HAMILTON, ON – As its opening in downtown Hamilton draws closer, brewpub Merit Brewing has announced details of its first three flagship beers.
S’il Vous Plait (3% abv) is an “attempt at reclaiming the lunch time pint and reinventing the patio sipper” that is further described as follows:
Using our French Saison yeast and a wallop of wheat, we created a beautiful, creamy, full-bodied baby Saison that some would refer to as a classic Grissette. We call it a table beer. Why you ask? Well, SVP is meant for just that. Sitting at a table amongst family and friends, putting life on pause for a glass or two, and just enjoying those around you. The beer is unpretentious and doesn’t need to be the star of the show, nor does it need to be the topic of discussion, however we’ll talk your ear off about it if you ask.
Chanan (5.3% abv) is named after the grandfather of co-owner Tej Jordan Sandhu, and has the following notes:
This beer is a Saison brewed with wheat and pilsner malt. It’s a classic style that we mixed up a bit by adding Indian coriander, fresh orange peels, and new world hops. Compared to generic coriander, Indian coriander is not only an amazing throw back to Tej’s roots and love of exploring Indian culinary techniques, but it’s far fruitier and has a full bouquet of citrus, black pepper, fruit loop flavour (I know you love em), stone fruit, and spring flowers. The hops are also more aggressive in terms of aroma and flavour. With varietals such as Simcoe, Amarillo, and Mosaic, they blend together to create a beautiful bouquet and flavour within the liquid.
Finally, Young Rival IPA (6% abv) takes its name from a popular Hamilton band, and has the following description:
The beer focuses on hops but is complimentary to the simple malt bill (with no Crystal or Caramel malts) that lends itself beautifully to an unforgiving head as well as a nice smooth balanced mouthfeel. We use El Dorado, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops. The IPA boasts huge notes of cantaloupe, peach, mango, pine, fresh meadow, spring mornings, and warm hugs from your favourite aunt. To someone who isn’t into bitter beers, this still might be for you. It’s not harsh or astringent. It’s delicate and fruity. It drinks like adult fruit punch.
All three beers will be available alongside others when Merit opens, which is expected to happen soon. For more details, see the blog post on the brewery’s website.