What may be one of the most interesting new projects in Canada’s beer scene is Ontario’s Collective Arts Brewing. This Burlington-based company is an intentional fusion of beer, music and visual arts. They have partnered with various musicians and artists in Ontario to produce a unique approach to label design. Most breweries are careful to ensure their label design consistently builds a brand recognition. Collective Arts went the other way. Every time you pick up a b0ttle of their beer, you can be assured the label will be VERY different than the last time.

Collective Arts’ labels are works of art, literally. Every few months they launch a new numbered series of limited edition artwork, each one with its own distinct tone and style. Further, using some new-fangled app, you can scan the label to launch music, videos and bios of the artists involved. Cool, eh?

I really like how art and design is fully integrated into the mission of the brewery. They are not just making beer, they are making a statement about culture in general. I am pleased to see craft beer aim high.

Oh yeah, and the beer is pretty darned good as well. I picked up a couple of bottles when in Ontario a couple months back and tried them a couple weeks ago. They have two beer: Rhyme & Reason, what they call an “extra pale ale” and Saint of Circumstance, a citrus-infused blonde ale. The former won gold in American-Style Pale Ale at that 2014 Canadian Brewing Awards.

I could easily have reviewed either beer, as both are quite well done, but opt to give you my impressions of Rhyme & Reason.

It pours slightly hazy dark yellow and produces a dense, tight white head. I immediately pick up a strong citrus hop aroma, accented by grapefruit and sharp lemon. A moderate grainy malt lies underneath, but the aroma is biased toward hops.

The flavour begins with a grassy, grainy, almost wheat-like malt sweetness. I also detect honey, light fruits and meadow flowers. The hops kick in fairly quickly, building a very fruity, citrusy character. The finish has a bit of resin and more grapefruit blended with honey. The beer reminds me a bit of a White IPA (maybe because I have been drinking lots of them lately), but not quite as bitter. The light, blonde-like body alters the shape of the beer.The finish is fairly dry and sharp, and citrus carries through the linger.

One might make comparisons to Trashy Blonde, but R&R has a smoother, sweeter body. Lighter in body than most pale ales, but with a strong hop assertiveness. This is no IPA, but neither is it a traditional take on pale ale. A very creative, intriguing beer. But I guess that would be appropriate given the brewery’s broader mission.