Iron Road Brewing – Simcoe Saison

Iron Road Brewing – Simcoe Saison Review

Iron Road Brewing in Kamloops was a passion and a dream for two geologists (Richard Phillips & Jared Tarswell) who loved good craft beer and wanted to open up a brewery in Kamloops. On board with them, brewing up their award winning beers are Aaron MacInnis originally from Main Street Brewing in Vancouver, and his one time home brewing pal, Stefan Thordarson, who spent some brewing time with Luppolo Brewing, also in Vancouver.

The Simcoe Saison is a part of the “Single Hop Series” that Iron Road has released. Saisons on their own have so much flavour, so adding the right hop is crucial so the flavours can meld. Take a saison, a golden amber coloured ale, hazy with a medium body and lots of carbonation – crisp, dry yet tart, with the aroma and taste of pepper, clove and a hint of lemon citrus and dry hop it with the Simcoe hop – known for its tropical, citrus and piney notes and you have a nicely balanced ale.The orange citrus  of the Simcoe hop nicely blends with the lemon of the saison and the pine notes of the hops soften the intense spiciness of the saison.  It’s like taking a Belgian or French style saison and mixing it with a West Coast IPA and a hazy IPA and you have a unique take on a modernized saison/IPA style. The malt base is light,(mostly pilsner) but just enough of a backbone to complement the complex flavour.  

I will be definitely be seeking out more of this hop series!