Beer # 284 35 & 118 Cream Ale Bushkung Brewing Company

#283 35 & 118 Cream Ale

Boshkung Brewing Company

Carnarvon, Ontario, Canada
Brewery
Cream Ale 
5.0 % ABV IBU: 18
473 ml Aluminium Can
$3.50 (Canadian) At the Brewery

Twitter: @Boshkungbrewing

Finishing up with my last can from boshkung, we end on the last core beer the rather popular 35 & 188 Cream ale. Named for the two highways that intersect in front of the brewery 35 & 118 has won two medals for Boshkungs trophy room. In 2015 they took home a silver for the Cream Ale category at the Canadian Brewing awards, in 2016 they took top spot in the same category.

Onto the cream of the crop...

Pours a light gold colour with a large fluffy white head made up of small bubbles. Nose is malt forward with lots of caramel and straw, Light hints of green hops with a good hit of bitterness. Aeration brings out tart green hops graininess, light spice, and some sweet caramel.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order:  4/6  PASS
Experience: 4/6 PASS


Final Thoughts:

I am disappointed in myself for leaving this one until last. Every beer from Boshkung has been delicious and fantastic. Sadly, Cream Ale is not a preferred style for me... I have never been able to get a taste groove going on them. While the style of this beer is outstanding, I can't enjoy it personally. So I have to leave this on a down note which bothers me a bit, since this is a great beer. Technically, it is crisp, flavourful, well balanced, good malt usage and just the right amount of hops. So in this one case you kinda have to ignore me and go out and try this beer for yourself. If you like Cream Ales, you will love this. I am looking forward to more great things from Boshkung, I hope I can get my hands on some of the seasonals that are coming up.


CJT

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Beer # 283 North Country Kellerbier Boshkung Brewing Company

#283 North Country Kellerbier 

Boshkung Brewing Company

Carnarvon, Ontario, Canada
Brewery
Kellerbier 
5.0 % ABV IBU: 23
473 ml Aluminium Can
$3.50 (Canadian) At the Brewery

Twitter: @Boshkungbrewing

Back to Boshkung again to try out the first of the two canned beers I brought back from my visit. Tonight's offering is a Kellerbier and I believe this may be the first Keller I've written about. So quickly, a Kellerbier (or "cellar beer" in English) is a German ale that has been fermented at a lower temperature than regular ales. Before refrigeration they were fermented in the cellar, hence the name, and generally for a longer time, giving them a much more complex flavour. Tonight's beer is an excellent example of the style, and the Canadian Brewing Awards seems to agree with me. This beer added another gold medal to Bushkung's trophy cabinet Taking top spot for the Kellerbier category in 2015.

Ok, let's go down to the cellar...

Pours a darker off-gold colour with a bright fluffy white head made up of small bubbles. The nose is amazing! Very fruity with bright notes of red berries, hints of currant and raspberry. First sip is fruity fresh with notes of citrus. Toasty caramel malt follows, tinges of honey and raspberry round out the middle. Aeration gives us some tingly citrus and more honey, well balanced malt and a hint of spice. Finish is clean with some hints of bread dipped in honey fading into the background.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Re-Order:  6/6  EXCEPTIONAL
Experience: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL



Final Thoughts:

YES! Best Kellerbier I've tasted so far. Too many are washed out and weak. This one is bright and flavourful Many Kellers walk a line between tasting like a lager and an ale, (most tasting like a flattened out lager) This one doesn't... It pirouettes down that line effortlessly bending the crispness of the cold fermentation with the hearty malt drive ale flavours. This is a summer refresher to be proud of. But don't just take my word for it... get some for yourself. 
Cheers

CJT

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