I find it hard to know what to do with contract brewers in the region (breweries without their own brewhouse who contract other breweries to make their beer for them). I am happy to profile them and discuss what their plans are, especially if contracting is a step while they build their own brewery. I see contracting as a legitimate brewing option, in particular in the short term (I struggle with how to perceive long term contract arrangements – it is complicated).

Yet, for right or wrong, I find myself reluctant to write too much about their beer. In particular to review their beer (although I have on occasion, I will fully admit). I think my hesitance is that I know once they get up and running on their own the beer will change. That is inevitable. I want to evaluate the beer as it comes off of their regular brewery.

Silly, I know. If I review the second batch of a beer on a new brewhouse, it will have changed significantly in six months or a year. And even contracted beer can reveal the intentions and vision of the brewery. I am not saying it is rational, just that is what I struggle with.

I say that because I am about to make one of those exceptions (it’s my site, I get to do that). I recently picked up a bottle of Six Corners Brew Works Triple Summit. Six Corners (you can read my profile of them here) is the aspirational Okotoks brewery currently brewed at Paddock Wood. I picked it up in part because I try to pick up all new beer from prairie breweries. But it also TOTALLY caught my attention. It bills itself as an IPA³, so basically a triple IPA, which is curious. It clocks in at 10.3%, which is a pretty huge IPA. It was clear to me this is an experiment. One I had to try.

It pours dark gold with a noted haze (in part due to some unspotted sediment during pour). It forms a consistent, medium blanket of white head. There is a big citrus hop aroma. It is classic c-hops, offering pine and grapefruit. I get a soft grainy malt underneath but the aroma is all about the hops.

The tastes starts with a sharp honey sweetness and a noted biscuit character. Quickly a fruitiness comes in, both a grape-like fruit and a hop fruitiness. Citrus, pine, a bit of resin take over the middle. As we move back the bitterness builds but doesn’t get crazy big. Although there are IBUs in there. The linger is pine hop and alcohol heat. I find the finish a little rough around the edges.

I like the hop flavour in this beer and it definitely has some things going for it. But it needs refinement. The alcohol is just too assertive and present; I would prefer it more subdued like in a tripel. I like that it is not overly cloying and finishes fairly light – that is a very nice touch. But there are some rough edges around the beer. The first malt character is a bit rough and then there is that alcohol again.

Is it a triple IPA? I don’t know. I am reluctant to make a decision at this point. It is big. It is hoppy. It is too light and dry for a barley wine. So there may be something there (not that I am declaring, being the style curmudgeon that I am). At any rate it is an interesting and adventurous experiment for a prairie brewery. I recognize it is the first attempt and so there will be lots of time for improvement.

Just don’t drink more than one in a go. This is definitely not a session beer.