I went to Louis Cifer Brew Works in Toronto last week. With their own and other brews on tap, they provided both good food and good beer. I tried a few different brews and liked ’em fine, but one of them, their Coconut Lemongrass Thai-PA stood out, so I bought a growler of it. Readers of my previous reviews know that I have a weakness for pale ales whether they’re IPAs, APAs, CPAs, AusPAs, or Rye PAs, and should understand how powerless I was when asked by my server whether or not I wanted to buy a growler to take home — OK, I asked him.
Unfortunately, even though I’ve been frugal by only drinking it in small amounts over the past five days, every growler has a limited fridge life. So, I’m reviewing this unique brew now before it’s too late. And, though it won’t be fresh, it will be within prescribed growler drinking parameters.
Louis Cifer Brew Works: Coconut Lemongrass Thai-PA – First Sip
This beer pours a pale amber with a nice layer of head that gradually dissipates to a film. I notice a sweet fruity aroma as I take my first sip. If it weren’t for the name, I’d think this brew a raspberry-flavoured one. The lemongrass provides a slightly tart flavour upfront that fades to a coconut finish. These two flavours mixing with the dryness of the hops gives this beer a unique flavour. Probably a result of the coconut flavour, this brew has a buttery mouthfeel making it very reminiscent of eating Thai food.
Louis Cifer Brew Works: Coconut Lemongrass Thai-PA – Last Sip
Even though it was five days old, this brew proved to be a tasty and unique one. It may be obvious, but this beer is a great companion to Thai food. Drinking Coconut Lemongrass Thai-PA alongside a heap of Pad Thai with lots of peanut sauce is exactly what the brewers had in mind when they made this one. If there’s no Thai food around, don’t worry. Just pair this with something salty, and then, for your own sake, move to a place where you can get Thai food.
With a 6.5% ABV rating, this is a strong brew. So drink responsibly, especially if you have a full growler at hand. This easy-drinking beer packs a punch.
