Chris Shanahan: Beer review — Cascade & Weihenstephaner

Cascade First Harvest Ale 330ml 6-pack $19.99
This is the juicy, fresh, beer equivalent of Beaujolais. It’s built on plump, sweet malt flavour that’s cut through with the fresh, bracing pungency of just-picked hops. As well, the hops provide a brisk, teasing, lingering bitterness that slightly outweighs the malt sweetness. Limited availability as Cascade produced only 4,300 cases.

Weihenstephaner Vitus Weizenbock 500ml $7.99
This is a luxurious, strong (7.7% alcohol) wheat beer. It’s light coloured but has a dense, persistent foam; appealing, sweet, fruity aroma (boosted by the alcohol); a full, warm, velvety palate; and a lingeringly fruity aftertaste with wheat beer’s characteristic refreshing acidity. It’s bottle conditioned and therefore has a fine haze.