Tree Topper Red Ale
New Ontario Brewing Co.

Pours dark, near black, no foam, maybe it was flat/expired… SOUR! like a new overt attempt at sour, not a nice yeast ina Belgian. Undrinkable, maybe had I wanted / expected this but in any case, not for me!

473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Mar 17 2021 and served slightly chilled.

Pours a deep, clear copper-amber colour, with less than a finger of bubbly, soapy, off white-coloured head situated atop. It disintegrates quickly, leaving behind a frothy collar and filmy cap; a meandering coat of sticky lace also remains in place. Looks great, but I'm not getting much of interest off of the nose - doughy, bready malts and lightly caramelized sugars, with hints of nuttiness and metallicity.

It's a passable amber ale that definitely leans toward the sweet/malty side of the spectrum. Caramelized sugars and bready pale malts are the dominant flavours, with minor suggestions of toasted nuts and biscuit. Hints of leafy, earthy hops at the finish, with toasted malts and caramel carrying on into a fairly sweet aftertaste. Medium-light in body, with moderately low carbonation that gently brushes against the palate; feels smooth and a little slick on the tongue. It's easy enough to toss back a glass, but a little too sweet to be a session option.

Final Grade: 3.55, a B grade. New Ontario's Tree Topper is at least a serviceable red ale, albeit an underwhelming and forgettable one. It's better than their blonde ale, of that I'm sure... but it's still not something I'd go out of my way for, or recommend with much enthusiasm, unless you're a genuine fan of malty ambers (which I am admittedly not especially big on). I might drink it again, but the truth is that I don't drink a lot of amber ales these days, and there are more than a few others I'd pick well before this one.

 

Tree Topper Red Ale from New Ontario Brewing Company in North Bay, Ontario. 5.2% alc., and 40 IBUs.

Thin beige head that dissipates very quickly. Lots of very tiny ascending bubbles. The beer itself is a mid-range copper and quite clear.

The smell is roasted barley malt, brown bread and a hint of sweetness. This is all quite subtle but pleasing nonetheless. The taste is roasted malt and brown bread crust but again not too strong. There are far more robust red ales, however, the softer profile found in this one works quite well.

The mouthfeel is thin and the body light.

A little unusual compared to other red ales I’ve tried but that’s OK. I’m enjoying it and would definitely recommend trying it if you enjoy this style.

Grade: B+

473 ml can served cold into a pint glass. Canned October 17, 2018. LCBO purchase for $3.25 CDN.

Appearance - Pours a clear, dark red color with a small half finger of tan head and minimal retention and lacing. A soft skirt of foam does linger at the top of the glass.

Smell - Grain, astringent and earthy hoppiness. Alight bit of orange and grapefruit amongst a health malt bill.

Taste - Leafy hops, subtle caramel malt, a healthy dose of minerals. Lingering hoppiness.

Mouthfeel - Crisp, medium bodied, with prickly carbonation. Easy to drink.

Overall - A pretty solid red ale. Certainly worth a try and an enjoyable experience.

Pours mahogany coloured and almost headless. Slightly sweet on the smell, like molasses. Taste is spicy yet sweet and hoppy. Mouthfeel is somewhat thin.
May 19 2021

Pours a deep ruby red, with a thumb and a half of slightly off white head. Upon break there is some lacing, and a thin collar.

Smell is malt forward. Caramel malts and a slight metallic scent, along with some minimal hops.

Flavor is also malt forward, I get the caramel malts, but now they are joined by some biscuity malts as well. The bitterness of the hops comes in on the back-end.

Feel is medium bodied, active medium carbonation, and bitter finish.

A fair beer, nothing stunning. This might make a good camp beer, the price is certainly right. New Ontario is a brewer that seems to be aiming for middle of the road, drinkable beers. This one fits.