The Belgian Barnyard
Indie Ale House Brewing Company

 

The sun seems to be setting on Barnyard Belgian IPA - its golden highlights twinkle but a much deeper, darker amber tone has set-in. Light is still able to pass through but little else. The portion of foam isn't exactly generous but, true to 'farmhouse' nature, is indefatigable and lasts literally to the last drop.

This is a multilayer beer, as you'd rightly expect from a recipe drawing from two distinct brewing cultures (Belgian yeast and American hops). Bubblegum, pine serum, spicy grain and overripe orchard fruits all share equal parts of the aroma. So far hops have the edge but it's evident this is no standard IPA.

There's a trace of caramelly, biscuity malt but it's swiftly chased by clove and peppery spice as well as flavours of really (like, really really) ripe citrus fruits. If I was to try and replicate the taste I'd start with a rank pineapple, throw in some orange and grapefruit rinds, a handful of flowers from the garden, all of the fallen needles from last year's Christmas tree, and a little block of toffee fudge.

Of course, that would taste terrible. This, however, tastes some kind of wonderful. There's no doubt it was made with great skill and good quality ingredients; this kind of well-rounded, robust flavour and sneakily masked alcohol (6%) can only be the work of a professional. The inclusion of rye malt puts a unique spin on things too, providing as much dimension to the malts as the hops and yeast.

This bottle of Barnyard Belgian IPA fortified my initial verdict that it's a slightly different but really good example of the style. It has personality to go along with flavour and texture. Like so many Indie Ale House offerings it's an easy one to recommend. If you live in Toronto make a point of getting out there. Now!

Bottle: Poured a deep amber color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of fruity yeast with some bitter floral hops notes is pretty enjoyable. Taste is also dominated by floral hops notes with some fruity ester and a solid dry caramel malt backbone. Body is full enough with good carbonation. Well brewed overall thought maybe a tad too much bitterness for my liking.

 

 

 

Had on tap at Indie Ale, lightly amber gold, good head retention. Smell when poured cold smelled really fragrant with earthy and spicy yeasty aromas and some robust hops with fruitiness. Taste had some sharper and astringent yeast character, tasted slightly off, which mellowed more as it warmed. In fact some of those volitiles needed some time to cool off, it eventually became a much more balanced and more nuanced ale. Quite dominated by the yeast all round, very earthy and spicy, and the hops came through a bit on the bitterness and spice but overall were the more restrained aspect. Initial disappointment was eventually pushed out as the beer warmed and settled, making this one that was enjoyable but not a BIPA I would maybe go out of the way to try again.

 

 

On tap: better than I remember, or much improved in the past year or so.

 

On-tap at Indie Ale House. Bar listed this at 6%. Not sure if there has been a recipe change or a recalculation.

Beer is amber with a small white head which fades quickly. Some lacing.

Belgian yeast in the nose, a bit of sugar, some light fruit. Some hoppy scents: grass, some slight pine, faint orange. Nice but not big or impressive.

Again, Belgian yeast in the taste, with candy sugar, apple and orange. A bit of a bubblegum flavour. Moderately bitter.

Medium bodied, moderate to high carbonation.

Overall, OK. Not bad, and I had no trouble finishing the glass, but I doubt I would revisit it.

Clear blonde colour, orange ring of white head, some lace as well. Smell is quite yeasty, rye and spice, some candy apple and bubble gum, pretty big hop bill and a bit floral at times. Taste is yeasty with a bit of bubble gum and lightly sweet, spice and rye complexity, medium bitterness, citrus and fruity aftertaste. Lightly carbonated, medium body, good feel. A very solid beer, nice and hoppy with strong Belgian influence behind it as well, worth revisiting for sure.

On tap at the brewpub. Light golden colour with a white head, and lacey. Subtle spice aromas and yeast. Medium mouthfeel. Mostly a story of yeast taste, with rye in the back end. Some wheat, a decent rye oriented beer. OK drinkability. I would like more hop and less yeast.

On tap at the Brewpub.

A - Poured medium orange with a golden glow towards the edges of the glass. Small layer of white head.

S - Fresh grapefruit and pine along with a spicy rye aroma and lighter caramel notes.

T - Decent bitterness up front with grapefruit and pine flavours. The malt base adds a good spiciness and a decent amount of sweet caramel. Finish is bitter, spiy and dry.

M - Medium body. Moderate carbonation.

On tap at the brewpub.

Golden orange, with some spiderweb-like lacing. Minimal retention. Nose of farmhouse yeast right off the bat, with a good bit of rye cahracter. Some lemon and citrus zest, light tropical and some grainier malt notes. Taste has more citrus zest, rye, grains and farmhouse yeasty flavours with some spice as well. Medium body, good bitterness and moderate carbonation. A very nice beer, I'd order this several times over.