notes come through via citrus, gooseberry and herbal flavours rather than extreme bitterness, and the 5.6 per cent alcohol doesn’t overwhelm, making it a very approachable example of the style. 3.5/5

Brazen Hall Brewing Company Battle Axe Festbier (Winnipeg — $4.19/473ml cans, brewery and select vendors)

Medium gold in colour and clear, this Oktoberfest-style brew brings up-front biscuit aromas, with an underlying malty, doughy component that accompanies hints of lemon zest and herbs. It’s a dry, medium-bodied and robust brew, with malt-driven flavours that bring the biscuit notes along for the ride, hints of citrus rind, very subtle bitterness and 6.4 per cent alcohol that’s deceptively smooth. Very tasty stuff. 4/5

Fort Garry Brewing Company Jingle Bell Bock Bavarian Doppelbock (Winnipeg — $3.79/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

‘Tis the season for Fort Garry to bring back their doppelbock, a deep reddish-copper brew with an off-white head. There’s an earthy note to the nose that’s quite interesting, as well as deep roasted malt aromas, some pepper and a hint of brown sugar. It’s medium-plus bodied, robust and mainly dry, with fig, dried fruit and rich malt flavours, very low bitterness and a hint of pepper that accompanies the bracing 8.5 per cent alcohol. Settle in by the tree and wait for Old St. Nick with this hearty brew. 3.5/5

Sookram’s Brewing Co. Espresso Star Beast Imperial Stout (Winnipeg — $5.25/355 ml can, brewery and select Liquor Marts)

Sookram’s has infused their Star Beast with Colombian espresso supplied by Little Sister; the brew is brownish-black in colour with a dark beige head, and delivers a whopping nose of espresso (obviously), dark chocolate, dark roasted malt, a touch of vanilla and some solid hop bitterness. It’s rich, full-bodied and off-dry, with the roasted malt and espresso note working brilliantly together, hints of black licorice and vanilla that come with the firm hop bitterness and a whopping 10.5 per cent alcohol. Curl up under a blanket near a fire and enjoy (slowly and carefully) now, or put this away for 18-24 months. 4.5/5