A look at the LCBO Spring Beers release that’s got beer geeks buzzing

Ontario beer geeks are accustomed to lamenting the LCBO’s pedestrian general listings, but the provincial distributor’s seasonal releases are where some of the more exciting brews usually surface—while their limited quantities last of course. After the jump, some of our favourites from the Spring Beers release, which will start appearing on store shelves starting this week.

Likely to secure space in most hoarders’ cellars is Charlevoix Sainte-Reserve Lupulus ($11.65 for 750 mL), an exceptionally well-rated Belgian-style IPA from Quebec. There’s also the much-anticipated return of Italian sour ale Panil Barriquée ($14 for 750 mL). During the fermentation of this one, bacteria is introduced, which sours the beer in unpredictable and delicious ways. Finally, the LCBO is capitalizing on the trend towards hop bombs with Unearthly ($9.10 for 650 mL), an aggressive Imperial IPA from New York’s Southern Tier, and Hophead ($5.35 for 650 mL), a double-IPA from B.C.’s Tree Brewing. For those who miss out on Hophead, not to worry—it’ll be back in May, when Tree Brewing is the focus of the LCBO’s next brewery feature, which will also bring to Ontario their Raspberry Porter, Hefeweizen and Captivator Doppelbock, and the debut of a new Black IPA.