Spring has officially arrived in the lands of better beer and it’s only natural for beer enthusiasts to welcome it with the appropriate seasonal brews. This year I kick the spring season off with the Peak Simcoe Spring Ale. The Peak Organic Brewing Company has been challenging our preconceived notions of organic beer for many years now. It wasn't too long ago that the concept of an organic beer was laughable, even hokey. Peak set out to change that image and has since been providing the craft beer market with numerous competitive brews. As my co-founder can attest to, Peak struck gold with their Espresso Amber ale, which is widely regarded as one of the best ambers in the craft beer world, regardless of its organic nature. Peak has firmly established itself as a skilled and reliable brewery, so I knew that I had nothing to worry about going into their Simcoe Spring Ale.

In the glass, this beer has a rich golden honey coloration and is crystal clear. It comes with a thick rocky while head that likes to stick around for a while. The aroma consists of little more than a clean piney citrus, almost like sniffing a handful of fresh pine needles. It’s a very pure smell that will instantly transport you to an evergreen forest. I really enjoy single hopped pale ales for this very reason. It allows you to intimately study the various nuances of a specific hop species. And when you add in the organic designation, you know that you are experiencing a genuine essence.

As expected, the core flavor note is also a clean piney citrus. The Simcoe hop is perfectly presented and allows for an unadulterated study. The malt is quite muted with hints of caramel, but has enough of a presence to provide a solid foundation. There is a strong floral vibe to this beer which is quite refreshing and beautifully compliments the spring months. The mouthfeel is light and thin with a crisp hop bite that is non-aggressive. The beer finishes dry with only a faint whiff of bitterness. The malty caramel flavor intensifies as the beer warms, so definitely take your time with it.

Overall, the Peak Simcoe Spring Ale is a delightfully refreshing brew that I can recommend to any level of beer fan. Adventurous drinkers might find it a little disappointing due to its lack of creative flare, but it works very well as a solid baseline brew. And due to its purist nature, it is the perfect beer to utilize when educating novices on what good beer should actually taste like. On the other end of the spectrum, seasoned drinkers will find the Simcoe Spring Ale to be a fantastic springtime session brew. As the warmer months approach, I suspect I will find myself frequenting the porch with a cooler full of these beauties.