Spring
Anderson Craft Ales

355 mL can from a six-pack purchased at the LCBO; dated Feb 9 2019 and served barely chilled. Good riddance, winter.

Pours a very dark mahogany brown colour - not quite opaque, however, as some brick red highlights are noticeable when the glass is held to a light. Nearly an inch of foamy, beige-coloured head rises from the surface, then slowly seeps off within the next five minutes or so; when all's said and done, a sloppy band of lacing has been scattered in its wake, with a creamy-looking collar also hanging on. Looks great, and it's actually more aromatic than I've come to expect from this style - coffee grounds are the most noticeable element, with hints of roasted grains, earthy hops, caramelized malts and cocoa also coming through relatively clearly.

A pleasant, well-balanced lager - not too sweet, though I'd say the flavour profile (just barely) leans in that direction. It tastes of toasted bread and caramelized malts, including accents of cocoa, coffee and roasted grain. Some grassy hoppiness interjects towards the finish, which, along with the roastiness, helps to dry out the back end of the sip, effectively counteracting the malt sweetness. Off-dry aftertaste; there's some metallicity, but not as much as I get from, say, Czechvar Dark (the only dark lager I consume regularly). Light-ish in body, with low carbonation levels that gently brush against the palate, resulting in a smooth, soft texture that lends itself to a high level of drinkability.

Final Grade: 4.03, an excellent A-. Spring might just be the best of Anderson's four main seasonals - stylistically speaking, at least. Dark lagers are not necessarily one of my favourite styles, though this one does compare favourably to the Euro exports we get in these parts (which is a damn good starting point). However, it's also a fair bit more expensive, and only available in sixers, so I can't say for certain that I'll be returning to this beer on a regular basis. As for the rest of BA, if you enjoy dark lagers then don't hesitate to seek this one out - it's the real deal.