Beers of the week

Five new and returning brews, all available at the brewery where they were made as well as at select beer vendors and Liquor Marts.

Section 6 Brewing Co. London Fog Cream Ale (Brandon — $4.29/473ml can)

Section 6 Brewing Co. London Fog Cream Ale (Brandon — $4.29/473ml can) Medium gold and clear, this cream ale is infused with vanilla and earl grey tea, both of which come through aromatically along with fresh malt and subtle lemon. It's medium-bodied and mainly dry, with big bergamot notes coming with secondary vanilla and malt. Very nice — five per cent alcohol. 3.5/5

Barn Hammer Brewing Co. Unknown Origin Hazy IPA (Winnipeg — $4.79/473ml cans)

Barn Hammer Brewing Co. Unknown Origin Hazy IPA (Winnipeg — $4.79/473ml cans) A joint brew with Sookram's made at Barn Hammer (Sookram's used the same ingredients but made a West Coast IPA at that brewery called First Contact); it's medium straw and hazy in appearance, with fresh tropical, wheat and grassy aromas. Mainly dry and light-plus bodied, with grassy, green citrus and tropical flavours with modest bitterness. A punchy six per cent alcohol. 3.5/5

Half Pints Brewing Co. Oktoberfest Marzen (Winnipeg — $4.49/473ml can) Medium copper and clear, with fresh malt, bread dough and subtle dried fruit aromas; medium-bodied, dry and robust, rocking plenty of round malty flavours along with hints of baking spice, apple and brown sugar. A classic style from a classic brewery — 6.2 per cent alcohol. 4/5

Half Pints Brewing Co. Oktoberfest Marzen (Winnipeg — $4.49/473ml can)

Sookram's Brewing Co. Citadel Belgian Ale (Winnipeg — $4.59/473ml can) Pale gold and mainly clear, with big spice, dried fruit, fresh malt and slightly earthy aromas. It's medium-bodied and dry, brimming with fresh malt, dried apricot, bread dough and spice flavours, with modest bitterness and a warm finish (it's six per cent alcohol). 4/5

Nonsuch Brewing Co. Sticky Toffee Brown Ale (Winnipeg — $4.50/473ml can) Medium chestnut and slightly hazy in appearance, this molasses and brown sugar-infused brew shows both components aromatically as well as sweet malt, toasted bread and the toffee. It's more of the same on the medium-bodied, off-dry palate, with no real bitterness to speak of and a modest 5.4 per cent alcohol. Drink with (or as) dessert. 3.5/5

Sookram's Brewing Co. Citadel Belgian Ale (Winnipeg — $4.59/473ml can)

Nonsuch Brewing Co. Sticky Toffee Brown Ale (Winnipeg — $4.50/473ml can)