Moonlight Kettle Series (2019): Rosé Cheeks
Muskoka Brewery

473 ml can served cold into a weizen glass. Part of the Hopsonic winter package. Cost came out to about $3.50 CDN. Best enjoyed by January 5, 2020.

Appearance - Pale rose colored beer, just a little bit of haze and plenty of carbonation. A finger and change of compact white head on top and medium staying power. Little bits of lacing do cling the the edges of the glass.

Smell - A little floral, some slight orange and lemon and a hint of some darker berries like raspberries mixed in. An undercurrent of sweet caramel or marshmallow lurks somewhere in the distant background. It could be just malts marrying with some overripe fruit too.

Taste - Light rose water with a bit of citrus, cantaloupe and melon with mango are most prominent, but it is all overshadowed by a granular grainy flavor that comes and goes. Not really getting grape maybe other than a smidgen at the close.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied yet somehow also a bit sticky, carbonation is expressive and finish is more chewy than you'd think.

Overall - I'm not going to lie, this one has some interesting concepts, but it doesn't seem to fit together the way you'd expect. There's not much hop presence relatively speaking, and the chewy malty flavors are strange in what it supposed to be a lighter and crisp IPA. Didn't do it for me, but still an ok addition to a taster's pack like this.

473 mL can bought from the LCBO as part of Muskoka's Hopsonic mixed pack; best before Jan 5 2020 and served barely chilled.

Pours pale with a lightly fogged complexion - it's got a pinkish hue in regular light, but when held to the lamp it takes on more of a straw-yellow colour. One finger of foamy white heads holds together for the next couple of minutes, but is soon reduced to a thin, creamy cap and collar; a messy ring of uneven lacing is deposited in its wake. Fruity and somewhat vinous on the nose, with hints of rosé wine coming through alongside notes of stone fruit, mango and grapefruit.

Interesting flavours, but I don't know how well they all come together - the Cabernet Sauvignon must imparts hints of grape juice towards the front end, while supplying more of a (weakly) tannic astringency towards the tail end of the sip. Beyond that, I'm getting mango, passion fruit and peach near the start, developing into more of a pithy grapefruit & pine-resiny bitterness at the finish; grape skin and vinous notes carry on into the aftertaste, which leans dry. Medium in body, with moderately low carbonation that prickles the palate gently; feels smooth on the surface of the tongue, with reasonably good drinkability considering its abv.

Final Grade: 3.73, a B grade. Muskoka's Rosé Cheeks ain't half bad, but I'd also say it's probably the weakest of the six beers in this sampler, being the only one that I'd likely hesitate to pick up again. I also wouldn't say it's a particularly great Brut IPA - it does have the requisite dryness, but its effervescence was lacking. That being said, I am not a red wine drinker, and this beer does have vaguely wine-like traits, so personal preferences are clearly involved here. Still, I finished my glass without much complaint, and I wouldn't discourage curious BAs from giving this brew a try if it piques their interest.

Appearance - Pours a rosé pink with four fingers of frothy white head.

Smell - earthy, leafy, piney, and citrus hops, bready malts, pine resin, orange peel, hint of vinous aromas, and earthy yeast.

Taste - mild earthy, leafy, piney, and citrus hops. The bready malts follow suit. The pine resin and orange peel are lost in translation. The hint of vinous aromas and earthy yeast finish the brew off.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes dry with the vinous aromas lingering.

Overall - A brew that started off with a bang. The vinous aromas were well done. I felt as though the hops didn't translate in the taste.