Collective Arts Brewing is a unique grassroots brewery that merges brewing tasty beer, an art in its own right, with a venue for up-and-coming Canadian artists. Bob Russell and Matt Johnston tell their story in their own words in a short video on Collective Arts’ “About” page. When scanned by a free smartphone application, each beer’s label acts as a gateway to a featured emerging artist’s work.
As their website says, Collective Arts Brewing is located at 207 Burlington Street East in Hamilton, which was previously the home to five other breweries before Collective Arts took up residence there. With their official launch only last year, Collective Arts Brewing will hopefully be making beer and promoting art for years to come. I picked up a couple tall cans of their “Ransack the Universe” IPA at my local LCBO …
Collective Arts Brewing: Ransack the Universe IPA – First Sip
Ransack the Universe pours cloudy and golden in colour. I notice its aroma, like sweet fruit, while I’m pouring it. Its smell balances well with its bitter, almost piney, flavour. The strong hops may put lager-drinkers off. But, as a longtime IPA-advocate I enjoy its bitter flavour, which leads to an only slightly less bitter finish. With a relatively high carbonation level and a noticeable thickness, Ransack the Universe has a thick but clean mouthfeel.
Collective Arts Brewing: Ransack the Universe IPA – Last Sip
I suggest drinking this APA with salty food. But, beating up other beers and stealing their lunch money, this formidable brew weighs in at a respectable 6.8% ABV. So, you may want to limit yourself to ransacking one or two universes in a sitting.
But beyond their excellent brews, one of Collective Arts Brewing’s best features is their unique mandate. So don’t forget to submit your work, and join their grassroots revolution.
